8-K
false 0001108524 0001108524 2026-03-11 2026-03-11
 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

March 11, 2026

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

 

 

Salesforce, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-32224   94-3320693

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

Salesforce Tower

415 Mission Street, 3rd Fl
San Francisco, California 94105
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 901-7000

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share   CRM   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 
 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

ASR Agreements

On March 11, 2026, Salesforce, Inc. (the “Company” or “Salesforce”) entered into accelerated share repurchase agreements (the “ASR Agreements”) with Banco Santander, S.A., Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (collectively, the “ASR Counterparties”). Under the terms of the ASR Agreements, the Company will repurchase an aggregate of $25 billion of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (such stock, the “Common Stock” ), as part of a share repurchase program (the “Share Repurchase Program”). The Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) authorized the Share Repurchase Program in August 2022. In February 2026, the Board authorized an aggregate total of $50 billion of share repurchases under the Share Repurchase Program (inclusive of any amounts remaining under prior authorizations).

Pursuant to the terms of the ASR Agreements, the Company will make payments in an aggregate amount of $25 billion to the ASR Counterparties on March 16, 2026, and the Company will receive on March 16, 2026 the initial deliveries of approximately 80% of the total shares that would be purchased under the ASR Agreements, measured based on the closing price of the Common Stock on March 11, 2026. The exact number of shares of Common Stock that the Company will ultimately repurchase pursuant to the ASR Agreements will be determined based on the average of the daily volume-weighted average price per share of the Common Stock during the term of the ASR Agreements, less a discount and subject to adjustments pursuant to the terms and conditions of the ASR Agreements.

Upon final settlement of the ASR Agreements, under certain circumstances, each of the ASR Counterparties may be required to deliver additional shares of Common Stock, or the Company may be required to deliver shares of Common Stock or to make a cash payment, at its election, to the ASR Counterparties. The final settlement of each transaction under the ASR Agreements is scheduled to occur in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Each of the ASR Agreements contains customary terms for these types of transactions, including, among others, the mechanisms to determine the number of shares or the amount of cash that will be delivered at settlement, the required timing of delivery upon settlement, the specific circumstances under which adjustments may be made to the transactions, the specific circumstances under which the transactions may be cancelled prior to the scheduled maturity and various acknowledgments, representations and warranties made by the Company and the ASR Counterparties, as applicable, to one another.

The form of the ASR Agreements is included herein as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the ASR Agreements is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of the ASR Agreements. J. Wood Capital Advisors acted as financial adviser to Salesforce in connection with the accelerated share repurchase transactions.

Underwriting Agreement

On March 11, 2026, Salesforce entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule A thereto (the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Underwriters $3,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), $4,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.650% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”), $3,750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.900% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”), $2,750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.200% Senior Notes due 2033 (the “2033 Notes”), $4,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.550% Senior Notes due 2036 (the “2036 Notes”), $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.400% Senior Notes due 2046 (the “2046 Notes”), $3,750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.550% Senior Notes due 2056 (the “2056 Notes”) and $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.700% Senior Notes due 2066 (the “2066 Notes” and, together with the 2028 Notes, the 2029 Notes, the 2031 Notes, the 2033 Notes, the 2036 Notes, the 2046 Notes and the 2056 Notes, the “Notes”) in a registered public offering (the “Offering”).

The price to the public was 99.920% of the principal amount for the 2028 Notes, 99.978% of the principal amount for the 2029 Notes, 99.809% of the principal amount for the 2031 Notes, 99.779% of the principal amount for the 2033 Notes, 99.969% of the principal amount for the 2036 Notes, 99.821% of the principal amount for the 2046 Notes, 99.921% of the principal amount for the 2056 Notes and 99.916% of the principal amount for the 2066 Notes.

The Offering is being made pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-275814), including a preliminary prospectus supplement dated March 11, 2026 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the prospectus contained therein dated November 30, 2023, filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and a free writing prospectus dated March 11, 2026, filed by the Company with the SEC, pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act. The Offering is expected to close on March 13, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.


The net proceeds from the Offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $24.885 billion. The Company intends to use all of these net proceeds to repurchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the ASR Agreements.

The Underwriting Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants by the Company. It also provides for customary indemnification by each of the Company and the respective Underwriters against certain liabilities arising out of or in connection with the Offering and for customary contribution provisions in respect of those liabilities.

Please refer to the Prospectus Supplement for additional information regarding the Offering and the terms and conditions thereof. The foregoing summary of the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 1.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Five-Year Credit Agreement

On March 11, 2026, the Company entered into a Five-Year Credit Agreement with the lenders named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other parties from time to time party thereto (the “Five-Year Credit Agreement”).

Pursuant to the terms of the Five-Year Credit Agreement, the lenders thereunder provided the Company with $6 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured term loans, the proceeds of which were used to fund the repayment in full of borrowings under the Company’s (i) $4 billion term loan facility pursuant to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated June 20, 2025, by and among the Company, the lenders named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other parties from time to time party thereto, and (ii) the Company’s $2 billion term loan facility under the Three-Year Credit Agreement, dated June 20, 2025, by and among the Company, the lenders named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other parties from time to time party thereto, and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the repayment of such borrowings. The loans made under the Five-Year Credit Agreement will mature and be payable in full five years after the date on which they were borrowed.

Borrowings under the Five-Year Credit Agreement bear interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to, at the Company’s option, an alternate base rate or term SOFR rate, in each case, plus an applicable margin calculated based on the Company’s credit ratings. The Company will also pay to the lenders under the Five-Year Credit Agreement certain customary fees.

Voluntary prepayments of the loans under the Five-Year Credit Agreement are permissible without penalty (other than customary SOFR loan breakage), subject to certain conditions pertaining to minimum notice and minimum prepayment amounts.

The Five-Year Credit Agreement contains representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants customary for unsecured financings of this type.

The Five-Year Credit Agreement also contains various events of default (subject to grace periods, as applicable) including, among others: nonpayment of principal, interest or fees; breach of covenants; payment default on, or acceleration under, certain other material indebtedness; inaccuracy of the representations or warranties in any material respect; bankruptcy or insolvency; certain unfunded liabilities under employee benefit plans; certain unsatisfied judgments; certain ERISA-related events; certain changes of control; and the invalidity or unenforceability of the Five-Year Credit Agreement or certain other documents executed in connection therewith.

The foregoing summary of the Five-Year Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Five-Year Credit Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Many of the lenders under the Five-Year Credit Agreement and/or their affiliates have in the past performed, and may in the future from time to time perform, investment banking, financial advisory, lending and/or commercial banking services, or other services for the Company and its subsidiaries (including in connection with the other transactions described in this Current Report on Form 8-K), for which they have received, and may in the future receive, customary compensation and expense reimbursement.

 

Item 2.03

Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The description of the Five-Year Credit Agreement included in Item 1.01 above is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Item 2.03.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

 1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2026, by and among Salesforce, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (acting for themselves and as representatives of the several underwriters named therein).
10.1    Form of Master Confirmation – Uncollared Accelerated Share Repurchase.
10.2    Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2026, by and among Salesforce, Inc., the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File—the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

 


Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “assumes,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “foresees,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “targets,” “will”, “commitments,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company’s current plans, assumptions, beliefs, and expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to the occurrence of many events outside of the Company’s control. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties.

These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the effect of the acquisition of Informatica Inc. (“Informatica”) on our operating results, the market price of our common stock, our ability to retain and hire key personnel and our ability to maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and others with whom we or Informatica do business; our ability to maintain sufficient security levels and service performance, avoid downtime and prevent, detect and remediate performance degradation and security breaches; our ability to secure sufficient data center capacity; our reliance on third-party infrastructure providers, including hardware, software, energy and platform providers and the organizations responsible for the development and maintenance of Internet infrastructure; uncertainties regarding AI technologies and their integration into our product offerings; the evolving landscape related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters; the effect of evolving government regulations, including those related to our industry and providing services on or accessing the Internet, and those addressing ESG matters, data privacy, cybersecurity, cross-border data transfers, government contracting and procurement, and import and export controls; current and potential litigation and regulatory investigations involving us or our industry; our ability to successfully expand or introduce new services and product features, including related to AI and Agentforce; our ability to successfully complete, integrate and realize the benefits from acquisitions or other strategic transactions; uncertainties regarding the pace of change and innovation and our ability to compete in the markets in which we participate; our ability to successfully execute our business strategy and our business plans, including efforts to expand internationally and related risks; our ability to meet our long-term revenue target and profitable growth framework; our ability to predict and meet expectations regarding our operating results and cash flows, including revenue and remaining performance obligation, including as a result of the seasonal nature of our sales cycle and the variability in our results arising from the accounting for term license revenue products and some complex transactions; our ability to predict and limit customer attrition and costs related to those efforts; the demands on our personnel and infrastructure resulting from significant growth in our customer base and operations, including as a result of acquisitions; our real estate and office facilities strategy and related costs and uncertainties; the performance of our strategic investment portfolio, including fluctuations in the fair value of our investments; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; our ability to maintain and enhance our brands; uncertainties regarding the realizability, valuation and potential availability of certain tax assets; the impact of new accounting pronouncements and tax rules; uncertainties affecting our ability to estimate our tax rate; uncertainties regarding the effect of geopolitical events, inflationary pressures, market and macroeconomic volatility, financial institution instability, changes in monetary policy, foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations, uncertainty regarding changes in trade policies, including trade wars, the threat or imposition of tariffs or other trade restrictions as well as any retaliatory actions, and climate change, natural disasters and actual or threatened public health emergencies on our workforce, business, and operating results; uncertainties regarding the impact of expensing stock options and other equity awards; the sufficiency of our capital resources, including our ability to execute our share repurchase program and declare future cash dividends; our ability to comply with our debt covenants and lease obligations; uncertainties regarding impacts to our workforce and workplace culture, such as those arising from our current and future office environments or remote work policies or our ability to realize the expected benefits of the Company’s restructuring initiatives; and the anticipated closing of, and use of the net proceeds from, the Offering. These and other risks and uncertainties may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

For additional information about other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company’s periodic reports and other filings with the SEC, including the risk factors identified in the Company’s most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, available at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements included in this Current Report on Form 8-K are made only as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these risks and uncertainties. Investors and others are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.

 


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Salesforce, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Robin Washington

  Robin Washington
  President and Chief Operating and Financial Officer

Dated: March 12, 2026

Exhibit 1.1

Execution Version

SALESFORCE, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

$3,500,000,000 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028

$4,250,000,000 4.650% Senior Notes due 2029

$3,750,000,000 4.900% Senior Notes due 2031

$2,750,000,000 5.200% Senior Notes due 2033

$4,500,000,000 5.550% Senior Notes due 2036

$1,500,000,000 6.400% Senior Notes due 2046

$3,750,000,000 6.550% Senior Notes due 2056

$1,000,000,000 6.700% Senior Notes due 2066


UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Dated: March 11, 2026

 

 

 

 

 


SALESFORCE, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

$3,500,000,000 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028

$4,250,000,000 4.650% Senior Notes due 2029

$3,750,000,000 4.900% Senior Notes due 2031

$2,750,000,000 5.200% Senior Notes due 2033

$4,500,000,000 5.550% Senior Notes due 2036

$1,500,000,000 6.400% Senior Notes due 2046

$3,750,000,000 6.550% Senior Notes due 2056

$1,000,000,000 6.700% Senior Notes due 2066

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

March 11, 2026

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

BofA Securities, Inc.

Barclays Capital Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto

 

c/o

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

270 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

c/o

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

 

c/o

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

 

c/o

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

 

c/o

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

 

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Ladies and Gentlemen:

Salesforce, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”), acting severally and not jointly, the respective principal amounts set forth in such Schedule A of the Company’s 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), 4.650% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”), 4.900% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”), 5.200% Senior Notes due 2033 (the “2033 Notes”), 5.550% Senior Notes due 2036 (the “2036 Notes”), 6.400% Senior Notes due 2046 (the “2046 Notes”), 6.550% Senior Notes due 2056 (the “2056 Notes”) and 6.700% Senior Notes due 2066 (the “2066 Notes” and, together with the 2028 Notes, the 2029 Notes, the 2031 Notes, the 2033 Notes, the 2036 Notes, the 2046 Notes and the 2056 Notes, the “Notes”). J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.

The Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of April 11, 2018 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”). Certain terms of the Notes will be established pursuant to a supplemental indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Time, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture”), to the Base Indenture (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Notes will be issued in book-entry form in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”).

The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an “automatic shelf registration statement”, as defined under Rule 405 (“Rule 405”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on Form S-3 (File No. 333-275814) covering the public offering and sale of certain securities of the Company, including the Notes, under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), which automatic shelf registration statement became effective under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 462(e)”). Such registration statement, as of any time, means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto at such time, including the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 430B”), and is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.” Each preliminary prospectus supplement and the base prospectus used in connection with the offering of the Notes, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), are collectively referred to herein as a “preliminary prospectus.” Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a final prospectus supplement relating to the Notes in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 424(b)”). The final prospectus supplement and the base prospectus, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act immediately prior to the Applicable Time, are collectively referred to herein as the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or any successor system) (“EDGAR”).

 

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As used in this Agreement:

Applicable Time” means 4:40 P.M., New York City time, on March 11, 2026.

General Disclosure Package” means each Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus and the most recent preliminary prospectus furnished to the Underwriters for general distribution to investors prior to the Applicable Time, all considered together.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including, without limitation, any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) relating to the Notes that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Notes or of the offering thereof that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B hereto.

Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the Applicable Time; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”) incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, at or after the Applicable Time and prior to the date of such amendment or supplement.

The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time and the Closing Time (as defined below), and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i) Compliance of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Incorporated Documents. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3ASR under the Securities Act Regulations. The Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement under Rule 405 and has become effective under the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been

 

3


issued under the Securities Act, no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 401(g)(2)”) has been received by the Company, and to the Company’s knowledge, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued by the Commission and no Commission proceedings for any of those purposes have been, to the knowledge of the Company instituted or are pending. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information relating to the Registration Statement. In addition, the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time of its effectiveness and as of each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2), complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations and the Trust Indenture Act. Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations and the Trust Indenture Act.

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act or statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any of the Underwriters through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 6(b) hereof (the “Underwriter Information”).

(ii) Accurate Disclosure. Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time or at the Closing Time, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. At the Applicable Time, neither (A) the General Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or at the Closing Time, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective or when such incorporated documents were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not, does not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

4


The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act or statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto or the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information so furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the Underwriter Information.

(iii) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, that has not been superseded or modified. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives and has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict. The foregoing two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the Underwriter Information.

(iv) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Time and the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Notes, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes other than the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representatives and listed on Schedule B hereto or any electronic road show or other written communications by the Company reviewed and consented to by the Representatives and listed on Schedule C hereto (each a “Company Additional Written Communication”). Each such Company Additional Written Communication, when taken together with the Disclosure Package, did not, and at the Closing Time will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Company Additional Written Communications based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the Underwriter Information.

(v) Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (A) At the original effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Notes in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163, (D) at the date of this Agreement and (E) at the Applicable Time, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer”, as defined in Rule 405.

 

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(vi) Company Not Ineligible Issuer. (A) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, (B) at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act Regulations) of the Notes, (C) at the date of this Agreement and (D) at the Applicable Time, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.

(vii) Incorporation of Documents by Reference. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply, as the case may be, in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations.

(viii) Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(ix) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates of the most recent consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (A) there has not occurred any material adverse change to the financial condition, results of operations or business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as of their respective dates, there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.

(x) Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xi) Significant Subsidiaries. Each of the subsidiaries of the Company which constitute a “significant subsidiary” as of the date hereof is set forth on Schedule E hereto. As used herein, “significant subsidiary” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X as promulgated under the Exchange Act Regulations.

(xii) Capitalization. Since the date of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been any material change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities, options or equity awards referred to in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus).

 

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(xiii) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(xiv) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee according to the requirements of the Indenture, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(xv) Financial Statements. The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements comply as to form in all material respects with the accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in all material respects applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein and in accordance with GAAP. The selected consolidated financial data and the summary consolidated financial information included in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein in all material respects. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus pursuant to Article 11 of Regulation S-X or Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X as such regulations apply to the Company as set forth in Form S-3. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the required information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto in all material respects.

(xvi) Authorization of the Notes. The Notes to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company, at the Closing Time, will have been duly authorized and duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor as provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and will be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture.

 

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(xvii) Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts. (A) Neither the Company nor any of its significant subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational document, (B) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (C) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, assets or operations (each, a “Governmental Entity”), except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Notes hereby and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments, or result in any violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances, or violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries.

(xviii) Absence of Labor Dispute. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xix) Absence of Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any Governmental Entity now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which would, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might, singly or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.

(xx) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Notes hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or for the due execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture or the Notes, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations or the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations or the failure of which to obtain would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.

 

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(xxi) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the applicable Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxii) Title to Property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property owned by them and good title to all other properties owned by them, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (A) are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (B) would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the real and personal property leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, except as would not, singly or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxiii) Possession of Intellectual Property. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess rights to all patents, inventions, works of authorship, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems, methods or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property and intellectual property rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) that are used in the business as now operated by them and as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to own or possess such rights would reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement by third parties of any Intellectual Property owned by the Company, except for infringement that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no action, suit, proceeding or claim by a third party pending, or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened in writing, that (i) challenges the Company’s or any subsidiary’s rights in or to any Intellectual Property owned by the Company or such subsidiary or (ii) claims that the Company or any subsidiary infringes or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property of any person or entity, and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim, in each case that would reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxiv) Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, to Company’s knowledge (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, in each case relating to pollution or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants,

 

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wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or Governmental Entity, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(xxv) Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls. The Company maintains “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined under Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations) and a system of internal accounting controls that complies with Section 13(b)(2) of the Exchange Act in all material respects. Since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, to the Company’s knowledge, (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) has been identified and (2) there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company maintains a system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that is required to file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.

(xxvi) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(xxvii) Payment of Taxes. Except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have filed all tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable U.S. federal, state, local or foreign law (taking into account any extension of the time to file), and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company and its subsidiaries (except for any taxes contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established). The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxviii) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with recognized financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as are customary in the businesses as now conducted by the Company and its subsidiaries, and all such insurance is in full force and effect in all material respects.

(xxix) Investment Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Notes and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

(xxx) Absence of Manipulation. The Company has not taken, nor will the Company take, directly or indirectly, any action which would reasonably be expected, to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any Notes.

(xxxi) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) or a violation in any material respect by such persons of any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure continued compliance therewith.

(xxxii) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”); and to the Company’s knowledge, no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or threatened.

(xxxiii) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“Person”) currently the subject or target of any economic, trade or security sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”); nor is the Company, any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, the Crimea Region and the non-government controlled areas of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk

 

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People’s Republic, or any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065 of the United States, Cuba, Iran and North Korea (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or, to the knowledge of the Company, indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Notes hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any Person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, initial purchaser, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. Since April 24, 2019, the Company and its subsidiaries have not, to the knowledge of the Company, and are not now, to the knowledge of the Company, engaged in any dealings or transactions with any Person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country, in each case in violation of applicable Sanctions.

(xxxiv) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(xxxv) Officer’s Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.

(a) The Notes. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, (i) at a purchase price of 99.820% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 13, 2026 to the Closing Time (as defined below) hereunder, the principal amount of 2028 Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A; (ii) at a purchase price of 99.828% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 13, 2026 to the Closing Time (as defined below) hereunder, the principal amount of 2029 Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A; (iii) at a purchase price of 99.559% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 13, 2026 to the Closing Time (as defined below) hereunder, the principal amount of 2031 Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A; (iv) at a purchase price of 99.479% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 13, 2026 to the Closing Time (as defined below) hereunder, the principal amount of 2033 Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A; (v) at a purchase price of 99.569% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 13, 2026 to the Closing Time (as defined below) hereunder, the principal amount of 2036 Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A; (vi) at a purchase price of 99.221% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 13, 2026 to the Closing Time (as defined below) hereunder, the principal amount of 2046 Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A; (vii) at a purchase price of 99.171% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 13, 2026 to the Closing Time (as defined below) hereunder, the principal amount of 2056 Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A and (viii) at a purchase price of 99.166% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 13, 2026 to the Closing Time (as defined below) hereunder, the principal amount of 2066 Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A.

 

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(b) The Closing Time. Delivery of certificates for the Notes in global form to be purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on March 13, 2026, or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as the Representatives and the Company shall mutually agree (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”).

(c) Public Offering of the Notes. The Representatives hereby advise the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Notes as soon after the Applicable Time as the Representatives, in their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.

(d) Payment for the Notes. Payment for the Notes shall be made to the Company at the Closing Time by wire transfer of immediately available funds to one or more bank accounts designated by the Company.

It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for their respective accounts, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Notes which it has agreed to purchase. The Representatives may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Notes to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

(e) Delivery of the Notes. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters certificates for the Notes at the Closing Time, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The certificates for the Notes shall be in such denominations and registered in such names and denominations as the Representatives shall have requested, in accordance with the requirements of DTC, at least one full business day prior to the Closing Time and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the Closing Time at a location in New York City, as the Representatives may designate.

SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company and the Underwriters. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Compliance with Commission Requests. The Company, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B, and will notify the Representatives immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement relating to the Notes shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus shall have been used or filed, as the case may be, including any document incorporated by reference therein, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any document incorporated by reference therein, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or any notice of objection to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or of the issuance of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Notes for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning

 

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the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Notes. The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop, prevention or suspension order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment. The Company shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Notes within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Securities Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act Regulations (including, if applicable, by updating the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or in the manner specified by Rule 424(g) in a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)).

(b) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Notes is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Notes any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, including, without limitation, any document incorporated therein by reference, in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representatives written notice of such event or condition, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible if the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object except as necessary to comply with law.

(c) Filing or Use of Amendments or Supplements. The Company will give the Representatives written notice of its intention to file or any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations or otherwise, from the Applicable Time to the later of (i) the time when a prospectus relating to the Notes is no longer required by the Securities Act (without giving effect to Rule 172) to be delivered in connection with sales of the Notes and (ii) the Closing Time, other than with respect to filings made in the ordinary course of business under the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations after the Closing Time, and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object except as necessary to comply with law.

 

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(d) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits and consent filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, provided that the Company need not furnish any documents incorporated by reference therein to the extent such documents are at such time available on EDGAR) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters.

(e) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies by the Underwriters for purposes permitted by the Securities Act with respect to Underwriters relating to offerings of Notes.

(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Notes for offering and sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Notes; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(g) Earnings Statements. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Notes in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(i) Restriction on Sale of Notes. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending at the Closing Time, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld at the Representatives’ discretion), (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, or lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, the Notes or any securities that are substantially similar to the Notes, whether owned as of the date hereof or hereafter acquired or with respect to which such person has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, or file, or cause to be filed, any registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Notes or such other securities, whether any such transaction, swap or other agreement described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of any Notes or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to the Notes to be sold hereunder.

 

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(j) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Notes is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Notes, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by, and each such document will meet the requirements of, the Exchange Act and Exchange Act Regulations.

(k) Pricing Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a final term sheet (the “Pricing Term Sheet”) containing only a description of the final terms of the Notes and their offering, in the form approved by the Underwriters and attached as Schedule D hereto, and acknowledges that the Pricing Term Sheet is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and will comply with its related obligations set forth in Section 3(l) hereof. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, a copy of the Pricing Term Sheet promptly upon its completion, which requirement may be satisfied by delivery of the Pricing Term Sheet by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e., a “pdf” or “tif”).

(l) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not make any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; provided that the Representatives will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule B hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representatives. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representatives as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and during the period when a prospectus relating to the Notes is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Notes there occurred or occurs an event or condition as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives in writing and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(m) Eligibility of Automatic Shelf Registration Statement Form. If at any time when Notes remain unsold by the Underwriters the Company receives a notice from the Commission pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form or the Registration Statement, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Notes is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Notes, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representatives, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to such Notes, in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other reasonable action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Notes to continue as contemplated in the Registration Statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the “Registration Statement” shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

 

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(n) No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes.

(o) DTC. The Company will cooperate with the Underwriters and use its reasonable best efforts to permit the Notes to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.

The Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including without limitation (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Notes to the Underwriters, including any transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Notes to the Underwriters, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the preparation and execution by the Company of this Agreement and the Indenture, (v) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (vi) the qualification of the Notes under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto (such amount not to exceed $10,000), (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Notes, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA, if required, of the terms of the sale of the Notes (such amount not to exceed $10,000), (ix) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Notes by the rating agencies, (x) all fees and expenses of the Trustee and any expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Notes, (xi) the fees and expenses of making the Notes eligible for clearance, settlement and trading through the facilities of DTC, (xii) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement, and (xiii) all other fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. Except as provided in this Section 4 and Sections 6, 7 and 9(c) hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement, etc. The Registration Statement was filed by the Company with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof and became effective upon filing in accordance with Rule 462(e). Each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus have been filed as required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) and Rule 433, as applicable, within the time period prescribed by, and in compliance with, the

 

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Securities Act Regulations. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities Act, no notice of objection to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) has been received by the Company, no order by the Commission preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued by the Commission and to the Company’s knowledge, no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information relating to the Registration Statement or the offering of the Notes hereby. The Company shall have paid the required Commission filing fees relating to the Notes within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Securities Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act Regulations and, if applicable, shall have updated the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).

(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the opinion and negative assurance letters, dated the Closing Time, of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, special outside counsel for the Company, substantially in the forms agreed to between Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, special outside counsel for the Company, and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, on or prior to the date hereof. Such counsel may state that, insofar as such letter involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers and other representatives of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion and negative assurance letters, dated the Closing Time, of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters with respect to the matters reasonably requested by the Representatives. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such letter involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers and other representatives of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

(d) Officer’s Certificate. At the Closing Time, (i) since the date hereof or the respective dates of which information is given in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, (ii) there shall not have been, since the date hereof, any decrease in or withdrawal of the rating of any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in or withdrawal of any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, and (iii) the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer or the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (A) there has been no Material Adverse Effect, (B) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement in Section 1 are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (C) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (D) the conditions specified in Section 5(a) hereof have been satisfied.

 

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(e) Accountant’s Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(g) Ratings Letters. At the Closing Time, the Company shall have delivered to the Representatives letters and/or press releases from Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. assigning a rating to the Notes, as of the Closing Time, of no lower than A+ and A2, respectively.

(h) Clearance, Settlement and Trading. Prior to the Closing Time, the Notes shall be eligible for clearance, settlement and trading through the facilities of DTC.

(i) Additional Documents. At the Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such customary documents as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Notes as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained.

(j) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Time, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 9(c) hereof and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of the Securities Act Regulations (each, an “Affiliate”)), officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included (A) in the preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the express written approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Notes (“Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any Marketing Materials of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

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(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or in the preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any Marketing Materials in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 6(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only Underwriter Information is: (A) the names of such Underwriter as presented on the front cover of the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and (B) the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the second paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Commissions and Discounts”; the information contained in the third sentence of the paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—New Issue of Notes”; and the information contained in the first and second paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Short Positions”, each as set forth in the preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus.

