GLW 8-K
Corning Inc /Ny (GLW)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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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. ☐
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:
| 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)) |
| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
Corning Incorporated (“Corning” or the “Company”) entered into a new $1,500,000,000 Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), dated as of July 28, 2025, among the Company, the lenders parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for such lenders, which replaces the Company’s existing $1,500,000,000 Credit Agreement dated June 6, 2022 (the “Existing Credit Agreement”).
Under the Credit Agreement, borrowings are available in dollars, sterling, yen and euros to Corning and any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Corning in a maximum amount outstanding at any one time of $1,500,000,000 (the “Commitment Amount”). The Commitment Amount may be increased over the term by up to $500,000,000 subject to existing or new lenders committing to fund such increase.
The rate of interest payable under the Credit Agreement, at Corning’s option, is equal to Term SOFR (or the Adjusted EURIBO Rate with respect to euro denominated advances, the Adjusted TIBO Rate in the case of yen denominated advances or the Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA Rate in the case of sterling denominated advances), or, with the Company’s consent, an alternate rate of interest should any of the foregoing rates cease to be available, plus a margin ranging from 0.690% to 1.125% or a base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.000% to 0.125%. The actual margin is adjustable based upon the debt ratings issued from time to time with respect to Corning’s unsecured debt by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and S&P Global Ratings. For this purpose, the “base rate” is the highest of the rate quoted by The Wall Street Journal from time to time as its prime rate, the New York Federal Reserve Bank rate plus 0.5% or the one-month Term SOFR plus 1.0%. Corning is also obligated to pay quarterly facilities fees on the aggregate commitments under the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement is scheduled to terminate on July 28, 2030 (the “Termination Date”). The Termination Date may be extended by up to two additional one-year periods on any anniversary of the Credit Agreement’s closing date on Corning’s request and subject to the consent of the lenders. The Credit Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants that Corning must comply with, including (a) periodic financial reporting requirements, (b) maintaining a ratio of consolidated debt for borrowed money to consolidated total capital of no greater than 0.60 to 1.00, (c) limitation on liens, (d) limitation on the incurrence of subsidiary indebtedness, and (e) limitation on mergers, as well as other customary covenants. Loans to subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement will be unconditionally guaranteed by Corning.
The Credit Agreement provides for customary events of default with corresponding grace periods, including failure to pay any principal or interest when due, failure to perform or observe covenants, bankruptcy or insolvency events and change of control. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the obligations of the lenders to make advances may be terminated and the Company’s obligation to repay advances may be accelerated.
At the time of the Credit Agreement was executed, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and there are no amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement.
From time to time, certain of the lenders under the Credit Agreement and their affiliates provide customary commercial and investment banking services to the Company.
The foregoing description of the material terms of the Credit Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this report and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 1.02 | Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement. |
As described in Item 1.01 of this report, which is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02, the Credit Agreement replaces the Existing Credit Agreement.
| Item 2.03. | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The information included in Item 1.01 of this report is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits
SIGNATURES
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.
Dated: July 30, 2025
| CORNING INCORPORATED | |||
| By: |
/s/ Melissa J. Gambol |
||
| Melissa J. Gambol | |||
| Vice President and Corporate Secretary | |||
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION VERSION
U.S. $1,500,000,000
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of July 28, 2025
Among
CORNING INCORPORATED
as Borrower
THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN
as Initial Lenders
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
as Syndication Agent
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
and
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
and
MUFG BANK, LTD.
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
COMMERZBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
BNP PARIBAS SA, AND
THE BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH
as Joint Lead Arrangers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| Article I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS | 1 | |
| SECTION 1.01. | Certain Defined Terms | 1 |
| SECTION 1.02. | Computation of Time Periods | 25 |
| SECTION 1.03. | Accounting Terms | 25 |
| SECTION 1.04. | Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification | 26 |
| SECTION 1.05. | Divisions | 26 |
| SECTION 1.06. | Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents | 26 |
| Article II AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES | 27 | |
| SECTION 2.01. | The Advances | 27 |
| SECTION 2.02. | Making the Advances | 27 |
| SECTION 2.03. | [Reserved] | 28 |
| SECTION 2.04. | Fees | 28 |
| SECTION 2.05. | Optional Termination or Reduction of the Commitments | 29 |
| SECTION 2.06. | Repayment of Advances | 29 |
| SECTION 2.07. | Interest on Advances | 29 |
| SECTION 2.08. | Interest Rate Determination | 30 |
| SECTION 2.09. | Optional Conversion of Advances | 31 |
| SECTION 2.10. | Prepayments of Advances | 31 |
| SECTION 2.11. | Increased Costs | 32 |
| SECTION 2.12. | [Reserved] | 33 |
| SECTION 2.13. | Payments and Computations | 33 |
| SECTION 2.14. | Taxes | 34 |
(i)
| SECTION 2.15. | Sharing of Payments, Etc. | 38 |
| SECTION 2.16. | Evidence of Debt | 39 |
| SECTION 2.17. | Use of Proceeds | 39 |
| SECTION 2.18. | Increase in the Aggregate Commitments | 39 |
| SECTION 2.19. | Extension of Termination Date | 41 |
| SECTION 2.20. | Defaulting Lenders | 43 |
| SECTION 2.21. | Replacement of Lenders | 44 |
| SECTION 2.22. | Alternate Rate of Interest | 45 |
| Article III CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING | 49 | |
| SECTION 3.01. | Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness | 49 |
| SECTION 3.02. | Initial Advance to Each Designated Subsidiary | 50 |
| SECTION 3.03. | Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing, Commitment Increase and Commitment Extension | 50 |
| SECTION 3.04. | Determinations Under Section 3.01 | 51 |
| Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 51 | |
| SECTION 4.01. | Representations and Warranties of the Company | 51 |
| Article V COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY | 54 | |
| SECTION 5.01. | Affirmative Covenants | 54 |
| SECTION 5.02. | Negative Covenants | 56 |
| SECTION 5.03. | Financial Covenant | 59 |
| Article VI EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 59 | |
| SECTION 6.01. | Events of Default | 59 |
| Article VII GUARANTY | 61 | |
| SECTION 7.01. | Unconditional Guaranty | 61 |
| SECTION 7.02. | Guaranty Absolute | 62 |
(ii)
| SECTION 7.03. | Waivers and Acknowledgments | 63 |
| SECTION 7.04. | Subrogation | 64 |
| SECTION 7.05. | Subordination | 64 |
| SECTION 7.06. | Continuing Guaranty; Assignments | 65 |
| Article VIII THE AGENT | 66 | |
| SECTION 8.01. | Authorization and Authority | 66 |
| SECTION 8.02. | Rights as a Lender | 66 |
| SECTION 8.03. | Exculpatory Provisions | 66 |
| SECTION 8.04. | Reliance by Agent | 67 |
| SECTION 8.05. | Delegation of Duties | 68 |
| SECTION 8.06. | Resignation of Agent | 68 |
| SECTION 8.07. | Acknowledgements of Lenders | 69 |
| SECTION 8.08. | No Other Duties, etc. | 71 |
| SECTION 8.09. | Certain ERISA Matters. | 71 |
| Article IX MISCELLANEOUS | 72 | |
| SECTION 9.01. | Amendments, Etc. | 72 |
| SECTION 9.02. | Notices, Etc. | 73 |
| SECTION 9.03. | No Waiver; Remedies | 75 |
| SECTION 9.04. | Costs and Expenses; Damage Waiver | 75 |
| SECTION 9.05. | Right of Set-off | 77 |
| SECTION 9.06. | Binding Effect | 77 |
| SECTION 9.07. | Assignments and Participations | 78 |
| SECTION 9.08. | Confidentiality | 82 |
| SECTION 9.09. | Designated Subsidiaries | 83 |
| SECTION 9.10. | Governing Law | 85 |
(iii)
| SECTION 9.11. | Judgment | 85 |
| SECTION 9.12. | Jurisdiction, Etc. | 85 |
| SECTION 9.13. | Substitution of Currency | 86 |
| SECTION 9.14. | Patriot Act Notice | 86 |
| SECTION 9.15. | Power of Attorney | 86 |
| SECTION 9.16. | No Fiduciary Duties | 87 |
| SECTION 9.17. | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 87 |
| SECTION 9.18. | Severability. | 87 |
| SECTION 9.19. | Payments Set Aside | 87 |
| SECTION 9.20. | Waiver of Jury Trial | 89 |
Schedules
Schedule
I - Commitments
Schedule 3.01(b) - Disclosed Litigation
Schedule 5.02(c) - Existing Subsidiary Debt
Exhibits
Exhibit
A - Form of Promissory Note
Exhibit B - Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit C - Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit D - Form of Designation Agreement
Exhibit E - Reserved
Exhibit F - Form of Tax Certificates
(iv)
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of July 28, 2025
This Credit Agreement is entered into by CORNING INCORPORATED, a New York corporation (the “Company”), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders (the “Initial Lenders”) listed on the signature pages hereof, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as syndication agent, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“JPMorgan”) and BOFA SECURITIES, INC., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and JPMorgan, as administrative agent (the “Agent”) for the Lenders (as hereinafter defined) (the “Agreement”).
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT. The Company has requested that the Initial Lenders make available to the Company a $1,500,000,000 multi-currency revolving credit facility for the making, from time to time of revolving loans.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
Article
I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
“Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA” means an interest rate per annum equal to (a) Daily Simple SONIA for Sterling, plus (b) 0.0326%; provided that if Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Adjusted EURIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the EURIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate; provided that if the Adjusted EURIBO Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Adjusted TIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Yen for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the TIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate; provided that if the Adjusted TIBO Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Agent.
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“Advance” means an advance by a Lender to any Borrower as part of a Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate Advance, a SONIA Advance or a Term Benchmark Advance (each of which shall be a “Type” of Advance).
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person or is a director or officer of such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) of a Person means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to vote 10% or more of the Voting Stock of such Person or to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise.
“Agent’s Account” means (a) in the case of Advances denominated in Dollars, the account of the Agent maintained by the Agent at JPMorgan at its Account No. 9008113381H0919, Attention: Loan & Agency, Reference: Corning Inc, (b) in the case of Advances denominated in any Alternative Currency, the account of the Agent designated in writing from time to time by the Agent to the Company and the Lenders for such purpose and (c) in any such case, such other account of the Agent as is designated in writing from time to time by the Agent to the Company and the Lenders for such purpose.
“Agreed Currencies” means Dollars and each Alternative Currency.
“Alternative Currencies” means lawful currency of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Sterling), lawful currency of Japan (Yen) and Euros.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and substantively similar anti-corruption laws and regulations of any country in which any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries operates.
“Applicable Lending Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Lending Office” in its Administrative Questionnaire delivered to the Agent, or such other office or Affiliate of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Company and the Agent.
“Applicable Margin” means for Base Rate Advances, SONIA Advances and Term Benchmark Advances, as of any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date as set forth below:
Public Debt Rating S&P/Moody’s |
Applicable Margin for SONIA Advances and Term Benchmark Advances |
Applicable Margin for Base Rate Advances |
Level 1 A+ or A1 or above |
0.690% |
0.000% |
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Level 2 A or A2 |
0.805% |
0.000% |
Level 3 A- or A3 |
0.920% |
0.000% |
Level 4 BBB+ or Baa1 |
1.025% |
0.025% |
Level 5 Lower than Level 4 |
1.125% |
0.125% |
“Applicable Percentage” means, as of any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date as set forth below:
Public Debt Rating S&P/Moody’s |
Applicable Percentage |
Level 1 A+ or A1 or above |
0.060% |
Level 2 A or A2 |
0.070% |
Level 3 A- or A3 |
0.080% |
Level 4 BBB+ or Baa1 |
0.100% |
Level 5 Lower than Level 4 |
0.125% |
“Applicable Time” means, with respect to any Borrowings and payments in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Agent to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.
“Arrangers” means JPMorgan and BofA Securities, Inc.
“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 9.07), and accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C or any other form approved by the Agent.
“Assuming Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(d).
“Assumption Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(d)(ii).
“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark for any Agreed Currency, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making
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payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (e) of Section 2.22.
“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.
“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).
“Bankruptcy Law” means any proceeding of the type referred to in Section 6.01(f) or Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar foreign, federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Base Rate” means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the highest of:
(a) the Prime Rate;
(b) ½ of one percent per annum above the NYFRB Rate; or
(c) the Term SOFR Rate for a one month Interest Period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1.00%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 A.M. Chicago time on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology).
Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Term SOFR Rate, respectively. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.22 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.22(b)), then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.
“Base Rate Advance” means an Advance denominated in Dollars that bears interest as provided in Section 2.07(a)(i).
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“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any (i) SONIA Advance, SONIA or (ii) Term Benchmark Advance, the Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the applicable Relevant Rate or the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Agreed Currency, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.22.
“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided that, in the case of any Advance denominated in an Alternative Currency, “Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the alternative set forth in (2) below:
(1) in the case of any Advance denominated in Dollars, the Daily Simple SOFR;
(2) the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Agent and the Company 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 the applicable Agreed Currency at such time in the United States and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, 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 Agent and the Company for the applicable 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 on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/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 the applicable Agreed Currency at such time.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Advance denominated in Dollars, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments
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of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark and to permit the administration thereof by the Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark exists, in such other manner of administration as the Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to such 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 the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) 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 Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:
(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);
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(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), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, the central bank for the Agreed Currency applicable to such Benchmark, 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
(3) 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) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer 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 Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder in accordance with Section 2.22 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder in accordance with Section 2.22.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Borrowers” means, collectively, the Company and the Designated Subsidiaries from time to time.
“Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Advances of the same Type made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
“Borrowing Minimum” means, in respect of Advances denominated in Dollars, $10,000,000, in respect of Advances denominated in Sterling, £10,000,000, in respect of Advances denominated in Yen, ¥100,000,000 and, in respect of Advances denominated in Euros, €10,000,000.