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representatives, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the prior written consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel

 

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for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

SECTION 7.Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Notes as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes purchased by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates, officers and directors shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates, officers, directors or any person controlling any Underwriter or the Company’s officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Notes.

SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.

(a) Termination. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by written notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time, (i) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any material adverse change in national or international financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering of the Notes or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Notes, or (ii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange, or (iii) if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other Governmental Entity, or (iv) if a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, or (v) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal, New York or Delaware authorities.

(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 9 hereof, and provided further that Sections 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

(c) Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 5 or Section 9(a)(ii), or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Notes at the Closing Time is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse

 

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the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all documented out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Notes, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.

SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time to purchase the Notes which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters. No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

SECTION 11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives, care of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, attention of Investment, Grade Syndicate Desk, fax (212) 834-6081, care of BofA Securities, Inc. at 114 West 47th Street, NY8-114-07-01, New York, New York 10036, Facsimile: 212-901-7881, attention of High Grade Debt Capital Markets Transaction Management/Legal, care of Barclays Capital Inc. at 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, attention of Syndicate Registration (fax: 646-834-8133), care of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at 388 Greenwich Street, New York NY 10013, attention of General Counsel, fax: 646-291-1469 and care of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202, Attention: Transaction Management, Email: [email protected]; and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at Salesforce, Inc., Salesforce Tower, 415 Mission Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, California 94105, attention of Chief Legal Officer.

SECTION 12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the initial public offering price of the Notes and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the Notes, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Notes (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or any of its subsidiaries on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering of the Notes except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, financial, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Notes and the Company has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

 

23


SECTION 13. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

For purposes of this Section 13, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

SECTION 14. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons, Affiliates, officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons, Affiliates, officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Notes from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 15. Trial by Jury. Each of the Company and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 16. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS.

SECTION 17. Consent to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the

 

24


enforcement of a judgment of any Specified Court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or proceeding brought in any Specified Court. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

SECTION 18. TIME. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

SECTION 20. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 21. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

SECTION 22. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not become effective until the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.

Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 6 and the contribution provisions of Section 7, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

[Signature pages follow]

 

25


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
SALESFORCE, INC.
By:   /s/ Robin Washington

Name:

  Robin Washington

Title:

  President and Chief Operating and Financial Officer

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

as of the date first above written:

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

 

By: J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

By:  

/s/ Robert Bottamedi

 

Name: Robert Bottamedi

 

Title: Executive Director

By: BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

By:  

/s/ Cody Kiechle

 

Name: Cody Kiechle

 

Title: Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


By: BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

By:

 

/s/ Matt Gannon

 

Name: Matt Gannon

 

Title: Managing Director

By: CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

By:

 

/s/ Adam D. Bordner

 

Name: Adam D. Bordner

 

Title: Managing Director

By: WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

By:

 

/s/ Carolyn Hurley

 

Name: Carolyn Hurley

 

Title: Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

 

    Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes Purchased  
    2028 Notes     2029 Notes     2031 Notes     2033 Notes     2036 Notes     2046 Notes     2056 Notes     2066 Notes  

Underwriters

               

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC………

  $ 525,000,000     $ 637,500,000     $ 562,500,000     $ 412,500,000     $ 675,000,000     $ 225,000,000     $ 562,500,000     $ 150,000,000  

BofA Securities, Inc.………………..

    385,000,000       467,500,000       412,500,000       302,500,000       495,000,000       165,000,000       412,500,000       110,000,000  

Barclays Capital Inc.………………..

    332,500,000       403,750,000       356,250,000       261,250,000       427,500,000       142,500,000       356,250,000       95,000,000  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.……

    332,500,000       403,750,000       356,250,000       261,250,000       427,500,000       142,500,000       356,250,000       95,000,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC……….

    332,500,000       403,750,000       356,250,000       261,250,000       427,500,000       142,500,000       356,250,000       95,000,000  

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc………

    237,125,000       287,938,000       254,063,000       186,312,000       304,875,000       101,625,000       254,062,000       67,750,000  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC………

    237,125,000       287,938,000       254,063,000       186,312,000       304,875,000       101,625,000       254,062,000       67,750,000  

Santander US Capital Markets LLC..

    237,125,000       287,938,000       254,063,000       186,312,000       304,875,000       101,625,000       254,062,000       67,750,000  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC………..

    183,750,000       223,125,000       196,875,000       144,375,000       236,250,000       78,750,000       196,875,000       52,500,000  

BNP Paribas Securities Corp

    149,625,000       181,687,000       160,312,000       117,563,000       192,375,000       64,125,000       160,313,000       42,750,000  

TD Securities (USA) LLC…

    149,625,000       181,687,000       160,312,000       117,563,000       192,375,000       64,125,000       160,313,000       42,750,000  

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc…….

    149,625,000       181,687,000       160,312,000       117,563,000       192,375,000       64,125,000       160,313,000       42,750,000  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC……….

    77,000,000       93,500,000       82,500,000       60,500,000       99,000,000       33,000,000       82,500,000       22,000,000  

MUFG Securities Americas Inc…

    77,000,000       93,500,000       82,500,000       60,500,000       99,000,000       33,000,000       82,500,000       22,000,000  

PNC Capital Markets LLC………

    77,000,000       93,500,000       82,500,000       60,500,000       99,000,000       33,000,000       82,500,000       22,000,000  

Academy Securities, Inc…………

    8,750,000       10,625,000       9,375,000       6,875,000       11,250,000       3,750,000       9,375,000       2,500,000  

Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

    8,750,000       10,625,000       9,375,000       6,875,000       11,250,000       3,750,000       9,375,000       2,500,000  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 3,500,000,000     $ 4,250,000,000     $ 3,750,000,000     $ 2,750,000,000     $ 4,500,000,000     $ 1,500,000,000     $ 3,750,000,000     $ 1,000,000,000  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Sch A


SCHEDULE B

Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses

 

  1.

Pricing Term Sheet

 

Sch B


SCHEDULE C

Electronic Road Shows and Other Written Communications

 

  1.

Investor Presentation available to investors on NetRoadshow.com

 

Sch C


SCHEDULE D

SALESFORCE, INC.

PRICING TERM SHEET

[Attached]

 

Sch D


Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Registration Statement No. 333-275814

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus dated March 11, 2026

Relating to Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated March 11, 2026

SALESFORCE, INC.

PRICING TERM SHEET

March 11, 2026

$3,500,000,000 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028

$4,250,000,000 4.650% Senior Notes due 2029

$3,750,000,000 4.900% Senior Notes due 2031

$2,750,000,000 5.200% Senior Notes due 2033

$4,500,000,000 5.550% Senior Notes due 2036

$1,500,000,000 6.400% Senior Notes due 2046

$3,750,000,000 6.550% Senior Notes due 2056

$1,000,000,000 6.700% Senior Notes due 2066

 

Issuer:    Salesforce, Inc. (the “Company”)
Trade Date:    March 11, 2026
Expected Settlement Date**:    March 13, 2026 (T+2)
Denominations:    $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof
Ratings (Moody’s / S&P)*:    [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
Joint Book-Running Managers:   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

BofA Securities, Inc.
Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Bookrunners:   

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Santander US Capital Markets LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Senior Co-Managers:   

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

TD Securities (USA) LLC

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

 

1


Co-Managers:   

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

Academy Securities, Inc.

Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

Title:   

4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”)

 

4.650% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”)

 

4.900% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”)

 

5.200% Senior Notes due 2033 (the “2033 Notes”)

 

5.550% Senior Notes due 2036 (the “2036 Notes”)

 

6.400% Senior Notes due 2046 (the “2046 Notes”)

 

6.550% Senior Notes due 2056 (the “2056 Notes”)

 

6.700% Senior Notes due 2066 (the “2066 Notes” and, together with the 2028 Notes, the 2029 Notes, the 2031 Notes, the 2033 Notes, the 2036 Notes, the 2046 Notes and the 2056 Notes, the “Notes”)

Principal Amount:   

2028 Notes: $3,500,000,000

 

2029 Notes: $4,250,000,000

 

2031 Notes: $3,750,000,000

 

2033 Notes: $2,750,000,000

 

2036 Notes: $4,500,000,000

 

2046 Notes: $1,500,000,000

 

2056 Notes: $3,750,000,000

 

2066 Notes: $1,000,000,000

 

2


Maturity Date:   

2028 Notes: March 15, 2028

 

2029 Notes: March 15, 2029

 

2031 Notes: September 15, 2031

 

2033 Notes: March 15, 2033

 

2036 Notes: March 15, 2036

 

2046 Notes: March 15, 2046

 

2056 Notes: March 15, 2056

 

2066 Notes: March 15, 2066

Coupon (Interest Rate):   

2028 Notes: 4.500%

 

2029 Notes: 4.650%

 

2031 Notes: 4.900%

 

2033 Notes: 5.200%

 

2036 Notes: 5.550%

 

2046 Notes: 6.400%

 

2056 Notes: 6.550%

 

2066 Notes: 6.700%

Yield to Maturity:   

2028 Notes: 4.542%

 

2029 Notes: 4.658%

 

2031 Notes: 4.940%

 

2033 Notes: 5.238%

 

2036 Notes: 5.554%

 

2046 Notes: 6.416%

 

2056 Notes: 6.556%

 

2066 Notes: 6.706%

 

3


Spread to Benchmark Treasury:   

2028 Notes: 90 basis points

 

2029 Notes: 100 basis points

 

2031 Notes: 115 basis points

 

2033 Notes: 125 basis points

 

2036 Notes: 135 basis points

 

2046 Notes: 160 basis points

 

2056 Notes: 170 basis points

 

2066 Notes: 185 basis points

Benchmark Treasury:   

2028 Notes: 3.375% due February 29, 2028

 

2029 Notes: 3.500% due February 15, 2029

 

2031 Notes: 3.500% due February 28, 2031

 

2033 Notes: 3.750% due February 28, 2033

 

2036 Notes: 4.125% due February 15, 2036

 

2046 Notes: 4.625% due February 15, 2046

 

2056 Notes: 4.625% due November 15, 2055

 

2066 Notes: 4.625% due November 15, 2055

Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield:   

2028 Notes: 99-15 7/8 / 3.642%

 

2029 Notes: 99-18 / 3.658%

 

2031 Notes: 98-22 1/4 / 3.790%

 

2033 Notes: 98-18 / 3.988%

 

2036 Notes: 99-11+ / 4.204%

 

2046 Notes: 97-18 / 4.816%

 

2056 Notes: 96-12 / 4.856%

 

2066 Notes: 96-12 / 4.856%

 

4


Interest Payment Dates:    Semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2026
Day Count Convention:    30/360
Record Dates:    March 1 and September 1
Price to Public:   

2028 Notes: 99.920% of the principal amount

 

2029 Notes: 99.978% of the principal amount

 

2031 Notes: 99.809% of the principal amount

 

2033 Notes: 99.779% of the principal amount

 

2036 Notes: 99.969% of the principal amount

 

2046 Notes: 99.821% of the principal amount

 

2056 Notes: 99.921% of the principal amount

 

2066 Notes: 99.916% of the principal amount

Optional Redemption:   

Prior to the applicable Par Call Date (described below), make-whole call at Treasury rate plus 15 basis points, in the case of the 2028 Notes, 15 basis points, in the case of the 2029 Notes, 20 basis points, in the case of the 2031 Notes, 20 basis points, in the case of the 2033 Notes, 25 basis points, in the case of the 2036 Notes, 25 basis points, in the case of the 2046 Notes, 30 basis points, in the case of the 2056 Notes, and 30 basis points, in the case of the 2066 Notes.

 

Par call at any time on or after the applicable Par Call Date.

Par Call Date:   

2028 Notes: February 15, 2028 (one month prior to the maturity date of the 2028 Notes)

 

2029 Notes: February 15, 2029 (one month prior to the maturity date of the 2029 Notes)

 

2031 Notes: August 15, 2031 (one month prior to the maturity date of the 2031 Notes)

 

5


  

2033 Notes: January 15, 2033 (two months prior to the maturity date of the 2033 Notes)

 

2036 Notes: December 15, 2035 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2036 Notes)

 

2046 Notes: September 15, 2045 (six months prior to the maturity date of the 2046 Notes)

 

2056 Notes: September 15, 2055 (six months prior to the maturity date of the 2056 Notes)

 

2066 Notes: September 15, 2065 (six months prior to the maturity date of the 2066 Notes)

CUSIP / ISIN:   

2028 Notes: 79466LAQ7 / US79466LAQ77

 

2029 Notes: 79466LAR5 / US79466LAR50

 

2031 Notes: 79466LAS3 / US79466LAS34

 

2033 Notes: 79466LAT1 / US79466LAT17

 

2036 Notes: 79466LAU8 / US79466LAU89

 

2046 Notes: 79466LAV6 / US79466LAV62

 

2056 Notes: 79466LAW4 / US79466LAW46

 

2066 Notes: 79466LAX2 / US79466LAX29

 

*

Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.

**

Note: We expect that delivery of the notes will be made to investors on or about March 13, 2026, which will be the second business day following the date of the pricing of the notes (such settlement being referred to as “T+2”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade such notes prior to the first business day before the scheduled settlement date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes will initially settle in T+2, to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes prior to their date of delivery hereunder should consult their advisors.

 

6


The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus if you request it by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 1-212-834-4533 (collect); BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-294-1322; Barclays Capital Inc. toll-free at 1-888-603-5847; Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at 1-800-831-9146; or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at 1-800-645-3751.

Any disclaimer or other notice that may appear below is not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such disclaimer or notice was automatically generated as a result of this communication being sent by Bloomberg or another email system.

 

7


SCHEDULE E

Significant Subsidiaries

 

Legal Entity    Entity Country
SFDC International Holding B.V.    Netherlands
SFDC Ireland Limited    Ireland

 

Sch E

Exhibit 10.1

[DEALER]

[________]

March 11, 2026

To:

Salesforce, Inc.

Salesforce Tower

415 Mission Street, 3rd Fl

San Francisco, California 94105

Telephone No.: [__]

Email Address: [__]

 

Re:

Master Confirmation—Uncollared Accelerated Share Repurchase

This master confirmation (this “Master Confirmation”), dated as of March 11, 2026, is intended to set forth certain terms and provisions of certain Transactions (each, a “Transaction”) entered into from time to time between [DEALER] (“Dealer”) and Salesforce, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Counterparty”). This Master Confirmation, taken alone, is neither a commitment by either party to enter into any Transaction nor evidence of a Transaction. The additional terms of any particular Transaction shall be set forth in a Supplemental Confirmation in the form of Schedule A hereto (a “Supplemental Confirmation”), which shall reference this Master Confirmation and supplement, form a part of, and be subject to this Master Confirmation. This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation together shall constitute a “Confirmation” as referred to in the Agreement specified below.

The definitions and provisions contained in the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”), as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., are incorporated into this Master Confirmation. This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation evidence a complete binding agreement between Counterparty and Dealer as to the subject matter and terms of each Transaction to which this Master Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation relate and shall supersede all prior or contemporaneous written or oral communications with respect thereto.

This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation supplement, form a part of, and are subject to an agreement in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “Agreement”) as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed the Agreement on the date of this Master Confirmation (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of New York law as the governing law (without reference to its choice of law provisions), (ii) the election that subparagraph (ii) of Section 2(c) will not apply to the Transactions) and (iii) the election that the “Cross-Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) of the Agreement will apply to Dealer as if (w) the phrase “, or becoming capable at such time of being declared,” were deleted from Section 5(a)(vi)(1) of the Agreement, (x) the “Threshold Amount” with respect to Dealer were three percent (3%) of shareholders’ equity of [Dealer][Dealer’s ultimate parent entity] as of the Trade Date, (y) “Specified Indebtedness” had the meaning specified in Section 14 of the Agreement, except that such term shall not include obligations in respect of deposits received in the ordinary course of Dealer’s banking business and (z) the following language were added to the end of such Section 5(a)(vi): “Notwithstanding the foregoing, a default under subsection (2) hereof shall not constitute an Event of Default if (1) the default was caused solely by error or omission of an administrative or operational nature; (2) funds were available to enable the party to make the payment when due; and (3) the payment is made within two Local Business Days of such party’s receipt of written notice of its failure to pay.”).

The Transactions shall be the sole Transactions under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between Dealer and Counterparty or any confirmation or other agreement between Dealer and Counterparty pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between Dealer and Counterparty, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which Dealer and Counterparty are parties, the Transactions shall not be considered Transactions under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed ISDA Master Agreement, and the occurrence of any Event of Default or Termination Event under the Agreement with respect to either party or any Transaction shall not, by itself, give rise to any right or obligation under any such other agreement or deemed agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other agreement between the parties or their Affiliates, the Transactions shall not be “Specified Transactions” (or similarly treated) under any other agreement between the parties or their Affiliates.


All provisions contained or incorporated by reference in the Agreement shall govern this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified herein or in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

If, in relation to any Transaction to which this Master Confirmation and a Supplemental Confirmation relate, there is any inconsistency between the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, such Supplemental Confirmation and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail for purposes of such Transaction in the order of precedence indicated: (i) such Supplemental Confirmation; (ii) this Master Confirmation; (iii) the Equity Definitions; and (iv) the Agreement.

1. Each Transaction constitutes a Share Forward Transaction for the purposes of the Equity Definitions. Set forth below are the terms and conditions that, together with the terms and conditions set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation relating to any Transaction, shall govern such Transaction.

General Terms.

 

Trade Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Buyer:

   Counterparty

Seller:

   Dealer

Shares:

   The common stock of Counterparty, par value USD 0.001 per share (Exchange symbol “CRM”).

Exchange:

   The New York Stock Exchange

Related Exchange(s):

   All Exchanges.

Prepayment/Variable Obligation:

   Applicable

Prepayment Amount:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Prepayment Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.
Valuation.   

VWAP Price:

   For any Exchange Business Day, the volume-weighted average price at which the Shares trade as reported in the composite transactions for United States exchanges and quotation systems, during the regular trading session for the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day as published by Bloomberg at 4:15 p.m. New York time (or 15 minutes following the end of any extension of the regular trading session) on Bloomberg Page “CRM US <Equity> AQR SEC” (or any successor thereto), absent manifest error or unavailability of such page or successor thereto, in which case the Calculation Agent shall determine the VWAP Price in a commercially reasonable manner for such Exchange Business Day using, if practicable, a volume-weighted methodology, based on Rule 10b-18 Eligible Transactions in the Shares on such day. “Rule 10b-18 Eligible Transactions” means only such trades that are reported during the period of time during which Counterparty could purchase its own shares under Rule 10b-18(b)(2) and are effected pursuant to the conditions of Rule 10b-18(b)(3), each under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

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Forward Price:

   For each Transaction, the arithmetic average of the VWAP Prices for all of the Calculation Dates in the Calculation Period for such Transaction, subject to “Valuation Disruption” below.

Forward Price Adjustment Amount:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Calculation Period:

   For each Transaction, the period from, and including, the Calculation Period Start Date for such Transaction to, and including, the Termination Date for such Transaction.

Calculation Period Start Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Termination Date:

   For each Transaction, the Scheduled Termination Date for such Transaction.

Calculation Dates:

   For each Transaction, each date that is both an Exchange Business Day and is set forth as a Calculation Date in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Scheduled Termination Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation, subject to postponement as provided in “Valuation Disruption” below.

Exchange Business Day:

   For each Transaction, as defined in Section 1.29 of the Equity Definitions; provided that any Exchange Business Day on which, as of the Trade Date for such Transaction, the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its normal close of trading shall be deemed not to be an Exchange Business Day for such Transaction. If a closure of the Exchange prior to its normal close of trading on any Exchange Business Day is scheduled following the Trade Date for a Transaction, then such Exchange Business Day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full in respect of such Transaction and shall be subject to Valuation Disruption below. If a closure of the Exchange for a full day is scheduled following the Trade Date for a Transaction, then such day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full in respect of such Transaction and shall be subject to Valuation Disruption below.

Valuation Disruption:

   The definition of “Market Disruption Event” in Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be” and inserting the words “at any time on any Scheduled Trading Day during the Calculation Period or the Settlement Valuation Period” after the word “material,” in the third line thereof.

 

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   Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.
   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, if a Disrupted Day occurs (i) on any scheduled Calculation Date in the Calculation Period, the Calculation Agent may, in its good faith and commercially reasonable discretion, postpone the Scheduled Termination Date by one Calculation Date for every Disrupted Day that occurs on a scheduled Calculation Date, or (ii) on any scheduled Calculation Date in the Settlement Valuation Period, the Calculation Agent may extend the Settlement Valuation Period by one Calculation Date for each Disrupted Day. The Calculation Agent may also determine that (i) such Disrupted Day is a Disrupted Day in full, in which case the VWAP Price for such Disrupted Day shall not be included for purposes of determining the Forward Price or the Settlement Price, as the case may be, or (ii) such Disrupted Day is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case the VWAP Price for such Disrupted Day shall be determined by the Calculation Agent based on Rule 10b-18 Eligible Transactions in the Shares on such Disrupted Day taking into account the nature and duration of the relevant Market Disruption Event, and the weighting of the VWAP Price for the relevant Calculation Dates during the Calculation Period or the Settlement Valuation Period, as the case may be, shall be adjusted in a commercially reasonable manner by the Calculation Agent for purposes of determining the Forward Price or the Settlement Price, as the case may be, with such adjustments based on factors limited to the duration of any Market Disruption Event and the volume, historical trading patterns and price of the Shares.
   If a Disrupted Day occurs during the Calculation Period for any Transaction or the Settlement Valuation Period for any Transaction, as the case may be, and each of the nine immediately following Calculation Dates is a Disrupted Day (a “Disruption Event”), then the Calculation Agent, in its good faith and commercially reasonable discretion, may deem such Disruption Event (and each consecutive Disrupted Day thereafter) to be either (x) a Potential Adjustment Event in respect of such Transaction or (y) an Additional Termination Event in respect of such Transaction, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and such Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction.
Settlement Terms.   

Settlement Procedures:

   For each Transaction:
  

(i) if the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Transaction is positive, Physical Settlement shall be applicable to such Transaction; provided that Dealer does not, and shall not, make the agreement or the representations set forth in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions related to the restrictions imposed by applicable securities laws with respect to any Shares delivered by Dealer to Counterparty under any Transaction; or

 

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(ii)  if the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Transaction is negative, then the Counterparty Settlement Provisions in Annex A hereto shall apply to such Transaction.

Number of Shares to be Delivered:

   For each Transaction, a number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole number) equal to (a)(i) the Prepayment Amount for such Transaction, divided by (ii)(A) the Forward Price for such Transaction minus (B) the Forward Price Adjustment Amount for such Transaction, minus (b) the number of Initial Shares for such Transaction; provided that if the result of the calculation in clause (a)(ii) is equal to or less than the Floor Price for such Transaction, then the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Transaction shall be determined as if clause (a)(ii) were replaced with “(ii) the Floor Price for such Transaction”. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Forward Price Adjustment Amount for any Transaction is a negative number, clause (a)(ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be equal to (A) the Forward Price for such Transaction, plus (B) the absolute value of the Forward Price Adjustment Amount.

Floor Price:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Excess Dividend Amount:

   For the avoidance of doubt, all references to the Excess Dividend Amount shall be deleted from Section 9.2(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions.

Settlement Date:

   For each Transaction, if the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Transaction is positive, the date that is one Settlement Cycle immediately following the Termination Date for such Transaction (the “Final Settlement Date”).

Settlement Currency:

   USD

Initial Share Delivery:

   For each Transaction, Dealer shall deliver a number of Shares equal to the Initial Shares for such Transaction to Counterparty on the Initial Share Delivery Date for such Transaction in accordance with Section 9.4 of the Equity Definitions, with such Initial Share Delivery Date deemed to be a “Settlement Date” for purposes of such Section 9.4.

Initial Share Delivery Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Initial Shares:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

 

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Share Adjustments.   

Potential Adjustment Event:

   In addition to the events described in Section 11.2(e) of the Equity Definitions, it shall constitute an additional Potential Adjustment Event if (w) the Scheduled Termination Date for any Transaction is postponed pursuant to “Valuation Disruption” above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to Section 7 hereof), (x) a Regulatory Disruption as described in Section 7 hereof occurs, (y) a Disruption Event occurs or (z) a Disrupted Day in full occurs on a day that is not a scheduled Calculation Date in the Calculation Period. In the case of any event described in clause (w), (x), (y) or (z) above occurs, the Calculation Agent may, in its commercially reasonable discretion, adjust any relevant terms of such Transaction as necessary to preserve as nearly as practicable the fair value of such Transaction to Dealer prior to such postponement, Regulatory Disruption, Disruption Event or Disrupted Day, as the case may be (in the case of a Disrupted Day, taking into account, if applicable, whether the Calculation Period had fewer Exchange Business Days than originally anticipated); provided that the Calculation Agent shall not (x) adjust any of the dates identified as Calculation Dates in the related Supplemental Confirmation or (y) add any Calculation Dates as a result of a Disrupted Day occurring on a day other than a scheduled Calculation Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 11.2(e) of the Equity Definitions, an Extraordinary Dividend shall not constitute a Potential Adjustment Event.

Excess Dividend:

   For any fiscal quarter of Counterparty, any dividend or distribution on the Shares with an ex-dividend date occurring during such fiscal quarter (other than any dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions or any Extraordinary Dividend) (a “Dividend”) the amount or value of which per Share (as determined by the Calculation Agent), when aggregated with the amount or value (as determined by the Calculation Agent) of any and all previous Dividends with ex-dividend dates occurring in the same fiscal quarter, exceeds the Ordinary Dividend Amount. “Extraordinary Dividend” means the per Share cash dividend or distribution, or a portion thereof, declared by Counterparty on the Shares that is classified by the board of directors of Counterparty as an “extraordinary” dividend.

Consequences of Excess Dividend:

   The declaration by the Issuer of any Excess Dividend, the ex-dividend date for which occurs or is scheduled to occur during the Relevant Dividend Period for any Transaction, may, at Dealer’s election in its sole reasonable discretion, either (x) constitute an Additional Termination Event in respect of such Transaction, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and such Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction or (y) result in an adjustment, by the Calculation Agent, to the Floor Price as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate to preserve the fair value of such Transaction after taking into account such Excess Dividend. The amount payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement in respect of such Additional Termination Event shall be determined without regard to the difference between actual dividends declared (including Extraordinary Dividends) and expected dividends as of the Trade Date.

 

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Ordinary Dividend Amount:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Method of Adjustment:

   Calculation Agent Adjustment

Agreement Regarding Dividends:

   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions or the Agreement to the contrary, in calculating any adjustment pursuant to Article 11 of the Equity Definitions or any amount payable in respect of any termination or cancellation of the Transaction pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6 of the Agreement, the Dealer shall not take into account changes to any dividends since the Trade Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Early Termination Date occurs in respect of the Transaction, the amount payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement in respect of such Early Termination Date shall be determined without regard to the difference between actual dividends declared (including Extraordinary Dividends) and expected dividends as of the Trade Date.

Early Ordinary Dividend Payment:

   For each Transaction, if an ex-dividend date for any Dividend that is not (x) an Excess Dividend, (y) a dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions or (z) an Extraordinary Dividend, occurs during any fiscal quarter of Counterparty occurring (in whole or in part) during the Relevant Dividend Period for such Transaction and is prior to the Scheduled Ex-Dividend Date for such Transaction for the relevant fiscal quarter (as determined by the Calculation Agent), the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustment in a commercially reasonable manner to the exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of the relevant Transaction as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate to preserve the fair value of such Transaction after taking into account the economic effect solely due to the timing of such Dividend.

Scheduled Ex-Dividend Dates:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation for each fiscal quarter of Counterparty.

Relevant Dividend Period:

   For each Transaction, the period from, and including, the Trade Date for such Transaction to, and including, the Relevant Dividend Period End Date for such Transaction.

Relevant Dividend Period End Date:

   For each Transaction, if the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Transaction is negative, the last day of the Settlement Valuation Period; otherwise, the Termination Date for such Transaction.

 

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Extraordinary Events.   

Consequences of Merger Events:

  

(a) Share-for-Share:

   Cancellation and Payment

(b) Share-for-Other:

   Cancellation and Payment

(c) Share-for-Combined:

   Cancellation and Payment

Tender Offer:

   Applicable; provided that (a) Section 12.1(d) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by replacing “10%” in the third line thereof with “20%”, (b) Section 12.1(l) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting the parenthetical in the fifth line thereof, (ii) replacing “that” in the fifth line thereof with “whether or not such announcement” and (iii) adding immediately after the words “Tender Offer” in the fifth line thereof “, and any publicly announced change or amendment to such an announcement (including, without limitation, the announcement of an abandonment of such intention)” and (c) Sections 12.3(a) and 12.3(d) of the Equity Definitions shall each be amended by replacing each occurrence of the words “Tender Offer Date” by “Announcement Date.”

Consequences of Tender Offers:

  

(a) Share-for-Share:

   Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

(b) Share-for-Other:

   Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

(c) Share-for-Combined:

   Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:

   Cancellation and Payment; provided that in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall be deemed to be the Exchange.

Additional Disruption Events:

  

(a) Change in Law:

   Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) replacing the word “Shares” where it appears in clause (X) thereof with the words “Hedge Positions” and (iii) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date”; provided further that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing the parenthetical beginning after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof with the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, (x) any tax law or (y) adoption or promulgation of new regulations

 

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   authorized or mandated by existing statute)”. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, a Change in Law described in clause (Y) of Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions shall not constitute a Change in Law and instead shall constitute an Increased Cost of Hedging as described in Section 12.9(a)(vi) of the Equity Definitions. Any determination by Dealer as to the occurrence of a Change in Law under any Transaction shall be made in a nondiscriminatory manner across all accelerated share repurchase transactions similar to the Transactions with counterparties similar to Counterparty to which Dealer (or an affiliate thereof) is a party.

(b) Failure to Deliver:

   Applicable

(c) Insolvency Filing:

   Applicable

(d) Loss of Stock Borrow:

   Applicable

Maximum Stock Loan Rate:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

(e) Hedging Disruption:

   Applicable

(f) Increased Cost of Hedging:

   Applicable solely with respect to a “Change in Law” described in clause (Y) of Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions as set forth in the penultimate sentence opposite the caption “Change in Law” above.

(g) Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:

   Applicable

Initial Stock Loan Rate:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Hedging Party:

   For all applicable events, Dealer.

Determining Party:

   For all applicable events, Dealer.
Hedging Adjustments:    For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent, Hedging Party or Determining Party is called upon to make an adjustment, calculation or determination pursuant to the terms of this Master Confirmation or the Equity Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent, Hedging Party or Determining Party, as the case may be, shall make such adjustment, calculation or determination in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner by reference to the effect of such event on Dealer, assuming that Dealer maintains a commercially reasonable Hedge Position.
Non-Reliance/Agreements and   

Acknowledgements Regarding

  

Hedging Activities/Additional

  

Acknowledgements:

   Applicable

 

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2.  Calculation Agent.

   Dealer. Whenever the Calculation Agent is required to act or to exercise judgment in any way with respect to any Transaction hereunder, it will do so in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, the Calculation Agent shall not adjust the dates identified as Calculation Dates in the relevant Supplemental Confirmation for any Transaction.
   Following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Dealer is the Defaulting Party, Counterparty shall have the right to designate an independent, nationally recognized equity derivatives dealer to replace Dealer as Calculation Agent and the parties shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent.
   Following any determination, adjustment or calculation by the Calculation Agent, Hedging Party or Determining Party hereunder, the Calculation Agent, Hedging Party or Determining Party, as the case may be, will within five Exchange Business Days of a written (which may be by email) request by Counterparty, provide to Counterparty a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data without disclosing any proprietary or confidential models or other information that is proprietary or confidential) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination, adjustment or calculation, as the case may be.

 

3.

Account Details.

 

  (a)

Account for payments to Counterparty:

To be advised

Account for delivery of Shares to Counterparty:

To be advised

 

  (b)

Account for payments to Dealer:

Bank:    [____________]

ABA#:    [____________]

Acct No.:   [____________]

Beneficiary: [____________]

Ref:     [____________]

Account for delivery of Shares to Dealer:

To be advised

 

4.

Offices.

 

  (a)

The Office of Counterparty for each Transaction is: Inapplicable, Counterparty is not a Multibranch Party.

 

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  (b)

The Office of Dealer for each Transaction is: [____]

[____________]

 

5.

Notices.

 

  (a)

Address for notices or communications to Counterparty:

Salesforce, Inc.

Salesforce Tower

415 Mission Street, 3rd Fl

San Francisco, California 94105

Telephone No.: [__]

Email Address: [__]

 

  (b)

Address for notices or communications to Dealer:

[____________]

 

6.

Representations, Warranties and Agreements.

 

  (a)

Additional Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Each Party. In addition to the representations, warranties and covenants in the Agreement, each party represents, warrants and covenants to the other party that:

 

  (i)

It is an “eligible contract participant” (as such term is defined in the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended).

 

  (ii)

The offer and sale of each Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof. Accordingly, each party represents and warrants to the other that (A) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in each Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (B) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined under Regulation D under the Securities Act and (C) the disposition of each Transaction is restricted under this Master Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

 

  (b)

Additional Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Counterparty. In addition to the representations, warranties and covenants in the Agreement, Counterparty represents, warrants and covenants to Dealer that:

 

  (i)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, Counterparty is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of this Master Confirmation and the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Counterparty and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by Dealer) this Master Confirmation, as supplemented by such Supplemental Confirmation, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of Counterparty. Counterparty has all corporate power to enter into this Master Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to purchase the Shares and deliver any Settlement Shares in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

 

  (ii)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, the execution and delivery by Counterparty of, and the performance by Counterparty of its obligations under, this Master Confirmation and the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated, do not conflict with or violate (A) any provision of the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other constitutive

 

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  documents of Counterparty, (B) any statute or order, rule, regulation or judgment of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective assets or (C) any contractual restriction binding on or affecting Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries or any of its assets.

 

  (iii)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, all governmental and other consents that are required to have been obtained by Counterparty with respect to performance, execution and delivery of this Master Confirmation and the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction have been obtained and are in full force and effect and all conditions of any such consents have been complied with.

 

  (iv)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, (A) such Transaction is being entered into pursuant to a publicly disclosed Share buy-back program and its Board of Directors has approved the use of derivatives to effect the Share buy-back program, and (B) there is no internal policy of Counterparty, whether written or oral, that would prohibit Counterparty from entering into any aspect of such Transaction, including, without limitation, the purchases of Shares to be made pursuant to such Transaction.

 

  (v)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, the purchase or writing of such Transaction and the transactions contemplated hereby will not violate Rule 13e-1 or Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act.

 

  (vi)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, it is not entering into such Transaction, and as of the date of any election with respect to any Transaction hereunder, it is not making such election, in each case (A) on the basis of, and is not aware of, any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares, (B) in anticipation of, in connection with, or to facilitate, a distribution of its securities, a self tender offer or a third-party tender offer in violation of the Exchange Act or (C) to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares).

 

  (vii)

Counterparty (A) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities; (B) will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of any broker-dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified the broker-dealer in writing; and (C) has total assets of at least USD 50,000,000 as of the date hereof.

 

  (viii)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, and as of the date of any election with respect to any Transaction hereunder, Counterparty is in compliance with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act and its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, together with all reports subsequently filed by it pursuant to the Exchange Act, taken together and as amended and supplemented to the date of this representation, do not, as of their respective filing dates, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

  (ix)

Counterparty has made, and will make, all filings required to be made by it with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or any other regulatory body with respect to each Transaction.

 

  (x)

(A) The Shares are not, as of the Calculation Period Start Date, and (B) Counterparty will not, at any time during any Regulation M Period (as defined below) for any Transaction, cause the Shares to be, subject to a “restricted period” (as defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act) unless, in the case of clause (B), Counterparty has provided written notice to Dealer of such restricted period not later than the Scheduled

 

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  Trading Day immediately preceding the first day of such “restricted period”; Counterparty acknowledges that any such notice may cause a Disrupted Day to occur pursuant to Section 7 hereof; accordingly, Counterparty acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 8 hereof. Counterparty is not currently contemplating any “distribution” (as defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act) of Shares, or any security for which Shares are a “reference security” (as defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act). “Regulation M Period” means, for any Transaction, (A) the Relevant Period (as defined below) for such Transaction, (B) the Settlement Valuation Period, if any, for such Transaction and (C) the Seller Termination Purchase Period (as defined below), if any, for such Transaction. “Relevant Period” means, for any Transaction, the period commencing on the Calculation Period Start Date for such Transaction and ending on the later of (1) the earlier of (x) the Scheduled Termination Date and (y) the last Additional Relevant Day (as specified in the related Supplemental Confirmation) for such Transaction, or such earlier day as elected by Dealer and communicated to Counterparty on such day and (2) if Section 15 hereof is applicable to such Transaction, the date on which all deliveries owed pursuant to such Section 15 have been made.

 

  (xi)

As of the Trade Date, the Prepayment Date, the Initial Share Delivery Date, the Settlement Date, any Cash Settlement Payment Date and any Settlement Method Election Date for each Transaction, Counterparty is not, and will not be, “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)) and Counterparty would be able to purchase a number of Shares with a value equal to the Prepayment Amount in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction of Counterparty’s incorporation.

 

  (xii)

Counterparty is not, and after giving effect to each Transaction will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

  (xiii)

[Reserved.]

 

  (xiv)

Counterparty has not entered, and will not enter, into any repurchase transaction with respect to the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares) (including, without limitation, any agreements similar to the Transactions described herein) where the relevant calculation or valuation dates in any initial hedge period, calculation period, relevant period, settlement valuation period or seller termination purchase period (each however defined) for such other transaction will fall on the same days (including, without limitation, as a result of extensions in such initial hedge period, calculation period, relevant period, settlement valuation period or seller termination purchase period as provided in the relevant agreements) as the Calculation Dates included in any Relevant Period, any Settlement Valuation Period (if applicable) or any Seller Termination Purchase Period (if applicable) under this Master Confirmation. In the event that the relevant calculation or valuation dates included in the initial hedge period, relevant period, calculation period or settlement valuation period in any other transaction fall on any Calculation Dates included in any Relevant Period, any Settlement Valuation Period (if applicable) or any Seller Termination Purchase Period (if applicable) under this Master Confirmation as a result of any postponement of the Scheduled Termination Date or extension of the Settlement Valuation Period pursuant to “Valuation Disruption” above or any analogous provision in such other transaction, Counterparty shall promptly amend such other transaction to avoid any such overlap. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto acknowledge that entry into any Other Specified Repurchase Agreement (as defined below) shall not fall within the ambit of the previous two sentences.

 

13


  (xv)

Counterparty shall, at least one day prior to the first day of the Calculation Period, the Settlement Valuation Period, if any, or the Seller Termination Purchase Period, if any, for any Transaction, notify Dealer of the total number of Shares purchased in Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks pursuant to the once-a-week block exception set forth in paragraph (b)(4) of Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”) by or for Counterparty or any of its “affiliated purchasers” (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during each of the four calendar weeks preceding such day and during the calendar week in which such day occurs (“Rule 10b-18 purchase” and “blocks” each being used as defined in Rule 10b-18), which notice shall be substantially in the form set forth in Schedule B hereto.

 

  (xvi)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, and as of the date of any election with respect to any Transaction hereunder, there has not been any Merger Announcement (as defined below).

 

  (xvii)

The assets of Counterparty do not constitute “plan assets” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Labor Regulations promulgated thereunder or similar law.

 

  (c)

Additional Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Dealer. In addition to the representations, warranties and covenants in the Agreement, Dealer represents, warrants and covenants to Counterparty that:

 

  (i)

Dealer and its affiliates have implemented reasonable policies and procedures, taking into consideration the nature of their business, designed to ensure that individuals making investment decisions related to each Transaction do not violate laws prohibiting trading on the basis of material non-public information.

 

  (ii)

In connection with each Transaction, Dealer has not, at any time before the execution of the Transaction on the Trade Date for such Transaction, discussed any offsetting transaction(s) in respect of such Transaction with any third party.

 

  (iii)

In addition to the covenants in the Agreement and herein, and subject to any Supplemental Confirmation, Dealer agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts, on each Calculation Date during the Calculation Period and any Settlement Valuation Period for any Transaction, to make all purchases of Shares in connection with such Transaction in a manner that would comply with the limitations set forth in clauses (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3) and (b)(4) of Rule 10b-18, as if such rule were applicable to such purchases and taking into account any applicable Securities and Exchange Commission no-action letters or interpretations as appropriate, and subject to any delays between the execution and reporting of a trade of the Shares on the applicable securities exchange or quotation system and other circumstances beyond Dealer’s control; provided that, during the Calculation Period, the foregoing agreement shall not apply to purchases made to dynamically hedge for Dealer’s own account or the account of its affiliate(s) the optionality arising under a Transaction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, timing optionality). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Dealer shall not be responsible for any failure to comply with (i) paragraph (b)(1) of Rule 10b-18 to the extent that Counterparty has failed to comply with Section 9 hereof or (ii) paragraph (b)(3) of Rule 10b-18 that would not have resulted if (x) a bid that was actually entered or deemed to be entered by or on behalf of Counterparty had instead been an “independent bid” for purposes of paragraph (b)(3) of Rule 10b-18, or (y) a transaction that was actually executed or deemed to be executed by or on behalf of Counterparty had instead been an “independent transaction” within the meaning of paragraph (b)(3) of Rule 10b-18.

 

7.

Regulatory Disruption. In the event that Dealer concludes, in its good faith, reasonable discretion based on the advice of counsel, that it is appropriate with respect to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures similarly applicable to accelerated share repurchase transactions and consistently applied (so long as such , policies or procedures relate to legal, regulatory or self-regulatory issues and are generally applicable in similar situations and applied to any Transaction

 

14


  hereunder in a non-discriminatory manner), for it to refrain from or decrease any market activity as it relates to establishing or maintaining a commercially reasonable hedge position on any Scheduled Trading Day or Days during the Calculation Period or, if applicable, the Settlement Valuation Period, Dealer may by written notice to Counterparty elect to deem that a Market Disruption Event has occurred and will be continuing on such Scheduled Trading Day or Days. Dealer shall notify Counterparty as soon as practicable of the occurrence or cessation, as applicable, of such Regulatory Disruption.

 

8.

10b5-1 Plan. Counterparty represents, warrants and covenants to Dealer that:

 

  (a)

Counterparty is entering into, and shall act with respect to, this Master Confirmation and each Transaction hereunder in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b5-1”) or any other antifraud or anti-manipulation provisions of the federal or applicable state securities laws and that it has not entered into or altered and will not enter into or alter any corresponding or hedging transaction or position with respect to the Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto acknowledge that entry into any Other Specified Repurchase Agreement (as defined below) shall not fall within the ambit of the previous sentence. Counterparty acknowledges that it is the intent of the parties that each Transaction entered into under this Master Confirmation comply with the requirements of paragraphs (c)(1)(i)(A) and (B) of Rule 10b5-1 and each Transaction entered into under this Master Confirmation shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).Other Specified Repurchase Agreement” means, for any Transaction, any other prepaid variable share repurchase transaction entered into on the Trade Date for such Transaction and that has “Calculation Dates” (as defined therein) that do not fall on any of the Calculation Dates.

 

  (b)

During the Calculation Period and the Settlement Valuation Period, if any, for any Transaction and in connection with the delivery of any Alternative Delivery Units for any Transaction, Dealer (or its agent or Affiliate) may effect transactions in Shares in connection with such Transaction. The timing of such transactions by Dealer, the price paid or received per Share pursuant to such transactions and the manner in which such transactions are made, including, without limitation, whether such transactions are made on any securities exchange or privately, shall be within the sole judgment of Dealer. Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that all such transactions shall be made in Dealer’s sole judgment and for Dealer’s own account.

 

  (c)

Counterparty does not have, and shall not attempt to exercise, any control or influence over how, when or whether Dealer (or its agent or Affiliate) makes any “purchases or sales” (within the meaning of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B)(3)) in connection with any Transaction, including, without limitation, over how, when or whether Dealer (or its agent or Affiliate) enters into any hedging transactions. Counterparty represents and warrants that it has consulted with its own advisors as to the legal aspects of its adoption and implementation of this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation under Rule 10b5-1.

 

  (d)

Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5, and no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at any time at which Counterparty is aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares.

 

  (e)

Counterparty shall not communicate any Material Non-Public Information (as defined in Annex B hereto) relating to Counterparty, the Shares or any Transaction (including, without limitation, any notices required by Section 10(a) hereof) to any employee of Dealer, other than as set forth in the Communications Procedures attached as Annex B hereto.

 

15


9.

Counterparty Purchases. Counterparty (or any “affiliated purchaser” as defined in Rule 10b-18) shall not, without the prior written consent of Dealer, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of a derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or equivalent interest, including, without limitation, a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share), listed contracts on the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares (including, without limitation, any Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks (as defined in Rule 10b-18)) during any Relevant Period, any Settlement Valuation Period (if applicable) or any Seller Termination Purchase Period (if applicable), under this Master Confirmation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall (i) limit Counterparty’s ability, pursuant to its employee incentive plans, to re-acquire Shares in connection with the related equity transactions, (ii) limit Counterparty’s ability to withhold shares to cover tax liabilities associated with such equity transactions or (iii) limit Counterparty’s ability to grant stock, restricted stock units and options to “affiliated purchasers” (as defined in Rule 10b-18) or the ability of such affiliated purchasers to acquire such stock, restricted stock units or options, in connection with Counterparty’s compensation policies or plans for directors, officers and employees to the extent such events are not “Rule 10b-18 purchases” within the meaning of Rule 10b-18. Further, (i) Counterparty or an “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18) may effect purchases of Shares or derivative instruments relating to the Shares on any Calculation Date during the Relevant Period, any Settlement Valuation Period (if applicable) or any Seller Termination Purchase Period (if applicable) so long as they are effected through Dealer or an affiliate of Dealer (but, for the avoidance of doubt, Dealer and its affiliates shall not be obligated to effect any such purchases), (ii) an agent independent of Counterparty may purchase Shares effected by or for an issuer plan of Counterparty in accordance with the requirements of Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(ii) under the Exchange Act (with “issuer plan” and “agent independent of the Counterparty” each being used herein as defined in Rule 10b-18), (iii) Counterparty may enter into Other Specified Repurchase Agreements that are intended to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) of the Exchange Act, and (iv) Counterparty or any “affiliated purchaser” may purchase Shares in (x) unsolicited transactions or (y) privately negotiated (off-market) transactions, in each case, that are not “Rule 10b-18 purchases” (as defined in Rule 10b-18) and are not expected to result in, or relate to, purchases of Shares in the public market, in each case without Dealer’s consent.

 

10.

Special Provisions for Merger Transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Equity Definitions:

 

  (a)

Counterparty agrees that it:

 

  (i)

will not during the period commencing on the Trade Date for any Transaction and ending on the last day of the Relevant Period or, if applicable, the later of the last day of the Settlement Valuation Period and the last day of the Seller Termination Purchase Period, for such Transaction make, or permit to be made (to the extent within Counterparty’s control), any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any Merger Transaction or potential Merger Transaction (a “Merger Announcement”) unless such Merger Announcement is made prior to the opening or after the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange for the Shares; provided that Counterparty may make or permit to be made any Merger Announcement when required by applicable law or rules and regulations of the Exchange;

 

  (ii)

in respect of any Merger Announcement that is within Counterparty’s control, shall promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) notify Dealer following any such Merger Announcement that such Merger Announcement has been made; and

 

  (iii)

shall promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) provide Dealer with written notice specifying (i) Counterparty’s average daily Rule 10b-18 Purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months immediately preceding the announcement date of any Merger Transaction or potential Merger Transaction that were not effected through Dealer or its Affiliates and (ii) the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act for the three full calendar months preceding the announcement date of any Merger Transaction or potential Merger Transaction. Such written notice shall be deemed to be a certification by Counterparty to Dealer that such information is true and correct. In addition, Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer of the earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders.

 

16


  (b)

Counterparty acknowledges that any such Merger Announcement or delivery of a notice with respect thereto may cause the terms of any Transaction to be adjusted or such Transaction to be terminated; accordingly, Counterparty acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 8 hereof.

 

  (c)

Upon the occurrence of any Merger Announcement (whether made by Counterparty or a third party), Dealer in its commercially reasonable discretion may (i) make adjustments to the terms of any Transaction to account for the economic effect on the Transaction of such Merger Announcement (other than the dates identified as Calculation Dates in the related Supplemental Confirmation) in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner, including, without limitation, the Scheduled Termination Date or the Forward Price Adjustment Amount to preserve the fair value of the Transaction, and/or suspend the Calculation Period and/or any Settlement Valuation Period or (ii) treat the occurrence of such Merger Announcement as an Additional Termination Event with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and the Transactions hereunder as the Affected Transactions and with the amount under Section 6(e) of the Agreement determined taking into account the fact that the Calculation Period or the Settlement Valuation Period, as the case may be, had fewer Scheduled Trading Days than originally anticipated.

Merger Transaction” means any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization as contemplated by Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv) under the Exchange Act, other than, solely for purposes of this Section 10, any such transaction in which the consideration consists solely of cash and there is no valuation period.

 

11.

Special Provisions for Acquisition Transaction Announcements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Equity Definitions:

 

  (a)

If an Acquisition Transaction Announcement occurs on or prior to the Final Settlement Date for any Transaction, then the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustments to the exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of such Transaction as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate (including, without limitation and for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments that would allow the Number of Shares to be Delivered to be less than zero), at such time or at multiple times as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate, to account for the economic effect on such Transaction of such Acquisition Transaction Announcement (which adjustments shall be limited to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate, the value of maintaining or establishing any commercially reasonable Hedge Positions in a commercially reasonable manner in connection with the Transaction and liquidity relevant to the Shares or to such Transaction, whether within a commercially reasonable period of time (as determined by the Calculation Agent ) before or after such Acquisition Transaction Announcement). If the Number of Shares to be Delivered for any settlement of any Transaction is a negative number, then the terms of the Counterparty Settlement Provisions in Annex A hereto shall apply.

 

  (b)

Acquisition Transaction Announcement” means (i) the announcement of an Acquisition Transaction or an event that, if consummated, would result in an Acquisition Transaction, (ii) an announcement that Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries has entered into an agreement, a letter of intent or an understanding that, if consummated, would result in an Acquisition Transaction, (iii) the announcement of the intention to solicit or enter into, or to explore strategic alternatives or other similar undertaking that include, an Acquisition Transaction, (iv) any other announcement that in the reasonable judgment of the Calculation Agent is reasonably likely to result in an Acquisition Transaction (it being understood and agreed that in determining whether such announcement is reasonably likely to result in an Acquisition Transaction, the Calculation Agent may take into consideration, if it would be commercially reasonable to do so, the effect of such announcement on the Shares and/or options relating to the Shares), or (v) any announcement of any change or

 

17


  amendment to any previous Acquisition Transaction Announcement (including any announcement of the abandonment of any such previously announced Acquisition Transaction, agreement, letter of intent, understanding or intention). Announcements as used in the definition of Acquisition Transaction Announcement shall mean any statement or announcement related to an Acquisition Transaction that is made by (x) Counterparty (or any affiliate or agent thereof) or (y) any third party (or affiliate or agent thereof) that has a bona fide intent and capacity to enter into or consummate such transaction or event (it being understood and agreed that in determining, in a commercially reasonable manner, whether such third party has such a bona fide intent and capacity, the Calculation Agent may take into consideration whether the relevant announcement by such party has had a material economic effect on the Shares or options on the Shares).

 

  (c)

Acquisition Transaction” means (i) any Merger Event (for purposes of this definition the definition of Merger Event shall be read with the references therein to “100%” being replaced by “20%” and references to “50%” being replaced by “75%” and without reference to the clause beginning immediately following the definition of Reverse Merger therein to the end of such definition), Tender Offer or Merger Transaction or any other transaction involving the merger of Counterparty with or into any third party, (ii) the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Counterparty to a person or entity other than Counterparty or a wholly-owned subsidiary of Counterparty, (iii) a recapitalization, reclassification, binding share exchange or other similar transaction with respect to Counterparty, (iv) any acquisition by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries (other than an acquisition from Counterparty or a wholly-owned subsidiary of Counterparty) where the aggregate consideration transferable by Counterparty or its subsidiaries exceeds 20% of the market capitalization of Counterparty, (v) any lease, exchange, transfer, disposition (including, without limitation, by way of spin-off or distribution) of assets (including, without limitation, any capital stock or other ownership interests in subsidiaries) or other similar event by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries (other than a lease, exchange, transfer, disposition or similar event between and/or among solely Counterparty and/or one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of Counterparty) where the aggregate consideration transferable or receivable by or to Counterparty or its subsidiaries exceeds 20% of the market capitalization of Counterparty or (vi) any transaction in which Counterparty or its board of directors has a legal obligation to make a recommendation to its shareholders in respect of such transaction (whether pursuant to Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act or otherwise).

 

12.

Acknowledgments.

 

  (a)

The parties hereto intend for:

 

  (i)

each Transaction to be a “securities contract” as defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “forward contract” as defined in Section 101(25) of the Bankruptcy Code, and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(27), 362(o), 546(e), 546(j), 555, 556, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

  (ii)

the Agreement to be a “master netting agreement” as defined in Section 101(38A) of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

  (iii)

a party’s right to liquidate, terminate or accelerate any Transaction, net out or offset termination values or payment amounts, and to exercise any other remedies upon the occurrence of any Event of Default or Termination Event under the Agreement with respect to the other party or any Extraordinary Event that results in the termination or cancellation of any Transaction to constitute a “contractual right” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code); and

 

  (iv)

all payments for, under or in connection with each Transaction, all payments for the Shares (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of the Prepayment Amount) and the transfer of such Shares to constitute “settlement payments” and “transfers” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code).