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“Borrowing Multiple” means, in respect of Advances denominated in Dollars, $1,000,000 in respect of Advances denominated in Sterling, £1,000,000, in respect of Advances denominated in Yen, ¥10,000,000 and, in respect of Advances denominated in Euros, €1,000,000 (or such other amount as may be the remaining Commitment available).
“Business Day” means, any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in New York City and Chicago; provided that, (a) in relation to Advances denominated in Sterling, “Business Day” means any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London, (b) in relation to Advances denominated in Yen and in relation to the calculation or computation of TIBOR, “Business Day” means any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in Japan and (c) in relation to Advances denominated in Euros and in relation to the calculation or computation of EURIBOR, “Business Day” means any day which is a TARGET Day.
“CBR Advance” means an Advance that bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Central Bank Rate.
“CBR Spread” means the Applicable Margin applicable to such Advance that is replaced by a CBR Advance.
“Central Bank Rate” means, (A) the greater of (i) for any Advance denominated in (a) Sterling, the Bank of England (or any successor thereto)’s “Bank Rate” as published by the Bank of England (or any successor thereto) from time to time, (b) Euro, one of the following three rates as may be selected by the Agent in its reasonable discretion: (1) the fixed rate for the main refinancing operations of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), or, if that rate is not published, the minimum bid rate for the main refinancing operations of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), each as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time, (2) the rate for the marginal lending facility of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time or (3) the rate for the deposit facility of the central banking system of the Participating Member States, as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time and (c) Yen, the “short-term prime rate” as publicly announced by the Bank of Japan (or any successor thereto) from time to time and (ii) the Floor; plus (B) the applicable Central Bank Rate Adjustment.
“Central Bank Rate Adjustment” means, for any day, for any Advance denominated in (a) Euro, a rate equal to the difference (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) of (i) the average of the Adjusted EURIBO Rate for the five most recent Business Days preceding such day for which the EURIBOR Screen Rate was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest Adjusted EURIBO Rate applicable during such period of five Business Days) minus (ii) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Euro in effect on the last Business Day in such period, (b) Sterling, a rate equal to the difference (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) of (i) the average of Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA for Sterling Borrowings for the five most recent Business Days preceding such day for which SONIA was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest such Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA applicable during such period of five Business Days) minus (ii) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Sterling in effect on the last Business Day in such period and (c) Yen, a rate
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equal to the difference (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) of (i) the average of the Adjusted TIBO Rate for the five most recent Business Days preceding such day for which the TIBOR Screen Rate was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest Adjusted TIBO Rate applicable during such period of five Business Days) minus (ii) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Yen in effect on the last Business Day in such period. For purposes of this definition, (x) the term Central Bank Rate shall be determined disregarding clause (B) of the definition of such term and (y) each of the EURIBO Rate and the TIBO Rate on any day shall be based on the EURIBOR Screen Rate or the TIBOR Screen Rate, as applicable, on such day at approximately the time referred to in the definition of such term for deposits in the applicable Agreed Currency for a maturity of one month.
“CME Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) (or a successor administrator).
“Commitment” means as to any Lender (a) the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule I hereto as such Lender’s “Commitment”, (b) if such Lender has become a Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assumption Agreement, the Dollar amount set forth in such Assumption Agreement or (c) if such Lender has entered into an Assignment and Assumption, the Dollar amount set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 9.07(c), as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.05 or increased pursuant to Section 2.18.
“Commitment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(b).
“Commitment Increase” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).
“Company Information” has the meaning specified in Section 9.08.
“Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
“Consenting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).
“Consolidated” refers to the consolidation of accounts in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Debt for Borrowed Money” of any Person means all items that, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as indebtedness on a Consolidated balance sheet of such Person.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom all current liabilities and all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, and other like intangibles, all as set forth in the most recent Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and computed in accordance with GAAP.
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“Consolidated Net Worth” means, at any time, stockholders’ equity as set forth or reflected on the most recent Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, plus the sum of minority interests, convertible preferred securities, and preferred stock, all determined in accordance with GAAP and consistently applied.
“Consolidated Total Capital” means, at any time, the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Worth, and (ii) Consolidated Debt for Borrowed Money.
“Convert”, “Conversion” and “Converted” each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.09 or 2.22.
“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 business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.
“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five (5) 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. 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 Borrowers; provided that if Daily Simple SOFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Daily Simple SONIA” means, for any day (an “Interest Day”), an interest rate per annum equal to, for any SONIA Advance, SONIA for the day that is five Business Days prior to (a) if such Interest Day is a Business Day, such Interest Day or (b) if such Interest Day is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Day.
“Debt” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables not overdue by more than 90 days incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all obligations of such Person created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (e) subject to Section 1.03, all obligations of such Person as lessee under leases that are in accordance with GAAP, recorded as finance leases, (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of acceptances, letters of credit or similar extensions of credit, (g) all net obligations of such Person in respect of Hedge Agreements, (h) all Debt of others referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above or clause (i) below (collectively, “Guaranteed Debt”) guaranteed directly or indirectly in any manner by such Person, or in effect guaranteed directly or indirectly by such Person through an agreement (1) to pay or purchase such Guaranteed Debt or to advance or supply funds
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for the payment or purchase of such Guaranteed Debt, (2) to purchase, sell or lease (as lessee or lessor) property, or to purchase or sell services, primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of such Guaranteed Debt or to assure the holder of such Guaranteed Debt against loss, (3) to supply funds to or in any other manner invest in the debtor (including any agreement to pay for property or services irrespective of whether such property is received or such services are rendered) or (4) otherwise to assure a creditor against loss, and (i) all Debt referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above (including Guaranteed Debt) secured by (or for which the holder of such Debt has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Debt.
“Default” means any Event of Default or any event that would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.
“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.20(d), at any time, any Lender that, as reasonably determined by the Agent at such time (a) has failed to perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in respect of its Advances, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Agent and the Company in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Company or the 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 writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund an Advance hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Agent (based on its reasonable belief that such Lender may not fulfill its funding obligations hereunder), to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations hereunder, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Agent and the Company, or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any debtor relief law, (ii) had 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) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or (iv) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the control, ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a governmental authority, so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such governmental authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Person. Any determination by the Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender
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(subject to Section 2.20(d)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Company and each Lender.
“Designated Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company designated for borrowing privileges under this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.09.
“Designation Agreement” means, with respect to any Designated Subsidiary, an agreement in the form of Exhibit D hereto signed by such Designated Subsidiary and the Company.
“Disclosed Litigation” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(b).
“Dollar Equivalent” means, for any amount, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, (b) if such amount is expressed in an Alternative Currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with the Alternative Currency last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Agent) by Reuters on the Business Day (New York City time) immediately preceding the date of determination or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide a rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with the Alternative Currency, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Reuters chosen by the Agent in its sole discretion (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion) and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.
“Dollars” and the “$” sign each means lawful currency of the United States of America.
“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 clause (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.
“Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 9.07(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 9.07(b)(iii)).
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“Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.
“Environmental Action” means any action, suit, demand, demand letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or violation, notice of liability or potential liability, investigation, proceeding, consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment, including, without limitation, (a) by any governmental or regulatory authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages and (b) by any governmental or regulatory authority or any third party for damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief.
“Environmental Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order, judgment, decree or judicial or agency interpretation, policy or guidance relating to pollution or protection of the environment, health, safety or natural resources, including, without limitation, those relating to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials.
“Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any Person that for purposes of Title IV of ERISA is a member of the Company’s controlled group, or under common control with the Company, within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
“ERISA Event” means (a) (i) the occurrence of a reportable event, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, with respect to any Plan unless the 30-day notice requirement with respect to such event has been waived by the PBGC, or (ii) the requirements of subsection (1) of Section 4043(b) of ERISA (without regard to subsection (2) of such Section) are met with respect to a contributing sponsor, as defined in Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a Plan, and an event described in paragraph (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of Section 4043(c) of ERISA is reasonably expected to occur with respect to such Plan within the following 30 days, unless the 30-day notice requirement with respect to such event has been waived by the PBGC; (b) the application for a minimum funding waiver with respect to a Plan; (c) the provision by the administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to terminate such Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any such notice with respect to a plan amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (d) the cessation of operations at a facility of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) the withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year for which it was a substantial employer, as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA; (f) the conditions for the imposition of a lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA shall have been met with respect to any Plan; or (g) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Plan pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA, or the occurrence of any event or condition described
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in Section 4042 of ERISA that constitutes grounds for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, a Plan.
“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.
“EURIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros and for any Interest Period, the EURIBOR Screen Rate two TARGET Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
“EURIBOR Screen Rate” means the euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) on page EURIBOR01 of the Reuters screen (or any replacement Reuters page which displays that rate) or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Reuters as published at approximately 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Company.
“Euro” means the single currency of the Participating Member States.
“Events of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Applicable Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in an Advance or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Advance or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Company under Section 2.21 or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.14, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender's assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.14(f) and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
“Extension Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted
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pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among governmental authorities and implementing such Sections of the Internal Revenue Code.
“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as shall be set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Federal Reserve Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted EURIBO Rate, Adjusted TIBO Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA, Daily Simple SOFR or the Central Bank Rate, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt the initial Floor for each of Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted EURIBO Rate, Adjusted TIBO Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA, Daily Simple SOFR or the Central Bank Rate shall be zero.
“Foreign Lender” shall mean a Recipient that is not a U.S. Person.
“GAAP” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03.
“Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.
“Hazardous Materials” means (a) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.
“Hedge Agreements” means interest rate swap, cap or collar agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements.
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary of the Company (other than any Designated Subsidiary) having (a) Consolidated assets with a value of less than 5% of the total value of the Consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (b) Consolidated revenues of less than 5% of the Consolidated revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case as of the end of or for the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company.
“Increase Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).
“Increasing Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(b).
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“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.
“Information Memorandum” means the information memorandum dated July 2025 used by the Agent in connection with the syndication of the Commitments.
“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any Base Rate Advance, the last day of each March, June, September and December and the latest Termination Date, (b) with respect to any SONIA Advance, (1) each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Advance (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and (2) the latest Termination Date and (c) with respect to any Term Benchmark Advance, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Advance is a part and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period, and the latest Termination Date.
“Interest Period” means, for each Term Benchmark Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Term Benchmark Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into such Term Benchmark Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower requesting such Borrowing pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by such Borrower pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, three or six months, as such Borrower may, upon notice received by the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided, however, that:
(a) such Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the latest Termination Date;
(b) Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Term Benchmark Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same duration; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, more than one Borrowing may be made on the same day and such Borrowings may have Interest Periods of different durations;
(c) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, however, that, if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the first preceding Business Day; and
(d) whenever the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months equal to the number of months in such
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Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month.
“Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
“Lenders” means each Initial Lender, each Assuming Lender that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19 and each Person that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 9.07.
“Lien” means any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement, including, without limitation, the lien or retained security title of a conditional vendor and any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property.
“Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, any Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.16 and any other documents entered into in connection herewith.
“Material Adverse Change” means any material adverse change in the business, financial condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, financial condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the rights and remedies of the Agent or any Lender under this Agreement or any Note or (c) the ability of any Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Note.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.
“Multiple Employer Plan” means a single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person other than the Company and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.
“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).
“Note” means a promissory note of any Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, delivered pursuant to a request made under Section 2.16 in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of such Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Advances made by such Lender to such Borrower.
“Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
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“Notice of Conversion” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09.
“NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.
“NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Documents, or sold or assigned an interest in any Advance or Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.21).
“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar transactions denominated in Dollars by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.
“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the NYFRB Rate and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, an overnight rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that has the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.
“Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001.
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“Payment Office” means, for any Alternative Currency, such office of JPMorgan as shall be from time to time selected by the Agent and notified by the Agent to the Company and the Lenders.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor).
“Permitted Liens” means such of the following as to which no enforcement, collection, execution, levy or foreclosure proceeding shall have been commenced: (a) Liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies to the extent not required to be paid under Section 5.01(b) hereof; (b) Liens imposed by law, such as materialmen’s, mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s and repairmen’s Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business securing obligations that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices; (c) pledges or deposits to secure obligations under workers’ compensation laws or similar legislation or to secure public or statutory obligations, performance bids, surety bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (d) easements, rights of way and other encumbrances on title to real property that do not render title to the property encumbered thereby unmarketable or materially adversely affect the use of such property for its present purposes; (e) judgment bonds so long as the enforcement of such liens is effectively stayed and the claims secured thereby are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices; (f) liens of a lessor or sublessor with respect to property under an operating lease and any restriction or encumbrance to which the interest or title of such lessor or sublessor may be subject; (g) licenses of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business; (h) liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods; (i) bankers’ liens; and (j) so long as such liens do not secure Debt, liens arising under standard custodial, bailee or depositary arrangements (including deposit accounts with banks or other financial institutions).
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.
“Plan” means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.
“Post-Petition Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05.
“Prime Rate” means 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 by the Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.
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“Public Debt Rating” means, as of any date, the rating that has been most recently announced by either S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, for any class of non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Company or, if any such rating agency shall have issued more than one such rating, the lowest such rating issued by such rating agency. For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if only one of S&P and Moody’s shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage shall be determined by reference to the available rating; (b) if neither S&P nor Moody’s shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage will be set in accordance with Level 5 under the definition of “Applicable Margin” or “Applicable Percentage”, as the case may be; (c) if the ratings established by S&P and Moody’s shall fall within different levels, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage shall be based upon the higher rating unless the such ratings differ by two or more levels, in which case the applicable level will be deemed to be one level below the higher of such levels; (d) if any rating established by S&P or Moody’s shall be changed, such change shall be effective as of the third Business Day following the date on which 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 ratings are established, each reference to the Public Debt Rating 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.
“Ratable Share” of any amount means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the product of such amount times a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of such Lender’s Commitment at such time (or, if the Commitments shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 2.07 or 6.01, such Lender’s Commitment as in effect immediately prior to such termination) and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of all Commitments at such time (or, if the Commitments shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 2.07 or 6.01, the aggregate amount of all Commitments as in effect immediately prior to such termination).