 

18


  (b)

Counterparty acknowledges that:

 

  (i)

during the term of any Transaction, Dealer and its Affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to establish, adjust or unwind its hedge position with respect to such Transaction;

 

  (ii)

Dealer and its Affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and Share-linked transactions other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to any Transaction;

 

  (iii)

Dealer shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Counterparty’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Forward Price and the VWAP Price;

 

  (iv)

any market activities of Dealer and its Affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the Forward Price, the VWAP Price and the Settlement Price, each in a manner that may be adverse to Counterparty; and

 

  (v)

each Transaction is a derivatives transaction in which it has granted Dealer an option; Dealer may purchase shares for its own account at an average price that may be greater than, or less than, the price paid by Counterparty under the terms of the related Transaction.

 

13.

No Collateral, Netting or Setoff. Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement or any other agreement between the parties to the contrary, the obligations of Counterparty hereunder are not secured by any collateral. Obligations under any Transaction shall not be netted, recouped or set off (including pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement) against any other obligations of the parties, whether arising under the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, or under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and no other obligations of the parties shall be netted, recouped or set off (including pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement) against obligations under any Transaction, whether arising under the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, or under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and each party hereby waives any such right of setoff, netting or recoupment.

 

14.

Delivery of Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dealer may, by prior notice to Counterparty, satisfy its obligation to deliver any Shares or other securities on any date due (an “Original Delivery Date”) by making separate deliveries of Shares or such securities, as the case may be, at more than one time on or prior to such Original Delivery Date, so long as the aggregate number of Shares and other securities so delivered on or prior to such Original Delivery Date is equal to the number required to be delivered on such Original Delivery Date.

 

15.

Alternative Termination Settlement. In the event that (a) an Early Termination Date (whether as a result of an Event of Default or a Termination Event) occurs or is designated with respect to any Transaction or (b) any Transaction is cancelled or terminated upon the occurrence of an Extraordinary Event (except as a result of (i) a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event in which the consideration to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash, (ii) a Merger Event or Tender Offer that is within Counterparty’s control, or (iii) an Event of Default in which Counterparty is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Counterparty is the Affected Party other than an Event of Default of the type described in Section 5(a)(iii), (v), (vi), (vii) or (viii) of the Agreement or a Termination Event of the type described in Section 5(b) of the Agreement, in each case that resulted from an event or events outside Counterparty’s control), if either party would owe any amount to the other party pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement or any Cancellation Amount pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions (any such amount, a “Payment Amount”), then, in lieu of any payment of such Payment Amount, unless Counterparty makes an election to the contrary no later than the Early

 

19


  Termination Date or the date on which such Transaction is terminated or cancelled, Counterparty or Dealer, as the case may be, shall deliver to the other party a number of Shares (or, in the case of a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event, a number of units, each comprising the number or amount of the securities or property that a hypothetical holder of one Share would receive in such Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event, as the case may be (each such unit, an “Alternative Delivery Unit”)) with a value equal to the Payment Amount, as determined by the Calculation Agent in a commercially reasonable manner over a commercially reasonable period of time (and the parties agree that, in making such determination of value, the Calculation Agent may take into account a number of commercially reasonable factors related to a commercially reasonable Hedge Position, including, without limitation, the market price of the Shares or Alternative Delivery Units on the Early Termination Date or the date of early cancellation or termination, as the case may be, and, if such delivery is made by Dealer, the prices at which Dealer purchases Shares or Alternative Delivery Units on any Calculation Date to fulfill its delivery obligations under this Section 15, assuming such purchases are made in a commercially reasonable manner in order to unwind a commercially reasonable hedge position and at prices that reflect the prevailing market price of Shares or Alternative Delivery Units, as the case may be); provided that in determining the composition of any Alternative Delivery Unit, if the relevant Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash; and provided further that Counterparty may elect that the provisions of this Section 15 above providing for the delivery of Shares or Alternative Delivery Units, as the case may be, shall not apply only if Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer, in writing on the date it notifies Dealer of such election, that, as of such date, Counterparty is not aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares and is making such election in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws. If delivery of Shares or Alternative Delivery Units, as the case may be, pursuant to this Section 15 is to be made by Counterparty, paragraphs 2 through 7 of Annex A hereto shall apply as if (A) such delivery were a settlement of such Transaction to which Net Share Settlement applied, (B) the Cash Settlement Payment Date were the Early Termination Date or the date of early cancellation or termination, as the case may be, and (C) the Forward Cash Settlement Amount were equal to (x) zero minus (y) the Payment Amount owed by Counterparty. For the avoidance of doubt, if Counterparty validly elects for the provisions of this Section 15 relating to the delivery of Shares or Alternative Delivery Units, as the case may be, not to apply to any Payment Amount, the provisions of Article 12 of the Equity Definitions, or the provisions of Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply. If delivery of Shares or Alternative Delivery Units, as the case may be, is to be made by Dealer pursuant to this Section 15, the period during which Dealer purchases Shares or Alternative Delivery Units to fulfill its delivery obligations under this Section 15 shall be referred to as the “Seller Termination Purchase Period”; provided that the parties hereby agree that such purchases shall be made solely on Calculation Dates for the relevant Transaction.

 

16.

Calculations and Payment Date upon Early Termination. The parties acknowledge and agree that in calculating (a) the Close-Out Amount pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and (b) the amount due upon cancellation or termination of any Transaction (whether in whole or in part) pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions as a result of an Extraordinary Event, Dealer may (but need not) determine such amount based on (i) expected losses or gains assuming a commercially reasonable risk bid were used to determine loss or gain associated with closing out any commercially reasonable hedge position with respect to such Transaction in a commercially reasonable manner taking into account the existence of any Other Specified Repurchase Transaction(s) or (ii) the price at which one or more market participants would offer to sell to the Seller a block of Shares equal in number to the Seller’s hedge position in relation to the Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement or Article 12 of the Equity Definitions, all amounts calculated as being due in respect of an Early Termination Date under Section 6(e) of the Agreement or upon cancellation or termination of the relevant Transaction under Article 12 of the Equity Definitions will be payable on the day that notice of the amount payable is effective; provided that if Counterparty elects to receive or deliver Shares or Alternative Delivery Units in accordance with Section 15 hereof, such Shares or Alternative Delivery Units shall be delivered on a date selected in a commercially reasonable manner by Dealer as promptly as practicable.

 

20


17.

Limit on Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, Dealer may not be entitled to take delivery of any Shares deliverable hereunder to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such receipt of any Shares hereunder, the Equity Percentage would exceed 7.5%. Any purported delivery hereunder shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such delivery the Equity Percentage would exceed 7.5%. If any delivery owed to Dealer hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, Counterparty’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Counterparty shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Business Day after, Dealer gives notice to Counterparty that, after such delivery, the Equity Percentage would not exceed 7.5%. The “Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day (or, to the extent that for any reason the equivalent calculation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder results in a higher number, such higher number) and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

 

18.

Maximum Share Delivery. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Master Confirmation, in no event shall Dealer be required to deliver any Shares or other securities comprising Alternative Delivery Units, in respect of any Transaction in excess of the Maximum Number of Shares set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.

 

19.

Additional Termination Events.

 

  (a)

The occurrence of an event described in paragraph III of Annex B hereto will constitute an Additional Termination Event, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and the Transactions specified in such paragraph III as the Affected Transactions.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6 of the Agreement, if a Termination Price is specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for any Transaction, then an Additional Termination Event will occur without any notice or action by Dealer or Counterparty if the VWAP Price of the Shares on the Exchange is below such Termination Price for any three consecutive Exchange Business Days, and such third consecutive Exchange Business Day will be the “Early Termination Date” for purposes of the Agreement, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and such Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction.

 

20.

Non-confidentiality. Dealer and Counterparty hereby acknowledge and agree that, subject to Section 8(e) hereof, each is authorized to disclose every aspect of this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, and there are no express or implied agreements, arrangements or understandings to the contrary.

 

21.

[Reserved].

 

22.

Assignment and Transfer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, Dealer may assign any of its rights or duties hereunder to any one or more of its Affiliates without the prior written consent of Counterparty; provided that (1) such Affiliate of Dealer has a rating for its long term, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness that is equal to or better than Dealer’s credit rating at the time of such transfer or assignment, or (2) such of Affiliate of Dealer’s obligations hereunder will be guaranteed, pursuant to the terms of a customary guarantee in a form used by Dealer generally for similar transactions, by Dealer or Dealer’s ultimate parent entity; provided further that (i) an Event of Default or Termination Event will not occur as a result of such transfer and assignment, (ii) both the Dealer and transferee in any such transfer or assignment are a “dealer in securities” within the meaning of Section 475(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or the transfer or assignment does not result in a deemed exchange by Counterparty within the meaning of Section 1001 of the Code, (iii) as a result of such transfer and assignment, Counterparty would not, at the time of such transfer and assignment, reasonably be expected to (x) be required to pay or deliver to the transferee on any payment date or delivery date an amount or a number of Shares, as applicable, under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than the amount or the number of Shares, respectively, that Counterparty would have been required to pay or deliver to Dealer in the absence of such

 

21


  transfer and assignment, except to the extent that the greater amount or number is due to a Change In Law or Increased Cost of Hedging in each case, occurring after the date of such transfer of assignment and not reasonably expected by Dealer to occur at the time of such transfer or assignment or (y) receive from the transferee on any payment date or delivery date an amount or a number of Shares, as applicable, (taking into account any amount or a number of Shares received under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement) lower than the amount or the number of Shares, respectively, that Dealer would have been required to pay or deliver, as the case may be, to Counterparty in the absence of such transfer and assignment, except to the extent that the lower amount or number is due to a Change In Law or Increased Cost of Hedging in each case, occurring after the date of such transfer or assignment and not reasonably expected by Dealer to occur at the time of such transfer or assignment and (iv) Dealer shall have caused such transferee or assignee to make such tax representations and to provide to Counterparty a correct, complete (in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Counterparty) and executed United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9, W-8ECI, or W-8IMY certifying that such transferee or assignee is a “Qualified Derivatives Dealer”, or in each case a successor form thereto, and such other tax documentation as may be reasonably requested by Counterparty to permit Counterparty to determine prior to such transfer or assignment that the results described in (iii) above would not occur. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Master Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its Affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer’s obligations in respect of any Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer may assign the right to receive Settlement Shares to any third party who may legally receive Settlement Shares; provided that the clauses (ii) – (iv) of the proviso contained in the first sentence of this Section 22 shall apply to any such assignments to third parties. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty only to the extent of any such performance. For the avoidance of doubt, Dealer hereby acknowledges that notwithstanding any such designation hereunder, to the extent any of Dealer’s obligations in respect of any Transaction are not completed by its designee, Dealer shall be obligated to continue to perform or to cause any other of its designees to perform in respect of such obligations.

 

23.

Amendments to the Equity Definitions, Agreement.

 

  (a)

Section 11.2(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the word “a material”; and adding the phrase “or such Transaction” at the end of the sentence.

 

  (b)

Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the words “a diluting or concentrative” with “a material” in the fifth line thereof, (ii) adding the phrase “or such Transaction” after the words “the relevant Shares” in the same sentence, (iii) replacing the words “diluting or concentrative” in the sixth to last line thereof with the word “material”, and (iv) deleting the phrase “(provided that no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)” and replacing it with the phrase “(and, for the avoidance of doubt, except in the case of a Potential Adjustment Event as described in Section 11.2(e)(i), Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A), Section 11.2(e)(ii)(B), or Section 11.2(e)(iv), adjustments may be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares; in the case of a Potential Adjustment Event as described in Section 11.2(e)(i), Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A), Section 11.2(e)(ii)(B), or Section 11.2(e)(iv), no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares).”

 

  (c)

Section 11.2(e)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by adding the phrase “, provided that, notwithstanding this Section 11.2(e)(v), the parties hereto agree that, with respect to the Transaction, the following repurchases of Shares by the Issuer or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries will not be considered Potential Adjustment Events: Share repurchases pursuant to Other Specified Repurchase Agreements.

 

22


  (d)

Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “that may have a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “that is the result of a corporate event within the Issuer’s control involving Issuer or its securities that has a material economic”; and adding the phrase “or the relevant Transaction” at the end of the sentence.

 

  (e)

Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by:

 

  (i)

deleting (1) subsection (A) in its entirety, (2) the phrase “or (B)” following subsection (A) and (3) the phrase “in each case” in subsection (B); and

 

  (ii)

replacing the phrase “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares” with the phrase “such Lending Party does not lend Shares” in the penultimate sentence.

 

  (f)

Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) adding the phrase “, provided that the Non-Hedging Party may not elect to terminate the Transaction unless concurrently with electing to terminate the Transaction, it represents and warrants to the Hedging Party that it is not in possession of any material non-public information with respect to the Non-Hedging Party or the Shares” at the end of subsection (C) and (ii) deleting clause (X) in the final sentence.

 

  (g)

Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by adding the phrase “, provided that the Non-Hedging Party may not elect to terminate the Transaction unless concurrently with electing to terminate the Transaction, it represents and warrants to the Hedging Party that it is not in possession of any material non-public information with respect to the Non-Hedging Party or the Shares” at the end of subsection (C).

 

  (h)

Section 12(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the phrase “or email” in the third line thereof.

 

24.

Extraordinary Dividend. If Counterparty declares any Extraordinary Dividend that has an ex-dividend date during the period commencing on the Trade Date for any Transaction and ending on the last day of the Relevant Period or, if applicable, the later of the last day of the Settlement Valuation Period and the last day of the Seller Termination Purchase Period, for such Transaction, then prior to or on the date on which such Extraordinary Dividend is paid by Counterparty to holders of record, Counterparty shall pay to Dealer, for each Transaction under this Master Confirmation, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the amount of such Extraordinary Dividend and (ii) the theoretical short delta number of shares as of the opening of business on the related ex-dividend date, as determined by the Calculation Agent, required for Dealer to hedge its exposure in a commercially reasonable manner to such Transaction.

 

25.

Tax.

 

  (a)

For purposes of Section 3(e) of the Agreement, each of Dealer and Counterparty makes the following representation: “It is not required by any applicable law, as modified by the practice of any relevant governmental revenue authority, of any Relevant Jurisdiction to make any deduction or withholding for or on account of any Tax from any payment (other than interest under Section 9(h) of the Agreement and any other payments of interest and penalty charges for late payment) to be made by it to the other party under the Agreement. In making this representation, it may rely on (i) the accuracy of any representations made by the other party pursuant to Section 3(f) and/or 3(g) of the Agreement; (ii) the satisfaction of the agreement contained in Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of the Agreement and the accuracy and effectiveness of any document provided by the other party pursuant to Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of the Agreement; and (iii) the satisfaction of the agreement of the other party contained in Section 4(d) of the Agreement; provided that it shall not be a breach of this representation where reliance is placed on clause (ii) and the other party does not deliver a form or document under Section 4(a)(iii) of the Agreement by reason of material prejudice to its legal or commercial position.”

 

  (b)

For purposes of Section 3(f) of the Agreement, Counterparty represents that (1) it is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in Section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of the United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (2) it is an “exempt recipient” (as that term is used in Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii) of the United States Treasury Regulations).

 

23


  (c)

For purposes of Section 3(f) of the Agreement, Dealer represents that [ ].

 

  (d)

For purposes of Sections 4(a)(i) and (ii) of the Agreement, Counterparty agrees to deliver to Dealer, a correct, complete (in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Dealer) and executed IRS Form W-9 (or successor thereto) (i) prior to or promptly upon execution of this Master Confirmation, (ii) promptly upon reasonable demand by Dealer and (iii) promptly upon learning that any such form previously provided to Dealer has become obsolete or incorrect.

 

  (e)

For purposes of Sections 4(a)(i) and (ii) of the Agreement, Dealer agrees to deliver to Counterparty, a correct, complete (in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Counterparty) and executed United States IRS Form [W-9][W-8ECI], or [W-8IMY certifying that Dealer is a “Qualified Derivatives Dealer”] (or successor thereto) (i) prior to or promptly upon execution of this Master Confirmation, (ii) promptly upon reasonable demand by Counterparty and (iii) promptly upon learning that any such form previously provided to Counterparty has become obsolete or incorrect.

 

  (f)

The parties agree that “Indemnifiable Tax” as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement shall not include any tax imposed or collected pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code (a “FATCA Withholding Tax”). For the avoidance of doubt, a FATCA Withholding Tax is a Tax the deduction or withholding of which is required by applicable law for the purposes of Section 2(d) of the Agreement.

 

  (g)

Dealer and Counterparty hereby agree that the Agreement shall be treated as a Covered Master Agreement (as that term is defined in the 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. on November 2, 2015, as may be amended or modified from time to time (the “2015 Section 871(m) Protocol”)) and the Agreement shall be deemed to have been amended in accordance with the modifications specified in the Attachment to the 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol. If there is any inconsistency between this provision and a provision in any other agreement executed between the parties, this provision shall prevail unless such other agreement expressly overrides the provisions of the 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol.

 

26.

Status of Claims in Bankruptcy. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that neither this Master Confirmation nor any Supplemental Confirmation is intended to convey to Dealer rights against Counterparty with respect to any Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders of Counterparty in any United States bankruptcy proceedings of Counterparty; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Counterparty of its obligations and agreements with respect to any Transaction; provided further that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s rights in respect of any transactions other than any Transaction.

 

27.

Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act. In connection with Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (“WSTAA”), the parties hereby agree that neither the enactment of WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, nor any requirement under WSTAA or an amendment made by WSTAA, nor any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the date of this Master Confirmation, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s otherwise applicable rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement any Supplemental Confirmation, this Master Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event,

 

24


  force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under any Supplemental Confirmation, this Master Confirmation, the Equity Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, without limitation, rights arising from Change in Law, Loss of Stock Borrow, Increased Cost of Stock Borrow, Hedging Disruption, Increased Cost of Hedging, or Illegality).

 

28.

Governing Law. The Agreement, this Master Confirmation, each Supplemental Confirmation and all matters arising in connection with the Agreement, this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (without reference to its choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law).

 

29.

Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THE AGREEMENT, THIS MASTER CONFIRMATION, EACH SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION, THE TRANSACTIONS HEREUNDER AND ALL MATTERS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGREEMENT, THIS MASTER CONFIRMATION AND ANY SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION AND THE TRANSACTIONS HEREUNDER. EACH PARTY (I) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF SUCH A SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (II) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THE TRANSACTIONS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS PROVIDED HEREIN.

 

30.

Delivery of Cash. For the avoidance of doubt, other than payment of the Prepayment Amount by Counterparty, nothing in this Master Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Counterparty to cash settle any Transaction, except in circumstances where cash settlement is within Counterparty’s control (including, without limitation, where Counterparty timely elects not to receive or deliver Alternative Delivery Units in accordance with Section 15) or in those circumstances in which all holders of the Shares would also receive cash.

 

31.

Counterparts. This Master Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Master Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.

 

32.

[Insert Dealer’s QFC/Regulatory Provisions/additional boilerplate]

 

25


Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing this Master Confirmation and returning it to us.

Very truly yours,

 

[DEALER]
By:  

 

Authorized Signatory
Name:

Accepted and confirmed

as of the date first set

forth above:

 

SALESFORCE, INC.
By:  

 

Authorized Signatory
Name:


SCHEDULE A

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION

[DEALER]

[_______________]

[__________], 20[__]

To:

Salesforce, Inc.

Salesforce Tower

415 Mission Street, 3rd Fl

San Francisco, California 94105

Telephone No.: [__]

Email Address: [__]

Re: Supplemental Confirmation—Uncollared Accelerated Share Repurchase

The purpose of this Supplemental Confirmation is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between [DEALER] (“Dealer”) and Salesforce, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Counterparty”) on the Trade Date specified below. This Supplemental Confirmation is a binding contract between Dealer and Counterparty as of the relevant Trade Date for the Transaction referenced below.

1. This Supplemental Confirmation supplements, forms part of, and is subject to the Master Confirmation, dated as of March 11, 2026 (the “Master Confirmation”), between Dealer and Counterparty, as amended and supplemented from time to time. All provisions contained in the Master Confirmation govern this Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified below.

2. The terms of the Transaction to which this Supplemental Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

Trade Date:    [__________], 20[__]
Reference Price:    The closing price per Share for the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof) of the Exchange on the Trade Date as published by Bloomberg, provided that if the reported price is clearly erroneous, the Reference Price shall be as determined by the Calculation Agent in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner.
Forward Price Adjustment Amount:    An amount in USD equal to [__]% of the Reference Price.
Calculation Period Start Date:    [__________], 20[__]
Scheduled Termination Date:    [__________], 20[__]
Prepayment Amount:    USD [___]
Prepayment Date:    [__________], 20[__]
Initial Shares:    A number of Shares equal to [__]% of the quotient of (i) the Prepayment Amount divided by (ii) the Reference Price, rounded up to the nearest whole Share; provided that if, in connection with the Transaction, Dealer is unable, after using good faith and commercially reasonable efforts, to borrow or
  

 

A-1


   otherwise acquire a number of Shares equal to the Initial Shares for delivery to Counterparty on the Initial Share Delivery Date, the Initial Shares delivered on the Initial Share Delivery Date shall be reduced to such number of Shares that Dealer is able to so borrow or otherwise acquire as part of establishing a commercially reasonable hedge position, and thereafter Dealer shall continue to use commercially reasonable efforts to borrow or otherwise acquire a number of Shares, at a stock borrow cost no greater than the Initial Stock Loan Rate, equal to the shortfall in the Initial Share Delivery and to deliver such additional Shares as soon as reasonably practicable (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that in using such commercially reasonable efforts Dealer shall act in good faith to obtain a commercially reasonable hedge position and in accordance with its then current policies, practices and procedures (including without limitation any policies, practices or procedures relating to counterparty risk, market risk, reputational risk, credit, documentation, legal, regulatory capital, compliance and collateral), and shall not be required to enter into any securities lending transaction or transact with any potential securities lender if such transaction would not be in accordance with such policies, practices and procedures). For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate of all Shares delivered to Counterparty in respect of the Transaction pursuant to this paragraph shall be the “Initial Shares” for purposes of “Number of Shares to be Delivered” in the Master Confirmation.
Initial Share Delivery Date:    [__________], 20[__]
Ordinary Dividend Amount:    For any Dividend before the Termination Date, USD 0.440 per Share
   For any Dividend after the Termination Date, USD 0.00 per Share
Scheduled Ex-Dividend Dates:    [__________]
Maximum Stock Loan Rate:    200 basis points per annum
Initial Stock Loan Rate:    25 basis points per annum
Maximum Number of Shares:    [___] Shares
Floor Price:    USD 0.01 per Share
Termination Price:    An amount in USD equal to [__]% of the Reference Price.

 

A-2


Additional Relevant Days:    The [___] Exchange Business Days immediately following the Calculation Period.
Reserved Shares:    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Master Confirmation, as of the date of this Supplemental Confirmation, the Reserved Shares shall be equal to a number of Shares equal to the quotient of (i) the Prepayment Amount divided by (ii) the Reference Price (the “Initial Reserved Shares”); provided that from and after the date that Counterparty increases its number of authorized Shares during the term of the Transaction by an amount at least equal to the Initial Reserved Shares, the Reserved Shares shall be equal to [ ] times the Initial Reserved Shares.

Calculation Dates:

 

1.    2.    3.
4.    5.    6.
7.    8.    9.
10.    11.    12.
[_]    [_]    [_]

If necessary, the Calculation Agent may add additional Calculation Dates beginning with [__________], 20[__] and continuing with every [____]th Scheduled Trading Day thereafter.

3. Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer that neither it nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act) has made any purchases of blocks pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act during either (i) the four full calendar weeks immediately preceding the Trade Date or (ii) during the calendar week in which the Trade Date occurs, except as set forth in any notice delivered pursuant to Section 6(b)(xv) of the Master Confirmation.

 

A-3


4. This Supplemental Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Supplemental Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.

 

A-4


Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing this Supplemental Confirmation and returning it to us.

Very truly yours,

 

[DEALER]
  By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory
  Name:

Accepted and confirmed

as of the Trade Date:

 

SALESFORCE, INC.
By:  

 

Authorized Signatory
Name:

 

A-5


SCHEDULE B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF RULE 10B-18 PURCHASES

[Letterhead of Counterparty]

[DEALER]

[________]

Re: Uncollared Accelerated Share Repurchase

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our entry into the Master Confirmation, dated as of March 11, 2026, between [DEALER] and Salesforce, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the “Master Confirmation”) and the Supplemental Confirmation thereto, dated as of [__________], 20[__], we hereby represent that set forth below is the total number of shares of our common stock purchased by or for us or any of our affiliated purchasers in Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks (all as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) pursuant to the once-a-week block exception set forth in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) during the four full calendar weeks immediately preceding the first day of the [Calculation Period][Settlement Valuation Period][Seller Termination Purchase Period] (as defined in the Master Confirmation) and the week during which the first day of such [Calculation Period][Settlement Valuation Period][Seller Termination Purchase Period] occurs.

Number of Shares: __________________

We understand that you will use this information in calculating trading volume for purposes of Rule 10b-18.

Very truly yours,

 

SALESFORCE, INC.
By:  

 

Authorized Signatory
Name:  

 

B-1


ANNEX A

COUNTERPARTY SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS

1. The following Counterparty Settlement Provisions shall apply to any Transaction to the extent indicated under the Master Confirmation:

 

Settlement Currency:    USD
Settlement Method Election:    Applicable; provided that (i) Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the word “Physical” in the sixth line thereof and replacing it with the words “Net Share” and (ii) the Electing Party may make a settlement method election only if the Electing Party represents and warrants to Dealer in writing on the date it notifies Dealer of its election that, as of such date, the Electing Party is not aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares and is electing the settlement method in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws.
Electing Party:    Counterparty
Settlement Method Election Date:    The earlier of (i) the Scheduled Termination Date and (ii) the Calculation Date immediately following the Accelerated Termination Date (in which case the election under Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions shall be made no later than 10 minutes prior to the open of trading on the Exchange on such Calculation Date), as the case may be.
Default Settlement Method:    Net Share Settlement
Forward Cash Settlement Amount:    An amount equal to (a) the Number of Shares to be Delivered, multiplied by (b) the Settlement Price.
Settlement Price:    An amount equal to the average of the VWAP Prices for the Calculation Dates in the Settlement Valuation Period, plus USD 0.02, subject to Valuation Disruption as specified in the Master Confirmation.
Settlement Valuation Period:    A number of Calculation Dates selected by Dealer as necessary to unwind a commercially reasonable hedge position with respect to the relevant Transaction in a commercially reasonable manner, beginning on the Calculation Date immediately following the earlier of (i) the Scheduled Termination Date or (ii) the Calculation Date immediately following the Accelerated Termination Date.
Cash Settlement:    If Cash Settlement is applicable, then Counterparty shall pay to Dealer the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount on the Cash Settlement Payment Date.

Cash Settlement Payment Date:

 

Net Share Settlement Procedures:

  

The Exchange Business Day immediately following the last day of the Settlement Valuation Period.

 

If Net Share Settlement is applicable, Net Share Settlement shall be made in accordance with paragraphs 2 through 7 below.