“Recipient” means the Agent and any Lender.
“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (2) if such Benchmark is the EURIBO Rate, 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET Days preceding the date of such setting, (3) if such Benchmark is the TIBO Rate, 11:00 a.m. Japan time two Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (4) if such Benchmark is SONIA, then four Business Days prior to such setting, (5) if such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four Business Days prior to such setting or (6) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate, the EURIBO Rate, the TIBO Rate or SONIA, the time determined by the Agent in its reasonable discretion.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 9.07(c).
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means (i) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Advances denominated in Dollars, the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, the
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CME Term SOFR Administrator, as applicable, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto, (ii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Advances denominated in Sterling, the Bank of England, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Bank of England or, in each case, any successor thereto, (iii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Advances denominated in Euros, the European Central Bank, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the European Central Bank or, in each case, any successor thereto and (iv) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Advances denominated in Yen, the Bank of Japan, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Bank of Japan or, in each case, any successor thereto.
“Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the Term SOFR Rate, (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate, (iii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Yen, the Adjusted TIBO Rate or (iv) with respect to any Borrowing denominated in Sterling, Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA, as applicable.
“Relevant Screen Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBOR Screen Rate or (iii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Yen, the TIBOR Screen Rate, as applicable, as applicable.
“Required Lenders” means at any time Lenders owed at least a majority in interest of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount (based on the Dollar Equivalent in at such time) of the Advances owing to Lenders, or, if no such principal amount is then outstanding, Lenders having at least a majority in interest of the Commitments, provided that if any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time, there shall be excluded from the determination of Required Lenders at such time the Commitments of such Lender at such time.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Revaluation Date” shall mean (a) with respect to any Advance denominated in any Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) the date of the Borrowing of such Advance and (ii) (A) with respect to any Term Benchmark Advance, each date of a conversion into or continuation of such Advance pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and (B) with respect to any SONIA Advance, each Interest Payment Date; and (b) any additional date as the Agent may determine at any time when an Event of Default exists.
“SONIA Advance” means an Advance that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings.
“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself, or whose government is, the subject or target of any comprehensive, territorial based Sanctions.
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“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or any similar Sanctions list issued by His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, European Union Sanctions authority or the United Nations Security Council, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).
“Sanctions” means any international economic sanctions administered or enforced by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or the United Nations Security Council.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Single Employer Plan” means a single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate and no Person other than the Company and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.
“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.
“SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s website, 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” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.
“SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.
“SONIA” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the Sterling Overnight Index Average for such Business Day published by the SONIA Administrator on the SONIA Administrator’s Website on the immediately succeeding Business Day.
“SONIA Administrator” means the Bank of England (or any successor administrator of the Sterling Overnight Index Average).
“SONIA Administrator’s Website” means the Bank of England’s website, currently at http://www.bankofengland.co.uk, or any successor source for the Sterling Overnight Index Average identified as such by the SONIA Administrator from time to time.
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“SONIA Advance” means an Advance denominated in Sterling that bears interest as provided in Section 2.07(a)(iii).
“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Federal Reserve Board to which the Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted EURIBO Rate or Adjusted TIBO Rate, as applicable, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D) or any other reserve ratio 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 Advances. Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D. Term Benchmark Advances shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
“Subordinated Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (or in which) more than 50% of (a) the issued and outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) or (b) the interest in the capital or profits of such limited liability company, partnership or joint venture is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person’s other Subsidiaries.
“TARGET Day” means any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, determined by the Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other similar charges imposed by any governmental authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Term Benchmark Advance” means an Advance denominated in Dollars, Euro or Yen that bears interest as provided in Section 2.07(a)(ii).
“Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.
“Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term
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SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator; provided that if the Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate has not occurred, then the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding Business Day is not more than five (5) Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day.
“Termination Date” means the earlier of (a) July 28, 2030, subject to the extension thereof pursuant to Section 2.19 and (b) the date of termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01; provided, however, that the Termination Date of any Lender that is a Non-Consenting Lender to any requested extension pursuant to Section 2.19 shall be the Termination Date in effect immediately prior to the applicable Extension Date for all purposes of this Agreement.
“TIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Yen and for any Interest Period, the TIBOR Screen Rate two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
“TIBOR Screen Rate” means the Tokyo interbank offered rate administered by the Ippan Shadan Hojin JBA TIBOR Administration (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant currency and period displayed on page DTIBOR01 of the Reuters screen (or, in the event such rate does not appear on such Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as selected by the Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion) as published at approximately 1:00 p.m. Japan time two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
“UK Financial Institutions” 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.
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“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.
“Unused Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender at any time, (a) such Lender’s Commitment at such time minus (b) the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Advances made by such Lender and outstanding at such time.
“U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code.
“Voting Stock” means capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
“Withholding Agent” shall mean any Borrower and the Agent.
“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.
SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods. In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”.
SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) (“GAAP”). If the Company notifies the Agent that the Company requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Agent notifies the Company that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in generally accepted accounting principles or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles 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.
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SECTION 1.04. Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The interest rate on a Advance denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency 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 2.22(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate 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. The Agent and its affiliates and/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 alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced 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 1.05. Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.
SECTION 1.06. Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents. The Agent shall determine the Dollar Equivalent amounts of Term Benchmark Borrowings or SONIA Borrowings. Such Dollar Equivalent shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such amounts until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by the Company hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any Alternative Currency for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Agent.
Article
II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
SECTION 2.01. The Advances. Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Advances to any Borrower from time to time on any
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Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date applicable to such Lender in an aggregate Dollar Equivalent amount (determined on the date of delivery of the applicable Notice of Borrowing) not to exceed such Lender’s Unused Commitment. Each Borrowing shall be in an amount not less than the Borrowing Minimum or the Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof and shall consist of Advances of the same Type and in the same currency made on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay pursuant to Section 2.10 and reborrow under this Section 2.01.
SECTION 2.02. Making the Advances. (a) Each Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than (w) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Term Benchmark Advances denominated in Dollars, (x) 12:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Term Benchmark Advances denominated in any Alternative Currency, (y) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the fifth Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of SONIA Advances or (z) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances, by any Borrower to the Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof by telecopier or electronic mail. Each such notice of a Borrowing (a “Notice of Borrowing”) shall be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing, or telecopier or electronic mail in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such Borrowing, (ii) Type of Advances comprising such Borrowing, (iii) aggregate amount of such Borrowing, and (iv) in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Term Benchmark Advances, initial Interest Period and currency for each such Advance. Each Lender shall, before 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the applicable Agent’s Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing. After the Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower requesting the Borrowing at the Agent’s address referred to in Section 9.02 or at the applicable Payment Office, as the case may be.
(b) Anything in subsection (a) above to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) no Borrower may select Term Benchmark Advances for any Borrowing if the aggregate amount of such Borrowing is less than the Borrowing Minimum or if the obligation of the Lenders to make Term Benchmark Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to Section 2.08 or 2.22 and (ii) the Term Benchmark Advances may not be outstanding as part of more than six separate Borrowings.
(c) Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower requesting the Borrowing. In the case of any Borrowing that the related Notice of Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of Term Benchmark Advances or SONIA Advances, the Borrower requesting the Borrowing shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing for such Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss (excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to
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fund the Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.
(d) Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the time of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower requesting the Borrowing on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion available to the Agent, such Lender and such Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to such Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of such Borrower, the higher of (A) the interest rate applicable at the time to Advances comprising such Borrowing and (B) the cost of funds incurred by the Agent in respect of such amount and (ii) in the case of such Lender, at the greater of (A) the applicable Overnight Rate and (B) a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. If such Lender shall repay to the Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Advance as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
(e) The failure of any Lender to make the Advance to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Advance on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.
(f) Each Lender may, at its option, make any Advance by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Advance; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect in any manner the obligation of the applicable Borrower to repay such Advance in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 2.03. [Reserved].
SECTION 2.04. Fees. (a) Facility Fee. The Company agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee on the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Commitment from the Effective Date in the case of each Initial Lender and from the effective date specified in the Assumption Agreement or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender until the Termination Date applicable to such Lender (or such later date on which the Advances made by such Lender have been paid in full) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the day that is fifteen days following the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing September 30, 2025, and on the Termination Date; provided that no Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any facility fee in respect of its Commitment for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Company shall not be required to pay such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid
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to that Defaulting Lender), other than a facility fee, as described above, on the aggregate principal amount of Advances funded by such Defaulting Lender outstanding from time to time.
(b) Agent’s Fees. The Company shall pay to the Agent for its own account such fees as may from time to time be agreed between the Company and the Agent.
SECTION 2.05. Optional Termination or Reduction of the Commitments. (a) Optional Ratable Termination or Reduction. The Company shall have the right, upon at least three Business Days’ notice to the Agent, to terminate in whole or permanently reduce ratably in part the Unused Commitments of the Lenders, provided that each partial reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.
(b) Termination of Defaulting Lender. The Borrowers may terminate the Unused Commitment of any Lender that is a Defaulting Lender upon prior notice of not less than one Business Day to the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders thereof), and in such event the provisions of Section 2.20(e) shall apply to all amounts thereafter paid by any Borrower for the account of such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, facility fees, or other amounts), provided that (i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) such termination shall not be deemed to be a waiver or release of any claim any Borrower, the Agent, or any Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender.
SECTION 2.06. Repayment of Advances. (a) Each Borrower shall repay to the Agent on the Termination Date applicable to any Lender the aggregate principal amount of the Advances made by such Lender to such Borrower then outstanding.
SECTION 2.07. Interest on Advances. (a) Scheduled Interest. Each Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance owing to each Lender from the date of such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:
(i) Base Rate Advances. During such periods as such Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of (x) the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on each Interest Payment Date and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
(ii) Term Benchmark Advances. During such periods as such Advance is a Term Benchmark Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of (x) the Relevant Rate for such Interest Period for such Advance plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date and on the date such Term Benchmark Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
(iii) SONIA Advances. During such periods as such Advance is a SONIA Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of (x) Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date and on the date such SONIA Advance shall be paid in full.
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(b) Default Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a) or (e), the Agent may with the consent, and shall upon the request, of the Required Lenders, require the Borrowers to pay interest (“Default Interest”) on (i) the unpaid principal amount of each Advance owing to each Lender, payable in arrears on the dates referred to in clause (a) above, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 1% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on such Advance pursuant to clause (a) above and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the amount of any interest, fee or other amount payable hereunder that is not paid when due, from the date such amount shall be due until such amount shall be paid in full, payable in arrears on the date such amount shall be paid in full and on demand, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 1% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on Base Rate Advances pursuant to clause (a)(i) above; provided, however, that following acceleration of the Advances pursuant to Section 6.01, Default Interest shall accrue and be payable hereunder whether or not previously required by the Agent.
SECTION 2.08. Interest Rate Determination. (a) The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Company and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the Agent for purposes of Section 2.07(a).
(b) If any Borrower shall fail to select the duration of any Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of “Interest Period” in Section 1.01, the Agent will forthwith so notify such Borrower and the Lenders and such Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, will be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month.
(c) On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Advances other than Base Rate Advances comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than the Borrowing Minimum, such Advances shall automatically (i) if such Advances are denominated in Dollars, Convert into Base Rate Advances and (ii) if such Advances are denominated in an Alternative Currency, be converted into Base Rate Advances (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Alternative Currency).
(d) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, (i) each Advance other than a Base Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, (A) if such Advances are denominated in Dollars, be Converted into Base Rate Advances and (B) if such Advances are denominated in any Alternative Currency, be converted into Base Rate Advances (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Alternative Currency) and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Term Benchmark Advances or SONIA Advances shall be suspended.
SECTION 2.09. Optional Conversion of Advances. The Borrower of any Advance may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.08 and 2.22, Convert all Advances denominated in Dollars of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into Advances denominated in Dollars of the other Type; provided, however, that any Conversion of Term Benchmark Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be made only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Term Benchmark Advances, any Conversion of Base Rate Advances into Term Benchmark Advances shall be in an amount not
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less than the minimum amount specified in Section 2.02(b) and no Conversion of any Advances shall result in more separate Borrowings than permitted under Section 2.02(b). Each such notice (a “Notice of Conversion”) of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Dollar denominated Advances to be Converted, and (iii) if such Conversion is into Term Benchmark Advances, the duration of the initial Interest Period for each such Advance. Each notice of Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower giving such notice.
SECTION 2.10. Prepayments of Advances. (a) Optional. Each Borrower may, upon notice at least two Business Days’ prior to the date of such prepayment, in the case of Term Benchmark Advances or SONIA Advances, and not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such prepayment, in the case of Base Rate Advances, to the Agent stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given, such Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided, however, that (x) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of not less than the Borrowing Minimum or a Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof and (y) in the event of any such prepayment of a Term Benchmark Advance or a SONIA Advance, such Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 9.04(c).
(b) Mandatory. (i) If, on any date, the Agent notifies the Company that, on any interest payment date, the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of all Advances then outstanding exceeds 103% of the aggregate Commitments of the Lenders on such date, the Borrowers shall, as soon as practicable and in any event within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, prepay the outstanding principal amount of any Advances owing by the Borrowers in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such sum to an amount not to exceed 100% of the aggregate Commitments of the Lenders on such date.
(ii) Each prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.10(b) shall be made together with any interest accrued to the date of such prepayment on the principal amounts prepaid and, in the case of any prepayment of a Term Benchmark Advance on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period or at its maturity or a prepayment of a SONIA Advance on a date other than an Interest Payment Date, any additional amounts which the Borrowers shall be obligated to reimburse to the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 9.04(c). The Agent shall give prompt notice of any prepayment required under this Section 2.10(b) to the Company and the Lenders.