 

Annex A-1


2. Net Share Settlement shall be made by delivery on the Cash Settlement Payment Date of a number of Shares satisfying the conditions set forth in paragraph 3 below (the “Registered Settlement Shares”), or a number of Shares not satisfying such conditions (the “Unregistered Settlement Shares”), in either case with a value equal to the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount (which value shall, in the case of Unregistered Settlement Shares, take into account a commercially reasonable illiquidity discount), in each case as determined by the Calculation Agent. If all of the conditions for delivery of either Registered Settlement Shares or Unregistered Settlement Shares that are within the control of Counterparty have not been satisfied, Cash Settlement shall be applicable in accordance with paragraph 1 above.

3. Counterparty may only deliver Registered Settlement Shares pursuant to paragraph 2 above if:

(a) a registration statement covering public resale of the Registered Settlement Shares by Dealer (the “Registration Statement”) shall have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act and been declared or otherwise become effective on or prior to the date of delivery, and no stop order shall be in effect with respect to the Registration Statement; a printed prospectus relating to the Registered Settlement Shares (including, without limitation, any prospectus supplement thereto, the “Prospectus”) shall have been delivered to Dealer, in such quantities as Dealer shall reasonably have requested, on or prior to the date of delivery;

(b) the form and content of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including, without limitation, any sections describing the plan of distribution) shall be reasonably satisfactory to Dealer;

(c) as of or prior to the date of delivery, Dealer and its agents shall have been afforded a reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for underwritten offerings of equity securities of similar size and by issuers of comparable size to Counterparty and the results of such investigation are satisfactory to Dealer, in its good faith discretion; and

(d) as of the date of delivery, an agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) shall have been entered into with Dealer in connection with the public resale of the Registered Settlement Shares by Dealer substantially similar to underwriting agreements customary for underwritten offerings of equity securities of similar size and by issuers of comparable size to Counterparty, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, which Underwriting Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such underwriting agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its Affiliates and the provision of customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters and lawyers’ negative assurance letters.

4. If Counterparty delivers Unregistered Settlement Shares pursuant to paragraph 2 above:

(a) all Unregistered Settlement Shares shall be delivered to Dealer (or any Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof;

(b) as of or prior to the date of delivery, Dealer and any potential purchaser of any such shares from Dealer (or any Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) identified by Dealer shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for private placements of equity securities (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and other information reasonably requested by them);

(c) as of the date of delivery, Counterparty shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) with Dealer (or any Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to Dealer (or any such Affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Dealer (or any such Affiliate), substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities of similar size and by issuers of comparable size to Counterparty, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its Affiliates and, if customary for private placements of similar size, the provision of customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters

 

Annex A-2


and lawyers’ negative assurance letters (provided that the private placement agreement shall require that Counterparty only use commercially reasonable efforts to provide customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters, and lawyers’ negative assurance letters), and shall provide for the payment by Counterparty of all commercially reasonable, out-of-pocket fees and expenses of Dealer (and any such Affiliate) in connection with such resale, including, without limitation, all commercially reasonable fees and expenses of outside counsel for Dealer, and shall contain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Counterparty reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales; and

(d) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to Dealer (or any such Affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Dealer (or any such Affiliate), Counterparty shall, if so requested by Dealer, prepare, in cooperation with Dealer, a private placement memorandum in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer.

5. Dealer, itself or through an Affiliate (the “Selling Agent”) or any underwriter(s), will sell all, or such lesser portion as may be required hereunder, of the Registered Settlement Shares or Unregistered Settlement Shares and any Makewhole Shares (as defined below) (together, the “Settlement Shares”) delivered by Counterparty to Dealer pursuant to paragraph 6 below as promptly as reasonably practicable commencing on the Cash Settlement Payment Date and continuing until the date on which the aggregate Net Proceeds (as such term is defined below) of such sales as determined by Dealer in a commercially reasonable manner over a period to unwind a commercially reasonable hedge position, is equal to the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount (such date, the “Final Resale Date”). If the proceeds of any sale(s) made by Dealer, the Selling Agent or any underwriter(s), net of any commercially reasonable fees and commissions (including, without limitation, commercially reasonable underwriting or placement fees) customary for similar transactions of a similar size under the circumstances at the time of the offering, together with commercially reasonable carrying charges and expenses incurred in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares (including, without limitation, the covering of any over-allotment or short position (syndicate or otherwise)) (the “Net Proceeds”) exceed the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount, Dealer will refund, in USD, such excess to Counterparty on the date that is three (3) Currency Business Days following the Final Resale Date or, if Counterparty so elects (upon which election Counterparty repeats to Dealer in writing the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6(b)(vi) of the Master Confirmation), Shares (in which case Dealer will deliver a number of Shares having a value equal to such excess, as determined by Dealer in a commercially reasonable manner over a commercially reasonable period of time, with such period deemed to be a new Settlement Valuation Period for purposes of Sections 6(b)(x), 6(b)(xiv), 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Master Confirmation and Counterparty deemed to have made the representation and warranty in Section 3 of the related Supplemental Confirmation, as if the reference to the “Trade Date” were a reference to the first day of such period), and, if any portion of the Settlement Shares remains unsold, Dealer shall return to Counterparty on that date such unsold Shares.

6. If the Calculation Agent determines that the Net Proceeds received from the sale of the Registered Settlement Shares or Unregistered Settlement Shares or any Makewhole Shares, if any, pursuant to this paragraph 6 are less than the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount (the amount in USD by which the Net Proceeds are less than the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount being the “Shortfall” and the date on which such determination is made, the “Deficiency Determination Date”), Counterparty shall on the Exchange Business Day next succeeding the Deficiency Determination Date (the “Makewhole Notice Date”) deliver to Dealer, through the Selling Agent, a notice of Counterparty’s election that Counterparty shall either (i) pay an amount in cash equal to the Shortfall on the day that is one Currency Business Day after the Makewhole Notice Date, or (ii) deliver additional Shares. If Counterparty elects to deliver to Dealer additional Shares, then Counterparty shall deliver additional Shares in compliance with the terms and conditions of paragraph 3 or paragraph 4 above, as the case may be (the “Makewhole Shares”), on the first Clearance System Business Day which is also an Exchange Business Day following the Makewhole Notice Date in such number as the Calculation Agent reasonably believes would have a market value on that Exchange Business Day equal to the Shortfall. Such Makewhole Shares shall be sold by Dealer in a commercially reasonable manner and in accordance with the provisions above; provided that if the sum of the Net Proceeds from the sale of the originally delivered Shares and the Net Proceeds from the sale of any Makewhole Shares is less than the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount then Counterparty shall, at its election, either make such cash payment or deliver to Dealer further Makewhole Shares until such Shortfall has been reduced to zero.

 

Annex A-3


7. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the aggregate number of Settlement Shares for any Transaction be greater than the Reserved Shares minus the amount of any Shares actually delivered by Counterparty under any other Transaction under this Master Confirmation (the result of such calculation, the “Capped Number”). Counterparty represents and warrants (which shall be deemed to be repeated on each day that a Transaction is outstanding) that the Capped Number is equal to or less than the number of Shares determined according to the following formula:

A – B

 

  Where   A  =    the number of authorized but unissued shares of Counterparty that are not reserved for future issuance on the date of the determination of the Capped Number; and
    B  =    the maximum number of Shares required to be delivered to third parties if Counterparty elected Net Share Settlement of all transactions in the Shares (other than Transactions in the Shares under this Master Confirmation) with all third parties that are then currently outstanding and unexercised.

Reserved Shares” for any Transaction shall be as set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.

If at any time, as a result of this paragraph 7, Counterparty fails to deliver to Dealer any Settlement Shares, Counterparty shall, to the extent that Counterparty has at such time authorized but unissued Shares not reserved for other purposes, promptly notify Dealer thereof and deliver to Dealer a number of Shares not previously delivered as a result of this paragraph 7. Counterparty agrees to use its best efforts to cause the number of authorized but unissued Shares to be increased, if necessary, to an amount sufficient to permit Counterparty to fulfill its obligation to deliver any Settlement Shares.

 

Annex A-4


ANNEX B

COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES

[__________], 20[__]

 

  I.

Introduction

Salesforce, Inc. (“Counterparty”) and [DEALER] (“Dealer”) have adopted these communications procedures (the “Communications Procedures”) in connection with entering into the Master Confirmation (the “Master Confirmation”), dated as of March 11, 2026, between Dealer and Counterparty relating to Accelerated Share Repurchase transactions. These Communications Procedures supplement, form part of, and are subject to the Master Confirmation.

 

  II.

Communications Rules

For each Transaction, from the Trade Date for such Transaction until the date all payments or deliveries of Shares have been made with respect to such Transaction, Counterparty and its Employees and Designees shall not engage in any Program-Related Communication with, or disclose any Material Non-Public Information to, any EDG Trading Personnel. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, the Master Confirmation shall not limit Counterparty and its Employees and Designees in their communication with Affiliates and Employees of Dealer, including, without limitation, Employees who are EDG Permitted Contacts.

 

  III.

Termination

If, in the sole judgment of any EDG Trading Personnel or any Affiliate or Employee of Dealer participating in any Communication with Counterparty or any Employee or Designee of Counterparty, such Communication would not be permitted by these Communications Procedures, such EDG Trading Personnel or Affiliate or Employee of Dealer shall immediately terminate such Communication. In such case, or if such EDG Trading Personnel or Affiliate or Employee of Dealer determines following completion of any Communication with Counterparty or any Employee or Designee of Counterparty that such Communication was not permitted by these Communications Procedures, such EDG Trading Personnel or such Affiliate or Employee of Dealer shall promptly consult with his or her supervisors and with counsel for Dealer regarding such Communication. If, in the reasonable judgment of Dealer’s counsel following such consultation, there is more than an insignificant risk that such Communication could materially jeopardize the availability of the affirmative defenses provided in Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act with respect to any ongoing or contemplated activities of Dealer or its Affiliates in respect of any Transaction pursuant to the Master Confirmation, it shall be an Additional Termination Event pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Master Confirmation, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and all Transactions under the Master Confirmation as Affected Transactions.

 

  IV.

Definitions

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Master Confirmation. As used herein, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

Communication” means any contact or communication (whether written, electronic, oral or otherwise) between Counterparty or any of its Employees or Designees, on the one hand, and Dealer or any of its Affiliates or Employees, on the other hand.

Designee” means a person designated, in writing or orally, by Counterparty to communicate with Dealer on behalf of Counterparty.

 

Annex B-1


EDG Permitted Contact” means any of [_______], [_______], [_______] and [_______] or any of their designees; provided that Dealer may amend the list of EDG Permitted Contacts by delivering a revised list of EDG Permitted Contacts to Counterparty.

EDG Trading Personnel” means [_______], [_______], [_______] and [_______] [and any other Employee of the public side of the Equity Derivatives Group of [____]]; provided that Dealer may amend the list of EDG Trading Personnel by delivering a revised list of EDG Trading Personnel to Counterparty; and provided further that, for the avoidance of doubt, the persons listed as EDG Permitted Contacts are not EDG Trading Personnel.

Employee” means, with respect to any entity, any owner, principal, officer, director, employee or other agent or representative of such entity, and any Affiliate of any of such owner, principal, officer, director, employee, agent or representative.

Material Non-Public Information” means information relating to Counterparty or the Shares that (a) has not been widely disseminated by wire service, in one or more newspapers of general circulation, by communication from Counterparty to its shareholders or in a press release, or contained in a public filing made by Counterparty with the Securities and Exchange Commission and (b) a reasonable investor might consider to be of importance in making an investment decision to buy, sell or hold Shares. For the avoidance of doubt and solely by way of illustration, information should be presumed “material” if it relates to such matters as dividend increases or decreases, earnings estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant expansion or curtailment of operations, a significant increase or decline of orders, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, significant new products or discoveries, extraordinary borrowing, major litigation, liquidity problems, extraordinary management developments, purchase or sale of substantial assets and similar matters.

Program-Related Communication” means any Communication the subject matter of which relates to the Master Confirmation or any Transaction under the Master Confirmation or any activities of Dealer (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Master Confirmation or any Transaction under the Master Confirmation.

 

Annex B-2

Exhibit 10.2

 

 
 

FIVE-YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF MARCH 11, 2026

among

SALESFORCE, INC.,

as Borrower,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

BANCO SANTANDER, S.A., NEW YORK BRANCH,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC and

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers,

BANCO SANTANDER, S.A., NEW YORK BRANCH,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC and

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

as Syndication Agents,

and

BNP PARIBAS,

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and

THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Documentation Agents

 

 
 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

         PAGE  
ARTICLE 1       
DEFINITIONS       
Section 1.01  

Certain Defined Terms

     1  
Section 1.02  

Exchange Rates, Basket Calculations

     22  
ARTICLE 2   
THE CREDITS   
Section 2.01  

Description of Term Facility; Commitment

     21  
Section 2.02  

Maturity Date

     22  
Section 2.03  

Types of Loans

     22  
Section 2.04  

Fees

     22  
Section 2.05  

Termination of Aggregate Commitments

     22  
Section 2.06  

Prepayments

     22  
Section 2.07  

Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New Loans

     23  
Section 2.08  

Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Loans

     23  
Section 2.09  

Interest Rates

     24  
Section 2.10  

Rates Applicable After Default

     24  
Section 2.11  

Method of Payment

     24  
Section 2.12  

Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness

     25  
Section 2.13  

Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis

     25  
Section 2.14  

Notification of Loans, Interest Rates, Prepayments; Availability of Loans

     26  
Section 2.15  

Lending Installations

     26  
Section 2.16  

Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback

     26  
Section 2.17  

Replacement of Lender

     28  
Section 2.18  

Sharing of Payments by Lenders

     29  
Section 2.19  

Defaulting Lenders

     29  
ARTICLE 3   
YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES   
Section 3.01  

Yield Protection

     31  
Section 3.02  

Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations; Certificates for Reimbursement; Delay in Requests

     31  
Section 3.03  

Illegality

     32  
Section 3.04  

Compensation for Losses

     33  
Section 3.05  

Taxes

     33  
Section 3.06  

Mitigation Obligations

     38  
Section 3.07  

Inability to Determine Rates. Replacing Benchmarks

     38  
Section 3.08  

Survival

     41  

 

i


ARTICLE 4       
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT       
Section 4.01  

Closing Date

     41  
ARTICLE 5   
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES   
Section 5.01  

Existence and Standing

     43  
Section 5.02  

Authorization and Validity

     43  
Section 5.03  

No Conflict; Government Consent

     43  
Section 5.04  

Financial Statements

     44  
Section 5.05  

Material Adverse Effect

     44  
Section 5.06  

Litigation

     44  
Section 5.07  

Disclosure

     44  
Section 5.08  

Regulation U

     44  
Section 5.09  

Investment Company Act

     44  
Section 5.10  

OFAC, FCPA

     45  
Section 5.11  

Affected Financial Institution

     45  
ARTICLE 6   
COVENANTS   
Section 6.01  

Financial Reporting

     45  
Section 6.02  

Use of Proceeds

     46  
Section 6.03  

Notice of Default

     46  
Section 6.04  

Maintenance of Existence and Authority

     46  
Section 6.05  

Compliance with Laws

     47  
Section 6.06  

Inspection; Keeping of Books and Records

     47  
Section 6.07  

OFAC, FCPA

     47  
Section 6.08  

Merger

     47  
Section 6.09  

Liens

     48  
Section 6.10  

OFAC, FCPA

     49  
ARTICLE 7   
DEFAULTS   
Section 7.01  

Breach of Representations or Warranties

     50  
Section 7.02  

Failure to Make Payments When Due

     50  
Section 7.03  

Breach of Covenants

     50  
Section 7.04  

Cross Default

     50  
Section 7.05  

Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver; Etc.

     50  
Section 7.06  

Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver; Etc.

     51  
Section 7.07  

Judgments

     51  
Section 7.08  

Unfunded Liabilities

     51  
Section 7.09  

Change of Control

     51  

 

ii


Section 7.10  

Other ERISA Liabilities

     51  
Section 7.11  

Invalidity of Loan Documents

     51  
ARTICLE 8   
ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES   
Section 8.01  

Acceleration, Etc.

     52  
Section 8.02  

Amendments

     52  
Section 8.03  

Preservation of Rights

     53  
ARTICLE 9   
GENERAL PROVISIONS   
Section 9.01  

Survival of Representations

     53  
Section 9.02  

Governmental Regulation

     54  
Section 9.03  

Headings

     54  
Section 9.04  

Entire Agreement

     54  
Section 9.05  

Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement

     54  
Section 9.06  

Expenses; Indemnification

     54  
Section 9.07  

Accounting

     56  
Section 9.08  

Severability of Provisions

     56  
Section 9.09  

Nonliability of Lenders

     57  
Section 9.10  

Confidentiality

     57  
Section 9.11  

Nonreliance

     58  
Section 9.12  

Disclosure

     58  
Section 9.13  

Interest Rate Limitation

     58  
Section 9.14  

Existing Credit Agreements

     58  
ARTICLE 10   
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT   
Section 10.01  

Appointment and Authority

     59  
Section 10.02  

Rights as a Lender

     59  
Section 10.03  

Reliance by Administrative Agent

     59  
Section 10.04  

Exculpatory Provisions

     59  
Section 10.05  

Delegation of Duties

     60  
Section 10.06  

Resignation of Administrative Agent

     61  
Section 10.07  

Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Other Lenders

     62  
Section 10.08  

No Other Duties, Etc.

     62  
Section 10.09  

Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

     63  
Section 10.10  

Certain ERISA Matters

     63  
Section 10.11  

Lender Acknowledgement

     64  

 

iii


ARTICLE 11   
SETOFF   
Section 11.01  

Setoff

     65  
ARTICLE 12   
BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS   
Section 12.01  

Successors and Assigns

     65  
Section 12.02  

Dissemination of Information

     69  
Section 12.03  

Tax Treatment

     69  
ARTICLE 13   
NOTICES   
Section 13.01  

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

     69  
ARTICLE 14   
COUNTERPARTS; INTEGRATION; EFFECTIVENESS; ELECTRONIC EXECUTION   
Section 14.01  

Counterparts; Effectiveness

     71  
Section 14.02  

Electronic Execution

     72  
ARTICLE 15   
CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL   
Section 15.01  

Choice of Law

     72  
Section 15.02  

Consent to Jurisdiction

     73  
Section 15.03  

Waiver of Jury Trial

     73  
Section 15.04  

U.S. Patriot Act Notice and Beneficial Ownership Regulation

     74  
Section 15.05  

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

     74  
Section 15.06  

Judgment Currency

     74  
Section 15.07  

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-in of Affected Financial Institutions

     75  

 

iv


EXHIBITS
Exhibit A    –     Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit B    –     Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit C    –     Form of Prepayment Notice
Exhibit D    –     Form of Promissory Note
Exhibit E    –     Form of Borrowing Notice
Exhibit F    –     Form of Conversion/Continuation Notice
Exhibit G-1    –     Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
Exhibit G-2    –     Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
Exhibit G-3    –     Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
Exhibit G-4    –     Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
SCHEDULES      
Pricing Schedule
Commitment Schedule
Schedule 13.01    –     Certain Addresses for Notices

 

 

v


FIVE-YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT

This Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2026, is among Salesforce, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the institutions from time to time party hereto as Lenders (whether by execution of this Agreement or an assignment pursuant to Section 12.01) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term loan credit facility to the Borrower for the purposes set forth herein, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement:

364-Day Credit Agreement” means that certain 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2025, among the Borrower, JPMorgan as administrative agent and the lenders party thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan in its capacity as contractual representative of the Lenders pursuant to Article 10, and not in its individual capacity as a Lender, and any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Article 10.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person is the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of ten percent (10%) or more of any class of voting securities (or other voting interests) of the controlled Person or possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the controlled Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Agency Fee Letter” means that certain Administrative Agent Fee Letter, dated as of February 17, 2026, between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Agent” means any of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Syndication Agents or the Documentation Agents, as appropriate, and “Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Syndication Agents and the Documentation Agents.

Agent Parties” is defined in Section 13.01(c).


Aggregate Commitment” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Commitments of all of the Lenders at such time, as may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The Aggregate Commitment as of the Closing Date is Six Billion and 00/100 Dollars ($6,000,000,000.00).

Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate of the Outstanding Credit Exposure with respect to all of the Lenders at such time.

Agreement” means this Five-Year Credit Agreement, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified and as in effect from time to time.

Agreement Accounting Principles” means GAAP, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 5.04; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything contained in Section 9.07 to the contrary, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP occurring after the Closing Date (or any change in GAAP that occurred on or prior to the Closing Date but was not reflected in the financial statements included in the Borrower SEC Report) or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision, regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

Agreement Currency” is defined in Section 15.06.

Alternate Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate of interest 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 JPMorgan as its “prime rate” (the “Prime Rate”) and (c) the Secured Overnight Financing Rate published on such day by the SOFR Administrator on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source) plus 1.00%. The Prime Rate shall be the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent). Any change in such Prime Rate announced by JPMorgan shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Alternate Base Rate shall be less than zero such rate shall be deemed zero for all purposes of this Agreement. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.

Alternate Base Rate Loan” means a Loan, or portion thereof, which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.10, bears interest at the Alternate Base Rate. All Alternate Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, money laundering or corruption, including the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

2


Applicable Margin” means, with respect to Loans of any Type at any time, the percentage rate per annum which is applicable at such time with respect to Loans of such Type as set forth under the heading “Applicable Margin” in the Pricing Schedule.

Approved Fund” means any Fund 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.

Arranger Fee Letter” means that certain Arranger Fee Letter, dated as of February 17, 2026, between the Borrower and JPMorgan.

Arrangers” means JPMorgan, Banco Santander, S.A., New York Branch, Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank, N.A., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in their capacities as Joint Lead Arrangers.

Article” means an Article of this Agreement unless another document is specifically referenced.

Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

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 12.01), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit B or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Authorized Officer” means any of the President, the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary of the Borrower and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article 2, any other officer or employee of the Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the Borrower designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, in each case acting in accordance with the terms of the signing authority granted in the incumbency certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iii) (including any supplements thereto delivered to the Administrative Agent from time to time by way of an officers’ certificate jointly executed by two Authorized Officers).

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if any then-current Benchmark for is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period pursuant to this Agreement or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, in each case, as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is excluded pursuant to Section 3.07(b)(iv).

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

 

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Bail-In Legislation” means (a) 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, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Date” is defined in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

Benchmark” means, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred pursuant to Section 3.07, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 3.07(b)(i).

Benchmark Replacement” means the first alternative set forth below and (where applicable) in the order set forth below for Dollars that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

(a) with respect to SOFR Loans, Daily Simple SOFR; or

(b) the sum of: (1) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in Dollars at such time and (2) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

provided that if the Benchmark Replacement would be less than the Floor for the applicable Benchmark, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor applicable to such Benchmark for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Available Tenor, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in Dollars in the U.S. syndicated loan market at such time.

 

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Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative; provided that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any then-current Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), (including, with respect to Dollar-denominated rates (including Term SOFR), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Term SOFR Administrator), an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

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(3) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative.

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any then-current Benchmark, the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 3.07(b) and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 3.07(b).

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” is defined in Section 15.04.

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

Borrower” is defined in the preamble hereto.

Borrower Materials” is defined in Section 6.01.

Borrower SEC Report” means the Borrower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026.

Borrowing Date” means a date on which a Loan is made hereunder.

Borrowing Notice” is defined in Section 2.07.

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, New York, New York and, if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a SOFR Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such SOFR Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such SOFR Loan, any such day that is also a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

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 or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, 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

 

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Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated 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 the case of clauses (x) and (y) be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.

Change of Control” means (a) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) other than the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries or (b) an event or series of events by which any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of more than 50.0% of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock or equivalent interests of the Borrower the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully diluted basis, even though the right to so vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency (the “Voting Stock”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control if (x) the Borrower becomes a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of another Person and (y) the shares of the Voting Stock of the Borrower outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of such Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction.

Closing Date” means the date on which all of the conditions precedent specified in Section 4.01 shall first be satisfied (or waived).

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, reformed or otherwise modified from time to time.

Commitment” means, for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth on the Commitment Schedule (which schedule shall set forth each Lender’s Commitment as of the Closing Date immediately prior to the borrowing of the Loans).

Commitment Schedule” means the Schedule attached hereto and identified as such, identifying each Lender’s Commitment as of the Closing Date immediately prior to the borrowing of the Loans.

Communication” is defined in Section 14.02.

Conforming Changes” means, with respect to the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definitions of “Alternate Base Rate”, “Business Day”, “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, “Interest Period” or any similar or analogous definition

 

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(or the addition of a new concept of “interest period”), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the addition of conversion or continuation and notices related thereto, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 3.04 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides, in consultation with the Borrower, may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides, in consultation with the Borrower, that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

Consolidated Assets” means, at any date of determination, the total amount, as shown on or reflected in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as at the end of the Borrower’s fiscal quarter ending prior to such date, of all assets of the Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles (giving pro forma effect to any acquisition or disposition of Property of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries involving the payment or receipt of consideration by the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries in excess of $500,000,000 that has occurred since the end of such fiscal quarter as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred on the last day of such fiscal quarter).

Controlled Group” means all members of a controlled group of corporations or other business entities and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control or treated as a single employer with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under Section 414 of the Code.

Conversion/Continuation Notice” is defined in Section 2.08.

Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding any business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) SOFR for the day (such day “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website and (b) the Floor. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on the second U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately following any SOFR Determination Date, the SOFR in respect of such SOFR Determination Date has not been published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to Daily Simple SOFR has not occurred, then the SOFR for such SOFR Determination Date will be the SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website; provided that any SOFR determined pursuant to this sentence shall be utilized for purposes of calculation of Daily Simple SOFR for no more than three (3) consecutive SOFR Rate Days. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower.

 

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Daily Simple SOFR Loan” means a Loan which bears interest based on Daily Simple SOFR.

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 and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Default” means an event described in Article 7.

Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.19(e), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in respect of its Loans, within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding has not been satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, will be specifically identified in such writing) or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder, or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, unless such notification or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding cannot be satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, will be specifically identified in such writing or public statement), (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, as applicable, that it will comply with its funding obligations, which request was made because of a reasonable concern by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower that such Lender may not be able to comply with its 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 or the Borrower, 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 a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it, (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action or (iv) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; 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 unless such ownership or equity results in or provides such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or any other nation or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permits such Lender (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by 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

 

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status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.19(e)) 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 Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is, or its government is, the subject or target of any Sanction.

Documentation Agents” means BNP Paribas, U.S. Bank National Association and the Toronto-Dominion Bank, New York Branch, each in its capacity as a documentation agent for the Lenders, and not in its individual capacity as a Lender.

Dollar” and “$” means dollars in the lawful currency of the United States of America.

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 other currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Exchange Rate for the purchase of Dollars with such 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.

Electronic Record” is defined in Section 14.02.

Electronic Signature” is defined in Section 14.02.

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 12.01(b)(v), (vi) and (vii) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 12.01(b)(iii)).

Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to (a) the protection of the environment, (b) the effect of the environment on human health, (c) emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances or wastes into surface water, ground water or land, or (d) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.