SECTION 2.11. Increased Costs. (a) If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority including, without limitation, any agency of the European Union or similar monetary or multinational authority (whether or not having the force of law), in each case, after the Effective Date, there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Advances other than Base Rate Advances (excluding for purposes of this Section 2.11 any such increased costs resulting from Taxes except for Taxes imposed on a Lender’s loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other
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liabilities or capital attributable thereto (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes), then the Company shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost; provided, however, that before making any such demand, each Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if the making of such designation would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such increased cost and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted to the Company and the Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) If any Lender determines that compliance with any law or regulation or any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law), in each case, that comes into effect after the Effective Date, affects or would affect the amount of capital or liquidity coverage requirements (such as required by Basel III (meaning the comprehensive set of reform measures developed (and designated as Basel III in September 2010) by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, to strengthen the regulation, supervision and risk management of the banking sector and as implemented by United States or foreign financial regulatory authorities or agencies)) required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender and that the amount of such capital or liquidity is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender’s commitment to lend hereunder and other commitments of such type (or similar contingent obligations), then, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), the Company shall pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or such corporation in the light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Lender reasonably determines such increase in capital or liquidity coverage requirements to be allocable to the existence of such Lender’s commitment to lend hereunder. A certificate as to such amounts submitted to the Company and the Agent by such Lender shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(c) For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 2.11 shall apply to all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy or liquidity coverage requirements issued in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy or liquidity coverage requirements promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign financial regulatory authorities, regardless of the date adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.
SECTION 2.12. [Reserved].
SECTION 2.13. Payments and Computations. (a) Each Borrower shall make each payment hereunder (except with respect to principal of, interest on, and other amounts relating to, Advances denominated in an Alternative Currency), not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the day when due in Dollars to the Agent at the applicable Agent’s Account in
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same day funds and irrespective of any right of counterclaim or set-off. Each Borrower shall make each payment hereunder with respect to principal of, interest on, and other amounts relating to, Advances denominated in an Alternative Currency, not later than 11:00 A.M. (at the Payment Office for such Alternative Currency) on the day when due in such Alternative Currency to the Agent, by deposit of such funds to the applicable Agent’s Account in same day funds and irrespective of any right of counterclaim or set-off. The Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal, interest or facility fees ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Sections 2.11, 2.14 or 9.04(c)) to the Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon any Assuming Lender becoming a Lender hereunder as a result of a Commitment Increase pursuant to Section 2.18 or an extension of the Termination Date pursuant to Section 2.19, and upon the Agent’s receipt of such Lender’s Assumption Agreement and recording of the information contained therein in the Register, from and after the applicable Increase Date or Extension Date, as the case may be, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under any Notes issued in connection therewith in respect of the interest assumed thereby to the Assuming Lender. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Assumption and recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 9.07(c), from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Assumption, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under the Notes in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Assumption shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such effective date directly between themselves.
(b) Each Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender, if and to the extent payment owed to such Lender is not made when due hereunder or under the Note held by such Lender (after all grace periods have elapsed), to charge from time to time against any or all of such Borrower’s accounts with such Lender any amount so due.
(c) All computations of interest based on the Base Rate or SONIA shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, all computations of interest based on a Term Benchmark Rate or the Federal Funds Rate and of facility fees shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days (or, in each case of Advances denominated in Alternative Currencies where market practice differs, in accordance with market practice), in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or facility fees are payable. Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(d) Whenever any payment hereunder or under the Notes shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest or facility fee, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Term Benchmark Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the first preceding Business Day.
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(e) Unless the Agent shall have received notice from any Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on such date and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent such Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Agent, at the greater of (i) the applicable Overnight Rate and (ii) a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
(f) To the extent that the Agent receives funds for application to the amounts owing by any Borrower under or in respect of this Agreement or any Note in currencies other than the currency or currencies required to enable the Agent to distribute funds to the Lenders in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.13, the Agent shall be entitled to convert or exchange such funds into Dollars or into an Alternative Currency or from Dollars to an Alternative Currency or from an Alternative Currency to Dollars, as the case may be, to the extent necessary to enable the Agent to distribute such funds in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.13; provided that each Borrower and each of the Lenders hereby agree that the Agent shall not be liable or responsible for any loss, cost or expense suffered by such Borrower or such Lender as a result of any conversion or exchange of currencies affected pursuant to this Section 2.13(f) or as a result of the failure of the Agent to effect any such conversion or exchange; and provided further that each Borrower agrees to indemnify the Agent and each Lender, and hold the Agent and each Lender harmless, for any and all losses, costs and expenses incurred by the Agent or any Lender for any conversion or exchange of currencies (or the failure to convert or exchange any currencies) in accordance with this Section 2.13(f).
SECTION 2.14. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by each Borrower to or for the account of any Lender or the Agent under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant governmental authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.14) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(b) The Company shall pay to the relevant governmental authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(c) Each Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the Agent, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified
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Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.14) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant governmental authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Company by a Lender or the Agent (with a copy to the Agent), or by the Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the Agent, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrowers have not already indemnified the Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.07(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable out-of-pocket 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 Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Agent under this paragraph (d).
(e) Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes in connection with this Agreement, each Borrower shall furnish to the Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.02, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing such payment to the extent such a receipt is issued therefor, or other written proof of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. In the case of any payment hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder by or on behalf of such Borrower through an account or branch outside the United States or by or on behalf of such Borrower by a payor that is not a United States person, if such Borrower determines that no Taxes in connection with this Agreement are payable in respect thereof, such Borrower shall furnish, or shall cause such payor to furnish, to the Agent, at such address, an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Agent stating that such payment is exempt from Taxes in connection with this Agreement.
(f) (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Company and the Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Company or the Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Company or the Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Agent as will enable the Company or the Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.14(f)(ii)(A), Section
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2.14(f)(ii)(B) and Section 2.14(f)(iv) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Company and the Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Company and the 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 party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or 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 copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or 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 copies of IRS Form W-8ECI or W-8EXP;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a “10-percent shareholder” of the Company within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E; or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance
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Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2 or Exhibit F-3, IRS Form W-9 and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that, if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(iii) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Company and the 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 party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Company or the Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(iv) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to United States federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Company and the Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Agent, such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Company or the Agent as may be necessary for the Company or the Agent to comply with its obligations under FATCA, to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 2.14(f)(iv), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
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 Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(g) Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.14 agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office if the making of such change would (in the reasonable judgment of such Lender) avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.
(h) If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section), it shall pay to
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the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant governmental authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant governmental authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such governmental authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(i) Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.14 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
SECTION 2.15. Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Advances owing to it in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of the Advances obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Advances owing to them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered and provided further that the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by any 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 Advances to any assignee or participant, other than to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Each Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.15 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.
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SECTION 2.16. Evidence of Debt. (a) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of each Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Advance owing to such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder in respect of Advances. Each Borrower agrees that upon notice by any Lender to such Borrower (with a copy of such notice to the Agent) to the effect that a Note is required or appropriate in order for such Lender to evidence (whether for purposes of pledge, enforcement or otherwise) the Advances owing to, or to be made by, such Lender, such Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to the order of such Lender in a principal amount up to the Commitment of such Lender.
(b) The Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 9.07(c) shall include a control account, and a subsidiary account for each Lender, in which accounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the date and amount of each Borrowing made hereunder, the Type of Advances comprising such Borrowing and, if appropriate, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the terms of each Assumption Agreement and each Assignment and Assumption delivered to and accepted by it, (iii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from each Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iv) the amount of any sum received by the Agent from such Borrower hereunder and each Lender’s share thereof.
(c) Entries made in good faith by the Agent in the Register pursuant to subsection (b) above, and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to subsection (a) above, shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from each Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement, absent manifest error; provided, however, that the failure of the Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of any Borrower under this Agreement.
SECTION 2.17. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Advances shall be available (and each Borrower agrees that it shall use such proceeds) for general corporate purposes of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 2.18. Increase in the Aggregate Commitments. (a) The Company may, at any time prior to the latest Termination Date, by notice to the Agent, request that the aggregate amount of the Commitment be increased in minimum increments of $25,000,000 (each a “Commitment Increase”) to be effective as of a date that is at least 90 days prior to the latest scheduled Termination Date then in effect (the “Increase Date”) as specified in the related notice to the Agent; provided, however that (i) in no event shall the aggregate amount of the Commitments at any time exceed $2,000,000,000 and (ii) on the date of any request by the Company for a Commitment Increase and on the related Increase Date the applicable conditions set forth in Section 3.03 shall be satisfied.
(b) The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of a request by the Company for a Commitment Increase, which notice shall include (i) the proposed amount of such requested Commitment Increase, (ii) the proposed Increase Date and (iii) the date by which Lenders wishing to participate in the Commitment Increase must commit to an increase in the amount of
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their respective Commitments (the “Commitment Date”). Each Lender that is willing to participate in such requested Commitment Increase (each an “Increasing Lender”) shall, in its sole discretion, give written notice to the Agent on or prior to the Commitment Date of the amount by which it is willing to increase its Commitment. If the Lenders notify the Agent that they are willing to increase the amount of their respective Commitments by an aggregate amount that exceeds the amount of the requested Commitment Increase, the requested Commitment Increase shall be allocated among the Lenders willing to participate therein in such amounts as are agreed between the Company and the Agent.
(c) Promptly following each Commitment Date, the Agent shall notify the Company as to the amount, if any, by which the Lenders are willing to participate in the requested Commitment Increase. If the aggregate amount by which the Lenders are willing to participate in any requested Commitment Increase on any such Commitment Date is less than the requested Commitment Increase, then the Company may extend offers to one or more Eligible Assignees to participate in any portion of the requested Commitment Increase that has not been committed to by the Lenders as of the applicable Commitment Date; provided, however, that the Commitment of each such Eligible Assignee shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000.
(d) On each Increase Date, each Eligible Assignee that accepts an offer to participate in a requested Commitment Increase in accordance with Section 2.18(b) (each such Eligible Assignee and each Eligible Assignee that agrees to become a party hereto in accordance with Section 2.19, an “Assuming Lender”) shall become a Lender party to this Agreement as of such Increase Date and the Commitment of each Increasing Lender for such requested Commitment Increase shall be so increased by such amount (or by the amount allocated to such Lender pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.18(b)) as of such Increase Date; provided, however, that the Agent shall have received on or before such Increase Date the following, each dated such date:
(i) certified copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company or the Executive Committee of such Board approving the Commitment Increase and the corresponding modifications to this Agreement;
(ii) an assumption agreement from each Assuming Lender, if any, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and the Agent (each an “Assumption Agreement”), duly executed by such Eligible Assignee, the Agent and the Company; and
(iii) confirmation from each Increasing Lender of the increase in the amount of its Commitment in a writing satisfactory to the Company and the Agent.
On each Increase Date, upon fulfillment of the conditions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 2.18(d) and the applicable conditions in Section 3.03, the Agent shall notify the Lenders (including, without limitation, each Assuming Lender) and the Company, on or before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time), by telecopier or electronic mail, of the occurrence of the Commitment Increase to be effected on such Increase Date and shall record in the Register the relevant information with respect to each Increasing Lender and each Assuming Lender on such date. Each Increasing Lender and each Assuming Lender shall, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Advances of the other Lenders or take such other
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actions as the Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Advances to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Ratable Share, and the Company shall pay such Lender any amounts due pursuant to Section 9.04.
SECTION 2.19. Extension of Termination Date. (a) At least 45 days but not more than 90 days (or such other time frame as may be agreed by the Agent in its sole discretion) prior to any anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company, by written notice to the Agent, may request an extension of the Termination Date in effect at such time by one year from its then scheduled expiration. The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of such request, and each Lender shall in turn, in its sole discretion, not later than 30 days prior to the applicable anniversary date, notify the Company and the Agent in writing as to whether such Lender will consent to such extension. If any Lender shall fail to notify the Agent and the Company in writing of its consent to any such request for extension of the Termination Date at least 30 days prior to the applicable anniversary date, such Lender shall be deemed to be a Non-Consenting Lender with respect to such request. The Agent shall notify the Company not later than 15 days prior to the applicable anniversary date of the decision of the Lenders regarding the Company’s request for an extension of the Termination Date.
(b) If all the Lenders consent in writing to any such request in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, the Termination Date in effect at such time shall, effective as at the applicable anniversary date (the “Extension Date”), be extended for one year; provided that on each Extension Date the applicable conditions set forth in Section 3.03 shall be satisfied. If less than all of the Lenders consent in writing to any such request in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, the Termination Date in effect at such time shall, effective as at the applicable Extension Date and subject to subsection (d) of this Section 2.19, be extended as to those Lenders that so consented (each a “Consenting Lender”) but shall not be extended as to any other Lender (each a “Non-Consenting Lender”). To the extent that the Termination Date is not extended as to any Lender pursuant to this Section 2.19 and the Commitment of such Lender is not assumed in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section 2.19 on or prior to the applicable Extension Date, the Commitment of such Non-Consenting Lender shall automatically terminate in whole on such unextended Termination Date without any further notice or other action by the Company, such Lender or any other Person; provided that such Non-Consenting Lender’s rights under Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 9.04, and its obligations under Section 9.04(e), shall survive the Termination Date for such Lender as to matters occurring prior to such date. It is understood and agreed that no Lender shall have any obligation whatsoever to agree to any request made by the Company for any requested extension of the Termination Date.
(c) If less than all of the Lenders consent to any such request pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, the Company may arrange for one or more Consenting Lenders or other Eligible Assignees as Assuming Lenders to assume, effective as of the Extension Date, any Non-Consenting Lender’s Commitment and all of the obligations of such Non-Consenting Lender under this Agreement thereafter arising, without recourse to or warranty by, or expense to, such Non-Consenting Lender; provided, however, that the amount of the Commitment of any such Assuming Lender as a result of such substitution shall in no event be less than $10,000,000 unless the amount of the Commitment of such Non-Consenting Lender is less than $10,000,000, in which case such Assuming Lender shall assume all of such lesser amount; and provided further that:
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(i) any such Consenting Lender or Assuming Lender shall have paid to such Non-Consenting Lender (A) the aggregate principal amount of, and any interest accrued and unpaid to the effective date of the assignment on, the outstanding Advances, if any, of such Non-Consenting Lender plus (B) any accrued but unpaid facility fees owing to such Non-Consenting Lender as of the effective date of such assignment;
(ii) all additional costs reimbursements, expense reimbursements and indemnities payable to such Non-Consenting Lender, and all other accrued and unpaid amounts owing to such Non-Consenting Lender hereunder, as of the effective date of such assignment shall have been paid to such Non-Consenting Lender; and
(iii) with respect to any such Assuming Lender, the applicable processing and recordation fee required under Section 9.07(b) for such assignment shall have been paid;
provided further that such Non-Consenting Lender’s rights under Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 9.04, and its obligations under Section 9.04(e), shall survive such substitution as to matters occurring prior to the date of substitution. At least three Business Days prior to any Extension Date, (A) each such Assuming Lender, if any, shall have delivered to the Company and the Agent an Assumption Agreement, duly executed by such Assuming Lender, such Non-Consenting Lender, the Company and the Agent, (B) any such Consenting Lender shall have delivered confirmation in writing satisfactory to the Company and the Agent as to the increase in the amount of its Commitment and (C) each Non-Consenting Lender being replaced pursuant to this Section 2.19 shall have delivered to the Agent any Note or Notes held by such Non-Consenting Lender. Upon the payment or prepayment of all amounts referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence, each such Consenting Lender or Assuming Lender, as of the Extension Date, will be substituted for such Non-Consenting Lender under this Agreement and shall be a Lender for all purposes of this Agreement, without any further acknowledgment by or the consent of the other Lenders, and the obligations of each such Non-Consenting Lender hereunder shall, by the provisions hereof, be released and discharged.
(d) If (after giving effect to any assignments or assumptions pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 2.19) Lenders having Commitments equal to at least 50% of the Commitments in effect immediately prior to the Extension Date consent in writing to a requested extension (whether by execution or delivery of an Assumption Agreement or otherwise) not later than three Business Days prior to such Extension Date, the Agent shall so notify the Company, and, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions in Section 3.03, the Termination Date then in effect shall be extended for the additional one-year period as described in subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, and all references in this Agreement, and in the Notes, if any, to the Termination Date shall, with respect to each Consenting Lender and each Assuming Lender for such Extension Date, refer to the Termination Date as so extended. Promptly following each Extension Date, the Agent shall notify the Lenders (including, without limitation, each Assuming Lender) of the extension of the scheduled Termination Date in effect immediately prior thereto and shall thereupon record in the Register the relevant information with respect to each such Consenting Lender and each such Assuming Lender.
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SECTION 2.20. Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:
(a) Such 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 the definition of Required Lenders.
(b) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive a facility fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to extent allocable to the outstanding principal amount of the Advances funded by it and the Company shall not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.
(c) No Commitment of any Lender shall be increased or otherwise affected, and, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.20, performance by any Borrower of its obligations shall not be excused or otherwise modified as a result of the operation of this Section 2.20. The rights and remedies against a Defaulting Lender under this Section 2.20 are in addition to any other rights and remedies which any Borrower, the Agent, or any Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender.
(d) If each Borrower and the Agent agree in writing in their reasonable determination that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the 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 Advances of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Advances to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Ratable Share, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers 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 such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any payment of principal, interest, facility fees, or other amounts received by the Agent for the account of any Defaulting Lender under this Agreement (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VI or otherwise) shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrowers may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Advance in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the 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 such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fourth, so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to any Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by such Borrower against such Defaulting Lender
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as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and fifth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Advance in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Advances were made at a time when the applicable conditions set forth in Article III were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Advances of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Advances of such Defaulting Lender and provided further that any amounts held as cash collateral for funding obligations of a Defaulting Lender shall be returned to such Defaulting Lender upon the termination of this Agreement and the satisfaction of such Defaulting Lender’s obligations hereunder. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
SECTION 2.21. Replacement of Lenders. If (a) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.11, (b) any Borrower is required to pay additional amounts to any Lender or any governmental authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14 and such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different Applicable Lending Office in accordance with Section 2.14(g), (c) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (d) any Lender does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (i) requires the approval of all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 9.01 and (ii) has been approved by the Required Lenders (a “Non-Approving Lender”) or (e) any Protesting Lender, then the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the 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 9.07), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:
(i) The Agent shall have received the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 9.07;
(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder (including any amounts under Section 9.04(c)) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts);
(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.11 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.14, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable law; and
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(v) in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Approving Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.
In connection with any such replacement, if any such Lender does not execute and deliver to the Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such replacement within five Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption to such Lender, then such Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on the part of the Lender. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
SECTION 2.22. Alternate Rate of Interest. (a) Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this Section 2.22, if:
(i) the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Term SOFR Rate, the Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate, the EURIBO Rate or the Adjusted TIBO Rate or the TIBO Rate (including because the Relevant Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA, Daily Simple SONIA or SONIA for Borrowings of Sterling; or
(ii) the Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate or the Adjusted TIBO Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Advances (or its Advance) included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period or (B) at any time, the Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Advances (or its Advance) included in such Borrowing of Sterling;
then the Agent shall give notice thereof to the Company and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Agent notifies the Company and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the applicable Borrower delivers a new Notice of Conversion in accordance with the terms of Section 2.09 or a new Notice of Borrowing in accordance with the terms of Section 2.02, (A) for Advances denominated in Dollars, any Notice of Conversion that requests the Conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Notice of Borrowing that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be a Notice of Conversion or a Notice of Borrowing, as applicable, for (x) a Borrowing of Daily Simple SOFR Advances so long as Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.22(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) a Base Rate Borrowing if Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.22(a)(i) or (ii) above and (B) for Advances denominated in an Alternative Currency, any Notice of Conversion that requests
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the continuation of any Borrowing as a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Notice of Borrowing that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing or SONIA Borrowing, in each case, for the relevant Benchmark, shall be ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then all other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Advance in any Agreed Currency or SONIA Advance is outstanding on the date of the Company’s receipt of the notice from the Agent referred to in this Section 2.22(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Advance, then until (x) the Agent notifies the Company and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the applicable Borrower delivers a new Notice of Conversion in accordance with the terms of Section 2.09 or a new Notice of Borrowing in accordance with the terms of Section 2.02, (A) for Advances denominated in Dollars, any Term Benchmark Advance shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Advance (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) a Borrowing of Daily Simple SOFR Advances so long as Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.22(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) a Base Rate Borrowing if Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.22(a)(i) or (ii) above, on such day, and (B) for Advances denominated in an Alternative Currency, (1) any Term Benchmark Advance shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Advance (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day) bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Alternative Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Alternative Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Advances denominated in any Alternative Currency shall, at the applicable Borrower’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by such Borrower on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Advance, such Term Benchmark Advance denominated in any Alternative Currency shall be deemed to be a Term Benchmark Advance denominated in Dollars and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Advances denominated in Dollars at such time and (2) any SONIA Advance shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for Sterling plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for Sterling cannot be determined, any outstanding affected SONIA Advances, at the applicable Borrower’s election, shall either (A) be converted into Base Rate Advances (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of Sterling) immediately or (B) be prepaid in full immediately.
(b) 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 the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” with respect to Dollars 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 and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” with respect to any Agreed Currency for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes
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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 so long as the Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.
(d) The Agent will promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (f) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.22, 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, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.22.
(e) 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), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Rate, EURIBO Rate or TIBO Rate) and either (A) 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 Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) 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 or will be no longer representative, then the Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.
(f) Upon the Company’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, any Borrower may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing or SONIA Borrowing or request for a conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Advances to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, either (x) the applicable Borrower will be deemed to have converted any request for
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(1) a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to (A) a Daily Simple SOFR Borrowing so long as Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) a Base Rate Borrowing if Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in an Alternative Currency or SONIA Borrowing shall be ineffective. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Base Rate. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Advance in any Agreed Currency or SONIA Advance is outstanding on the date of the Company’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Advance, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement for such Agreed Currency is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.22, (A) for Advances denominated in Dollars, any Term Benchmark Advance shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Advance (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) a Daily Simple SOFR Borrowing so long as Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) a Base Rate Advance if Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day and (B) for Advances denominated in an Alternative Currency, (1) any Term Benchmark Advance shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Advance (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day) bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Alternative Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Alternative Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Advances denominated in any Alternative Currency shall, at the applicable Borrower’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by such Borrower on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Advance, such Term Benchmark Advance denominated in any Alternative Currency shall be deemed to be a Term Benchmark Advance denominated in Dollars and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Advances denominated in Dollars at such time and (2) any SONIA Advance shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for Sterling plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for Sterling cannot be determined, any outstanding affected SONIA Advances, at the applicable Borrower’s election, shall either (A) be converted into Base Rate Advances (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of Sterling) immediately or (B) be prepaid in full immediately.
Article
III
CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING
SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective on and as of the first date (the “Effective Date”) on which the following conditions precedent have been satisfied or waived:
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(a) Except as disclosed in filings made by the Company with the SEC, press releases and other public disclosures prior to the date hereof, there shall have occurred no Material Adverse Change since December 31, 2024.
(b) There shall exist no action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect other than the matters described on Schedule 3.01(b) hereto (the “Disclosed Litigation”) or (ii) purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any Note or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) All material governmental and third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained.
(d) The Company shall have paid all accrued and invoiced fees and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders (including the accrued and invoiced fees and expenses of counsel to the Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Effective Date.
(e) On the Effective Date, the following statements shall be true and the Agent shall have received for the account of each Lender a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company, dated the Effective Date, stating that:
(i) The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are correct on and as of the Effective Date, and
(ii) No event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Default.
(f) The Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each dated the Effective Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent:
(i) The Notes to the order of the Lenders to the extent requested by any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16 prior to the Effective Date.
(ii) Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company approving this Agreement and the Notes, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action with respect to this Agreement and the Notes.
(iii) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Company authorized to sign this Agreement and the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder.
(iv) A customary opinion of counsel of the Company (which may be in-house counsel).
(g) The Company shall have terminated the commitments, and paid in full all accrued and unpaid amounts, under the Company’s Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2022 (the “Existing Credit Agreement”). Each of the Lenders that is a party to the Existing Credit
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Agreement hereby waives the requirement of prior notice of termination of the commitments under such Existing Credit Agreement.
SECTION 3.02. Initial Advance to Each Designated Subsidiary. The obligation of each Lender to make an initial Advance to each Designated Subsidiary following any designation of such Designated Subsidiary as a Borrower hereunder pursuant to Section 9.09 is subject to the Agent’s receipt on or before the date of such initial Advance of each of the following, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and dated such date:
(a) The Notes of such Designated Subsidiary to the order of the Lenders to the extent requested by any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16.
(b) Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of such Designated Subsidiary (with a certified English translation if the original thereof is not in English) approving this Agreement and the Notes to be delivered by it, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action with respect to this Agreement.
(c) A certificate of an officer of such Designated Subsidiary certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of such Designated Subsidiary authorized to sign its Designation Agreement and the Notes to be delivered by it and the other documents to be delivered by it hereunder.
(d) A Designation Agreement duly executed by such Designated Subsidiary and the Company.
(e) A customary opinion of counsel (which may be in-house counsel) to such Designated Subsidiary.
(f) At least five days prior to the initial Advance to such Designated Subsidiary, if such Designated Subsidiary qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, such Designated Subsidiary shall deliver, to each Lender that so requests, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Designated Subsidiary.
(g) Such other approvals, opinions or documents as any Lender through the Agent may reasonably request.
SECTION 3.03. Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing, Commitment Increase and Commitment Extension. The obligation of each Lender to make an Advance on the occasion of each Borrowing, each Commitment Increase and each extension of Commitments pursuant to Section 2.19 shall be subject to the conditions precedent that the Effective Date shall have occurred and on the date of such Borrowing, the applicable Increase Date or the applicable Extension Date (as the case may be) the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing, request for Commitment Increase or request for extension of Commitments and the acceptance by any Borrower of the proceeds of such Borrowing or such Increase Date or Extension Date shall constitute a representation and warranty by such Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing, such Increase Date or such Extension Date such statements are true):
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(a) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 (except, in the case of Borrowings, the representations set forth in the last sentence of subsection (e) thereof and in subsection (f) thereof) are correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any such representation or warranty already qualified by materiality, in all respects) on and as of such date, before and after giving effect to such Borrowing, such Commitment Increase or such extension of Commitments and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date, and additionally, if such Borrowing shall have been requested by a Designated Subsidiary, the representations and warranties of such Designated Subsidiary contained in its Designation Agreement are correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any such representation or warranty already qualified by materiality, in all respects) on and as of the date of such Borrowing, before and after giving effect to such Borrowing, such Commitment Increase or such extension of Commitments and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date, and
(b) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Borrowing, such Commitment Increase or such extension of Commitments or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default.
SECTION 3.04. Determinations Under Section 3.01. For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 3.01, each Lender 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 the Lenders unless an officer of the Agent responsible for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the date that the Company designates as the proposed Effective Date or the date of the initial Advance to the applicable Designated Subsidiary, as the case may be, specifying its objection thereto. The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Company of the occurrence of the Effective Date and the Lenders of each date of initial Advance to a Designated Subsidiary, as applicable.
Article
IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Notes to be delivered by it, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, are within the Company’s corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the Company’s charter or by-laws or (ii) law or any contractual restriction binding on or affecting the Company.
(c) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party is required for the due
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execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the Notes to be delivered by it.