 

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Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, cost of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, including (unless the context otherwise requires) the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

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.

Exchange Rate” for a currency means the rate for the purchase of such currency with another currency as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other source as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) at or about 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that, in the event that such rate does not appear on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other source as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), the “Exchange Rate” with respect to the purchase of such currency with another currency shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, or, in the absence of such agreement, such “Exchange Rate” shall instead be the rate determined by the Administrative Agent 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 in respect of such currency at approximately 11:00 a.m. (local time) on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided further that, if at the time of any such determination no such spot rate can reasonably be quoted, the Administrative Agent may use any reasonable method as it deems applicable to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income Taxes), and branch profits or similar Taxes, in each case, imposed by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) (i) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Installation is located, or (ii) where the recipient otherwise has a present or former connection (other than by reason of the activities and transactions specifically contemplated by this Agreement, including selling or assigning an interest in any Loan or Loan Document or enforcing provisions of any Loan Document), (b) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any U.S. withholding Tax that is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.17) pursuant to the laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Installation), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender

 

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(or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Installation (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.05(a)(i) or (ii), (c) in the case of a Lender, any Tax that is attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with Section 3.05(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Exhibit” refers to an exhibit to this Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

Existing Credit Agreements” means, individually or collectively as the context may require, the 364-Day Credit Agreement and the Three-Year Credit Agreement.

FATCA” means Sections 1471-1474 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 regulations promulgated thereunder or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Fee Letters” means each of (i) the Agency Fee Letter and (ii) the Arranger Fee Letter.

Floor” means a rate of interest equal to zero.

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

Foreign Pension Plan” means any defined benefit plan as described in Section 3(35) of ERISA for which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any member of the Controlled Group is a sponsor or administrator or to which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any member of the Controlled Group has any liability, and which (a) is or was maintained or contributed to for the benefit of employees of the Borrower, any of its respective Subsidiaries or any member of its Controlled Group, (b) is not covered by ERISA pursuant to Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA, and (c) under applicable local law, is required to be funded through a trust or other funding vehicle.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time, subject to the Agreement Accounting Principles.

 

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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).

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Indebtedness for Borrowed Money” of a Person means, without duplication, (a) the outstanding principal amount of indebtedness for borrowed money (whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments), (b) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (i) trade accounts payable, intercompany charges and expenses, deferred revenue and other accrued liabilities (including deferred payments in respect of services by employees), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligation or other post-closing balance sheet adjustment except to the extent of the amount, if any, reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP), (c) finance leases (the amount of which for purposes of this definition shall be the amount shown as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person as determined in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles), (d) unpaid reimbursement obligations with respect to drawn letters of credit and banker’s acceptances issued for the account of such Person (to the extent not already cash collateralized) and (e) obligations under direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness or obligations of any other Person of the kinds referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, clause (c) shall not include any obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of a lease classified as finance lease under GAAP or for other accounting purposes, but for which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not make and are not required to make any cash payment.

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes (other than Excluded Taxes) imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder.

Indemnitee” is defined in Section 9.06(b).

Information” is defined in Sections 5.7 or 9.10, as applicable.

Interest Period” means, with respect to a SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such SOFR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a SOFR Loan and ending on the date that is (a) one, three or six months thereafter or (b) upon consent of all Lenders, such other date thereafter, in each case as selected by the Borrower in its Borrowing Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice; provided, that, (i) any Interest Period 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 (ii) if an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, however, that if said next succeeding Business Day falls in a new calendar month, such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day. No tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 3.07(b)(iv) shall be available for specification in any Borrowing Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice.

 

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IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

JPMorgan” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Judgment Currency” is defined in Section 15.06.

Lenders” means the lending institutions listed on the signature pages of this Agreement and their respective successors and assigns, as well as any Person that becomes a “Lender” hereunder pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

Lending Installation” means, with respect to a Lender or the Agents, the office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender or Agent listed on the administrative information sheets provided to the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, or otherwise selected by such Lender or Agent pursuant to Section 2.15.

Lien” means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or other security interest or similar preferential arrangement (including the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale, finance lease or other title retention agreement, but for the avoidance of doubt not including any operating lease).

Loan” means, with respect to a Lender, any of such Lender’s loans made pursuant to Section 2.01 (and any conversion or continuation thereof pursuant to Section 2.08).

Loan Documents” means this Agreement and any Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.12 (if requested) as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time.

Major Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower (a) which is organized and existing under, or has its principal place of business in, the United States or any political subdivision thereof, Canada or any political subdivision thereof, any country which is a member of the European Union on the Closing Date or any political subdivision thereof, or Switzerland, Norway or Australia or any of their respective political subdivisions, and (b) which has at any time total assets (after intercompany eliminations) exceeding 10% of Consolidated Assets.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the financial condition, results of operations, business or Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) the rights of or remedies available to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent against the Borrower under the Loan Documents, taken as a whole.

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of the Borrower or any Major Subsidiary in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $1,000,000,000 or more, other than (i) indebtedness arising under the Loan Documents, (ii) intercompany indebtedness between or among the Borrower and any Subsidiary or between or among Subsidiaries and (iii) indebtedness of any special purpose entity Subsidiary under any financing described in Section 6.09(a)(ii), provided that such indebtedness is non-recourse to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (other than the relevant special purpose entity) (it being understood that customary obligations of a “seller”, “originator” or “servicer” in connection with such a financing and guarantees of the same do not constitute recourse in respect of such indebtedness).

 

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Maturity Date” means the date that is five (5) years after the Closing Date; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

Maximum Rate” is defined in Section 9.13.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and to which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any member of the Controlled Group makes or is obligated to make contributions or has any liability.

Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender.

Note” is defined in Section 2.12(d).

Obligations” means all Loans, debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Borrower to any of the Agents, any Lender, the Arrangers, any affiliate of the Agents or any Lender, the Arrangers, or any indemnitee under the provisions of Section 9.06 or any other provisions of the Loan Documents, in each case of any kind or nature, present or future, arising under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether or not evidenced by any note, guaranty or other instrument, whether or not for the payment of money, whether arising by reason of an extension of credit, loan, foreign exchange risk, guaranty, indemnification, or in any other manner, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and however acquired (including, for the avoidance of doubt, interest accruing after the maturity of the Loans and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding). The term includes, without limitation, all interest, charges, expenses, fees, attorneys’ fees and disbursements, paralegals’ fees, and any other sum chargeable to the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between the Administrative Agent or such Lender and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s 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, documentary, intangible, recording or filing taxes or any similar taxes, charges or levies arising from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other 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 2.17).

 

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Outstanding Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount of its outstanding Loans at such time.

Overnight Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

Participant” is defined in Section 12.01(d).

Participant Register” is defined in Section 12.01(d).

Payment” is defined in Section 2.16(c).

Payment Date” means (a) with respect to Alternate Base Rate Loans and any fees or amounts other than those described in clause (b), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and (b) with respect to SOFR Loans, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan.

Payment Notice” is defined in Section 2.16(c)(i).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor thereto.

Periodic Term SOFR Determination Date” is defined in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, firm, joint venture, partnership, limited liability company, association, enterprise, trust or other entity or organization, or any government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof.

Plan” means an employee benefit plan other than a Multiemployer Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code as to which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any member of the Controlled Group may have liability.

Platform” is defined in Section 6.01.

Pricing Schedule” means the Schedule identifying the Applicable Margin attached hereto identified as such.

Prime Rate” is defined in the definition of “Alternate Base Rate”.

Property” of a Person means any and all property, whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned, leased or operated by such Person.

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to a Lender, a portion equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Outstanding Credit Exposure at such time and the denominator of which is the sum of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure at such time.

 

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PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

Public Debt Rating” means the public credit rating for the Borrower’s senior unsecured, long-term debt without third-party credit enhancement by S&P and Moody’s.

Public Lender” is defined in Section 6.01.

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) with respect to a SOFR Loan, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the date of such setting and (2) in any other case, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

Refinancing” means the repayment in full of all principal, interest and fees outstanding under each of the Existing Credit Agreements.

Register” is defined in Section 12.01(c).

Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor thereto or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors.

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors.

Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors.

Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors, consultants, service providers and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Released Party” is defined in Section 9.06(d).

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed by the Federal Reserve Board or Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, in each case, any successor thereto.

Removal Effective Date” is defined in Section 10.06(b).

Reportable Event” means a reportable event, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued under such Section, with respect to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC has by regulation or otherwise waived the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of such event; provided, however, that a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the notice requirement in accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(c) of the Code.

 

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Required Lenders” means, on any date of determination, Lenders in the aggregate holding greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure on such date; provided that the portion of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Reserve Requirement” means, with respect to an Interest Period, the maximum aggregate reserve requirement (including all basic, supplemental, marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under Regulation D on “Eurocurrency liabilities” (as defined in Regulation D).

Resignation Effective Date” is defined in Section 10.06(a).

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc. (or any successor thereto).

Sanction(s)” means any economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced by the United States Government (including, without limitation, OFAC or the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or His Majesty’s Treasury.

Schedule” refers to a specific schedule to this Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Section” means a numbered Section of this Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

SOFR” means, with respect to any U.S. Government Securities Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such U.S. Government Securities Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website on the immediately succeeding U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

SOFR Determination Date” is defined in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

SOFR Loan” means a Loan which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.10, bears interest based on Term SOFR. SOFR Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.

SOFR Rate Day” is defined in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

 

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Subject Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s (a) controlling Persons, controlled Affiliates or subsidiaries, (b) directors, officers or employees of such Person or of any of its subsidiaries, controlled Affiliates or controlling Persons or (c) agents and advisors of such Person or of any of its subsidiaries, controlled Affiliates or controlling Persons.

Subsidiary” of a Person means (a) any corporation more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding securities having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, or (b) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or similar business organization more than fifty percent (50%) of the ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Substantial Portion” means, on any date of determination, with respect to the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, Property which represents more than fifteen percent (15%) of the Consolidated Assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on such date.

Syndication Agents” means Banco Santander, S.A., New York Branch, Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank, N.A., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, each in its capacity as the syndication agent for the Lenders, and not in its individual capacity as a Lender.

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.

Term Facility” means the term loan credit facility established pursuant to Article 2.

Term SOFR” means,

(a) for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Loan, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day; and

(b) for any calculation with respect to an Alternate Base Rate Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the “Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR

 

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Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day;

provided, further, that if Term SOFR determined as provided above (including pursuant to the proviso under clause (a) or clause (b) above) shall ever be less than 0.0%, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be 0.0%.

Term SOFR Administrator” means the CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent (in its reasonable discretion and in a manner consistent with then-prevailing market practice) as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

Three-Year Credit Agreement” means that certain Three-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2025, among the Borrower, JPMorgan as administrative agent and the lenders party thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Transactions” means (a) the Refinancing, (b) the entry into the Loan Documents and funding of the Loans and (c) the transactions contemplated by or related to the foregoing.

Type” means, with respect to any Loan, its nature as an Alternate Base Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan.

UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

Unfunded Liabilities” means the amount (if any) by which the present value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Plans exceeds the fair market value of all such Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plans using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.

 

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Unmatured Default” means an event which but for the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a Default.

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

U.S. Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” is defined in Section 3.05(e)(ii)(B)(3).

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) 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, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

Any accounting terms used in this Agreement which are not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings customarily given them in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

Section 1.02 Exchange Rates, Basket Calculations.

(a) Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by the Borrower hereunder and making calculations under the covenants and Defaults 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 based on the Exchange Rate in respect of the date of such determination.

(b) For purposes of determining compliance with Section 6.09, no Unmatured Default or Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in Exchange Rates occurring after the time any Lien is created or incurred.

 

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ARTICLE 2

THE CREDITS

Section 2.01 Description of Term Facility; Commitment. Subject solely to the occurrence of the Closing Date, each Lender severally and not jointly agrees to make a Loan to the Borrower, in Dollars, in a single drawing on the Closing Date in accordance with its Pro Rata Share and in an amount not to exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Amounts paid, repaid or prepaid on the Loans may not be reborrowed.

Section 2.02 Maturity Date. Any outstanding Loans and all other unpaid Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall be paid in full by the Borrower on the Maturity Date. Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement on the Maturity Date, until all of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall have been fully paid and satisfied and all financing arrangements among the Borrower and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall have been terminated, all of the rights and remedies under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall survive.

Section 2.03 Types of Loans. The Loans may consist of Alternate Base Rate Loans or SOFR Loans, or a combination thereof, selected by the Borrower in accordance with Sections 2.07 and 2.08.

Section 2.04 Fees.

(a) [Reserved].

(b) Fee Letters. The Borrower shall pay the fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Arranger Fee Letter and the Agency Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall be non-refundable for any reason whatsoever.

Section 2.05 Termination of Aggregate Commitments. The Aggregate Commitments shall be automatically and permanently reduced to zero upon the borrowing of the Loans on the Closing Date.

Section 2.06 Prepayments. The Borrower may from time to time pay, without penalty or premium, all of its outstanding Alternate Base Rate Loans or, in a minimum aggregate amount of $3,000,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, any portion of its outstanding Alternate Base Rate Loans, upon prior notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit C, 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 Borrower stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the applicable prepayments at or before 11:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on the date of such payment (provided that, if such prepayment notice is submitted through the Platform, the foregoing signature requirement may be waived at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent). The Borrower may from time to time pay, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required by Section 3.04 but without penalty or premium, all of its outstanding SOFR Loans or, in a minimum aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, any portion of its outstanding SOFR Loans upon prior notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit C, 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 Borrower stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the applicable prepayments at or before 11:00 a.m. (Pacific time) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of such payment (or, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required by Section 3.04, such other prior notice as the Administrative Agent may agree to). Subject to Section 2.19, each such prepayment of a Loan shall be applied ratably to the Loans of the Lenders included in such Loan in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share. Any notice delivered pursuant to this Section 2.06 may be conditioned upon the occurrence of one or more events specified therein.

 

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Section 2.07 Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New Loans. The Borrower shall select the Type of Loan and, in the case of each SOFR Loan, the Interest Period applicable thereto from time to time. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent notice (which notice may be conditioned on the occurrence of the Closing Date) substantially in the form of Exhibit E 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), in each case appropriately completed and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower (a “Borrowing Notice”) not later than 11:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on the Closing Date of any Alternate Base Rate Loan to be funded on such date and 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) one (1) Business Day before the Closing Date for any SOFR Loan to be funded on such date (provided that, if such Borrowing Notice is submitted through the Platform, the foregoing signature requirement may be waived at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent). A Borrowing Notice shall specify:

(a) the Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such Loan,

(b) the aggregate amount of such Loan,

(c) the Type of Loan selected (which shall be in accordance with Section 2.03),

(d) in the case of each SOFR Loan, the Interest Period applicable thereto, and

(e) the location and number of the Borrower’s account (or such other account as the Borrower may designate with the Administrative Agent’s consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to which proceeds of the Loan are to be disbursed.

If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested SOFR Loan, the Borrower will be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

Section 2.08 Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Loans. Alternate Base Rate Loans shall continue as Alternate Base Rate Loans unless and until such Alternate Base Rate Loans are converted into SOFR Loans pursuant to this Section 2.08 or are repaid in accordance with Section 2.06. Each SOFR Loan shall continue as a SOFR Loan until the end of the then applicable Interest Period therefor, at which time such SOFR Loan shall be automatically continued as a SOFR Loan with an Interest Period of one month, unless (x) such SOFR Loan is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.06 or (y) the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent a Conversion/Continuation Notice (as defined below) requesting that, at the end of such Interest Period, such SOFR Loan convert to an Alternate Base Rate Loan or such SOFR Loan continue as a SOFR Loan, as applicable, for the same or another Interest Period. The Borrower may elect from time to time to convert all or any part of an Alternate Base Rate Loan into a SOFR Loan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.08, when any Default has occurred and is continuing, (I) no Loan may be converted or continued as a SOFR Loan (except with the consent of the Required Lenders). The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent notice substantially in the form of Exhibit F (a “Conversion/Continuation Notice”) or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any

 

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form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), in each case appropriately completed and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, of each conversion of an Alternate Base Rate Loan into a SOFR Loan, conversion of SOFR Loan into an Alternate Base Rate Loan or continuation of a SOFR Loan not later than 11:00 a.m. (Pacific time) at least two (2) Business Days prior to the date of the requested conversion or continuation (provided that, if such Conversion/Continuation Notice is submitted through the Platform, the foregoing signature requirement may be waived at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent). Such Conversion/Continuation Notice shall specify:

(a) the requested date, which shall be a Business Day, of such conversion or continuation,

(b) the aggregate amount and Type of the Loan which is to be converted or continued as a SOFR Loan, and

(c) the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

Section 2.09 Interest Rates. Each Alternate Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from and including the date such Loan is made or is converted from a SOFR Loan into an Alternate Base Rate Loan, to but excluding the date it is paid or is converted into a SOFR Loan pursuant to Section 2.08 hereof, at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for such day. Changes in the rate of interest on that portion of any Loan maintained as an Alternate Base Rate Loan will take effect simultaneously with each change in the Alternate Base Rate. Each SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from and including the first day of the Interest Period applicable thereto to (but not including) the last day of such Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR plus the Applicable Margin. Each Daily Simple SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from and including the date such Loan is made, to but excluding the date that it is paid, at a rate per annum equal to Daily Simple SOFR plus the Applicable Margin.

Section 2.10 Rates Applicable After Default. During the continuance of a Default under Section 7.02 the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision of Section 8.02 requiring unanimous consent of the Lenders to changes in interest rates and which election and notice shall not be required after a Default or Unmatured Default under Section 7.05 or 7.06), declare that interest on the overdue amount of the Loans shall be payable at a rate (after as well as before the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws) equal to 2% per annum in excess of the rate otherwise payable thereon (and, with respect to any other overdue amounts, shall bear interest at a rate equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin applicable to Alternate Base Rate Loans plus 2% per annum) commencing on the date of such Default and continuing until such Default is cured or waived.

Section 2.11 Method of Payment. Except as otherwise specified herein, all payments by the Borrower of principal, interest, fees and its other Obligations shall be made in Dollars. All payments of the Obligations hereunder shall be made, without setoff, deduction, or counterclaim, in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office, by 1:00 p.m. (Pacific time) on the date when due and shall be applied ratably by the Administrative Agent among the Lenders entitled thereto. Each payment delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Lender shall be delivered promptly by the

 

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Administrative Agent to such Lender in the same type of funds that the Administrative Agent received at such Lender’s address specified pursuant to Article 13 or at any Lending Installation specified in a notice received by the Administrative Agent from such Lender. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. (Pacific time) shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

Section 2.12 Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness.

(a) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the extensions of credit made by such Lender to the Borrower from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (A) the date and the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period, if any, applicable thereto, (B) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder, (C) the effective date and amount of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to and accepted by it and the parties thereto pursuant to Section 12.01, (D) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof, and (E) all other appropriate debits and credits as provided in this Agreement, including, without limitation, all fees, charges, expenses and interest. 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 absent manifest error.

(c) The entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the Obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay its Obligations in accordance with their terms.

(d) Any Lender may request that the Loans made or to be made by it be evidenced by a promissory note in substantially the form of Exhibit D (each, a “Note”). In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender such Note or Notes payable to such Lender (or its registered assigns). Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by each such Note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after any assignment pursuant to Section 12.01) be represented by one or more Notes payable to the payee named therein or any assignee pursuant to Section 12.01, except to the extent that any such Lender or assignee subsequently returns any such Note for cancellation and requests that such Loans once again be evidenced as described in clauses (a) and (b) above.

Section 2.13 Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis. Interest accrued on each Alternate Base Rate Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Payment Date, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on any date on which the Alternate Base Rate Loan is prepaid, whether due to acceleration or otherwise, and on the Maturity Date. Interest accrued on that portion of the outstanding principal amount of any Alternate Base Rate Loan converted into a SOFR Loan on a day other than a Payment Date shall be payable on the date of conversion. Interest accrued on each SOFR Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Payment Date, and on any date on which the SOFR Loan, is prepaid, whether due to acceleration or otherwise, and on the Maturity Date. Interest accrued on each SOFR Loan having an Interest

 

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Period longer than three (3) months shall also be payable on the last day of each three-month interval during such Interest Period. Interest accrued on each Daily Simple SOFR Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Payment Date, on any date on which the Daily Simple SOFR Loan is prepaid, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and on the Maturity Date. Interest accrued pursuant to Section 2.10 shall be payable on demand. With respect to (a) interest on all Loans (other than Alternate Base Rate Loans where the interest is based on the Prime Rate), such interest shall be calculated for actual days elapsed (including the first date but excluding the last day of such Interest Period) on the basis of a 360-day year and (b) interest on Loans which are Alternate Base Rate Loans where the interest is based on the Prime Rate, such interest shall be calculated for actual days elapsed (including the first date but excluding the last day of such Interest Period) on the basis of a 365/366-day year. Interest shall be payable for the day a Loan is made but not for the day of any payment on the amount paid if payment is received prior to 1:00 p.m. (Pacific time) at the place of payment. If any payment of principal of or interest on a Loan, any fees or any other amounts payable to any Agent or any Lender hereunder shall become due on a day which is not a Business Day such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and, in the case of a principal payment, such extension of time shall be included in computing interest, fees and commissions in connection with such payment.

Section 2.14 Notification of Loans, Interest Rates, Prepayments; Availability of Loans. Promptly after receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent will notify each Lender of the contents of each Borrowing Notice, Conversion/Continuation Notice and prepayment notice received by it hereunder. The Administrative Agent will notify each Lender of the interest rate applicable to each Loan promptly upon determination of such interest rate and will give prompt notice of each change in the Alternate Base Rate. Not later than 1:00 p.m. (Pacific time) on the Closing Date, each Lender shall make available its Loans in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent’s Office. The Administrative Agent will make the funds so received from the Lenders available to the Borrower at the Administrative Agent’s aforesaid address or, to the extent requested by the Borrower in the Borrowing Notice, to the account indicated in the Borrowing Notice.

Section 2.15 Lending Installations. Each Lender may book its Loans at any Lending Installation selected by such Lender and may change its Lending Installation from time to time. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to any such Lending Installation and the Loans and any Notes issued hereunder shall be deemed held by each Lender for the benefit of any such Lending Installation. Each Lender may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in accordance with Article 13, designate replacement or additional Lending Installations through which Loans will be made by it and for whose account Loan payments are to be made.

Section 2.16 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback.

(a) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of the making of any SOFR Loans (or, in the case of the making of any Alternate Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon (Pacific time) on the date of making any such Alternate Base Rate Loan) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Loan, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.14 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Loan available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand

 

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such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower 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 and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Alternate Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower 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 Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Loan to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Loan. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(b) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.

(c) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent, may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the Overnight Rate and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 2.16(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(i) Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the

 

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Administrative Agent, may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the Overnight Rate.

(ii) The Borrower hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower, except, in each case, to the extent such erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower for the purpose of prepaying, repaying, discharge or otherwise satisfying such Obligations.

(iii) Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.16(c) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 9.06(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any payment under Section 9.06(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 Loan or to make its payment under Section 9.06(c).

Section 2.17 Replacement of Lender. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.01 or 3.02, or if any Lender gives notice to the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.03, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.05, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or if a Lender fails to consent to an amendment or waiver approved by the Required Lenders as to any matter for which such Lender’s consent is needed, then the Borrower 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 12.01), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

(a) The Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 12.01(b)(iv);

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.04) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

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(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.01 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.05, 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 any such assignment resulting from a failure to consent to an amendment or waiver approved by the Required Lenders, such assignee shall have consented to the relevant amendment or waiver.

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 Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

Section 2.18 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. Except as otherwise specified herein, 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 Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its Pro Rata Share to which it is entitled pursuant hereto, 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 Loans 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 Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that:

(a) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(b) the provisions of this Section 2.18 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower 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) or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.18 shall apply).

The Borrower 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 Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

Section 2.19 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:

(b) Waivers and Amendments. That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 8.02 and the definition of Required Lender.

 

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(c) Reallocation of Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 8.01 or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.01) 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 that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Unmatured Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; third, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fourth, so long as no Default or Unmatured Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and fifth, to that 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 in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.01 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied first to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares. 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 pursuant to this Section 2.19 shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(d) [Reserved].

(e) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be 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, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase 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 Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares whereupon that 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 Borrower 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 Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

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ARTICLE 3

YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES

Section 3.01 Yield Protection. If, on or after the date of this Agreement, any Change in Law:

(a) imposes, modifies or deems 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 reflected in Term SOFR);

(b) subjects any Lender to any Tax of any kind whatsoever (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.05, Taxes described in clauses (a)(ii) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

(c) imposes on any Lender any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or SOFR Loans made by such Lender;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, continuing, converting to or maintaining any SOFR Loans (or, in the case of a Change in Law with respect to Taxes, any Loan) or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender shall be entitled to seek compensation under this Section 3.01 unless such Lender is generally seeking compensation from other borrowers that are similarly situated to and of similar creditworthiness with respect to its similarly affected commitments, loans and/or participations under agreements with such borrowers having provisions similar to this Section 3.01.

Section 3.02 Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations; Certificates for Reimbursement; Delay in Requests.

(a) Changes in Capital Adequacy. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law after the date of this Agreement affecting such Lender or any Lending Installation of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender shall be entitled to seek compensation under this Section 3.02 unless such Lender is generally seeking compensation from other borrowers that are similarly situated to and of similar creditworthiness with respect to its similarly affected commitments, loans and/or participations under agreements with such borrowers having provisions similar to this Section 3.02.

 

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(b) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Section 3.01 or subsection (a) of this Section 3.02 and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay to such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

(c) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.02 or Section 3.01 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.02 or Section 3.01 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

(d) Additional Reserve Requirements. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the 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), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least thirty (30) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional costs from such Lender. Such Lender shall deliver a certificate to the Borrower setting forth in reasonable detail a calculation of such actual costs incurred by such Lender and shall certify that it is generally charging such costs to similarly situated customers of similar creditworthiness of the applicable Lender under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 3.02(d) If a Lender fails to give notice thirty (30) days prior to the relevant interest payment date, such additional costs shall be due and payable thirty (30) days from receipt of such notice.

Section 3.03 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for the Administrative Agent or any Lender or its applicable Lending Installation to make, maintain or fund SOFR Loans or to determine or charge interest rates based upon Term SOFR or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue SOFR Loans or to convert Alternate Base Rate Loans to SOFR Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay all SOFR Loans of such Lender immediately or convert all SOFR Loans of such Lender to Alternate Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

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Section 3.04 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan (other than an Alternate Base Rate Loan) on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan or other than upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise, but excluding any prepayment or conversion required pursuant to Section 3.03);

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan (other than an Alternate Base Rate Loan) on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

(c) any assignment of a SOFR Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.17;

including any foreign exchange losses and 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. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.04, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each SOFR Loan made by it at the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the secured overnight Dollar financing market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such SOFR Loan was in fact so funded.

Section 3.05 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 Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Taxes. If, however, applicable laws require the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to withhold or deduct any such Tax, such Tax shall be withheld or deducted in accordance with such laws as determined by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.