(d) This Agreement has been, and each of the Notes to be delivered by it when delivered hereunder will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Company. This Agreement is, and each of the Notes when delivered hereunder will be, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be affected by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity, whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(e) The Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2024, and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, accompanied by an opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm, and the Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at March 31, 2025, and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the three months then ended, each as filed with the SEC, copies of which have been furnished to each Lender, fairly present, in all material respects, subject, in the case of said balance sheet as at March 31, 2025, and said statements of income and cash flows for the three months then ended, to year-end audit adjustments, the Consolidated financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at such dates and the Consolidated results of the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods ended on such dates all in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. Since December 31, 2024, there has been no Material Adverse Change, except as disclosed prior to the Effective Date in any report of the Company on form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K filed with the SEC or otherwise publicly disclosed prior to the Effective Date.
(f) There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding, including, without limitation, any Environmental Action, affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Litigation), except as disclosed prior to the Effective Date in any report of the Company on form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K filed with the SEC or otherwise publicly disclosed prior to the Effective Date or (ii) purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any Note or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(g) The Company is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Federal Reserve Board), and no proceeds of any Advance will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock. Following application of the proceeds of each Advance, not more than 25 percent of the value of the assets (either of the Company only or of the Company and the Designated Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis) that are subject to a restriction on sale, pledge, or disposal under this Agreement will be represented by margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Federal Reserve Board).
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(h) The Company is not an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(i) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect except as disclosed prior to the Effective Date in any report of the Company on form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K filed with the SEC or otherwise publicly disclosed prior to the Effective Date, (i) the operations and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits, (ii) all past non-compliance with such Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits has been resolved or is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and (iii) no circumstances exist that would be reasonably likely to form the basis of an Environmental Action against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties.
(j) Neither the Information Memorandum nor any other information, exhibit or report furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation and syndication of this Agreement or pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, taken as a whole, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, when taken as a whole, not materially misleading solely at the time made (which if after the Effective Date will be made after giving effect to all supplements thereto); provided that with respect to projected financial information, the Company represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that such projected financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company and that no assurances can be given that such projections will be realized).
(k) None of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors or officers or, to the knowledge of the Company, their employees or authorized agents that will act in any capacity in connection with or directly benefit from the credit facility established hereby is (i) in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) a Sanctioned Person or (iii) operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, except in the case of (ii) or (iii) to the extent licensed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States or otherwise permissible under U.S. law. No Borrowing will be made with the intent of using the proceeds thereof in a manner that would violate applicable Anti-Corruption Laws or Sanctions.
Article
V
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants. So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid, or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Company will:
(a) Compliance with Laws, Etc. Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include, without limitation, compliance with ERISA, Environmental Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws and the Patriot Act except in each case to the extent that the failure to so comply would not reasonably
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be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and maintain in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to effect compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
(b) Payment of Taxes, Etc. (a) Pay and discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its property and (ii) all lawful claims that, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon its property; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim (A) that is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP or (B) if such failure to pay or discharge such obligations and liabilities would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (b) timely and accurately file all federal, state and other material Tax returns required to be filed, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so.
(c) Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries (other than Immaterial Subsidiaries) to maintain, reasonable insurance as determined in the Company’s good faith business judgment, the failure of which to maintain could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and which, to the extent consistent with good business practices, such insurance may be provided by the Company through its program of self-insurance.
(d) Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc. Preserve and maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to preserve and maintain, its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company and its Subsidiaries may consummate any merger or consolidation permitted under Section 5.02(b) and provided further that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any right or franchise or the existence of any Subsidiary if the preservation thereof is no longer material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(e) Visitation Rights. Prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, no more than once per calendar year, upon reasonable notice and from time to time, permit the Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof (at their sole cost and expense), to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of, the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries with any of their officers or directors and with their independent certified public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, none of the Company nor any Subsidiary will be required to disclose or permit the inspection or discussion of, any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Law or any binding agreement or (iii) that is subject to attorney client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product.
(f) Keeping of Books. Keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record, and account of the Company and each such Subsidiary in accordance with, and to the extent required by, generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time.
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(g) Maintenance of Properties, Etc. Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Transactions with Affiliates. Conduct, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to conduct, all transactions otherwise permitted under this Agreement with any of their Affiliates on terms that are fair and reasonable and no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary in any material respect than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate, provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (i) transactions between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (ii) indemnification agreements, (iii) employee agreements or other compensation or bonus arrangements, (iv) management or board fees and (v) dividends to securityholders.
(i) Reporting Requirements. Furnish to the Lenders:
(i) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter, duly certified (subject to year-end audit adjustments) by the chief financial officer, treasurer or other responsible financial officer of the Company as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and certificates of the chief financial officer, treasurer or other responsible financial officer of the Company as to such responsible officer’s knowledge after due inquiry of any Default and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations necessary to demonstrate compliance with Section 5.03;
(ii) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a copy of the annual audit report for such year for the Company and its Subsidiaries, containing the Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, in each case accompanied by an opinion unqualified as to scope and going concern (other than any such exception, explanatory paragraph or qualification that is expressly solely with respect to, or expressly resulting solely from, (i) an upcoming maturity date under this Agreement that is scheduled to occur within one year from the time such report and opinion are delivered or (ii) any potential inability to satisfy the financial covenant set forth in Section 5.03 of this Agreement on a future date or in a future period) by an independent public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Company and certificates of the chief financial officer, treasurer or other responsible financial officer of the Company as to such responsible officer’s knowledge after due inquiry of any Default and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations necessary to demonstrate compliance with Section 5.03;
(iii) as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the chief financial officer, treasurer or other responsible financial officer of the Company obtains
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knowledge of the occurrence of any Default continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of a responsible officer of the Company setting forth details of such Default and the action that the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(iv) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all quarterly and annual reports and proxy solicitations that the Company sends to its public securityholders, and copies of all reports on Form 8-K (or their equivalents) and registration statements for the public offering of securities that the Company or any Subsidiary files with the SEC or any national securities exchange;
(v) promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of all actions and proceedings before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the type described in Section 4.01(f); and
(vi) such other financial or “know your customer” information respecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as any Lender through the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
Financial reports required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) above shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such report is posted on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and such posting shall be deemed to satisfy the financial reporting requirements of clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) above, provided, that, in each instance the Company shall provide all other reports and certificates required to be delivered under this Section 5.01(i) in the manner set forth in Section 9.02.
SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants. So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid, or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Company will not:
(a) Liens, Etc. Create or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to assign, any right to receive income, other than:
(i) Permitted Liens,
(ii) purchase money Liens upon or in any assets acquired or held by the Company or any Subsidiary to secure the purchase price of such assets or to secure Debt incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition, improvement or construction of such assets (including any Liens placed on such assets within 180 days after the latest of the acquisition, completion of construction or improvement of such assets), or Liens existing on such assets at the time of its acquisition (other than any such Liens created in contemplation of such acquisition that were not incurred to finance the acquisition of such assets) or extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing for the same or a lesser amount, provided, however, that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any assets of any character other than the assets being acquired, improved or constructed and no such extension, renewal or replacement shall extend to or cover any assets not theretofore subject to the Lien being extended, renewed or replaced, provided further that
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the aggregate principal amount of the indebtedness secured by the Liens referred to in this clause (ii) shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding,
(iii) the Liens existing on the date hereof securing Debt (other than Debt in respect of finance leases) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $50,000,000,
(iv) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is acquired by, merged into or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or becomes a Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were not created in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person so merged into or consolidated with the Company or such Subsidiary or acquired by the Company or such Subsidiary,
(v) Liens securing Debt owing by any Subsidiary of the Company to the Company,
(vi) Liens securing Debt of Subsidiaries of the Company organized under the laws of any country other than the United States of America or a State thereof,
(vii) Liens created under any finance lease on the assets that are the subject of such lease,
(viii) Liens securing obligations under this Agreement,
(ix) other Liens securing Debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, together with the aggregate amount of Subsidiary Debt incurred in accordance with Section 5.02(c)(vi), at any time outstanding, the greater of (i) $2,500,000,000 and (ii) 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, and
(x) the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clause (iii) or (iv) above upon or in the same property theretofore subject thereto, so long as the principal amount of Debt secured by any such Lien is not increased in connection with any such replacement, extension or renewal of the Debt secured thereby.
(b) Mergers, Etc. Merge or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to, any Person, or permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than its Immaterial Subsidiaries) to do so, except that (i) any Subsidiary of the Company may merge or consolidate with or into, or dispose of assets to, any other Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company may merge into or dispose of assets to the Company and (iii) the Company may merge with any other Person so long as the Company is the surviving corporation, provided, in each case, that no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such proposed transaction or would result therefrom.
(c) Subsidiary Debt. Permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Debt other than:
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(i) Debt owed to the Company or to a Subsidiary of the Company or Debt owed under this Agreement,
(ii) Debt existing on the date that is described on Schedule 5.02(c) hereto or the principal or face amount of which does not exceed $10,000,000 individually or $25,000,000 in the aggregate (the “Existing Debt”), and any Debt extending the maturity of, or refunding, refinancing, modifying or amending, in whole or in part, the Existing Debt, provided that the principal amount of such Existing Debt shall not be increased above the principal amount thereof outstanding immediately prior to such extension, refunding or refinancing, as a result of or in connection with such extension, refunding or refinancing,
(iii) guarantees of Debt of the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company,
(iv) obligations of any Subsidiary of the Company under any Hedge Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;
(v) endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business, and
(vi) other Debt (including guarantees of any Person other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) aggregating for all of the Company’s Subsidiaries, together with Debt secured by Liens permitted under Section 5.02(a)(ix), an amount not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of (i) $2,500,000,000 and (ii) 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
(d) Change in Nature of Business. Make any material change in the nature of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as carried on at the date hereof.
(e) Use of Proceeds. Use, or permit any other Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to use, directly, or to its or their knowledge, indirectly, or permit any of their respective directors, officers, employees or authorized agents to use, the proceeds of any Advance to fund any activities or business (i) in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) of or with any Sanctioned Person or (iii) in, or with the government of, any Sanctioned Country, except in the case of (ii) or (iii) to the extent permitted for a Person required to comply with Sanctions, or (iv) in any manner that would result in violation of Sanctions applicable to any Party hereto.
SECTION 5.03. Financial Covenant. So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Company will maintain, as at the end of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of Consolidated Debt for Borrowed Money to Consolidated Total Capital of not greater than 0.60 to 1.00.
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Article VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur and be continuing:
(a) The Company or any other Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance when the same becomes due and payable; or the Company or any other Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Advance or make any other payment of fees or other amounts payable under this Agreement or any Note within five days after the same becomes due and payable; or
(b) Any representation or warranty made by any Borrower herein or by any Borrower (or any of its officers) in connection with this Agreement or by any Designated Subsidiary in the Designation Agreement pursuant to which such Designated Subsidiary became a Borrower hereunder shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made; or
(c) (i) The Company shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 5.01(d) (with respect to the Company or any Borrower only), 5.01(i) (other than clauses (v) and (vi) thereof), 5.02 or 5.03, or (ii) the Company shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Company by the Agent or any Lender; or
(d) The Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Debt that is outstanding in a principal or net amount of at least $250,000,000 in the aggregate (but excluding Debt outstanding hereunder) of the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be), 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 Debt; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Debt and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Debt; or any such Debt shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Debt shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or
(e) The Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any of its Immaterial Subsidiaries) shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any of its Immaterial Subsidiaries) seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy,
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insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any of its Immaterial Subsidiaries) shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e); or
(f) Judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $250,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be any period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; provided, however, that any such judgment or order shall not be an Event of Default under this Section 6.01(f) if and for so long as (i) the amount of such judgment or order is covered by a valid and binding policy of insurance between the defendant and the insurer covering payment thereof and (ii) such insurer, which shall be rated at least “A-” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of, and has not disputed the claim made for payment of, the amount of such judgment or order or (iii) such judgment or order shall have been paid; or
(g) (i) Any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Effective Date) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of Voting Stock of the Company (or other securities convertible into such Voting Stock) representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of all Voting Stock of the Company; or (ii) during any period of up to 12 consecutive months, commencing after the date of this Agreement, individuals who at the beginning of such 12-month period were directors of the Company shall cease for any reason (other than due to death or disability) to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Company (except to the extent that individuals who at the beginning of such 12-month period were replaced by individuals (x) elected by a majority of the remaining members of the board of directors of the Company or (y) nominated for election by a majority of the remaining members of the board of directors of the Company and thereafter elected as directors by the shareholders of the Company); or
(h) The Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates shall incur, or shall be reasonably likely to incur liability in excess of $250,000,000 in the aggregate as a result of one or more of the following: (i) the occurrence of any ERISA Event; (ii) the partial or complete withdrawal of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan; or (iii) the reorganization or termination of a Multiemployer Plan; or
(i) so long as any Subsidiary of the Company is a Designated Subsidiary, any provision of Article VII shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the Company, or the Company shall so state in writing;
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then, and in any such event, the Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrowers, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrowers, declare the Advances, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Borrower; provided, however, that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Company or any other Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances shall automatically be terminated and (B) the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Borrower.
Article
VII
GUARANTY
SECTION 7.01. Unconditional Guaranty. The Company hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at scheduled maturity or on any date of a required prepayment or by acceleration, demand or otherwise, of all obligations of each other Borrower now or hereafter existing under or in respect of this Agreement and the Notes (including, without limitation, any extensions, modifications, substitutions, amendments or renewals of any or all of the foregoing obligations), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether for principal, interest, premiums, fees, indemnities, contract causes of action, costs, expenses or otherwise (such obligations being the “Guaranteed Obligations”), and agrees to pay any and all expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by the Agent or any Lender pursuant to the terms hereof in enforcing any rights under this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company’s liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of the Guaranteed Obligations and would be owed by such Borrower to the Agent or any Lender under or in respect of this Agreement and the Notes but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving such Borrower.
SECTION 7.02. Guaranty Absolute. The Company guarantees that the Guaranteed Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of the Agent or any Lender with respect thereto. The obligations of the Company under or in respect of this Guaranty are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other obligations of any other Borrower under or in respect of this Agreement and the Notes, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Company to enforce this Guaranty, irrespective of whether any action is brought against any Borrower or whether any Borrower is joined in any such action or actions. The liability of the Company under this Guaranty shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional irrespective of, and the Company hereby irrevocably waives any defenses (other than payment in full of the
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Obligations) it may now have or hereafter acquire in any way relating to, any or all of the following:
(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Note or any agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other obligations of any Borrower under or in respect of this Agreement and the Notes, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from this Agreement or any Note, including, without limitation, any increase in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from the extension of additional credit to any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise;
(c) any taking, exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any taking, release or amendment or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any other guaranty, for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(d) any manner of application of any collateral, or proceeds thereof, to all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any manner of sale or other disposition of any collateral for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other obligations of any Borrower under this Agreement and the Notes or any other assets of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(f) any failure of the Agent or any Lender to disclose to the Company any information relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of any Borrower now or hereafter known to the Agent or such Lender (the Company waiving any duty on the part of the Agent and the Lenders to disclose such information);
(g) the failure of any other Person to execute or deliver this Guaranty or any other guaranty or agreement or the release or reduction of liability of the Company or other guarantor or surety with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations; or
(h) any other circumstance (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations) or any existence of or reliance on any representation by the Agent or any Lender that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Borrower or any other guarantor or surety.
This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Agent or any Lender or any other Person upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.
SECTION 7.03. Waivers and Acknowledgments. (a) The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance, presentment, demand for performance, notice of nonperformance, default, acceleration, protest
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or dishonor and any other notice with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations and this Guaranty and any requirement that the Agent or any Lender protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien or any property subject thereto or exhaust any right or take any action against any Borrower or any other Person or any collateral.
(b) The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any right to revoke this Guaranty and acknowledges that this Guaranty is continuing in nature and applies to all Guaranteed Obligations, whether existing now or in the future.
(c) The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives (i) any defense arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by the Agent or any Lender that in any manner impairs, reduces, releases or otherwise adversely affects the subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification rights of the Company or other rights of the Company to proceed against any Borrower, any other guarantor or any other Person or any collateral and (ii) any defense based on any right of set-off or counterclaim against or in respect of the obligations of the Company hereunder.
(d) The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any duty on the part of the Agent or any Lender to disclose to the Company any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries now or hereafter known by the Agent or such Lender.
(e) The Company acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Agreement and the Notes and that the waivers set forth in Section 7.02 and this Section 7.03 are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
SECTION 7.04. Subrogation. The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees not to exercise any rights that it may now have or hereafter acquire against any Borrower or any other insider guarantor that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the Company’s obligations under or in respect of this Guaranty, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Agent or any Lender against any Borrower or any other insider guarantor or any collateral, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any Borrower or any other insider guarantor, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right, unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty shall have been paid in full in cash, and the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated. If any amount shall be paid to the Company in violation of the immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to the later of (a) the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty and (b) the Termination Date, such amount shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, shall be segregated from other property and funds of the Company and shall forthwith be paid or delivered to the Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or assignment) to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty, whether matured or
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unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes, or to be held as collateral for any Guaranteed Obligations or other amounts payable under this Guaranty thereafter arising. If (i) the Company shall make payment to the Agent or any Lender of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty shall have been paid in full in cash and (iii) the Termination Date shall have occurred, the Agent and the Lenders will, at the Company’s request and expense, execute and deliver to the Company appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to the Company of an interest in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from such payment made by the Company pursuant to this Guaranty.
SECTION 7.05. Subordination. The Company hereby subordinates any and all debts, liabilities and other obligations owed to the Company by any Borrower (the “Subordinated Obligations”) to the Guaranteed Obligations to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Section 7.05:
(a) Prohibited Payments, Etc. Except during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a) or (e) (including the commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law relating to such Borrower), the Company may receive regularly scheduled payments from such Borrower on account of the Subordinated Obligations. After the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section 6.01(a) or (e) (including the commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law relating to such Borrower), however, unless the Required Lenders otherwise agree, the Company shall not demand, accept or take any action to collect any payment on account of the Subordinated Obligations.
(b) Prior Payment of Guaranteed Obligations. In any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law relating to such Borrower, the Company agrees that the Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of all Guaranteed Obligations (including all interest and expenses accruing after the commencement of a proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law, whether or not constituting an allowed claim in such proceeding (“Post-Petition Interest”)) before the Company receives payment of any Subordinated Obligations.
(c) Turn-Over. After the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section 6.01(a) or (e) (including the commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law relating to such Borrower), the Company shall, if the Agent so requests, collect, enforce and receive payments on account of the Subordinated Obligations as trustee for the Agent and the Lenders and deliver such payments to the Agent on account of the Guaranteed Obligations (including all Post-Petition Interest), together with any necessary endorsements or other instruments of transfer, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of the Company under the other provisions of this Guaranty.
(d) Agent Authorization. After the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section 6.01(a) or (e) (including the commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law relating to such Borrower), the Agent is authorized and empowered (but without any obligation to so do), in its discretion, (i) in the name of the Company, to collect and enforce, and to submit claims in respect of, Subordinated Obligations
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and to apply any amounts received thereon to the Guaranteed Obligations (including any and all Post-Petition Interest), and (ii) to require the Company (A) to collect and enforce, and to submit claims in respect of, Subordinated Obligations and (B) to pay any amounts received on such obligations to the Agent for application to the Guaranteed Obligations (including any and all Post-Petition Interest).
SECTION 7.06. Continuing Guaranty; Assignments. This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until the later of (i) the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty and (ii) the Termination Date, (b) be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns and (c) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Agent and the Lenders and their successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of clause (c) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Agent or any Lender may assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or any portion of its Commitments, the Advances owing to it and the Note or Notes held by it) to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to the Agent or such Lender herein or otherwise, in each case as and to the extent provided in Section 9.07.
Article
VIII
THE AGENT
SECTION 8.01. Authorization and Authority. Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints JPMorgan to act on its behalf as the Agent hereunder and authorizes the Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, and none of the Borrowers shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions, nor shall any of such provisions impair or otherwise affect any rights of the Borrowers under this Agreement. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein (or any other similar term) with reference to the 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 8.02. Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the 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 Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
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SECTION 8.03. Exculpatory Provisions. (a) The Agent’s duties hereunder are solely ministerial and administrative in nature and the Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agent:
(i) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(ii) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the 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), provided that the Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its reasonable opinion or the reasonable opinion of its counsel, may expose the Agent or any of its Affiliates to liability or that is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any debtor relief law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any debtor relief law; and
(iii) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Company or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
(b) The Agent shall not be liable to the Lenders for any action taken or not taken by it (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 Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 9.01 or 6.01) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or the event or events that give or may give rise to any Default unless and until the Company or any Lender shall have given written notice to the Agent describing such Default and such event or events.
(c) The Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty, representation or other information made or supplied in or in connection with this Agreement or the Information Memorandum, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith or the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of the information contained therein, (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 or any other agreement, instrument or document or the perfection of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created hereby (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article III or elsewhere herein, other than (but subject to the foregoing clause (ii)) to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Agent.
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(d) Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Agent or any of its Related Parties to carry out any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or any of its Related Parties.
SECTION 8.04. Reliance by Agent. The 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 Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and reasonably 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 an Advance that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless an officer of the Agent responsible for the transactions contemplated hereby shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Advance, and in the case of a Borrowing, such Lender shall not have made available to the Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing. The Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrowers), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable to the Lenders for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
SECTION 8.05. Delegation of Duties. The Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Agent. The 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. Each such sub-agent and the Related Parties of the Agent and each such sub-agent shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article VIII and Section 9.04 (as though such sub-agents were the “Agent” hereunder) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto. Each such sub-agent and the Related Parties of the Agent and each such sub-agent shall be subject to the duties and obligations of all provisions of this Agreement (as though such sub-agents were the “Agent” hereunder) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.
SECTION 8.06. Resignation of Agent. (a) The Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Company. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Company and (unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing) with the consent of the Company (which consent of the Company shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in New York, New York. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.
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(b) If the Person serving as Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Company and such Person remove such Person as Agent and, in consultation with the Company and (unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing) with the consent of the Company (which consent of the Company shall not 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 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Agent on behalf of the Lenders hereunder, the retiring or removed Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Agent), and the retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Company to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Company and such successor. After the retiring or removed Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder, the provisions of this Article VIII and Section 9.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Agent was acting as Agent.
SECTION 8.07. Acknowledgements of Lenders. (a) Each Lender represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender in the ordinary course of business and is making the Advances hereunder as commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and, 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), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Advances hereunder and (iv) 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. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will,
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independently and without reliance upon the Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Company and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.
(c) (i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Agent notifies such Lender that the Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the 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, return to the 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 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 Agent at the greater of the applicable Overnight Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the 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 Agent to any Lender under this Section 8.07(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(ii) Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the 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 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 Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the 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 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 Agent at the greater of the applicable Overnight Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
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(iii) Each 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 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 hereunder by any Borrower.
(iv) Each party’s obligations under this Section 8.07(c) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the 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) 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 Borrowers) between the Borrowers and their Affiliates, on the one hand, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and its Affiliates, on the other hand. Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrowers or their Affiliates may provide information, including updates to previously provided information to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and 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 Agent herein or in any other Loan Document, the 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 Advances, the Lenders, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Borrowers or any of their respective Affiliates that is communicated to, obtained by, or in the possession of, the Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity, including any information obtained by the Agent in the course of communications among the Agent and any 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 Agent with one or more Lenders, or any formal or informal committee or ad hoc group of such Lenders, including at the direction of a Borrower.
SECTION 8.08. No Other Duties, etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Persons acting as Bookrunners, Arrangers, syndication agents or documentation agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Agent or as a Lender hereunder.
SECTION 8.09. 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 Agent and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Company or any other Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
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(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 Advances or the Commitments or this Agreement,
(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 Advances, 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 Advances, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Advances, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (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 Advances, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the 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 Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Agent is not 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 Advances, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
A used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“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 and subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or
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otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“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.
Article
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.01. Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, nor consent to any departure by any Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by (x) all the Lenders, do any of the following: (a) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01, (b) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances, or the number of Lenders, in each case, that shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder, or (c) amend this Section 9.01 or (y) each Lender directly affected thereby, do any of the following: (a) increase or extend the Commitments of such Lender, (b) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (c) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (d) release the Company from any of its obligations under Article VII or (e) change Section 2.15 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby; and provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this Agreement or any Note.
SECTION 9.02. Notices, Etc. (a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows:
(i) if to the Company or to any Designated Subsidiary, to each of:
c/o Corning Incorporated
One Riverfront Plaza
Corning, NY 14831
Facsimile number (607) 974-6686
Telephone number: (607) 974-9000
Attention: Secretary
c/o Corning Incorporated
One Riverfront Plaza
Corning, NY 14831
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Telephone number: (607) 974-5324
Attention: Jenny Weidright
Email: [email protected]
c/o Corning Incorporated
One Riverfront Plaza
Corning, NY 14831
Telephone number: (607) 368-2236
Attention: Stephen Fowler
Email: [email protected]
c/o Corning Incorporated
One Riverfront Plaza
Corning, NY 14831
Telephone number: (607) 248-4492
Attention: Stephen Propper
Email: [email protected]
(ii) if to the Agent, to the address or addresses separately provided to the Company; and
(iii) if to a Lender, to it at its address (or facsimile number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile 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 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 Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Agent or the Borrowers may, in their discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the 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), 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
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communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c) Change of Address, etc. Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
(d) Platform.
(i) The Borrowers agree that the Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Communications (as defined below) available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”).
(ii) The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of the Platform and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, 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 Communications or the Platform. In no event shall the Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Borrower’s or the Agent’s transmission of communications through the Platform. “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material that any Borrower provides to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein which is distributed by the Agent to any Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section 9.02, including through the Platform.
SECTION 9.03. No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of any Lender or the Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
SECTION 9.04. Costs and Expenses; Damage Waiver. (a) The Company agrees to pay on demand all reasonable costs and expenses of the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification and amendment of this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, (A) all due diligence, syndication (including printing, distribution and bank meetings), transportation, computer, duplication, appraisal, consultant, and audit expenses and (B) the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under this Agreement. The Company
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further agrees to pay on demand all out of pocket costs and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders, if any (including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees and expenses), in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent and each Lender in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 9.04(a).
(b) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and each Lender and each of their Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and advisors (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or preparation of a defense in connection therewith) (i) the Notes, this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances or (ii) the actual or alleged presence of Hazardous Materials on any property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Environmental Action relating in any way to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability or expense is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates or Related Parties. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 9.04(b) applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Company, its directors, equityholders or creditors or an Indemnified Party or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company agrees to pay any civil penalty or fine assessed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) against, and all costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented counsel fees and disbursements) incurred in connection with the defense thereof by, the Agent or any Lender solely as a result of conduct of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that violates a sanction enforced by OFAC.
(c) If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Term Benchmark Advance or a SONIA Advance is made by any Borrower to or for the account of a Lender (i) other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance, or in the case of a SONIA Advance, other than on an Interest Payment Date, as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.10, 2.18 or 2.22, acceleration of the maturity of the Notes pursuant to Section 6.01 or for any other reason, or by an Eligible Assignee to a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period or Interest Payment Date (as applicable) for such Advance upon an assignment of rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.07 as a result of a demand by the Company pursuant to Section 9.07(a) or (ii) as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.10 or 2.22, the applicable Borrower shall, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that it may reasonably incur as a result of such payment or Conversion, including, without limitation, any loss (excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to
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fund or maintain such Advance. If the amount of the Alternative Currency purchased by any Lender in the case of a Conversion or exchange of Advances in the case of Section 2.08 or 2.22 exceeds the sum required to satisfy such Lender’s liability in respect of such Advances, such Lender agrees to remit to the Company such excess.
(d) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrowers hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrowers contained in Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 9.04 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the Notes.