(ii) If the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by applicable law to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment under any Loan Document, then (A) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to be required based upon the information and

 

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documentation it, or the applicable taxing authority, has received pursuant to subsection (e) below (for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of any such information and documentation received by an applicable taxing authority, solely to the extent the Borrower or the Administrative Agent has been provided with a copy of such information and documentation or otherwise has actual knowledge of such information and documentation and, in each case, is entitled to rely thereon), (B) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower 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 3.05) the Administrative Agent or any Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable laws.

(c) Indemnification.

(i) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender and shall make payment in respect thereof within thirty (30) days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.05) withheld or deducted from a payment to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, or paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(ii) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Lender shall, and does hereby, indemnify (x) the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within thirty (30) days after demand therefor, against any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Borrower or the Administrative Agent by any Governmental Authority as a result of (1) the failure by such Lender to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy, inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by such Lender to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (e) or (2) the failure of such Lender to comply with the provisions of Section 12.01(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (y) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so) or Excluded Taxes

 

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attributable to such Lender, 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 or the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii). The agreements in this clause (ii) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

(d) Evidence of Payments. Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.05, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by law to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.

(i) Each Lender shall deliver to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the applicable taxing authority, at the time or times prescribed by applicable laws or when reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable laws or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information (A) to secure any applicable exemption from, or reduction in the rate of, deduction or withholding imposed by any jurisdiction in respect of any payments to be made by the Borrower to such Lender, and (B) as will permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (1) whether or not payments made hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes, (2) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (3) such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

(A) any Lender (or, if such Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Person treated as its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Borrower 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 request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable laws or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements;

 

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(B) each Foreign Lender (or, if such Foreign Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Person treated as its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is entitled under the Code or any applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower 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 request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender (or, if such Foreign Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Person treated as its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender (or, if such Foreign Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Person treated as its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes) claiming eligibility for 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 originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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,

(2) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender (or, if such Foreign Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Person treated as its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes) 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 G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender (or such other Person) is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable,

 

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(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY and all required supporting documentation, including IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner, or

(5) executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable laws to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(C) each Lender shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower such documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower sufficient for the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine whether payments to such Lender are subject to withholding tax under FATCA. Solely for purposes of this subclause (C), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(iii) Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender and as may be reasonably necessary (including the redesignation of its Lending Installation) to avoid any requirement of applicable laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

(iv) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower 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 have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any

 

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Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.05, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 3.05 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest (to the extent accrued from the date such refund is paid over to the Borrower) or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority), to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

Section 3.06 Mitigation Obligations. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.01 or Section 3.02, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.05, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.03, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Installation 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, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01, 3.02 or 3.05, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.03, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

Section 3.07 Inability to Determine Rates. Replacing Benchmarks.

(a) Circumstances Affecting Benchmark Availability. Subject to clause (c) below, if (A) the Administrative Agent determines that Term SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (B) the Required Lenders determine that Term SOFR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such SOFR Loans and delivers written notice of such determination to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Upon notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, any obligation of the Lenders to make SOFR Loans, and any right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to, or continue any Loan as, a SOFR Loan, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or the affected Interest Periods) until the Administrative Agent (with respect to subclause (B), at the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or the affected Interest Periods) and (y) any outstanding affected SOFR Loans will be deemed to have been converted into Alternate Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.04.

 

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(b) Benchmark Replacement Setting.

(i) Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to any setting of any Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. If the Benchmark Replacement is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a monthly basis.

(ii) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(iii) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (A) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (B) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (C) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement and (D) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 3.07(b)(iv) below. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 3.07(b), including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 3.07(b).

 

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(iv) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (A) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate and either (1) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (2) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is not or will not be representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the “interest period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (B) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (A) above either (1) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (2) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the “interest period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

(v) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to any given Benchmark, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for the making of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for the making of or conversion to Alternate Base Rate Loans and (ii) any outstanding affected SOFR Loans, if applicable, will be deemed to have been converted into Alternate Base Rate Loans or shall be prepaid, in each case of this clause (ii), at the end of the applicable Interest Period. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.04. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that any tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of Alternate Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of Alternate Base Rate.

(vi) Disclaimer. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in Dollars may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.14(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, with respect to any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement), including, without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement), will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower.

 

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The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

Section 3.08 Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article 3 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE 4

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 4.01 Closing Date. The occurrence of the Closing Date, and the obligation of each Lender to make the Loans on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of only the following conditions precedent:

(a) the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received:

(i) copies of the certificate of incorporation of the Borrower, together with all amendments thereto, and a certificate of good standing for the Borrower, each certified by the appropriate governmental officer in its jurisdiction of incorporation;

(ii) copies, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, of the Borrower’s by-laws and of its Board of Directors’ resolutions and of resolutions or actions of any other body authorizing the execution of the Loan Documents and a certification that there have been no changes to its certificate of incorporation provided pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(i);

(iii) an incumbency certificate, executed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, which shall identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the Authorized Officers and any other officers or employees of the Borrower authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party and to request Loans hereunder, upon which certificate the Agents and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until informed of any change in writing by the Borrower;

(iv) an officer’s certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, certifying that (x) on the Closing Date, no Default or Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) the representations and warranties contained in Article 5 are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties are qualified by “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar terms, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the Closing Date, except to the extent any such representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties are qualified with “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar terms, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such earlier date;

 

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(v) a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Closing Date) of Wachtell, Lipton Rosen & Katz reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(vi) all fees payable pursuant to the Fee Letters on or prior to the Closing Date shall have been paid or shall be paid substantially simultaneously with the Closing Date, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Fee Letters and all other accrued fees and expenses of the Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (including the fees and expenses of counsel (including any local counsel) for the Administrative Agent) payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date and for which invoices have been presented at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date shall have been paid or shall be paid substantially simultaneously with the Closing Date;

(vii) from (I) each Lender, (II) the Administrative Agent, and (III) the Borrower either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) customary written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;

(viii) a Borrowing Notice in accordance with Section 2.07; and

(b) at least three (3) days prior to the Closing Date, the Borrower shall have provided the documentation and other information about the Borrower to the Administrative Agent that is required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the U.S. Patriot Act, to the extent such information was reasonably requested by the Arrangers or a Lender in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date;

(c) The Refinancing shall have occurred (or shall occur substantially simultaneously with the Closing Date);

(d) no Unmatured Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the borrowing by the Borrower of the Loans on the Closing Date; and

(e) each of the representations and warranties set forth in Article 5 shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties are qualified with “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar terms, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the Closing Date, except to the extent any such representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties are qualified with “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar terms, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such earlier date.

 

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The occurrence of the Closing Date shall be confirmed by a written notice from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower on the Closing Date, and shall be conclusive evidence of the occurrence thereof. Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 8.02, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

ARTICLE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants as follows to each Lender and the Agents as of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions) (it being understood that the conditions to the Closing Date are solely those set out in Section 4.01):

Section 5.01 Existence and Standing. The Borrower (a) is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity duly and properly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and (b) has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except to the extent that the failure to have such authority would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.02 Authorization and Validity. The Borrower has the power and authority and legal right to execute and deliver the Loan Documents and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution and delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents and the performance of its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by proper proceedings, and the Loan Documents constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 5.03 No Conflict; Government Consent.

(a) Neither the execution and delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions thereof will violate (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on the Borrower, (ii) the Borrower’s bylaws, articles or certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, certificate of partnership, operating agreement or other management agreement, articles or certificate of organization or other similar formation, organizational or governing documents, instruments and agreements, as the case may be, or (iii) the provisions of any indenture, instrument or agreement to which the Borrower is a party or is subject, or by which it, or its Property, is bound, except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) where such violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) No order, consent, adjudication, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, or other action in respect of any governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision thereof, which has not been obtained by the Borrower, is required to be obtained by the Borrower in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the borrowings under the Loan Documents, the payment and performance by the Borrower of its Obligations or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Loan Documents.

Section 5.04 Financial Statements. The January 31, 2026 audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower included in the Borrower SEC Report (a) were prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as otherwise expressly noted therein) and (b) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the period then ended.

Section 5.05 Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Borrower SEC Report (excluding any disclosures set forth in any risk factor section and in any section relating to forward-looking or safe harbor statements), since January 31, 2026, there has been no material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, business or Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Section 5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of any of their officers, threatened in writing against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any Governmental Authority or arbitrator which have not been disclosed in the Borrower SEC Report (a) that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) which seeks to prevent, enjoin or delay the making of any Loan or otherwise calls into question the validity of any Loan Document and as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse decision.

Section 5.07 Disclosure. All written information other than financial projections and other forward-looking information and information of a general economic or industry nature (as used in this Section 5.07, the “Information”) provided on or prior to the Closing Date by the Borrower or on behalf of the Borrower by its representatives to the Agents or the Lenders in connection with the negotiation and syndication of and entry into this Agreement does not, when taken as a whole, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, when taken as a whole, not materially misleading when taken as a whole and in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made (giving effect to any supplements then or theretofore furnished).

Section 5.08 Regulation U. The Borrower is not engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U or Regulation X).

Section 5.09 Investment Company Act. The Borrower is not an “investment company”, a company “controlled by” an “investment company” or a company required to register as an “investment company,” each as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

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Section 5.10 OFAC, FCPA. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director or officer thereof, is an individual or entity that is (a) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by the United States federal government (including, without limitation, OFAC), the European Union or His Majesty’s Treasury or otherwise the subject or target of any Sanctions or (b) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction. No part of the proceeds of the Loan shall be used by the Borrower in violation of Section 6.10 or the U.S. Patriot Act.

Section 5.11 Affected Financial Institution. The Borrower is not an Affected Financial Institution.

ARTICLE 6

COVENANTS

So long as any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (other than any contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been made) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

Section 6.01 Financial Reporting. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent for the Administrative Agent’s distribution to the Lenders:

(a) As soon as available, but in any event on or prior to the 90th day after the close of each of its fiscal years (commencing with the first fiscal year of the Borrower ending after the Closing Date), a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such period, related statements of operations, comprehensive income/loss, stockholder’s equity and cash flows prepared in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis for itself and its Subsidiaries, together with an audit report certified by independent certified public accountants of recognized standing, whose opinion shall not be qualified as to the scope of the audit or as to the status of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as a going concern.

(b) As soon as available, but in any event on or prior to the 45th day after the close of the first three quarterly periods of each of its fiscal years (commencing with the first such fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending after the Closing Date), for itself and its Subsidiaries, a consolidated (or, at the Borrower’s option and to the extent filed (or to be filed) with the SEC in its quarterly report on Form 10-Q, condensed consolidated) unaudited balance sheet as at the close of each such period and consolidated unaudited statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for the period from the beginning of such fiscal year to the end of such quarter, all certified by its chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or treasurer.

(c) Together with the financial statements required under Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a compliance certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit A signed by its chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or treasurer stating that no Default or Unmatured Default exists, or if any Default or Unmatured Default exists, stating the nature and status thereof.

(d) Such other information with respect to the business, condition or operations, financial or otherwise, and Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent, including at the request of any Lender, may from time to time reasonably request.

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a), (b) or (d) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at investor.salesforce.com or such other website with respect to which the Borrower may from time to time notify the Administrative Agent and to which the Lenders have access; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf by the Administrative Agent on SyndTrak or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent) or filed electronically through EDGAR and available on the Internet at www.sec.gov. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on SyndTrak or another similar electronic 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 the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective 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 Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower 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 Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 9.10); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform that is not designated “Public Side Information.”

Section 6.02 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans to (i) consummate the Refinancing and (ii) pay fees, costs and expenses related to the Transactions. The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Loans in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements and any such use shall not result in a violation of any such requirements, including, without limitation, Regulation U and Regulation X, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Section 6.03 Notice of Default. The Borrower will give notice in writing to the Lenders of the occurrence of any Default or Unmatured Default promptly after any Authorized Officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge thereof.

Section 6.04 Maintenance of Existence and Authority. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, except as otherwise permitted by Section 6.08, do all things necessary to remain duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing as a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except in each case (other than valid existence of the Borrower) where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 6.05 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Major Subsidiaries to, comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders (such compliance to include, without limitation, compliance with ERISA and Environmental Laws and paying before the same become delinquent all taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or upon its property except to the extent contested in good faith), except to the extent such noncompliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.06 Inspection; Keeping of Books and Records. Subject to applicable law and third party confidentiality agreements entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, permit the Administrative Agent, during the continuance of a Default or Unmatured Default, by its representatives and agents, to inspect any of the Property, books and financial records of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, to examine and make copies of the books of accounts and other financial records of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and each Subsidiary with their respective officers at such reasonable times and intervals as the Administrative Agent may designate but in all events upon reasonable prior notice to the Borrower. The Borrower shall keep and maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep and maintain, in all material respects, proper books of record and account in which entries in conformity with GAAP shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to their respective businesses and activities.

Section 6.07 OFAC, FCPA. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

Section 6.08 Merger.

(a) The Borrower will not merge into or consolidate with any other Person, unless (i) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Borrower is merged shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume pursuant to an instrument executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower’s obligations for the due and punctual payment of the Obligations and the performance of every covenant of this Agreement on the part of the Borrower to be performed; and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(b) Upon any consolidation by the Borrower with or merger by the Borrower into any other Person, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Borrower is merged shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Borrower under this Agreement with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Borrower herein.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.08 shall only apply to a merger or consolidation in which the Borrower is not the surviving Person.

 

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Section 6.09 Liens. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Major Subsidiary to, create or suffer to exist any Lien in or on any of its Property, in each case to secure or provide for the payment of any Indebtedness for Borrowed Money, except:

(a) (i) Precautionary Liens provided by the Borrower or any Major Subsidiary in connection with the sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of assets by the Borrower or any Major Subsidiary which transaction is determined by Borrower or such Major Subsidiary to constitute a “sale” under GAAP; and (ii) Liens arising in connection with a monetization, securitization, factoring or other financing of accounts receivable, lease or loan receivables or other receivables (including any related rights or claims); provided that (x) such Liens do not encumber any property or assets other than the accounts receivable, lease or loan receivables or other receivables (including any related contracts, rights or claims) subject to such monetization, securitization, factoring or other financing, property securing or otherwise related to such accounts receivable, leases, loans, or other receivables (including the equity interests and assets of any special purpose entity established in connection with such financing and any accounts into which collections or proceeds in respect of such receivables are received), and any collections or proceeds of the foregoing and (y) any Indebtedness for Borrowed Money secured by such Liens is non-recourse to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (other than the relevant special purpose entity) (it being understood that customary obligations of a “seller”, “originator” or “servicer” in connection with such a financing and guarantees of the same do not constitute recourse in respect of such indebtedness).

(b) Liens existing on the Closing Date securing Indebtedness for Borrowed Money.

(c) Usual and customary deposits in favor of lessors and similar deposits in the ordinary course of business.

(d) Liens existing on Property of any Person acquired by the Borrower or any Major Subsidiary (which may include Property previously leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and leasehold interests on such Property, provided that the lease terminates prior to or upon the acquisition), other than any such Lien or security interest created in contemplation of such acquisition (and the replacement, extension or renewal thereof upon or in the same Property).

(e) Liens on Property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, at the time such Person first becomes a Subsidiary or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Properties or assets of a Person to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that such Lien was not incurred in anticipation of the merger, consolidation, sale, lease or other disposition.

(f) Liens in favor of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

(g) Liens (including pursuant to finance leases) on fixed or capital assets (including real property) to secure the payment of all or any part of the cost of acquisition, construction, development or improvement of such assets, or to secure Indebtedness for Borrowed Money incurred to provide funds for any such purpose; provided that (i) the commitment of the creditor to extend the credit secured by any such Lien shall have been obtained not later than 12 months after the completion of the acquisition, construction, development or improvement of such assets, (ii) the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money secured by such Lien does not exceed the cost of such acquisition, construction, development or improvement of such assets (other than by an amount equal to any related financing costs (including, but not limited to, the accrued interest and premium and fees, if any, on the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money so secured)), and (iii) such Lien shall not apply to any other Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except for accessions and improvements to such fixed or capital assets covered by such Lien and the proceeds and products thereof.

 

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(h) Liens on cash and securities (and deposit and securities accounts and related rights) securing (i) reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit and banker’s acceptances issued for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) short-term overdrafts and loans arising in the ordinary course of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ cash management activities (to the extent such liabilities could be considered to constitute Indebtedness for Borrowed Money).

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness for Borrowed Money in an aggregate amount, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness for Borrowed Money, not to exceed 10% of Consolidated Assets.

(j) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), as a whole or in part, of any Liens (or Indebtedness for Borrowed Money secured by Liens) referred to in clauses (a) through (i) and (k), inclusive, provided that such extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to all or a part of the same Property that secured the Lien extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on and accessions to such Property), and (ii) the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money secured by such Lien at such time is not increased (other than by an amount equal to any related financing costs (including, but not limited to, the accrued interest and premium, if any, on the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money being refinanced)).

(k) Liens created in substitution of any Liens permitted by clauses (a) through (j), inclusive, provided that, (i) based on a good faith determination of a senior officer of the Borrower, the property encumbered by such substitute or replacement Lien is substantially similar in nature to the property encumbered by the otherwise permitted Lien that is being replaced, and (ii) the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money secured by such Lien at such time is not increased (other than by an amount equal to any related financing costs (including, but not limited to, the accrued interest and premium, if any, on the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money being refinanced)).

If a Subsidiary incurs a Lien in or on any of its Property to secure or provide for the payment of any Indebtedness for Borrowed Money at the time that it is not a Major Subsidiary, the incurrence and existence of such Lien shall not be prohibited or restricted by, and shall not reduce availability under any clause of, this Section 6.09 upon such Subsidiary subsequently becoming a Major Subsidiary unless such Lien was incurred in contemplation of such Subsidiary becoming a Major Subsidiary.

Section 6.10 OFAC, FCPA. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries will directly, or to the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly, use the proceeds of any Loan (a) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (b) 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 or target of Sanctions in each case of this clause (b) in violation of applicable Sanctions or (c) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

 

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ARTICLE 7

DEFAULTS

The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a Default:

Section 7.01 Breach of Representations or Warranties. Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, or any certificate or information delivered in connection with this Agreement, shall be false in any material respect when made or deemed made.

Section 7.02 Failure to Make Payments When Due. Nonpayment of (a) principal of any Loan when due, or (b) interest upon any Loan or any other payment Obligations (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal payments) under any of the Loan Documents within five (5) Business Days after such interest, fee or other Obligation becomes due.

Section 7.03 Breach of Covenants. The breach by the Borrower of (a) any of the terms or provisions of Section 6.03, 6.08 or 6.09 or (b) any of the other terms or provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied within thirty (30) days after the Borrower knows of the occurrence thereof.

Section 7.04 Cross Default.

(a) The Borrower or any Major Subsidiary shall fail to pay any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or such Major Subsidiary when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Material Indebtedness unless adequate provision for any such payment has been made in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Lenders.

(b) Any Material Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a scheduled required prepayment), redeemed, purchased or defeased, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof as a result of a breach by the Borrower or such Major Subsidiary (as the case may be) of the agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness for Borrowed Money and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Material Indebtedness unless adequate provision for the payment of such Material Indebtedness has been made in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Lenders.

(c) The Borrower or any of its Major Subsidiaries shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due.

Section 7.05 Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver; Etc. The Borrower or any of its Major Subsidiaries shall (a) have an order for relief entered with respect to it under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect, (b) make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (c) apply for, seek, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a receiver, custodian, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official for it or any Substantial Portion of its Property, (d) institute any proceeding seeking an order for relief under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect or seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of it or its debts

 

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under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or fail to file an answer or other pleading denying the material allegations of any such proceeding filed against it, (e) take any corporate or partnership action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing actions set forth in this Section 7.05, or (f) fail to contest in good faith any appointment or proceeding described in Section 7.06.

Section 7.06 Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver; Etc. Without the application, approval or consent of the Borrower or any of its Major Subsidiaries, a receiver, trustee, custodian, examiner, liquidator or similar official shall be appointed for the Borrower or any of its Major Subsidiaries or any Substantial Portion of its Property, or a proceeding described in Section 7.05(d) shall be instituted against the Borrower or any of its Major Subsidiaries, and such appointment continues undischarged, or such proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed, in each case, for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days.

Section 7.07 Judgments. The Borrower or any of its Major Subsidiaries shall fail within sixty (60) days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge one or more judgments or orders for the payment of money (except to the extent covered by independent third party insurance and as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage) in excess of $1,000,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in currencies other than Dollars) in the aggregate, which judgment(s), in any such case, is/are not stayed on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith.

Section 7.08 Unfunded Liabilities. (a) The aggregate Unfunded Liabilities of all Plans would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, business or Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) the present value of the unfunded liabilities to provide the accrued benefits under all Foreign Pension Plans in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, business or Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (c) any Reportable Event shall occur in connection with any Plan and such Reportable Event would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, business or Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Section 7.09 Change of Control. A Change of Control shall have occurred.

Section 7.10 Other ERISA Liabilities. The Borrower, any Subsidiary, or any other member of the Controlled Group shall have been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred withdrawal liability or become obligated to make contributions to a Multiemployer Plan in an amount which, when aggregated with all other amounts required to be paid to Multiemployer Plans by the Borrower, any Subsidiary, or any other member of the Controlled Group as withdrawal liability (determined as of the date of such notification), would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, business or Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Section 7.11 Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations that survive the termination of this Agreement), ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or the Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder.

 

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ARTICLE 8

ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES

Section 8.01 Acceleration, Etc. If any Default described in Section 7.05 or 7.06 occurs, the Obligations of the Borrower shall immediately become due and payable without any election or action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender. If any other Default occurs, the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) may declare the Obligations of the Borrower to be due and payable (in whole or in part), whereupon such Obligations shall become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which the Borrower hereby expressly waives. Promptly upon any acceleration of the Obligations, the Administrative Agent will provide the Borrower with notice of such acceleration.

If, within thirty (30) days after acceleration of the maturity of the Obligations of the Borrower hereunder as a result of any Default (other than any Default as described in Section 7.05 or 7.06) and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the Obligations due shall have been obtained or entered, the Required Lenders (in their sole discretion) shall so direct, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, rescind and annul such acceleration.

Section 8.02 Amendments. Subject to the provisions of this Article 8 and Section 3.07, the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent in writing of the Required Lenders) and the Borrower may enter into (with notice to the Administrative Agent, if the Administrative Agent is not acting with the consent in writing of the Required Lenders) agreements supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding or modifying any provisions to the Loan Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Borrower hereunder or thereunder or waiving any Default hereunder or thereunder; provided, however, that no such supplemental agreement shall:

(a) Extend the final maturity of any Loan of any Lender or forgive all or any portion of the principal amount thereof payable to any Lender, or reduce the rate or extend the scheduled time of payment of interest or fees thereon (other than a waiver of the application of the default rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof) payable to any Lender, without the consent of each Lender affected thereby.

(b) Reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders or any other percentage of Lenders specified to be the applicable percentage in this Agreement to act on specified matters or amend Section 2.18 or the definition of “Pro Rata Share”, without the consent of all Lenders affected thereby.

(c) Extend the term or increase the amount of the Commitment of any Lender hereunder without the consent of each Lender affected thereby.

(d) Permit the Borrower to assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement except as provided in Section 6.08 without the consent of all Lenders.

(e) Amend this Section 8.02 without the consent of all Lenders.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) no amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to any Agent shall be effective without the written consent of such Agent; (y) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (z) any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency (including, without limitation, amendments, supplements or waivers to any of documents executed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement if such amendment, supplement or waiver is delivered in order to cause such related documents to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (it being specifically understood and agreed that 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 (A) the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased without the consent of such Lender and (B) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

Section 8.03 Preservation of Rights. No delay or omission of the Lenders or Agents to exercise any right under the Loan Documents shall impair such right or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and the making of a Loan notwithstanding the existence of a Default or Unmatured Default or the inability of the Borrower to satisfy the conditions precedent to such Loan shall not constitute any waiver or acquiescence. Any single or partial exercise of any such right shall not preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, and no waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Loan Documents whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by, or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of, the requisite number of Lenders required pursuant to Section 8.02, and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All remedies contained in the Loan Documents or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Agents and the Lenders until all of the Obligations have been paid in full.

ARTICLE 9

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 9.01 Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Loan, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder (other than any contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been made) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

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Section 9.02 Governmental Regulation. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Borrower in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any applicable statute or regulation.

Section 9.03 Headings. Section headings in the Loan Documents are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the provisions of the Loan Documents.

Section 9.04 Entire Agreement. The Loan Documents, together with the Fee Letters, embody the entire agreement and understanding among the Borrower, the Agents, the Lenders party thereto and supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders, as applicable, relating to the subject matter thereof.

Section 9.05 Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement. The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and no Lender shall be the partner or agent of any other (except to the extent to which the Agents are authorized to act as such). The failure of any Lender to perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. 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 Section 12.01(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement; provided, however, that the parties hereto expressly agree that each Arranger shall enjoy the benefits of the provisions of Sections 9.06, 9.09 and 10.07 to the extent specifically set forth therein and shall have the right to enforce such provisions on its own behalf and in its own name to the same extent as if it were a party to this Agreement.

Section 9.06 Expenses; Indemnification.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall reimburse from time to time on demand (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by, without duplication, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates (in the case of fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel, limited to the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers and the Lenders (taken together) and, if reasonably necessary, of one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction and, solely in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, of one additional counsel (and, if reasonably necessary, one additional local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction)) incurred in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof and (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (in the case of fees, disbursements and charges of counsel, limited to the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to such parties, taken together (and, if reasonably necessary, of one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction and, solely in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, of one additional counsel (and, if reasonably necessary, one additional local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction) for all affected parties, taken together)) in connection with the enforcement or protection of their rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including their rights under this Section 9.06, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

 

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(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Arranger, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates, controlling Persons, successors and assigns and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from (and will reimburse each Indemnitee as the same are incurred for), any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (in the case of fees, disbursements and charges of counsel, limited to the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to all Indemnitees, taken together (and, if reasonably necessary, of one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction and, solely in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, of one additional counsel (and, if reasonably necessary, one additional local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction) for all affected Indemnitees, taken together)) that may be incurred by or awarded against any Indemnitee, in each case arising out of or in connection with (i)the Term Facility, (ii) 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 3.05), (iii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds, (iv) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on, at, to or from any property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (v) 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 Borrower, 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 are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from (x) the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or its Subject Related Parties, (y) a material breach by such Indemnitee or any of its Subject Related Parties of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document or (z) a dispute solely among two or more Indemnitees not arising from any act or omission of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries hereunder (other than claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity or as a result of fulfilling its role as an Agent, Arranger or similar role under any of the Loan Documents). This Section 9.06(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim. In the case of an investigation, litigation or proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 9.06(b) applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower, its equityholders or creditors, any other third party or an Indemnitee, whether or not an Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) of this Section 9.06 or the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay or cause to be paid any amount required under subsection (b) of this Section 9.06, in each case, to be paid to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any Arranger or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees

 

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to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Arranger, or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided 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), such Arranger 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 such Arranger in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.16(d).