(e) Each Lender severally agrees to indemnify the Agent (to the extent not promptly reimbursed by the Company) from and against such Lender’s Ratable Share of any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, disbursements and expenses, joint or several, of any kind or nature (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any advisor or counsel for such Person that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agent, in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Agent hereunder; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, disbursements or expenses resulting from the Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Agent for its Ratable Share of any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) payable by the Company under Section 9.04(a), to the extent that the Agent is not promptly reimbursed for such costs and expenses by the Company.
(f) The Company agrees not to assert any claim for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages against the Agent, any Lender, any of their Affiliates, or any of their respective Related Parties, on any theory of liability, arising out of or otherwise relating to the Notes, this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances. None of the Agent, any Lender, any of their Affiliates, or any of their respective Related Parties shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it 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.
SECTION 9.05. Right of Set-off. Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and (ii) the making of the request or the granting of the consent specified by Section 6.01 to authorize the Agent to declare the Advances due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, but not deposits in fiduciary accounts and payroll accounts) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Company or any Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Company or any Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the Note held by such Lender, whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such Note and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the appropriate Borrower after any such set-
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off and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender and its Affiliates under this Section 9.05 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender and its Affiliates may have.
SECTION 9.06. Binding Effect. (a) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Agent and when the Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.
(b) Electronic Execution. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 9.02), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), 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; provided that nothing herein shall require the Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Company or any other Borrower without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic signature and (ii) upon the request of the Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company and each Borrower hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrowers, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (B) the Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an
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original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (C) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (D) waives any claim against the Agent, any Lender or any of Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons for any liabilities arising solely from the Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Company and/or any Borrower to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.
SECTION 9.07. Assignments and Participations. (a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Company nor any other Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the 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 paragraph (b) of this Section 9.07, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section 9.07, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of paragraph (e) of this Section 9.07 (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 paragraph (d) of this Section 9.07 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Advances at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Advances at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section 9.07, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Advances outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Advances 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 Agent or, if
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“Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $10,000,000, unless each of the Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Advance or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis.
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section 9.07 and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment, or (y) such assignment is to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender; provided that the Company shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Agent within fifteen Business Days after having received notice thereof in accordance with Section 9.02; and
(B) the consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any assignment to a Person that is not a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender.
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (the “Assignment Fee”) (which shall not be payable by the Company); provided that the Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment; provided further, that, for the avoidance of doubt, in the event of an assignment required to be made pursuant to Section 2.21, the Assignment Fee shall not be payable by the assignor Lender. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B).
(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, a natural Person.
(vii) 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
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parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Company and the Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Advances 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 Agent and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Advances in accordance with its Ratable Share. 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 Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 9.07, 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 2.11, 2.14 and 9.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph 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 paragraph (d) of this Section 9.07.
(c) Register. The Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices in Newark, Delaware 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 Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Advances 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 Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Company 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 Company or the Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than the Company, any of the Company’s Affiliates, any natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person, any Defaulting Lender)
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(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 its Commitment and/or the Advances owing to it); 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 Borrowers, the Agent, and Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 9.04(e) with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participant(s).
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, modification or waiver with respect to matters described in the first proviso of Section 9.01 that affects such Participant. The Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11, 2.14 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.14(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.14(f) shall be delivered by the Participant to the participating Lender)) and 9.04(c) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 9.07; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.11(a), 2.14(g) and 2.21 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section 9.07; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.11 or 2.14, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Company’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.21 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.05 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.15 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, 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 Advances or other obligations under this Agreement (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 commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under this Agreement) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(b) (or any amended or successor version). 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 Agent (in its capacity as Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
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(e) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank having jurisdiction over it; 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 9.08. Confidentiality. Neither the Agent nor any Lender may disclose to any Person any Company Information (as defined below), except that each of the Agent and each of the Lenders may disclose Company Information (a) to its and its Affiliates’ respective managers, administrators, trustees, partners, employees, officers, directors, agents, representatives and advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Company Information and such person shall have agreed to keep such Company Information confidential on substantially the same terms as provided herein), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it or its Affiliates (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners provided that, to the extent legal and practicable and except in the case of routine audits or examinations conducted by bank accountants or governmental bank regulatory authorities, the Company is given prompt written notice of such requirement or request prior to such disclosure and assistance in obtaining an order protecting such information from public disclosure), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process or requested by any self-regulatory authority, provided that, to the extent legal and practicable, the Company is given prompt written notice of such requirement or request prior to such disclosure and assistance in obtaining an order protecting such information from such disclosure, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) 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, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 9.08 to (i) any assignee of or participant in, or any prospective assignee of or participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its managers, administrators, trustees, partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, insurers and other representatives) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Company and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (iii) any rating agency, or (iv) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar organization, (g) to the extent such Company Information (i) is or becomes generally available to the public on a non-confidential basis other than as a result of a breach of this Section 9.08 by the Agent or such Lender or a third party that is not, to the knowledge of the Agent or such Lender, in breach of such third party’s obligations of confidentiality or (ii) is or becomes available to the Agent or such Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company and not, to the knowledge of the Agent or such Lender, in breach of such third party’s obligations of confidentiality and (h) with the written consent of the Company. In addition, the Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Agent or the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Commitments.
For purposes of this Section 9.08, “Company Information” means all proprietary or non-public information received from the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
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Related Parties relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Company Information as provided in this Section 9.08 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Company Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 9.08 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 (any such entity, a “Regulatory Authority”) to the extent that any such prohibition on disclosure set forth in this Section 9.08 shall be prohibited by the laws or regulations applicable to such Regulatory Authority.
SECTION 9.09. Designated Subsidiaries. (a) Designation. The Company may at any time, and from time to time, upon not less than 10 Business Days’ notice, notify the Agent that the Company intends to designate a Subsidiary as a “Designated Subsidiary” for purposes of this Agreement. On or after the date that is 10 Business Days after such notice, upon delivery to the Agent and each Lender of a Designation Agreement duly executed by the Company and the respective Subsidiary and substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, such Subsidiary shall thereupon become a “Designated Subsidiary” for purposes of this Agreement and, as such, shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Borrower hereunder. The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Company’s notice of such pending designation by the Company and the identity of the respective Subsidiary. Following the giving of any notice pursuant to this Section 9.09(a), if the designation of such Designated Subsidiary obligates the Agent or any Lender to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures (including without limitation the Beneficial Ownership Regulation) in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Company shall, promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender, supply such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent or any Lender in order for the Agent or such Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with the results of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations.
If the Company shall designate as a Borrower hereunder any Subsidiary not organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, any Lender may, with notice to the Agent and the Company, fulfill its Commitment by causing an Affiliate of such Lender organized in the same jurisdiction as such Designated Subsidiary or another foreign jurisdiction agreed to by such Lender and the Company, to act as the Lender in respect of such Designated Subsidiary.
As soon as practicable after receiving notice from the Company or the Agent of the Company’s intent to designate a Subsidiary as a Designated Subsidiary, and in any event no later than five Business Days after the delivery of such notice, for a Designated Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, any Lender that may not legally lend to, establish credit for the account of and/or do any business whatsoever with such Designated Subsidiary directly or through an Affiliate of such Lender as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph (a “Protesting Lender”) shall so notify the Company and the Agent in writing. With respect to each Protesting
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Lender, the Company shall, effective on or before the date that such Designated Subsidiary shall have the right to borrow hereunder, either (A) notify the Agent and such Protesting Lender that the Commitments of such Protesting Lender shall be terminated or assigned to a Lender or an Eligible Assignee that is not a Protesting Lender; provided that such Protesting Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company or the relevant Designated Subsidiary (in the case of all other amounts), or (B) cancel its request to designate such Subsidiary as a “Designated Subsidiary” hereunder.
(b) Termination. Upon the payment and performance in full of all of the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations under this Agreement of any Designated Subsidiary then, so long as at the time no Notice of Borrowing in respect of such Designated Subsidiary is outstanding and upon Company’s request, such Subsidiary’s status as a “Designated Subsidiary” shall terminate upon notice to such effect from the Agent to the Lenders (which notice the Agent shall give promptly, and only upon its receipt of a request therefor from the Company). Thereafter, the Lenders shall be under no further obligation to make any Advance hereunder to such Designated Subsidiary.
SECTION 9.10. Governing Law. This Agreement and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 9.11. Judgment. (a) If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in Dollars into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Agent could purchase Dollars with such other currency at JPMorgan’s principal office in London at 11:00 A.M. (London time) on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given.
(b) If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in an Alternative Currency into Dollars, the parties agree to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Agent could purchase such Alternative Currency with Dollars at JPMorgan’s principal office in London at 11:00 A.M. (London time) on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given.
(c) The obligation of any Borrower in respect of any sum due from it in any currency (the “Primary Currency”) to any Lender or the Agent hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in any other currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be), of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency, such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the applicable Primary Currency with such other currency; if the amount of the applicable Primary Currency so purchased is less than such sum due to such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) in the applicable Primary Currency, each Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) against such loss, and if the amount of the applicable Primary Currency so purchased exceeds such sum due to any Lender or the Agent (as
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the case may be) in the applicable Primary Currency, such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) agrees to remit to such Borrower such excess.
SECTION 9.12. Jurisdiction, Etc. (a) Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Agent, any Lender or any Related Party of the foregoing in any way relating to this Agreement or any Note or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York sitting in New York County, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Each Designated Subsidiary hereby agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding brought in the any such New York State court or in such federal court may be made upon the Company at its address set forth in Section 9.02 and each such Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints the Company its authorized agent to accept such service of process, and agrees that the failure of the Company to give any notice of any such service shall not impair or affect the validity of such service or of any judgment rendered in any action or proceeding based thereon. The parties hereto hereby further irrevocably consent to the service of process in any action or proceeding in such courts by the mailing thereof by any parties hereto by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to their respective addresses specified pursuant to Section 9.02. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. To the extent that each Designated Subsidiary has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, each Designated Subsidiary hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes in any New York State or federal court. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
SECTION 9.13. Substitution of Currency. If a change in any Alternative Currency occurs pursuant to any applicable law, rule or regulation of any governmental, monetary or multi-national authority, this Agreement will be amended to the extent determined by the Agent (acting reasonably and in consultation with the Company) to be necessary to reflect the change in currency and to put the Lenders and the Borrowers in the same position, so far as possible, that they would have been in if no change in such Alternative Currency had occurred.
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SECTION 9.14. Patriot Act Notice. Each Lender and the Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies each Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Borrower, which information includes the name and address of each Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Agent, as applicable, to identify each Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation. Each Borrower shall provide such information and take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Agent or any Lenders in order to assist the Agent and the Lenders in maintaining compliance with the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
SECTION 9.15. Power of Attorney. Each Subsidiary of the Company may from time to time authorize and appoint the Company as its attorney-in-fact to execute and deliver (a) any amendment, waiver or consent in accordance with Section 9.01 on behalf of and in the name of such Subsidiary and (b) any notice or other communication hereunder, on behalf of and in the name of such Subsidiary. Such authorization shall become effective as of the date on which such Subsidiary delivers to the Agent a power of attorney enforceable under applicable law and any additional information to the Agent as necessary to make such power of attorney the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Subsidiary.
SECTION 9.16. No Fiduciary Duties. Each Borrower agrees that in connection with all aspects of the transactions contemplated hereby and any communications in connection therewith, such Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Agent, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates, on the other hand, will have a business relationship that does not create, by implication or otherwise, any fiduciary duty on the part of the Agent, the Lenders and or respective Affiliates and no such duty will be deemed to have arisen in connection with any such transactions or communications.
SECTION 9.17. 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; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such
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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.
SECTION 9.18. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.19. Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrowers is made to the Agent or any Lender, or the Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any debtor relief law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
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SECTION 9.20. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Company, each other Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders hereby irrevocably waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes or the actions of the Agent or any Lender in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.
| CORNING INCORPORATED | |||
| By: | /s/ Stephen C. Propper | ||
| Name: Stephen C. Propper | |||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | |||
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., | |||
| as Agent and a Lender | |||
| By: | /s/ Melanie George | ||
| Name: Melanie George | |||
| Title: Vice President | |||
[Signature Page to Corning Credit Agreement (2025)]
| Lenders | |||
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. | |||
| By: | /s/ Erhlich Bautista | ||
| Name: Erhlich Bautista | |||
| Title: Director | |||
| BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH |
|||
| By: | /s/ Raymond Qiao | ||
| Name: Raymond Qiao | |||
| Title: Executive Vice President | |||
| BNP PARIBAS | |||
| By: | /s/ Nicolas Doche | ||
| Name: Nicolas Doche | |||
| Title: Vice President | |||
| By: | /s/ Valentin Detry | ||
| Name: Valentin Detry | |||
| Title: Vice President | |||
| COMMERZBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH |
|||
| By: | /s/ Maurice Kiefer | ||
| Name: Maurice Kiefer | |||
| Title: Director | |||
| By: | /s/ Jeff Sullivan | ||
| Name: Jeff Sullivan | |||
| Title: Director | |||
| GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA | |||
| By: | /s/ Dan Starr | ||
| Name: Dan Starr | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
[Signature Page to Corning Credit Agreement (2025)]
| MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A. | |||
| By: | /s/ Michael King | ||
| Name: Michael King | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| MUFG BANK, LTD. | |||
| By: | /s/ George Stoecklein | ||
| Name: George Stoecklein | |||
| Title: Managing Director | |||
| STANDARD CHARTERED BANK | |||
| By: | /s/ Richard Van de Berghe | ||
| Name: Richard Van de Berghe | |||
| Title: Managing Director | |||
| SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION | |||
| By: | /s/ Jun Ashely | ||
| Name: Jun Ashley | |||
| Title: Director | |||
| WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | |||
| By: | /s/ Steven Chen | ||
| Name: Steven Chen | |||
| Title: Vice President | |||
[Signature Page to Corning Credit Agreement (2025)]