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages; Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto agrees that it shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any other party hereto, 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 the use of the proceeds thereof (it being agreed that the Borrower’s indemnity and contribution obligations set forth in this Section 9.06 shall apply in respect of any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages that may be awarded against any Indemnitee in connection with a claim by a third party unaffiliated with the Indemnitee). No Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), Arranger, Lender nor any of their respective Affiliates, controlling Persons, successors and assigns or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors (each such Person being called a “Released Party”) 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 Released Party 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 gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Released Party or its Subject Related Parties or a material breach of such Released Party’s or its Subject Related Parties’ obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, in each case, as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section 9.06 shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after written demand therefor.

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section 9.06 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitment and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

Section 9.07 Accounting. Except as provided to the contrary herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted and all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made in accordance with the Agreement Accounting Principles.

Section 9.08 Severability of Provisions. Any provision in any Loan Document that is held to be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid without affecting the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the operation, enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared to be severable. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.08, 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, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

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Section 9.09 Nonliability of Lenders. The relationship between the Borrower on the one hand and the Lenders and the Agents on the other hand shall be solely that of borrower and lender. None of the Agents, the Arrangers or any Lender shall have any fiduciary responsibilities to the Borrower. None of the Agents, the Arrangers or any Lender undertakes any responsibility to the Borrower to review or inform the Borrower of any matter in connection with any phase of the Borrower’s business or operations.

Section 9.10 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, each other Agent and the Lenders agrees to use all Information received by them solely for the purposes of providing the services that are the subject of this Agreement and to maintain the confidentiality of the Information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, trustees, advisors and agents (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), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority), in which case such Administrative Agent, other Agent or Lender, as applicable, agrees to the extent reasonably practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or order, to inform the Borrower promptly of the disclosure thereof, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws, rules or regulations or by any subpoena or order or similar legal process (in which case such Administrative Agent, other Agent or Lender, as applicable, agrees to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, rule, regulation or order, to inform the Borrower promptly of the disclosure thereof), (d) in connection with performing the services set forth herein and consummating the transactions contemplated hereby, (e) to any prospective Lender or participant subject to such prospective Lender or participant agreeing to confidentiality arrangements (for the benefit of the Borrower) no less favorable to the Borrower than those set forth in this Section 9.10, (f) to potential counterparties to any swap or derivative transaction, subject to the confidentiality agreements in favor of the Borrower no less favorable to the Borrower than this paragraph, (g) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (h) with the prior written consent of the Borrower, (i) in connection with obtaining CUSIP numbers, (j) as and to the extent set forth in Section 12.02, (k) to the extent such Information (x) is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 9.10 or (y) becomes available to such Administrative Agent, other Agent or Lender, as applicable, from a source other than the Borrower (or the Borrower’s representatives) that is not, to such Person’s knowledge, subject to confidentiality or fiduciary obligations owing to you or any of your subsidiaries and (l) to any other party hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to provide notice of any Lender by any governmental agency or examiner or regulatory body with jurisdiction over any Lender.

In addition, on a confidential basis, the Administrative Agent and each Lender may disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Aggregate Commitment, the nature of the Term Facility as a term loan credit facility, the use of proceeds provisions herein and the principal amount outstanding at a given time), and the identity of the parties hereto (including titles and participants) to market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 9.10 shall prohibit any Person from voluntarily disclosing or providing any Information within the scope of this confidentiality provision to any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization to the extent that any such prohibition on disclosure set forth in this Section 9.10 shall be prohibited by the laws or regulations applicable to such Person.

For purposes of this Section 9.10, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower 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.

Section 9.11 Nonreliance. Each of the Lenders hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U) as collateral in the extension or maintenance of the credit provided for herein.

Section 9.12 Disclosure. The Borrower and each Lender hereby acknowledge and agree that the Administrative Agent, Arrangers and/or their respective Affiliates and certain of the other Lenders and/or their respective Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with the Borrower and its Affiliates.

Section 9.13 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

Section 9.14 Existing Credit Agreements. Each Lender that, as of the Closing Date, was a party to either of the Existing Credit Agreements hereby waives its right, if any, to indemnification pursuant to Section 3.04 of the applicable Existing Credit Agreement as a result of any prepayment of Loans under and as defined in such Existing Credit Agreement on the Closing Date.

 

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ARTICLE 10

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Section 10.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints JPMorgan 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. The provisions of this Article 10 (other than Section 10.06 below) are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions (other than as provided in Section 10.06 below). 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.

Section 10.02 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 banking, trust, financial, advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrower 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 or to provide notice or consent of the Lenders with respect thereto.

Section 10.03 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) 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 that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in good faith in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

Section 10.04 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent or the Arrangers, as applicable, shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers, as applicable, and their Related Parties:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(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 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 affect 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 the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any of their Related Parties in any capacity.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent (i) 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 Article 8) or (ii) in the absence of (A) its and its Subject Related Parties’ gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment and (B) material breach by the Administrative Agent and its Subject Related Parties of the Administrative Agent’s obligations pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable 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 Borrower or a Lender.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall 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 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 4 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

Section 10.05 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 10 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

 

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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 non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct (or breached its material obligations under the Loan Documents) in the selection of such sub-agents.

Section 10.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent.

(a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld 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 thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (such date, or the date, if earlier, upon which a successor is appointed, the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above, subject to, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). 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 Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, subject to, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld 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 thirty 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) (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) 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 directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 10.06. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s 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 retired or removed) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.08 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 10.06). The fees payable

 

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by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article 10 and Section 9.06 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 agency capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.

Section 10.07 Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Other Lenders. Each of the Lenders acknowledges that none of the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers to any Lender as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers have disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger 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 of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder. Each of the Lenders also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and 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, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower. Each Lender represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.

Section 10.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Arrangers or other Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent or a Lender hereunder.

 

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Section 10.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated), by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.08, 3.03 and 9.06) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09, 3.03 and 9.06.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

Section 10.10 Certain ERISA Matters.

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement,

 

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(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of subsections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(b) In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

Section 10.11 Lender Acknowledgement. The Lenders acknowledge that there may be a constant flow of information (including information which may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Borrower) between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and its Affiliates, on the other hand. Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower or its Affiliates may provide information, including updates to previously provided information to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and/or its Affiliates acting in different capacities, including as Lender, lead bank, arranger or potential securities investor, independent of such entity’s role as administrative agent hereunder. The Lenders acknowledge that neither JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. nor its Affiliates shall be under any obligation to provide any of the foregoing information to them. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any other Loan Document, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide, and shall not be liable for the failure to provide, any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the Loans,

 

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the Lenders, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to, obtained by, or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity, including any information obtained by the Administrative Agent in the course of communications among the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, any Affiliate thereof or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such information may (but shall not be required to) be shared by the Administrative Agent with one or more Lenders, or any formal or informal committee or ad hoc group of such Lenders, including at the direction of the Borrower.

ARTICLE 11

SETOFF

Section 11.01 Setoff. In addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of the Lenders under applicable law, if any Default occurs, any and all deposits (including all account balances, whether provisional or final and whether or not collected or available) and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender to or for the credit or account of the Borrower may be offset and applied toward the payment of the Obligations of the Borrower then owing to such Lender to the extent the Obligations shall then be due; provided, that in the event that 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 2.19 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 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.

ARTICLE 12

BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS

Section 12.01 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder 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 12.01, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 12.01 or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section 12.01 (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 clause (d) of this Section 12.01 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent 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 and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of the Loans at the time owing to it, but other than any Commitment); 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 Lender’s Loans at the time owing to it 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 12.01, the aggregate amount of 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 $25,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Default under Section 7.02, 7.05 or 7.06 has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans 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 12.01 and, in addition:

(A) the prior written consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless such assignment is to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or a Default under Section 7.02, Section 7.05 or Section 7.06 has occurred and is continuing; and

(B) the prior written 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 a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender.

(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 $3,500; 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.

 

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(v) No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural Persons.

(vii) No Assignment to Defaulting Lenders. No such assignment shall be made to a Defaulting Lender.

(viii) 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 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the 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 or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full Pro Rata Share of all Loans. 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 12.01, 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 Lender’s 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, 3.03, 3.04, 3.05 and 9.06 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note 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 12.01.

(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans 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 Borrower, the Administrative Agent

 

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and the Lenders may 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, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender 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 Borrower 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 primary benefit of one or more natural Persons, a Defaulting Lender or the Borrower or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans); provided that (i) such Lender’s 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 Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

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 proviso to Section 8.02 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section 12.01, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01, 3.03, 3.04 or 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 12.01. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.01 as though it were a Lender, provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18 as though it were a Lender.

Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a nonfiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s 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 Participant’s interest in any Loans or its other Obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Loan 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) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01, 3.03, 3.04 or 3.05 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.05 unless such Participant agrees to comply with Section 3.05 as though it were a Lender (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.05(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation).

(f) 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, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central banking authority having jurisdiction over such Lender; 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.

Section 12.02 Dissemination of Information. The Borrower authorizes each of the Lenders to disclose to any Participant and any prospective Participant any and all information in such Lender’s possession concerning the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including without limitation any information contained in any reports or other information delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 6.01; provided that each Participant and prospective Participant agrees to be bound by Section 9.10 of this Agreement or other provisions at least as restrictive as Section 9.10 including making the acknowledgments set forth therein (in each case for the benefit of the Borrower).

Section 12.03 Tax Treatment. If any interest in any Loan Document is transferred to any Participant which is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any State thereof, the transferor Lender shall cause such Participant, concurrently with the effectiveness of such transfer, to comply with the provisions of Section 3.05(e).

ARTICLE 13

NOTICES

Section 13.01 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 telecopier 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 Borrower to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number set forth on Schedule 13.01 or if to the Administrative Agent, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier 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 Borrower).

 

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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 telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except 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 paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent or as otherwise determined by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article 2 if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its respective discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it or as it otherwise determines, provided that such determination or approval 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 sender’s 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), provided that if such notice or other communication is not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, 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.

(c) The Platform.

(i) THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER 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 BORROWER 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 Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials 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 gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or breach of its material obligations under any Loan Document by, such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

 

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(ii) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Borrower to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by written notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. 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, telecopier 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 Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States Federal and state securities laws, to make reference to Borrower 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 Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower so long as such notices appear on their face to be authentic 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 Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, 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 Borrower. All telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

ARTICLE 14

COUNTERPARTS; INTEGRATION; EFFECTIVENESS; ELECTRONIC EXECUTION

Section 14.01 Counterparts; 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. Except as provided in Article 4, 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 which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or email shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

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Section 14.02 Electronic Execution. The words “delivery”, “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, Conversion/Continuation Notices, Borrowing Notices, waivers and consents) (each, a “Communication”) 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, physical delivery thereof 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this Section 14.02 may include, without limitation, use or acceptance by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document. 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; provided, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower without further verification and (b) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart. For purposes hereof, “Electronic Record” and “Electronic Signature” shall have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, by 15 USC §7006, as it may be amended from time to time.

ARTICLE 15

CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

Section 15.01 Choice of Law. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES THEREUNDER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY CLAIMS SOUNDING IN CONTRACT LAW OR TORT LAW ARISING OUT OF THE SUBJECT MATTER THEREOF AND ANY DETERMINATIONS WITH RESPECT TO POST-JUDGMENT INTEREST) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

 

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Section 15.02 Consent to Jurisdiction. EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE AGENTS AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, OF ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE AND WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENTS OR ANY LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE BORROWER IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE AND WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY) BROUGHT BY THE BORROWER, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, IN ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK.

EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE AGENTS AND THE LENDERS HEREBY AGREES FURTHER THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE AND WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY) IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE PERSON AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 13.01 AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE APPLICABLE PERSON IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENTS OR LENDERS TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

Section 15.03 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 15.03.

 

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Section 15.04 U.S. Patriot Act Notice and Beneficial Ownership Regulation. Each Lender that is subject to the U.S. Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the U.S. Patriot Act and the requirements of 31 C.F.R. §1010.230 (the “Beneficial Ownership Regulation”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the U.S. Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation. The Borrower 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 requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the U.S. Patriot Act.

Section 15.05 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 Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower 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) each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders 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 Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arrangers nor any of the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower 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, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arrangers nor any of the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby agrees and covenants that it will not make any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

Section 15.06 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 Borrower 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

 

74


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 Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding 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 Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).

Section 15.07 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-in of Affected Financial Institutions. 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 that is an Affected 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 the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution;

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its 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 the applicable Resolution Authority.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

75


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

SALESFORCE, INC.
/s/ Robin Washington

Name:  Robin Washington

Title:   President and Chief Operating and Financial Officer


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:       JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
            as the Administrative Agent and a Lender
      BY:   /s/ Abishek Joshi
            Name:  Abishek Joshi
            Title:   Vice President


BANCO SANTANDER, S.A., NEW YORK BRANCH,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Andres Barbosa

Name:  Andres Barbosa

Title:   Managing Director

By:   /s/ Carolina Gutierrez

Name:  Carolina Gutierrez

Title:   Executive Director


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
By:   /s/ James Haack

Name:  James Haack

Title:   Director


BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Adam E. Schroeder

Name:  Adam E. Schroeder

Title:   Vice President


BNP PARIBAS,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Maria Mulic

Name:  Maria Mulic

Title:   Managing Director

By:   /s/ Michael Kowalczuk

Name:  Michael Kowalczuk

Title:   Managing Director


CITIBANK, N.A.,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Daniel Boselli

Name:  Daniel Boselli

Title:   Vice President


DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Alison Lugo

Name:  Alison Lugo

Title:   Vice President

By:   /s/ Annie Chung

Name:  Annie Chung

Title:   Managing Director


GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Dan Starr

Name:  Dan Starr

Title:   Authorized Signatory


MORGAN STANLEY BANK N.A.,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Michael King

Name:  Michael King

Title:   Authorized Signatory


MUFG BANK, LTD.,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Eric Enberg

Name:  Eric Enberg

Title:   Director


PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Kentaro Umezono

Name:  Kentaro Umezono

Title:   Vice President


ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Nicholas Heslip

Name:  Nicholas Heslip

Title:   Authorized Signatory


THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Mike Tkach

Name:  Mike Tkach

Title:   Authorized Signatory


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Matt S. Scullin

Name:  Matt S. Scullin

Title:   Senior Vice President


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender
By:   /s/ Daniel Kurtz

Name:  Daniel Kurtz

Title:   Director


PRICING SCHEDULE

TO FIVE-YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT

APPLICABLE MARGIN

 

    

Pricing

Level I

(S&P /

Moody’s)

  

Pricing

Level II

(S&P /

Moody’s)

  

Pricing

Level III

(S&P /

Moody’s)

  

Pricing

Level IV

(S&P /

Moody’s)

  

Pricing Level V
(S&P /

Moody’s)

  

Pricing

Level VI

(S&P /

Moody’s)

Public Debt Rating

   ≥ AA-/Aa3    A+/A1    A/A2    A-/A3    BBB+/Baa1    ≤ BBB/Baa2

SOFR Loan

   0.500%    0.600%    0.700%    0.850%    1.000%    1.125%

Alternate Base Rate Loan

   0%    0%    0%    0%    0%    0.125%

For the purpose of the foregoing chart, (a) if only one of S&P and Moody’s shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin shall be determined by reference to the available Public Debt Rating; (b) if neither S&P nor Moody’s shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin shall be set in accordance with Pricing Level VI until such time as either S&P or Moody’s shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating; (c) if the Public Debt Ratings established by S&P and Moody’s shall fall within different levels, the Applicable Margin shall be based upon the higher of such Public Debt Ratings, except that in the event that the lower of such Public Debt Ratings is more than one level below the higher of such Public Debt Ratings, the Applicable Margin shall be based upon the level immediately below the higher of such Public Debt Ratings; (d) if any Public Debt Rating established by S&P or Moody’s shall be changed, such change shall be effective one Business Day after such change is first announced publicly by the rating agency making such change; and (e) if S&P or Moody’s shall change the basis on which Public Debt Ratings are established, each reference to the Public Debt Ratings announced by S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, shall refer to the then equivalent rating by S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be.


COMMITMENT SCHEDULE

COMMITMENTS AND PRO RATA SHARES

 

Lender

  

Commitment

  

Pro Rata Share of

Aggregate Commitment

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.    $890,000,000.00    14.833333333%

Bank of America, N.A.

   $715,000,000.00    11.916666667%

Barclays Bank PLC

   $585,000,000.00    9.750000000%

Citibank, N.A.

   $585,000,000.00    9.750000000%

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

   $585,000,000.00    9.750000000%

Banco Santander, S.A., New York Branch

   $410,000,000.00    6.833333333%

Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch

   $410,000,000.00    6.833333333%

Royal Bank of Canada

   $410,000,000.00    6.833333333%

Morgan Stanley Bank N.A.

   $255,000,000.00    4.250000000%

BNP Paribas

   $255,000,000.00    4.250000000%

The Toronto-Dominion Bank, New York Branch

   $255,000,000.00    4.250000000%

U.S. Bank National Association

   $255,000,000.00    4.250000000%

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

   $130,000,000.00    2.166666667%

MUFG Bank, Ltd.

   $130,000,000.00    2.166666667%

PNC Bank, National Association

   $130,000,000.00    2.166666667%
TOTAL    $6,000,000,000.00    100.000000000%


Schedule 13.01

CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

Address of the Borrower:

Attention: Treasurer

Salesforce, Inc.

415 Mission St, 3rd Floor

San Francisco, California 94105

Phone: (415) 901-7000

[email protected]


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF]

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

To:

The Lenders party to the

Credit Agreement described below

This Compliance Certificate is furnished pursuant to that certain Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2026 (as amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Salesforce, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders and JPMorgan Chase, N.A., as Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Compliance Certificate have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY CERTIFIES (IN HIS OR HER CAPACITY AS AN OFFICER OF THE BORROWER AND NOT IN HIS OR HER INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY) THAT:

1. I am the duly elected [Chief Financial Officer] [Chief Accounting Officer] [Treasurer] of the Borrower;

2. I have reviewed the terms of the Credit Agreement and I have made, or have caused to be made under my supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and conditions of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by [the attached financial statements][the financial statements available in electronic format and delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement];

3. The examinations described in paragraph 2 did not disclose, and I have no knowledge of, the existence of any condition or event which constitutes a Default or Unmatured Default as of the date of this Compliance Certificate[.][, except as set forth below:]

[Described below are the exceptions, if any, to paragraph 3 by listing, in detail, the nature of the condition or event, the period during which it has existed and the action which the Borrower has taken, is taking, or proposes to take with respect to each such condition or event.]

 

A-1


The foregoing certifications, together with the financial statements referred to in this Compliance Certificate in support hereof, are made and delivered this _____ day of ________, ____.

 

By:    
  Name:
 

Title:   [Chief Financial Officer] [Chief Accounting Officer] [Treasurer]

 

A-2


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF]

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (this “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the][each]1 Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an]Assignor”) and [the][each] Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an]Assignee”). [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees]2 hereunder are several and not joint.]3 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][each] 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][each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to [the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], 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 Assignor’s][the respective Assignors’] rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities as Lenders] under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto in the amount[s] and equal to the percentage interest[s] identified below of all the outstanding rights and obligations under the respective facilities identified below 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)][the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)] 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, but not limited to, 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 by [the][any] Assignor to [the][any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as [the][an]Assigned Interest”). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to [the][any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the][any] Assignor.

 
1 

For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language.

2 

Select as appropriate.

3 

Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees.

 

B-1


  1.    Assignor[s]:    _________________________
  2.    Assignee[s]:    _________________________
[for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate] [Approved Fund] of [identify Lender]]
  3.    Borrower:    Salesforce, Inc. (“Borrower”)
  4.    Administrative Agent:    JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement
     5.    Credit Agreement:    Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2026, among the Borrower, the institutions from time to time parties hereto as Lenders, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
  6.    Assigned Interest:   

 

Assignor[s]4

  

Assignee[s]5

  

Aggregate
Amount of
Loans
for Assignor6

  

Amount of
Loans
Assigned

  

Percentage
Assigned of
Loans7

      $    $    __________%
      $    $    __________%
      $    $    __________%

[7. Trade Date: _______________]8

Effective Date:    , 20__ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

 
4 

List each Assignor, as appropriate.

5 

List each Assignee, as appropriate.

6 

Amounts in this column and in the column immediately to the right to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.

7 

Set forth, to at least nine (9) decimals, as a percentage of the Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

8 

To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

 

B-2


The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:    
  Title:
ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:    
  Title:
[Consented to and]9 Accepted:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By:    
  Title:
[Consented to:]10
SALESFORCE, INC., as Borrower
By:    
  Title:
 
9 

To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

10 

To be added only if the consent of Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

B-3


ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1. Assignor. [The][Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] 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 Borrower, 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 Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee. [The][Each] 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 meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section 12.01(b)(v), (vi), and (vii) of the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 12.01(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (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][the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by [the][such] Assigned Interest, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire [the][such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and (b) thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the][any] 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.

 

B-4


2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the][each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to [the][the relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the][the relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

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 law of the State of New York.

 

B-5


EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF]

PREPAYMENT NOTICE

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

270 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attention: [•]

Phone: [•]

Email: [•]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 11, 2026 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among Salesforce, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

This Prepayment Notice is delivered to you pursuant to Section 2.06 of the Credit Agreement. The Borrower hereby gives notice of a prepayment of Loans as follows:

 

  (a)

The proposed date of the prepayment is ______________;

 

  (b)

the aggregate amount of the proposed prepayment is ___________; and

 

  (c)

the Loan[s] to be prepaid [is][are] a[n] [Alternate Base Rate Loan] [SOFR Loan[s] with [an] Interest Period[s] ending [______]].

 

SALESFORCE, INC.
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

C-1


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF]

PROMISSORY NOTE

[   ], 20[  ]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Salesforce, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), promises to pay to the order of __________________ (the “Lender”) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loan made from time to time by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined), in immediately available funds at the address or Lending Installation of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent specified in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, together with interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof at the rates and on the dates set forth in the Credit Agreement. The Borrower shall pay the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans in full on the maturity date.

The Lender shall, and is hereby authorized to, record on the schedule attached hereto, or to otherwise record in accordance with its usual practice, the date and amount of each Loan and the date and amount of each principal payment hereunder.

This note is one of the Notes issued pursuant to, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 11, 2026 (which, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, is herein called the “Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders, including the Lender, and JPMorgan Chase, N.A., as Administrative Agent, to which Credit Agreement reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms and conditions governing this Note, including the terms and conditions under which this Note may be prepaid or its maturity date accelerated. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are used with the meanings attributed to them in the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest and any notice of any kind. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, any rights hereunder on the part of the holder hereof shall operate as a waiver of such rights.

This Note shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof that would require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

SALESFORCE, INC.
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

D-1


SCHEDULE OF LOANS AND PAYMENTS

OF PRINCIPAL TO NOTE

DATED ____________________

 

Date

  

Principal

Amount of

Loan

  

Maturity

of Interest

Period

  

Principal

Amount

Paid

  

Unpaid

Balance

 

D-2


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF]

BORROWING NOTICE

[Date]

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

270 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attention: [•]

Fax: [•]

Email: [•]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We refer to the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 11, 2026 (as amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Salesforce, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.

We hereby give you notice pursuant to Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement that, subject to and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing Date, we request a Loan under the Credit Agreement as follows:

(a) the requested Borrowing Date of the proposed Loan is ___________, 20__1;

(b) the aggregate amount of the proposed Loan is ___________;

(c) the Type of Loan is a [Alternate Base Rate Loan] [SOFR Loan];

[(d) the Interest Period for the proposed Loan is ___________;]2 [and]

(e) proceeds of the Loan are to be disbursed to [location and number of account].

 

 

 
1 

Must be a Business Day.

2 

Include clause (d) only if proposed Loan is comprised of SOFR Loans. The requested Interest Period must comply with the definition of the term “Interest Period.”

 

E-1


The foregoing instructions with respect to the requested Loan shall be subject to and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing Date. In the event the Closing Date is not, or is not expected to be consummated on [], the Borrower may withdraw, revoke, amend, delay or otherwise modify this Borrowing Notice.

 

Very truly yours,
SALESFORCE, INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

E-2


EXHIBIT F

[FORM OF]

CONVERSION/CONTINUATION NOTICE

[Date]

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

270 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attention: [•]

Fax: [•]

Email: [•]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We refer to the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of March 11, 2026 (as amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Salesforce, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.

We hereby give you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.08 of the Credit Agreement that we elect to [convert [part of] [all of] the Alternate Base Rate Loan in the amount of $______ into a SOFR Loan] [convert [part of] [all of] the SOFR Loan in the amount of $______ into an Alternate Base Rate Loan] [continue [part of] [all of] the SOFR Loan in the amount of $______ having an Interest Period ending on the requested date of the proposed continuation], as follows:

(a) the requested Business Day of the proposed [conversion] [continuation] is_________, 20__;13

(b) the Loan to be [converted] [continued] consists of a[n] [Alternate Base Rate Loan] [SOFR Loan] in an aggregate amount of $_________; and

(c) the amount of such Loan which is to be [converted into] [continued as] a[n] [Alternate Base Rate Loan] [SOFR Loan] is $_________, and the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto is _________.14

Very truly yours,

 
13 

This Notice must be delivered to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (Pacific time) at least two (2) Business Days prior to the requested conversion or continuation date.

14 

The requested Interest Period must comply with the definition of the term “Interest Period.”

 

F-1


Salesforce, Inc., as the Borrower
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

F-2


EXHIBIT G-1

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For United States Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2026 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Salesforce, Inc., the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.05 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 Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a duly completed and executed certificate of its non-U.S. person status on Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or an applicable successor form). By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower 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.

In the case of a Lender that is a disregarded entity for United States federal income tax purposes, each of the above certifications and representations is given with respect to the person treated as such Lender’s regarded owner for United States federal income tax purposes.

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    
  Name    
  Title    
  Date    

 

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate


EXHIBIT G-2

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For United States Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2026 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Salesforce, Inc., the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.05 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 Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a duly completed and executed certificate of its non-U.S. person status on Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or an applicable successor form). 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.

In the case of a participant that is a disregarded entity for United States federal income tax purposes, each of the above certifications and representations is given with respect to the person treated as such participant’s regarded owner for United States federal income tax purposes.

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    
  Name    
  Title    
  Date    

 

 

 

 

 

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate


EXHIBIT G-3

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For United States Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2026 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Salesforce, Inc., the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.05 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 to 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 Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a duly competed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or an applicable successor form) or (ii) a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or an applicable successor form) from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption, together with any other information required to be provided by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY. 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    
  Name    
  Title    
  Date    

 

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate


EXHIBIT G-4

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For United States Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2026 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Salesforce, Inc., the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.05 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 Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or an applicable successor form) or (ii) a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or an applicable successor form) from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption, together with any other information required to be provided by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower 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    
  Name    
  Title    
  Date    

 

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate