UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
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(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| ITEM 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Amended and Restated U.S. Credit Agreement
On April 1, 2022, Ovintiv Inc. (“Ovintiv”) entered into an amended and restated credit agreement dated as of April 1, 2022, between Ovintiv, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the initial lenders and initial issuing banks named therein (the “U.S. Credit Agreement”), amending and restating that certain credit agreement, dated as of January 27, 2020, between Ovintiv, as Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the initial lenders and initial issuing banks named therein.
The U.S. Credit Agreement provides for total revolving commitments of $2.2 billion, with a termination date of July 15, 2026, unless the date of termination is extended pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The termination date is extendable from time to time, but not more than once per calendar year, for a period not longer than five years plus 90 days from the date of the extension request, upon the request of Ovintiv and acceptance of the lenders. The facility is unsecured, bears interest at the Base Rate or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (each as defined in the U.S. Credit Agreement), plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the U.S. Credit Agreement), and contains customary covenants and events of default. Ovintiv’s obligations under the U.S. Credit Agreement are guaranteed by Ovintiv Canada ULC, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ovintiv (the “Canadian Subsidiary”) pursuant to a guarantee dated April 1, 2022 (the “U.S. Credit Agreement Subsidiary Guarantee”).
The foregoing descriptions of the U.S. Credit Agreement and the U.S. Credit Agreement Subsidiary Guarantee do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the actual U.S. Credit Agreement and the U.S. Credit Agreement Subsidiary Guarantee, copies of which are filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Canadian Credit Agreement
On April 1, 2022, the Canadian Subsidiary entered into an amended and restated credit agreement dated as of April 1, 2022, among the Canadian Subsidiary, as borrower, Ovintiv, as guarantor, the financial institutions party thereto, as lenders, and Royal Bank of Canada, as agent (the “Canadian Credit Agreement”), amending and restating that certain credit agreement, dated as of January 27, 2020, among the Canadian Subsidiary, as borrower, Ovintiv, as guarantor, the financial institutions party thereto, as lenders, and Royal Bank of Canada, as agent.
The Canadian Credit Agreement provides for total revolving commitments of $1.3 billion, with a maturity date of July 15, 2026, unless the maturity date is extended pursuant to the terms thereof. The maturity date is extendable from time to time, upon the request of the Canadian Subsidiary and the acceptance of the lenders, but not more than once per calendar year, and for a period of not longer than five years plus 90 days after the date of the extension request. The facility is unsecured, bears interest at certain applicable rates plus the Applicable Pricing Margin (as defined in the Canadian Credit Agreement), and contains customary covenants and events of default.
The foregoing description of the Canadian Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the actual Canadian Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
| ITEM 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The information set forth under Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03, insofar as it relates to the creation of a direct financial obligation.
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| ITEM 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit Description | |
| Exhibit 4.1 | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022, between Ovintiv Inc., as Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the initial lenders and initial issuing banks named therein. | |
| Exhibit 4.2 | Guarantee of the U.S. Credit Agreement, made as of April 1, 2022, by Ovintiv Canada ULC. | |
| Exhibit 4.3 | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022, among Ovintiv Canada ULC, as Borrower, Ovintiv Inc., as Guarantor, the financial institutions party thereto, as lenders, and Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent. | |
| Exhibit 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit Description | |
| Exhibit 4.1 | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022, between Ovintiv Inc., as Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the initial lenders and initial issuing banks named therein. | |
| Exhibit 4.2 | Guarantee of the U.S. Credit Agreement, made as of April 1, 2022, by Ovintiv Canada ULC. | |
| Exhibit 4.3 | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022, among Ovintiv Canada ULC, as Borrower, Ovintiv Inc., as Guarantor, the financial institutions party thereto, as lenders, and Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent. | |
| Exhibit 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
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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 April 7, 2022
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OVINTIV INC. (Registrant) |
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| By: | /s/ Dawna I. Gibb | |||
| Name: | Dawna I. Gibb | |||
| Title: | Assistant Corporate Secretary | |||
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EXHIBIT 4.1
EXECUTION COPY
U.S.$2,200,000,000
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 1, 2022
Among
OVINTIV INC.,
as Borrower,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE
CITIBANK, N.A.
TD SECURITIES,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners,
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
as Joint Lead Arrangers,
BANK OF MONTREAL
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
as Documentation Agents,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,
and
THE INITIAL LENDERS AND
INITIAL ISSUING BANKS NAMED HEREIN,
as Initial Lenders and Initial Issuing Banks
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS | |
| SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms | 1 |
| SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods | 29 |
| SECTION 1.03. Accounting Principles | 29 |
| SECTION 1.04. Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification | 29 |
| SECTION 1.05. Certain Matters Related to Ratings | 30 |
| SECTION 1.06. Divisions | 31 |
ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES | |
| SECTION 2.01. The Advances | 32 |
| SECTION 2.02. Making the Revolving Credit Advances | 32 |
| SECTION 2.03. [Reserved] | 34 |
| SECTION 2.04. Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters of Credit | 34 |
| SECTION 2.05. Fees | 36 |
| SECTION 2.06. Termination or Reduction of the Commitments | 37 |
| SECTION 2.07. Repayment of Advances | 38 |
| SECTION 2.08. Interest | 39 |
| SECTION 2.09. Interest Rate Determination | 39 |
| SECTION 2.10. Optional Conversion of Advances | 41 |
| SECTION 2.11. Optional Prepayments of Advances | 42 |
| SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs | 42 |
| SECTION 2.13. [Reserved] | 43 |
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| SECTION 2.14. Payments and Computations | 43 |
| SECTION 2.15. Taxes | 44 |
| SECTION 2.16. Sharing of Payments, Etc | 48 |
| SECTION 2.17. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 48 |
| SECTION 2.18. Use of Proceeds | 49 |
| SECTION 2.19. Increase of Commitments | 50 |
| SECTION 2.20. Evidence of Debt | 51 |
| SECTION 2.21. Defaulting Lenders | 51 |
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING | |
| SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness | 54 |
| SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Issuance | 55 |
| SECTION 3.03. Determinations Under Section 3.01 | 57 |
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | |
| SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Borrower | 57 |
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER | |
| SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants | 60 |
| SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants | 64 |
| SECTION 5.03. Actions in Respect of Subsidiaries | 70 |
ARTICLE VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT | |
| SECTION 6.01. Events of Default | 70 |
| ii |
ARTICLE VII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | |
| SECTION 7.01. Appointment and Authority | 72 |
| SECTION 7.02. Rights as a Lender | 73 |
| SECTION 7.03. Exculpatory Provisions | 73 |
| SECTION 7.04. Reliance by Administrative Agent | 74 |
| SECTION 7.05. Indemnification | 74 |
| SECTION 7.06. Resignation of Administrative Agent | 75 |
| SECTION 7.07. Delegation of Duties | 75 |
| SECTION 7.08. Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks | 75 |
| SECTION 7.09. No Other Duties, etc | 77 |
| SECTION 7.10. Certain ERISA Matters | 77 |
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS | |
| SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc | 78 |
| SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc | 79 |
| SECTION 8.03. No Waiver; Remedies | 81 |
| SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses | 81 |
| SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off | 83 |
| SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect | 84 |
| SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations | 84 |
| SECTION 8.08. Confidentiality; Patriot Act | 88 |
| SECTION 8.09. No Liability of the Issuing Banks | 88 |
| SECTION 8.10. Governing Law | 89 |
| SECTION 8.11. Extensions of Termination Date | 89 |
| iii |
| SECTION 8.12. Execution in Counterparts; Electronic Execution | 93 |
| SECTION 8.13. Jurisdiction, Etc | 94 |
| SECTION 8.14. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 94 |
| SECTION 8.15. Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 95 |
| iv |
Schedule I - Commitments
Exhibits
| Exhibit A | - | [Intentionally omitted] |
| Exhibit B | - | Form of Notice of Borrowing |
| Exhibit C | - | Form of Assignment and Assumption |
| Exhibit D | - | Form of Opinion of special New York counsel for the Borrower |
| Exhibit E | - | Form of Opinion of special Canadian counsel |
| Exhibit F | - | Form of Extension Notice |
| Exhibit G | - | Form of Compliance Certificate |
| Exhibit H | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate |
| Exhibit I | - | Form of Accession Letter Agreement |
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AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 1, 2022
OVINTIV INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“JPMorgan”) as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lender Parties (as hereinafter defined), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders (the “Initial Lenders”) listed on the signature pages hereof and the Initial Issuing Banks (as hereinafter defined), agree as follows:
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT.
The Borrower, the lenders parties thereto and JPMorgan, as administrative agent, were parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of January 27, 2020 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified to date and in effect immediately prior to the amendment and restatement set forth herein, the “Existing Credit Agreement”). Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.01, the Borrower, the parties hereto and JPMorgan, as Administrative Agent, desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement as herein set forth.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement (unless stated otherwise), 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):
“Accession Letter Agreement” means a letter agreement entered into by an Eligible Assignee and the Borrower and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit I hereto.
“Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple SOFR, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Daily Simple 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.
“Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted 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.
“Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan.
“Administrative Agent’s Account” means the following account of the Administrative Agent maintained at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., with ABA No. 021 000 021, Account Name: LS2 Incoming Account, Account No. 9008113381H4792, Attention: Loan & Agency, and Reference: Ovintiv Inc.
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“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Advance” means a Revolving Credit Advance or a Letter of Credit 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 5% or more of the Voting Shares of such Person or to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of Voting Shares, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” means this agreement, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of Sanctions Authorities that apply to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery of government officials or public corruption.
“Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, property, transaction or event, and whether or not having the force of law, all applicable provisions of laws, statutes, regulations, rules, guidelines, by-laws, treaties, orders, policies, judgments, decrees and official directives of Governmental/Judicial Bodies or Persons acting under the authority of any Governmental/Judicial Body.
“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 Administrative Agent, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Applicable Margin” means with respect to Base Rate Advances or Term Benchmark Advances outstanding at any time, “Applicable Fee Rate” means with respect to Letters of Credit outstanding at any time, and “Applicable Percentage” means, at any time, a rate per annum equal to the margin or rate, as the case may be, set out in the following table under the applicable column opposite the applicable rating category assigned by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch to the long term senior unsecured debt of the Borrower at such time; provided, that (a) if at such time three agencies have so assigned a rating, and the ratings so assigned by such agencies differ, then the Applicable Margin for such Base Rate Advances or Term Benchmark Advances (as applicable), the Applicable Fee Rate for such Letters of Credit or the Applicable Percentage, as the case may be, shall be the margin or rate, as the case may be, as set forth opposite the level so assigned by two such agencies or, if the ratings so assigned by each of the three agencies differ, by the middle of such ratings, (b) if at such time only two agencies have so assigned a rating and (i) the rating so assigned by one of such agencies differs from the rating assigned by the other agency by only one level, then the Applicable Margin for such Base Rate Advances or Term Benchmark Advances (as applicable), the Applicable Fee Rate for such Letters of Credit or the Applicable Percentage, as
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the case may be, shall be the margin or rate, as the case may be, set forth opposite the higher of the two levels so assigned by such agencies and (ii) the rating so assigned by one of such agencies differs from the rating assigned by the other agency by two or more levels (for example, BBB by S&P and lower than Baa3 by Moody’s), then the Applicable Margin for such Base Rate Advances or Term Benchmark Advances (as applicable), the Applicable Fee Rate for such Letters of Credit or the Applicable Percentage, as the case may be, shall be the margin or rate, as the case may be, set forth opposite one level below the higher of the two levels so assigned by such agencies and (c) if at such time only one of such agencies assigns a rating, then the Applicable Margin for such Base Rate Advances or Term Benchmark Advances, the Applicable Fee Rate for such Letters of Credit or the Applicable Percentage, as the case may be, shall be the margin or rate, as the case may be, opposite the sole rating:
|
Rating Level (S&P/Moody’s/Fitch) |
Applicable Margin for Base Rate Advances |
Applicable Margin for Term Benchmark Advances and Applicable Fee Rate for Letters of Credit | Applicable Percentage |
| A- / A3 / A- or higher | 0.0 bps | 100.0 bps | 10.0 bps |
| BBB+ / Baa1 / BBB+ | 12.5 bps | 112.5 bps | 12.5 bps |
| BBB / Baa2 / BBB | 25.0 bps | 125.0 bps | 15.0 bps |
| BBB- / Baa3 / BBB- | 50.0 bps | 150.0 bps | 20.0 bps |
| BB+/Ba1 / BB+ | 75.0 bps | 175.0 bps | 25.0 bps |
| lower than BB+ / lower than Ba1 / lower than BB+, or unrated by all agencies | 100.0 bps | 200.0 bps | 35.0 bps |
provided, further, that, (x) with respect to Letters of Credit which are not characterized as Direct Credit Substitutes (as determined by the applicable Issuing Bank, acting reasonably), the Applicable Fee Rate shall be 66.67% of the applicable rates described above; provided that if any such Letter of Credit were determined by any federal regulatory authority in the United States, to be a Direct Credit Substitute after the issuance thereof, the Applicable Fee Rate shall be adjusted to 100.00% of the applicable rates described above with retroactive effect to the date of issuance and the incremental issuance fee payable for the period from the date of issuance to the date of such determination shall be payable on the final Business Day of the earliest of the next March, June, September and December and (y) if any or all of S&P, Moody's and Fitch ceases to carry on the business of providing ratings of the long term debt of corporate borrowers based on creditworthiness assessments, then the provisions of Section 1.05 shall apply.
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Assigned Interests” has the meaning specified in Section 8.11(e).
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and accepted and approved by the Administrative Agent and
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approved by the Issuing Banks and, if applicable, approved by the Borrower in accordance with Section 8.07, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto.
“Available Amount” of any Letter of Credit means, at any time, the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit at such time (assuming compliance at such time with all conditions to drawing).
“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, 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 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 Section 2.09(i).
“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).
“Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted 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%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any U.S. Government Securities Business 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 Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, respectively. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.09 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.09(g)) 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 that bears interest as provided in Section 2.08(a)(i).
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“basis point” or “bps” means one one-hundredth of one percent.
“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any Term Benchmark Advance, the Term SOFR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 2.09(f).
“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:
(a) the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR;
(b) the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (1) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (2) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time in the United States and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable 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 Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (a) 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 (b) 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 dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Advance, 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 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 Administrative Agent decides in its reasonable discretion in
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consultation with the Borrower may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides in its reasonable discretion that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines in its reasonable discretion that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earlier to occur of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:
(a) in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) 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
(b) in the case of clause (c) 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.
“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:
(a) 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);
(b) 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, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
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(c) 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) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.09 and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.09.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“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 and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Borrower or, if duly constituted and whenever duly empowered, the executive committee of the board of directors of the Borrower for the time being and reference to action by the directors means actions by the directors of the Borrower as a board or action by the said executive committee as such committee.
“Borrower Extension Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 8.11(c).
“Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of Revolving Credit Advances of the same Type made on the same day by the Lenders.
“Bow Office Lease” means, collectively and individually, the Headlease, the Sublease and the Encana Indemnity and all amendments, supplements, renewals, extensions, replacements and restatements of any of the foregoing and any other agreements entered into pursuant to any of the foregoing relating to The Bow office tower or any properties ancillary thereto. For purposes of this definition, “Headlease” means, collectively, the lease made as of February 7, 2007, between Encana Developments Partnership (“EDP”) (as landlord) and Encana Leasehold Limited Partnership (“ELLP”) (as tenant), as assigned by EDP to Centre Street Trust pursuant to an assignment and assumption agreement dated February 8, 2007 between EDP and Centre Street Trust, as amended pursuant to letter agreements dated December 10, 2007, February 11, 2008, February 14, 2008, and February 25, 2009 among Centre Street Trust, ELLP and EDP, and as
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amended by a lease amending agreement made as of April 22, 2009, among, inter alia, Centre Street Trust and ELLP, as the same may be further assigned or amended, restated, superseded, supplemented, extended, replaced or modified from time to time; “Sublease” means the Sublease with respect to a portion of the premises located in The Bow entered into between ELLP as sublandlord and the Borrower as subtenant dated November 29, 2009 and effective on or about November 30, 2009, as such sublease may be amended, restated, superseded, supplemented, extended, replaced, or modified from time to time; and “Encana Indemnity” means the indemnity entered into by the Borrower and EDP dated February 7, 2007, as assigned by EDP to Centre Street Trust pursuant to an assignment and assumption agreement dated February 8, 2007, between EDP and Centre Street Trust, as the same may be amended, restated, superseded, supplemented, extended, replaced or modified from time to time.
“Business Day” means a day of the year on which banks are not required or authorized by law to close in New York City, Chicago or Toronto, provided that, in relation to Term Benchmark Advances and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Term Benchmark Advance, or any other dealings of such Term Benchmark Advances, any such day that is only an U.S. Government Securities Business Day.
“Cash Collateralize” means, in respect of an obligation, provide and pledge (as a first priority perfected security interest) cash collateral in Dollars, at a location and pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and “Cash Collateralization” has a corresponding meaning).
“Centralized Banking Arrangements” means any centralized banking arrangements entered into by the Borrower with any financial institution in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of obtaining cash management services (which arrangements may include, without limitation, the pooling and set-off of account balances between accounts belonging to different entities, the provision of guarantees or indemnities or the assumption of joint and several liabilities by one or more entities in regard to obligations of one or more other entities, or other similar arrangements).
“Change in Control” means the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Voting Shares representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Voting Shares of the Borrower.
“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).
“Commercial Letters of Credit” means any Letter of Credit other than a Trade Letter of Credit that is contemplated may be used as the primary payment mechanism for an obligation (rather than as a backstop).
“Commitment” means a Revolving Credit Commitment or a Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment.
“Commitment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(a).
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“Common Equity Securities” means the securities of a Person which are entitled to share without limitation in a distribution of the assets of such Person upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of such Person.
“Communications” has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(d).
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto, duly executed by an authorized officer of the Borrower.
“Confidential Information” means the financial, operational and other information and data that the Borrower furnishes to the Administrative Agent, the Documentation Agents, the Lead Arrangers or any Lender Party in a writing designated as confidential or, by the context, reasonably anticipated to be confidential, but does not include any such information that is or becomes generally available to the public other than through a breach of the confidentiality obligations by the Administrative Agent, any Documentation Agent, any Lead Arranger and/or a Lender Party under this Agreement or that is or becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Documentation Agent, any Lead Arranger or such Lender Party from a source other than the Borrower.
“Consolidated” refers to the consolidation of accounts in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Assets” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of assets of the Borrower as set forth in the Borrower’s most recent Consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Capitalization” means, at the end of a Fiscal Quarter, and as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, the aggregate of:
(a) Consolidated Net Worth; and
(b) Consolidated Debt.
“Consolidated Debt” means, at the end of a Fiscal Quarter and as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, all Financing Debt of the Borrower at such time but excluding any Financing Debt referred to in the proviso to the definition of Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio.
“Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio” means, at the end of a Fiscal Quarter, the ratio of Consolidated Debt at such date to Consolidated Capitalization at such date; provided that, for purposes of calculating such ratio, Consolidated Debt shall exclude:
(a) any Financing Debt where the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower has irrevocably deposited with the proper depository in trust the necessary cash or marketable debt instruments for the defeasance, redemption or satisfaction of such Financing Debt prior to its scheduled maturity date in accordance with the provisions of the indenture, agreement or other instrument governing such Financing Debt (and such deposits shall be excluded in any calculation of Consolidated Tangible Assets); and
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(b) any new Financing Debt borrowed or issued for the purpose of repaying or satisfying any existing Financing Debt prior to its maturity date provided that (A) such existing Financing Debt matures within 12 months of the date on which the new Financing Debt is borrowed or issued, (B) such new Financing Debt will only be excluded to the extent it is deposited into a segregated account of the Borrower (as certified by a Senior Financial Officer in an officer’s certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent promptly after such deposit) and (C) such deposits shall be excluded in any calculation of Consolidated Tangible Assets. Any such deposit and the Borrower’s intention to repay such existing Financing Debt with such deposit shall be confirmed in each regularly scheduled Compliance Certificate which is delivered prior to repayment of such existing Financing Debt.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, with respect to any Person at any time, the total amount of assets of such Person on a Consolidated basis (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom:
(a) all current liabilities (excluding any indebtedness classified as a current liability and any current liabilities which are by their terms extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed);
(b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangibles; and
(c) appropriate adjustments on account of minority interests of other Persons holding shares of the Subsidiaries of such Person,
and adding back the non-cash ceiling test impairments and other changes in aggregate of $11,251,000,000 as a consequence of Encana Corporation’s adoption of U.S. GAAP, in each case, as shown on the most recent annual audited or quarterly unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of such Person computed in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Net Worth” means, at the end of a Fiscal Quarter and as determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis for the Borrower, the Consolidated shareholder’s equity of the Borrower as shown on the most recent annual audited or quarterly unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower (including, for certainty, to the extent included as shareholder’s equity on such balance sheet, preferred securities and minority interests, but excluding all amounts included in shareholder’s equity attributable to Non-Recourse Assets of the Borrower and without giving effect to the non-cash ceiling test impairments and other changes in aggregate of $7,746,000,000 as a consequence of Encana Corporation’s adoption of U.S. GAAP).
“Consolidated Tangible Assets” means, at the end of a Fiscal Quarter and as determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis for the Borrower, the total assets of the Borrower shown on the most recent annual audited or quarterly unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower ( (i) excluding goodwill, trademarks, copyrights and other similar intangible assets; (ii) excluding Non-Recourse Assets of the Borrower; and (iii) without giving effect to the non-cash ceiling test impairments and other changes, in the aggregate of $10,585,000,000, as a consequence of Encana Corporation’s adoption of U.S. GAAP); provided, that Consolidated
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Tangible Assets shall not include any deposits referred to in either (a) or (b) of the proviso to the definition of Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio.
“Convert”, “Conversion” and “Converted” each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.10.
“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 SOFR for the day (such day “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Day 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 Borrower.
“Debt Ratings” means, in relation to a Person, the ratings that have been most recently announced by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (or, if applicable, a rating agency selected by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent as a replacement agency (including a Substitute Rating Entity)) for any class of senior unsecured non-convertible publicly-held long term debt of such Person.
“Declining Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 8.11(c).
“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, at any time, subject to Section 2.21(c), any Lender that (a) has failed for three or more Business Days to comply with its obligations under this Agreement to make an Advance and/or make a payment to the Issuing Bank in respect of a Letter of Credit Advance (each a “funding obligation”), unless such Lender and at least one other Lender has notified the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding has not been satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, will be specifically identified in such writing); (b) has notified the Administrative Agent, the Borrower or an Issuing Bank in writing, or has stated publicly, that it will not comply with any such funding obligation hereunder unless (i) such writing or statement states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding cannot be satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, will be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) and (ii) at least one other Lender has made a similar notification to the one described in clause (b)(i); (c) has defaulted on its funding obligations under other loan agreements or credit agreements generally under which it has commitments to extend credit or that has notified, or whose Parent Company has notified, the Administrative Agent or the Borrower in writing, or has stated publicly, that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under loan agreements or credit agreements generally; (d) has, for three or more Business Days, failed to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent, in response to a written request of the
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Administrative Agent or the Borrower, that it will comply with its funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (d) upon the Administrative Agent’s and the Borrower’s receipt of such written confirmation); (e) has become, or its Parent Company has become, the subject of a Lender Insolvency Event; provided that a Lender Insolvency event shall not be deemed to occur with respect to a Lender or its Parent Company solely as a result of the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Lender or Parent Company by a governmental authority or instrumentality thereof where such action 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 permit such Lender (or such governmental authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender; or (f) has become, or its Parent Company has become, the subject of a Bail-In Action. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under clauses (a) through (f) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.21(c)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each Issuing Bank and each Lender.
“Direct Credit Substitutes” has the meaning contemplated within the guidelines, rules or regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Comptroller of the Currency of the United States, as amended from time to time.
“Documentation Agents” means Bank of Montreal and The Bank of Nova Scotia.
“Documents” means this Agreement and all certificates, notices and other documents delivered or to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lender Parties, or both, in relation to this Agreement pursuant hereto and, when used in relation to any Person, the term “Documents” means and refers to the Documents executed and delivered by such Person.
“Dollar”, “United States Dollar”, “U.S. Dollar” and the sign “$” each means the 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 a credit institution or investment firm described in clause (a) of this definition; or (c) any 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.
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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.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 8.07(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 8.07(b)(iii)).
“Environmental Action” means any action, suit, demand, demand letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or violation, notice of liability, proceeding, consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Material 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 similar 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 applicable federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order, judgment, decree or judicial or agency interpretation, policy or guidance having the force or effect of law 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 controlled group of the Borrower, or under common control with the Borrower, within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) and (o) of the Internal Revenue Code.
“ERISA Event” means (a) 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; (b) the application for a minimum funding waiver under Section 412(c) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to a Plan; (c) the provision by the administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to terminate such Plan in a distress termination pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any such notice of a distress termination with respect to a plan amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (d) the cessation of operations at a facility of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) the withdrawal by the Borrower 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 in Section 4042 of ERISA that is reasonably expected to result in the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, a Plan.
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“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.
“Events of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statement.
“Extended Financing Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(d).
“Extended Termination Date” has the meaning specified in Section 8.11(a).
“Extending Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 8.11(c).
“Extension Date” has the meaning specified in Section 8.11(a).
“Extension Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 8.11(b).
“Facilities” means any drilling equipment, production equipment and platforms or mining equipment; pipelines, pumping stations and other pipeline facilities; terminals, warehouses and storage facilities; bulk plants; production, separation, dehydration, extraction, treating and processing facilities; gasification or natural gas liquefying facilities, flares, stacks and burning towers; floatation mills, crushers and ore handling facilities; tank cars, tankers, barges, ships, trucks, automobiles, airplanes and other marine, automotive, aeronautical and other similar moveable facilities or equipment; computer systems and associated programs or office equipment; roads, airports, docks (including drydocks); reservoirs and waste disposal facilities; sewers; generating plants (including power plants) and electric lines; telephone and telegraph lines, radio and other communications facilities; townsites, housing facilities, recreation halls, stores and other related facilities; and similar facilities and equipment of or associated with any of the foregoing.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the Effective Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among governmental authorities and implementing such sections of the Internal Revenue Code.
“Federal Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code.
“Federal Funds 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 the NYFRB shall set forth on its public 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 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.
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“Finance Co.” means Encana Holdings Finance Corp., an unlimited liability company incorporated under the laws of Nova Scotia, and any successor thereto.
“Finance Lease” means, for any Person, the capitalized amount of a finance lease or other arrangement relating to property which, in accordance with GAAP, should be accounted for as a finance lease on a balance sheet of such Person at such time; provided that (a) any real property lease (including the Bow Office Lease) and (b) any other leases (whether entered into before or after December 31, 2021) that are or would be characterized as operating leases under GAAP as at December 31, 2021 shall be deemed to be operating leases and shall be excluded from this definition.
“Financial Instrument Obligations” means obligations arising under:
(a) interest rate swap agreements, forward rate agreements, floor, cap or collar agreements, futures or options, insurance or other similar agreements or arrangements, or any combination thereof, entered into by a Person relating to interest rates or pursuant to which the price, value or amount payable thereunder is dependent or based upon interest rates in effect from time to time or fluctuations in interest rates occurring from time to time;
(b) currency swap agreements, cross-currency agreements, forward agreements, floor, cap or collar agreements, futures or options, insurance or other similar agreements or arrangements, or any combination thereof, entered into by a Person relating to currency exchange rates or pursuant to which the price, value or amount payable thereunder is dependent or based upon currency exchange rates in effect from time to time or fluctuations in currency exchange rates occurring from time to time; and
(c) commodity swap or hedging agreements, floor, cap or collar agreements, commodity futures or options or other similar agreements or arrangements, or any combination thereof, entered into by a Person relating to one or more commodities or pursuant to which the price, value or amount payable thereunder is dependent or based upon the price of one or more commodities in effect from time to time or fluctuations in the price of one or more commodities occurring from time to time.
“Financing Debt” means, with respect to any Person and at any time, all indebtedness for borrowed money of such Person at such time and specifically includes (without duplication):
(a) indebtedness of such Person arising pursuant to bankers’ acceptance facilities, note purchase facilities and commercial paper programs;
(b) indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money evidenced by and owed under a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument;
(c) all indebtedness of such Person representing the deferred purchase price of any property which, in accordance with its terms is, or after giving effect to any renewal or extension provisions of such arrangements may be, payable by such Person more than 12 months after the date of acquisition;
(d) the amounts under Finance Leases under which such Person is the lessee;
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(e) indebtedness of such Person arising pursuant to letters of credit or letters of guarantee securing or supporting any indebtedness referred to in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of this definition; and
(f) (i) obligations of such Person under guarantees, indemnities or other contingent obligations securing or supporting any indebtedness or other obligations of any other Person referred to in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this definition; and (ii) all other obligations of such Person incurred for the purpose of or having the effect of providing financial assistance to another Person to secure or support any indebtedness or other obligations of any other Person referred to in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this definition, including endorsements with recourse of bills of exchange constituting or evidencing any such indebtedness or obligations (other than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business);
provided that Financing Debt of a Person shall not include (A) any Non-Recourse Debt of such Person, (B) (x) indebtedness under any real property leases (including the Bow Office Lease) and (y) any other leases (whether entered into before or after December 31, 2021) that are or would be that were characterized as operating leases under GAAP as at December 31, 2021 and (C) where such Person is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, any of the foregoing which is owed to the Borrower or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.
“Fiscal Quarter” means the first three (3) months of the fiscal year as adopted by the Borrower from time to time, and each successive period of three (3) months in such fiscal year.
“Fitch” means the Fitch Ratings Inc., its Affiliates and their respective successors.
“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 Adjusted Term SOFR Rate. For the avoidance of doubt the initial Floor for each of Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be 0.00%.
“GAAP” means, with respect to any Person at any time, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America which are in effect from time to time, unless such Person’s most recent audited annual or unaudited interim financial statements are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, in which case GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in Canada which are in effect from time to time.
“Governmental/Judicial Body” means:
(a) any government, parliament or legislature, any regulatory or administrative authority, agency, commission or board (including any board having jurisdiction in respect of pipelines or the oil and gas industry generally) and any other statute, rule or regulation making entity having jurisdiction in the relevant circumstances;
(b) any Person to whom a government, parliament or legislature, any regulatory or administrative authority, agency, commission or board or any other statute, rule or regulation making entity referred to in paragraph (a) has delegated power or authority under a statute, rule or regulation thereof; and
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(c) any judicial, administrative or arbitral court, authority, tribunal or commission having jurisdiction in the relevant circumstances.
“Guarantee” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(f)(iv).
“Guarantor Subsidiary” means, at any time, a Subsidiary which is then guaranteeing the Advances hereunder pursuant to a guarantee in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent (acting reasonably).
“Hazardous Material” means any waste, material or substance that is defined as hazardous in or pursuant to any Environmental Law or which is subject to regulation or control pursuant thereto.
“Increase Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(a).
“Increase Request” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(a).
“Increasing Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(a).
“Indebtedness” means indebtedness created, issued or assumed for borrowed funds, or for the unpaid purchase price of property of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, and includes, without duplication, such indebtedness guaranteed by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Indemnified Costs” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05.
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning specified in Section 8.04(b).
“Initial Issuing Bank” means JPMorgan.
“Initial Lender” has the meaning specified in the recital of parties to this Agreement.
“Interest Period” means, for each Term Benchmark Rate 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 final day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, each subsequent period commencing on the final day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the final day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, three or six months, as the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the second Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided, however:
(a) the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Termination Date unless, after giving effect to such selection, the aggregate principal amount of Base Rate Advances and of Term Benchmark Advances having Interest Periods that end on or prior to the Termination Date shall be at least equal to the aggregate principal amount of Advances due and payable on or prior to such date;
(b) whenever the final day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the final day of such Interest Period shall be extended to
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occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, however, if such extension would cause the final day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the final day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day;
(c) 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 Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month; and
(d) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.09(i) shall be available for specification in such Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request.
“Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
“Investment Grade” means a Debt Rating not lower than BBB- from S&P, Baa3 from Moody’s or BBB- from Fitch (or, if applicable, an equivalent Debt Rating from a rating agency selected by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent as a replacement agency (including a Substitute Rating Entity)).
“Issuing Bank” means the Initial Issuing Bank and each Eligible Assignee to which a Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment hereunder has been assigned pursuant to Section 8.07 or any other Lender that agrees to become an Issuing Bank, as issuer of a Letter of Credit, so long as such Eligible Assignee or other Lender expressly agrees to perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by their terms are required to be performed by it as an Issuing Bank and notifies the Administrative Agent of its Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment.
“L/C Obligations” means, as of any date, the aggregate Available Amount of outstanding Letters of Credit and Revolving Credit Advances made by an Issuing Bank in accordance with Section 2.04 that have not been funded by the Lenders.
“L/C Related Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b)(ii).
“Lead Arrangers” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., RBC Capital Markets, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, TD Securities, Citibank, N.A., BMO Capital Markets and The Bank of Nova Scotia.
“Lender Party” means any Lender or any Issuing Bank.
“Lender Insolvency Event” means that (i) a Lender or its Parent Company is insolvent, or is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or (ii) such Lender or its Parent Company is the subject of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceeding, or a receiver, trustee, conservator, intervenor or sequestrator or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian has been appointed for such Lender or its Parent Company, or such Lender or its Parent Company has taken
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any action in furtherance of or indicating its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment.
“Lender-Related Person” has the meaning specified in Section 8.04(f).
“Lenders” means, collectively, the Initial Lenders and each other Person listed on Schedule I hereto or that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 2.19 or Section 8.07.
“Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).
“Letter of Credit Advance” means an advance made by any Issuing Bank or any Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c).
“Letter of Credit Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment” means, with respect to any Issuing Bank at any time, the amount set forth opposite such Issuing Bank’s name on Schedule I hereto under the caption ‘Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment’ or, if such Issuing Bank has entered into one or more Assignments and Assumptions, set forth for such Issuing Bank in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(c) as such Issuing Bank’s ‘Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment’, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.06.
“Lien” means any lien, security interest, mortgage, hypothecation or other charge or encumbrance of any kind.
“Loan Documents” means (a) this Agreement and (b) each Letter of Credit Agreement, in each case as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof.
“Margin Regulations” means Regulations U and X of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time.
“Margin Stock” has the meaning specified in Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time.
“Material Adverse Change” means any material adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any act, event or condition that has a material adverse effect on (a) the consolidated financial condition and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to pay any amounts owing from time to time under this Agreement or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement; provided that in no event shall fluctuations in commodity prices for oil and/or natural gas be regarded as an act, event or condition that in and of itself has a Material Adverse Effect.
“Material Subsidiary” means from time to time (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower which, on a Consolidated basis for such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries, has assets which have a value, as reflected on the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower most recently delivered to
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the Lenders hereunder, in excess of 10% of the value of the Consolidated Assets of the Borrower as reflected therein without giving effect to the non-cash ceiling test impairments and other changes as a consequence of Encana Corporation’s adoption of U.S. GAAP, and (b) any other Subsidiary so designated by the Borrower.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investor Services, Inc., and its successors.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower 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 Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person other than the Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower 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-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender or a Potential Defaulting Lender.
“Non-Recourse Assets” means (a) for purposes of the definitions of “Consolidated Net Worth” and “Consolidated Tangible Assets” the Borrower’s proportion (determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) of assets owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (b) for all other purposes, assets owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and in case of clauses (a) and (b), which meet all of the following conditions: (i) the assets represent a specific Project, whether alone or in association with others, (ii) debt for borrowed money is owed to one or more Non-Recourse Creditor(s), was incurred for the purpose of financing the costs of such Project and the recourse of such creditors in relation to such debt is limited to the assets of such Project (including equity interests and investments in any Non-Recourse Subsidiary), and (iii) neither the Borrower nor any Material Subsidiary is liable or has issued a guarantee in respect of any such debt, other than any such debt or any such guarantee in respect of which the recourse thereunder is limited to the assets of such Project (including equity interests and investments in any Non-Recourse Subsidiary); provided that upon all such debt to all such creditors in respect of any such assets being repaid, such assets shall then cease to be Non-Recourse Assets.
“Non-Recourse Creditor” means an arm’s-length creditor whose recourse is limited to Non-Recourse Assets, to the exclusion of any and all other recourse, whether directly or indirectly, by way of guarantees or otherwise, against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary in respect of such debt or liability referred to in the definition of Non-Recourse Assets except for non-recourse guarantees and/or non-recourse pledges which are limited in recourse to equity interests and investments in any Non-Recourse Subsidiary.
“Non-Recourse Debt” means debt incurred for the purpose of financing the costs of a specific Project and due or otherwise owing to a Non-Recourse Creditor.
“Non-Recourse Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary whose material assets are Non-Recourse Assets.
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“Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(c).
“Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
“Notice of Issuance” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or 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 Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it, acting reasonably; 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.
“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Treasury Department.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Lender Party or the Administrative Agent, taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Lender Party or the Administrative Agent and the jurisdiction imposing such tax (other than connections arising from such Lender Party or the Administrative Agent having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Advance, Commitment or Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(b).
“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.
“Parent Company” means, with respect to a Lender, the bank holding company (as defined in Federal Reserve Board Regulation Y), if any, of such Lender, and/or any Person owning, beneficially or of record, directly or indirectly, a majority of the shares of such Lender.
“Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.07(d).
“Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.07(d).
“Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor).
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“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, in each case that is subject to ERISA.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(b).
“Potential Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, a Lender (a) as to which the Administrative Agent has notified the Borrower that an event of the kind referred to in the definition of “Lender Insolvency Event” has occurred and is continuing in respect of any Subsidiary of such Lender; (b) as to which the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank has in good faith determined and notified the Borrower and (in the case of the Issuing Bank) the Administrative Agent that such Lender or its Parent Company or a Subsidiary thereof has notified the Administrative Agent, or has stated publicly, that it will not comply with its funding obligations under any other loan agreement or credit agreement or other similar/other financing agreement; or (c) that has, or whose Parent Company has, a non-investment grade rating from Moody’s or S&P or another nationally recognized rating agency. Any determination that a Lender is a Potential Defaulting Lender under any of clauses (a) through (c) above will be made by the Administrative Agent or, in the case of clause (b), the Issuing Bank in its sole discretion acting in good faith. The Administrative Agent will promptly send to all parties hereto a copy of any notice to the Borrower provided for in this definition.
“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 Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative 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.
“Pro Rata 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 Revolving Credit Commitment at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate of the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders at such time. Any termination or cancellation of a Lender’s Revolving Commitment pursuant to an exercise of remedies under Article VI shall not operate to reduce such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment for purposes of this definition.
“Project” means the acquisition, construction and development of previously undeveloped or newly acquired assets forming an economic unit capable of generating sufficient cash flow, on the basis of reasonable initial assumptions, to cover the operating costs and debt service required to finance the undertaking relating to such assets over a period of time which is less than the projected economic life of the assets, and includes any commercial operation for which such assets were so acquired, constructed or developed and which is subsequently carried on with such assets by such economic unit and, for certainty, includes each such Project which exists as of the date of this Agreement or which is acquired, created or comes into existence after such date.
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“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“Public Material Subsidiary” means any Material Subsidiary that has had Publicly Traded Securities at all times since such Material Subsidiary first became a Material Subsidiary.
“Publicly Traded Securities” means (a) securities of a corporation which are listed on any stock exchange and are entitled to share without limitation in a distribution of the assets of such corporation upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of such corporation and includes any securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities; and (b) with respect to a partnership, limited liability company or other entity, means securities of such partnership, limited liability company or other entity which are listed on any stock exchange and represent income interests or capital interests in such partnership, limited liability company or other entity and includes any securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities.
“Purchase Money Mortgage” means any mortgage, hypothecation, charge or other encumbrance on property or assets created, issued or assumed to secure a Purchase Money Obligation in respect of such property or assets and also means any agreement or other instrument entered into for the acquisition of or right to acquire any property or assets or any interest therein in which agreement or instrument there is reserved or which obligates the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to pay a royalty, rent or percentage of profits or proceeds won from such property or assets and which charges or secures such property or assets or interest therein or the lands containing the same with the payment thereof and includes any extension, renewal, refunding or refinancing thereof so long as the principal amount outstanding immediately prior to the date of such extension, renewal, refunding or refinancing is not increased; provided that such mortgage, hypothecation, charge, encumbrance, agreement or other instrument is created, issued or assumed prior to, concurrently with or within 180 days following the acquisition of such property or assets, except in the case of property or assets on which improvements are constructed, installed or added, in which case the same shall be created or issued within a period of 180 days after Substantial Completion of such improvements.
“Purchase Money Obligation” means any Indebtedness assumed as, or issued and incurred to provide funds to pay, all or part of (a) the purchase price (which shall be deemed to include any costs of construction or installation) of any property or assets acquired after the date of this Agreement or (b) the cost of improvements made after the date of this Agreement to any property or assets.
“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (a) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two (2) Business Days preceding the date of such setting; or (b) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(c).
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
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“Release” means a releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, disposing, spraying, abandonment, depositing, seeping, placing or dumping.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto.
“Relevant Subsidiary” means, on any date, any corporation or other Person of which Voting Shares or other interests carrying more than 50% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding Voting Shares or other interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by or for the Borrower and/or by or for any corporation in like relation to the Borrower and includes any corporation in like relation to a Relevant Subsidiary; provided, however, such term shall not include any corporations or other Persons (or their respective Relevant Subsidiaries) which have Publicly Traded Securities where the aggregate amount of assets of all such corporations or other Persons does not exceed 20% of the Consolidated Assets of the Borrower at the time and from time to time.
“Requested Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 8.11(a).
“Requested RCC Increase” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(a).
“Required Lenders” means at any time Lenders owed in excess of 50% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances owing to Lenders, or, if no such principal amount is then outstanding, Lenders having in excess of 50% of the Revolving Credit 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 Revolving Credit 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.
“Restricted Property” means any oil, gas or mineral property of a primary nature located in Canada or the United States and any facilities located in Canada or the United States directly related to the mining, processing or manufacture of hydrocarbons or minerals, or any of the constituents thereof or the derivatives therefrom and includes Voting Shares or other interests of a corporation or other Person which owns such property or facilities, but does not include (a) any property or facilities used in connection with or necessarily incidental to the purchase, sale, storage, transportation or distribution of Restricted Property, (b) any property which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Borrower, is not materially important to the total business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as an entirety, or (c) any portion of a particular property which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Borrower, is not materially important to the use or operation of such property.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means on any date, any Relevant Subsidiary which owns at the time Restricted Property; provided, however, such term shall not include a Relevant Subsidiary of the Borrower if the amount of the Borrower’s share of Shareholders’ Equity of such Subsidiary constitutes, at the time of determination, less than 2% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Borrower.
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“Revolving Credit Advance” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).
“Revolving Credit Commitment” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule I hereto under the caption ‘Revolving Credit Commitment’ or, if such Lender has entered into one or more Assignments and Assumptions, set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(c) as such Lender’s ‘Revolving Credit Commitment’, as such amount may be reduced or increased at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 2.19.
“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions.
“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, any Person listed in any Sanctions-specific list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the United States Department of State, the United Nations Security Council or the Government of Canada.
“Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by a Sanctions Authority that are applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries; provided that, with respect to economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the United Nations Security Council, to the extent such sanctions or trade embargoes are not inconsistent with Applicable Law in Canada.
“Sanctions Authority” means any of: (a) the federal government of Canada; (b) the federal government of the United States of America; (c) the United Nations Security Council; or (d) the respective governmental institutions, departments and agencies of any of the foregoing, including OFAC and the United States Department of State; and “Sanctions Authorities” means all of the foregoing Sanctions Authorities, collectively.
“Section 2.19 Effective Date” has the meaning specified in the Section 2.19(d).
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, and its successors.
“Senior Financial Officer” means the Borrower’s chief financial officer, Vice-President, Finance, Comptroller, Assistant Comptroller, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or any other officer of the Borrower having a similar title or position.
“Shareholders’ Equity” means the aggregate amount of shareholders’ equity (including but not limited to share capital, contributed surplus and retained earnings) of a Person as shown on the most recent annual audited or unaudited interim Consolidated balance sheet of such Person and computed in accordance with GAAP.
“Similar Business” shall mean any business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from (a) business or activities conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date; (b) any business that is a natural outgrowth or reasonable extension, development or expansion of any such business or any business similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing; or (c) any business that in the Borrower’s good faith business judgment constitutes a reasonable diversification of businesses conducted by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.
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“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 Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and no Person other than the Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower 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.
“Standby Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit issued hereunder, other than a Trade Letter of Credit or a Commercial Letter of Credit.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means: (a) any corporation of which Voting Shares issued by such corporation and carrying more than 50% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding Voting Shares issued by such corporation are owned, directly or indirectly, by or for such Person and/or by or for any corporation in like relation to such Person and includes any corporation in like relation to a Subsidiary; and (b) any partnership, limited liability company or other business entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding income interest or capital interests are at the time directly, indirectly or beneficially owned or controlled by such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries.
“Substantial Completion” means, with respect to an improvement, the point at which the improvement is ready for use or is being used for the purpose for which it was intended.
“Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
“Term Benchmark” when used in reference to any Advance or Borrowing, refers to whether such Advance, or the Advances comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.
“Term Benchmark Advance” means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.08(a)(ii).
“Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two (2) 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.
“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 published by
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the CME Term SOFR Administrator and identified by the Administrative 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 July 15, 2026, or, if extended pursuant to Section 8.11, the Extended Termination Date or, in any case, if earlier, the date of termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 or 6.01.
“Trade Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit that is issued for the benefit of a supplier of inventory to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to effect payment for such inventory.
“Type” refers to the distinction between Advances bearing interest at the Base Rate and Advances bearing interest at the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.
“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.
“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 Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than zero, the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Unused Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender at any time, (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time minus (b) the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Advances made by such Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) and outstanding at such time, plus (ii) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of (A) the aggregate Available Amount of all the Letters of Credit outstanding at such time and (B) the aggregate principal amount of all Letter of Credit Advances made by each Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.04(c) that have not been ratably funded by such Lender and outstanding at such time, in each case after giving effect to any adjustments made in accordance with Section 2.21(a).
“U.S. GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect from time to time.
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“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
“Value” means
(a) United States or Canadian dollar funds or debt instruments of the Government of the United States or any of its states or Canada or any of its provinces maturing within 12 months; and
(b) in respect of any other assets of the Borrower, the fair market value of such assets as determined by the Board of Directors of the Borrower.
“Voting Shares” means shares of any class of any corporation carrying voting rights under all circumstances, provided that, for the purposes of this definition, shares which only carry the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered Voting Shares, nor shall any shares be deemed to cease to be Voting Shares solely by reason of a right to vote accruing to shares of another class or classes by reason of the happening of such an event, or solely because the right to vote may not be exercisable under the charter of the corporation.
“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means (a) any corporation of which 100% of the outstanding shares having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to vote with respect to the election of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time shares of any other class or classes of such corporation might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, unless the contingency has occurred and then only for so long as it continues) is at the time directly, indirectly or beneficially owned or controlled by the Borrower or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries or by the Borrower and one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, or (b) any partnership or other entity of which 100% of the outstanding income interests and capital interests is at the time directly, indirectly or beneficially owned or controlled by the Borrower or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries or by the Borrower and one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.
“Withdrawal Liability” has the meaning specified in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
“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.
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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 Principles. Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of revenue or expense or amount of equity is required to be determined, or any consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made for the purpose of this Agreement or any other document related hereto, such determination or calculation shall to the extent applicable and except as otherwise specified herein or as otherwise in writing by the parties, be made in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis; provided that
(a) if (i) there is any change in GAAP from such principles applied in the preparation of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e), that is material in respect of the calculation of any financial term set forth in this Agreement (the “Financial Terms”), or (ii) the Borrower adopts a material change in an accounting policy in order to more appropriately present events or transactions in its financial statements, the Borrower shall give prompt notice (the “Accounting Change Notice”) of such change to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (any change described in clause (i) or (ii), an “Accounting Change”);
(b) if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment of any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of such Accounting Change (or if, within forty-five (45) days of receipt of an Accounting Change Notice, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders request an amendment of any provision hereof for such purpose), then the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall in good faith attempt to agree on a revised method of calculating such Financial Terms so as to reflect equitably such Accounting Change with the desired result that the result of the evaluation of the Borrower’s financial condition shall be substantially the same after such Accounting Change as if such Accounting Change had not been made; provided that such provision shall be applied 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 is amended in accordance herewith; and
(c) for the avoidance of doubt, if no notice of a desire to revise the method of calculating the Financial Terms in respect of an Accounting Change is given by either the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders within the applicable time period described in clause (ii) above, then the method of calculating the Financial Terms shall not be revised in response to such Accounting Change and all amounts to be determined pursuant to the Financial Terms shall be determined after giving effect to such Accounting Change.
If a Compliance Certificate is delivered in respect of a Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year in which an Accounting Change is implemented without giving effect to any revised method of calculating any of the Financial Terms, and subsequently, as provided above, the method of calculating one or more of the Financial Terms is revised in response to such Accounting Change, the Borrower shall deliver a revised Compliance Certificate. Any Event of Default which arises as a result of the Accounting Change and which is cured by this Section 1.03 shall be deemed to have never occurred.
SECTION 1.04. Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The interest rate on an Advance denominated in Dollars may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is,
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or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.09(f) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, 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 Administrative 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 Administrative 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. Certain Matters Related to Ratings. For the purposes hereof:
(a) the long term debt of the Borrower shall not be considered to be “not rated” (or to like effect) by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (each, a “Rating Agency”) by reason of such Rating Agency ceasing to carry on the business of providing ratings of the long term debt of corporate borrowers based on creditworthiness assessments. If two of the Rating Agencies cease carrying on the business of providing ratings of the long term debt of corporate borrowers based on creditworthiness assessments, then for purposes of calculating “Applicable Margin” and the definition of “Investment Grade”, the rating of the remaining Rating Agency only shall be utilized;
(b) if all of the Rating Agencies cease carrying on the business of providing ratings of the long term debt of corporate borrowers based on creditworthiness assessments, then:
(i) the Borrower and the Lenders shall attempt in good faith for a period of thirty (30) days thereafter to determine substitute definitions for or amendments to the Applicable Margin and Investment Grade, which may include attempting to agree on some other entity (which may include a debt rating agency or a nationally recognized securities dealer) (a “Substitute Rating Entity”) to assign a rating to the long term debt of the Borrower as contemplated in the following paragraph (ii) and to agree, if necessary, on the ratings of such Substitute Rating Entity which most closely correspond to those in the definitions of Applicable Margin and Investment Grade, as applicable (“Equivalent Ratings”); and
(ii) if by the end of such thirty (30) day period the Borrower and the Lenders have not agreed upon substitute definitions for or amendments to the Applicable Margin and Investment Grade, as applicable, pursuant to the preceding paragraph (i), then during a period of sixty (60) days thereafter, the Borrower and the Lenders shall, if such has not already been accomplished, continue to attempt in good faith to agree on a Substitute Rating Entity and, if applicable, Equivalent Ratings and, if a Substitute Rating Entity has been agreed on, the Borrower shall
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attempt to obtain from the Substitute Rating Entity a rating (“Substitute Rating”) for the long term debt of the Borrower;
it being agreed that:
(iii) during the thirty (30) day and sixty (60) day periods contemplated in the preceding paragraphs (i) and (ii), or such part thereof which elapses before an alternate approach is finally established as contemplated in such paragraphs (i) and (ii), the rates applicable from time to time in accordance with the Applicable Margin and based on the rating applicable to the long term debt of the Borrower immediately before the commencement of the thirty (30) day period contemplated in the preceding paragraph (i) shall apply;
(iv) if a Substitute Rating Entity and, if applicable, Equivalent Ratings have been agreed on and the Substitute Rating Entity has established a Substitute Rating for the long term debt of the Borrower by or before the expiration of the sixty (60) day period contemplated in the preceding paragraph (ii), then thereupon and thereafter the same shall apply and, if applicable, the Applicable Margin and the definition of Investment Grade shall be deemed to have been amended to incorporate the Equivalent Ratings in place of the ratings referred to in the Applicable Margin and the definition of Investment Grade; provided the Substitute Rating shall be subject to review by the Substitute Rating Entity from time to time (but not more often than once in any 12 month period) at the request of either the Borrower or the Administrative Agent given in writing to the other (any such review to determine whether the Substitute Rating should change to another rating category or, if applicable, Equivalent Rating for the long term debt of the Borrower) and if any such review results in a change in the Substitute Rating, then thereupon and thereafter (subject to further reviews as aforesaid) the same shall apply; and
(v) if an alternate approach has not been finally established as contemplated in the preceding paragraphs (i) and (ii) by the expiration of the sixty (60) day period referred to in the preceding paragraph (ii), then the rates applicable from time to time in accordance with the Applicable Margin and based on the rating applicable to the long term debt of the Borrower immediately before the commencement of the thirty (30) day period contemplated in the preceding paragraph (i) shall continue to apply;
(c) the rating categories and ratings of any Rating Agency or Substitute Rating Entity referred to herein shall include any equivalent rating category or rating of such Rating Agency or Substitute Rating Entity which replaces the same; and
(d) any reference in this Section 1.05 to the long term debt of the Borrower (or to like effect) shall be deemed to be a reference to the senior unsecured non-convertible publicly-held long term debt of the Borrower.
SECTION 1.06. 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.
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ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
SECTION 2.01. The Advances. (a) The Revolving Credit Advances. Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make advances (the “Revolving Credit Advances”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed such Lender’s Unused Commitment at such time. Each Borrowing shall be in a minimum aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall consist of Revolving Credit Advances of the same Type made on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their respective Revolving Credit Commitments. Within the limits set forth in this Section 2.01(a), the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(a), prepay pursuant to Section 2.11 and reborrow under this Section 2.01(a).
(b) Letters of Credit. Each Issuing Bank severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to issue letters of credit (the “Letters of Credit”) for the account of the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the date hereof until sixty (60) days before the Termination Date in an aggregate Available Amount (i) for all Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank not to exceed at any time outstanding such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment at such time minus the aggregate principal amount of all Letter of Credit Advances relating to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank outstanding at such time and (ii) for any Letter of Credit not to exceed the aggregate Unused Commitments at such time. In addition, at no time shall the sum of any Lender’s (a) outstanding principal amount of Revolving Credit Advances and (b) (i) aggregate undrawn amount of outstanding Letters of Credit plus (ii) payments made by such Lender in connection with any Letters of Credits that have not yet been reimbursed by the Borrower (clauses (a) and (b), collectively, such Lender’s “Revolving Credit Exposure”) exceed its total Commitment. No Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date later than sixty (60) days before the Termination Date. Within the limits set forth in this Section 2.01(b), the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(b), repay any Letter of Credit Advances resulting from drawings thereunder pursuant to Section 2.04(c) and request the issuance of additional Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(b). The Borrower may request the issuance of Commercial Letters of Credit and Standby Letters of Credit.
SECTION 2.02. Making the Revolving Credit Advances. (a) Except in the case of a Borrowing for which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.02(b) must be satisfied, each Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) (x) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Term Benchmark Advances, or (y) on the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances, by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof by telecopier. Each such notice of a Borrowing (together with each notice of a Borrowing described in the next succeeding sentence of this Section 2.02(a), a “Notice of Borrowing”) shall be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing, or telecopier in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such Borrowing, (ii) Type of Revolving Credit 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 for each such Revolving Credit Advance. In the case of a Borrowing for which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.02(b) must be satisfied, (A) such Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the seventh Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing, whether such Borrowing is to consist of Term Benchmark Advances or Base Rate Advances,
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by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof by telecopier or other electronic transmission, and (B) the Notice of Borrowing relating to such Borrowing shall contain a request for a waiver setting forth specifically the Default or event which, but for the application of the last sentence of Section 6.01, would be such a Default that is requested to be waived by the Required Lenders, or by each of the Lenders, as set forth in Section 3.02(b). Each Lender shall, before 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing (in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Term Benchmark Advances), and before 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing (in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances), make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing. After the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Administrative Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower at the Administrative Agent’s address referred to in Section 8.02 or at an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in such Notice of Borrowing; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall first make a portion of such funds equal to the aggregate principal amount of any Letter of Credit Advances outstanding on the date of such Borrowing, plus interest accrued and unpaid thereon and fees and other amounts due and payable in respect of such Letter of Credit Advances to and as of such date, available to the appropriate Issuing Bank and/or other Lenders for repayment of such Letter of Credit Advances.
(b) Anything in subsection (a) above to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the Borrower may not select Term Benchmark Advances for any Borrowing if the obligation of the Lenders to make Term Benchmark Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to Section 2.09, and (ii) the Term Benchmark Advances may not be outstanding as part of more than twenty separate Borrowings.
(c) Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing that the related Notice of Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of Term Benchmark Advances, the Borrower 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 fund the Revolving Credit Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Revolving Credit Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing comprised of Term Benchmark Advances or prior to 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed disbursement of any Borrowing comprised of Base Rate Advances that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion of any Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent on demand such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing and all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection therewith together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that notwithstanding such obligation if such Lender fails to so pay, the Borrower covenants and agrees that,
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without prejudice to any rights the Borrower may have against such Lender, the Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent upon demand therefor by the Administrative Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing and all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection therewith together with interest thereon at the Base Rate in the case of a Base Rate Advance and the Term Benchmark in the case of a Term Benchmark Advance, plus the Applicable Margin with respect thereto, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent. The amount payable to the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be set forth in a certificate delivered by the Administrative Agent to such Lender and the Borrower (which certificate shall contain reasonable details concerning the calculation of the amount payable) and shall be prima facie evidence thereof, in the absence of manifest error. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Credit Advance as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
(e) The failure of any Lender to make the Revolving Credit 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 Revolving Credit Advance on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Revolving Credit Advance to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.
SECTION 2.03. [Reserved].
SECTION 2.04. Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters of Credit. (a) Request for Issuance. Except in the case of a Letter of Credit issuance for which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.02(b) must be satisfied, each Letter of Credit shall be issued upon notice, given not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the third Business Day, except in the case of an initial issuance that occurs less than three (3) Business Days after the date hereof, in which case such notice may be given not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the second Business Day, prior to the date of the proposed issuance of such Letter of Credit, by the Borrower to any Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent, which the Administrative Agent shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof. Each such notice of issuance of a Letter of Credit (together with each notice of issuance described in the next succeeding sentence of this Section 2.04(a), a “Notice of Issuance”) shall be in writing, or telecopier, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such issuance (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) Available Amount of such Letter of Credit, (iii) expiration date of such Letter of Credit, (iv) name and address of the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit and (v) form of such Letter of Credit, and shall be accompanied by such application and agreement for letter of credit as such Issuing Bank may specify to the Borrower for use in connection with such requested Letter of Credit (a “Letter of Credit Agreement”). In the case of a Letter of Credit issuance for which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.02(b) must be satisfied, (A) such Letter of Credit shall be issued upon notice, given not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the seventh Business Day prior to the date of the proposed issuance of such Letter of Credit, by the Borrower to any Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof by telecopier, and (B) the Notice of Issuance relating to such Letter of Credit issuance shall contain a request for a waiver setting forth specifically the Default or event which, but for the application of the last sentence of Section 6.01, would be such a Default that is requested to be waived by the Required Lenders, or by each of the Lenders, as set forth in Section 3.02(b). If (I) the requested form of such Letter of Credit is acceptable to such Issuing Bank in its sole and reasonable discretion, and (II) such Issuing Bank has received notice from the Administrative Agent that the Issuing Bank may issue such Letter of Credit (which notice shall be sent by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank if the applicable conditions set forth in Article II and III have been fulfilled and the Administrative Agent has
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not received any notice of objection to such issuance from the Required Lenders), then such Issuing Bank will make such Letter of Credit as directed by the Borrower in connection with such issuance. In the event and to the extent that the provisions of any Letter of Credit Agreement shall conflict with this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.
(b) Letter of Credit Reports. Each Issuing Bank shall furnish to the Administrative Agent on the fifth Business Day of each month a written report summarizing the issuance date, Available Amount and expiration date with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the previous month.
(c) Drawing and Reimbursement. The payment by any Issuing Bank of a draft drawn under any Letter of Credit shall constitute for all purposes of this Agreement the making by such Issuing Bank of a Base Rate Advance (a “Letter of Credit Advance”), in the amount of such draft. Upon written demand by any Issuing Bank with an outstanding Letter of Credit Advance, with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall purchase from such Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank shall sell and assign to each such Lender, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such outstanding Letter of Credit Advance as of the date of such purchase, by making available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank, by deposit to the Administrative Agent’s Account, in same day funds, an amount equal to the portion of the outstanding principal amount of such Letter of Credit Advance to be purchased by such Lender. Promptly after receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent shall transfer such funds to such Issuing Bank. The Borrower hereby agrees to each such sale and assignment. Each Lender agrees to purchase its Pro Rata Share of an outstanding Letter of Credit Advance on (i) the Business Day on which demand therefor is made by the Issuing Bank which made such Advance, provided notice of such demand is given not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on such Business Day or (ii) the first Business Day next succeeding such demand if notice of such demand is given after such time and that its agreement to so purchase its Pro Rata Share of an outstanding Letter of Credit Advance is absolute, unconditional and irrevocable. Upon any such assignment by an Issuing Bank to any other Lender of a portion of a Letter of Credit Advance, such Issuing Bank represents and warrants to such other Lender that such Issuing Bank is the legal and beneficial owner of such interest being assigned by it, free and clear of any liens, but makes no other representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to such Letter of Credit Advance, the Loan Documents or the Borrower. If and to the extent that any Lender shall not have so made the amount of such Letter of Credit Advance available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date of demand by such Issuing Bank until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for its account or the account of such Issuing Bank, as applicable. If such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent such amount for the account of such Issuing Bank on any Business Day, such amount so paid in respect of principal shall constitute a Letter of Credit Advance made by such Lender on such Business Day for purposes of this Agreement, and the outstanding principal amount of the Letter of Credit Advance made by such Issuing Bank shall be reduced by such amount on such Business Day.
(d) Failure to Make Letter of Credit Advances. The failure of any Lender to make the Letter of Credit Advance to be made by it on the date specified in Section 2.04(c) shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to make its Letter of Credit Advance on such date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Letter of Credit Advance to be made by such other Lender on such date.
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(e) An Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.07(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (x) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued thereafter and (y) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Banks, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(f) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, any Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such Issuing Bank shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.04(e) above.
SECTION 2.05. Fees. (a) Commitment Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee on the average daily amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, minus the aggregate of (i) the average daily outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Advances and (ii) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the average daily outstanding Available Amount of all Letters of Credit, from the Effective Date in the case of each Initial Lender and from the effective date specified in the Assignment and Assumption or amendment to this Agreement, as the case may be, pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender until the Termination Date at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the final Business Day of each March, June, September and December, in respect of the calendar quarter ending on the final day of such March, June, September or December, as the case may be, commencing June 30, 2022, and on the Termination Date; provided that no Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).
(b) Letter of Credit Fees.
(i) The Borrower shall pay (A) to the Administrative Agent for the account of an Issuing Bank an issuance fee in an amount agreed in writing between the Borrower and such Issuing Bank of the Available Amount for each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, payable on the date on which such Letter of Credit shall be issued by such Issuing Bank and (B) to such Issuing Bank, such other commissions, transfer fees and other fees and charges in connection with the issuance or administration of each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank as the Borrower and such Issuing Bank shall agree, payable from time to time as agreed between the Borrower and such Issuing Bank; and
(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender an issuance fee on the average daily outstanding Available Amount of all Letters of Credit, from the Effective Date in the case of each Initial Lender and from the effective date specified in the Assignment and Assumption or amendment to this Agreement, as the
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case may be, pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender until the later of the Termination Date and the date on which all obligations of the Issuing Banks under this Agreement under all Letters of Credit terminate, at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Fee Rate for the Letters of Credit, in effect from time to time, and payable in arrears quarterly on the final Business Day of each March, June, September and December, in respect of the calendar quarter ending on the final day of such March, June, September or December, as the case may be, commencing June 30, 2022, and on the Termination Date and, if later, the date on which all obligations of the Issuing Banks under this Agreement under all Letters of Credit terminate.
(c) Administrative Agent’s Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account such fees as may from time to time be agreed in writing between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 2.06. Termination or Reduction of the Commitments. (a) The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least two (2) Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate in whole or reduce ratably in part the unused portions of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Sub-Commitments of the Issuing Banks, provided that each partial reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. In the event that the Letter of Credit Sub-Commitments at any time exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sub-Commitments shall at such time automatically be reduced to an amount equal to the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Administrative Agent shall give each Lender and each Issuing Bank prompt notice of any such reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments and/or the Letter of Credit Sub-Commitments.
(b) The Borrower may terminate the Unused Commitment of a Defaulting Lender, and terminate a Defaulting Lender as Issuing Bank upon not less than three (3) Business Days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly notify the Lenders thereof), provided, that such termination will not be deemed to be a waiver or release of any claim the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender, including without limitation in respect of any breach of such Defaulting Lender of its obligations under this Agreement prior to such termination.
(c) If any Lender or Issuing Bank makes demand for any amounts under Section 2.12, or the Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts to such Lender under Section 2.15, and such Lender is unable to designate a different Applicable Lending Office as provided in Section 2.17(a), then the Borrower may (i) designate another bank that is an Eligible Assignee to replace such Lender or Issuing Bank in accordance with, and subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in, Section 2.17 or (ii) if there are no Letters of Credit and no Letter of Credit Advances then outstanding, (A) pay or prepay the aggregate principal amount of all Advances owing to such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon to the date of such prepayment, and all fees and other amounts due and payable to such Lender or Issuing Bank under any provision of this Agreement (including, but not limited to, any amounts owing under this Section 2.12 or Section 2.15 or 8.04(c)) as of the date of such payment or prepayment and (B) terminate in whole such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s Commitment or Commitments (and if the total Letter of Credit Sub-Commitments of all remaining Issuing Banks would be greater than the total Revolving Credit Commitments of all remaining Lenders, reduce pro-rata the Letter of Credit Sub-Commitments of such remaining Issuing Banks to an aggregate amount equal to the total Revolving Credit Commitments of the remaining Lenders.
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SECTION 2.07. Repayment of Advances. (a) Revolving Credit Advances. On the Termination Date, the Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances outstanding on the Termination Date.
(b) Letter of Credit Advances. (i) The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Issuing Bank and each other Lender that has made a Letter of Credit Advance on the first Business Day next succeeding the date on which such Letter of Credit Advance was made, the outstanding principal amount of such Letter of Credit Advance.
(ii) The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, any Letter of Credit Agreement and any other agreement or instrument relating to any Letter of Credit shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such Letter of Credit Agreement and such other agreement or instrument under all circumstances, including, without limitation, the following circumstances (it being understood that any such payment by the Borrower is without prejudice to, and does not constitute a waiver of, any rights the Borrower might have or might acquire as a result of the payment by any Issuing Bank of any draft or the reimbursement by the Borrower thereof):
(A) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document, any Letter of Credit Agreement, any Letter of Credit or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto (all of the foregoing being, collectively, the “L/C Related Documents”);
(B) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of any L/C Related Document or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the L/C Related Documents;
(C) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of a Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), any Issuing Bank or any other Person, whether in connection with the transactions contemplated by the L/C Related Documents or any unrelated transaction;
(D) any statement or any other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;
(E) payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;
(F) any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any guarantee, for all or any of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of the L/C Related Documents; or
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(G) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or a guarantor.
SECTION 2.08. Interest. (a) Scheduled Interest. The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance owing to each Lender or Issuing Bank 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 (A) the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus (B) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears (1) in the case of a Revolving Credit Advance, quarterly on the final day of each March, June, September and December during such periods and on the date such Revolving Credit Advance shall be Converted or paid in full and (2) in the case of a Letter of Credit Advance, on demand and on the date such Letter of Credit Advance shall be 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 (A) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period for such Advance, plus (B) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears on the final day of such Interest Period and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period and on the date such Term Benchmark Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
(b) Default Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a), the Borrower shall pay 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)(i) or (a)(ii) 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)(i) or (a)(ii) 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.
SECTION 2.09. Interest Rate Determination. (a) The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the Administrative Agent for purposes of Section 2.08(a).
(b) If, with respect to any Term Benchmark Advances, (x) the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent that the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances will not adequately reflect the cost to such Required Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Term Benchmark Advances for such Interest Period, or (y) the Administrative Agent is unable to determine the Term SOFR Reference Rate under the definition thereof, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon (i) each Term Benchmark Advance will automatically, on the final day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance, and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Term Benchmark
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Advances shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
(c) If the 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 Administrative Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders and such Advances will automatically, on the final day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate Advances.
(d) On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Term Benchmark Advances comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than $1,000,000, such Advances shall automatically Convert into Base Rate Advances.
(e) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section 6.01(a), (i) each Term Benchmark Advance will automatically, on the final day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to Convert Advances into Term Benchmark Advances shall be suspended.
(f) 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 (i) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (ii) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative 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.
(h) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower 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 (i) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.09, 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
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their sole discretion and without consent from any other party hereto, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.09.
(i) 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) 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 Administrative 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 Administrative 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 Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.
(j) Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Advances to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to a Base Rate Borrowing. 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 is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Advance, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.09, 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 Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, a Base Rate Advance.
SECTION 2.10. Optional Conversion of Advances. The Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and subject to the provisions of Section 2.09, Convert the whole or any part of the Revolving Credit Advances of one Type comprising the same Borrowing made to the Borrower into Revolving Credit Advances of the other Type; provided, however, any Conversion of Term Benchmark Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be made only on the final day of an Interest Period for such Term Benchmark Advances and any Conversion of Base Rate Advances into Term Benchmark Advances shall be in an amount not less than $1,000,000 and no Conversion of any Advances shall result in more separate Borrowings than permitted under Section 2.02(b). Each such notice of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Revolving Credit 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.
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SECTION 2.11. Optional Prepayments of Advances. The Borrower may, upon at least one (1) Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) for Base Rate Advances, and upon at least two (2) Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) for Term Benchmark Advances, stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit 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, (a) each partial prepayment of Revolving Credit Advances shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (b) in the event of any such prepayment of a Term Benchmark Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(c).
SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs. (a) If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation subsequent to the date hereof or (ii) the compliance with any written guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law), announced, issued, made or imposed subsequent to the date hereof, there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Term Benchmark Advances or to any Issuing Bank of agreeing to issue or issuing or maintaining Letters of Credit (excluding for purposes of this Section 2.12 any such increased costs resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 2.15 shall govern), (ii) taxes considered excluded from “Taxes” under the second sentence of Section 2.15(e)(i), (iii) Taxes for which a Lender Party is not entitled to indemnification under Section 2.15(a) or Section 2.15(b) as a result of the failure of such Lender Party to provide the Borrower with the appropriate form, certificate or other document described in Section 2.15(e), and (iv) FATCA), then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender or Issuing Bank (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender or Issuing Bank additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank for such increased cost. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Lender or Issuing Bank, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay to such Lender such amounts unless such Lender at such time shall be generally assessing such amounts on a non-discriminatory basis against borrowers under agreements having provisions similar to this paragraph.
(b) If any Lender Party acting reasonably determines that compliance with any law or regulation or any written guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law) affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender Party or any corporation controlling such Lender Party and that the amount of such capital is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender Party’s Revolving Credit Commitment or Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment or other commitments of such type or is increased by or, if applicable, based upon the issuance by such Issuing Bank of any Letter of Credit and other letters of credit of such type, then, upon demand by such Lender Party (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender Party, from time to time as specified by such Lender Party, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender Party or such corporation in the light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Lender Party reasonably determines such increase in capital to be allocable to the existence of such Lender Party’s Revolving Credit Commitment or Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment or outstanding Letters of Credit; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay to such Lender such amounts unless such Lender at such time shall be generally assessing such amounts on a
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non-discriminatory basis against borrowers under agreements having provisions similar to this paragraph. A certificate as to such amounts, submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Lender Party, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error in the calculation of such amounts.
(c) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender Party to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender Party’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender Party pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than three months prior to the date that such Lender Party notifies the Borrower of the circumstances giving rise to such increased costs or reductions, and of such Lender Party’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the circumstance giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the three-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(d) For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 2.12 shall apply to all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy (i) issued in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and (ii) promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.
SECTION 2.13. [Reserved].
SECTION 2.14. Payments and Computations. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder, irrespective of any right of counterclaim or set-off, not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the day when due in United States Dollars to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Account in same day funds. The Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or commitment fees ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.05(b), 2.12, 2.15, 2.21 or 8.04(c)) to the Lenders or Issuing Banks to which such amounts shall be payable for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender or Issuing Bank to such Lender or Issuing Bank for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Assumption and recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(c), from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Assumption, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments hereunder 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) The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender and Issuing Bank, if and to the extent payment owed to such Lender or Issuing Bank is not made when due hereunder, to charge from time to time against any or all of the Borrower’s accounts with such Lender or Issuing Bank any amount so due.
(c) All computations of interest based on the rate of interest referred to in clause (a) of the definition of the term “Base Rate” in Section 1.01 shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all computations of interest based on the Term Benchmark or the rate of interest referred to in clause (b) or (c) of the definition of the term “Base Rate” in Section 1.01 and of fees shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the final day) occurring
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in the period for which such interest or fees are payable. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(d) Whenever any payment hereunder 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 fee, as the case may be; provided, however, 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 next preceding Business Day.
(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender or Issuing Bank on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender or Issuing Bank. If and to the extent the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, each Lender or Issuing Bank shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank until the date such Lender or Issuing Bank repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.
SECTION 2.15. Taxes. (a) Subject to Sections 2.15(e), (f) and (h), any and all payments by the Borrower under any Document and Loan Document shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.14, except as required by Applicable Law, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto imposed by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or any other jurisdiction from or through which the Borrower makes payment hereunder, excluding, (i) in the case of each Lender Party and the Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income or capital, branch profits taxes and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender Party or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender Party, taxes imposed on its overall net income or capital, branch profits taxes and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes, by the jurisdiction in which the principal office or such Lender Party’s Applicable Lending Office is located or any political subdivision thereof or any taxes imposed by Sections 864(c)(7) or 877 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any similar provision of law and (ii) any United States withholding tax imposed under FATCA (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities in respect of payments under any Document or Loan Document being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”). If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Document or Loan Document to any Lender Party or the Administrative Agent, or, if the Administrative Agent shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum paid or payable under any Document or Loan Document to any Lender Party, (i) the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased by the Borrower as may be necessary so that, after making all required deductions (including deductions, whether by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.15) such Lender Party and the Administrative Agent receive an amount equal to the sum they each would have received had no such deductions been made (for example, and without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, if the sum paid or payable hereunder from or in respect of which the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be
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required to deduct any Taxes is interest, the interest payable by such Borrower shall be increased by the Borrower as may be necessary so that, after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional interest), such Lender Party and the Administrative Agent each receive interest equal to the interest they each would have received had no such deduction been made), (ii) the Borrower (or, as the case may be and as required by applicable law, the Administrative Agent) shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower (or, as the case may be and as required by applicable law, the Administrative Agent) shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with Applicable Law.
(b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or similar levies that arise from any payment made under any Document or Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or otherwise with respect to, any Document or Loan Document, except any such taxes or similar levies that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.17(b)) (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).
(c) Subject to Sections 2.15(e), (f) and (h), the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender Party and the Administrative Agent for and hold each Lender Party and the Administrative Agent harmless against the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on or paid by such Lender Party or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, additions to tax, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. This indemnification shall be made within thirty (30) days from the date such Lender Party or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor.
(d) Within thirty (30) days after the date of any payment of Taxes by or on behalf of the Borrower, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 8.02, 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 Administrative Agent.
(e)
(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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (e)(ii), (iii) and (iv) of this Section) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material
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unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Each Lender Party that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Initial Lender Party and on the date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it becomes a Lender Party in the case of each other Lender Party, and from time to time thereafter as requested in writing by the Borrower or upon the obsolescence, expiration or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Lender Party (but only so long as such Lender Party remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with an executed copy of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9s or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto as required herein, in each case, certifying that such Lender Party is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax. If any Lender Party fails to deliver Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto as required herein, then the Borrower may withhold from any payment to such Lender Party the applicable backup withholding tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code and remit such amount to the applicable taxation authority if required by Applicable Law, without reduction, and such Lender Party shall not be entitled to any additional amounts under this Section 2.15 with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States by reason of such failure.
(iii) Each Lender Party that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Initial Lender Party and on the date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it becomes a Lender Party in the case of each other Lender Party, and from time to time thereafter as requested in writing by the Borrower or upon the obsolescence, expiration or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Lender Party (but only so long as such Lender Party remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with an executed copy of Internal Revenue Service form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, as appropriate, or any successor or other form or documentation prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that such Lender Party is exempt from or entitled to a reduced rate of United States withholding tax on payments pursuant to this Agreement and, (a) in the case of a Lender Party claiming the benefits of the exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest,” a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1, or (b) to the extent a Lender Party is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of Internal Revenue Service form W-8IMY, accompanied by Internal Revenue Service form W-8ECI, Internal Revenue Service form W-8BEN, Internal Revenue Service form W-8BEN-E, a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3, Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Lender Party is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Lender Party are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Lender Party may provide a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner. If the form provided by a Lender Party under this Section 2.15 at the time such Lender Party first becomes a party to this Agreement indicates a United States interest withholding tax rate in excess of zero, withholding tax at such rate shall be
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considered excluded from Taxes unless and until such Lender Party provides the appropriate forms certifying that a lesser rate applies, whereupon withholding tax at such lesser rate only shall be considered excluded from Taxes for periods governed by such appropriate form; provided, however, if at the date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which a Lender Party assignee becomes a party to this Agreement or at the date such Lender Party changes its Applicable Lending Office, the Lender Party assignor (or the Lender Party, if applicable) was entitled to payments under subsection (a) in respect of United States withholding tax with respect to interest paid at such date, then, to such extent, the term Taxes shall include (in addition to withholding taxes that may be imposed in the future or other amounts otherwise includable in Taxes) United States withholding tax, if any, applicable with respect to the Lender Party assignee (or the Lender Party, if applicable) on such date. If any form or document referred to in this subsection (e) requires the disclosure of information, other than information necessary to compute the tax payable and information required on the date hereof by Internal Revenue Service form W-8BEN, W- 8BEN-E or W-8ECI, that the Lender Party reasonably considers to be confidential, the Lender Party shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and shall not be obligated to include in such form or document such confidential information.
(iv) If a payment made to a Lender Party would be subject to United States federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender Party 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 Party shall deliver to the Borrower, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower, 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 in writing by the Borrower as may be necessary for the Borrower to comply with its obligations under FATCA, to determine that such Lender Party has complied with such Lender Party’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. For purposes of this Section 2.15(e)(ii), FATCA shall include any Treasury regulations or interpretations thereof.
(f) For any period with respect to which a Lender Party has failed to provide the Borrower with the appropriate form, certificate or other document described in Section 2.15(e), such Lender Party shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 2.15(a) or Section 2.15(c) with respect to Taxes imposed by reason of such failure.
(g) In the event that an additional payment is made under Section 2.15(a) or Section 2.15(c) for the account of any Lender Party and such Lender Party, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, determines that it has finally and irrevocably received or been granted a credit against or release or remission for, or repayment of, any tax paid or payable by it in respect of or calculated with reference to the deduction or withholding giving rise to such additional payment, such Lender Party shall, to the extent that it determines that it can do so without prejudice to the retention of the amount of such credit, relief, remission or repayment, pay to the Borrower such amount as such Lender Party shall, in its sole discretion, have determined to be attributable to such deduction or withholding and which will leave such Lender Party (after such payment) in no worse position than it would have been in if the Borrower had not been required to make such deduction or withholding; provided that the Borrower, upon the request of such Lender Party, agrees to pay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus penalties, interest
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and other reasonable charges) to such Lender Party in the event such Lender Party is required to repay such credit, relief, remission or repayment to the applicable taxation authority. Nothing herein contained shall interfere with the right of a Lender Party to arrange its tax affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit nor oblige any Lender Party to claim any tax credit or to disclose any information relating to its tax affairs or any computations in respect thereof or require any Lender Party to do anything that would prejudice its ability to benefit from any other credits, reliefs, remissions or repayments to which it may be entitled.
SECTION 2.16. Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Advances or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Advances and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Advances and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Advances and other amounts owing them; provided that:
(i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Advances or participations in L/C Obligations to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply).
The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender by delivering payment pursuant to this Section 2.16 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 a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
SECTION 2.17. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12 or requires the Borrower to pay additional amounts to any Lender or any governmental authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Advances hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.15, as the case may be, in the future, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise cause more than an insubstantial disadvantage to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. So long as no Default is continuing, if (i) the Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts to any Lender pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.15,
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(ii) [reserved], (iii) any Lender fails to extend the Termination Date in accordance with Section 8.11, (iv) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or (v) any Lender does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (x) requires the approval of all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 8.01 and (y) has been approved by the Required Lenders (a “Non-Approving Lender”), then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, within fifteen (15) days of being notified of such condition or circumstance, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 8.07), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:
(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 8.07;
(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 and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 8.04(c)) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.12 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.15, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable law; and
(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.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
SECTION 2.18. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Advances shall be available (and the Borrower agrees that it shall use such proceeds) solely for general corporate purposes of the Borrower (including, without limitation, the making of loans by the Borrower to any of its Subsidiaries) and its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 2.19. Increase of Commitments. (a) The Borrower may, at any time on or after a Section 2.19 Effective Date, but in any event not more than two times during any calendar year, make a written request (an “Increase Request”) to the Administrative Agent (who shall forward a copy to each Lender) that the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders be increased in (i) an aggregate amount for each Increase Request of not less than $25,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (such amount being the “Requested RCC Increase”) and (ii) an aggregate amount for such Increase Request, together with the aggregate amount by which the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders were previously increased pursuant to this Section 2.19, if any, not to exceed $500,000,000. Such Increase Request shall include a certification by a Senior Financial Officer of the Borrower that no Default has occurred and is continuing and all representations and warranties contained herein are true
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and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of the Increase Request (it being understood and agreed that any representation or warranty which expressly refers by its terms to a specified date shall be required to be true and correct in all material respects only as of such date). Any such increase in Revolving Credit Commitments shall be effective as of a date (the “Increase Date”) specified in the related Increase Request that is (I) prior to the Termination Date and (II) at least fifteen (15) Business Days after the date of such Increase Request. Each Increase Request shall specify the date by which Lenders who wish to increase their Revolving Credit Commitments must consent to such increase, which date (the “Commitment Date”) shall be no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the related Increase Date. Each Lender that is willing to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment (each such Lender, an “Increasing Lender”) shall notify the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Commitment Date of the amount by which it is willing to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment, which amount shall not exceed the amount specified in the relevant Increase Request. Any Lender that does not notify the Administrative Agent by the Commitment Date shall be deemed to have elected not to increase its Commitment. No Lender shall be obligated to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.19 and any such increase shall be in the sole discretion of each Lender and shall be subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If the Increasing Lenders notify the Administrative Agent that they are willing to increase the amount of their respective Revolving Credit Commitments by an aggregate amount that exceeds the amount of the requested increase, the requested increase shall be allocated among the Increasing Lenders ratably in accordance with the amount by which they offered to increase their respective Revolving Credit Commitments on or prior to the Commitment Date.
(b) Promptly following each Commitment Date, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower as to the amount, if any, by which the Increasing Lenders are willing to participate in the requested increase. If the aggregate amount by which the Increasing Lenders are willing to increase their Revolving Credit Commitments on any such Commitment Date is less than the requested amount, then any one or more Eligible Assignees designated by the Borrower that agree to provide Revolving Credit Commitments may become party to this Agreement by executing and delivering, together with the Borrower, an Accession Letter Agreement pursuant to which such Eligible Assignee shall become a party to this Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, shall have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder; provided that each such Eligible Assignee shall provide a Revolving Credit Commitment in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.
(c) On each Increase Date, (i) each Eligible Assignee that accepts an offer to participate in a requested Revolving Credit Commitment increase in accordance with Section 2.19(b) shall become a Lender party to this Agreement as of such Increase Date and the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Increasing Lender shall be increased as of such Increase Date by the amount set forth in its notice delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.19(a) (or by the amount allocated to such Lender pursuant to the final sentence of Section 2.19(a)) and (ii) if on such date there are Advances outstanding, appropriate adjustments shall be made among the Lenders to cause each Lender to hold its Pro Rata Share of such outstanding Advances as of the Increase Date.
(d) The Borrower may from time to time in accordance with Section 2.19(a) make an Increase Request on and after a date (each such date, the “Section 2.19 Effective Date”) on which the Administrative Agent shall have received the following in respect of the Requested RCC Increase set forth in such Increase Request, each dated as of the applicable Section 2.19 Effective Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in sufficient copies for each Lender:
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(i) Certified copies of the resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower approving the transactions contemplated by the applicable Requested RCC Increase, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.19.
(ii) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign an Increase Request and the other documents to be delivered by the Borrower under this Section 2.19.
(iii) An opinion of New York counsel to the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit D or otherwise in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 2.20. Evidence of Debt. (a) Each Lender Party shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender Party resulting from each Advance owing to such Lender Party from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender Party from time to time hereunder.
(b) The Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(c) shall include a control account, and a subsidiary account for each Lender Party, in which accounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the date, amount and type of each Advance made hereunder, and, if appropriate, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the terms of each Assignment and Assumption and Accession Letter Agreement delivered to and accepted by it, (iii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender Party hereunder and (iv) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower hereunder and each Lender Party’s share thereof.
(c) Entries made in good faith by the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to subsection (b) above, shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender Party under this Agreement, absent manifest error; provided, however, that the failure of the Administrative Agent to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement.
SECTION 2.21. Defaulting Lenders. (a) If a Lender becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Lender, the following provisions shall apply:
(i) such Defaulting Lenders’ Pro Rata Share of the L/C Obligations will, subject to the limitation in the first proviso below, automatically be reallocated (effective on the day such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender) among the Non-Defaulting Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Commitments; provided that (A) the sum of each Non-Defaulting Lender’s aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Advances and allocated share of the L/C Obligations may not in any event exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Non-Defaulting Lender as in effect at the time of such reallocation and (B) neither such reallocation nor any payment by a Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant thereto will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party may have against such Defaulting Lender or cause such Defaulting Lender to be a Non-Defaulting Lender;
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(ii) to the extent that (a) any portion (the “unreallocated portion”) of the Defaulting Lender’s share of the L/C Obligations cannot be so reallocated, whether by reason of the first proviso in clause (i) above or otherwise and (b) the Defaulting Lender has not made an assignment and delegation pursuant to Section 2.17(b)(iv), in each case within twenty (20) days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice by the Administrative Agent that such Lender has become a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower will, not later than five (5) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (at the direction of an Issuing Bank), (A) Cash Collateralize the obligations of the Borrower in respect of such L/C Obligations in an amount at least equal to the aggregate amount of the unreallocated portion of such L/C Obligations, or (B) make other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank in their sole discretion to protect them against the risk of non-payment by such Defaulting Lender;
(iii) amounts deposited pursuant to clause (ii) above at the request of any Issuing Bank shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse such Issuing Bank for any participations required to be funded by such Defaulting Lender. In the event amounts so deposited with respect to any such Defaulting Lender for the benefit of any Issuing Bank exceed the Pro Rata Share of such Defaulting Lender attributable to the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower and, unless otherwise specified in writing by the Borrower, shall promptly return to the Borrower cash in the amount of such excess;
(iv) if the Borrower Cash Collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lenders share of the L/C Obligations pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender under Section 2.05(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s share of the L/C Obligations during the period that such Defaulting Lender’s share of the L/C Obligations is Cash Collateralized; and
(v) any amount paid by the Borrower (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any amounts set off by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.05(b)) or otherwise received by the Administrative Agent for the account of a Defaulting Lender under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, fees, indemnity payments or other amounts) will not be paid or distributed to such Defaulting Lender, but will instead be retained by the Administrative Agent in a segregated non-interest bearing account until (subject to Section 2.21(c)) the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments and payment in full of all obligations of the Borrower hereunder and will be applied by the Administrative Agent, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to the making of payments from time to time in the following order of priority: first to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, second to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to an Issuing Bank (pro rata as to the respective amounts owing to each of them) under this Agreement, third to the payment of post-default interest and then current interest due and payable to the Lenders hereunder other than Defaulting Lenders, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such interest then due and payable to them, fourth to the payment of fees then due and payable to the Non-Defaulting Lenders hereunder, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such fees then due and payable to them, fifth to pay principal then due and payable to the Non-Defaulting Lenders hereunder ratably in accordance with the amounts thereof then due and payable to them, sixth to the ratable
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payment of other amounts then due and payable to the Non-Defaulting Lenders, and seventh after the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments and payment in full of all obligations of the Borrower hereunder, to pay amounts owing under this Agreement to such Defaulting Lender or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. 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 2.21 shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
In furtherance of the foregoing, if any Lender becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Lender and the Borrower fails to comply with its obligations under Section 2.21(a)(ii) within the time periods set forth in such section and each Issuing Bank is hereby authorized by the Borrower (which authorization is irrevocable and coupled with an interest) to give, in its discretion, through the Administrative Agent, Notices of Borrowing pursuant to Section 3.02 in such amounts as may be required to fulfill the Borrower’s obligations under Section 2.21(a)(ii)(A).
(b) No Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender shall be increased or otherwise affected, and, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.21, performance by the Borrower of its obligations shall not be excused or otherwise modified as a result of the operation of this Section 2.21. The rights and remedies against a Defaulting Lender under this Section 2.21 are in addition to any other rights and remedies which the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender.
(c) If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank agree in writing in their discretion that a Lender that is a Defaulting Lender or a Potential Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender or Potential Defaulting Lender, as the case may be, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any amounts then held in the segregated account referred to in Section 2.21(a)(iii)), such Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase (for cash at face value) such portion of outstanding Advances of the other Lenders and/or make such other adjustments as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Credit Commitments and Letter of Credit Sub-Commitments of the Lenders to be on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective Commitments, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender or Potential Defaulting Lender and will be a Non-Defaulting Lender (and such exposure of each Lender will automatically be adjusted on a prospective basis to reflect the foregoing); provided, that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while such 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 or Potential Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender or Potential Defaulting Lender.
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ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING
SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. This amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement shall become effective on and as of the first date (such first date, the “Effective Date”) on which the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:
(a) The Administrative Agent shall not have received on or prior to the Effective Date notice from Required Lenders that a Material Adverse Change since December 31, 2021, has occurred and is continuing.
(b) There shall exist no action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, including any Environmental Action, pending or, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge after reasonable investigation, overtly threatened, before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) is reasonably likely to be determined adversely and, if determined adversely, would have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) purports to adversely affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) The Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent in writing as to the proposed Effective Date, and the Administrative Agent shall have notified each Lender thereof.
(d) The Borrower shall have paid all accrued and invoiced fees and reasonable expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (including the accrued and invoiced reasonable fees and out of pocket expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent).
(e) On the Effective Date, the following statements shall be true and the Administrative Agent shall have received for the account of each Lender and Issuing Bank a certificate signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, dated the Effective Date, stating that:
(i) The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of this Agreement are correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date; and
(ii) No event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Default.
(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each dated such day, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in sufficient copies for each Lender:
(i) This Agreement, executed by each of the parties hereto (which, subject to Section 8.12(b), may include any Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page).
(ii) Certified copies of the resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower approving this Agreement of the Borrower, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this Agreement.
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(iii) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered by the Borrower hereunder.
(iv) A guarantee (the “Guarantee”) duly executed by Ovintiv Canada ULC, substantially in the form previously provided to the Administrative Agent, together with (A) certified copies of the resolutions of the board of directors of Ovintiv Canada ULC approving its Guarantee, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to such Guarantee and (B) a certificate of an officer of Ovintiv Canada ULC certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of Ovintiv Canada ULC authorized to sign such Guarantee.
(v) An opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, special New York counsel to the Borrower and certain of its U.S. Subsidiaries, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto or otherwise in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(vi) An opinion of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, special Canadian counsel to Ovintiv Canada ULC, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto or otherwise in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(g) Borrower shall have made payment in full of the aggregate principal amount of all advances outstanding, under the Existing Credit Agreement, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other amounts invoiced and owing to the lenders thereunder to the Effective Date.
(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received, prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that will execute a Guarantee pursuant to Section 3.01(f)(iv) requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act to the extent requested in writing of the Borrower at least ten (10) days prior to the Effective Date.
(i) Provided (i) such information is reasonably requested from the Borrower and/or Ovintiv Canada ULC at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date and (ii) Borrower and/or Ovintiv Canada ULC qualify as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, then the Administrative Agent and each requesting Lender shall receive, at least three (3) days prior to the Effective Date, in connection with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a Beneficial Ownership Certification with respect to the Borrower and/or Ovintiv Canada ULC.
SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Issuance. (a) Except as specified in subsection (b) of this Section 3.02, the obligation of each Lender to make an Advance (other than a Letter of Credit Advance made by an Issuing Bank or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)) on the occasion of each Borrowing (including the initial Borrowing) and the obligation of each Issuing Bank to issue a Letter of Credit (including the initial issuance), shall be subject to the conditions precedent that the Effective Date shall have occurred and on the date of such Borrowing or issuance:
(i) the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Issuance and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Borrowing or the acceptance of the applicable Letter of Credit, as
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the case may be, shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing or issuance such statements are true):
(A) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of this Agreement (other than the representations and warranties included in clauses (e)(ii) and (f)(i) thereof) and contained in Section 7.1 of each Guarantee, for so long as such Guarantee is in existence or has not been terminated by its terms, are correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or issuance, before and after giving effect to such Borrowing or issuance 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 or issuance or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default; and
(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or documents as any Lender or Issuing Bank through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
(b) If a Default or an event which, but for the application of the last sentence of Section 6.01, would be such a Default (other than a Default or event specified in Section 6.01(e)) shall have occurred and be continuing, or would result from such Borrowing or issuance, the obligation of each Lender to make an Advance (other than a Letter of Credit Advance made by an Issuing Bank or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)) on the occasion of each Borrowing (including the initial Borrowing) and the obligation of each Issuing Bank to issue a Letter of Credit (including the initial issuance), shall be subject to the conditions precedent that the Effective Date shall have occurred and on the date of such Borrowing or issuance:
(i) the following statement shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Issuance and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Borrowing or the acceptance of the applicable Letter of Credit, as the case may be, shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing or issuance such statement is true): after giving effect to the waiver described in clause (ii) below, solely with respect to the subject matter of such waiver, the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of this Agreement are correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or issuance, before and after giving effect to such Borrowing or issuance and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date; and
(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received the approval of (I) the Required Lenders to waive any Default or any event which, but for the application of the last sentence of Section 6.01, would be such a Default specified in Section 6.01(b), (c), (d), (f), (g), (h) or (j), and (II) each of the Lenders to waive any Default or any event which, but for the application of the last sentence of Section 6.01, would be such a Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (i); and
(iii) the Administrative Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or documents as any Lender or Issuing Bank through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
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(c) In addition to the other conditions precedent herein set forth, if any Lender becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Lender or a Potential Defaulting Lender, the Issuing Bank will not be required to issue any Letter of Credit or to amend any outstanding Letter of Credit to increase the face amount thereof, alter the drawing terms thereunder or extend the expiry date thereof unless the Issuing Bank is satisfied that any exposure that would result therefrom is fully covered or eliminated in a manner satisfactory to the Issuing Bank. Nothing herein will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any other Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender, or cause such Defaulting Lender or Potential Defaulting Lender to be a Non-Defaulting Lender.
SECTION 3.03. 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 Administrative Agent responsible for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the date that the Borrower, by notice to the Lenders, designates as the proposed Effective Date, specifying its objection thereto. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of the occurrence of the Effective Date.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Borrower. The Borrower represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Each of the Borrower and each Material Subsidiary (i) is a Person duly organized, formed or incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, formation or incorporation, (ii) is duly qualified to carry on business in all jurisdictions in which it carries on any business, except to the extent the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) has full power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, are within the Borrower’s corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the Borrower’s charter or by-laws or (ii) law or any contractual restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower.
(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 execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement.
(d) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and may be subject to the discretion of courts with respect to the granting of equitable remedies and to the power of courts to stay proceedings for the execution of judgments.
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(e) (i) The Consolidated balance sheet of Encana Corporation and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2021, and the related Consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows of Encana Corporation and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, accompanied by an opinion of Encana Corporation’s auditors thereon, copies of which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent, fairly present the Consolidated financial condition of Encana Corporation and its Subsidiaries as at such date and the Consolidated results of the operations of Encana Corporation and its Subsidiaries for the period ended on such date, all in accordance with GAAP consistently applied. (ii) Since December 31, 2021, there has been no Material Adverse Change.
(f) There is no action, suit, litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, including any Environmental Action, pending or, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge after reasonable investigation, overtly threatened, before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) is reasonably likely to be determined adversely, and if determined adversely, would have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) purports to affect adversely the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(g) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, and their respective operations and properties, comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, except where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an Investment Company, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(i) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have filed, have caused to be filed or have been included in all tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed or, in the case of income taxes, required to be filed and where the failure to do so would cause the imposition of a penalty or interest, and in each case have paid all taxes shown thereon to be due, together with applicable interest and penalties other than taxes that are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(j) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect,
(i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan;
(ii) Schedule SB (Actuarial Information) to the most recent annual report (Form 5500 Series) for each Plan, copies of which have been filed with the Internal Revenue Service and furnished to the Lender Parties to the extent required under Section 5.01(h)(vi)(C), is complete and accurate and fairly presents the funding status of such Plan, and since the date of such Schedule SB there has been no material adverse change in such funding status;.
(iii) Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any Withdrawal Liability to any Multiemployer Plan;
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(iv) Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or has been terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and no such Multiemployer Plan is reasonably expected to be in reorganization or to be terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; and
(v) With respect to each scheme or arrangement mandated by a government other than the United States (a “Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement”) and with respect to each employee benefit plan maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not subject to United States law (a “Foreign Plan”):
(A) Any employer and employee contributions required by law or by the terms of any Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement or any Foreign Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued, in accordance with normal accounting practices.
(B) The fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Foreign Plan funded through insurance or the book reserve established for any Foreign Plan, together with any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations, as of the date hereof, with respect to all current and former participants in such Foreign Plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to account for such obligations in accordance with applicable GAAP.
(C) Each Foreign Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities.
(k) Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc.
(i) None of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a Sanctioned Person or permanently located, organized or ordinarily resident in a Sanctioned Country;
(ii) No part of the proceeds of an Advance will be knowingly (as determined at the date of such Advance) used (A) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person known by the Borrower to be in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, except to the extent that any such violation would not have a Material Adverse Effect or adversely affect the Administrative Agent or any Lender in any material respect, (B) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities or, business or transaction of or with any Person known to the Borrower to be a Sanctioned Person, or in any country known to the Borrower to be a Sanctioned Country, or (C) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries, except to the extent that any such violation would not have a Material Adverse Effect or adversely affect the Administrative Agent or any Lender in any material respect; and
(iii) Where used in this Section 4.01(k), references to “knowingly” or “known” means the actual knowledge of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of the Borrower.
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(l) To the knowledge of the Borrower, all information, materials and documents (other than any information expressly disclaimed by the Borrower and projections and forecasts) prepared by the Borrower and delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement are true and accurate in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement except to the extent that any inaccuracy would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock. No proceeds of the Advances or the Letters of Credit will be used for a purpose which violates Regulations T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.
(n) Neither the Borrower nor Ovintiv Canada ULC an Affected Financial Institution.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER
SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants. So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid, any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding or any Lender or Issuing Bank shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will:
(a) Compliance with Laws, Etc. Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include, without limitation, compliance with ERISA, the requirements applicable to each Foreign Plan and Environmental Laws, except where the failure to so comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Payment of Taxes, Etc. Pay and discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all material 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, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained, unless and until any Lien resulting therefrom which is material to the Borrower attaches to its property and becomes enforceable against its other creditors.
(c) Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance on all of its or their property which is of an insurable nature against such risks, in such amounts and in such manner as is usual in the case of corporations similarly situated and operating generally similar property and with such reputable insurance companies or associations as the Borrower may select; provided that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may from time to time adopt other methods or plans of protection, including self-insurance, against such risks in substitution or partial substitution for the aforesaid insurance if such plans or methods shall, in the opinion of the appropriate senior officers of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, be in its or their best interest, and neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to keep insured any of its property in respect of which insurance is being provided by others for its benefit.
(d) Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc. Subject to Section 5.02(a), the Borrower shall maintain its corporate existence.
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(e) Visitation Rights. At any reasonable time upon reasonable prior notice, permit the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders or Issuing Banks or any agents or representatives thereof, at their own cost, to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of, the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries with any of their senior officers or directors and with their independent auditors.
(f) Keeping of Books. Keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the Borrower and each such Subsidiary in accordance with GAAP.
(g) Maintenance of Properties, Etc. Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, its respective properties and assets that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except that nothing contained in this Section shall prevent the Borrower or its Material Subsidiaries (a) from selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of any of its or their property or assets in one or a series of related transactions if the cumulative effect of such actions would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) from ceasing to operate any of its or their property, assets or business, when in the opinion of the appropriate officers of the Borrower or its Material Subsidiaries it shall be advisable and in its or their best interests to do so.
(h) Reporting Requirements. Furnish to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to the Lenders:
(i) as soon as available and in any event within sixty-five (65) days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the Consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows of the Borrower for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such Fiscal Quarter, with a statement (subject to year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) by the chief financial officer or comptroller of the Borrower stating that such Consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, together with a Compliance Certificate (it being understood that the delivery by the Borrower of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form) of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries or a registration statement on Form S-1 or Form S-4 shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.01(h)(i) to the extent such annual reports or registration statement include the information specified herein);
(ii) as soon as available and in any event within ninety-five (95) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022), a copy of the Consolidated financial statements of the Borrower comprising the Consolidated balance sheet, the Consolidated statement of earnings, the Consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the Consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity and the Consolidated statement of cash flows pertaining to such fiscal year, together with the report and opinion of its independent auditors thereon confirming that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, together with a Compliance Certificate (it being understood that the delivery by the Borrower of annual reports on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) of the Borrower and its
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consolidated Subsidiaries or a registration statement on Form S-1 or Form S-4 shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.01(h)(ii) to the extent such quarterly reports or registration statements include the information specified herein);
(iii) in the case of each Default, as soon as possible and in any event within ten (10) days after a Senior Financial Officer of the Borrower has acquired knowledge of facts which constitute or give rise to such Default and provided that such Default is continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of the chief financial officer or chief executive officer of the Borrower setting forth details of such Default and the action that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(iv) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all reports that the Borrower sends to any of its securityholders, and copies of all reports and registration statements that the Borrower or any Subsidiary files with the Securities and Exchange Commission 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 Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the type described in Section 4.01(f);
(vi) ERISA:
(A) ERISA Events and ERISA Reports. (x) Promptly and in any event within ten (10) days after the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know that any ERISA Event which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, a statement of the chief financial officer of the Borrower describing such ERISA Event and the action, if any, that the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto and (y) on the date any records, documents or other information must be furnished to the PBGC with respect to any Plan pursuant to Section 4010 of ERISA, a copy of such records, documents and information;
(B) Plan Terminations. Promptly and in any event within three (3) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, copies of each notice from the PBGC stating its intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan;
(C) Plan Annual Reports. Promptly (x) and in any event within thirty (30) days after the filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service, copies of each Schedule SB (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each Plan maintained, sponsored or contributed to by the Borrower and (y) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, a copy of the Schedule SB with respect to any other Plan;
(D) Multiemployer Plan Notices. Promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan, copies of each notice concerning (x) the imposition of Withdrawal Liability by any such Multiemployer Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (y) the reorganization
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or termination, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, of any such Multiemployer Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (z) the amount of liability incurred, or that may be incurred, by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in connection with any event described in clause (x) or (y); and
(vii) at the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, such other information, report, certificates or other matters affecting its material business, affairs, financial condition, property or assets or the material business, affairs, financial condition, property or assets of any Material Subsidiary, as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may reasonably request, excluding any such information, report, certificates or other matters relating to any Person other than the Borrower or any of its Affiliates which the Borrower is prohibited from disclosing to the Lenders pursuant to a confidentiality agreement between the Borrower and such Person.
(i) Environmental Covenants.
(i) Without limiting the generality of Section 5.01(a), the Borrower shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and any other party acting under their direction to, conduct their business and operations so as to comply at all times with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits if the consequence of a failure to comply could reasonably be expected, either alone or in conjunction with any other such noncompliance, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) If the Borrower or its Subsidiaries shall:
(A) receive or give any notice that a violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit has or may have been committed or is about to be committed by the same, if such violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(B) receive any notice that a complaint, proceeding or order has been filed or is about to be filed against the same alleging a violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit, if such violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(C) receive any notice requiring the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, to take any action in connection with the Release of Hazardous Materials into the environment or alleging that the Borrower or a Subsidiary may be liable or responsible for costs associated with a response to or to clean-up a Release of Hazardous Materials into the environment or any damages caused thereby, if such action or liability could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
the Borrower shall promptly provide the Administrative Agent with a copy of such notice and shall, or shall cause its Subsidiary to, furnish to the Administrative Agent from time to time all reasonable information requested by the Administrative Agent relating to the same.
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(iii) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent promptly of any event or occurrence of which it is aware which could reasonably be expected to result in violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit if such event or occurrence could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(j) Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. Maintain in effect and enforce procedures to ensure compliance by the Borrower with its representation and warranty in Section 4.01(k) in respect of any requested Advance.
(k) Maintenance of Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio. Maintain, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, as reported to the Lenders in accordance with Section 5.01(h), a Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio which does not exceed 60%.
(l) Use of Proceeds. Use, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to use, the Proceeds of the Advances solely as set forth in Section 2.18 herein.
SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants. So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid, any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding or any Lender or Issuing Bank shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will not, unless the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower otherwise agree in writing in accordance with Section 8.01:
(a) Mergers, etc. Enter into or participate in any transaction which would result in the amalgamation or merger of the Borrower into any other Person or the sale, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Borrower's undertaking and assets (determined on a Consolidated basis) to another Person, unless:
(i) Except in the case of the amalgamation or merger of the Borrower with one or more Subsidiaries or the transfer of all or substantially all of the Borrower's undertaking and assets to one or more Subsidiaries, at least two Debt Ratings of the successor or transferee are Investment Grade (unless the Required Lenders approve any such transaction where the Debt Ratings of the successor or transferee are not Investment Grade);
(ii) the successor or transferee executes and delivers to the Administrative Agent such documents, if any, as may, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent , be necessary to confirm the assumption by the successor or transferee of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement; and
(iii) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all information regarding the successor or transferee reasonably requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and, if applicable, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, including any related necessary documentation.
(b) Negative Pledge. (i) Create, or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to create, any mortgage, hypothecation, charge or other encumbrance on any of its or their property or assets, present or future, to secure Indebtedness, unless at or prior thereto, the Advances, up to the maximum aggregate amount of the Commitments then in effect, are equally and ratably secured or, at the option of the Borrower, security in the form of other property having at such time a Value equal to 150% of the
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aggregate Commitments at such time is extended to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks; provided, however, that the preceding shall not apply to or operate to prevent the following:
(A) liens or other encumbrances, not related to the borrowing of money, incurred or arising by operation of law or in the ordinary course of business or incidental to the ownership of property or assets;
(B) pre-existing encumbrances on property or assets when acquired (including by way of lease);
(C) encumbrances or obligations to incur encumbrances (including under indentures, trust deeds and similar instruments) on property or assets of another Person existing at the time such other Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, or is liquidated or merged into, or amalgamated or consolidated with, the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower or at the time of the sale, lease or other disposition to the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of such other Person, provided that such encumbrances were not incurred in anticipation of such other Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower;
(D) encumbrances given by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in compliance with contractual commitments in existence at the date hereof or entered into prior to a Restricted Subsidiary becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;
(E) giving security by the Borrower or a Subsidiary in favor of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(F) creating, issuing or suffering to exist or becoming liable on, or giving or assuming, any Purchase Money Mortgage;
(G) creating, issuing or suffering to exist or becoming liable on, or giving or assuming any mortgage, hypothecation, charge or other encumbrance in connection with Indebtedness which, by its terms, is non-recourse to the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary;
(H) giving security on any specific property or asset in favor of a government within or outside the United States or any political subdivision, department, agency or instrumentality thereof to secure the performance of any covenant or obligation to or in favor of or entered into at the request of any such authorities where such security is required pursuant to any contract, statute, order or regulation;
(I) giving, in the ordinary course of business and for the purpose of carrying on the same, security on current assets to any bank or banks or others to secure any obligations repayable on demand or maturing, including any right of extension or renewal, within 12 months after the date such obligation is incurred;
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(J) giving security on property or assets of whatsoever nature other than Restricted Property; provided, however, security on Restricted Property may be given to secure obligations incurred or guarantees of obligations incurred in connection with or necessarily incidental to the purchase, sale, storage, transportation or distribution of such Restricted Property or of the products derived from such Restricted Property;
(K) encumbrances arising under partnership agreements, oil and natural gas leases, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, master limited partnership agreements, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, storage, transportation, distribution, gathering or processing of Restricted Property, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts (including security in respect of take or pay or similar obligations thereunder), area of mutual interest agreements, natural gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, which in each of the foregoing cases is customary in the oil and natural gas business, and other agreements which are customary in the oil and natural gas business, provided in all instances that such encumbrance is limited to the property or assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement;
(L) any encumbrance on any properties or facilities or any interest therein, construction thereon or improvement thereto incurred to secure all or any part of any Indebtedness relating to the reclamation and clean-up of such properties, facilities and interests and surrounding lands whether or not owned by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, the plugging or abandonment of wells and the decommissioning or removal of structures or facilities located on such properties or facilities provided such Indebtedness is incurred prior to, during or within two years after the completion of reclamation and clean-up or such other activity;
(M) encumbrances in respect of the joint development, operation or present or future reclamation, clean-up or abandonment of properties, facilities and surrounding lands or related production or processing as security in favor of any other owner or operator of such assets for the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s portion of the costs and expenses of such development, operation, reclamation, clean-up or abandonment;
(N) encumbrances on assets or property (including oil sands property) securing: (I) all or any portion of the cost of acquisition (directly or indirectly), surveying, exploration, drilling, development, extraction, operation, production, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of all or any part of such assets or property and the plugging and abandonment of wells thereon, (II) all or any portion of the cost of acquiring (directly or indirectly), developing, constructing, altering, improving, operating or repairing any assets or property (or improvements on such assets or property) used or to be used in connection with such assets or property, whether or not located (or located from time to time) at or on such assets or
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property, (III) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to provide funds for the activities set forth in clauses (I) and (II) above, provided such Indebtedness is incurred prior to, during or within two years after the completion of acquisition, construction or such other activities referred to in clauses (I) and (II) above, and (IV) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to refinance Indebtedness incurred for the purposes set forth in clauses (I) and (II) above. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, costs incurred after the date hereof with respect to clauses (I) or (II) above shall include costs incurred for all facilities relating to such assets or property, or to projects, ventures or other arrangements of which such assets or property form a part or which relate to such assets or property, which facilities shall include, without limitation, Facilities, whether or not in whole or in part located (or from time to time located) at or on such assets or property;
(O) encumbrances granted in the ordinary course of business in connection with Financial Instrument Obligations;
(P) deposits referred to in clause (a) of the proviso to the definition of Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio;
(Q) any extension, renewal, alteration, refinancing, replacement, exchange or refunding (or successive extensions, renewals, alterations, refinancings, replacements, exchanges or refundings) of all or part of any encumbrance referred to in the foregoing clauses; provided, however, that (i) such new encumbrance shall be limited to all or part of the property or assets which was secured by the prior encumbrance plus improvements on such property or assets and (ii) the Indebtedness, if any, secured by the new encumbrance is not increased from the amount of the Indebtedness secured by the prior encumbrance then existing at the time of such extension, renewal, alteration, refinancing, replacement, exchange or refunding, plus an amount necessary to pay fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such extensions, renewals, alterations, refinancings, replacements, exchanges or refundings; and
(R) liens or other encumbrances granted pursuant to Section 2.21 hereof;
and provided further that (I) in any event, the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary shall be entitled to give security that would otherwise be prohibited hereby so long as the aggregate Indebtedness outstanding and secured under this clause (I) and the aggregate Indebtedness outstanding and secured under Section 5.02(b)(i)(N) does not at the time of giving such security exceed an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Borrower at such time and (II) in no event shall the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary be entitled to give security that would otherwise be permitted by Section 5.02(b)(i)(N) if such security secures Indebtedness which exceeds an amount equal to 10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Borrower at such time.
(ii) Transactions such as the sale (including any forward sale) or other transfer of (A) oil, gas, minerals or other resources of a primary nature, whether in place or when produced, for a period of time until, or in an amount such that, the purchaser will realize
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therefrom a specified amount of money or a specified rate of return (however determined), or a specified amount of such oil, gas, minerals, or other resources of a primary nature, or (B) any other interest in property of the character commonly referred to as a “production payment”, will not constitute secured indebtedness and will not result in the Borrower being required to secure the Borrowings.
(iii) In the event security has been provided to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in accordance with this Section 5.02(b) and the maximum principal amount of the Commitments is thereafter permanently reduced at any time or from time to time, the Borrower may request once in each calendar year, and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks shall grant at the Borrower’s expense, discharges of security as will ensure that the remaining security secures, to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks acting reasonably, the maximum principal amount of Advances which are, or which may become, outstanding after giving effect to such permanent reduction in the total amount of the Commitments.
(c) [Reserved].
(d) Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date hereof, provided that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may engage in any Similar Business.
(e) Financing Debt of Certain Subsidiaries. Permit:
(i) the aggregate Financing Debt of all Material Subsidiaries (other than any Material Subsidiary that is a Guarantor Subsidiary), on a Consolidated basis; plus, without duplication
(ii) the aggregate Indebtedness secured by security interests over Restricted Property given by the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary in favor of Subsidiaries (other than Guarantor Subsidiaries) which are not Material Subsidiaries; plus, without duplication
(iii) the aggregate Financing Debt of Finance Co.; plus, without duplication
(iv) the amount by which the aggregate Financing Debt of any Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than Finance Co. or a Material Subsidiary) exceeds an aggregate of $750,000,000 and which Financing Debt is guaranteed by the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly through corporate law applicable to unlimited liability companies),
to exceed 17.5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, as reported to the Lenders in accordance with Section 5.01(h); provided that, for the purpose of calculating the aggregate Financing Debt referred to in (i) above or the aggregate Indebtedness referred to in (ii) above, there shall be excluded (A) the Financing Debt of any Public Material Subsidiary or (B) any such Indebtedness secured by security interests over Restricted Property of any Public Material Subsidiary for so long as, in regard to any case referred to in (A) or (B), Publicly Traded Securities of the relevant Public Material Subsidiary are listed on any stock exchange and for 120 days (or such longer period as the Required Lenders may allow in their sole
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discretion) after the date that Publicly Traded Securities of such Public Material Subsidiary cease to be so listed.
(f) Financial Assistance by Material Subsidiaries. If any Material Subsidiary or Subsidiary thereof gives, grants or becomes subject to any guarantee, indemnity or other form of financial assistance to or in favor of any Person in respect of Financing Debt of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, other than in respect of the Borrowings or any Centralized Banking Arrangements (each such guarantee, indemnity or other form of financial assistance, other than a guarantee, indemnity or other form of financial assistance in respect of the Borrowings or any Centralized Banking Arrangements, being a “Third Party Guarantee”), then the Borrower shall ensure that such Material Subsidiary or Subsidiary thereof duly executes and delivers to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders a guarantee or other instrument on no less favorable terms, with such changes thereto as may be necessary in the context and acceptable to the Administrative Agent, acting reasonably, so that the obligations thereunder rank at least pari passu with the obligations under such Third Party Guarantee; provided, however, that:
(i) a Material Subsidiary or Subsidiary thereof shall be entitled to give, grant or become subject to a Third Party Guarantee in respect of Financing Debt of wholly-owned direct or indirect Subsidiaries of such Material Subsidiary; and
(ii) a Material Subsidiary or Subsidiary thereof which is a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Material Subsidiary shall be entitled to give, grant or become subject to a Third Party Guarantee in respect of Financing Debt of a Material Subsidiary or Subsidiary thereof of which (in either case) it is directly or indirectly a wholly-owned Subsidiary,
in either case, for so long as such wholly-owned Subsidiaries remain, directly or indirectly, wholly-owned by such Material Subsidiary, without being required by this Section 5.02(g) to execute and deliver a guarantee or other instrument to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the foregoing; and provided further however, that a Subsidiary which is not a Material Subsidiary need not execute and deliver such a guarantee or other instrument if and for so long as such Subsidiary, together with each other such Subsidiary which has given, granted, or become subject to a Third Party Guarantee and which has not executed and delivered a guarantee or other instrument to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders hereunder, has assets which have a value, as reflected in the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower most recently delivered to the Lenders hereunder, of 10% or less of the value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reflected therein (without giving effect to the non-cash ceiling test impairments and other changes as a consequence of Encana Corporation’s adoption of US GAAP). Any Material Subsidiary that provides a guarantee to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the lenders in accordance with this Section shall also provide such other documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and (ii) to the extent such Material Subsidiary qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, shall provide to any Lender that so requests a Beneficial Ownership Certification.
If any Subsidiary that provides a guarantee to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders in accordance with this Section is released from its Third Party Guarantee(s) (other than as a result of any payment being made under such Third Party Guarantee(s)), then, upon the request of the Borrower or such Subsidiary for the release of such guarantee and provided that no Default has occurred and
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is continuing or would result from such release, such guarantee shall also be released (and the Agent shall promptly execute such documents and instruments as the Borrower or such Subsidiary may reasonably request to evidence such release).
SECTION 5.03. Actions in Respect of Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02 whereby the Borrower has covenanted to cause any Subsidiary to do or not to do any act or thing and (a) such Subsidiary is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; (b) the Borrower does not control the day to day operations of such Subsidiary (by operation of contract or otherwise); and (c) the portion of the Consolidated Tangible Assets of the Borrower attributable to all of the Subsidiaries that meet the requirements of clauses (a) and (b) does not exceed 10% of the value of the Consolidated Tangible Assets of the Borrower, as measured as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year, the Borrower shall have complied with its covenants in that regard if it shall have used all reasonable efforts to cause such Subsidiary to comply with the requirements of Sections 5.01 and 5.02 or to remedy any breaches thereof; and with respect to any breach of Section 5.01 or Section 5.02 caused by any Subsidiary acting or failing to act in the manner required by such Section, the Borrower's obligation to use its reasonable efforts to prevent or remedy such breach shall only be applicable from and after the date that the Borrower becomes aware of such breach or the date the Borrower becomes aware such breach may occur, as the case may be; provided that this Section 5.03 shall not apply to (i) the covenants contained in Section 5.02(e) or 5.02(f), or (ii) any covenant if the breach thereof could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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 with respect to the Borrower:
(a) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance when the same becomes due and payable; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Advance or make any other payment of fees or other amounts payable under this Agreement within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or
(b) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Borrower herein or by the Borrower (or any of its officers) in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made; or
(c) (i) The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(b), (d), (h)(iii) or (k) or Section 5.02; or (ii) the Borrower 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 forty-five (45) days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or
(d) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) shall default in making payment when due of any Financing Debt (including all net obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to currency, interest rate and commodity price hedging and swap agreements, but excluding borrowings under this Agreement) (“Extended Financing Debt”) in an amount in excess of the greater of $200,000,000 and two (2%) percent of Consolidated Net Worth and such default is not remedied by the Borrower or such Subsidiary or is not waived by the lender or counterparty in respect of such Extended
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Financing Debt (including the lessor under any Finance Lease) within two (2) Business Days or any longer grace or cure period that is available under applicable documentation to remedy such default, or (ii) causes or permits to exist any default or event of default under any agreement or agreements evidencing Extended Financing Debt if such default or event of default results in the acceleration of the payment of an aggregate amount of Extended Financing Debt in excess of the greater of $200,000,000 and two (2%) percent of Consolidated Net Worth; or
(e) The Borrower or any of its Material 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 Borrower or any of its Material 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, 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 material part of its property (other than any Non-Recourse Assets) 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 sixty (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 material part of its property (other than any Non-Recourse Assets)) shall occur; or the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth in this subsection (e); or
(f) Any final judgment or order (subject to no further right of appeal) is rendered against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary for the payment of money in excess of the greater of $200,000,000 and two (2%) percent of Consolidated Net Worth (other than any such judgment or order in favor of a lender that is a Non-Recourse Creditor, in respect of which such lender’s recourse pursuant to such judgment or order or otherwise is limited to the specific Project in respect of which the debt which is the subject of such judgment or order was granted was incurred) and under which enforcement proceedings have commenced and have not been stayed, and which remains undischarged or unstayed for a period of forty-five (45) days; provided that any such final judgment or order rendered only with respect to a Material Subsidiary which is not a Restricted Subsidiary shall not be an Event of Default if the Borrower would (in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders as evidenced by their signatures on a confirmation thereof) be able to satisfy the financial tests set forth in Sections 5.01(k) and 5.02(e), calculated as of the date of such final judgment or order (and not as of the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter), which tests shall be conducted after provision has been made for the payment of such final judgment or order; or
(g) Any final non-monetary judgment or order (subject to no further right of appeal) shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries that could be reasonably expected to have (i) a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be any period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order shall not be in effect or (ii) an adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents; or
(h) a Change in Control shall occur; or
(i) Any material provision of this Agreement shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the Borrower, or the Borrower shall so state in writing; or
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(j) The Borrower or any of its respective ERISA Affiliates shall incur, or, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders, shall be reasonably likely to incur, liability in excess of $200,000,000 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 Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan; or (iii) the reorganization or termination within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA of a Multiemployer Plan;
then, and in any such event, the Administrative Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances (other than a Letter of Credit Advance made by an Issuing Bank or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)) and of each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, provided, however, that any such event (except an event specified in Section 6.01(a), (e) and (i)) shall not permit the Lenders to terminate their Commitments if and for so long as (A) no Advances or Letters of Credit are outstanding hereunder and (B) the Borrower continues to pay the fees specified in Section 2.05(a), and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, 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 the Borrower; provided, further however, in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances (other than a Letter of Credit Advance made by an Issuing Bank or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)) and of each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit shall automatically be terminated, (B) by notice to each party required under the terms of any agreement in support of which a Standby Letter of Credit is issued, request that all obligations under such agreement be declared to be due and payable and (C) 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 the Borrower. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the occurrence and continuance of any of the events described in this Section 6.01 (except any event specified in Section 6.01(a), (e) or (i)) shall not be considered an Event of Default hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents if and for so long as (i) no Advances or Letters of Credit are outstanding hereunder and (ii) the Borrower continues to pay the fees specified in Section 2.05(a).
ARTICLE VII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
SECTION 7.01. Appointment and Authority. Each Lender Party (in its capacities as a Lender and an Issuing Bank (if applicable)) hereby irrevocably appoints JPMorgan to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency
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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 7.02. Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender Party as any other Lender Party and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the term “Lender Party” or “Lender Parties” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for, and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lender Parties.
SECTION 7.03. Exculpatory Provisions. (a) The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(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 or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its reasonable opinion or on the reasonable advice of counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any debtor relief law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any debtor relief law; and
(iii) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall not be liable 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 Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 8.01 and 6.01), or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent in writing by the Borrower or a Lender Party.
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(c) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative 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 II or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 7.04. Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of an Advance, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank prior to the making of such Advance or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
SECTION 7.05. Indemnification. The Lender Parties severally agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent (in such capacity and to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), ratably according to the respective amounts of their Revolving Credit Commitments, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of any Document or any action taken or omitted thereby under any Document (collectively, the “Indemnified Costs”), provided that no Lender Party shall be liable for any portion of the Indemnified Costs resulting from the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender Party agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, any Document, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Costs, this Section 7.05 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Administrative Agent, either Documentation Agent, any Lead Arranger, any Lender Party or a third party. The respective obligations of the Lenders under this Section are several and not joint and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to satisfy its obligations hereunder.
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SECTION 7.06. Resignation of Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give written notice of its resignation to the Lender Parties and the Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Required Lenders. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right with the prior approval of the Borrower so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within sixty (60) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation or the Required Lenders’ removal of the retiring Administrative Agent (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lender Parties, appoint a successor Administrative 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.
(b) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lender Parties hereunder, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender Party directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 8.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
SECTION 7.07. Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the Commitments as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.
SECTION 7.08. Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks. (a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial
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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 or Issuing Bank, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument (and each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, 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 or such Issuing Bank, 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 and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, 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 Borrower 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 Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.
(c) (i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one (1) Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative 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 Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 7.08(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(ii) Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent
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(or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one (1) Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
(iii) The Borrower hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower, except, in each case, to the extent such erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Loan Party for the purpose of making such erroneous Payment.
(iv) Each party’s obligations under this Section 7.08(c) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations of the Borrower under any Loan Document.
SECTION 7.09. No Other Duties, etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arrangers or Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent or a Lender Party hereunder.
SECTION 7.10. Certain ERISA Matters.
(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and its respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the 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, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments;
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(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96- 23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Advances, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, and the conditions for exemptive relief thereunder are and will continue to be satisfied in connection therewith;
(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 Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Advances, the Letters of Credit, 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 Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement; or
(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b) In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that none of the Administrative Agent or any of its respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Advances, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders (unless specifically set forth herein or therein), the Administrative Agent and the Borrower and then such waiver or consent shall be
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effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, (x) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders, do any of the following: (a) waive (i) any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01 or (ii) a condition precedent to a Borrowing if such condition relates to Section 6.01(a) or (i), (b) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances, or the aggregate Available Amount of outstanding Letters of Credit, or the number of Lenders, that shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder or (c) amend this Section 8.01 and (y) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each Lender directly affected thereby, do any of the following: (a) increase or extend the Revolving Credit Commitments or the Letter of Credit Sub-Commitments or subject the Lenders or the Issuing Banks to any additional obligations, (b) reduce the principal of, or rate of interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or (c) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable to the Lenders hereunder or postpone the expiration date of any Letter of Credit beyond the Termination Date; provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each Issuing Bank, in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or obligations of such Issuing Bank under this Agreement; provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement.
SECTION 8.02. 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 Borrower, to it at the following address: at Republic Plaza, 370 17th Street, Suite 1700, Denver, Colorado, 80202, USA, Attention: Treasurer, facsimile no. (720) 876-6537;
(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Primary Servicing Account Manager, Attention: Tommy Kan, Telephone: (813) 432-6058, email: [email protected], and a copy to: JPMorgan Secondary Servicing Account Manager, Attention: Tessa Jones, Telephone: (813) 432-4768, email: [email protected];
(iii) if to any Issuing Bank, to it at the address provided in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower at the time of its appointment as an Issuing Bank hereunder;
(iv) 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).
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(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lender Parties hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender Party pursuant to Article II if such Lender Party has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the 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 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 Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Communications (as defined below) available to the Lender Parties by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, 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 Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender Party 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 the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through the Platform except to the extent a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent or such Related Party acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with such transmission. “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material that the Borrower provides to the Administrative Agent pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed to the Administrative Agent
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or any Lender Party by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through the Platform.
(iii) Although the Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.
SECTION 8.03. No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of any Lender Party or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right under any Document or Loan Document 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 8.04. Costs and Expenses. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay promptly upon presentation of a statement of account all reasonable costs and out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Documentation Agents and the Lead Arrangers in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification and amendment of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, (i) all due diligence, syndication (including printing, distribution and bank meetings), transportation, computer, duplication, appraisal, consultant, audit and insurance expenses and (ii) the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of a single counsel for the Administrative Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Administrative Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under this Agreement. The Borrower further agrees to pay promptly on demand all reasonable and documented costs and out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties, if any (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented counsel fees and expenses (which shall be limited to one firm of counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties and, if necessary, one firm of local or regulatory counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction, in each case for the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the Person affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict, of another firm of counsel for such affected Person))), in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of any Documents, including, without limitation, reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel (as described above) in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 8.04(a). The Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all reasonable costs and out-of-pocket expenses of each Issuing Bank in connection with the modification and amendment of any L/C Related Document, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for such Issuing Bank with respect thereto and with respect to advising such Issuing Bank as to its rights and responsibilities under the L/C Related Documents.
(b) In addition to any liability of the Borrower under any other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, the Lead
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Arrangers and each Lender Party and each of their respective Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents 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 disbursements of a counsel, which shall be limited to one firm of counsel for the Indemnified Parties and, if necessary, one firm of local or regulatory counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction, in each case for the Indemnified Parties (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the Person affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict, of another firm of counsel for such affected Person)), that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or the preparation of a defense in connection therewith), in each case, arising out of or in connection with or by reason of this Agreement, except (i) 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 primarily from such Indemnified Party’s bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct and (ii) to any claim, damage, loss, liability or expense that does not involve an act or omission of the Borrower or its affiliates and that is brought by an Indemnified Party against any other Indemnified Party (other than any claim, actions, suits, inquiries, litigation, investigation or proceeding against any of the Lead Arrangers, or any administrative agent, collateral agent or other agent in their capacities as such). In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this paragraph applies, such indemnity will be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower, any of its directors, security holders or creditors, an Indemnified Party or any other person or an Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto.
(c) If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Term Benchmark Advance is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender other than on the final day of the Interest Period for such Advance, as a result of a payment, prepayment or Conversion pursuant to this Agreement or acceleration of the maturity of the Advances pursuant to Section 6.01, the Borrower shall, promptly upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative 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 fund or maintain such Advance. The amount payable to the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be set forth in a certificate delivered by the applicable Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (which certificate shall contain reasonable details concerning the calculation of the amount payable) and shall be prima facie evidence thereof, in the absence of manifest error.
(d) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in Sections 2.12 and 2.15 and in this 8.04 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder.
(e) The Lenders severally agree to indemnify each Issuing Bank (in its capacity as such and to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), ratably according to the respective amounts of their Revolving Credit Commitments, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Issuing Bank, solely in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, in any way relating to or arising out of the Loan Documents or any action taken or omitted by such Issuing Bank under the Loan Documents; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs,
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expenses or disbursements resulting from such Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse such Issuing Bank promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) payable by the Borrower to such Issuing Bank under Section 8.04, to the extent that such Issuing Bank is not promptly reimbursed for such costs or expenses by the Borrower. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any amounts indemnifiable hereunder, this Section 8.04(e) applies whether such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank or any third party. The respective obligations of the Lenders under this Section are several and not joint and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to satisfy is obligations hereunder.
(f) The Borrower agrees not to assert any claim against any of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers or any Lender Party or any of their respective Affiliates or their officers, directors, employees, agents or advisors (each, a “Lender-Related Person”), on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to any of the Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances. No Lender-Related Person 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 8.05. Right of Set-off. (a) 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 by the Required Lenders to authorize the Administrative Agent to declare the Advances due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01, each Lender Party and each of its respective 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) 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 Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, whether or not such Lender Party shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender Party agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-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 Party and its respective Affiliates under this Section 8.05 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender Party and its respective Affiliates may have.
(b) To the extent permitted by applicable law, at any time a Lender is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of the definition thereof, or while a Lender Insolvency Event exists with respect to such Lender or its Lender Parent, the Borrower is hereby authorized without prior notice to such Defaulting Lender or to any other person, such notice being expressly waived by such Defaulting Lender, to set-off and apply any and all deposits (general and special but excluding security deposits) held by such Defaulting Lender (or any Subsidiary of such Defaulting Lender) to or for the credit of or the account of the Borrower against and on account of the Borrowings and any accrued interest owing by the Borrower to such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement, regardless of whether the obligations in respect of such deposits or Borrowings are contingent or unmatured. The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent and the Defaulting Lender with prompt notice of the exercise of any of its rights under this Section; provided that:
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(i) any Centralized Banking Arrangements shall take priority over the Borrower’s rights under this Section;
(ii) prior to receipt of such notice by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to reflect such set-off in the allocation of its payments to Lenders under Section 2.14;
(iii) after receipt of such notice by the Administrative Agent, such Defaulting Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to rely on such notice and to allocate payments from the Borrower to the Lenders in a manner which gives effect to such set-off (notwithstanding any provisions in Section 2.14 to the contrary); and
the Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, directors, officers, agents and employees from any claims made against any of them by a Defaulting Lender in connection with this Section 8.05(b), all in accordance with Section 11.2 (and for such purposes a claim from a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to be a third party claim).
SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective (other than Section 2.01, which shall only become effective upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.01) when it shall have been executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Documentation Agents and each Lead Arranger, and when the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Initial Lender and each Initial Issuing Bank that such Initial Lender and such Initial Issuing Bank has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Documentation Agents, the Lead Arrangers and each Lender Party and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of all Lenders (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower shall be null and void).
SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations. (a) Successors and Assigns Generally. 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, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of paragraph (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in paragraph (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Advances at the time owing to it); provided that (in each case with respect to any Facility) 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
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the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section, 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 Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower 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.
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (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, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of the Revolving Credit Commitments if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect of such Facility, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and
(C) the consent of each Issuing Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Commitments.
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (B) to any
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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 company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person or relative(s) thereof).
(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 parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the 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 Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Advances and participations in Letters of Credit in accordance with its Pro Rata 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 Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning 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 2.12, 2.15 and 8.04 and subject to the obligations of Section 7.05 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.
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in the United States 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 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 Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat
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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 Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person (or a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person or relative(s) thereof) or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of 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 Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Lender Parties 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 8.05 with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participant(s). Each Lender shall, on behalf of the Borrower, maintain at one of its offices a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of its Participants, and the amount and terms of its participation; provided that no Lender shall be required to disclose or share the information contained in such register with the Borrower or any other person, except as required by Applicable Law.
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 described in clause (y) of the first proviso in Section 8.01 that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.17 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 8.05 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 Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations or any successor regulation. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
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(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.12 or 2.15 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.15 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.15(e) as though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central banking authority; 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.
(g) Each Issuing Bank may assign to an Eligible Assignee its rights and obligations or any portion of the undrawn Letter of Credit Commitment at any time; provided, however, that (i) the amount of the Letter of Credit Commitment of the assigning Issuing Bank being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500.
SECTION 8.08. Confidentiality; Patriot Act. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Documentation Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lender Parties agree to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information, except that Confidential Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Confidential Information and instructed to keep such Confidential Information confidential); (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, with respect to which such Person shall seek the confidential treatment of such Confidential Information); (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party hereto; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder; (g) on a confidential basis, to (i) with the consent of the Borrower, any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the indebtedness under this Agreement or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the indebtedness under this Agreement; or (h) otherwise with the consent of the Borrower.
Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that
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identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
SECTION 8.09. No Liability of the Issuing Banks. The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit with respect to its use of such Letter of Credit. Neither any Issuing Bank nor any of its Affiliates, nor any of their officers, directors, employees, agents or advisors shall be liable or responsible for: (a) the use that may be made of any Letter of Credit or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee in connection therewith; (b) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or of any endorsement thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (c) payment by such Issuing Bank against presentation of documents that do not comply with the terms of a Letter of Credit, including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to the Letter of Credit; or (d) any other circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make payment under any Letter of Credit, except that the Borrower shall have a claim against such Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank shall be liable to the Borrower, to the extent of any direct, but not consequential, damages suffered by the Borrower that the Borrower proves were caused by (i) such Issuing Bank’s willful misconduct or gross negligence in determining whether documents presented under any Letter of Credit comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or (ii) such Issuing Bank’s willful failure to make lawful payment under a Letter of Credit after the presentation to it of a draft and certificates strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, such Issuing Bank may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary.
SECTION 8.10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 8.11. Extensions of Termination Date. (a) The Borrower may, at any time, but in any event not more than once in any calendar year, by delivering to the Administrative Agent a written extension request, request those Lenders which have not become Declining Lenders pursuant to this Section 8.11 (except to the extent Section 8.11(h) applies) (in this Section 8.11, the “Requested Lenders”) to issue a Notice of Extension to extend the then current Termination Date with respect to the Commitments of such Requested Lenders to a date specified therein (each, an “Extended Termination Date”), which Extended Termination Date shall be not later than five (5) years from the date (in this Section 8.11, the “Extension Date”) which is ninety (90) days after the date of such extension request. For the avoidance of doubt, at the time of the first request, if any, made by the Borrower, all Lenders shall be Requested Lenders.
(b) Upon receipt from the Borrower of such written extension request, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith deliver to each Requested Lender a copy of such request, and each Requested Lender shall, within thirty (30) days after the date the Administrative Agent receives such request from the Borrower, advise the Administrative Agent in writing as to whether such Requested Lender will agree to extend the then current Termination Date in respect of its Commitment by delivering to the Administrative Agent a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit F hereto (each such notice being an “Extension Notice”); provided that, if any such Requested Lender shall fail to so advise the Administrative Agent within such thirty (30) day period, then such Requested Lender shall be deemed to have denied such extension request. The determination of each Requested Lender as to whether or not to extend the Termination Date shall be made by each such Requested Lender in its sole discretion.
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(c) Within five (5) days after the expiry of the aforementioned thirty (30) day period, the Administrative Agent shall:
(i) if (A) all Requested Lenders are in agreement with delivering a notice granting or not granting such extension request (the “Borrower Extension Notice”); or (B) less than all Requested Lenders are in agreement with delivering the Borrower Extension Notice, but, subject to Section 8.11(h)(ii), Requested Lenders having Commitments which, in aggregate, represent 66⅔% or more of all outstanding Commitments of all Requested Lenders are in agreement with delivering the Borrower Extension Notice; (each Requested Lender being in agreement with delivering the Borrower Extension Notice being an “Extending Lender” for the purposes of this Section 8.11), deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to each Extending Lender) the Borrower Extension Notice on behalf of all Extending Lenders, executed by the Administrative Agent and, in the circumstance where not all Requested Lenders are Extending Lenders, advise the Borrower of (I) which Requested Lenders are not in agreement with extending the Termination Date (in this Section 8.11, each a “Declining Lender”); and (II) the amount of each Declining Lender’s Commitments and Advances as at such date; or
(ii) if neither of the conditions in Sections 8.11(c)(i)(A) or (B) shall have been met, notify the Borrower that the extension request has not been approved by Requested Lenders which, subject to Section 8.11(h)(ii), have Commitments which, in aggregate, represent at least 66⅔% of all outstanding Commitments of all Requested Lenders (including therein the identity of the Requested Lenders which are not in agreement with extending the Termination Date and the amount of each such Requested Lender’s Commitments and Advances at such date) and has therefore been denied.
The failure of the Administrative Agent within the aforementioned five (5) day period to deliver the Borrower Extension Notice, as provided in Section 8.11(c)(i) above, shall be deemed to be a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower that the Requested Lenders have denied the extension request, and, in such circumstances, the Termination Date shall not be extended for any of the Requested Lenders.
(d) Upon delivery by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower of Borrower Extension Notice pursuant to Section 8.11(c)(i), the Termination Date for all Extending Lenders shall be extended to the Extended Termination Date specified in the relevant extension request.
(e) If in any instance the Borrower Extension Notice has been delivered in circumstances in which not all of the Requested Lenders are Extending Lenders, then, on or prior to the relevant Extension Date:
(i) the Borrower may require any Declining Lender in respect of the relevant extension request to (and such Declining Lender shall thereupon become obligated to) assign all or part of its rights, benefits and interests under the Loan Documents (for purposes of this Section 8.11, the “Assigned Interests”) to:
(A) any Extending Lenders which have agreed to increase their Commitments and purchase the Assigned Interests; and
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(B) to the extent the Assigned Interests are not assigned to Extending Lenders in accordance with paragraph (A) above, any financial or other institutions selected by the Borrower and acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks, acting reasonably.
The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with written notice of its desire to proceed under this Section 8.11(e)(i) (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly provide to each Extending Lender), and the Extending Lenders shall be entitled to purchase such of the Assigned Interests as they may request (pro rata, in proportion to the Commitments of those Extending Lenders wishing to purchase Assigned Interests, or otherwise as such Extending Lenders may agree) by written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice, before any Assigned Interests may be assigned to third party financial or other institutions. Such assignments, in any event, shall be effective upon:
(C) execution of an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C;
(D) payment to the relevant Declining Lender (in immediately available funds) by the relevant assignee of an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all Advances (and accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the effective date of such assignment and all fees and other amounts) owed to that Declining Lender under this Agreement together with all other amounts payable hereunder by the Borrower to such Declining Lender in regard to the Assigned Interests;
(E) payment by the relevant assignee to the Administrative Agent (for the Administrative Agent’s own account) of the transfer fee contemplated in Section 8.07; and
(F) provision satisfactory to such Declining Lender (acting reasonably) being made for the indemnification or release of such Declining Lender from its obligations relating to any Letters of Credit which form part of the Assigned Interests.
Upon such assignment and transfer becoming effective, the Declining Lender shall have no further right, interest, benefit or obligation hereunder to the extent of the Assigned Interests assigned by that Lender but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.15 and 8.04 and subject to the obligations of Section 7.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, and each assignee thereof shall succeed to the position of such Lender to the extent of the portion of the Assigned Interests acquired by such assignee as if the assignee was an original Lender hereunder in regard thereto in the place and stead of such Declining Lender; and
(ii) to the extent that the Borrower has not caused any Declining Lenders in respect of such extension request to assign their respective rights and interests to one or more Extending Lenders and/or other financial or other institutions as provided in paragraph (i) above, the Borrower may, at its option, notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, but only if no Default then exists, by further notice to the Administrative Agent, repay to such Declining Lenders all aggregate principal amount of all Advances owed to such Declining Lenders, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all other
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amounts owing hereunder to such Declining Lenders, without making corresponding repayment to any other Lenders, and make provision satisfactory to each relevant Declining Lender (acting reasonably) for (A) payment of all costs, losses, premiums or expenses incurred by such Declining Lender by reason of a liquidation or re-deployment of deposits or other funds in respect of all outstanding Term Benchmark Advances owed to such Declining Lender and (B) indemnification or release of such Declining Lender from its obligations relating to all outstanding Letters of Credit. Upon such payments and provisions being made, each such Declining Lender shall cease to be a Lender and its Commitment shall be cancelled and the aggregate Commitment amount shall be reduced accordingly.
(f) If the Commitment of a Declining Lender is not assigned in accordance with Section 8.11(e)(i) or repaid in accordance with Section 8.11(e)(ii), then such Declining Lender shall continue to be obliged to make its Lender’s proportion of Borrowings available to the Borrower prior to the Termination Date applicable to its Commitment and on such date:
(i) the Commitment of such Declining Lender shall be automatically terminated and any Advances then owing to such Declining Lender shall be repaid in full together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all other amounts owing hereunder to such Declining Lender; and
(ii) the aggregate Commitment amount shall be deemed to be reduced by the amount of such terminated Commitment;
provided that, notwithstanding Section 8.11(e) or any other provision herein, at any time prior to such Termination Date, the Borrower may require any Declining Lender to assign all or (subject to Section 8.07) a portion of its rights, benefits and interests under this Agreement in the same manner and subject to the same procedures as are contemplated in Section 8.11(e)(i) above and, upon such assignment becoming effective, each assignee shall be deemed to be an Extending Lender and the Termination Date applicable to the Assigned Interests shall be extended to the Termination Date applicable to the Commitments of the Extending Lenders; and provided, further, that where the proposed Assigned Interests are less than the aggregate Commitments of all of the Declining Lenders, the Borrower shall ensure that the Commitments of all (but not less than all) of the Declining Lenders are assigned or cancelled either (A) by requiring some or all of the Declining Lenders to (and such Declining Lender shall thereupon become obligated to) assign to the proposed assignee or assignees the same proportion of their respective Commitments as their respective Commitments bear to the aggregate Commitments of all Declining Lenders or (B) if no Default then exists, by repaying to some or all of the Declining Lenders all principal amount of Advances, accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts owing hereunder to the Declining Lenders in the same manner as is contemplated in Section 8.11(e)(ii) above.
(g) This Section 8.11 shall apply from time to time to facilitate successive extensions and requests for extensions of the Termination Date. The Borrower shall not be entitled to request any action or give any notice under this Section 8.11 or receive any extension of the Termination Date in respect of any Commitment so long as there exists a Default or an Event of Default which has not been waived by the Lenders.
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(h) The Borrower may, at its option and from time to time (but only pursuant to the delivery of an executed Request for Extension pursuant to Section 8.11(a)), request any Declining Lender to extend the then current Termination Date with respect to the Commitments of such Declining Lender to the proposed Termination Date requested in such extension request. In these circumstances:
(i) the Request for Extension shall expressly refer to such Declining Lender and shall be provided by the Administrative Agent to such Declining Lender;
(ii) such Declining Lender shall be included as one of the Requested Lenders for all purposes of Section 8.11 (except for the purposes of making the percentage calculation contemplated in Sections 8.11(c)(i)(B) or 8.11(c)(ii));
(iii) upon the agreement of such Declining Lender to extend the Termination Date and the delivery of the applicable Borrower Extension Notice from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, such Declining Lender shall become an Extending Lender and shall cease to be a Declining Lender; and
(iv) in the event such Declining Lender does not, or is deemed to not, agree to extend the Termination Date, Sections 8.11(e) and 8.11(f) shall continue to apply to such Declining Lender as they applied prior to the giving of such Request for Extension.
SECTION 8.12. Execution in Counterparts; Electronic Execution. (a) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
(b) 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 8.02), 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 Administrative 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 Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the 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 Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly
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followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the 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 Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower, 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 Administrative 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 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 any Lender-Related Person for any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind arising solely from the Administrative 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 Borrower to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.
SECTION 8.13. Jurisdiction, Etc . (a) Each of the parties hereto 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 Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Lender Party or any Related Party of the foregoing in any way relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
(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 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 8.14. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE DOCUMENTATION AGENTS, THE LEAD ARRANGERS, THE LENDERS AND THE ISSUING BANKS 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
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OR THE ACTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ISSUING BANK IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.
SECTION 8.15. 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 Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document 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 an the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto 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 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 8.16. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (a) (i) no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and any Lead Arranger, the Administrative Agent or any Lender is intended to be or has been created in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents, irrespective of whether any Lead Arranger, the Administrative Agent, or any Lender has advised or is advising the Borrower or any Subsidiary on other matters, (ii) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, (iii) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent that it has deemed appropriate and (iv) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; and (b) (i) the Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person; (ii) none of the Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective branches and Affiliates may be engaged, for their own accounts or the accounts of customers, in a broad range of transactions that involve
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interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against any of the Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
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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.
| OVINTIV INC., | |||
| as Borrower | |||
| By: | /s/ Corey D. Code | ||
| Name: Corey D. Code | |||
| Title: Executive Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer | |||
| By: | /s/ Michael J. Liedtke | ||
| Name: Michael J. Liedtke | |||
| Title: Treasurer | |||
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., | |||
| as Administrative Agent | |||
| By: | /s/ Tom K. Martin | ||
| Name: Tom K. Martin | |||
| Title: Vice President | |||
| Lenders | |||
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., | |||
| as Lender and Issuing Bank | |||
| By: | /s/ Tom K. Martin | ||
| Name: Tom K. Martin | |||
| Title: Vice President | |||
| ROYAL BANK OF CANADA | |||
| By: | /s/ Mike Gaudet | ||
| Name: Mike Gaudet | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| Ovintiv Credit Agreement Signature Page |
| CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE | |||
| By: | /s/ Ryan Shea | ||
| Name: Ryan Shea | |||
| Title: Executive Director | |||
| By: | /s/ Adam Fellows | ||
| Name: Adam Fellows | |||
| Title: Executive Director | |||
| CITIBANK, N.A. | |||
| By: | /s/ Cathy Shepherd | ||
| Name: Cathy Shepherd | |||
| Title: Vice President | |||
| THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, | |||
| NEW YORK BRANCH | |||
| By: | /s/ Maria Macchiaroli | ||
| Name: Maria Macchiaroli | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| BANK OF MONTREAL, CHICAGO BRANCH | |||
| By: | /s/ Darren Thomas | ||
| Name: Darren Thomas | |||
| Title: Director | |||
| THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA | |||
| By: | /s/ Michael Linder | ||
| Name: Michael Linder | |||
| Title: Director | |||
| By: | /s/ Claire Bergh | ||
| Name: Claire Bergh | |||
| Title: Associate | |||
| Ovintiv Credit Agreement Signature Page |
| NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA | |||
| By: | /s/ James Dexter | ||
| Name: James Dexter | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| By: | /s/ Tara Yates | ||
| Name: Tara Yates | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. | |||
| By: | /s/ Adrian Plummer | ||
| Name: Adrian Plummer | |||
| Title: Vice President | |||
| BARCLAYS BANK PLC | |||
| By: | /s/ Sydney G. Dennis | ||
| Name: Sydney G. Dennis | |||
| Title: Director | |||
| CREDIT SUISSE AG, TORONTO BRANCH | |||
| By: | /s/ Szymon Ordys | ||
| Name: Szymon Ordys | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| By: | /s/ Savinay Chopra | ||
| Name: Savinay Chopra | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| MIZUHO BANK, LTD. | |||
| By: | /s/ Brad Crilly | ||
| Name: Brad Crilly | |||
| Title: Managing Director | |||
| MUFG BANK, LTD. | |||
| By: | /s/ Traci Bankston | ||
| Name: Traci Bankston | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| Ovintiv Credit Agreement Signature Page |
| WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | |||
| By: | /s/ Borden Tennant | ||
| Name: Borden Tennant | |||
| Title: Director | |||
| PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | |||
| By: | /s/ Denise Davis | ||
| Name: Denise Davis | |||
| Title: Managing Director | |||
| TRUIST BANK | |||
| By: | /s/ Benjamin L. Brown | ||
| Name: Benjamin L. Brown | |||
| Title: Director | |||
| GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC | |||
| By: | /s/ Andrew B. Vernon | ||
| Name: Andrew B. Vernon | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A. | |||
| By: | /s/ Michael King | ||
| Name: Michael King | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, CANADA BRANCH | |||
| By: | /s/ Alfred Lee | ||
| Name: Alfred Lee | |||
| Title: Managing Director | |||
| Ovintiv Credit Agreement Signature Page |
SCHEDULE I
COMMITMENTS
EXHIBIT 4.2
EXECUTION COPY
OVINTIV CANADA ULC
GUARANTEE
THIS GUARANTEE is made as of April 1, 2022.
WHEREAS the Guarantor is a Subsidiary of the Borrower;
AND WHEREAS the Guarantor has agreed to provide a guarantee of the Borrower’s obligations under the Credit Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby conclusively acknowledged), the Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees with the Beneficiaries as follows:
ARTICLE 1 – INTERPRETATION
| 1.1 | Definitions |
(a) In this Guarantee and the recitals hereto, unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith:
“Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders parties to the Credit Agreement.
“Beneficiaries” means, collectively, the Lender Parties and the Agent, and “Beneficiary” means any of the foregoing.
“Borrower” means Ovintiv Inc. and its successors.
“Credit Agreement” means the amended and restated credit agreement made as of April 1, 2022, among the Borrower, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and such other persons as become parties thereto, as lenders (the “Lenders”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent of such lenders, as the same may be further amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof.
“Default Rate” means a rate per annum that is equal to the rate of interest then payable under the Credit Agreement on Base Rate Advances plus 1.0% per annum.
“Guarantee” means this guarantee, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
“Guarantor” means Ovintiv Canada ULC and its successors.
“Obligations” means, collectively and at any time and from time to time, all of the obligations, indebtedness and liabilities (present or future, absolute or contingent, matured or not) of the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders under, pursuant or relating to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (other than this Guarantee) and including all Advances and all interest, commissions, legal and other costs, charges and expenses payable by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement and such other Loan Documents, whether the same are from time to time reduced and thereafter increased or entirely extinguished and thereafter incurred again.
(b) Capitalized words and phrases used in this Guarantee and the recitals hereto without express definition herein shall, unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, have the same defined meanings as are ascribed to such words and phrases in the Credit Agreement. For
certainty, if the Credit Agreement ceases to be in force for any reason whatsoever, then for all purposes hereof the aforementioned capitalized words and phrases shall continue to have the same defined meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement as if such agreement remained in force in the form immediately prior to its ceasing to be in force.
| 1.2 | Headings |
The division of this Guarantee into Articles and Sections and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Guarantee. The terms “this Guarantee”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and similar expressions refer to this Guarantee and not to any particular Article, Section or other portion hereof and include any agreement supplemental hereto. Unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, references herein to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee.
| 1.3 | Number; persons; including |
Words importing the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa, words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa and words importing persons shall include individuals, partnerships, associations, trusts, unincorporated organizations and corporations and vice versa and words and terms denoting inclusiveness (such as “include” or “includes” or “including”), whether or not so stated, are not limited by their context or by the words or phrases which precede or succeed them.
ARTICLE 2 – GUARANTEE
| 2.1 | Guarantee of Obligations |
The Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Beneficiaries the payment and performance of all of the Obligations, together with interest thereon as provided in Section 5.4.
| 2.2 | Indemnity |
If any or all of the Obligations are not duly paid or performed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable, and are not recoverable under Section 2.1 for any reason whatsoever, the Guarantor will, as a separate and distinct obligation, indemnify and save harmless the Beneficiaries from and against all losses resulting from the failure of the Borrower or such Subsidiary to pay and perform such Obligations.
| 2.3 | Guarantor as Principal Obligor |
If any or all of the Obligations are not duly paid or performed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable, and are not recoverable under Section 2.1 or the Beneficiaries are not indemnified under Section 2.2, in each case, for any reason whatsoever, such Obligations shall, as a separate and distinct obligation, be recoverable by the Beneficiaries from the Guarantor as the primary obligor and principal debtor in respect thereof and shall be paid to the Beneficiaries forthwith after demand therefor as provided herein.
| 2.4 | Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional |
The liability and obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be continuing, unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall not be released, discharged, limited or
otherwise affected by:
| (a) | any extension, other indulgence, renewal, settlement, discharge, compromise, waiver, subordination or release in respect of any Obligation, security, person or otherwise, including any extension, other indulgence, renewal, settlement, discharge, compromise, waiver, subordination or release of any of the Obligations, covenants or undertakings of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents; |
| (b) | any modification or amendment of or supplement to the Obligations; |
| (c) | any loss of or in respect of any security held by or on behalf of the Beneficiaries, whether occasioned by the fault of the Beneficiaries or otherwise, including any release, non- perfection or invalidity of any such security; |
| (d) | any change in the existence, structure, constitution, name, control or ownership of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other person, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other person or their respective assets; |
| (e) | the existence of any set-off, counterclaim, claim or other right which the Guarantor, the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against the Beneficiaries or any other person, whether in connection with the Credit Agreement, this Guarantee, any other Loan Document or any unrelated transaction; |
| (f) | any provision of Applicable Law purporting to prohibit or limit the payment by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable, of any Obligation, and the foregoing is hereby waived by the Guarantor to the extent permitted under Applicable Law; |
| (g) | any limitation, postponement, prohibition, subordination or other restriction on the right of a Beneficiary or any other person on behalf of a Beneficiary to payment of the Obligations; |
| (h) | any release, substitution or addition of any other guarantor of the Obligations; |
| (i) | any defense arising by reason of any failure of any Beneficiary or any other person on a Beneficiary’s behalf to make any presentment, demand, or protest or to give any other notice, including notice of all of the following: acceptance of this Guarantee, partial payment or non- payment of all or any part of the Obligations and the existence, creation, or incurring of new or additional Obligations; |
| (j) | any defense arising by reason of any failure of a Beneficiary or any other person on behalf of a Beneficiary to proceed against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other person, or to apply or exhaust any security held from the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other person for the Obligations, to proceed against, apply or exhaust any security held from the Guarantor or any other person, or to pursue any other remedy available to the Beneficiaries or any other person on behalf of the Beneficiaries; |
| (k) | any defense arising by reason of the invalidity, illegality or lack of enforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof or of any security or guarantee in support thereof, or by reason of any incapacity, lack of authority, or other defense of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other person, or by reason of any limitation, postponement or prohibition on a Beneficiary’s or other person on behalf of a Beneficiary’s rights to payment, or the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other person with respect to all or any part of the Obligations (other than irrevocable payment to the Beneficiaries in full, in cash, of the Obligations), or by reason of any act or omission of the Beneficiaries or others which directly or indirectly results in the discharge or release of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other person or of all or any part of the Obligations or any security or guarantee therefor, whether by contract, operation of law or otherwise; |
| (l) | any defense arising by reason of the failure by a Beneficiary or any other person on behalf of a Beneficiary to obtain, register, perfect or maintain any security in or upon any property of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other person, or by reason of any interest of the Beneficiaries or any other person on behalf of the Beneficiaries in any property, whether as owner thereof or as holder of security therein or thereon, being invalidated, voided, declared fraudulent or preferential or otherwise set aside, or by reason of any impairment of any right or recourse to collateral; |
| (m) | any defense arising by reason of the failure of the Beneficiaries or any other person on behalf of the Beneficiaries to marshal assets; |
| (n) | to the extent permitted under Applicable Law, any defense based upon any failure of the Beneficiaries or any other person on behalf of the Beneficiaries to give to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or the Guarantor notice of any sale or other disposition of any property securing any or all of the Obligations or any other guarantee thereof, or any notice that may be given in connection with any sale or other disposition of any such property; |
| (o) | any defense based upon or arising out of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement, readjustment of debt, liquidation or dissolution proceeding commenced by or against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other person, including any discharge or bar against collection of any of the Obligations; or |
| (p) | any other law, event or circumstance or any other act or failure to act or delay of any kind by the Borrower, any Subsidiary, the Beneficiaries or any other person, which might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable defense to or discharge, limitation or reduction of the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, other than as a result of the payment or extinguishment in full of the Obligations. |
The foregoing provisions apply and the foregoing waivers, to the extent permitted under Applicable Law, shall be effective even if the effect of any action or failure to take action by the Beneficiaries or any other person on behalf of the Beneficiaries is to destroy or diminish the Guarantor’s subrogation rights, the Guarantor’s right to proceed against the Borrower or any Subsidiary for reimbursement, the Guarantor’s right to recover contribution from any other guarantor or any other right or remedy of the Guarantor.
ARTICLE 3 – DEALINGS WITH THE BORROWER, THE SUBSIDIARIES AND OTHERS
| 3.1 | No Release |
The Beneficiaries, without releasing, discharging, limiting or otherwise affecting in whole or in part the Guarantor’s liability and obligations hereunder, may:
| (a) | grant time, renewals, extensions, indulgences, releases and discharges to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other guarantor or endorser; | |
| (b) | take or abstain from taking security or collateral from the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other guarantor or endorser or from perfecting security or collateral of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other guarantor or endorser; |
| (c) | accept compromises from the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other guarantor or endorser; |
| (d) | subject to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, apply all money at any time received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary or from security upon such part of the Obligations as the Beneficiaries may see fit or change any such application in whole or in part from time to time as the Beneficiaries may see fit; or |
| (e) | otherwise deal with the Borrower, any Subsidiary and all other persons and security as the Beneficiaries may see fit. |
| 3.2 | No Exhaustion of Remedies |
The Beneficiaries shall not be bound or obligated to exhaust their recourse against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or other persons or any securities or collateral it may hold or take any other action (other than to make demand pursuant to Article 5) before the Beneficiaries shall be entitled to demand, enforce and collect payment from the Guarantor hereunder.
| 3.3 | Evidence of Obligations |
Any account settled or stated in writing by or between a Beneficiary or the Beneficiaries, as the case may be, and the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable, shall be prima facie evidence that the balance or amount thereof appearing due to the same is so due.
| 3.4 | No Set-off |
In any claim by the Beneficiaries against the Guarantor hereunder, the Guarantor shall not claim or assert any set-off, counterclaim, claim or other right that any of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or the Guarantor may have against one or more of the Beneficiaries.
ARTICLE 4 – TERM OF GUARANTEE
| 4.1 | Continuing Guarantee |
This Guarantee shall be a continuing guarantee and shall continue to be effective even if at any time any payment of any of the Obligations is rendered unenforceable or is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any Beneficiary for any reason whatsoever (including the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable), all as though such payment had not been made.
| 4.2 | Revival of Indebtedness |
If at any time, all or any part of any payment previously received by a Beneficiary and applied to any Obligation must be rescinded or returned by such Beneficiary for any reason whatsoever (including the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable), such Obligation shall, for the purpose of this Guarantee, to the extent that such payment must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence, notwithstanding such application by such Beneficiary, and this Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as to such Obligation as though such application by such Beneficiary had not been made.
| 4.3 | Release of Guarantee |
If the Guarantor is released from its guarantee of the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Borrower’s (i) 8.125% notes due September 15, 2030, (ii) 7.20% notes due November 1, 2031, (iii) 7.375% notes due November 1, 2031, (iv) 6.50% notes due August 15, 2034, (v) 6.625% notes due August 15, 2037, (vi) 6.50% notes due February 1, 2038, (vii) 5.15% notes due November 15, 2041, (viii) 5.625% notes due July 1, 2024 and (ix) 5.375% notes due January 1, 2026 (other
than as a result of any payment being made under such guarantee), then, upon the request of the Borrower or the Guarantor for the release of this Guarantee and provided that no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such release, this Guarantee shall also be released (and the Agent shall promptly execute such documents and instruments as the Borrower or the Guarantor may reasonably request to evidence such release).
ARTICLE 5 – DEMAND FOR PAYMENT, EXPENSES AND INTEREST
| 5.1 | Demand for Payment |
The Beneficiaries shall be entitled to make demand upon the Guarantor at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default and upon any such demand the Beneficiaries may treat all Obligations as due and payable and may forthwith collect from the Guarantor all Obligations. The Guarantor shall make payment to or performance in favor of the Beneficiaries of all Obligations forthwith after demand therefor is made upon the Guarantor by the Beneficiaries as aforesaid.
| 5.2 | Stay of Acceleration |
If acceleration of the time for payment of any amount payable by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable, in respect of the Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, arrangement or reorganization of the Borrower or such Subsidiary or any moratorium affecting the payment of the Obligations, all such amounts that would otherwise be subject to acceleration shall nonetheless be payable by the Guarantor hereunder forthwith on demand by the Beneficiaries.
| 5.3 | Expenses |
The Guarantor shall pay to the Beneficiaries all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses, including all reasonable legal fees and other expenses incurred by the Beneficiaries from time to time in the enforcement, realization and collection of or in respect of this Guarantee. All such amounts shall be payable by the Guarantor on demand by the Beneficiaries.
| 5.4 | Interest |
Any payment obligation comprised in the Obligations guaranteed hereunder which is not paid when due hereunder shall bear interest, to the extent not already included in the Obligations, both before and after default or judgment, from the date of demand pursuant to Section 5.1 to the date of payment at the rate or rates provided in the relevant Loan Document for such Obligations or, in the event no such rate is provided for therein, at a rate per annum that is equal to the Default Rate. Any other amounts payable pursuant hereto, including pursuant to Section 5.3, which are not paid when due hereunder shall bear interest, both before and after default or judgment, from the date of demand pursuant to Section 5.1 to the date of payment or reimbursement thereof by the Guarantor at a rate per annum that is equal to the Default Rate. All such interest shall accrue daily and shall be payable by the Guarantor on demand by the Beneficiaries.
ARTICLE 6 – SUBROGATION
| 6.1 | Subrogation |
| (a) | Until all Obligations have been irrevocably paid in full in cash, the Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation to, and waives to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any right to enforce any remedy which the Beneficiaries now have or may hereafter have against the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable, in respect of the Obligations, and until such time the Guarantor waives any benefit of, and |
| any right to participate in, any security, now or hereafter held by the Beneficiaries for the Obligations. |
| (b) | If (i) the Guarantor performs or makes payment to the Beneficiaries of all amounts owing by the Guarantor under this Guarantee, and (ii) the Obligations are performed and irrevocably paid in full then the Beneficiaries will, at the Guarantor’s request, execute and deliver to the Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation and warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to the Guarantor of the Beneficiaries’ interest in the Obligations and any security held therefor resulting from such performance or payment by the Guarantor. |
ARTICLE 7 – REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; COVENANTS
| 7.1 | Representations and Warranties |
The Guarantor represents and warrants as follows to each of the Beneficiaries and acknowledges and confirms that each of the Beneficiaries is relying upon such representations and warranties:
| (a) | Status and Authority |
It is an unlimited liability company continued under the laws of the Province of British Columbia and has all authority, capacity and powers and all material governmental authorizations required to carry on its business as now conducted.
| (b) | Valid Authorization |
The execution, delivery and performance by the Guarantor of this Guarantee (i) is within the Guarantor’s authority, capacity and power, (ii) has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and other action, (iii) requires no governmental authorization or action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental authority, and (iv) does not contravene or constitute a default under any provision of Applicable Law, or any agreement or any judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Guarantor or result in the creation or imposition of any security on any asset of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries.
| (c) | Enforceability of Guarantee |
This Guarantee constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws of general application limiting the enforceability of creditors’ rights and to the fact that equitable remedies are only available in the discretion of the court.
| 7.2 | Effective Time of Repetition |
All representations and warranties, when repeated or deemed to be repeated hereunder, shall be construed with reference to the facts and circumstances existing at the time of repetition, unless they are stated herein to be made as at the date hereof.
| 7.3 | Nature of Representations and Warranties |
The representations and warranties set out in this Guarantee or deemed to be made pursuant hereto shall survive the execution and delivery of this Guarantee notwithstanding any investigations or examinations which may be made by the Beneficiaries. Such representations and warranties shall survive until this Guarantee has been terminated.
| 7.4 | Covenants Contained in the Credit Agreement and Other Loan Documents |
The Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees with the Beneficiaries that the Guarantor shall observe, perform and comply with any and all of the covenants of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries contained in the Credit Agreement or other Loan Documents that the Borrower or such other Subsidiary agrees that the Guarantor (as a Subsidiary or otherwise) shall observe, perform and comply with.
ARTICLE 8 – [RESERVED]
ARTICLE 9 – GENERAL
| 9.1 | Waiver of Notices |
The Guarantor hereby waives promptness, diligence, presentment, demand of payment, notice of acceptance and any other notice with respect to this Guarantee and the obligations guaranteed hereunder, except for the demand pursuant to Section 5.1.
| 9.2 | Benefit of the Guarantee |
This Guarantee shall inure to the benefit of the respective successors and permitted assigns of the Beneficiaries and be binding upon the successors of the Guarantor.
| 9.3 | Foreign Currency Obligations |
The Guarantor shall make payment relative to each Obligation in the currency (the “original currency”) in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable, is required to pay such Obligation. If the Guarantor makes payment relative to any Obligation to the Beneficiaries in a currency (the “other currency”) other than the original currency (whether voluntarily or pursuant to an order or judgment of a court or tribunal of any jurisdiction), such payment shall constitute a discharge of the liability of the Guarantor hereunder in respect of such Obligation only to the extent of the amount of the original currency which the Beneficiaries are able to purchase with the amount of other currency they receive on the date of receipt in accordance with normal practice. If the amount of the original currency which the Beneficiaries are able to purchase is less than the amount of such currency originally due in respect of the relevant Obligation, the Guarantor shall indemnify and save the Beneficiaries harmless from and against any loss or damage arising as a result of such deficiency. This indemnity shall constitute an obligation separate and independent from the other obligations contained in this Guarantee, shall give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, shall apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by the Beneficiaries and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order in respect of any amount due hereunder or under any judgment or order. A certificate of a Beneficiary as to any such loss or damage shall constitute prima facie evidence thereof, in the absence of manifest error.
| 9.4 | Payment Net of Withholding Taxes |
Except as permitted by Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the Guarantor shall make all payments required hereunder, whether by way of principal, interest or otherwise, without withholding any Taxes except as permitted by Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement. If the Guarantor is required by law to deduct any withholding Taxes from or in respect of any amounts payable under this Guarantee, the provisions of Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis.
| 9.5 | No Waiver; Remedies |
No failure on the part of the Beneficiaries to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder
preclude the 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.
| 9.6 | Severability |
If any provision of this Guarantee is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision or part thereof and the remaining part of such provision and all other provisions hereof shall continue in full force and effect. To the extent permitted by applicable law the Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law that renders any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.
| 9.7 | Amendments and Waivers |
Any provision of this Guarantee may be amended, waived or a consent given in respect thereof with the concurrence of the Guarantor and the Agent on behalf of the Beneficiaries. Any waiver and any consent by the Agent on behalf of the Beneficiaries under any provision of this Guarantee must be in writing signed by the Agent and may be given subject to any conditions thought fit by the Agent. Any waiver or consent shall be effective only in the instance and for the purpose for which it is given.
| 9.8 | Additional Guarantees |
This Guarantee is in addition and without prejudice to any other guarantees now or hereafter held by the Beneficiaries or any person on behalf of the Beneficiaries and any other rights or remedies they might have.
| 9.9 | Notices |
Any demand, notice or other communication (hereinafter in this Section referred to as a “Communication”) to be given in connection with this Guarantee shall be given in writing and may be given by personal delivery, facsimile or by registered mail addressed to the recipient as follows:
To the Agent on behalf of the Beneficiaries as follows:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
JPMorgan Primary Servicing Account Manager
Attention: Tommy Kan
Telephone: (813) 432-6058
email: [email protected],
and a copy to:
JPMorgan Secondary Servicing Account Manager
Attention: Tessa Jones
Telephone: (813) 432-4768
email: [email protected]
To the Guarantor:
Ovintiv Canada ULC
500 Centre Street S.E.
P.O.Box 2850
Calgary, Alberta T2P 25S
Attention: Treasury Department
Email: [email protected]
or such other address or electronic communication number as may be designated by notice by any party to the other. Any Communication given by personal delivery or facsimile transmission shall be conclusively deemed to have been given on the day of actual delivery or transmittal thereof and, if given by registered mail, on the third day following the deposit thereof in the mail. If the party giving any Communication knows or ought reasonably to know of any difficulties with the postal system which might affect the delivery of mail, any such Communication shall not be mailed but shall be given by personal delivery or facsimile transmission.
| 9.10 | Assignment |
The rights of the Beneficiaries under this Guarantee may be assigned by the Beneficiaries in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement. Subject to Section 5.02(a) of the Credit Agreement, the Guarantor may not assign its obligations under this Guarantee without the prior written consent of the Agent (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion).
| 9.11 | Time of Essence |
Time is of the essence with respect to this Guarantee and the time for performance of the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee may be strictly enforced by the Beneficiaries.
| 9.12 | Financial Condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries |
The Guarantor is fully aware of the financial condition of the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries and acknowledges that it shall receive a benefit from the Beneficiaries entering into the Loan Documents to which the Beneficiaries are a party. The Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s and each of the Subsidiaries’ financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of non-payment or non-performance of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks which Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that the Beneficiaries shall not have a duty to advise Guarantor of information known to any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.
| 9.13 | Acknowledgement of Documentation |
The Guarantor hereby acknowledges receipt of a true and complete copy of the Loan Documents and all of the terms and conditions thereof.
| 9.14 | Entire Agreement |
This Guarantee, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire agreement between the Beneficiaries and the Guarantor with respect to the subject matter hereof and cancel and supersede any prior understandings and agreements between such parties with respect thereto. There are no representations, warranties, terms, conditions, undertakings or collateral agreements, expressed, implied or statutory, between such parties other than as expressly set forth herein or therein.
| 9.15 | Governing Law |
This Guarantee shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
| 9.16 | Jurisdiction |
The Guarantor and, by acceptance hereof, each Beneficiary unconditionally agrees that (a) 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 Guarantor, the Agent, any other Beneficiary or any Related Party of the foregoing in any way relating to this Guarantee, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such federal court and (b) 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.
The Guarantor and, by acceptance hereof, each Beneficiary 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 Guarantee in any New York State or federal court and the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
| 9.17 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
THE GUARANTOR AND, BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, EACH BENEFICIARY 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 GUARANTEE OR THE ACTIONS OF THE AGENT OR ANY OTHER BENEFICIARY IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Guarantor has executed this Guarantee.
| OVINTIV CANADA ULC | |||
| By: | /s/ Corey D. Code | ||
| Name: | Corey D. Code | ||
| Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer | ||
| By: | /s/ L. Troy Cudmore | ||
| Name: | L. Troy Cudmore | ||
| Title: | Assistant Treasurer | ||
[Signature Page to Guarantee – Ovintiv Canada ULC]
EXHIBIT 4.3
Execution Version
US$1,300,000,000 (OR EQUIVALENT)
EXTENDIBLE REVOLVING - TERM CREDIT FACILITY
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
AMONG
OVINTIV
CANADA ULC
(as Borrower)
AND
OVINTIV
INC.
(as Guarantor)
AND
THE
FINANCIAL AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS NAMED HEREIN
FROM TIME TO TIME IN THEIR
CAPACITIES AS LENDERS
(as Lenders)
AND
ROYAL
BANK OF CANADA
(as Agent)
Dated as of April 1, 2022
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A., TORONTO BRANCH
CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE
TD SECURITIES
CITIBANK,
N.A., CANADIAN BRANCH
(as Joint-Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners)
AND
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
(as Joint-Lead Arrangers)
AND
BANK OF MONTREAL
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
(as Documentation Agents)
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
| ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS | 1 | ||
| 1.1 | Definitions | 1 | |
| 1.2 | Headings and Table of Contents | 32 | |
| 1.3 | References | 32 | |
| 1.4 | Rules of Interpretation | 32 | |
| 1.5 | Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 33 | |
| 1.6 | Changes in GAAP or Accounting Policies | 33 | |
| 1.7 | Schedules | 34 | |
| 1.8 | Certain Matters Related to Ratings Explained | 34 | |
| 1.9 | Amendment and Restatement | 35 | |
| 1.10 | Divisions | 36 | |
| 1.11 | Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification | 36 | |
| ARTICLE 2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 36 | ||
| 2.1 | Representations and Warranties | 36 | |
| 2.2 | Deemed Representation and Warranty Upon Drawdown | 39 | |
| 2.3 | Deemed Representation and Warranty Upon Conversion or Rollover | 40 | |
| 2.4 | Nature of Representations and Warranties | 40 | |
| ARTICLE 3 THE CREDIT FACILITY | 40 | ||
| 3.1 | Obligations of the Lenders | 40 | |
| 3.2 | Purpose/Certain Acquisitions | 40 | |
| 3.3 | Drawdowns | 41 | |
| 3.4 | Term Benchmark Loans | 42 | |
| 3.5 | Bankers' Acceptances | 42 | |
| 3.6 | Agent's Duties re Bankers' Acceptances | 44 | |
| 3.7 | Letters of Credit | 44 | |
| 3.8 | Conversion Option | 49 | |
| 3.9 | Rollover Option | 49 | |
| 3.10 | Notice and Additional Repayment Requirements | 50 | |
| 3.11 | Pro-Rata Treatment of Borrowings | 51 | |
| 3.12 | Extension of Maturity Date | 51 | |
| 3.13 | Increase in Credit Facility | 55 | |
| ARTICLE 4 REPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION | 56 | ||
| 4.1 | Repayment of Borrowings | 56 | |
| 4.2 | Exchange Rate Fluctuations | 57 | |
| 4.3 | Cancellation of Syndicated Commitments | 57 | |
| 4.4 | Evidence of Indebtedness | 58 | |
| ARTICLE 5 PAYMENT OF INTEREST AND FEES | 58 | ||
| 5.1 | Payment of Interest on Prime Loans | 58 | |
| 5.2 | Payment of Interest on USBR Loans | 58 | |
| 5.3 | Payment of Interest on Term Benchmark Loans | 58 | |
| 5.4 | Stamping Fees for Bankers' Acceptances | 59 | |
| 5.5 | Issuance Fees for Letters of Credit | 59 | |
| 5.6 | Adjustments | 59 | |
| 5.7 | Interest on Overdue Amounts | 60 | |
| 5.8 | Standby Fees | 60 | |
| 5.9 | Agency Fees | 60 | |
| - ii - |
| 5.10 | Maximum Rate Permitted by Law | 60 | |
| 5.11 | Interest Act | 61 | |
| 5.12 | Nominal Rates; No Deemed Reinvestment | 61 | |
| 5.13 | Interest on Prepayments and Repayments | 61 | |
| ARTICLE 6 PAYMENTS | 61 | ||
| 6.1 | Time and Place of Payment | 61 | |
| 6.2 | Currency of Payment | 62 | |
| 6.3 | Payments Free and Clear | 62 | |
| 6.4 | Account Debit Authorization | 63 | |
| ARTICLE 7 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT | 63 | ||
| 7.1 | Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness | 63 | |
| 7.2 | Conditions Precedent to all Drawdowns | 64 | |
| 7.3 | Conditions Precedent to Conversion or Rollover | 65 | |
| 7.4 | Waiver | 65 | |
| ARTICLE 8 COVENANTS OF THE OBLIGORS | 65 | ||
| 8.1 | Affirmative Covenants of the Obligors | 65 | |
| 8.2 | Negative Covenants of the Obligors | 69 | |
| 8.3 | Actions in Respect of Subsidiaries | 74 | |
| ARTICLE 9 EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 75 | ||
| 9.1 | Events of Default | 75 | |
| 9.2 | Occurrence of an Event of Default | 77 | |
| 9.3 | Lenders' Right to Suspend the Borrowings | 77 | |
| 9.4 | Remedies Cumulative | 77 | |
| 9.5 | Set-Off | 78 | |
| 9.6 | Cash Coverage Account | 78 | |
| 9.7 | Application and Sharing of Payments Following Acceleration | 79 | |
| ARTICLE 10 CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES | 79 | ||
| 10.1 | Market Disruption | 79 | |
| 10.2 | Increased Costs or Reduced Income or Return Due to Change in Law | 82 | |
| 10.3 | Illegality | 84 | |
| 10.4 | Designation of Different Lending Office | 85 | |
| 10.5 | Benchmark Replacement Setting | 85 | |
| ARTICLE 11 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES AND INDEMNITIES | 86 | ||
| 11.1 | Payment of Expenses | 86 | |
| 11.2 | General Indemnity | 87 | |
| ARTICLE 12 THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS | 88 | ||
| 12.1 | Authorization of Agent | 88 | |
| 12.2 | Responsibility of Agent | 88 | |
| 12.3 | Acknowledgement of Lenders | 88 | |
| 12.4 | Rights and Obligations of Each Lender | 89 | |
| 12.5 | Determinations by Lenders | 89 | |
| 12.6 | Notices between the Lenders, the Agent and the Borrower | 89 | |
| 12.7 | Agent's Duty to Deliver Documents Obtained from Borrower | 89 | |
| 12.8 | Arrangements for Borrowings | 90 | |
| 12.9 | Arrangements for Repayment of Borrowings | 90 | |
| 12.10 | Repayment by Lenders to Agent | 90 | |
| 12.11 | Adjustments Among Lenders | 91 | |
| 12.12 | Lenders' Consents to Waivers, Amendments, etc. | 91 | |
| 12.13 | Reimbursement of Agent's Expenses | 92 | |
| 12.14 | Reliance by Agent on Notices, etc. | 94 | |
| 12.15 | Relations with Borrower | 94 | |
| - iii - |
| 12.16 | Successor Agent | 94 | |
| 12.17 | Change of Schedule I Reference Bank | 95 | |
| 12.18 | Indemnity of Agent | 95 | |
| 12.19 | Cash Collateral and Withholding from a Defaulting Lender | 95 | |
| 12.20 | Funding if there is a Defaulting Lender | 96 | |
| 12.21 | Erroneous Payments by the Agent | 98 | |
| 12.22 | Amendment to this Article 12 | 99 | |
| ARTICLE 13 GUARANTEE | 99 | ||
| 13.1 | Guarantee | 99 | |
| 13.2 | No Subrogation | 100 | |
| 13.3 | Amendments, etc. With Respect to the Obligations; Waiver of Rights | 100 | |
| 13.4 | Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional | 101 | |
| 13.5 | Reinstatement | 101 | |
| 13.6 | Not Affected by Bankruptcy | 102 | |
| ARTICLE 14 NOTICES | 102 | ||
| 14.1 | Method of Giving Notice | 102 | |
| 14.2 | Change of Address | 102 | |
| 14.3 | Deemed Receipt | 105 | |
| ARTICLE 15 GOVERNING LAW AND JUDGMENT CURRENCY | 103 | ||
| 15.1 | Governing Law | 103 | |
| 15.2 | Jurisdiction | 103 | |
| 15.3 | Judgment Currency | 103 | |
| ARTICLE 16 MISCELLANEOUS | 104 | ||
| 16.1 | Exchange and Confidentiality of Information | 104 | |
| 16.2 | Severability | 105 | |
| 16.3 | Amendments and Waivers | 105 | |
| 16.4 | Survival of Representations | 105 | |
| 16.5 | Whole Agreement | 106 | |
| 16.6 | Term of Agreement | 106 | |
| 16.7 | Time of Essence | 106 | |
| 16.8 | Substitution of Lender | 106 | |
| 16.9 | Successors and Assigns | 107 | |
| 16.10 | AML Legislation and "Know Your Client" Requirements | 108 | |
| 16.11 | Platform | 109 | |
| 16.12 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 109 | |
| 16.13 | Electronic Communications | 110 | |
| 16.14 | Counterparts | 110 | |
| 16.15 | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 110 | |
| 16.16 | No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 111 | |
| - iv - |
SCHEDULES
| Schedule "A" - | Notice of Drawdown, Repayment or Cancellation of Commitment |
| Schedule "B" - | Notice of Drawdown by way of Bankers' Acceptances |
| Schedule "C" - | Notice of Conversion |
| Schedule "D" - | Notice of Rollover |
| Schedule "E" - | Request for Extension |
| Schedule "F" - | Compliance Certificate |
| Intentionally Deleted. | |
| Schedule "H" - | Power of Attorney – Bankers' Acceptances |
| Schedule "I" - | Lender Transfer Agreement |
| Schedule "J" - | Commitments |
| - v - |
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT is dated as of April 1, 2022
AMONG:
OVINTIV CANADA ULC, a corporation continued under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, having an office in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (the "Borrower")
AND
OVINTIV INC., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, having its executive office in Denver, Colorado, United States of America (the "Guarantor")
AND
each of the financial and other institutions named on Schedule "J" from time to time, in their capacities as Lenders
AND
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, a Canadian chartered bank having its head office in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in its capacity from time to time as administrative agent of the Lenders hereunder (in such capacity, the "Agent")
WHEREAS the Borrower, the Guarantor, certain of the Lenders and the Agent are parties to the Existing Credit Agreement;
AND WHEREAS the Borrower has requested and the Lenders have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement upon the terms and conditions, and in the form, of this Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual covenants and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
| 1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement:
"Acceleration Notice" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 9.2;
"Accounts" means the accounts and records established by the Agent to record the Borrower's liability to each of the Lenders in respect of the Borrowings and other Loan Indebtedness owing by the Borrower to each of the Lenders hereunder in accordance with Section 4.4;
"Additional Compensation" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 10.2;
“Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple SOFR, plus (b) 0.10% per annum; provided that if the Adjusted 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;
“Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) 0.10% per annum for all Interest Periods; provided that if the Adjusted 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;
"Administrative Questionnaire" means an administrative questionnaire in the form supplied by the Agent;
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution;
"Affiliate" means any Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with another Person; and, for the purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" or "under common control with") means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of any Person, whether through the ownership of shares or other economic interests, the holding of voting rights or contractual rights or otherwise;
"Agent" means Royal when acting in its capacity as agent hereunder, and includes any successor agent appointed pursuant to Section 12.16;
"Agent's Account for Payments" means:
| (i) | for all payments in Canadian Dollars, the following account maintained by the Agent at its Toronto main branch, to which payments and transfers are to be effected as follows: |
Royal Bank of Canada
Swift Address: ROYCCAT2
Favour: /00002-266-760-8
RBC Agency Services Group
Toronto, Ontario
Ref: Ovintiv Canada ULC
| (ii) | for all payments in US Dollars, the following account maintained by the Agent at its Toronto main branch, to which payments and transfers are to be effected as follows: |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, New York, New York
ABA 021000021, Swift code: CHASUS33
Swift Address: ROYCCAT2
Beneficiary: Favour: /00002-408-919-9
RBC Agency Services Group
Toronto, Ontario
Ref: Ovintiv Canada ULC
or such other places or accounts in Canada as may be stipulated by the Agent from time to time and notified in writing to the Borrower and the Lenders;
"Agent's Branch of Account" means:
| - 2 - |
Royal Bank of Canada
RBC Agency Services Group
RBC Centre
155 Wellington Street West
8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 3K7
Email: [email protected]
Fax: (416) 842-4023
or such other office or branch of the Agent in Canada as the Agent may from time to time advise the Borrower and the Lenders in writing;
"Agreement" or "Credit Agreement" means this agreement, including Schedules "A" to "J" inclusive, and any further amendments or supplements to it;
"AML Legislation" has the meaning given to it in Section 16.10;
"Anti-Corruption Laws" means all laws, rules, and regulations of Sanctions Authorities that apply to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery of government officials or public corruption;
"Applicable Law" means, with respect to any Person, property, transaction or event, and whether or not having the force of law, all applicable provisions of laws, statutes, regulations, rules, guidelines, by-laws, treaties, orders, policies, judgments, decrees and official directives of Governmental/Judicial Bodies or Persons acting under the authority of any Governmental/Judicial Body;
"Applicable Pricing Margin" means, with respect to any applicable Borrowing or the standby fees payable under Section 5.8, a rate per annum set forth opposite the applicable Debt Rating:
Level |
Debt Rating (S&P/Moody's/Fitch) |
Bankers' Acceptances / Term Benchmark Loans / Letters of Credit (in bps) |
Prime Loans / USBR Loans (in bps) |
(in bps) |
| 1 | A/A2/A or higher | 80 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | A-/A3/A- | 100 | 0 | 20 |
| 3 | BBB+/Baa1/BBB+ | 120 | 20 | 24 |
| 4 | BBB/Baa2/BBB | 145 | 45 | 29 |
| 5 | BBB-/Baa3/BBB- | 170 | 70 | 34 |
| 6 | Lower than Level 5, or unrated by each of S&P, Moody's and Fitch | 225 | 125 | 45 |
provided that, in each case, as applicable:
| (i) | if at any time the Guarantor has three Debt Ratings and the Debt Rating assigned by any one Rating Agency is lower than the Debt Rating assigned by any other Rating |
| - 3 - |
| Agency, then such lowest Debt Rating (the "Disregarded Debt Rating") shall be disregarded for the purposes of this definition; provided that if the Debt Rating assigned by any two Rating Agencies is the same and is lower than the Debt Rating assigned by the third Rating Agency, then only one of the two lowest Debt Ratings shall be treated as the Disregarded Debt Rating; | ||
| (ii) | if at any time the Guarantor has either (A) two Debt Ratings, or (B) three Debt Ratings but one is a Disregarded Debt Rating, and if at any time the Debt Rating assigned by one Rating Agency differs from the Debt Rating assigned by the other Rating Agency by only one rating subcategory, then the Applicable Pricing Margin shall be the applicable rate per annum set forth opposite the higher of the two Debt Ratings; |
| (iii) | if at any time the Guarantor has either (A) two Debt Ratings, or (B) three Debt Ratings but one is a Disregarded Debt Rating, and if at any time the Debt Rating assigned by one Rating Agency differs from the Debt Rating assigned by the other Rating Agency by two or more rating subcategories, then the Applicable Pricing Margin shall be the average of the applicable rates per annum set forth opposite those two Debt Ratings; |
| (iv) | the Applicable Pricing Margin for Bankers' Acceptances and Letters of Credit shall be determined on the date of issuance and shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.6; |
| (v) | with respect to Letters of Credit which are not characterized as Direct Credit Substitutes (as determined by the Fronting Bank, acting reasonably), the Applicable Pricing Margin shall be 662/3% of the applicable rates described above; provided that if any such Letter of Credit is determined by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada to be a Direct Credit Substitute after the issuance thereof, the Applicable Pricing Margin shall be adjusted to 100% of the applicable rates described above with retroactive effect to the date of issuance and the incremental issuance fee payable for the period from the date of issuance to the date of such determination shall be payable on the first Business Day of the next Fiscal Quarter; and |
| (vi) | if any or all of S&P, Moody's and Fitch ceases to carry on the business of providing ratings of the long term debt of corporate borrowers based on creditworthiness assessments, then the provisions of Section 1.8 (and not Level 6 pricing) shall apply; |
“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, 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 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 Section 10.5(d);
"BA Equivalent Loan" means, in relation to a Drawdown of, Conversion into or Rollover of, Bankers' Acceptances, a Borrowing advanced by a Non-Acceptance Lender pursuant to Section 3.5(f) as part of such Drawdown, Conversion or Rollover;
"BA Suspension Notice" has the meaning given to it in Section 10.1(b)(ii);
“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;
| - 4 - |
“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);
"Bankers' Acceptance" means either a depository bill, as defined by the Depository Bills and Notes Act (Canada), or a blank non-interest bearing bill of exchange, as defined by the Bills of Exchange Act (Canada), in either case drawn by the Borrower and accepted by a Lender as a bankers' acceptance, as evidenced by the Lender's endorsement thereof at the request of the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.3, 3.8 or 3.9;
"basis point" or "bp" means one one-hundredth of a percent;
“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the Term SOFR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 10.5(a);
“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:
| (1) | the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR; | |
| (2) | the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities 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 and the other Loan Documents;
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable 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 Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (a) 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 (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for
| - 5 - |
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 dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time;
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Loan, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “US Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “US Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments 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 in its reasonable discretion in consultation with the Borrower 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 in its reasonable discretion that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Agent determines in its reasonable discretion that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark exists, in such other manner of administration as the Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement);
“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;
“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);
(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, 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
| - 6 - |
(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 and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 10.5 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 10.5;
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230;
"Borrower" means Ovintiv Canada ULC, an unlimited liability corporation continued under the laws of British Columbia and any successor thereto permitted pursuant to Section 8.2(c);
"Borrower's Accounts" means, for all payments in Canadian Dollars, account no. 100-994-3, and, for all payments in US Dollars, account no. 400-284-6, in each case maintained by the Borrower with the Agent at the Agent's Main Branch in Calgary, Alberta, or such other account or accounts maintained by the Borrower with the Agent as the Borrower may from time to time designate and advise the Agent in writing;
"Borrowing" means (i) an advance by way of Prime Loans, (ii) an advance by way of USBR Loans, (iii) an advance by way of Term Benchmark Loans, (iv) an acceptance of drafts or Depository Bills to become Bankers' Acceptances having the same issuance and maturity dates (or BA Equivalent Loans made in lieu thereof) or (v) an issuance of any Letter(s) of Credit, in each case made pursuant to a Notice of Drawdown, Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover, or as a result of applying Section 3.4(a), 3.5(g) or 3.7(d);
"Borrowing Conversion Date" means the date on which the Borrower has elected, pursuant to Section 3.8, or is deemed pursuant to Section 3.4(a) or 3.5(g) to have elected, to convert a Borrowing (or a portion thereof) to another type of Borrowing;
"Borrowing Rollover Date" means the date on which the Borrower has elected, pursuant to Section 3.9, (i) to Rollover a Term Benchmark Loan (or a portion thereof) for a further Interest Period, (ii) to Rollover a Bankers' Acceptance (or a BA Equivalent Loan made in lieu thereof)
| - 7 - |
(or a portion thereof) to a new Bankers' Acceptance (or a BA Equivalent Loan in lieu thereof), or (iii) to Rollover a Letter of Credit (or a portion thereof) to a new or extended Letter of Credit;
"Bow Office Lease" means, collectively and individually, the Headlease, the Sublease and the Encana Indemnity and all amendments, supplements, renewals, extensions, replacements and restatements of any of the foregoing and any other agreements entered into pursuant to any of the foregoing relating to The Bow office tower or any properties ancillary thereto. For purposes of this definition, "Headlease" means, collectively, the lease made as of February 7, 2007 between EDP (as landlord) and Encana Leasehold Limited Partnership ("ELLP") (as tenant), as assigned by EDP to Centre Street Trust pursuant to an assignment and assumption agreement dated February 8, 2007 between EDP and Centre Street Trust, as amended pursuant to letter agreements dated December 10, 2007, February 11, 2008, February 14, 2008 and February 25, 2009 among Centre Street Trust, ELLP and EDP, and as amended by a lease amending agreement made as of April 22, 2009 among, inter alia, Centre Street Trust and ELLP, as same may be further assigned or amended, restated, superseded, supplemented, extended, replaced or modified from time to time; "Sublease" means the Sublease with respect to a portion of the premises located in The Bow entered into between ELLP as sublandlord and the Borrower as subtenant dated November 29, 2009 and effective on or about November 30, 2009, as such sublease may be amended, restated, superseded, supplemented, extended, replaced or modified from time to time; and "Encana Indemnity" means the indemnity entered into by the Borrower and Encana Developments Partnership ("EDP") dated February 7, 2007, as assigned by EDP to Centre Street Trust pursuant to an assignment and assumption agreement dated February 8, 2007 between EDP and Centre Street Trust, as same may be amended, restated, superseded, supplemented, extended, replaced or modified from time to time;
"Branch of Account" means, with respect to each Lender, the branch or office of such Lender at the address set forth in such Lender's Administrative Questionnaire provided to the Agent or such other branch or office in Canada as such Lender may from time to time advise the Borrower and the Agent in writing; provided that, for purposes of delivering any notice required to be delivered by the Agent to a Lender pursuant to Section 12.8 and for purposes of effecting any payments to a Lender in connection with this Agreement, a Lender may specify to the Borrower and the Agent in writing any other branch or office of such Lender in Canada, and such branch or office shall thereafter be the Branch of Account of such Lender for such purpose;
"Business Day" means a day, excluding Saturday and Sunday, on which Canadian chartered banks are open for business in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Toronto, Ontario, Canada and, in respect of any payments in US Dollars, a day on which banking institutions are also open for business in New York, New York, USA; provided, that, if such matter relates to any determination of the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or a Borrowing or payment in respect of Term Benchmark Loans, the term “Business Day” means any day that is also a US Government Securities Business Day;
"Canadian Dollars", "Cdn. Dollar" and the symbol "Cdn. $" each mean lawful currency of Canada;
"Capital Adequacy Guidelines" means the capital adequacy guidelines from time to time issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada or any other governmental agency or regulatory authority in Canada regulating or having jurisdiction with respect to any Lender;
"Cash Coverage Account" means an account maintained by the Agent (i) which bears interest for the Borrower's account at the rates prevailing at the time of deposit for deposits of similar
| - 8 - |
amounts and for similar terms, (ii) which contains amounts received by the Agent from the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.10(c), 3.10(d), 4.2 or 9.6 and (iii) from which the Borrower shall have no withdrawal rights or other entitlement to such amounts (except for any accrued interest thereon unless such interest is required to yield the face amount of any Bankers' Acceptances) to the extent and for so long as such amounts may be required to satisfy any unmatured or contingent obligations or liabilities of the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders pursuant to the above sections or are actually used to satisfy any such obligations and liabilities pursuant to the above sections; and, for the purposes hereof and to the foregoing extent, each such account shall be considered to be the Agent's or Lender's account and not the Borrower's account;
"CDOR Discontinuation Date" has the meaning given to it in Section 10.1(b);
"CDOR One Month Rate" means, on any day, the annual rate of interest determined by the Agent as being the arithmetic average of the "BA 1 mth" rate per annum applicable to Canadian Dollar bankers' acceptances displayed and identified as such on the "Refinitiv Screen Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) Page" (or any display substituted therefor) as at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on such day, or if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day (as adjusted by the Agent in good faith after approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) to reflect any error in a posted rate or in the posted average annual rate); provided, however, if such a rate does not appear on the Refinitiv Screen Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) Page as contemplated, then CDOR One Month Rate, on any day, shall be the 30 day discount rate quoted to the Agent by the Schedule I Reference Bank (determined as of approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on such day) which would be applicable in respect of an issue of one month Bankers' Acceptances accepted by the Schedule I Reference Bank and in an aggregate amount of Cdn. $10,000,000, and issued on such day, or if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day; provided further that if and for so long as the long term debt of the Schedule I Reference Bank is assigned a rating of A2 or lower by Moody's, the Borrower shall be entitled to designate another Lender for the purposes of determination of CDOR One Month Rate pursuant to the preceding proviso and CDOR One Month Rate shall be the average of (i) the rate determined in the absence of this proviso and (ii) the aforesaid rate, determined with the designated Lender substituted for the Schedule I Reference Bank; and provided, further, that if the CDOR One Month Rate would be less than zero on any day, then the CDOR One Month Rate will be deemed to be zero on such day;
"CDOR Rate" means, on any day, the annual rate of interest determined by the Agent as being the arithmetic average of the annual yield rates applicable to Canadian Dollar bankers' acceptances having identical issue and comparable maturity dates as the Bankers' Acceptances proposed to be issued by the Borrower displayed and identified as such on the display referred to as the "Refinitiv Screen Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) Page" (or any display substituted therefor) as at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on such day, or if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day (as adjusted by the Agent in good faith after approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) to reflect any error in a posted rate of interest or in the posted average annual rate of interest); provided, however, if such a rate does not appear on such Refinitiv Screen Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) Page, then the CDOR Rate, on any day, shall be the discount rate quoted to the Agent by the Schedule I Reference Bank (determined as of approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on such day) which would be applicable in respect of an issue of bankers' acceptances accepted by the Schedule I Reference Bank in a comparable amount and with comparable maturity dates to the Bankers' Acceptances proposed to be issued by the Borrower on such day, or if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day; provided that if the CDOR Rate would be less than zero on any day, then the CDOR Rate will be deemed to be zero on such day;
| - 9 - |
"Centralized Banking Arrangements" means any centralized banking arrangements entered into by the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries with any financial institution in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of obtaining cash management services (which arrangements may include, without limitation, the pooling and set-off of account balances between accounts belonging to different entities, the provision of guarantees or indemnities or the assumption of joint and several liabilities by one or more entities in regard to obligations of one or more other entities, or other similar arrangements);
“Change in Control” means the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the US Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder in effect on the date hereof), of Voting Shares representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Voting Shares of the Guarantor;
“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);
"Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time;
"Commitment" means, in relation to a Lender, such Lender's Syndicated Commitment or Fronting Bank Commitment, as the context may require;
"Common Equity Securities" means the securities of a Person which are entitled to share without limitation in a distribution of the assets of such Person upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of such Person;
"Compliance Certificate" means a compliance certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule "F" executed by any Senior Financial Officer;
“Consolidated” refers to the consolidation of accounts in accordance with GAAP;
"Consolidated Assets" means the aggregate amount of assets of the Guarantor as set forth in the Guarantor's most recent Consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP;
"Consolidated Capitalization" means, at the end of a Fiscal Quarter, and as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, the aggregate of:
| (i) | Consolidated Net Worth; and | |
| (ii) | Consolidated Debt; |
"Consolidated Debt" means, at the end of a Fiscal Quarter and as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, all Financing Debt of the Guarantor at such time but excluding any Financing Debt referred to in the proviso to the definition of Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio;
"Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio" means, at the end of a Fiscal Quarter, the ratio of Consolidated Debt at such date to Consolidated Capitalization at such date; provided that, for the purposes of calculating such ratio, Consolidated Debt shall exclude:
| - 10 - |
| (i) | any Financing Debt where the Guarantor or a Subsidiary has irrevocably deposited with the proper depository in trust the necessary cash or marketable debt instruments for the defeasance, redemption or satisfaction of such Financing Debt prior to its scheduled maturity date in accordance with the provisions of the indenture, agreement or other instrument governing such Financing Debt (and such deposits shall be excluded in any calculation of the Consolidated Tangible Assets); and |
| (ii) | any new Financing Debt borrowed or issued for the purpose of repaying or satisfying any existing Financing Debt prior to its maturity date provided that (A) such existing Financing Debt matures within 12 months of the date on which the new Financing Debt is borrowed or issued, (B) such new Financing Debt will only be excluded to the extent it is deposited into a segregated account of the Guarantor or the applicable Subsidiary (as certified by the President or a Senior Financial Officer of the Guarantor or the Borrower in an officer's certificate delivered to the Agent promptly after such deposit) and (C) such deposits shall be excluded in any calculation of Consolidated Tangible Assets. Any such deposit and the Guarantor’s or the applicable Subsidiary's, as the case may be, intention to repay such existing Financing Debt with such deposit shall be confirmed in each regularly scheduled Compliance Certificate which is delivered prior to repayment of such existing Financing Debt; |
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total amount of assets of the Guarantor on a Consolidated basis (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom:
(a) all current liabilities (excluding any Indebtedness classified as a current liability and any current liabilities which are by their terms extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed);
(b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangibles; and
(c) appropriate adjustments on account of minority interests of other Persons holding shares of the Subsidiaries of the Guarantor,
and adding back the non-cash ceiling test impairments and other changes in aggregate of $11,251,000,000 as at December 31, 2011 as a consequence of Encana’s adoption of US GAAP, in each case, as shown on the most recent annual audited or quarterly unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor computed in accordance with GAAP;
"Consolidated Net Worth" means, at the end of a Fiscal Quarter and as determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis for the Guarantor, the consolidated shareholders' equity as shown on the Consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor (including, for certainty, to the extent included as shareholders' equity on such balance sheet, preferred securities and minority interests, but excluding all amounts included in shareholders' equity attributable to Non-Recourse Assets and without giving effect to the non-cash ceiling test impairments and other changes in aggregate of US$ 7,746,000,000 as at December 31, 2011 as a consequence of Encana's adoption of US GAAP);
"Consolidated Tangible Assets" means, at the end of a Fiscal Quarter and as determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis for the Guarantor, the total assets of the Guarantor shown on the Consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor ((i) excluding goodwill, trademarks, copyrights and other similar intangible assets; (ii) excluding Non-Recourse Assets; and (iii) without giving effect to the non-cash ceiling test impairments and other changes in aggregate of US$10,585,000,000 as at December 31, 2011 as a consequence of
| - 11 - |
Encana's adoption of US GAAP); provided that Consolidated Tangible Assets shall not include any deposits referred to in either (A) or (B) of the proviso to the definition of Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio;
"Conversion" means a conversion or deemed conversion of one type of Borrowing or a portion thereof into another type of Borrowing in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement;
“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;
"Credit Facility" means the credit facility established pursuant to Section 3.1;
“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal SOFR for the day that is five (5) US Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a US Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a US Government Securities Business Day, the US 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 Borrower;
"Debt Ratings" means the ratings that have been most recently announced by S&P, Moody’s and Fitch (or, as applicable under Section 1.8, a Substitute Rating Entity) for any class of senior unsecured non-convertible publicly-held long term debt of the Guarantor;
"Default" means any event or circumstance which, with the giving of notice, lapse of time (or both) or the fulfillment of any other event or condition (including, for certainty and as applicable, the making of a Borrowing) would become an Event of Default;
"Defaulting Lender" means any Lender, as reasonably determined by the Agent:
| (i) | that has failed to fund any payment or its portion of any Borrowings required to be made by it hereunder or to purchase or fund any participation required to be purchased or funded by it hereunder in each case within one (1) Business Day after the date that such funding was required hereunder; |
| (ii) | that has notified the Borrower, the Agent or any Lender (verbally or in writing) that it does not intend to or is unable to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to that effect or to the effect that it does not intend to or is unable to fund advances generally under credit arrangements to which it is a party; |
| (iii) | that has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Agent or the Borrower, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Borrowings including participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit; |
| (iv) | that has otherwise failed to pay over to the Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute; |
| (v) | in respect of which a Lender Insolvency Event or a Lender Distress Event has occurred in respect of such Lender or its Lender Parent; |
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| (vi) | that is generally in default of its obligations under other existing credit or loan documentation under which it has commitments to extend credit; or |
| (vii) | that becomes, or its Lender Parent has become, the subject of a Bail-In Action; |
"Depository Bill" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Depository Bills and Notes Act (Canada);
"Direct Credit Substitutes" has the meaning contemplated within the Capital Adequacy Guidelines;
"Director" means a director of the Guarantor for the time being and "Directors" or "Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Guarantor or, if duly constituted and whenever duly empowered, the executive committee of the board of directors of the Guarantor for the time being, and reference to action by the Directors means action by the Directors of the Guarantor as a board or action by the said executive committee as such committee;
"Discount Proceeds" means the net cash proceeds to the Borrower from the sale of Bankers' Acceptances at the applicable Discount Rate, before deduction or payment of stamping fees to be paid to the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.4;
"Discount Rate" means:
| (i) | with respect to an issue of Bankers' Acceptances accepted by a Lender that is a Schedule I Bank: |
| (A) | in the case of a standard term of one (1) month, two (2) months or three (3) months, the annual rate of interest determined by the Agent as being the arithmetic average of the yield rates per annum (calculated on a year of 365 days) applicable to Canadian Dollar bankers' acceptances having identical issue and comparable maturity dates as the Bankers' Acceptances proposed to be issued by the Borrower, displayed and identified as such on the "Refinitiv Screen Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) Page" (or any display substituted therefor) as at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on such day, or if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day (as adjusted by the Agent in good faith after approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) to reflect any error in a posted rate of interest or in the posted average annual rate of interest); provided, however, if such rates do not appear on such Refinitiv Screen Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) Page as contemplated, then the Discount Rate for purposes of this paragraph (i), on any day, shall be the discount rate quoted to the Agent by the Schedule I Reference Bank (determined as of approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on such day) which would be applicable in respect of an issue of Canadian Dollar bankers' acceptances accepted by the Schedule I Reference Bank having comparable face values and identical issue and comparable maturity dates as the Bankers' Acceptances proposed to be issued by the Borrower, and issued on such day, or if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day; provided further that if and for so long as the long term debt of the Schedule I Reference Bank is assigned a rating of A2 or lower by Moody's, the Borrower shall be entitled to designate another Lender for the purposes of the determination of Discount Rate pursuant to the preceding proviso and the Discount Rate for purposes of this paragraph (i) shall be the average of (A) the rate determined in the absence of the proviso and (B) the aforesaid rate, |
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| determined with the designated Lender substituted for the Schedule I Reference Bank; and | ||
| (B) | in the case of any other term: |
| (1) | if such term is less than one (1) month, such rate of interest as may be determined by the Agent (acting reasonably); and | |
| (2) | if such term is greater than one (1) month, such rate of interest as may be determined by the Agent (acting reasonably) in accordance with its customary practices by interpolating between the rates of interest determined in accordance with subparagraph (A) above for the immediately shorter and immediately longer standard terms; and |
| (ii) | with respect to an issue of Bankers' Acceptances accepted by a Lender that is a Schedule II Bank or a Schedule III Bank, the lesser of: |
| (A) | the arithmetic average of the yield rates per annum (calculated on a year of 365 days) quoted to the Agent by the Schedule II/III Reference Banks (determined as of approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on the date of determination), which rates would be applicable in respect of the purchase by the Schedule II/III Reference Banks of Canadian Dollar bankers' acceptances accepted by the Schedule II/III Reference Banks having comparable face values and identical issue dates and comparable maturity dates as the Bankers' Acceptances proposed to be issued by the Borrower, and issued on such day, or if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day; and |
| (B) | the sum of the Discount Rate, determined in accordance with paragraph (i) above, and 10 bps per annum; |
provided that if the Discount Rate as determined above is less than zero on any day, then the Discount Rate shall be deemed to be zero on such day;
"Drawdown" means an advance or deemed advance of funds or other extension of credit in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and for certainty includes the issuance of a Letter of Credit but does not include a Conversion or a Rollover;
"Drawdown Date" means a Business Day, at the expiration of the notice period specified pursuant to Section 3.3, on which the Borrower obtains a Drawdown;
“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 Lender Parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any 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 Lender Parent;
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway;
| - 14 - |
“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" means the date on which all conditions in Section 7.1 are satisfied or waived by the Lenders;
"Encana" means Encana Corporation, as predecessor to the Borrower;
“Environmental Action” means any action, suit, demand, demand letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or violation, notice of liability, proceeding, consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Material or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment, including, without limitation, (a) by any Governmental/Judicial Body for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other similar actions or damages and (b) by any Governmental/Judicial Body or any third party for damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief;
“Environmental Law” means any applicable federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order, judgment, decree or judicial or agency interpretation, policy or guidance having the force or effect of law 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;
"Equivalent Amount" in one currency (the “First Currency”) of an amount in another currency (the “Other Currency”) means, as of the date of determination, the amount of the First Currency which would be required to purchase such amount of the Other Currency at the average exchange rate quoted by the Bank of Canada at approximately the close of business on the Business Day that such determination is required to be made (or, if such determination is required to be made before close of business on such Business Day, then at approximately close of business on the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that, in either case, if no such rate is quoted, it shall mean the spot rate of exchange for wholesale transactions quoted by the Agent at approximately noon (Toronto time) on such date of determination in accordance with its normal practice or, if such date of determination is not a Business Day, on the Business Day immediately preceding such date of determination;
“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 controlled group of the Guarantor, or under common control with the Guarantor, within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) and (o) of the Code;
“ERISA Event” means (a) 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; (b) the application for a minimum funding waiver under Section 412(c) of the Code with respect to a Plan; (c) the provision by the administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to terminate such Plan in a distress termination pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any such notice of a distress termination with respect to a plan amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (d) the cessation of
| - 15 - |
operations at a facility of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) the withdrawal by the Borrower 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 in Section 4042 of ERISA that is reasonably expected to result in 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;
"Event of Default" means any of the occurrences referred to in Section 9.1 if, at the time of, or during the continuance of any such occurrence, a Borrowing is outstanding;
"Excluded Taxes" means:
| (i) | all taxes on, based on, measured by or with respect to the Agent's or a Lender's net or gross income, gains, capital, receipts, franchises, excess profits or conduct of business (unless such taxes are in lieu of any Taxes the Borrower or a Guarantor Subsidiary would otherwise be required to pay hereunder) that are taxes imposed in a jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof as a consequence of the Agent or applicable Lender carrying on a trade or business or having a permanent establishment in that jurisdiction or otherwise being organized under the laws of or being a resident in that jurisdiction; |
| (ii) | all U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, and any Taxes or penalties arising from a Lender's failure to properly comply with such Lender's obligations imposed under the Canada-United States Enhanced Tax Information Exchange Agreement Implementation Act (Canada) or the similar provisions of legislation of any other jurisdiction that has entered into an agreement with the United States of America to provide for the implementation of FATCA-based reporting in that jurisdiction; and |
| (iii) | any Taxes imposed on a payment or deemed payment by reason of the recipient not dealing at arm's length (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) with the Borrower or being a "specified shareholder" of the Borrower (within the meaning of subsection 18(5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) at the time of payment or deemed payment, or by reason of such recipient not dealing at arm’s length (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) with the Borrower or a “specified shareholder” of the Borrower at the time of payment or deemed payment; |
"Existing Credit Agreement" means the restated credit agreement dated as of January 27, 2020 among Ovintiv Canada ULC as “Borrower”, Ovintiv Inc. as “Guarantor”, the Existing Lenders and the Agent, as amended prior to the Effective Date;
"Existing Lenders" means those financial and other institutions which are parties as "Lenders" to the Existing Credit Agreement;
"Extension Date" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 3.12(a);
"Facilities" means any drilling equipment, production equipment and platforms or mining equipment; pipelines, pumping stations and other pipeline facilities; terminals, warehouses and storage facilities; bulk plants; production, separation, dehydration, extraction, treating and
| - 16 - |
processing facilities; gasification or natural gas liquefying facilities, flares, stacks and burning towers; floatation mills, crushers and ore handling facilities; tank cars, tankers, barges, ships, trucks, automobiles, airplanes and other marine, automotive, aeronautical and other similar moveable facilities or equipment; computer systems and associated programs or office equipment; roads, airports, docks (including drydocks); reservoirs and waste disposal facilities; sewers; generating plants (including power plants) and electric lines; telephone and telegraph lines, radio and other communications facilities; townsites, housing facilities, recreation halls, stores and other related facilities; and similar facilities and equipment of or associated with any of the foregoing;
"FATCA" means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the Effective Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code;
"Fed Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the NYFRB, based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time and as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the federal funds effective rate, provided that if the Fed Funds Rate would be less than zero on any day, then the Fed Funds Rate shall be deemed to be zero on such day;
“Federal Reserve Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America;
"Finance Co." means Encana Holdings Finance Corp., an unlimited liability company incorporated under the laws of Nova Scotia, and any successor thereto;
"Finance Lease" means, at any time, any finance lease or other arrangement providing for the right of the lessee thereunder to use property, real or personal, moveable or immovable (whether or not such lease or other arrangement is intended as security), and in respect of which the present value of the minimum rental commitment or other amounts payable by the lessee thereunder would, in accordance with GAAP, be accounted for as a finance lease on a balance sheet of the lessee thereunder; provided that any real property leases (including the Bow Office Lease) and any other leases (whether entered into before or after December 31, 2021) that are or would be characterized as operating leases under GAAP as at December 31, 2021 shall be deemed to be operating leases and shall be excluded from this definition;
"Financial Instrument Obligations" means obligations arising under:
| (i) | interest rate swap agreements, forward rate agreements, floor, cap or collar agreements, futures or options, insurance or other similar agreements or arrangements, or any combination thereof, entered into by a Person relating to interest rates or pursuant to which the price, value or amount payable thereunder is dependent or based upon interest rates in effect from time to time or fluctuations in interest rates occurring from time to time (but, for certainty, excluding conventional floating rate debt); |
| (ii) | currency swap agreements, cross-currency agreements, forward agreements, floor, cap or collar agreements, futures or options, insurance or other similar agreements or arrangements, or any combination thereof, entered into by a Person relating to currency exchange rates or pursuant to which the price, value or amount payable |
| - 17 - |
| thereunder is dependent or based upon currency exchange rates in effect from time to time or fluctuations in currency exchange rates occurring from time to time; and | ||
| (iii) | commodity swap or hedging agreements, floor, cap or collar agreements, commodity futures or options or other similar agreements or arrangements, or any combination thereof, entered into by a Person relating to one or more commodities or pursuant to which the price, value or amount payable thereunder is dependent or based upon the price of one or more commodities in effect from time to time or fluctuations in the price of one or more commodities occurring from time to time; |
"Financing Debt" means, with respect to any Person and at any time, all indebtedness for borrowed money of such Person at such time and specifically includes (without duplication):
| (i) | indebtedness of such Person arising pursuant to bankers' acceptance facilities, note purchase facilities and commercial paper programs; |
| (ii) | indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money evidenced by and owed under a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument; |
| (iii) | all indebtedness of such Person representing the deferred purchase price of any property which, in accordance with its terms is, or after giving effect to any renewal or extension provisions of such arrangements may be, payable by such Person more than 12 months after the date of acquisition; |
| (iv) | the amounts under Finance Leases under which such Person is the lessee which, in accordance with GAAP, are capitalized on the balance sheet of such Person; |
| (v) | indebtedness of such Person arising pursuant to letters of credit or letters of guarantee securing or supporting any indebtedness referred to in the foregoing parts of this definition and in paragraph (vi) of this definition; and |
| (vi) | (y) obligations of such Person under guarantees, indemnities or other contingent obligations securing or supporting any indebtedness or other obligations of any other Person referred to in the foregoing parts of this definition, and (z) all other obligations of such Person incurred for the purpose of or having the effect of providing financial assistance to another Person to secure or support any indebtedness or other obligations of any other Person referred to in the foregoing parts of this definition, including endorsements with recourse of bills of exchange constituting or evidencing any such indebtedness or obligations (other than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business); |
provided that Financing Debt of a Person shall not include (A) any Non-Recourse Debt of such Person, (B) indebtedness under any real property leases (including the Bow Office Lease) and any other leases (whether entered into before or after December 31, 2021) that are or would be characterized as operating leases under GAAP as at December 31, 2021 and (C) where such Person is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, any of the foregoing which is owed to the Guarantor, the Borrower or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary or owed by the Guarantor or the Borrower to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;
"Fiscal Quarter" means the first three (3) months of a Fiscal Year, and each successive period of three (3) months in such Fiscal Year;
| - 18 - |
"Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year as adopted by the Guarantor from time to time and which is currently the one year period commencing on January 1 of each year and ending on December 31 of such year;
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Inc., its Affiliates and their respective successors;
“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 Adjusted Term SOFR Rate. For the avoidance of doubt the initial Floor for each of Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be 0.00%;
"Fronting Bank Commitment" means, in relation to a Fronting Bank, the amount set forth opposite such Fronting Bank's name in the second column on Schedule "J" from time to time, as such Fronting Bank Commitment may hereafter be increased, cancelled, reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to this Agreement;
"Fronting Banks" means, from time to time, any Lenders selected by the Borrower and the Agent which have agreed to act as a fronting bank to issue Letters of Credit up to their respective Fronting Bank Commitments; provided that with respect to any particular Letter of Credit issued hereunder, "Fronting Bank" shall mean the Lender which issued that Letter of Credit;
"GAAP" means, with respect to any Person at any time, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America which are in effect from time to time, unless such Person’s most recent audited annual or unaudited interim financial statements are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, in which case GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in Canada in effect from time to time;
"Governmental/Judicial Body" means:
| (i) | any government, parliament or legislature, any regulatory or administrative authority, agency, commission or board (including any board having jurisdiction in respect of pipelines or the oil and gas industry generally) and any other statute, rule or regulation making entity having jurisdiction in the relevant circumstances; |
| (ii) | any Person to whom a government, parliament or legislature, any regulatory or administrative authority, agency, commission or board or any other statute, rule or regulation making entity referred to in paragraph (i) has delegated power or authority under a statute, rule or regulation thereof; and |
| (iii) | any judicial, administrative or arbitral court, authority, tribunal or commission having jurisdiction in the relevant circumstances; |
"Guarantor" means Ovintiv Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and any successor thereto, in its capacity as covenantor and guarantor under this Agreement;
"Guarantor Subsidiary" means, at any time, a Subsidiary which is then guaranteeing the Obligations pursuant to a guarantee in a form acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably);
“Hazardous Material” means any waste, material or substance that is defined as hazardous in or pursuant to any Environmental Law or which is subject to regulation or control pursuant thereto;
| - 19 - |
"Indebtedness" means indebtedness created, issued or assumed for borrowed funds, or for the unpaid purchase price of property of the Guarantor or a Restricted Subsidiary, and includes such indebtedness guaranteed by the Guarantor or a Restricted Subsidiary;
"Interest Date" means, in respect of Borrowings by way of Prime Loans and USBR Loans, the first Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter;
“Interest Period” means, in respect of a Borrowing by way of a Term Benchmark Loan, a period of one, three or six months (in each case, subject to the market availability thereof), with respect to such Term Benchmark Loan, selected by the Borrower upon giving to the Agent a Notice of Drawdown or Notice of Conversion, as applicable; provided that (i) the Interest Period shall commence on the date of a Drawdown of or a Conversion to a Term Benchmark Loan and, in the case of immediately successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the date on which the next preceding Interest Period expires; (ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, that if any Interest Period with respect to a Term Benchmark Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day; (iii) any Interest Period with respect to a Term Benchmark Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is not numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the relevant calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; (iv) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date; and (v) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 10.5(d) shall be available for specification in such Notice of Drawdown, Notice of Conversion or interest election;
"Investment Grade" means a Debt Rating from at least two Rating Agencies of not lower than BBB- from S&P, Baa3 from Moody's and BBB- from Fitch (or, if applicable, an equivalent Debt Rating from a Substitute Rating Entity);
"LC Draft" means any draft, bill of exchange, receipt, acceptance, demand or other request for payment presented to a bank as provided in a Letter of Credit;
“Lead Arrangers” means RBC Capital Markets, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, TD Securities, Citibank, N.A., Canadian Branch, BMO Capital Markets and The Bank of Nova Scotia;
"Lender Distress Event" means, in respect of a given Lender, such Lender or its Lender Parent is subject to a forced liquidation, merger, sale or other change of control supported in whole or in part by guarantees or other support (including, without limitation, the nationalization or assumption of ownership or operating control by the Government of the United States, Canada or any other Governmental/Judicial Body) or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental/Judicial Body having regulatory authority over such Lender or Lender Parent or their respective assets to be, insolvent or bankrupt or deficient in meeting any capital adequacy or liquidity standard of any such Governmental/Judicial Body; provided that a Lender shall not become a Defaulting Lender solely as the result of the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Lender or its Lender Parent (including the exercise of control over such Lender or its Lender Parent through such ownership interest) by a Governmental/Judicial Body or an instrumentality thereof;
"Lender Insolvency Event" means, in respect of a given Lender, such Lender or its Lender Parent:
| - 20 - |
| (i) | is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); | |
| (ii) | becomes insolvent, is deemed insolvent by Applicable Law or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due; |
| (iii) | makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors; |
| (iv) | (A) institutes, or has instituted against it by a regulator, supervisor or any similar Governmental/Judicial Body with primary insolvency, rehabilitative or regulatory jurisdiction over it in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization or the jurisdiction of its head or home office, (x) a proceeding pursuant to which such Governmental/Judicial Body takes control of such Lender’s or Lender Parent’s assets, (y) a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or winding-up law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or (z) a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar Governmental/Judicial Body; or (B) has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or winding-up law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation, and such proceeding or petition is instituted or presented by a Person or entity not described in clause (A) above and either (x) results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding-up or liquidation or (y) is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within fifteen (15) days of the institution or presentation thereof; |
| (v) | has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
| (vi) | seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or a substantial portion of all of its assets; |
| (vii) | has a secured party take possession of all or a substantial portion of all of its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case, within fifteen (15) days thereafter; |
| (viii) | causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the Applicable Law of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in subparagraphs (i) to (vii) above, inclusive; or |
| (ix) | takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing; |
"Lender Parent" means any Person that directly or indirectly controls a Lender and, for the purposes of this definition, "control" shall have the same meaning as set forth in the definition of "Affiliate" contained herein;
"Lender's Proportion" means, at any time and from time to time with respect to each Lender:
| - 21 - |
| (i) | if there has been delivered an Acceleration Notice, or during the continuance of an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(b) or 9.1(c), in each such case at a time during which there are Outstandings, the proportion that the amount of such Lender's Outstandings at such time bears to the amount of the total Outstandings of all Lenders at such time; and |
| (ii) | at any other time, the proportion that the amount of such Lender's Syndicated Commitment at such time bears to the Total Syndicated Commitment; |
"Lenders" means each of the financial and other institutions named on Schedule "J" hereto as a Lender which has executed this Agreement or, as a Permitted Assignee, an agreement substantially in the form of Schedule "I", and includes Royal in its capacity as a Lender, but excludes any such financial or other institution, the Commitment of which has been reduced to zero, and also excludes the Agent in its capacity as the Agent; and "Lender" means any one of such Lenders, as applicable;
"Letter of Credit" means a performance, standby or documentary letter of credit issued by the Fronting Bank at the request of the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.7;
“Lien” means any lien, security interest, mortgage, hypothecation or other charge or encumbrance of any kind;
"Loan Documents" means this Agreement (including Schedules "H" and "J"), the letter agreements referred to in Sections 3.7(g) and 5.9 and, when executed and delivered, Schedules "A", "B", "C", "D", "E", "F" and "I";
"Loan Indebtedness" means the aggregate, at any time, of:
| (i) | all Outstandings; and | |
| (ii) | all interest, fees and other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, |
but, for certainty, shall not include contingent obligations under the Loan Documents not then due or owing, including such obligations under indemnities contained therein;
"Loans" means Prime Loans, USBR Loans and Term Benchmark Loans;
"Majority Lenders" means any Lender or group of Lenders having Lender's Proportions, in aggregate, of 50.1% or more;
“Margin Stock” has the meaning specified in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time;
"Material Adverse Effect" means any act, event or condition that has a material adverse effect on (i) the consolidated financial condition and operations of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Guarantor to pay any amounts owing from time to time under this Agreement or (iii) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, provided that in no event shall fluctuations in commodity prices for oil and/or natural gas be regarded as an act, event or condition that in and of itself has a Material Adverse Effect;
"Material Subsidiary" means from time to time (i) the Borrower, (ii) any other Subsidiary of the Guarantor which, on a Consolidated basis for such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries, has assets which have a value, as reflected on the Consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor
| - 22 - |
most recently delivered to the Lenders hereunder, in excess of 10% of the value of the Consolidated Assets of the Guarantor as reflected therein (without giving effect to the non-cash ceiling test impairments and other changes as at December 31, 2011 as a consequence of Encana's adoption of US GAAP) and (iii) any other Subsidiary so designated by the Borrower;
"Maturity Date" means, with respect to a Commitment, July 15, 2026, as such date may, from time to time, be extended pursuant to Section 3.12 in respect of such Commitment;
"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc., its Affiliates and their respective successors;
“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Guarantor 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 Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person other than the Guarantor and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Guarantor 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-Acceptance Discount Rate" means, for any day, the simple average of the Discount Rate in paragraph (i) of the definition of Discount Rate and the Discount Rate in paragraph (ii) of such definition;
"Non-Acceptance Lender" means a Lender which does not accept bankers’ acceptances in the ordinary course of its business;
"Non-Defaulting Lender" means a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender;
"Non-Guarantor Subsidiary" means, at any time, a Subsidiary which is not then a Guarantor Subsidiary;
"Non-Recourse Assets" means the Guarantor’s proportion (determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) of assets owned directly or indirectly by the Guarantor or any Subsidiary which meet all of the following conditions: (i) the assets represent a specific Project, whether alone or in association with others, (ii) debt for borrowed money is owed to one or more Non-Recourse Creditor(s), was incurred for the purpose of financing the costs of such Project and the recourse of such creditors in relation to such debt is limited to the assets of such Project (including equity interests and investments in any Non-Recourse Subsidiary), and (iii) neither the Guarantor nor any Subsidiary is liable or has issued a guarantee in respect of any such debt, other than any such debt or any such guarantee in respect of which the recourse thereunder is limited to the assets of such Project (including equity interests and investments in any Non-Recourse Subsidiary); provided that upon all such debt to all such creditors in respect of any such assets being repaid, such assets shall then cease to be Non-Recourse Assets;
"Non-Recourse Creditor" means an arm's length creditor whose recourse is limited to Non-Recourse Assets, to the exclusion of any and all other recourse, whether directly or indirectly, by way of guarantees or otherwise, against the Guarantor or any Subsidiary in respect of any such debt or liability referred to in the definition of Non-Recourse Assets except for non-recourse guarantees and/or non-recourse pledges which are limited in recourse to equity interests and investments in any Non-Recourse Subsidiary;
| - 23 - |
"Non-Recourse Debt" means debt incurred for the purpose of financing the costs of a specific Project and due or otherwise owing to a Non-Recourse Creditor;
"Non-Recourse Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary whose material assets are Non-Recourse Assets;
"Notice of Conversion" means a notice substantially in the form of Schedule "C" to this Agreement, duly completed with all information necessary to effect a Conversion, given or to be given by the Borrower to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement;
"Notice of Drawdown" means a notice substantially in the form of Schedule "A" or, in the case of a Drawdown by way of Bankers' Acceptances (or BA Equivalent Loans in lieu thereof), Schedule "B" to this Agreement, duly completed with all information necessary to effect a Drawdown, given or to be given by the Borrower to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement;
"Notice of Extension" means a written notice by the Agent, on behalf of some or all of the Lenders for a period of not more than five (5) years from the Extension Date, to the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.12 extending the then current Maturity Date in respect of the Commitments of such Lenders;
"Notice of Rollover" means a notice substantially in the form of Schedule "D" to this Agreement, duly completed with all information necessary to effect a Rollover, given or to be given by the Borrower to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement;
“NYFRB” means Federal Reserve Bank of New York;
“NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Fed Funds Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day; provided, that if any of the aforesaid rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to zero for the purposes of calculating such rate;
"Obligations" means, collectively and at any time and from time to time, all of the obligations, indebtedness and liabilities (present or future, absolute or contingent, matured or not) of the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders under, pursuant or relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and including all Outstandings and all interest, commissions, legal and other costs, charges and expenses payable by the Borrower under this Agreement and such other Loan Documents, whether the same are from time to time reduced and thereafter increased or entirely extinguished and thereafter incurred again;
"Obligors" means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantor and "Obligor" means either of them;
"OFAC" means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Treasury Department;
"Outstanding Principal" means, at any time, the Equivalent Amount in US Dollars of the Outstandings at such time disregarding any due and unpaid interest;
"Outstandings" at any time means the aggregate at such time of:
| (i) | the principal amounts outstanding of, and all due and unpaid interest in respect of, Prime Loans; |
| (ii) | the principal amounts outstanding of, and all due and unpaid interest in respect of, USBR Loans and Term Benchmark Loans; |
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| (iii) | the amounts payable at maturity of all outstanding Bankers’ Acceptances and BA Equivalent Loans; and |
| (iv) | the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit; |
provided that (A) for the purpose of calculating the Outstandings owing to any Lender at any time, such Lender shall be deemed to have issued its Lender's Proportion of all outstanding Letters of Credit for which it has a reimbursement or indemnification obligation in the circumstances contemplated in Section 3.7(d) and (B) where the context requires, the Outstandings shall mean only those Outstandings owing to a particular Lender;
“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar transactions denominated in US Dollars by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate (from and after such date as the NYFRB shall commence to publish such composite rate);
“Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001);
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor);
"Permitted Assignee" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 16.9(a);
"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, in each case that is subject to ERISA;
"Prime Loans" means the loans made available by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.3, 3.8 or 3.9 with respect to which the Borrower has agreed to pay interest thereon in accordance with Section 5.1 or which are made available to the Borrower by the Lenders as a result of applying Section 3.5(g) or 3.7(d);
"Prime Rate" means, with respect to outstanding Prime Loans, on any day, the greater of:
| (i) | the annual rate of interest most recently announced from time to time by the Schedule I Reference Bank (and, if not the Agent, notified to the Agent) as being its reference rate then in effect for determining interest rates on Canadian Dollar denominated commercial loans made by the Schedule I Reference Bank in Canada; and |
| (ii) | the annual rate of interest equal to the aggregate of CDOR One Month Rate and 0.75% per annum; |
provided that, (x) if all such rates are equal, then the "Prime Rate" shall be the rate specified in (i) above and (y) if the Prime Rate as determined above would be less than zero on any day, then the Prime Rate shall be deemed to be zero on such day;
"Project" means the acquisition, construction and development of previously undeveloped or newly acquired assets forming an economic unit capable of generating sufficient cash flow, on
| - 25 - |
the basis of reasonable initial assumptions, to cover the operating costs and debt service required to finance the undertaking relating to such assets over a period of time which is less than the projected economic life of the assets, and includes any commercial operation for which such assets were so acquired, constructed or developed and which is subsequently carried on with such assets by such economic unit and, for certainty, includes each such Project which exists at the Effective Date or which is acquired, created or comes into existence after the Effective Date;
"Public Material Subsidiary" means any Material Subsidiary whose Common Equity Securities have been listed on any stock exchange at all times since such Material Subsidiary first became a Material Subsidiary;
“Publicly Traded Securities” means (a) securities of a corporation which are listed on any stock exchange and are entitled to share without limitation in a distribution of the assets of such corporation upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of such corporation and includes any securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities; and (b) with respect to a partnership, limited liability company or other entity, means securities of such partnership, limited liability company or other entity which are listed on any stock exchange and represent income interests or capital interests in such partnership, limited liability company or other entity and includes any securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities;
"Purchase Money Mortgage" means any mortgage, hypothecation, charge or other encumbrance on property or assets created, issued or assumed to secure a Purchase Money Obligation in respect of such property or assets and also means any agreement or other instrument entered into for the acquisition of or right to acquire any property or assets or any interest therein in which agreement or instrument there is reserved or which obligates the Guarantor or a Restricted Subsidiary to pay a royalty, rent or percentage of profits or proceeds won from such property or assets and which charges or secures such property or assets or interest therein or the lands containing the same with the payment thereof and includes any extension, renewal, refunding or refinancing thereof so long as the principal amount outstanding immediately prior to the date of such extension, renewal, refunding or refinancing is not increased; provided, however, that such mortgage, hypothecation, charge, encumbrance, agreement or other instrument is created, issued or assumed prior to, concurrently with or within 180 days following the acquisition of such property or assets, except in the case of property or assets on which improvements are constructed, installed or added, in which case the same shall be created or issued within a period of 180 days after Substantial Completion of such improvements;
"Purchase Money Obligation" means any Indebtedness assumed as, or issued and incurred to provide funds to pay, all or part of (i) the purchase price (which shall be deemed to include any costs of construction or installation) of any property or assets acquired after the date of this Agreement or (ii) the cost of improvements made after the date of this Agreement to any property or assets;
“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (i) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two Business Days preceding the date of such setting or (ii) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, the time determined by the Agent in its reasonable discretion;
“Release” means a releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, disposing, spraying, abandonment, depositing, seeping, placing or dumping;
| - 26 - |
“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto;
"Request for Extension" means a written request by the Borrower to the Agent on behalf of some or all of the Lenders pursuant to Section 3.12 requesting such Lenders to issue a Notice of Extension in respect of the Commitments of such Lenders, in the form attached as Schedule "E";
“Relevant Subsidiary” means, on any date, any corporation or other Person of which Voting Shares or other interests carrying more than 50% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding Voting Shares or other interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by or for the Guarantor and/or by or for any corporation in like relation to the Guarantor and includes any corporation in like relation to a Relevant Subsidiary; provided, however, such term shall not include any corporations or other Persons (or their respective Relevant Subsidiaries) which have Publicly Traded Securities where the aggregate amount of assets of all such corporations or other Persons does not exceed 20% of the Consolidated Assets of the Guarantor at the time and from time to time;
“Resolution Authority” means, with respect to any EEA Financial Institution, an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority;
“Restricted Property” means any oil, gas or mineral property of a primary nature located in Canada or the United States and any facilities located in Canada or the United States directly related to the mining, processing or manufacture of hydrocarbons or minerals, or any of the constituents thereof or the derivatives therefrom and includes Voting Shares or other interests of a corporation or other Person which owns such property or facilities, but does not include (i) any property or facilities used in connection with or necessarily incidental to the purchase, sale, storage, transportation or distribution of Restricted Property, (ii) any property which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Guarantor, is not materially important to the total business conducted by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as an entirety, or (iii) any portion of a particular property which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Guarantor, is not materially important to the use or operation of such property;
"Restricted Subsidiary" means, on any date, any Relevant Subsidiary which owns at the time Restricted Property; provided, however, such term shall not include a Relevant Subsidiary of the Guarantor if the amount of the Guarantor’s share of Shareholders’ Equity of such Subsidiary constitutes, at the time of determination, less than 2% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Guarantor;
"Rollover" means:
| (i) | with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the continuation of all or a portion of such Loan for an additional Interest Period subsequent to the initial or any subsequent Interest Period applicable thereto; |
| (ii) | with respect to any Bankers' Acceptance (or BA Equivalent Loan made in lieu thereof), the issuance of new Bankers' Acceptances (or making of new BA Equivalent Loans) in respect of all or any portion of such Bankers' Acceptance (or BA Equivalent Loans made in lieu thereof) on the maturity date thereof; and |
| (iii) | with respect to any Letter of Credit, the extension or replacement of an existing Letter of Credit in respect of all or any portion of such Letter of Credit effective on the expiry date thereof including, for certainty, any extension referred to in the proviso in |
| - 27 - |
Section 3.9(c); provided that the beneficiary thereof (including any successor or permitted assigns thereof) remains the same, the maximum amount available to be drawn thereunder is not increased, the currency in which the same is denominated remains the same and the terms upon which the same may be drawn remain the same;
all in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement;
"Royal" means Royal Bank of Canada, a Canadian chartered bank;
"Sanctioned Country" means, at any time, a country or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions;
"Sanctioned Person" means, at any time, any Person listed in any Sanctions-specific list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the United States Department of State, or by the United Nations Security Council, in all cases, to the extent not inconsistent with Applicable Law in Canada;
"Sanctions" means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by a Sanctions Authority that are applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries; provided that, with respect to economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the United Nations Security Council, to the extent such sanctions or trade embargoes are not inconsistent with Applicable Law in Canada;
"Sanctions Authority" means any of: (a) the federal government of Canada; (b) the federal government of the United States of America; (c) the United Nations Security Council (to the extent not inconsistent with Applicable Law in Canada); or (d) the respective governmental institutions, departments and agencies of any of the foregoing, including OFAC and the United States Department of State; and "Sanctions Authorities" means all of the foregoing Sanctions Authorities, collectively;
"Schedule I Bank" means a bank under Schedule I of the Bank Act (Canada);
"Schedule I Reference Bank" means Royal, or such other Lender as may from time to time be appointed as the Schedule I Reference Bank pursuant to Section 12.17;
"Schedule II Bank" means a bank under Schedule II of the Bank Act (Canada);
"Schedule II/III Reference Banks" means, other than Bank of America, N.A., Canada Branch, (i) any two or more Lenders which are Schedule II Banks or Schedule III Banks, as selected from time to time by the Agent and approved by the Borrower, each acting reasonably, and shall include any other Lender that is a Schedule II Bank or Schedule III Bank selected from time to time by the Agent and approved by the Borrower, each acting reasonably, in substitution for or replacement of any then existing Schedule II/III Reference Banks, or (ii) if there is only one Schedule II Bank or Schedule III Bank that is a Lender, that Lender alone;
"Schedule III Bank" means an authorized foreign bank under Schedule III of the Bank Act (Canada);
"Senior Financial Officer" means the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Vice-President Finance, Comptroller, Assistant Comptroller, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or any other officer of the Guarantor and/or the Borrower, as applicable, having a similar title or position;
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"Shareholders’ Equity" means the aggregate amount of shareholders’ equity (including but not limited to share capital, contributed surplus and retained earnings) of a Person as shown on the most recent annual audited or unaudited interim Consolidated balance sheet of such Person and computed in accordance with GAAP;
“Similar Business” means any business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from (i) business or activities conducted by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date, (ii) any business that is a natural outgrowth or reasonable extension, development or expansion of any such business or any business similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing or (iii) any business that in the Borrower’s good faith business judgment constitutes a reasonable diversification of businesses conducted by the Guarantor and the Subsidiaries;
“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 Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate and no Person other than the Guarantor and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Guarantor 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;
"S&P" means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., its Affiliates and their respective successors;
“Subsidiary” of any Person means: (a) any corporation of which Voting Shares issued by such corporation and carrying more than 50% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding Voting Shares issued by such corporation are owned, directly or indirectly, by or for such Person and/or by or for any corporation in like relation to such Person and includes any corporation in like relation to a Subsidiary; and (b) any partnership, limited liability company or other business entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding income interest or capital interests are at the time directly, indirectly or beneficially owned or controlled by such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries;
"Substantial Completion" means, with respect to an improvement, the point at which the improvement is ready for use or is being used for the purpose for which it was intended;
"Substitute Rating Entity" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.8(b)(i);
"Syndicated Borrowings" means Borrowings made available by the Syndicated Lenders pursuant to the Syndicated Commitments;
"Syndicated Commitment" means, in relation to a Syndicated Lender, the amount set forth opposite such Syndicated Lender's name in the first column on Schedule "J" from time to time, as such Syndicated Commitment may hereafter be increased, cancelled, reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to this Agreement;
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"Syndicated Lenders" means, from time to time, those Lenders then providing Syndicated Commitments;
"Tax" means all present and future taxes, levies, duties, imposts, stamp and documentary taxes, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental/Judicial Body, and all liabilities with respect thereto, including all income taxes, capital taxes, excise taxes, financial institution duties, debit taxes and similar levies, and any interest, additions to tax and penalties imposed with respect to any of the foregoing;
“Term Benchmark” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate;
“Term Benchmark Interest Date” means:
(i) the last day of each Interest Period; and
(ii) if the Borrower selects an Interest Period for a period longer than three (3) months, the dates falling every three (3) months after the beginning of such Interest Period and on the last day of such Interest Period;
“Term Benchmark Loans” means the loans made available by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Sections 3.3, 3.8 or 3.9, which the Borrower has elected to denominate in US Dollars and has agreed to pay interest thereon in accordance with Section 5.3;
“Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Borrowing in respect of any Term Benchmark Loans denominated in US Dollars for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two US 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;
“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Borrowing in respect of any Term Benchmark Loans denominated in US Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and identified 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 US 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;
"Total Syndicated Commitment" means, at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate of all of the Syndicated Commitments at such time;
“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any Person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain Affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms;
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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 Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than zero, the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement;
"US Base Rate" means, with respect to outstanding USBR Loans, on any day, the greatest of:
| (i) | the annual rate of interest most recently announced from time to time by the Schedule I Reference Bank (and, if not the Agent, notified to the Agent) as being its reference rate then in effect for determining interest rates on US Dollar denominated commercial loans made by the Schedule I Reference Bank in Canada; |
| (ii) | the annual rate of interest equal to the aggregate of the Fed Funds Rate and 0.75% per annum; and |
| (iii) | the annual rate of interest equal to the aggregate of the one month Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as published two US Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) and 1.00% per annum; |
provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any US Government Securities Business 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); provided further that, (x) if all such rates of interest are equal, then the "US Base Rate" shall be the rate specified in (i) above and (y) if the US Base Rate as determined above would be less than zero on any day, then the US Base Rate shall be deemed to be zero on such day;
"USBR Loans" means the loans made available by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.3, 3.8 or 3.9 with respect to which the Borrower has agreed to pay interest thereon in accordance with Section 5.2 or which are made available to the Borrower by the Lenders as a result of applying Section 3.4(a), 3.7(d) or 10.1;
"US Dollars" and the symbol "US $" each mean lawful currency of the United States of America;
"US GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect from time to time;
“US Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities;
"Value" means:
| (i) | United States or Canadian dollar funds or debt instruments of the Government of the United States or any of its states or Canada or any of its provinces maturing within 12 months; and |
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| (ii) | in respect of any other assets of the Guarantor, the fair market value of such assets as determined by the Board of Directors of the Guarantor; |
“Voting Shares” means shares of any class of any corporation carrying voting rights under all circumstances, provided that, for the purposes of this definition, shares which only carry the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered Voting Shares, nor shall any shares be deemed to cease to be Voting Shares solely by reason of a right to vote accruing to shares of another class or classes by reason of the happening of such an event, or solely because the right to vote may not be exercisable under the charter of the corporation;
"Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" means (i) any corporation of which 100% of the outstanding shares having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to vote with respect to the election of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time shares of any other class or classes of such corporation might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, unless the contingency has occurred and then only for so long as it continues) is at the time directly, indirectly or beneficially owned or controlled by the Guarantor or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries or by the Guarantor and one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, or (ii) any partnership or other entity of which 100% of the outstanding income interests and capital interests is at the time directly, indirectly or beneficially owned or controlled by the Guarantor or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries or by the Guarantor and one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries;
“Withdrawal Liability” has the meaning specified in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA; and
“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 UK 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.
| 1.2 | Headings and Table of Contents |
The headings, the table of contents, and the Article and Section titles are inserted for convenience only and are to be ignored in construing this Agreement.
| 1.3 | References |
All references to Sections, Articles and Schedules are to Sections, Articles and Schedules to this Agreement. The words "hereto", "herein", "hereof", "hereunder", "this Agreement" and similar expressions mean and refer to this Agreement as hereafter supplemented or amended.
| 1.4 | Rules of Interpretation |
The singular includes the plural and vice versa; "month" means calendar month; and "in writing" or "written" includes printing, typewriting, or any electronic means of communication capable of being visibly reproduced at the point of reception, including facsimile, telex or telegraph.
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| 1.5 | Generally Accepted Accounting Principles |
| (a) | Unless otherwise defined, each accounting term used in this Agreement has the meaning assigned to it under GAAP. |
| (b) | In calculating the financial tests set forth in Sections 8.1(j) and 8.2(e), such calculations shall be based upon the Guarantor's consolidated financial statements for the relevant period. |
| 1.6 | Changes in GAAP or Accounting Policies |
| (a) | If: |
| (i) | there occurs a material change in GAAP after the date hereof, including as a result of any future conversion by the Guarantor from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States to generally accepted accounting principles in Canada (or vice versa); or |
| (ii) | the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries adopts a material change in an accounting policy in order to more appropriately present events or transactions in its financial statements; |
and the above change would require disclosure under GAAP in the consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor and would cause an amount required to be determined for the purposes of any financial test in Section 8.1(j) or 8.2(e) or any financial term or threshold used in Section 2.1(c), 8.2(a), 8.2(f), 9.1 or elsewhere in this Agreement (each a "Financial Covenant/Term") to be materially different than the amount that would be determined without giving effect to such change, the Guarantor shall notify the Agent of such change (an "Accounting Change"). Such notice (an "Accounting Change Notice") shall describe the nature of the Accounting Change, its effect on the current and immediately prior year's financial statements in accordance with GAAP and state whether the Guarantor desires to revise the method of calculating one or more of the Financial Covenants/Terms (including the revision of any of the defined terms used in the determination of such Financial Covenant/Term) in order that amounts determined after giving effect to such Accounting Change and the revised method of calculating such Financial Covenant/Term will approximate the amount that would be determined without giving effect to such Accounting Change and without giving effect to the revised method of calculating such Financial Covenant/Term. The Accounting Change Notice shall be delivered to the Agent within sixty (60) days after the end of the Fiscal Quarter in which the Accounting Change is implemented or, if such Accounting Change is implemented in the fourth Fiscal Quarter or in respect of an entire Fiscal Year, within 120 days after the end of such period.
| (b) | If, pursuant to the Accounting Change Notice, the Guarantor does not indicate that it desires to revise the method of calculating one or more of the Financial Covenants/Terms, the Majority Lenders may within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Accounting Change Notice notify the Guarantor that they wish to revise the method of calculating one or more of the Financial Covenants/Terms in the manner described above. |
| (c) | If either the Guarantor or the Majority Lenders so indicate that they wish to revise the method of calculating one or more of the Financial Covenants/Terms, the Guarantor and the Majority Lenders shall in good faith attempt to agree on a revised method of calculating such Financial Covenants/Terms so as to reflect equitably such Accounting Change with the desired result that the result of the evaluation of the Guarantor's financial condition shall be substantially the same after such Accounting Change as if such Accounting Change had not been made. Until the Guarantor and the Majority Lenders have reached agreement in writing on such revised |
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method of calculation, all amounts to be determined hereunder shall continue to be determined without giving effect to the Accounting Change. For greater certainty, if no notice of a desire to revise the method of calculating the Financial Covenants/Terms in respect of an Accounting Change is given by either the Guarantor or the Majority Lenders within the applicable time period described above, then the method of calculating the Financial Covenants/Terms shall not be revised in response to such Accounting Change and all amounts to be determined pursuant to the Financial Covenants/Terms shall be determined after giving effect to such Accounting Change.
| (d) | If a Compliance Certificate is delivered in respect of a Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year in which an Accounting Change is implemented without giving effect to any revised method of calculating any of the Financial Covenants/Terms, and subsequently, as provided above, the method of calculating one or more of the Financial Covenants/Terms is revised in response to such Accounting Change, the Borrower shall deliver a revised Compliance Certificate. Any Event of Default which arises as a result of the Accounting Change and which is cured by this Section 1.6 shall be deemed to have never occurred. |
| 1.7 | Schedules |
Schedules "A" to "J" are attached to and constitute part of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
| 1.8 | Certain Matters Related to Ratings Explained |
For the purposes hereof:
| (a) | the long term debt of the Guarantor shall not be considered to be "not rated" (or to like effect) by S&P, Moody's or Fitch (each, a "Rating Agency") by reason of such Rating Agency ceasing to carry on the business of providing ratings of the long term debt of corporate borrowers based on creditworthiness assessments. If two of the Rating Agencies cease carrying on the business of providing ratings of the long term debt of corporate borrowers based on creditworthiness assessments, then for purposes of calculating "Applicable Pricing Margin" and the definition of "Investment Grade", the rating of the remaining Rating Agency only shall be utilized; |
| (b) | if all of the Rating Agencies cease carrying on the business of providing ratings of the long term debt of corporate borrowers based on creditworthiness assessments, then: |
| (i) | the Borrower and the Lenders shall attempt in good faith for a period of 30 days thereafter to determine substitute definitions for or amendments to the Applicable Pricing Margin and Investment Grade, which may include attempting to agree on some other entity (which may include a debt rating agency or a nationally recognized securities dealer) (a "Substitute Rating Entity") to assign a rating to the long term debt of the Guarantor as contemplated in the following paragraph (ii) and to agree, if necessary, on the ratings of such Substitute Rating Entity which most closely correspond to those in the definitions of Applicable Pricing Margin and Investment Grade, as applicable ("Equivalent Ratings"); and |
| (ii) | if by the end of such 30 day period the Borrower and the Lenders have not agreed upon substitute definitions for or amendments to the Applicable Pricing Margin and Investment Grade, as applicable, pursuant to the preceding paragraph (i), then during a period of 60 days thereafter, the Borrower and the Lenders shall, if such has not already been accomplished, continue to attempt in good faith to agree on a Substitute Rating Entity and, if applicable, Equivalent Ratings and, if a Substitute Rating Entity |
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has been agreed on, the Guarantor shall attempt to obtain from the Substitute Rating Entity a rating ("Substitute Rating") for the long term debt of the Guarantor;
it being agreed that:
| (iii) | during the 30 day and 60 day periods contemplated in the preceding paragraphs (i) and (ii), or such part thereof which elapses before an alternate approach is finally established as contemplated in such paragraphs (i) and (ii), the rates applicable from time to time in accordance with the Applicable Pricing Margin and based on the rating applicable to the long term debt of the Guarantor immediately before the commencement of the 30 day period contemplated in the preceding paragraph (i) shall apply; |
| (iv) | if a Substitute Rating Entity and, if applicable, Equivalent Ratings have been agreed on and the Substitute Rating Entity has established a Substitute Rating for the long term debt of the Guarantor by or before the expiration of the 60 day period contemplated in the preceding paragraph (ii), then thereupon and thereafter the same shall apply and, if applicable, the Applicable Pricing Margin and the definition of Investment Grade shall be deemed to have been amended to incorporate the Equivalent Ratings in place of the ratings referred to in the Applicable Pricing Margin and the definition of Investment Grade; provided the Substitute Rating shall be subject to review by the Substitute Rating Entity from time to time (but not more often than once in any 12 month period) at the request of either the Borrower or the Agent given in writing to the other (any such review to determine whether the Substitute Rating should change to another rating category or, if applicable, Equivalent Rating for the long term debt of the Guarantor) and if any such review results in a change in the Substitute Rating, then thereupon and thereafter (subject to further reviews as aforesaid) the same shall apply; and |
| (v) | if an alternate approach has not been finally established as contemplated in the preceding paragraphs (i) and (ii) by the expiration of the 60 day period referred to in the preceding paragraph (ii), then the rates applicable from time to time in accordance with the Applicable Pricing Margin and based on the rating applicable to the long term debt of the Guarantor immediately before the commencement of the 30 day period contemplated in the preceding paragraph (i) shall continue to apply; |
| (c) | a rating assigned by a Rating Agency (or, as applicable, Substitute Rating Entity) shall be, as applicable, considered to be "lower" than another rating assigned by such Rating Agency (or, as applicable, Substitute Rating Entity) or by the other Rating Agency if it denotes a poorer creditworthiness assessment (for instance, "B" is lower than "A"); |
| (d) | the rating categories and ratings of any Rating Agency or Substitute Rating Entity referred to herein shall include any equivalent rating category or rating of such Rating Agency or Substitute Rating Entity which replaces the same; and |
| (e) | any reference in this Section 1.8 to the long term debt of the Guarantor (or to like effect) shall be deemed to be a reference to the senior unsecured non-convertible publicly-held long term debt of the Guarantor. |
| 1.9 | Amendment and Restatement |
The Borrower, the Guarantor, the Agent and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that as of the Effective Date:
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| (a) | the provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement are amended, modified and restated in their entirety on the terms and conditions, and in the form, of this Agreement and, as so amended, modified and restated, are ratified and confirmed; and |
| (b) | all rights, obligations and indebtedness which have arisen and remain outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement as of the Effective Date including, without limitation, all "Outstandings" as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, fees and other amounts owing thereunder shall, subject only to the effect of the amendments and modifications to the Existing Credit Agreement effected by this Agreement, continue in full force and effect as rights, obligations and indebtedness under this Agreement, all in accordance with and subject to the provisions herein set forth; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall constitute a new loan or loans or the provision of new credit or the effective repayment and readvance or replacement of such "Outstandings" as of the Effective Date, and the liability of the Borrower in respect of such "Outstandings" shall be and be deemed to be continued under and governed by this Agreement from and after the Effective Date. |
| 1.10 | 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.
| 1.11 | Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification |
The interest rate on a Loan denominated in US Dollars may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 10.5 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.
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ARTICLE
2
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
| 2.1 | Representations and Warranties |
Each of the Guarantor (without any limitation) and the Borrower (whose representations and warranties will be limited to only Sections 2.1(a), (b), (c) and (d) below) represents and warrants to each of the Lenders and the Agent that:
| (a) | Corporate Existence and Authority: Each Obligor and each Material Subsidiary (i) is a Person duly organized, formed, incorporated oramalgamated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, formation or incorporation, (ii) is duly qualified to carry on business in all jurisdictions in which it carries on any business, except to the extent the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iii) has full power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted; |
| (b) | Necessary Approvals: No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental/Judicial Body or any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by each Obligor of each Loan Document to which it is a party; |
| (c) | Authorization and Constating Documents: The execution, delivery and performance by each Obligor of each Loan Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, are within each Obligor’s corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the articles or by-laws of such Obligor or (ii) Applicable Law or any contractual restriction binding on or affecting such Obligor: |
| (d) | Enforceability of Agreement: This Agreement has been duly executed by each of the Guarantor and the Borrower. This Agreement is, and each other Loan Document is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Obligor(s) party thereto, enforceable against such Obligor(s) in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and may be subject to the discretion of courts with respect to granting of equitable remedies and to thepowers of courts to stay proceedings for the execution of judgments; |
| (e) | Compliance with Applicable Law: The Guarantor and each Material Subsidiary and their respective operations and properties comply in all material respects with all Applicable Laws, except where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; |
| (f) | Litigation and Administrative Proceeding: Except as has been disclosed to the Agent in writing, there is no action, suit, litigation or proceeding affecting the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries, including any Environmental Action, pending or, to the best of the Guarantor’s knowledge after reasonable investigation, overtly threatened, before any court, Governmental/Judicial Body that (i) is reasonably likely to be determined adversely, and if determined adversely, would have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) purports to affect adversely the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby; |
| (g) | [Intentionally Deleted.] |
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| (h) | Taxes: The Guarantor and each of its Subsidiaries have filed, have caused to be filed or have been included in all tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed or, in the case of income taxes, required to be filed and where the failure to do so would cause the imposition of a penalty or interest, and in each case have paid all taxes shown thereon to be due, together with applicable interest and penalties other than taxes that are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; |
| (i) | Financial Statements: (i) The Consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2021, and the related Consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, accompanied by an opinion of the Guarantor’s auditors thereon, copies of which have been furnished to the Agent, fairly present the Consolidated financial condition of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as at such date and the Consolidated results of the operations of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for the period ended on such date, all in accordance with GAAP consistently applied. (ii) Since December 31, 2021, there has been no Material Adverse Effect; |
| (j) | Affected Financial Institutions: No Obligor is an Affected Financial Institution; |
| (k) | ERISA: Except as could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, |
| (i) | No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan; |
| (ii) | Schedule SB (Actuarial Information) to the most recent annual report (Form 5500 Series) for each Plan, copies of which have been filed with the Internal Revenue Service and furnished to the Agent to the extent required under Section 8.1(h)(vi)(C), is complete and accurate and fairly presents the funding status of such Plan, and since the date of such Schedule SB there has been no material adverse change in such funding status; |
| (iii) | Neither the Guarantor nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any Withdrawal Liability to any Multiemployer Plan; |
| (iv) | Neither the Guarantor nor any ERISA Affiliate has been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or has been terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and no such Multiemployer Plan is reasonably expected to be in reorganization or to be terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; |
| (v) | With respect to each scheme or arrangement mandated by a government other than the United States (a “Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement”) and with respect to each employee benefit plan maintained or contributed to by the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor that is not subject to United States law (a “Foreign Plan”): |
| (A) | Any employer and employee contributions required by law or by the terms of any Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement or any Foreign Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued, in accordance with normal accounting practices. |
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| (B) | The fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Foreign Plan funded through insurance or the book reserve established for any Foreign Plan, together with any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations, as of the date hereof, with respect to all current and former participants in such Foreign Plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to account for such obligations in accordance with applicable GAAP. |
| (C) | Each Foreign Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities; |
| (l) | No Default: No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; |
| (m) | Accuracy of Information: To the knowledge of the Guarantor, all information, materials and documents (other than any information expressly disclaimed by any Obligor and projections and forecasts) prepared by any Obligor and delivered to the Agent in connection with this Agreement are true and accurate in all material respects as of the Effective Date except to the extent that any inaccuracy would not have a Material Adverse Effect; |
| (n) | Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions: |
| (i) | None of the Guarantor or its Material Subsidiaries is a Sanctioned Person or permanently located, organized or ordinarily resident in a Sanctioned Country; |
| (ii) | No part of the proceeds of a Drawdown will be knowingly (as determined at the date of such Drawdown) used (A) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person known by the Guarantor to be in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, except to the extent that any such violation would not have a Material Adverse Effect or adversely affect the Agent or any Lender in any material respect, (B) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities or, business or transaction of or with any Person known to the Guarantor to be a Sanctioned Person, or in any country known to the Guarantor to be a Sanctioned Country, or (C) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to the Guarantor or its Material Subsidiaries, except to the extent that any such violation would not have a Material Adverse Effect or adversely affect the Agent or any Lender in any material respect; and |
| (iii) | Where used in this Section 2.1(n), references to "knowingly" or "known" means the actual knowledge of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Guarantor; |
| (o) | Investment Company: None of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and |
| (p) | Margin Stock: Neither the Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock. No proceeds of a Drawdown will be used for a purpose which violates Regulations T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. |
| 2.2 | Deemed Representation and Warranty Upon Drawdown |
Each Notice of Drawdown given by the Borrower to the Agent shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Guarantor (with respect to all of the representations and warranties in
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Section 2.1) and the Borrower (with respect to only those representations and warranties in Sections 2.1(a), (b), (c) and (d)) to each of the Lenders and the Agent that the representations and warranties contained in Section 2.1 (other than Sections 2.1(f)(i) and 2.1(i)(ii) which are intended to apply only as of the Effective Date) are, as of the date of such notice, and will be, as of the applicable Drawdown Date, true and correct in all material respects as of each such date.
| 2.3 | Deemed Representation and Warranty Upon Conversion or Rollover |
Except as expressly stated otherwise therein (in which case Section 9.3 shall apply), each Notice of Conversion and Notice of Rollover given by the Borrower to the Agent shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Guarantor to each of the Lenders and the Agent that the representation and warranty contained in Section 2.1(l) is, as of the date of such notice, and will be, as of the applicable Borrowing Conversion Date or Borrowing Rollover Date, true and correct in all material respects as of such date.
| 2.4 | Nature of Representations and Warranties |
The representations and warranties set out in this Agreement, or deemed to be made pursuant hereto, shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of each Drawdown, Conversion and Rollover hereunder, notwithstanding any investigations or examinations which may be made by the Agent, the Lenders or their legal counsel. Such representations and warranties shall survive until this Agreement has been terminated and all Loan Indebtedness then owing by the Borrower hereunder have been repaid in full.
ARTICLE
3
THE CREDIT FACILITY
| 3.1 | Obligations of the Lenders |
Relying on each of the representations and warranties set out in Article 2 and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Lender agrees to make Borrowings available to the Borrower in respect of such Lender's Commitments at the Agent's Account for Payments up to an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not in excess of the amount of its respective Commitments.
| 3.2 | Purpose/Certain Acquisitions |
| (a) | Subject to Section 3.2(b), the Borrower covenants and agrees it will use the Borrowings only for general corporate purposes (domestic and international), including, without limitation, to support the issuance of commercial paper, acquisitions and working capital, all in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. |
| (b) | In the event the Borrower wishes to utilize proceeds of one or more Borrowings to, or to provide funds to any Subsidiary to, finance an offer to acquire (which shall include an offer to purchase securities, solicitation of an offer to sell securities, an acceptance of an offer to sell securities, whether or not the offer to sell was solicited, or any combination of the foregoing) outstanding securities of any Person (the "Target") which constitutes a "take-over bid" pursuant to applicable securities legislation (a "Take-over"), then either: |
| (i) | prior to or concurrently with delivery to the Agent of any Notice of Drawdown or Notices of Drawdown pursuant to Section 3.3 requesting one or more Borrowings, the proceeds of which are to be used to finance such Take-over, the Borrower shall provide to the Agent evidence satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably) that the board of directors or like body of the Target, or the holders of the requisite number of securities of the Target as are required to approve such Take-over to ensure the successful completion of such Take-over under Applicable Law, has or have |
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approved, accepted, or recommended to security holders acceptance of, the Take-over; or
| (ii) | the following steps shall be followed: |
| (A) | at least five (5) Business Days prior to the delivery to the Agent of any Notice of Drawdown or Notices of Drawdown pursuant to Section 3.3 requesting one or more Borrowings intended to be used to finance such Take-over, the President or a Senior Financial Officer of the Borrower shall advise the Agent, who shall promptly advise an appropriate officer of each Lender of the particulars of such Take-over in sufficient detail to enable each such Lender to determine whether it has a conflict of interest if Borrowings from such Lender are used by the Borrower to finance such Take-over; |
| (B) | within three (3) Business Days of being so advised, each such Lender shall notify the Agent of such Lender's determination as to whether such a conflict of interest exists (such determination to be made by such Lender in the exercise of its sole discretion, having regard to such considerations as it deems appropriate); provided that in the event such Lender does not so notify the Agent within such three (3) Business Day period, such Lender shall be deemed to have notified the Agent that it has no such conflict of interest; and |
| (C) | the Agent shall promptly notify the President or a Senior Financial Officer of the Borrower of each such Lender's determination; |
and in the event that any such Lender has such a conflict of interest (an "Affected Lender"), then upon the Agent so notifying the Borrower, the Affected Lender shall have no obligation to provide Borrowings to finance such Take-over, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary; provided however that each other relevant Lender which has, or is deemed to have, no such conflict of interest (a "Non-Affected Lender") shall have an obligation, up to the amount of its Commitment, to provide Borrowings to finance such Take-over, and Borrowings to finance such Take-over shall be provided by each Non-Affected Lender in accordance with the ratio, determined prior to the provision of any Borrowings to finance such Take-over, that the Commitment of such Non-Affected Lender bears to the aggregate of the Commitments of all the Non-Affected Lenders.
| (c) | If Borrowings are used to finance a Take-over and there are Affected Lenders, subsequent Borrowings shall be funded firstly by Affected Lenders, and subsequent repayments shall be applied firstly to Non-Affected Lenders, in each case, until such time as the proportion that the amount of each Non-Affected Lender's Outstandings bears to the amount of the total Outstandings of all Lenders is equal to such proportion which would have been in effect but for the application of this Section 3.2. |
| 3.3 | Drawdowns |
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, prior to the Maturity Date the Borrower may, upon delivery of a Notice of Drawdown to the Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, borrow from, repay to, and reborrow from the Lenders by way of Borrowings up to an amount at any time outstanding not in excess of the amount of the Total Syndicated Commitment from time to time in effect, by way of:
| (a) | Prime Loans in minimum amounts of Cdn. $10,000,000 and multiples of Cdn. $1,000,000, upon at least same day prior notice; |
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| (b) | acceptance of drafts or Depository Bills to constitute Bankers' Acceptances (or making BA Equivalent Loans in lieu thereof) in minimum amounts of Cdn. $10,000,000 and multiples of Cdn. $1,000,000, upon at least one (1) Business Day's prior notice; |
| (c) | USBR Loans in minimum amounts of US$10,000,000 and multiples of US$1,000,000, upon at least same day prior notice; |
| (d) | Term Benchmark Loans in minimum amounts of US$10,000,000 and multiples of US$1,000,000, upon at least three (3) Business Days' prior notice; and |
| (e) | Letters of Credit in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.7. |
Any Notice of Drawdown to be given by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall be delivered to the Agent at the Agent's Branch of Account at or prior to 12:00 noon (Toronto time) on the last day on which such notice can be given. Such Notice of Drawdown shall be substantially in the form of Schedule "A", in the case of Prime Loans, USBR Loans, Term Benchmark Loans and Letters of Credit, and shall be substantially in the form of Schedule "B", in the case of Bankers’ Acceptances and BA Equivalent Loans. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Lenders shall make Borrowings available to the Borrower in accordance with Section 12.8.
| 3.4 | Term Benchmark Loans |
| (a) | Deemed Conversion of Term Benchmark Loans: If, with respect to any outstanding Borrowing by way of Term Benchmark Loans, the Borrower has not, by 12:00 noon (Toronto time) on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (i) duly elected to convert such Borrowing to another basis of Borrowing under Section 3.8, (ii) duly elected to Rollover such Borrowing under Section 3.9, or (iii) duly given notice of repayment of such Borrowing under Section 3.10, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Term Benchmark Loans to USBR Loans on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto pursuant to Section 3.8. |
| (b) | Other Terms: Each Term Benchmark Loan shall: |
| (i) | subject to availability, have an Interest Period selected by the Borrower of one (1) month, three (3) months or six (6) months, or such other period as is agreed to by all Lenders from time to time; and |
| (ii) | begin and end on a Business Day and not extend beyond the earliest then applicable Maturity Date. |
| 3.5 | Bankers' Acceptances |
| (a) | Acceptance and Purchase of Bankers' Acceptances: Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Lender agrees to either (i) accept Bankers' Acceptances issued by the Borrower and requested pursuant to Section 3.3, 3.8 or 3.9 and purchase such Bankers' Acceptances in accordance with Section 12.8; or, (ii) if such Lender is a Non-Acceptance Lender, make BA Equivalent Loans in accordance with Sections 3.5(f) and 12.8. |
| (b) | Payment: The Borrower agrees to pay the applicable Lender the face amount of each Bankers' Acceptance accepted by such Lender on its maturity date and hereby waives presentment for payment of such Bankers' Acceptance by such Lender and agrees not to claim from such Lender any days of grace for the payment at maturity of such Bankers' Acceptance, notwithstanding that (if such should be the case) any such Banker's Acceptance has been unlawfully issued or used or put into circulation fraudulently or without authority, and the Borrower shall indemnify such Lender against any loss, cost, damage, expense or claim |
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regardless of by whomsoever made, that such Lender may suffer or incur by reason of any fraudulent, unauthorized or unlawful issue or use of any such bankers' acceptance form, except any fraudulent, unauthorized or unlawful issue or use of any such bankers' acceptance form which is caused by the negligence or wilful act or omission of such Lender or any of its officers, employees, agents or representatives or which occurs as a result of such Lender or any of its officers, employees, agents or representatives failing to use the same standard of care in the custody of such bankers' acceptance form as it uses in the custody of its own property of a similar nature.
| (c) | Other Terms: Each Bankers' Acceptance shall: |
| (i) | subject to availability, have a term selected by the Borrower of not less than one (1) month and not more than three (3) months, or such other period as is agreed to by all Lenders under the Credit Facility from time to time; |
| (ii) | have a maturity date which shall be on a Business Day and not later than the earliest then applicable Maturity Date; and |
| (iii) | be in a form satisfactory to the applicable Lender. |
| (d) | Power of Attorney Respecting Bankers' Acceptances: As a condition precedent to each Lender's obligation to accept Bankers' Acceptances hereunder, the Borrower agrees to the power of attorney annexed hereto as Schedule "H", enabling such Lender to execute and deliver Bankers' Acceptances for and on behalf of the Borrower. |
| (e) | Applicability of DBNA: It is the intention of the parties that all Bankers' Acceptances accepted by the Lenders (other than a Lender which elects to accept Bankers' Acceptances in the form of bills of exchange instead of Depository Bills) under this Agreement shall be issued in the form of a Depository Bill, be deposited with and be made payable to a "clearing house" (as defined in the Depository Bills and Notes Act (Canada)). The Agent and the Lenders shall effect the following practices and procedures and, subject to the approval of the Majority Lenders, establish and notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any additional procedures, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the requirements of the Depository Bills and Notes Act (Canada), as are reasonably necessary to accomplish such intention: |
| (i) | each Bankers' Acceptance accepted and purchased by a Lender hereunder shall have marked prominently and legibly on its face and within its text, at or before the time of issue, the words "This is a depository bill subject to the Depository Bills and Notes Act"; |
| (ii) | any reference to authentication of such Bankers' Acceptance will be removed; and |
| (iii) | such Bankers' Acceptance shall not be marked with any words prohibiting negotiation, transfer or assignment of it or of an interest in it. |
| (f) | BA Equivalent Loans: Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.5, a Non-Acceptance Lender shall, in lieu of accepting and purchasing Bankers' Acceptances, make a BA Equivalent Loan. The amount of each BA Equivalent Loan shall be equal to the Discount Proceeds which would be realized from a hypothetical sale of those Bankers' Acceptances which such Lender would otherwise be required to accept and purchase as part of a Drawdown, Conversion or Rollover of Bankers' Acceptances. To determine the amount of such Discount Proceeds, the hypothetical sale shall be deemed to take place at the Non-Acceptance Discount Rate for such Borrowing. Any BA Equivalent Loan shall be made on the relevant Drawdown Date, Borrowing Conversion Date or Borrowing Rollover Date, as the case |
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may be, and shall remain outstanding for the term of the relevant Drawdown of, Conversion into or Rollover of, Bankers' Acceptances. Concurrently with the making of a BA Equivalent Loan, a Non-Acceptance Lender shall be entitled to deduct therefrom an amount equal to the stamping fees which such Lender would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to Section 5.4 as part of such Borrowing if such Borrowing was a Bankers' Acceptance, based on the amount payable (including interest) on the maturity date of such BA Equivalent Loan. Upon the maturity date for such Bankers' Acceptances, the Borrower shall pay to each Non-Acceptance Lender in respect of that Non-Acceptance Lender's BA Equivalent Loan an amount equal to the face amount of the Bankers' Acceptances which that Non-Acceptance Lender would have accepted and purchased at the Non-Acceptance Discount Rate for such Borrowing had that Non-Acceptance Lender been a Schedule I Bank, Schedule II Bank or Schedule III Bank. All references in this Agreement to "Borrowings" and "Bankers' Acceptances" shall, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires, be deemed to include BA Equivalent Loans made by a Non-Acceptance Lender as part of a Drawdown of, Conversion into or Rollover of Bankers' Acceptances.
| (g) | Deemed Conversion of Bankers' Acceptances: If the Borrower fails to pay the applicable Lender the face amount of each Bankers' Acceptance accepted by such Lender on its maturity date as required by Section 3.5(b), or, in the case of a Non-Acceptance Lender which has made a BA Equivalent Loan, to pay that Non-Acceptance Lender the amount of its BA Equivalent Loan plus interest on the maturity date of that loan as required by Section 3.5(f), then the Agent shall effect a Conversion of that Borrowing into a Prime Loan of the entire amount of such Borrowing, including all interest due in the case of BA Equivalent Loans, as if the Borrower had given a Notice of Conversion to the Agent to that effect in accordance with Section 3.8. |
| 3.6 | Agent's Duties re Bankers' Acceptances |
| (a) | Advice to the Lenders: The Agent, promptly following receipt from the Borrower of a Notice of Drawdown by way of Bankers' Acceptances, a Notice of Conversion where a Borrowing of another type is to be converted into a Borrowing by way of Bankers' Acceptances (or BA Equivalent Loans in lieu thereof) or a Notice of Rollover in respect of a Borrowing by way of Bankers' Acceptances (or BA Equivalent Loans made in lieu thereof), shall compute the funding details of such Drawdown, Conversion or Rollover (in compliance with Section 3.11(a)) and shall advise each applicable Lender forthwith of the amount of each issue of Bankers' Acceptances to be accepted and purchased (or the amount of the BA Equivalent Loans to be made in lieu thereof) by such Lender. Prior to 12:00 noon (Toronto time) on the Drawdown Date, Borrowing Conversion Date or Borrowing Rollover Date, as applicable, the Agent shall provide advice by facsimile to the Borrower and each applicable Lender of the face amount of each issue of Bankers’ Acceptances, the Discount Rate, the Discount Proceeds of sale deliverable in respect thereof and the term thereof, which term in respect of each Borrowing shall be identical for all applicable Lenders. |
| (b) | Completion of Bankers' Acceptance: Upon receipt of the advice pursuant to Section 3.6(a), each applicable Lender, other than a Non-Acceptance Lender, is thereupon authorized to execute bankers' acceptances as the duly authorized attorney of the Borrower, in accordance with the particulars so advised by the Agent. |
| 3.7 | Letters of Credit |
| (a) | Availability: Subject to the provisions hereof, the relevant Fronting Bank shall issue Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 3.7(c); provided that, subject to Section 4.2, at no time shall the Equivalent Amount in US Dollars of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by all Fronting Banks exceed US$500,000,000, and at no time shall |
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the Equivalent Amount in US Dollars of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all Letters of Credit issued by the same Fronting Bank exceed its Fronting Bank Commitment. The issuance of each Letter of Credit shall constitute a Drawdown hereunder and shall reduce the availability of the Credit Facility by the undrawn face amount of such Letter of Credit.
| (b) | Currency and Form: Each Letter of Credit issued pursuant hereto shall be denominated in Cdn. Dollars or US Dollars and amounts payable thereunder shall be paid in the currency in which such Letter of Credit is denominated. Each Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date not in excess of one year from the date of issue and not later than the earliest then applicable Maturity Date. Each Letter of Credit issued hereunder shall be in a form satisfactory to the Fronting Bank, acting reasonably and in accordance with its usual and customary practices and shall, unless agreed otherwise by the Fronting Bank, the Borrower and the Agent with respect to letters of credit, be issued subject to the Uniform Customs & Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce, Publication No. 600 (the "UCP") (or any replacement thereof) or the International Standby Practices ISP, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (the "ISP98") (or any replacement thereof), as selected by the Borrower in the Notice of Drawdown (or subject to the UCP if no election is made), and shall, unless agreed otherwise by the Fronting Bank, the Borrower and the Agent with respect to letters of guarantee, be issued subject to Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees, International Chamber of Commerce, Publication No. 458 (or any replacement thereof). If so requested by the Borrower, any Letter of Credit may have customary automatic extension provisions automatically extending, without amendment, for one (1) year periods from the expiration date of such Letter of Credit, or any future expiration date, unless, not more than sixty (60) days and not less than thirty (30) days (or such other period of time as may be agreed upon by the Fronting Bank and the Borrower, each acting reasonably) prior to any expiration date, the Fronting Bank shall notify the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit by registered mail that such Letter of Credit will not be extended for any such additional period; provided that in no event shall any such extended expiration date be later than the earliest then applicable Maturity Date. |
| (c) | Procedure for Issuance and Rollover of Letters of Credit |
| (i) | The Borrower may request that the Fronting Bank issue a Letter of Credit pursuant to this Section 3.7 by delivering a Notice of Drawdown to the Agent pursuant to Section 3.3 and by delivering to the Fronting Bank at the Fronting Bank's Branch of Account a copy of such Notice of Drawdown together with a letter of credit application and indemnity in the Fronting Bank's then customary form (as such form may be modified from time to time, the "Letter of Credit Application"), completed to the satisfaction of the Fronting Bank, acting reasonably, together with the proposed form of such Letter of Credit (which shall comply with the applicable requirements set forth herein) and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as the Fronting Bank may reasonably request; provided that the terms of the Letter of Credit Application shall be in addition to and shall not derogate from the terms of this Agreement and provided further that in the event of a conflict between this Agreement and the Letter of Credit Application, this Agreement shall govern with respect to such conflict (it being acknowledged that a conflict shall not be deemed to exist by reason only that the Letter of Credit Application provides for a matter which this Agreement does not). |
| (ii) | Within two (2) Business Days (or such longer period as may be required by the Fronting Bank, acting reasonably, but in any event not longer than five (5) Business Days) following the date on which the Fronting Bank shall have received the Notice of Drawdown and the Letter of Credit Application including the proposed form of the Letter of Credit and such additional certificates, documents and other papers and |
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information as the Fronting Bank may have reasonably requested in satisfaction of all conditions to the issuance thereof, the Fronting Bank shall issue such Letter of Credit, provided that all other conditions precedent contained in this Agreement shall have been met as required thereby. Alternatively, the Fronting Bank may, with the Borrower's consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), in accordance with its customary practices, in lieu of issuing the requested performance, standby or documentary letter of credit or letter of guarantee, cause another bank to issue same against the Fronting Bank's Letter of Credit which shall be a counter guarantee or protective letter of credit.
| (iii) | The Borrower may request a Rollover of an existing Letter of Credit by giving a Notice of Rollover to the Fronting Bank at the Fronting Bank's Branch of Account at least two (2) Business Days prior to the then current expiry date of such Letter of Credit (provided that the Fronting Bank may accommodate such Rollovers on shorter notice in its reasonable discretion and a Notice of Rollover shall not be required in the circumstances contemplated in the proviso in Section 3.9(c)). If all conditions precedent contained in this Agreement shall have been met as required thereby, the Fronting Bank shall promptly issue such extension or replacement of such existing Letter of Credit. |
| (d) | Reimbursement or Conversion of Letters of Credit on Presentation; Fronting Bank Indemnity: |
| (i) | Upon presentation of a Letter of Credit and payment thereunder by the Fronting Bank, the Fronting Bank shall forthwith notify the Borrower and the Agent of such presentation and payment and the Borrower shall forthwith pay to and reimburse the Fronting Bank for all amounts paid by the Fronting Bank pursuant to such Letter of Credit; provided that if the Borrower does not fully reimburse the Fronting Bank for such amounts, the Borrower shall be deemed to have effected a Conversion of such Letter of Credit into: (A) a Prime Loan, in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in Canadian Dollars; and (B) a USBR Loan, in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in US Dollars, in each case to the extent of the payment made by the Fronting Bank thereunder and not reimbursed by the Borrower. |
| (ii) | (A) | If Section 3.7(d)(i) applies to deem a Conversion to a Loan, each Lender shall, immediately upon request by the Fronting Bank, pay to the Agent for the account of the Fronting Bank its Lender's Proportion of such deemed Loan. |
| (B) | Each Lender shall immediately on demand indemnify the Fronting Bank to the extent of its Lender's Proportion of any amount paid or liability incurred by the Fronting Bank under each Letter of Credit issued by it to the extent that the Borrower does not fully reimburse the Fronting Bank therefor. |
| (C) | If a Lender does not disburse to the Agent for payment to the Fronting Bank its Lender's Proportion of any amount under this Section 3.7(d)(ii), then for the purpose only of any distributions or payments to the Lenders (and not, for greater certainty, for purposes of any obligations of the Lenders), including any distribution or payment with respect to the Borrower in the event of any enforcement or realization proceedings or any bankruptcy, winding-up, liquidation, arrangement, compromise or composition, the applicable Outstandings owing to such Lender shall be deemed to be nil and the applicable Outstandings owing to the Fronting Bank shall be increased by the applicable Outstandings owing to such Lender until the amounts owed by |
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the Borrower are outstanding to each Lender in accordance with their respective Lender's Proportions determined without regard to this sentence.
| (D) | Notwithstanding that any Lender may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement, the obligations in this Section 3.7(d) shall continue as obligations of the Persons who were Lenders at the time each such Letter of Credit was issued, unless the Fronting Bank specifically releases such Lender from such obligations in writing. |
| (e) | Additional Provisions: |
| (i) | Indemnity and No Lender Liability: The Borrower shall indemnify and save harmless the Lenders, the Fronting Bank and the Agent against all claims, losses, costs, expenses or damages to the Lenders, the Fronting Bank and the Agent arising out of or in connection with any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof, any payment thereunder or any action taken by the Lenders, the Fronting Bank or the Agent or any other Person in connection therewith, including, without limitation, all costs relating to any legal process or proceeding instituted by any party restraining or seeking to restrain the Fronting Bank from accepting or paying any LC Draft or any amount under any such Letter of Credit, except for any of such resulting from the Agent's, Lenders' or Fronting Bank's gross negligence or wilful misconduct (as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The Borrower also agrees that the Lenders, the Fronting Bank and the Agent shall have no liability to it for any reason in respect of or in connection with any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof, any payment thereunder or any other action taken by the Lenders, the Fronting Bank or the Agent or any other Person in connection therewith, except as a result of the Agent's, Lenders' or Fronting Bank's gross negligence or wilful misconduct (as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). |
| (ii) | No Obligation to Inquire: The Borrower hereby acknowledges and confirms to the Fronting Bank that the Fronting Bank shall not be obliged to make any inquiry or investigation as to the right of any beneficiary to make any claim or request any payment under a Letter of Credit and payment by the Fronting Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit shall not be withheld by the Fronting Bank by reason of any matters in dispute between the beneficiary thereof and the Borrower. The sole obligation of the Fronting Bank with respect to Letters of Credit is to cause to be paid any LC Draft drawn or purporting to be drawn in accordance with the terms of the applicable Letter of Credit and for such purpose the Fronting Bank is only obliged to determine that the LC Draft (including any documents stipulated for production thereunder) purports to comply with the terms and conditions of the relevant Letter of Credit. |
The Fronting Bank shall not have any responsibility or liability for or any duty to inquire into the form, sufficiency (other than to the extent provided in the preceding paragraph), authorization, execution, signature, endorsement, correctness (other than to the extent provided in the preceding paragraph), genuineness or legal effect of any LC Draft, certificate or other document presented to it pursuant to a Letter of Credit and the Borrower unconditionally assumes all risks with respect to the same. The Borrower agrees that it assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit with respect to the use by such beneficiary of the relevant Letter of Credit.
| (iii) | Obligations Unconditional: The obligations of the Borrower hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall not be reduced by any event, circumstance or occurrence including, without limitation, any |
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lack of validity or enforceability of a Letter of Credit, or any LC Draft paid or acted upon by the Fronting Bank or any of its correspondents being fraudulent, forged or invalid or any defenses or claims which the Borrower may have against any beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit. The obligations of the Borrower hereunder shall remain in full force and effect and shall apply to any alteration to or extension of the expiration date of any Letter of Credit or any Letter of Credit issued to replace, extend or alter any Letter of Credit.
| (iv) | Fronting Bank Actions: Any action, inaction or omission taken or suffered by the Fronting Bank or by any of the Fronting Bank's correspondents under or in connection with a Letter of Credit or any LC Draft made thereunder, if in good faith and in conformity with foreign or domestic laws, regulation or customs applicable thereto and the terms of the Letter of Credit shall be binding upon the Borrower and shall not expose the Fronting Bank or any of its correspondents to any resulting liability to the Borrower. |
| (f) | Designation and Termination of Fronting Banks: |
| (i) | Subject to Section 3.7(f)(ii)(B), the term of the Fronting Bank Commitment of any Fronting Bank shall be the same as the term of the Commitment of such Fronting Bank. |
| (ii) | In connection with its response to any Request for Extension, a Fronting Bank shall either: |
| (A) | extend its Fronting Bank Commitment to the Maturity Date specified in such Request for Extension at the same amount, a lower amount or a higher amount, in each case with the consent of the Agent and the Borrower; or |
| (B) | terminate its Fronting Bank Commitment effective on the expiration of its then current Maturity Date. |
| (iii) | With the consent of the Agent, the Borrower shall be entitled from time to time to: |
| (A) | designate any Lender to be a Fronting Bank by providing a written notice of such designation to the Agent (which notice shall include the consent to such designation by such Lender); or |
| (B) | terminate a Lender as a Fronting Bank by providing a written notice of such termination to the Agent; |
provided that at any one time there shall be no more than five (5) Fronting Banks which are eligible to issue Letters of Credit under this Section 3.7.
| (iv) | If the Borrower elects to terminate a Fronting Bank as a Fronting Bank pursuant to Section 3.7(f)(iii), then such Fronting Bank shall no longer be required to issue Letters of Credit or Rollover existing Letters of Credit and, if the Fronting Bank requests in writing, the Borrower shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to replace all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such Fronting Bank as soon as practicable with Letters of Credit issued by another Fronting Bank; provided that such Fronting Bank shall remain a Fronting Bank with respect to all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by it until all such Letters of Credit have been either replaced, expired or been presented for payment and all payments required to be made to such Fronting Bank by the Borrower and/or the other Lenders pursuant to this Section 3.7 as a result of |
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any payment made under any Letter of Credit issued by such Fronting Bank have been made.
| (g) | Use of Fronting Banks: Subject to the limits in Section 3.7(a), the Borrower shall have the right to select which Fronting Bank will issue any particular Letter of Credit and may, in its discretion, enter into agreements with or request bids from one or more Fronting Banks relating to fronting bank fees to be charged for Letters of Credit to be issued hereunder. Each such fronting fee shall be in such amount as may be agreed to between the Borrower and the applicable Fronting Bank, each in its sole discretion. |
| 3.8 | Conversion Option |
| (a) | The Borrower may, during the term of this Agreement, upon giving the Agent a Notice of Conversion in accordance with the same period of notice set out in Section 3.3 in respect of the type of Borrowing to which any Borrowing is being converted, convert any Borrowing to another type of Borrowing, provided that, subject to Section 3.10: |
| (i) | Bankers' Acceptances may be converted only on their maturity dates; |
| (ii) | Term Benchmark Loans may only be converted on the last day of the applicable Interest Period; |
| (iii) | the amount converted represents at least the minimum permitted amount of the resulting Borrowings, as set forth in Section 3.3; and |
| (iv) | Letters of Credit may only be converted in the circumstances contemplated in Sections 3.7(d)(i) and 3.7(d)(ii) and do not require delivery of a Notice of Conversion. |
| (b) | If the Conversion of a Borrowing hereunder involves a change in the currency of such Borrowing, the principal amount of the Borrowing following the Conversion (the "Converted Borrowing") shall be the Equivalent Amount, determined as of the date on which a Notice of Conversion in respect of such Conversion is given pursuant to Section 3.8(c), in the currency of the Converted Borrowing of the whole or the part of the Borrowing being converted. On the Borrowing Conversion Date therefor, the Borrower shall pay to the applicable Lenders the relevant amount being converted and such Lenders shall in exchange deliver to the Borrower such Equivalent Amount. |
| (c) | Notices of Conversion to be given by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.8 shall be substantially in the form of Schedule "C" together with, in the case of a Conversion to a Borrowing by way of Bankers' Acceptances (or BA Equivalent Loans in lieu thereof), Schedule "B", and shall be given in the manner provided in Section 3.3. |
| 3.9 | Rollover Option |
| (a) | The Borrower may, during the term of this Agreement, upon giving the Agent a Notice of Rollover in accordance with the same period of notice set out in Section 3.3 in respect of the type of Borrowing which is being rolled over, (i) Rollover any Term Benchmark Loan (on the last day of the applicable Interest Period) to a new Term Benchmark Loan for a further Interest Period, (ii) Rollover a Bankers' Acceptance (on the maturity date of such Bankers' Acceptance) or a BA Equivalent Loan (on the maturity date of such BA Equivalent Loan) into another Bankers' Acceptance or BA Equivalent Loan (as the case may be) or (iii) Rollover any Letters of Credit (on or before the then current expiry date of such Letter of Credit) to an extended or replacement Letter of Credit. |
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| (b) | The Discount Proceeds of the replacement Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Loans (as the case may be) shall be retained by the Agent to be applied by it to: |
| (i) | the stamping fees payable pursuant to Section 5.4 in respect of the replacement Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Loans (as the case may be); and |
| (ii) | the principal amount of the maturing Bankers' Acceptance or BA Equivalent Loan (as the case may be); |
and the Borrower shall pay to the Agent, on the maturity date of the maturing Banker's Acceptance or BA Equivalent Loan (as the case may be), an amount equal to the difference between:
| (iii) | the aggregate of the principal amount at maturity of the maturing Bankers' Acceptance or BA Equivalent Loan (as the case may be), and the stamping fees payable pursuant to Section 5.4 in respect of the replacement Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Loans (as the case may be); and |
| (iv) | the Discount Proceeds of the replacement Banker's Acceptances or BA Equivalent Loans (as the case may be). |
| (c) | Notices of Rollover to be given by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.9 shall be substantially in the form of Schedule "D" together with, in the case of a Rollover of a Borrowing by way of Bankers' Acceptances (or BA Equivalent Loans in lieu thereof), Schedule "B", and shall be given in the manner provided in Section 3.3; provided that any automatic extension of a Letter of Credit which occurs pursuant to its terms and without any further act on the part of the Fronting Bank shall not require delivery of a Notice of Rollover. |
| 3.10 | Notice and Additional Repayment Requirements |
| (a) | Notice: The Borrower shall give the Agent at the Agent's Branch of Account prior notice of each repayment of Borrowings (for certainty, other than a repayment solely from funds derived from further Borrowings and other than a reimbursement of a drawing under a Letter of Credit), in accordance with the same period of notice as was required for such Borrowing, based upon the basis of such Borrowing and the amount being repaid as provided for in Section 3.3, such notice to be substantially in the form of Schedule "A" and to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.3. |
| (b) | Term Benchmark Loan Breakage Costs: In the event the Borrower wishes to repay Term Benchmark Loans comprising a Borrowing prior to the last day of the applicable Interest Period, the Borrower shall so notify the Agent, and provided the Borrower and each Lender which participated in such Borrowing have agreed upon the amount of the indemnity payable to such Lender pursuant to Section 11.2(e) in respect of such repayment, the Borrower may repay such Term Benchmark Loans and pay such indemnity and such Term Benchmark Loans shall not thereafter be deemed to be outstanding as Term Benchmark Loans hereunder. |
| (c) | Deposits for Bankers' Acceptances: In the event the Borrower wishes to prepay Bankers' Acceptances comprising a Borrowing on a date other than their maturity dates, the Borrower shall so notify the Agent, and, if the Borrower and the Agent have agreed upon the amount to be deposited into a Cash Coverage Account in order to yield on such maturity date the face amount of such Bankers' Acceptances, and if such amount has been so deposited with the Agent as prepayment of such Bankers' Acceptances, such Bankers' Acceptances shall not thereafter be deemed to be outstanding as Bankers' Acceptances hereunder. All such |
| - 50 - |
amounts in the Cash Coverage Account shall be applied to satisfy the obligations of the Borrower for the relevant Bankers' Acceptances on their maturity dates and the Agent is hereby irrevocably directed by the Borrower to so apply any such amount in the Cash Coverage Account.
| (d) | Cancellation or Deposits for Letters of Credit: In the event the Borrower wishes to prepay any Letter of Credit comprising a Borrowing prior to the expiry thereof, the Borrower shall so notify the Agent and the Fronting Bank and shall either return such Letter of Credit for cancellation (together with a letter from the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit which consents to such cancellation) or deposit an amount equal to the undrawn face amount of such Letter of Credit into a Cash Coverage Account with the Agent as cash cover for the Fronting Bank's contingent obligation under such Letter of Credit. If such Letter of Credit is returned for cancellation or if an amount equal to the undrawn face amount of such Letter of Credit has been deposited with the Agent as cash cover for such Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit shall not thereafter be deemed to be outstanding as a Letter of Credit hereunder. Such cash cover shall be applied to satisfy the obligations of the Borrower for such Letters of Credit as payments are made thereunder and the Agent is hereby irrevocably directed by the Borrower to so apply any such cash cover. In addition, interest on such deposited amounts at the rate customarily offered by the Agent for deposits of similar amounts shall be for the account of the Borrower and may be withdrawn by the Borrower. After expiry of the Letters of Credit for which such funds are held and application by the Agent of the amounts in such Cash Coverage Account to satisfy the obligations of the Borrower hereunder with respect to the Letters of Credit being repaid, any remaining excess in such Cash Coverage Account shall be promptly paid by the Agent to the Borrower. |
| 3.11 | Pro-Rata Treatment of Borrowings |
| (a) | Pro-Rata Borrowings: Except as otherwise provided herein, each Borrowing and each basis of Borrowing shall be made available by each Lender, and all repayments and reductions in respect thereof, shall be made and applied in a manner so that the Borrowings outstanding hereunder to each such Lender and each basis of Borrowing made available hereunder by each such Lender will, to the extent practicable, and, subject always to the provisions of this Agreement, thereafter be in the proportions required by the next sentence. The Agent is authorized by the Borrower and each Lender to determine from time to time the relative amount of Borrowings to be outstanding hereunder to each Lender, each basis of Borrowing to be made available by each Lender and the application of repayments and reductions of Borrowings to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement, it being the intention that, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Outstandings of each Lender shall be in the same proportion of the total Outstandings of all Lenders as its Syndicated Commitment is of the Total Syndicated Commitment; provided that no Lender shall, as a result of any such determination, be owed Outstanding Principal in an amount which is in excess of the amount of its Syndicated Commitment. |
| (b) | Agent's Discretion on Allocation: In the event it is not practicable to allocate each basis of Borrowing in accordance with Section 3.11(a) by reason of the occurrence of the circumstances described in Article 10, or if such allocation would not result in each Lender accepting drafts to become Bankers' Acceptances such that each draft so accepted is in a whole multiple of Cdn. $100,000, the Agent is authorized by the Borrower and each Lender to make an allocation, which allocation shall be as set forth in the advice provided by the Agent to the Borrower and each Lender pursuant to Section 3.6(a) (in the case of an allocation to ensure each Bankers' Acceptance will be in a multiple of Cdn. $100,000), which the Agent determines in its sole discretion is equitable in the circumstances. |
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| (c) | Further Assurances by Borrower: To the extent reasonably possible, the Borrower and each Lender agrees to be bound by and to do all things necessary or appropriate to give effect to the provisions of this Section 3.11. |
| 3.12 | Extension of Maturity Date |
| (a) | Request for Extension: The Borrower may, at its option and from time to time (but not more than once in a calendar year), by delivering to the Agent at the Agent's Branch of Account an executed Request for Extension, request those Lenders which have not become Non-Extending Lenders pursuant to this Section 3.12 (except to the extent Section 3.12(h) applies) (in this Section 3.12, the "Requested Lenders") to issue a Notice of Extension to extend the then current Maturity Date with respect to the Commitments of such Requested Lenders to a date specified therein, which shall be not later than five years from the date (in this Section 3.12, the "Extension Date") which is 90 days after the date of such Request for Extension. |
| (b) | Delivery of Request and Response Thereto: Upon receipt from the Borrower of an executed Request for Extension, the Agent shall forthwith deliver to each Requested Lender a copy of such request, and each Requested Lender shall, within 30 days after the date the Agent receives such request from the Borrower, advise the Agent in writing as to whether such Requested Lender will agree to extend the then current Maturity Date in respect of its Commitment; provided that, if any such Requested Lender shall fail to so advise the Agent within such 30 day period, then such Requested Lender shall be deemed to have denied such Request for Extension. The determination of each Requested Lender as to whether or not to extend the Maturity Date shall be made by each such Requested Lender in its sole discretion. |
| (c) | Agent's Response to the Borrower: Within five days after the expiry of the aforementioned 30 day period, the Agent shall: |
| (i) | if: |
| (A) | all Requested Lenders are in agreement with delivering a Notice of Extension; or |
| (B) | less than all Requested Lenders are in agreement with delivering a Notice of Extension, but, subject to Section 3.12(h)(ii), Requested Lenders having Commitments which, in aggregate, represent 662/3% or more of all outstanding Commitments of all Requested Lenders are in agreement with delivering a Notice of Extension; |
(each Requested Lender being in agreement with delivering a Notice of Extension being an "Extending Lender" for the purposes of this Section 3.12), deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to each Extending Lender) a Notice of Extension on behalf of all Extending Lenders, executed by the Agent and, in the circumstance where not all Requested Lenders are Extending Lenders, advise the Borrower of:
| (C) | which Requested Lenders are not in agreement with extending the Maturity Date (in this Section 3.12, each a "Non-Extending Lender"); and |
| (D) | the amount of each Non-Extending Lender's Commitments and Outstandings as at such date; or |
| (ii) | if neither of the conditions in Sections 3.12(c)(i)(A) and (B) have been met, notify the Borrower that the Request for Extension has not received the agreement of |
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Requested Lenders which, subject to Section 3.12(h)(ii), have Commitments which, in aggregate, represent at least 662/3% of all outstanding Commitments of all Requested Lenders (including therein the identity of the Requested Lenders which are not in agreement with extending the Maturity Date and the amount of each such Requested Lender's Commitments and Outstandings at such date) and has therefore been denied.
The failure of the Agent within the aforementioned five day period to deliver a Notice of Extension, as provided in Section 3.12(c)(i) above, shall be deemed to be notification by the Agent to the Borrower that the Requested Lenders have denied the Request for Extension, and, in such circumstances, the Maturity Date shall not be extended for any of the Requested Lenders.
| (d) | Extension of Maturity Date: Upon delivery by the Agent to the Borrower of a Notice of Extension pursuant to Section 3.12(c)(i), the Maturity Date for all Extending Lenders shall be extended to the Maturity Date specified in the relevant Request for Extension. |
| (e) | Commitments of Non-Extending Lenders: If in any instance a Notice of Extension has been delivered in circumstances in which not all of the Requested Lenders are Extending Lenders, then, on or prior to the relevant Extension Date: |
| (i) | the Borrower may require any Non-Extending Lender in respect of the relevant Request for Extension to (and such Non-Extending Lender shall thereupon become obligated to) assign all or part of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents (for purposes of this Section 3.12, the "Assigned Interests") to: |
| (A) | any Extending Lenders which have agreed to increase their Commitments and purchase the Assigned Interests; and |
| (B) | to the extent the Assigned Interests are not assigned to Extending Lenders in accordance with paragraph (A) above, any financial or other institutions selected by the Borrower and acceptable to the Agent and the Fronting Banks, each acting reasonably. |
The Borrower shall provide the Agent with written notice of its desire to proceed under this Section 3.12(e)(i) (which notice the Agent shall promptly provide to each Extending Lender), and the Extending Lenders shall be entitled to purchase such of the Assigned Interests as they may request (pro rata, in proportion to the Commitments of those Extending Lenders wishing to purchase Assigned Interests, or otherwise as such Extending Lenders may agree) by written notice to the Agent and the Borrower within 10 days after receipt of such notice, before any Assigned Interests may be assigned to third party financial or other institutions. Such assignments, in any event, shall be effective upon:
| (C) | execution of an agreement substantially in the form of Schedule "I"; |
| (D) | payment to the relevant Non-Extending Lender (in immediately available funds) by the relevant assignee of an amount equal to the relevant Loan Indebtedness owing to such Non-Extending Lender in regard to the Assigned Interests; |
| (E) | payment by the relevant assignee to the Agent (for the Agent's own account) of the transfer fee contemplated in Section 16.9; |
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| (F) | provision satisfactory to such Non-Extending Lender (acting reasonably) being made for payment at maturity of the face amount of outstanding Bankers' Acceptances accepted by it in regard to the Assigned Interests and any costs, losses, premiums or expenses incurred by such Non-Extending Lender by reason of the liquidation or re-deployment of deposits or other funds in respect of Term Benchmark Loans outstanding hereunder in regard to the Assigned Interests; and |
| (G) | provision satisfactory to such Non-Extending Lender (acting reasonably) being made for the indemnification, cash collateralization or release of such Non-Extending Lender from its obligations relating to any Letters of Credit which form part of the Assigned Interests, including its obligations under Section 3.7(d) in regard to the Assigned Interests. |
Upon such assignment and transfer becoming effective, the Non-Extending Lender shall have no further right, interest, benefit or obligation hereunder to the extent of the Assigned Interests assigned by that Lender, and each assignee thereof shall succeed to the position of such Lender to the extent of the portion of the Assigned Interests acquired by such assignee as if the assignee was an original Lender hereunder in regard thereto in the place and stead of such Non-Extending Lender; and
| (ii) | to the extent that the Borrower has not caused any Non-Extending Lenders in respect of such Request for Extension to assign their respective rights and obligations under the Loan Documents to one or more Extending Lenders and/or other financial or other institutions as provided in paragraph (i) above, the Borrower may, at its option, notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, but only if no Default or Event of Default then exists, by further notice to the Agent, repay to such Non-Extending Lenders all Loan Indebtedness owed to such Non-Extending Lenders, without making corresponding repayment to any other Lenders, and make provision satisfactory to each relevant Non-Extending Lender (acting reasonably) for (A) payment at maturity of the face amount of all outstanding Bankers' Acceptances accepted by such Non-Extending Lender, (B) payment of all costs, losses, premiums or expenses incurred by such Non-Extending Lender by reason of a liquidation or re-deployment of deposits or other funds in respect of all outstanding Term Benchmark Loans owed to such Non-Extending Lender, and (C) indemnification, cash collateralization or release of such Non-Extending Lender from its obligations relating to all outstanding Letters of Credit including its obligations under Section 3.7(d). Upon such payments and provisions being made, each such Non-Extending Lender shall cease to be a Lender and its Commitments shall be cancelled and the Total Syndicated Commitment reduced accordingly. |
| (f) | Non-Extending Lenders: If the rights and obligations of a Non-Extending Lender under the Loan Documents are not assigned in accordance with Section 3.12(e)(i) or the Loan Indebtedness of a Non-Extending Lender is not repaid in accordance with Section 3.12(e)(ii), then such Non-Extending Lender shall continue to be obliged to make its Lender's Proportion of Borrowings available to the Borrower on a revolving basis prior to the Maturity Date applicable to its Commitments and on such date: |
| (i) | the Commitments of such Non-Extending Lender shall be automatically cancelled and all Loan Indebtedness then owing to such Non-Extending Lender hereunder shall be repaid in full; and |
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| (ii) | the Total Syndicated Commitment shall be deemed to be reduced by the amount of such cancelled Syndicated Commitment; |
provided that, notwithstanding Section 3.12(e) or any other provision herein, at any time prior to such Maturity Date, the Borrower may require any Non-Extending Lender to assign all or (subject to Section 16.9(a)) a portion of its rights and obligations under the Credit Facility in the same manner and subject to the same procedures as are contemplated in Section 3.12(e)(i) above and, upon such assignment becoming effective, each assignee shall be deemed to be an Extending Lender and the Maturity Date applicable to the Assigned Interests shall be extended to the Maturity Date applicable to the Commitments of the Extending Lenders; and provided, further, that where the proposed Assigned Interests are less than the aggregate Commitments of all of the Non-Extending Lenders, the Borrower shall ensure that the Commitments of all (but not less than all) of the Non-Extending Lenders are assigned or cancelled either (A) by requiring some or all of the Non-Extending Lenders to (and such Non-Extending Lender shall thereupon become obligated to) assign to the proposed assignee or assignees the same proportion of their respective Commitments as their respective Commitments bear to the aggregate Commitments of all Non-Extending Lenders or (B) if no Default or Event of Default then exists, by repaying to some or all of the Non-Extending Lenders all Loan Indebtedness owing hereunder to the Non-Extending Lenders in the same manner as is contemplated in Section 3.12(e)(ii) above.
| (g) | Further Extensions of the Maturity Date: This Section 3.12 shall apply from time to time to facilitate successive extensions and requests for extensions of the Maturity Date. The Borrower shall not be entitled to request any action or give any notice under this Section 3.12 or receive any extension of the Maturity Date in respect of any Commitment so long as there exists a Default or an Event of Default which has not been waived by the Lenders. |
| (h) | Extensions from Non-Extending Lenders: The Borrower may, at its option and from time to time (but only pursuant to the delivery of an executed Request for Extension pursuant to Section 3.12(a)), request any Non-Extending Lender to extend the then current Maturity Date with respect to the Commitments of such Non-Extending Lender to the proposed Maturity Date requested in such Request for Extension. In these circumstances: |
| (i) | the Request for Extension shall expressly refer to such Non-Extending Lender and shall be provided by the Agent to such Non-Extending Lender; |
| (ii) | such Non-Extending Lender shall be included as one of the Requested Lenders for all purposes of Section 3.12 (except for the purposes of making the percentage calculation contemplated in Section 3.12(c)(i)(B) or 3.12(c)(ii)); |
| (iii) | upon the agreement of such Non-Extending Lender to extend the Maturity Date and the delivery of the applicable Notice of Extension from the Agent to the Borrower, such Non-Extending Lender shall become an Extending Lender and shall cease to be a Non-Extending Lender; and |
| (iv) | in the event such Non-Extending Lender does not, or is deemed to not, agree to extend the Maturity Date, Sections 3.12(e) and 3.12(f) shall continue to apply to such Non-Extending Lender as they applied prior to the giving of such Request for Extension. |
| 3.13 | Increase in Credit Facility |
The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, add additional financial institutions hereunder as Lenders and/or, with the consent of the applicable Lender (which may be given or withheld in its
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sole discretion), increase the Commitment of such Lender and, in each case, thereby increase the maximum principal amount of the Credit Facility, provided that, at the time of any such addition or increase:
| (a) | no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; |
| (b) | the Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent: |
| (i) | an officer's certificate of the Borrower confirming the accuracy of (a) above and confirming (A) its corporate authorization to make such increase, (B) the truth and accuracy of its representations and warranties contained in this Agreement as of such date, and (C) that no consents, approvals or authorizations from any Person are required for such increase (except as have been unconditionally obtained and are in full force and effect, unamended), each as at the effective date of such increase in the maximum principal amount of the Credit Facility, and attaching a certified copy of a directors' resolution of the Borrower authorizing any such increase; and |
| (ii) | a legal opinion with respect thereto in form and substance as may be required by the Agent, acting reasonably (and such opinion shall, inter alia, opine as to the corporate authorization of the Borrower to effect such increase); |
| (c) | after giving effect to any such increase, the maximum principal amount of the Credit Facility shall not exceed US$1,800,000,000; |
| (d) | the Agent and the Fronting Banks shall have each consented to such financial institution becoming a Lender or, in the case of an existing Lender, increasing its Commitment, such consents not to be unreasonably withheld; and |
| (e) | concurrently with the addition of a financial institution as an additional Lender or the increase of a Lender's Commitment, such financial institution or Lender, as the case may be, shall purchase from each Lender such portion of the Outstandings owed to each Lender as may be required by the Agent, acting reasonably, and as is necessary to ensure that the Outstandings owed to all Lenders and including therein such additional financial institution and the increased Commitment of any Lender, are in accordance with the Lender's Proportions of all such Lenders (including the new financial institution and the increased Commitment of any Lender) and such financial institution shall execute such documentation as is required by the Agent, acting reasonably, to novate such financial institution as a Lender hereunder; provided that with respect to any portion of such Outstandings which is outstanding by way of Bankers' Acceptance, the new financial institution or such Lender shall provide an indemnity to the other Lenders (in a form satisfactory to the other Lenders, acting reasonably) in order to ensure such Bankers' Acceptances are outstanding in accordance with the new Lender's Proportions. |
ARTICLE
4
REPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
| 4.1 | Repayment of Borrowings |
| (a) | Mandatory Repayment of Borrowings: The Borrower covenants and agrees to repay or otherwise reduce the Borrowings with the effect and requirement that all Borrowings owing to a Lender shall be repaid on or before the Maturity Date applicable to such Lender. |
| (b) | Application of Payment: Subject to the requirements of Section 4.1(a), in respect of payments to the Lenders, the Outstandings of each Lender shall be reduced so as to, following such payment, be in the same proportion as the amount of the Syndicated Commitment of such Lender at such time bears to the Total Syndicated Commitment. |
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| 4.2 | Exchange Rate Fluctuations |
If, on the last day of any Fiscal Quarter or any Interest Period , or on the maturity date of an outstanding Banker's Acceptance (each a "Currency Test Date"), the amount of Outstanding Principal owed to any Lender is in excess of the Syndicated Commitment of such Lender and the amount of any funds on deposit or letter of credit or other assurance satisfactory to the Agent held for or by such Lender pursuant to this Section 4.2 (the amount of the excess being the "Currency Excess"), the Borrower shall, within 10 Business Days of the Currency Test Date, repay or otherwise reduce a portion of Borrowings owed to such Lender to the extent of the amount of such Currency Excess or provide satisfactory assurance of repayment thereof by depositing funds in an amount equal to the Currency Excess into a Cash Coverage Account with the Agent on behalf of the relevant Lender, to be dedicated to payment of Borrowings owed to the relevant Lender or provide satisfactory assurance of repayment thereof by way of letter of credit or otherwise as may be acceptable to such Lender, all to the satisfaction of the Agent. The Agent is hereby directed to apply any such sums on deposit to reduce the Currency Excess by applying such funds to satisfy obligations or liabilities of the Borrower under the Credit Facility to the relevant Lenders under the Loan Documents in respect of Bankers' Acceptances (or BA Equivalent Loans made in lieu thereof) on their maturity or Term Benchmark Loans at the expiration of Interest Periods, as applicable, or (subject to compliance with Sections 3.10(b) and 3.10(c), as applicable), at such earlier time as the Borrower elects. Upon the Currency Excess being eliminated by repayments or by virtue of subsequent changes in the exchange rate for determining the Equivalent Amount in US Dollars of Borrowings on a Currency Test Date, such funds on deposit, together with interest thereon, or letter of credit or other assurance shall be returned to the Borrower.
| 4.3 | Cancellation of Syndicated Commitments |
The Borrower may at any time, at its option and in its sole discretion, upon not less than two (2) Business Days' prior notice to the Agent substantially in the form of Schedule "A", cancel and reduce without penalty all or any portion of (a) the aggregate Syndicated Commitments of those Lenders which are not Non-Extending Lenders (as defined in Section 3.12), (b) the aggregate Syndicated Commitments of those Lenders which are Non-Extending Lenders (as defined in Section 3.12), or (c) any combination thereof, in minimum amounts of US$10,000,000 and in multiples of US$1,000,000 thereof, by:
| (a) | in the case of, and to the extent of, the cancellation of all or any portion of the aggregate Syndicated Commitments of those Lenders which are not Non-Extending Lenders (as defined in Section 3.12), cancelling the Syndicated Commitment of each such Lender in the same proportion of the aggregate amount so cancelled as the proportion which such Lender's Syndicated Commitment is of the total Syndicated Commitments of all such Lenders; and |
| (b) | in the case of, and to the extent of, the cancellation of all or any portion of the aggregate Syndicated Commitments of those Lenders which are Non-Extending Lenders (as defined in Section 3.12), cancelling the Syndicated Commitment of each such Lender in the same proportion of the aggregate amount so cancelled as the proportion which such Lender's Syndicated Commitment is of the total Syndicated Commitments of all such Lenders; |
provided that (i) on or prior to the last day of such notice period, the Borrower has repaid or reduced the principal amount of Syndicated Borrowings owing to each relevant Lender in accordance with Section 3.10(a) in an amount equal to the amount by which the Equivalent Amount of such Syndicated Borrowings in US Dollars would otherwise be in excess of such Lender's Syndicated Commitment immediately after the reduction of the Total Syndicated Commitment provided for in such notice and (ii) the cancellation of all of the Syndicated Commitment of a Lender shall be deemed to be a cancellation of all other Commitments of such Lender. Any such notice of cancellation is irrevocable and the amount of the Total Syndicated Commitment so cancelled may not be reinstated.
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| 4.4 | Evidence of Indebtedness |
The Agent shall open and maintain on the books at the Agent's Branch of Account accounts evidencing the Borrower's liability to the Agent and each Lender in respect of the Borrowings and other Loan Indebtedness outstanding by the Borrower hereunder. The Agent shall enter therein the amount and currency of such Borrowings, each payment of principal and interest on the Borrowings and other Loan Indebtedness, and shall record the Bankers' Acceptances accepted by each Lender, the Letters of Credit issued by each Fronting Bank and all other amounts becoming due to the Agent and each Lender hereunder (and for such purposes the Agent shall be entitled to rely upon information provided by the Fronting Bank in respect of any Letter of Credit issued by such Lender). The Accounts constitute, in the absence of manifest error, prima facie evidence of the Loan Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Agent and each Lender pursuant to this Agreement, the date and amount of each Borrowing made available to the Borrower, the date and amount of each payment by the Borrower on account of the Loan Indebtedness owing hereunder.
ARTICLE
5
PAYMENT OF INTEREST AND FEES
| 5.1 | Payment of Interest on Prime Loans |
The Borrower shall pay the Agent, on behalf of each Lender, interest on Prime Loans owed to such Lender in Canadian Dollars at the Agent's Account for Payments at a variable rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus any Applicable Pricing Margin from time to time. Each change in the fluctuating interest rate for the Prime Loans will take place without notice to the Borrower, simultaneously with the corresponding change in the Prime Rate. Such interest is payable quarterly in arrears on each Interest Date, in respect of the previous Fiscal Quarter, and shall be calculated on a daily basis, based on the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 365 days, rounded in accordance with the Agent's usual practices. If, at any time while Prime Loans are outstanding, the Prime Rate is being determined by reference to the CDOR One Month Rate, the Agent shall promptly advise the Borrower of such fact.
| 5.2 | Payment of Interest on USBR Loans |
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, on behalf of each Lender, interest on USBR Loans owed to such Lender in US Dollars at the Agent's Account for Payments at a variable rate per annum equal to the US Base Rate plus any Applicable Pricing Margin from time to time. Each change in the fluctuating interest rate for the USBR Loans will take place without notice to the Borrower, simultaneously with the corresponding change in the US Base Rate. Such interest is payable quarterly in arrears on each Interest Date, in respect of the previous Fiscal Quarter, and shall be calculated on a daily basis, based on the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 365 days, rounded in accordance with Agent's usual practices. If, at any time while USBR Loans are outstanding, the US Base Rate is being determined by reference to the Fed Funds Rate or the one month Term Benchmark, the Agent shall promptly advise the Borrower of such fact.
| 5.3 | Payment of Interest on Term Benchmark Loans |
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent on behalf of each Lender interest on each Term Benchmark Loan owed to such Lender in US Dollars at the Agent's Account for Payments at the rate, expressed on the basis of a 360 day year, equal to the sum of:
| (a) | the Term Benchmark applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan for the applicable Interest Period; and |
| (b) | the Applicable Pricing Margin from time to time. |
A change in the Applicable Pricing Margin will simultaneously cause a corresponding change in the rate of interest payable for a Term Benchmark Loan. Each determination by the Agent of the rate of
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interest applicable to a Interest Period shall, in the absence of manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding upon the Borrower and each Lender. Such interest shall be payable in arrears on each Term Benchmark Interest Date of each Interest Period applicable to each Term Benchmark Loan, for the period commencing on and including, as applicable, the first day of the applicable Interest Period or the preceding Term Benchmark Interest Date in such Interest Period, up to but not including such Term Benchmark Interest Date, and calculated on a daily basis, based on the actual number of days elapsed divided by 360, rounded in accordance with the Agent's usual practices.
| 5.4 | Stamping Fees for Bankers' Acceptances |
The Borrower shall pay to each Lender stamping fees in Canadian Dollars forthwith upon the acceptance by such Lender of each Bankers' Acceptance issued by the Borrower hereunder (including, for certainty, any Bankers' Acceptances issued and accepted pursuant to Section 3.8 or 3.9) at a rate per 365 day period equal to the Applicable Pricing Margin in effect during the term of such Bankers' Acceptance, calculated on the face amount of such Bankers' Acceptance and on the basis of the number of days in the term of such Bankers' Acceptance divided by 365. Fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to this Section 5.4 shall be paid in the manner specified in Section 12.8(b)(ii). All fees payable pursuant to this Section 5.4 on any date in respect of any issuance of Bankers' Acceptances shall be calculated by the Agent and payable by the Borrower.
| 5.5 | Issuance Fees for Letters of Credit |
| (a) | The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of the Lenders an issuance fee in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by the Fronting Bank hereunder calculated at a rate per 365 day period equal to the Applicable Pricing Margin in effect during the term of such Letter of Credit and on the face amount of each such Letter of Credit. The issuance fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter following the issuance of the relevant Letter of Credit. |
| (b) | The Borrower shall pay to the Fronting Bank for its own account a fronting fee forthwith upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit issued by the Fronting Bank hereunder calculated at a rate per 365 day period equal to the rate agreed to or bid by the Fronting Bank pursuant to Section 3.7(g) and on the face amount of each such Letter of Credit. |
| (c) | The Borrower shall from time to time pay to the Fronting Bank for its own account its usual and customary fees (at the then prevailing rates) for the amendment, delivery and administration of letters of credit such as the Letters of Credit. |
| (d) | The Borrower shall receive a refund in respect of any issuance fee and fronting fee paid in respect of any Letter of Credit which is returned to the Fronting Bank for cancellation in accordance with Section 3.10(d) or fully drawn upon prior to the expiry thereof (such refund to be prorated based upon the portion of time that such Letter of Credit was not outstanding based on the original term thereof); provided that such refund shall only be paid if it exceeds US$1,000 or Cdn.$1,000, as applicable. |
| 5.6 | Adjustments |
All fees payable under Section 5.4 or 5.5 shall be calculated by the Agent and payable by the Borrower initially on the assumption that the Debt Ratings at the time of issuance of the applicable Bankers' Acceptances or Letters of Credit will be maintained during the term thereof. In the event such fees are calculated and paid on such assumption and such Debt Rating is changed or ceases to be available such as to change the Applicable Pricing Margin (any such change or cessation of a Debt Rating being a "Rating Change") during the term of any such outstanding Bankers' Acceptances or Letters of Credit, the Agent shall recalculate the amount of such fees on the basis of the Applicable Pricing Margin applicable to the period before such Rating Change, and the Applicable Pricing Margin applicable to the period on and after such Rating
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Change, and advise the Borrower and the Lenders of the amount of the underpayment or overpayment (if any). In the case of an underpayment, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders, on the maturity date of such outstanding Bankers' Acceptances (in the case of Bankers' Acceptances) or on the next date on which any interest or fee payment is made hereunder (in the case of Letters of Credit), the amount of such underpayment, and, in the case of an overpayment, the amount thereof shall be credited against amounts in respect of interest or other amounts accruing hereunder. Changes in the interest rate payable in respect of Loans as a result of a Rating Change shall be effective on the date of such Rating Change.
| 5.7 | Interest on Overdue Amounts |
The Borrower expressly agrees to pay to the Agent on behalf of each Lender, at the Agent's Branch of Account, on demand, interest on all overdue amounts outstanding under this Agreement at a variable rate per annum, which shall be adjusted automatically without notice to the Borrower whenever there is a change in the Prime Rate or US Base Rate, as the case may be, which is equal to:
| (a) | the Prime Rate plus any Applicable Pricing Margin plus 1% per annum, in respect of amounts due in Canadian Dollars; and |
| (b) | the US Base Rate plus any Applicable Pricing Margin plus 1% per annum, in respect of amounts due in US Dollars; |
and which additional interest the Borrower acknowledges to be commensurate with the increased credit risk to the Lenders in the circumstances. Such interest on overdue amounts shall be compounded monthly and shall be payable both before and after default, maturity and judgment.
| 5.8 | Standby Fees |
The Borrower covenants and agrees to pay to the Agent, on behalf of each Lender at the Agent's Branch of Account, a standby fee in US Dollars payable in arrears on the first Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter, in respect of the previous Fiscal Quarter, in an amount equal to the Applicable Pricing Margin on each day in the calculation period, calculated on the amount by which the Syndicated Commitment of such Lender on such day is in excess of the Outstanding Principal then owing to such Lender on such day. Such standby fees shall be computed from and including the Effective Date and shall be calculated on a daily basis and based on a year of 365 days.
| 5.9 | Agency Fees |
The Borrower covenants and agrees to pay to the Agent certain fees as set forth in a letter agreement between the Agent and the Borrower relating to the Agent's role as agent hereunder.
| 5.10 | Maximum Rate Permitted by Law |
| (a) | In no event shall any interest or fee to be paid hereunder exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. In the event any such interest or fee exceeds such maximum rate, such rate shall be reduced to the highest rate recoverable under applicable law. |
| (b) | Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the aggregate "interest" (as defined in Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada) as the same may be amended, replaced or re-enacted from time to time) payable hereunder exceed the effective annual rate of interest on the "credit advanced" (as defined in that section) hereunder lawfully permitted under that section and, if any payment, collection or demand pursuant to this Agreement in respect of "interest" (as defined in that section) is determined to be contrary to the provisions of that section, such payment, collection or demand shall be deemed to have been made by mutual mistake of the Borrower and the Lenders and the amount of such |
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payment or collection shall be refunded to the Borrower; for purposes hereof the effective annual rate of interest shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices and principles over the term of this Agreement on the basis of annual compounding of the lawfully permitted rate of interest and, in the event of dispute, a certificate of a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries appointed by the Agent will be conclusive for the purposes of such determination.
| 5.11 | Interest Act |
| (a) | For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), the annual rates of interest to which the rates determined in accordance with the provisions hereof on the basis of a period of calculation less than a year are equivalent, are the rates so determined (a) multiplied by the actual number of days in the one year period beginning on the first day of the period of calculation, and (b) divided by the number of days in the period of calculation. |
| (b) | Each of the Guarantor and the Borrower confirms that it and any other guarantor of the Obligations understands and is able to calculate the rate of interest applicable to Borrowings based on the methodology for calculating per annum rates provided in this Agreement. Each of the Guarantor and the Borrower irrevocably agrees not to plead or assert (and to cause each other guarantor of the Loan Indebtedness to not plead or assert), whether by way of defence or otherwise, in any proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, that the interest payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and the calculation thereof has not been adequately disclosed to the Guarantor, the Borrower and any other guarantor of the Loan Indebtedness as required pursuant to Section 4 of the Interest Act (Canada) or any other Applicable Law. |
| 5.12 | Nominal Rates; No Deemed Reinvestment |
The principle of deemed reinvestment of interest shall not apply to any interest calculation under this Agreement; all interest payments to be made hereunder shall be paid without allowance or deduction for deemed reinvestment or otherwise, before and after maturity, default and judgment. The rates of interest specified in this Agreement are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates. Interest calculated hereunder shall be calculated using the nominal rate method and not the effective rate method of calculation.
| 5.13 | Interest on Prepayments and Repayments |
At the same time as any repayment or prepayment of principal is made under this Agreement or any Borrowings have been repaid in accordance with a cancellation of the Commitment pursuant to Section 4.3, the Borrower shall also pay all accrued and unpaid interest on the principal being repaid or prepaid.
ARTICLE
6
PAYMENTS
| 6.1 | Time and Place of Payment |
Subject to the next sentence, the Borrower shall make all payments pursuant to this Agreement to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders at the Agent's Branch of Account in immediately available funds for good value on the day specified for payment. The Borrower shall make all payments owing to a Fronting Bank for its own account at such Lender's Branch of Account in immediately available funds for good value on the day specified for payment. Whenever a payment is due to be made on a day which is not a Business Day, the day for payment is the following Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of the payment of interest or any other amounts payable hereunder. Receipt by the Agent from the
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Borrower of funds for value on any day pursuant to this Agreement, as principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be deemed to be receipt of such funds on such day by the Agent or relevant Lenders, as the case may be.
| 6.2 | Currency of Payment |
Borrowings and payments in respect thereof are payable in the currency in which they are denominated.
| 6.3 | Payments Free and Clear |
| (a) | The Borrower shall make all payments hereunder without set-off or counterclaim (except as permitted by Sections 9.5 and 12.19), free and clear of, and without deduction for or on account of, any Tax. If any Tax is deducted or withheld from any payments, except any Excluded Taxes, the Borrower shall promptly remit to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders, as payment of additional interest, the equivalent of the amounts so deducted or withheld together with the relevant official receipts or other evidence satisfactory to the Agent evidencing payment to the appropriate taxing authority of each such Tax by the Borrower with the intent being that the Lenders shall receive the full amount which would have been received by them had no such deduction or withholding been made. No additional amounts shall be payable by the Borrower under this Section 6.3 (a) with respect to any Taxes which are payable otherwise than by withholding or deduction from payments hereunder. |
| (b) | In the event the Borrower has made a payment pursuant to Section 6.3(a), then (i) the relevant Lender shall take reasonable steps to make such applications or other filings (including for greater certainty, the filing of a Canadian income tax return) so as to obtain a reduction or refund of any such withheld or deducted amounts, and (ii) where the relevant Lender is thereafter granted or receives a credit, refund or remission in respect of the Tax for which the relevant deduction or withholding was made, such Lender shall refund to the Borrower such amount (if any) as such Lender determines in good faith will leave such Lender in no worse position than would have been the case if there had never been any obligation to make such deduction or withholding in the first place. For greater certainty, a Lender shall be entitled to fully recover from the Borrower, as payments of additional interest, all reasonable costs and expenses associated with any applications or other filings prepared as a result of this Section 6.3(b). No Lender shall be obligated to provide to the Borrower copies of all or any part of its tax returns, financial statements or other corporate financial data by reason of any such matter. |
| (c) | If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA or Canadian equivalent legislation, regulations or other guidance if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA or Canadian equivalent legislation, regulations or other guidance (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable, or the Income Tax Act (Canada)), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and/or the Agent (as applicable) at the time or times prescribed by Applicable Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent such documentation prescribed by Applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA or Canadian equivalent legislation, regulations or other guidance and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or Canadian equivalent legislation, regulations or other guidance (or is exempt from withholding thereunder) or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. 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 |
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or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
| (d) | The provisions of this Section 6.3 shall survive the termination of the Agreement and the repayment of the Borrowings, accrued interest and all other indebtedness of the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders hereunder. |
| 6.4 | Account Debit Authorization |
The Borrower authorizes and directs the Agent, in its discretion, to automatically debit, by mechanical, electronic or manual means, the Borrower's Accounts for all amounts payable under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the repayment of principal and the payment of interest, fees and all charges for the keeping of such bank accounts; provided that the Agent shall not be obligated to effect any such debit and shall not be liable or responsible for its failure to do so. The Agent shall send the Borrower an invoice for any fees payable under this Agreement at least three (3) Business Days prior to any such debit and shall provide a confirmation of any upcoming debit for repayment of Borrowings on the same day that the Agent receives notice of such repayment from the Borrower. In the event the Agent debits the Borrower's Accounts by an amount in excess of the principal, interest, fees or charges properly due on a day, then forthwith upon the error being discovered, the Agent shall reimburse the Borrower such excess amount with interest thereon from the date of the excess debit until reimbursement at rates prevailing at the time of the excess debit for deposits of like amount and currency with the Agent.
ARTICLE
7
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
| 7.1 | Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness |
The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
| (a) | the Agent on behalf of each Lender (or certain Lenders, as indicated below) has received, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, acting reasonably: |
| (i) | a duly executed copy of this Agreement; |
| (ii) | a certified copy of the articles and by-laws of the Borrower; |
| (iii) | a certified copy of the articles and by-laws of the Guarantor; |
| (iv) | a certificate of good standing under the laws of British Columbia in respect of the corporate existence of the Borrower; |
| (v) | a certificate of existence under the laws of State of Delaware in respect of the corporate existence of the Guarantor; |
| (vi) | a certified resolution of the Board of Directors of the Borrower with respect to this Agreement; |
| (vii) | a certified resolution of the Board of Directors of the Guarantor with respect to this Agreement; |
| (viii) | an incumbency certificate of the Borrower certifying the name and true signatures of the Borrower's officers authorized to sign this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party; |
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| (ix) | an incumbency certificate of the Guarantor certifying the name and true signatures of the Guarantor’s officer authorized to sign this Agreement; |
| (x) | an opinion of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Canadian counsel to the Borrower and the Guarantor addressed to the Agent and each Lender; |
| (xi) | an opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, U.S. counsel to the Guarantor addressed to the Agent and each Lender; |
| (xii) | an opinion of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, counsel to the Lenders, addressed to the Agent and each Lender; |
| (xiii) | all such other agreements, certificates, declarations, opinions and other documents as are reasonably required by the Agent to confirm or establish the completion or satisfaction of the conditions to the Lenders' obligations hereunder and of which the Borrower is advised in a timely manner; and |
| (xiv) | all documentation and other information regarding the Borrower or the Guarantor requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the AML Legislation, to the extent requested in writing of the Borrower at least 10 days prior to the Effective Date; |
| (b) | provided (A) such information is reasonably requested from the Borrower and/or the Guarantor at least 5 Business Days prior to the Effective Date and (B) the Borrower and/or the Guarantor qualify as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, and the Agent and each requesting Lender received, at least three days prior to the Effective Date, in connection with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a Beneficial Ownership Certification with respect to the Borrower and/or Guarantor; |
| (c) | the Borrower shall have paid to the Agent for the account of the Agent, the co-lead arrangers and the Lenders, as applicable, and in a timely manner, all upfront and arrangement fees required to be paid by the Borrower on or before the Effective Date in connection with this Agreement; and |
| (d) | the Agent shall have received a withdrawal letter from ATB Financial, such withdrawal letter to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, acting reasonably. |
Each Lender hereby authorizes the Agent to confirm to the Borrower on the Effective Date that the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 7.1 have been satisfied on or prior to the Effective Date, provided such Lender has not advised the Agent in writing prior to such Effective Date that such Lender is not satisfied that the Borrower has complied with such conditions precedent.
| 7.2 | Conditions Precedent to all Drawdowns |
The Lenders' obligations to make available any Drawdown pursuant to Section 3.3 are subject to and conditional upon the condition precedent that the Effective Date shall have occurred and the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent:
| (a) | as of each Drawdown Date, those representations and warranties contained in Section 2.1 (other than Sections 2.1(f)(i) and 2.1(i)(ii) which are intended to apply only as of the Effective Date) are true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as if made as of that Drawdown Date; |
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| (b) | as of each Drawdown Date, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur with the making of the requested Borrowing; and |
| (c) | on or before the applicable number of days prior to each Drawdown Date, in accordance with Section 3.3, the Agent has received a duly executed Notice of Drawdown (in the form of Schedule "A" or "B" as applicable). |
| 7.3 | Conditions Precedent to Conversion or Rollover |
The Lenders' obligations to make any Conversion pursuant to Section 3.8 or to Rollover a Borrowing pursuant to Section 3.9 are subject to and conditional upon the satisfaction of each of the following terms and conditions (except as expressly provided otherwise in Section 3.7(d)):
| (a) | as of each Borrowing Conversion Date and Borrowing Rollover Date, either (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur with the making of the requested Borrowing or (ii) the limitations in Section 9.3 are complied with in respect of such Conversion or Rollover; and |
| (b) | on or before the applicable number of days prior to each Borrowing Conversion Date or Borrowing Rollover Date, in accordance with Section 3.3, the Agent has received a duly executed Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover, as applicable. |
| 7.4 | Waiver |
The terms and conditions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 are inserted for the sole benefit of the Lenders and, subject to Sections 12.12 and 16.3, the Lenders may waive them in whole or in part, with or without terms or conditions in respect of any Borrowing, without prejudicing the Lenders' rights to assert them in whole or in part in respect of any other Borrowing.
ARTICLE
8
COVENANTS OF THE OBLIGORS
| 8.1 | Affirmative Covenants of the Obligors |
Subject to Section 8.3, each of the Guarantor (without any limitation) and the Borrower (whose affirmative covenants will be limited to only Sections 8.1(a), 8.1(c) and 8.1(e) below) covenants with the Agent and each Lender that:
| (a) | [Intentionally Deleted.] |
| (b) | Payment of Taxes, Etc.: The Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all material 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, neither the Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained, unless and until any Lien resulting therefrom which is material to the Guarantor attaches to its property and becomes enforceable against its other creditors; |
| (c) | Use of Borrowings: The Borrower shall use, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to use all proceeds of the Borrowings solely as set forth in Section 3.2; |
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| (d) | Maintenance Properties: The Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, its respective properties and assets that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except that nothing contained in this Section shall prevent the Guarantor or its Material Subsidiaries (i) from selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of any of its or their property or assets in one or a series of related transactions if the cumulative effect of such actions would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) from ceasing to operate any of its or their property, assets or business, when in the opinion of the appropriate officers of the Guarantor or its Material Subsidiaries it shall be advisable and in its or their best interests to do so; |
| (e) | Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc.: Subject to Section 8.2(c), each Obligor shall maintain its corporate existence; |
| (f) | Insurance: The Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, insurance on all of its or their property which is of an insurable nature against such risks, in such amounts and in such manner as is usual in the case of corporations similarly situated and operating generally similar property and with such reputable insurance companies or associations as the Guarantor may select; provided that the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries may from time to time adopt other methods or plans of protection, including self-insurance, against such risks in substitution or partial substitution for the aforesaid insurance if such plans or methods shall, in the opinion of the appropriate senior officers of the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries, be in its or their best interest, and neither the Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to keep insured any of its property in respect of which insurance is being provided by others for its benefit; |
| (g) | Compliance With Laws, Etc.: The Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply in all respects with all Applicable Laws, such compliance to include, without limitation, compliance with ERISA, the requirements applicable to each Foreign Plan and Environmental Laws, except where the failure to so comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect; |
| (h) | Reporting Requirements: The Guarantor shall: |
| (i) | as soon as available and in any event within 65 days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of the Guarantor, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the Consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows of the Guarantor for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such Fiscal Quarter, with a statement (subject to year end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) by the chief financial officer or comptroller of the Guarantor stating that such Consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, together with a Compliance Certificate (it being understood that the delivery by the Guarantor of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form) of the Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries or a registration statement on Form S-1 or Form S-4 shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 8.1(h)(i) to the extent such annual reports or registration statement include the information specified herein); |
| (ii) | as soon as available and in any event within 95 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021), a copy of the Consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor comprising the Consolidated balance sheet, the Consolidated statement of earnings, the Consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the Consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity and the Consolidated statement of cash flows |
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pertaining to such fiscal year, together with the report and opinion of its independent auditors thereon confirming that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, together with a Compliance Certificate (it being understood that the delivery by the Guarantor of annual reports on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) of the Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries or a registration statement on Form S-1 or Form S-4 shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 8.1(h)(ii) to the extent such quarterly reports or registration statements include the information specified herein);
| (iii) | in the case of each Default or Event of Default, as soon as possible and in any event within ten (10) days after a Senior Financial Officer of the Guarantor has acquired knowledge of facts which constitute or give rise to such Default or Event of Default and provided that such Default is continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of the chief financial officer or chief executive officer of the Guarantor setting forth details of such Default or Event of Default and the action that the Guarantor has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto; |
| (iv) | promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all reports that the Guarantor sends to any of its securityholders, and copies of all reports and registration statements that the Guarantor or any Subsidiary files with the Securities and Exchange Commission 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 Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries of the type described in Section 2.1(f); |
| (vi) | ERISA: |
| (A) | ERISA Events and ERISA Reports: (x) Promptly and in any event within ten (10) days after the Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know that any ERISA Event which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, a statement of the chief financial officer of the Guarantor describing such ERISA Event and the action, if any, that the Guarantor or such ERISA Affiliate has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto and (y) on the date any records, documents or other information must be furnished to the PBGC with respect to any Plan pursuant to Section 4010 of ERISA, a copy of such records, documents and information; |
| (B) | Plan Terminations: Promptly and in any event within three (3) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate, copies of each notice from the PBGC stating its intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan; |
| (C) | Plan Annual Reports: Promptly (x) and in any event within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service, copies of each Schedule SB (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each Plan maintained, sponsored or contributed to by the Guarantor and (y) upon the request of the Agent, a copy of the Schedule SB with respect to any other Plan; |
| (D) | Multiemployer Plan Notices: Promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate from the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan, copies of each notice concerning |
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(x) the imposition of Withdrawal Liability by any such Multiemployer Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (y) the reorganization or termination, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, of any such Multiemployer Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (z) the amount of liability incurred, or that may be incurred, by the Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate in connection with any event described in clause (x) or (y);
provided that any Obligor may satisfy the delivery requirements set forth in this Section 8.1(h) by sending to the Agent by electronic mail the documents that are to be delivered to the Agent pursuant to this Section 8.1(h), and, in the case of documents delivered pursuant to paragraph (iii) above, the Borrower promptly executes and delivers to the Agent an originally signed copy of such Compliance Certificate; and further, provided that the Guarantor shall be deemed to have furnished the information required by Sections 8.1(h)(i), 8.1(h)(ii) and 8.1(h)(iv) if it shall have timely made the same available on "SEDAR" or “EDGAR” and notified the Agent that such information has been posted on "SEDAR" or “EDGAR” and such information is freely accessible without charge; and further, provided, that if any Lender is unable to access "SEDAR" or “EDGAR”, as applicable, the Guarantor agrees to provide such Lender with paper or electronic copies of the information required to be furnished pursuant to this Section 8.1(h) promptly following notice (and thereafter so long as such notice remains in effect) from the Agent that such Lender has requested same; and further, provided that the Agent and the Lenders hereby agree to keep confidential any data or information delivered to the Agent or the Lenders under this Section 8.1(h) which is not already in the public domain;
| (i) | Books and Records: The Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of records and accounts in which full and correct entries will be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the Guarantor and each such Subsidiary in accordance with GAAP; |
| (j) | Maintenance of Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio: The Guarantor shall maintain, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, as reported to the Lenders in accordance with Section 8.1(h), a Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio which does not exceed 60%; |
| (k) | Visitation Rights: At any reasonable time upon reasonable prior notice, permit the Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof, at their own risk and own cost, to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of, the Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries with any of their senior officers or directors and with their independent auditors; |
| (l) | Environmental Covenants: |
| (i) | Without limiting the generality of Section 8.1 (g), the Guarantor shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and any other party acting under their direction to, conduct their business and operations so as to comply at all times with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits if the consequence of a failure to comply could reasonably be expected, either alone or in conjunction with any other such noncompliance, to have a Material Adverse Effect; |
| (ii) | If the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries shall: |
| (A) | receive or give any notice that a violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit has or may have been committed or is about to be |
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committed by the same, if such violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
| (B) | receive any notice that a complaint, proceeding or order has been filed or is about to be filed against the same alleging a violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit, if such violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or |
| (C) | receive any notice requiring the Guarantor or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, to take any action in connection with the Release of Hazardous Materials into the environment or alleging that the Borrower or a Subsidiary may be liable or responsible for costs associated with a response to or to clean-up a Release of Hazardous Materials into the environment or any damages caused thereby, if such action or liability could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; |
the Borrower shall promptly provide the Agent with a copy of such notice and shall, or shall cause its Subsidiary to, furnish to the Agent from time to time all reasonable information requested by the Agent relating to the same;
| (iii) | The Guarantor shall notify the Agent promptly of any event or occurrence of which it is aware which could reasonably be expected to result in violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit if such event or occurrence could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; |
| (m) | [Intentionally Deleted.] |
| (n) | Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions: The Guarantor shall maintain in effect and enforce procedures to ensure compliance by the Guarantor with its representation and warranty in Section 2.1(n)(ii) in respect of any requested Drawdown. |
| 8.2 | Negative Covenants of the Obligors |
Subject to Section 8.3, each of the Guarantor (without any limitation) and the Borrower (whose negative covenants will be limited to only Section 8.2(c) below) covenants with the Agent and each Lender that:
| (a) | Negative Pledge |
The Guarantor shall not create, or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to create, any mortgage, hypothecation, charge or other encumbrance on any of its or their property or assets, present or future, to secure Indebtedness, unless at or prior thereto, the Loans, up to the maximum aggregate amount of the Commitments then in effect, are equally and ratably secured or, at the option of the Guarantor, security in the form of other property having at such time a Value equal to 150% of the aggregate Commitments at such time is extended to the Agent, the Lenders and the Fronting Banks; provided, however, that the preceding shall not apply to or operate to prevent the following:
| (i) | liens or other encumbrances, not related to the borrowing of money, incurred or arising by operation of law or in the ordinary course of business or incidental to the ownership of property or assets; |
| (ii) | pre-existing encumbrances on property or assets when acquired (including by way of lease); |
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| (iii) | encumbrances or obligations to incur encumbrances (including under indentures, trust deeds and similar instruments) on property or assets of another Person existing at the time such other Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, or is liquidated or merged into, or amalgamated or consolidated with, the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor or at the time of the sale, lease or other disposition to the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of such other Person, provided that such encumbrances were not incurred in anticipation of such other Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Guarantor; |
| (iv) | encumbrances given by the Guarantor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in compliance with contractual commitments in existence at the date hereof or entered into prior to a Restricted Subsidiary becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; |
| (v) | giving security by the Guarantor or a Subsidiary thereof in favor of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries; |
| (vi) | creating, issuing or suffering to exist or becoming liable on, or giving or assuming, any Purchase Money Mortgage; |
| (vii) | creating, issuing or suffering to exist or becoming liable on, or giving or assuming any mortgage, hypothecation, charge or other encumbrance in connection with Indebtedness which, by its terms, is non-recourse to the Guarantor or the Restricted Subsidiary; |
| (viii) | giving security on any specific property or asset in favor of a government within or outside Canada or any political subdivision, department, agency or instrumentality thereof to secure the performance of any covenant or obligation to or in favor of or entered into at the request of any such authorities where such security is required pursuant to any contract, statute, order or regulation; |
| (ix) | giving, in the ordinary course of business and for the purpose of carrying on the same, security on current assets to any bank or banks or others to secure any obligations repayable on demand or maturing, including any right of extension or renewal, within 12 months after the date such obligation is incurred; |
| (x) | giving security on property or assets of whatsoever nature other than Restricted Property; provided, however, security on Restricted Property may be given to secure obligations incurred or guarantees of obligations incurred in connection with or necessarily incidental to the purchase, sale, storage, transportation or distribution of such Restricted Property or of the products derived from such Restricted Property; |
| (xi) | encumbrances arising under partnership agreements, oil and natural gas leases, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, master limited partnership agreements, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, storage, transportation, distribution, gathering or processing of Restricted Property, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts (including security in respect of take or pay or similar obligations thereunder), area of mutual interest agreements, natural gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, which in each of the foregoing cases is customary in the oil and natural gas business, and other agreements which are customary in the oil and natural gas business, provided in all instances that such |
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encumbrance is limited to the property or assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement;
| (xii) | any encumbrance on any properties or facilities or any interest therein, construction thereon or improvement thereto incurred to secure all or any part of any Indebtedness relating to the reclamation and clean-up of such properties, facilities and interests and surrounding lands whether or not owned by the Guarantor or a Restricted Subsidiary, the plugging or abandonment of wells and the decommissioning or removal of structures or facilities located on such properties or facilities provided such Indebtedness is incurred prior to, during or within two years after the completion of reclamation and clean-up or such other activity; |
| (xiii) | encumbrances in respect of the joint development, operation or present or future reclamation, clean-up or abandonment of properties, facilities and surrounding lands or related production or processing as security in favor of any other owner or operator of such assets for the Guarantor’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s portion of the costs and expenses of such development, operation, reclamation, clean-up or abandonment; |
| (xiv) | encumbrances on assets or property (including oil sands property) securing: (I) all or any portion of the cost of acquisition (directly or indirectly), surveying, exploration, drilling, development, extraction, operation, production, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of all or any part of such assets or property and the plugging and abandonment of wells thereon, (II) all or any portion of the cost of acquiring (directly or indirectly), developing, constructing, altering, improving, operating or repairing any assets or property (or improvements on such assets or property) used or to be used in connection with such assets or property, whether or not located (or located from time to time) at or on such assets or property, (III) Indebtedness incurred by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries to provide funds for the activities set forth in clauses (I) and (II) above, provided such Indebtedness is incurred prior to, during or within two years after the completion of acquisition, construction or such other activities referred to in clauses (I) and (II) above, and (IV) Indebtedness incurred by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries to refinance Indebtedness incurred for the purposes set forth in clauses (I) and (II) above. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, costs incurred after the date hereof with respect to clauses (I) or (II) above shall include costs incurred for all facilities relating to such assets or property, or to projects, ventures or other arrangements of which such assets or property form a part or which relate to such assets or property, which facilities shall include, without limitation, Facilities, whether or not in whole or in part located (or from time to time located) at or on such assets or property; |
| (xv) | encumbrances granted in the ordinary course of business in connection with Financial Instrument Obligations; |
| (xvi) | deposits referred to in part (i) of the proviso to the definition of Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Capitalization Ratio; |
| (xvii) | any extension, renewal, alteration, refinancing, replacement, exchange or refunding (or successive extensions, renewals, alterations, refinancings, replacements, exchanges or refundings) of all or part of any encumbrance referred to in the foregoing clauses; provided, however, that (i) such new encumbrance shall be limited to all or part of the property or assets which was secured by the prior encumbrance plus improvements on such property or assets and (ii) the Indebtedness, if any, secured by the new encumbrance is not increased from the amount of the Indebtedness secured |
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by the prior encumbrance then existing at the time of such extension, renewal, alteration, refinancing, replacement, exchange or refunding, plus an amount necessary to pay fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such extensions, renewals, alterations, refinancings, replacements, exchanges or refundings; and
| (xviii) | liens or other encumbrances granted pursuant to Section 12.19 hereof; |
and provided further that (I) in any event, the Guarantor and any Restricted Subsidiary shall be entitled to give security that would otherwise be prohibited hereby so long as the aggregate Indebtedness outstanding and secured under this clause (I) and the aggregate Indebtedness outstanding and secured under Section 8.2(a)(xiv) does not at the time of giving such security exceed an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Guarantor at such time and (II) in no event shall the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary be entitled to give security that would otherwise be permitted by Section 8.2(a)(xiv) if such security secures Indebtedness which exceeds an amount equal to 10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Guarantor at such time.
Transactions such as the sale (including any forward sale) or other transfer of (A) oil, gas, minerals or other resources of a primary nature, whether in place or when produced, for a period of time until, or in an amount such that, the purchaser will realize therefrom a specified amount of money or a specified rate of return (however determined), or a specified amount of such oil, gas, minerals, or other resources of a primary nature, or (B) any other interest in property of the character commonly referred to as a “production payment”, will not constitute secured indebtedness and will not result in the Guarantor being required to secure the Borrowings.
In the event security has been provided to the Agent, the Lenders and the Fronting Banks in accordance with this Section 8.2(a) and the maximum principal amount of the Commitments is thereafter permanently reduced at any time or from time to time, the Guarantor may request once in each calendar year, and the Agent, the Lenders and the Fronting Banks shall grant at the Guarantor’s expense, discharges of security as will ensure that the remaining security secures, to the satisfaction of the Agent, the Lenders and the Fronting Banks acting reasonably, the maximum principal amount of Loans which are, or which may become, outstanding after giving effect to such permanent reduction in the total amount of the Commitments;
| (b) | Change in Nature of Business: The Guarantor shall not engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date hereof, provided that the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries may engage in any Similar Business; |
| (c) | Reorganization of Obligor(s): No Obligor shall enter into or participate in any transaction which would result in the amalgamation or merger of such Obligor into any other Person or the sale, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of any Obligor's undertaking and assets (determined on a Consolidated basis) to another Person, unless: |
| (i) | except in the case of the amalgamation or merger of an Obligor with the other Obligor or one or more Subsidiaries of the Guarantor (or any combination thereof) or the transfer of all or substantially all of an Obligor’s undertaking and assets to the other Obligor or one or more Subsidiaries of the Guarantor (or any combination thereof), at least two Debt Ratings of the successor or transferee are Investment Grade (unless the Majority Lenders approve any such transaction where the Debt Ratings of the successor or transferee are not Investment Grade); |
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| (ii) | the successor or transferee executes and delivers to the Agent such documents, if any, as may, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent , be necessary to confirm the assumption by the successor or transferee of the obligations of such Obligor under this Agreement; and |
| (iii) | the Agent and the Lenders shall have received all information regarding the successor or transferee reasonably requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and, if applicable, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, including any related necessary documentation; |
| (d) | Sale of Property and Assets: The Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any material part of their respective property or assets (other than to the Guarantor or one or more Subsidiaries) if such action would have a Material Adverse Effect; |
| (e) | Financing Debt of Certain Subsidiaries: The Guarantor shall not permit: |
| (i) | the aggregate Financing Debt of all Material Subsidiaries (other than the Borrower) which are Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis; plus, without duplication |
| (ii) | the aggregate Indebtedness secured by security interests over Restricted Property given by the Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary in favour of Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries which are not Material Subsidiaries; plus, without duplication |
| (iii) | the aggregate Financing Debt of Finance Co.; plus, without duplication |
| (iv) | the amount by which the aggregate Financing Debt of any Subsidiary (other than Finance Co. or a Material Subsidiary) exceeds an aggregate of US$750,000,000 and which Financing Debt is guaranteed by the Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly through corporate law applicable to unlimited liability companies); |
to exceed 17.5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, as reported to the Lenders in accordance with Section 8.1(h); provided that, for the purpose of calculating the aggregate Financing Debt referred to in (i) above or the aggregate Indebtedness referred to in (ii) above, there shall be excluded (y) the Financing Debt of any Public Material Subsidiary or (z) any such Indebtedness secured by security interests over Restricted Property of any Public Material Subsidiary for so long as, in regard to any case referred to in (y) or (z) above, Common Equity Securities of the relevant Public Material Subsidiary are listed on any stock exchange and for 120 days (or such longer period as the Majority Lenders may allow in their sole discretion) after the date that Common Equity Securities of such Public Material Subsidiary cease to be so listed; and
| (f) | Financial Assistance by Material Subsidiaries: If any Material Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) or any Subsidiary of a Material Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) gives, grants or becomes subject to any guarantee, indemnity or other form of financial assistance to or in favour of any Person in respect of Financing Debt of the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary, other than in respect of the Borrowings or any Centralized Banking Arrangements (each such guarantee, indemnity or other form of financial assistance, other than a guarantee, indemnity or other form of financial assistance in respect of the Borrowings or any Centralized Banking Arrangements, being a "Third Party Guarantee"), then the Guarantor shall ensure that such Material Subsidiary or Subsidiary of a Material Subsidiary duly executes and delivers to the |
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Agent on behalf of the Lenders a guarantee or other instrument in respect of the Obligations on no less favourable terms, with such changes thereto as may be necessary in the context and acceptable to the Agent, acting reasonably, so that the obligations thereunder rank at least pari passu with the obligations under such Third Party Guarantee; provided, however, that:
| (i) | a Material Subsidiary or Subsidiary thereof shall be entitled to give, grant or become subject to a Third Party Guarantee in respect of Financing Debt of wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such Material Subsidiary; and |
| (ii) | a Material Subsidiary or Subsidiary thereof which is a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Material Subsidiary shall be entitled to give, grant or become subject to a Third Party Guarantee in respect of Financing Debt of a Material Subsidiary or Subsidiary thereof of which (in either case) it is directly or indirectly a wholly-owned Subsidiary; |
in either case, for so long as such wholly-owned Subsidiaries remain, directly or indirectly, wholly-owned by such Material Subsidiary, without being required by this Section 8.2(f) to execute and deliver a guarantee or other instrument to the Agent in accordance with the foregoing; and provided further however, that a Subsidiary which is not a Material Subsidiary need not execute and deliver such a guarantee or other instrument if and for so long as such Subsidiary, together with each other such Subsidiary which has given, granted, or become subject to a Third Party Guarantee and which has not executed and delivered a guarantee or other instrument to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders hereunder, has assets which have a value, as reflected in the Consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor most recently delivered to the Lenders hereunder, of 10% or less of the value of the assets of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries reflected therein (without giving effect to the non-cash ceiling test impairments and other changes as at December 31, 2011 as a consequence of Encana's adoption of US GAAP). Any Material Subsidiary that provides a guarantee to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders in accordance with this Section shall also provide such other documents and certificates as the Agent may reasonably request, and to the extent such Material Subsidiary qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, shall provide to any Lender that so requests a Beneficial Ownership Certification. If any Subsidiary that provides a guarantee to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders in accordance with this Section is released from its Third Party Guarantee(s) (other than as a result of any payment being made under such Third Party Guarantee(s)), then, upon the request of the Borrower or such Subsidiary for the release of such guarantee and provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such release, such guarantee shall also be released (and the Agent shall promptly execute such documents and instruments as the Borrower or such Subsidiary may reasonably request to evidence such release).
| 8.3 | Actions in Respect of Subsidiaries |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 whereby an Obligor has covenanted to cause any Subsidiary to do or not to do any act or thing and (a) such Subsidiary is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, (b) the Guarantor does not control the day to day operations of such Subsidiary (by operation of contract or otherwise) and (c) the portion of the Consolidated Tangible Assets of the Guarantor attributable to all of the Subsidiaries that meet the requirements of clauses (a) and (b) does not exceed 10% of the value of the Consolidated Tangible Assets of the Guarantor, as measured as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year, the applicable Obligor(s) shall have complied with its or their covenants in that regard if it shall have used all reasonable efforts to cause such Subsidiary to comply with the requirements of Sections 8.1 and 8.2 or to remedy any breaches thereof; and with respect to any breach of Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 caused by any Subsidiary acting or failing to act in the manner required by such Section, such Obligor's obligation to use its reasonable efforts to prevent or remedy such breach shall only be applicable from and after the date that such Obligor becomes aware of such breach or the date such Obligor becomes aware such breach may occur,
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as the case may be; provided that this Section 8.3 shall not apply to (i) the covenants contained in Section 8.2(e) or 8.2(f), or (ii) any covenant if the breach thereof could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE
9
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
| 9.1 | Events of Default |
Any one or more of the following occurrences is an Event of Default, but only if at the time of or during the continuance of any such occurrence a Borrowing is outstanding:
| (a) | Failure to Pay Loans, Interest or Fees: The Borrower shall fail to repay any principal of any Outstandings when the same becomes due and payable; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Outstandings or make any other payment of fees or other amounts payable under this Agreement within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; |
| (b) | Voluntary Proceedings: The Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary institutes proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or consents to the filing of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding against it, or files a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or similar relief under the Companies Creditors' Arrangement Act (Canada), the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), or any other bankruptcy or insolvency law or any other similar applicable law, or consents to the filing of any such petition, or consents to the appointment of a receiver, trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of any part of its property (other than Non-Recourse Assets) which is material to the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or becomes insolvent or generally not able to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or takes any corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing; provided that an occurrence under this Section 9.1(b) which results from actions taken by a Material Subsidiary which is not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary will not be an Event of Default if the Guarantor would (in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders as evidenced by their signatures on a confirmation thereof) be able to satisfy the financial tests set forth in Sections 8.1(j) and 8.2(e), calculated as of the date of such actions taken by such Material Subsidiary (and not as of the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter); |
| (c) | Bankruptcy Proceedings: A court having jurisdiction enters a decree or order adjudging the Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking liquidation, winding-up, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition, protection or similar relief of the Borrower or a Material Subsidiary under the Companies Creditors' Arrangement Act (Canada), the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) or any other bankruptcy or insolvency law or any other similar applicable law, or enters a decree or order for the appointment of a receiver, trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of any part of its property (other than Non-Recourse Assets) which is material to the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and any such decree or order remains in force undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days or more; provided that an occurrence under this Section 9.1(c) which results from actions taken by or pertaining to a Material Subsidiary which is not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary will not be an Event of Default if the Guarantor would (in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders as evidenced by their signatures on a confirmation thereof) be able to satisfy the financial tests set forth in Sections 8.1(j) and 8.2(e), calculated as of the date of such actions of or pertaining to such Material Subsidiary (and not as of the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter); |
| (d) | Cross Acceleration of Extended Financing Debt: The Guarantor or any Subsidiary (i) defaults in making payment when due of any Financing Debt (including all net obligations of the |
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Guarantor or any such Subsidiary pursuant to currency, interest rate and commodity price hedging and swap agreements, but excluding Borrowings) ("Extended Financing Debt") in an amount in excess of the greater of US$200,000,000 and two (2%) percent of Consolidated Net Worth and such default is not remedied by the Guarantor or any such Subsidiary or is not waived by the lender or counterparty in respect of such Extended Financing Debt (including the lessor under any Finance Lease) within two (2) Business Days or any longer grace or cure period that is available under applicable documentation to remedy such default; or (ii) causes or permits to exist any default or event of default under any agreement or agreements evidencing Extended Financing Debt if such default or event of default results in the acceleration of the payment of an aggregate amount of Extended Financing Debt in excess of the greater of US$200,000,000 and two (2%) percent of Consolidated Net Worth;
| (e) | Breached Representations and Warranties: Any representation or warranty made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in this Agreement or by an Obligor (or any of its officers) in connection with this Agreement proves to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed to be made hereunder; |
| (f) | Judgments: A final judgment or order (subject to no further right of appeal) is rendered against the Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary for the payment of money in excess of the greater of US$200,000,000 and two (2%) percent of Consolidated Net Worth (other than any such judgment or order in favour of a lender that is a Non-Recourse Creditor, in respect of which such lender's recourse pursuant to such judgment or order or otherwise is limited to the specific Project in respect of which the debt which is the subject of such judgment or order was granted was incurred) and under which enforcement proceedings have commenced and have not been stayed, and which remains undischarged or unstayed for a period of 45 days; provided that any such final judgment or order rendered only with respect to a Material Subsidiary which is not the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary shall not be an Event of Default if the Guarantor would (in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders as evidenced by their signatures on a confirmation thereof) be able to satisfy the financial tests set forth in Sections 8.1(j) and 8.2(e), calculated as of the date of such final judgment or order (and not as of the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter), which tests shall be conducted after provision has been made for the payment of such final judgment or order; |
| (g) | Non-Monetary Judgments: Any final non-monetary judgment or order (subject to no further right of appeal) shall be rendered against the Guarantor or any of its Material Subsidiaries that could be reasonably expected to have (i) a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be any period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order shall not be in effect or (ii) an adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents; |
| (h) | [Intentionally Deleted.] |
| (i) | Failure to Perform Covenants and Agreements: (i) Any Obligor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 8.1(b), 8.1(e), 8.1(h)(iii), 8.1(j) or 8.2; or (ii) any Obligor 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 45 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent or any Lender; |
| (j) | Agreement Not Enforceable: Except as otherwise contemplated by Article 10, this Agreement or any material provision thereof shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against any Obligor, or any Obligor shall so state in writing; |
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| (k) | Failure to be Wholly-Owned: If the Borrower shall cease to be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Guarantor; |
| (l) | Change in Control: If a Change in Control in the Guarantor shall occur; or |
| (m) | ERISA Event: The Guarantor or any of its respective ERISA Affiliates shall incur, or, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, shall be reasonably likely to incur, liability in excess of $200,000,000 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 Guarantor or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan; or (iii) the reorganization or termination within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA of a Multiemployer Plan. |
| 9.2 | Occurrence of an Event of Default |
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent may, at its option, and shall if so required by the Majority Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower (an "Acceleration Notice"), declare all or any part of the Outstandings and all other Loan Indebtedness (whether matured or unmatured) of the Borrower to the Lenders under this Agreement (including the amount of all Bankers' Acceptances and BA Equivalent Loans, as determined by the Agent acting reasonably) to be due and payable, whereupon the Total Syndicated Commitment and all Fronting Bank Commitments and any right of the Borrower to any further Borrowing shall terminate and all Loan Indebtedness (whether matured or unmatured) of the Borrower to the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement (including the amount of all Bankers' Acceptances and BA Equivalent Loans, as determined by the Agent acting reasonably) shall be immediately due and payable without further demand or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by the Borrower; provided that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(b) or 9.1(c), the Total Syndicated Commitment and all Fronting Bank Commitments and any right of the Borrower to any further Borrowing shall automatically terminate and all Loan Indebtedness (whether matured or unmatured) of the Borrower to the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement (including the amount of all Bankers' Acceptances and BA Equivalent Loans, as determined by the Agent acting reasonably) shall be immediately due and payable without further demand or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by the Borrower. The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders immediately the amount due and payable pursuant to this Section 9.2, failing which the Lenders or any of them may pursue their remedies under this Agreement.
| 9.3 | Lenders' Right to Suspend the Borrowings |
Where (x) an occurrence occurs that would otherwise be an Event of Default but is not an Event of Default by reason of the repayment of Borrowings or because there are no outstanding Borrowings (including, for certainty, because of any cash cover provided pursuant to Section 3.10(c) or 3.10(d)), or (y) a Default or Event of Default exists, or (z) the financial statements delivered by the Borrower disclose a likely breach of the financial tests in Section 8.1(j) or 8.2(e) which cannot be verified because the relevant Compliance Certificate has not been delivered and in respect of which the Borrower has not satisfied the Majority Lenders that such breach has been rectified, then, in each such case and notwithstanding anything else contained herein, the obligations of the Lenders to make Borrowings available to the Borrower hereunder which would increase the total Outstandings shall be suspended and shall remain suspended, and all Interest Periods and terms of Bankers' Acceptances, BA Equivalent Loans and Letters of Credit which commence during such period through Rollovers and Conversions shall not exceed 1 month, until, as applicable, such occurrence, Default or Event of Default has been remedied or waived and any conditions to the effectiveness (or the continued effectiveness) of such waiver are satisfied or are being complied with, as applicable.
| 9.4 | Remedies Cumulative |
The Borrower expressly agrees that the rights and remedies of the Lenders under this Agreement and each of the Loan Documents delivered by the Borrower hereunder are cumulative, and in addition to, and not in substitution for, any rights or remedies provided by law; any single or partial exercise by
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the Lenders of any right or remedy for a default or breach of any term, covenant, condition or agreement in this Agreement or any Loan Document delivered by the Borrower hereunder does not waive, alter, affect, or prejudice any other right or remedy to which the Lenders may be lawfully entitled for the same default or breach.
| 9.5 | Set-Off |
| (a) | In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under Applicable Law but only to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default hereunder, without prior notice to the Borrower, the Guarantor or any other Person, such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower and the Guarantor, the Agent and the Lenders are hereby authorized to set-off and to appropriate and to apply any and all deposits (general and special) and any other indebtedness at any time held by or owing by the Agent or such Lender to or for the credit of or the account of the Borrower or the Guarantor against and on account of the Obligations notwithstanding whether such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured. The Agent and the applicable Lenders shall provide the Borrower, the Guarantor, the Agent and each other Lender with prompt notice of the exercise of any of their rights under this Section 9.5. |
| (b) | In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under Applicable Law but only to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, while a Lender is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to (i) or (ii) of the definition thereof, or while a Lender Insolvency Event exists with respect to such Lender or its Lender Parent, the Borrower is hereby authorized without prior notice to such Defaulting Lender or to any other Person, such notice being expressly waived by such Defaulting Lender, to set-off and to apply any and all deposits (general and special but excluding security deposits) held by such Defaulting Lender (or any Subsidiary of such Defaulting Lender) to or for the credit of or the account of the Borrower (or any Subsidiary of the Borrower) against and on account of the Borrowings and any accrued interest owing by the Borrower to such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement, regardless of whether the obligations in respect of such deposits or Borrowings are contingent or unmatured. The Borrower shall provide the Agent and the Defaulting Lender with prompt notice of the exercise of any of its rights under this Section; provided that: |
| (i) | any Centralized Banking Arrangements shall take priority over the Borrower's rights under this Section; |
| (ii) | prior to receipt of such notice by the Agent, the Agent shall not be obligated to reflect such set-off in the allocation of its payments to Lenders under Article 12; |
| (iii) | after receipt of such notice by the Agent, such Defaulting Lender irrevocably authorizes the Agent to rely on such notice and to allocate payments from the Borrower to the Lenders in a manner which gives effect to such set-off (notwithstanding any provisions in Article 12 to the contrary); and |
| (iv) | the Borrower agrees to indemnify the Agent and its Affiliates, directors, officers, agents and employees from any claims made against any of them by a Defaulting Lender in connection with this Section 9.5(b), all in accordance with Section 11.2 (and for such purposes a claim from a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to be a third party claim). |
| 9.6 | Cash Coverage Account |
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and in addition to any other rights or remedies of the Lenders hereunder, the Borrower, at the request of the Agent, shall deposit into a Cash Coverage Account with the Agent such amounts as may be required to satisfy obligations or liabilities of the Borrower to the Lenders under the Loan Documents in respect of Bankers' Acceptances which have not matured or Letters of
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Credit which have not been drawn; provided that any such amounts not so deposited by the Borrower shall, at the option of the Lenders, be paid by the Lenders into such Cash Coverage Account and shall be deemed to constitute, without duplication of any relating Outstandings, a Prime Loan (in respect of amounts denominated in Cdn. Dollars) or a USBR Loan (in respect of amounts denominated in US Dollars).
| 9.7 | Application and Sharing of Payments Following Acceleration |
Except as otherwise agreed to by all of the Lenders in their sole discretion, any sum received by the Agent at any time after delivery of an Acceleration Notice or after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(b) or 9.1(c) which the Agent is obliged to apply in or towards satisfaction of sums due from the Borrower hereunder shall be applied by the Agent rateably among the Lenders and the Agent in accordance with amounts owed to the Lenders and the Agent in respect of each category of amounts set forth below, each such application to be made in the following order with the balance remaining after application in respect of each category to be applied to the next succeeding category:
| (a) | Agent's Fees: firstly, in or towards payment of any fees then due and payable to the Agent and the Lenders hereunder, including, without limitation, those fees payable pursuant to the letter agreement referred to in Section 5.9; |
| (b) | Agent's and Lenders' Expenses: secondly, rateably among the Agent and the Lenders in accordance with amounts owed to the Agent and the Lenders in respect of amounts due and payable as and by way of recoverable expenses hereunder; |
| (c) | Interest and Fees: thirdly, rateably among the Lenders in accordance with amounts owed to the Lenders in respect of amounts due and payable as and by way of interest pursuant to Sections 3.5(f), 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3, fees pursuant to Sections 5.4 and 5.5, adjusting payments pursuant to Section 5.6, interest on overdue amounts pursuant to Section 5.7 and standby fees pursuant to Section 5.8; |
| (d) | Loan Indebtedness (other than Borrowings): fourthly, rateably among the Lenders in accordance with amounts owed to the Lenders in respect of any amount (other than Borrowings) then due and payable by the Borrower hereunder, other than amounts hereinbefore referred to in this Section 9.7; and |
| (e) | Borrowings: fifthly, in or towards repayment to the Lenders of the Borrowings then outstanding hereunder in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.11. |
ARTICLE
10
CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES
| 10.1 | Market Disruption |
| (a) | Respecting Term Benchmark Loans: If, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loans, (x) the Majority Lenders notify the Agent that the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any Interest Period for such Term Benchmark Loans will not adequately reflect the cost to such Majority Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Term Benchmark Loans for such Interest Period, or (y) the Agent is unable to determine the Term SOFR Reference Rate under the definition thereof, the Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon (i) each Term Benchmark Loan will automatically, on the final day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, convert into a USBR Loan as if a Notice of Conversion had been given to the Agent by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions hereof, and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to convert Loans into, Term Benchmark Loans shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist. |
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| (b) | Respecting CDOR: If at any time the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) that: |
| (i) | an interest rate or discount rate is not ascertainable pursuant to the provisions of the definition of "CDOR Rate" and the inability to ascertain such rate is unlikely to be temporary; |
| (ii) | the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the CDOR Rate screen rate, the Bank of Canada, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the CDOR Rate, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the CDOR Rate, or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the CDOR Rate, has made a public statement, or published information, stating that the administrator of the CDOR Rate, has ceased or will cease to provide the CDOR Rate, permanently or indefinitely on a specific date; provided that, at that time, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the CDOR Rate; or |
| (iii) | the administrator of the CDOR Rate screen rate or a Governmental/Judicial Body having jurisdiction over the Agent or the administrator of the CDOR Rate screen rate has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the CDOR Rate, or the CDOR Rate screen rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans or the discount rates for bankers' acceptances; provided that, at that time, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the CDOR Rate, |
(the date of determination or such specific date in the foregoing paragraphs (i) through (iii), the "CDOR Discontinuation Date"),
then the Agent and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to select a replacement index rate for the CDOR Rate and make such spread adjustments thereto and other related amendments to this Agreement that shall give due consideration to the prevailing market practice for: (A) determining a rate of interest applicable to newly originated Canadian Dollar loans made in Canada at such time and for determining the discount rate for Canadian Dollar bankers' acceptances issued and accepted in Canada at such time, and (B) transitioning existing loans and bankers' acceptances from CDOR Rate-based rates to loans bearing interest and bankers' acceptances with discount rates calculated with reference to the new reference index rate; provided that, to the extent reasonably practicable, the all-in rate paid by the Borrower under this Agreement based on such replacement index rate will be substantially equivalent to the all-in rate applicable to Bankers’ Acceptances and a BA Equivalent Loans made hereunder prior to the replacement of the CDOR Rate (excluding, for certainty, any differences resulting from fluctuations in the Debt Rating).
Upon an agreement being reached between the Agent and the Borrower pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Agent and the Borrower shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement that gives effect to the replacement index rate, adjustments to the Applicable Pricing Margin and such other related amendments as may be appropriate in the discretion of the Agent for the implementation and administration of Canadian Dollar loans bearing interest or bankers' acceptances with discount rates calculated with reference to the replacement index rate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (including Section 12.12) or any other Loan Document, such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (Calgary time) on the fifth Business Day after a copy of the amendment is provided to the Lenders and without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement, unless the Agent receives, on or before such date and time, a written notice from the Majority Lenders stating that such Lenders object to such amendment; provided that, if such replacement index
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rate agreed upon to replace the CDOR Rate shall be less than zero, it shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
Until an amendment reflecting the transition to a new reference index rate becomes effective as contemplated by this Section, the discount rate applicable to each Drawdown, Conversion or Rollover of a Bankers' Acceptance or a BA Equivalent Loan shall continue to be calculated with reference to the CDOR Rate; provided that if the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) that a CDOR Discontinuation Date has occurred, then following the CDOR Discontinuation Date, until such time as an amending agreement adopting such a new reference index rate becomes effective as contemplated by this Section:
| (iv) | any requested Drawdown by way of, Conversion into, or Rollover of, a Bankers' Acceptance or a BA Equivalent Loan shall be deemed to be a request for a Prime Loan in the same principal amount; and |
| (v) | in respect of a maturing Bankers' Acceptance or a BA Equivalent Loan, in the event the Borrower fails to give, if applicable, a Notice of Conversion with respect thereto specifying the Conversion of such Bankers' Acceptance or BA Equivalent Loan (on the maturity date thereof) into a Borrowing other than a Bankers' Acceptance or a BA Equivalent Loan (and provided a valid notice of repayment has not been delivered to the Agent in respect thereof), such maturing Bankers' Acceptance or BA Equivalent Loan shall be converted on the maturity date thereof into a Prime Loan as if a valid Notice of Conversion had been given to the Agent by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions hereof. |
For certainty, upon the occurrence of a CDOR Discontinuation Date, the Prime Rate shall be determined without regard to subparagraph (ii) of the definition thereof.
| (c) | Respecting Bankers' Acceptances: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, if: |
| (i) | the Agent (acting reasonably), makes a determination, which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower, and notifies the Borrower, that there no longer exists an active market for bankers' acceptances accepted by the Lenders; or |
| (ii) | the Agent is advised by Lenders holding at least 35% of the Total Syndicated Commitment by written notice (each, a "BA Suspension Notice") that such Lenders (acting reasonably) have determined that the Discount Rate will not or does not accurately reflect the discount rate which would be applicable to a sale of Bankers Acceptances accepted by such Lenders in the market for the applicable term; |
| then: |
| (iii) | the right of the Borrower to request Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Loans from any Lender shall be suspended until the Agent (acting reasonably) determines that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, and so notifies the Borrower and the Lenders; |
| (iv) | any outstanding Notice of Drawdown requesting a Drawdown by way of Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Loans shall be deemed to be a Notice of Drawdown requesting a Borrowing by way of Prime Loans in the amount specified in the original Notice of Drawdown; |
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| (v) | any outstanding Notice of Conversion requesting a Conversion of a Borrowing into a Borrowing by way of Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Loans shall be deemed to be a Notice of Conversion requesting a Conversion of such Borrowing into a Borrowing by way of Prime Loans; and |
| (vi) | any outstanding Notice of Rollover requesting a Rollover of Bankers' Acceptance or BA Equivalent Loans shall be deemed to be a Notice of Conversion requesting a Conversion of such Borrowing into a Borrowing by way of Prime Loans. |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders under such Credit Facility of any suspension of the Borrower's right to request the Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Loans and of any termination of any such suspension or if the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist. A BA Suspension Notice shall be effective upon receipt of the same by the Agent if received prior to 12:00 noon (Calgary time) on a Business Day and, if not, then on the next following Business Day, except in connection with a Notice of Drawdown, Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover previously received by the Agent, in which case the applicable BA Suspension Notice shall only be effective with respect to such previously received Notice of Drawdown, Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover if received by the Agent prior to 12:00 noon (Calgary time) two Business Days prior to the proposed Drawdown Date or date of Rollover or Conversion (as applicable) applicable to such previously received Notice of Drawdown, Notice of Conversion or Notice of Rollover (as applicable).
| 10.2 | Increased Costs or Reduced Income or Return Due to Change in Law |
If any Lender (acting reasonably) makes a determination that the adoption, introduction, implementation or coming into effect of any Applicable Law, or any change therein, or any change in any existing Applicable Law or in the interpretation, administration or application of any Applicable Law by any Governmental/Judicial Body or any other entity charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or the compliance by a Lender with any request or direction (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental/Judicial Body or entity, hereafter:
| (a) | subjects such Lender to, or causes the withdrawal or termination of any previously granted exemption with respect to, any Tax, or changes the basis of taxation, or increases any existing Tax, on payments of principal, interest, fees or other amounts payable by the Borrower to such Lender under this Agreement (except for Taxes based on the capital or overall net income or profits of such Lender or, in the case of a Lender which is a Schedule III Bank and without limiting the application of the foregoing part of this exception to such Lender, of any branch thereof); |
| (b) | imposes, modifies or deems applicable any reserve, liquidity, cash margin, capital, deposit insurance, special deposit or similar requirements against assets held by, or deposits in or for the account of, or loans by or to, or any other acquisition of funds by, or drafts (including Bankers' Acceptances) accepted by an office of, such Lender; |
| (c) | imposes on such Lender or expects there to be maintained by such Lender any capital adequacy or additional capital or liquidity requirements in respect of any Borrowings or undrawn Commitments or Fronting Bank Commitments hereunder or any other condition with respect to this Agreement; or |
| (d) | imposes on such Lender any other conditions or requirements relevant to this Agreement or the Credit Facility; |
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to, or reduce the amount of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received or receivable by, such Lender hereunder or such Lender's effective return
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hereunder (without regard to Taxes based on capital or the overall net income or profits of such Lender or, in the case of a Lender which is a Schedule III Bank and without limiting the application of the foregoing part of this exception to such Lender, of any branch thereof, or the impact thereof) in respect of making, maintaining or funding a Borrowing hereunder or maintaining, as applicable, its Commitment or Fronting Bank Commitment hereunder, or cause such Lender to make any payment or forego any interest, fees or other amounts hereunder, then the Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower as soon as possible after such determination, and such Lender shall have no further obligation to make Borrowings of the type affected or maintain, as applicable, its Commitment or Fronting Bank Commitment in respect of such type of Borrowings unless prior arrangements satisfactory to such Lender are made to compensate it as hereinafter provided. Such Lender shall, acting reasonably, determine that amount of money which shall compensate such Lender for such increase in cost, reduction in principal, interest, fees or other amount received or receivable by such Lender, or such reduction in effective return hereunder, or any payment made or interest, fees or other amounts forgone (herein referred to as "Additional Compensation"). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all regulations, requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States, Canadian or other regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III ((i) and (ii) being, the "New Rules"), shall in each case be deemed to be a change in Applicable Law for the purposes of this Section 10.2, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued, in each case (i) to the extent that such New Rules are applicable to a Lender claiming Additional Compensation, (ii) to the extent that such New Rules are materially different from Applicable Laws which are in full force and effect on the Effective Date and (iii) to the extent that such New Rules are not limited to specific financial institutions only but instead have general application to substantially all banks or their Affiliates which are subject to the New Rules in question. Upon a Lender having determined that it is entitled to Additional Compensation in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.2, such Lender shall promptly so notify the Borrower and the Agent and shall provide the Borrower and the Agent with a photocopy of the Applicable Law, rule, guideline, regulation, treaty or official directive (or, if it is impracticable to provide a photocopy, a written summary of the same) and a certificate of a duly authorized officer of such Lender setting forth the amount of the Additional Compensation and the basis of calculation therefor, which shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of such Additional Compensation, in the absence of manifest error. The Borrower shall pay to such Lender, within ten (10) Business Days of the giving of such notice by such Lender, such Lender's Additional Compensation, as additional interest. Each of the Lenders shall be entitled to be paid such Additional Compensation from time to time to the extent that the provisions of this Section 10.2 are then applicable, notwithstanding that any Lender has previously been paid any Additional Compensation. Each Lender agrees that it will not claim Additional Compensation from the Borrower under this Section 10.2 (i) if it is not generally claiming similar compensation from its other customers in similar circumstances; or (ii) in respect of any period greater than three (3) months prior to the delivery of notice in respect thereof by such Lender, unless the adoption, change or other event or circumstance giving rise to the claim for Additional Compensation is retroactive or is retroactive in effect. When Additional Compensation is payable to a Lender, the Borrower shall have the right, upon at least three Business Days prior written notice to the Agent (unless provided otherwise below), to either:
| (a) | effect a Conversion of such Lender's Lender's Proportion of the applicable Borrowing in accordance with the provisions hereof; or | |
| (b) | prepay such Lender's Lender's Proportion of the principal of such Borrowing together with: |
| (i) | accrued interest; |
| (ii) | such Additional Compensation as may be applicable with respect to such Lender's Lender's Proportion of such Borrowing to the date of such payment; |
| (iii) | in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, all costs, losses, premiums and expenses incurred by such Lender by reason of the liquidation or re-deployment of deposits or other funds or for any other reason whatsoever resulting from the repayment of such |
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Lender's Lender's Proportion of such Borrowing, or any part thereof, on other than the last day of the applicable Interest Period;
| (iv) | in the case of Bankers' Acceptances accepted by such Lender, such amount as such Lender may, in its discretion, require be deposited with such Lender in order to yield to that Lender on the maturity date of such Bankers' Acceptances the face amount thereof; and |
| (v) | in the case of Letters of Credit, provision satisfactory to such Lender (acting reasonably) being made for the indemnification, cash collateralization or release of such Lender from its obligations relating to all outstanding Letters of Credit. |
Subject to Section 12.11, any such Conversion or prepayment need not be pro rata as among the Lenders under the Credit Facility or this Agreement or otherwise in compliance with Section 3.11.
| 10.3 | Illegality |
If a Lender (acting reasonably) makes a determination, which shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower, that the adoption, introduction or coming into effect of any Applicable Law, or any change therein, or any change in any existing Applicable Law or in the interpretation, administration or application of any Applicable Law by any Governmental/Judicial Body or any other entity charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or the compliance by a Lender with any request or direction (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental/Judicial Body or entity, hereafter makes it unlawful or impossible for such Lender to make, fund or maintain a Borrowing hereunder or to comply with, or give effect to, its obligations under this Agreement, such Lender may, by written notice thereof to the Borrower and to the Agent, declare its obligations under this Agreement in respect of such types of Borrowing to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and the Borrower shall, within the time required by such law (or at the end of such longer period as such Lender at its discretion has agreed), either:
| (a) | effect a Conversion of such Lender's Lender's Proportion of such Borrowing in accordance with the provisions hereof (if such Conversion would resolve the unlawfulness or impossibility); or |
| (b) | prepay such Lender's Lender's Proportion of the principal of such Borrowing together with: |
| (i) | accrued interest; |
| (ii) | such Additional Compensation as may be applicable with respect to such Lender's Lender's Proportion of such Borrowing to the date of such payment; |
| (iii) | in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, all costs, losses, premiums and expenses incurred by such Lender by reason of the liquidation or re-deployment of deposits or other funds or for any other reason whatsoever resulting from the repayment of such Lender's Lender's Proportion of such Borrowing, or any part thereof, on other than the last day of the applicable Interest Period; |
| (iv) | in the case of Bankers' Acceptances accepted by such Lender, such amount as such Lender may, in its discretion, require be deposited with such Lender in order to yield to that Lender on the maturity date of such Bankers' Acceptances the face amount thereof; and |
| (v) | in the case of Letters of Credit, provision satisfactory to such Lender (acting reasonably) being made for the indemnification, cash collateralization or release of such Lender from its obligations relating to all outstanding Letters of Credit. |
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Subject to Section 12.11, any such Conversion or prepayment need not be pro rata as among the Lenders under the Credit Facility or this Agreement or otherwise in compliance with Section 3.11. If any such change shall only affect a portion of such Lender's obligations under this Agreement which is, in the opinion of such Lender, the Agent and the Borrower, severable from the remainder of this Agreement so that the remainder of this Agreement may be continued in full force and effect without otherwise affecting any of the obligations of the Agent, the other Lenders or the Borrower hereunder, such Lender shall only declare its obligations under that portion so terminated.
| 10.4 | Designation of Different Lending Office |
If any Lender requests Additional Compensation under Section 10.2, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to the Agent on behalf of any Lender pursuant to Section 6.3(a), or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 10.3, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking the Borrowings hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 10.2 or 6.3(a), as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 10.3, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous in any material respect to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
| 10.5 | Benchmark Replacement Setting |
| (a) | 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” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Majority Lenders. |
| (b) | 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. |
| (c) | The Agent will promptly notify the Borrower 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 (d) 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 |
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Lenders) pursuant to this Section 10.5, 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 hereto, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 10.5.
| (d) | 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) 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 if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (C) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (D) is not, (ii) 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. |
| (e) | Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Loan of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any request for a Term Benchmark Loan into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to a USBR Loan. 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 USBR Loan based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of US Base Rate. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement is implemented pursuant to this Section 10.5, any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan(or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Agent to, and shall constitute, a USBR Loan. |
ARTICLE
11
PAYMENT OF EXPENSES AND INDEMNITIES
| 11.1 | Payment of Expenses |
The Borrower shall:
| (a) | pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, syndication or operation of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents delivered by the Borrower hereunder, including any subsequent amendment hereto or thereto; and |
| (b) | pay to the Agent and each Lender all reasonable expenses incurred in the maintenance, enforcement and preservation of any of their rights under the Loan Documents delivered by the |
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Borrower hereunder or incurred in respect of any security for the Total Syndicated Commitment provided in accordance with Section 8.2(a), including reasonable legal fees on a solicitor-client basis and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel to the Agent or such Lender.
| 11.2 | General Indemnity |
In addition to any liability of the Borrower to any Lender or the Agent under any other provision hereof, the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the Agent and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, agents and employees (collectively, in this Section 11.2, the “Indemnified Parties”), and hold each Indemnified Party harmless from and against any losses, claims, costs, damages or liabilities (including reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and reasonable legal fees on a solicitor and his own client basis) incurred by the same which arise as a result of or in connection with the Loan Documents including, without limitation, as a result of or in connection with:
| (a) | all third party claims, suits, debts, damages, costs, losses, liabilities, penalties, obligations, judgments, charges, expenses and disbursements arising in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (whether or not an Indemnified Party is a party or subject thereto) relating to the Borrowings or the Loan Documents, including any environmental claims relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; |
| (b) | any cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or re-deployment in whole or in part of deposits or other funds required by any Lender to fund or maintain any Borrowing as a result of the Borrower's failure to complete a Drawdown, Conversion or Rollover hereunder or to make any payment, repayment or prepayment on the date required hereunder or specified by it in any notice given hereunder; |
| (c) | subject to permitted Conversions and Rollovers of Bankers’ Acceptances and Letters of Credit hereunder, the Borrower's failure to provide for the payment to the Agent for the account of the Lenders of the full principal amount of each Bankers' Acceptance on its maturity date or the full amount drawn on any Letter of Credit; |
| (d) | the Borrower's failure to pay any other amount, including, without limitation, any interest or fee, due hereunder on its due date after the expiration of any applicable grace or notice periods (subject, however, to the interest obligations of the Borrower hereunder for overdue amounts); |
| (e) | the prepayment of any outstanding Term Benchmark Loan before the last day of the Interest Period in respect of such Term Benchmark Loan including, without limitation, any and all costs, losses, premiums or expenses incurred by reason of a liquidation or re-deployment of deposits or other funds in respect of Term Benchmark Loans outstanding from time to time hereunder; |
| (f) | the prepayment of any outstanding Bankers' Acceptance before the maturity date of such Bankers' Acceptance; |
| (g) | the Borrower's failure to give any notice required to be given by it to the Agent or the Lenders hereunder; |
| (h) | the failure of the Borrower to make any other payment due hereunder; |
| (i) | any inaccuracy or incompleteness of the Borrower's representations and warranties contained in Article 2; |
| (j) | any failure of the Borrower to observe or fulfil its obligations under Article 8; or |
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| (k) | the occurrence of any Event of Default; |
provided that this Section 11.2 shall not apply to any losses, claims, costs, damages or liabilities of any Indemnified Party claiming indemnity hereunder to the extent that the same are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have arisen by reason of the bad faith, gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. Payment of an amount for which the Borrower is liable under this indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date an Indemnified Party makes written demand for payment thereof. The provisions of this Section 11.2 shall survive the termination of the Agreement and the repayment of the obligations of the Borrower hereunder. The Borrower agrees not to assert any claim against any of the Agent, the Lead Arrangers or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates or their officers, directors, employees, agents or advisors (each, a “Lender-Related Person”), on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to any of the Loan Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Borrowings. No Lender-Related Person 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.
ARTICLE
12
THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS
| 12.1 | Authorization of Agent |
Each Lender irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Agent to exercise such powers, perform such duties, take such actions, make such decisions and determinations and give such consents under the Loan Documents as are required to be exercised, performed, taken, made, given or otherwise carried out by the Agent hereunder or under any other agreement between the Lenders, together with all powers reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly required by this Agreement or by any other agreement between the Lenders to be carried out by the Agent, the Agent is not required to exercise any discretion or take or to refrain from taking any action except upon the written instructions of the Majority Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or to take or to refrain from taking any action in any manner which is contrary to the Loan Documents, to any other agreement between the Lenders or to Applicable Law.
| 12.2 | Responsibility of Agent |
The Agent makes no representation or warranty, and accepts no responsibility, with respect to the due execution, legality, validity, sufficiency, enforceability or priority of any of the Loan Documents nor with respect to the due execution, legality, validity, sufficiency, enforceability, accuracy or authenticity of any documents, papers, materials or other information furnished by the Borrower (or any other Person, including the Agent) in connection with the Loan Documents, whether provided before or after the date of this Agreement. The Agent shall incur no liability to the Lenders under or in respect of the Loan Documents with respect to anything which it may do or refrain from doing in the reasonable exercise of its judgment or which may seem to it to be necessary or desirable in the circumstances, except for its gross negligence or wilful misconduct (as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The Agent assumes no responsibility for the payment of any of the Borrowings or other Loan Indebtedness owing hereunder by the Borrower.
| 12.3 | Acknowledgement of Lenders |
Each Lender acknowledges to the Agent that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal of and investigation into the financial condition, creditworthiness, environmental soundness, affairs, status and nature of the Borrower and accordingly, each Lender confirms to the Agent that it has not relied, and will not hereafter rely, on the Agent:
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| (a) | Information: to check or inquire on its behalf into the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information provided by the Borrower or in connection with the Loan Documents (whether or not such information has been or is hereafter circulated to such Lender by the Agent); |
| (b) | Performance: to inquire as to the performance by the Borrower of its obligations under the Loan Documents; or |
| (c) | Credit Review: to assess or keep under review on its behalf the financial condition, creditworthiness, environmental soundness, affairs, status or nature of the Borrower. |
| 12.4 | Rights and Obligations of Each Lender |
The rights and obligations of each Lender under this Agreement are several and no Lender shall be obligated to make Borrowings available to the Borrower in excess of the amount of such Lender's Syndicated Commitment. The failure of a Lender to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall neither:
| (a) | No Liability to Other Lenders: result in any other Lender incurring any liability whatsoever; nor |
| (b) | No Relief from Obligations: relieve the Borrower or any other Lender from their respective obligations under any Loan Document. |
Nothing contained herein or in any other Loan Document nor any action taken pursuant hereto or thereto shall be deemed to constitute the Lenders a partnership, joint venture or any other similar entity.
| 12.5 | Determinations by Lenders |
| (a) | Lenders' Determinations: Where the provisions of this Agreement provide that any waiver of, or any amendment to, any provision of the Loan Documents may be made, or any action, consent or other determination in connection with the Loan Documents may be taken or given, with the consent or agreement of the Majority Lenders, then any such waiver, amendment, action, consent or determination so made, so taken or so given with the consent or agreement of the Majority Lenders shall be binding on all of the Lenders and all of the Lenders shall cooperate in all ways necessary or desirable to implement and effect any such waiver, amendment, action, consent or determination consented or agreed to by the Majority Lenders. |
| (b) | Deemed Non-Consent: Unless otherwise specifically dealt with in this Agreement, in the event the Agent delivers a written notice to a Lender requesting advice from such Lender as to whether it consents or objects to any matter in connection with the Loan Documents, then, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, if such Lender does not deliver to the Agent its written consent or objection to such matter within twenty (20) Business Days of the delivery of such written notice by the Agent to such Lender, such Lender shall be deemed to have refused its consent thereto upon the expiry of such twenty (20) Business Day period. |
| 12.6 | Notices between the Lenders, the Agent and the Borrower |
All notices by the Lenders to the Agent shall be through the Agent's Branch of Account and all notices by the Agent to a Lender shall be through such Lender's Branch of Account. All notices or communications between the Borrower and the Lenders which are required or contemplated pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be given or made through the Agent at the Agent's Branch of Account.
| 12.7 | Agent's Duty to Deliver Documents Obtained from Borrower |
The Agent shall promptly deliver to each Lender, at its Branch of Account, such notices, documents, papers, materials and other information as are furnished by the Borrower to the Agent and which
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are not (i) notices or information relating solely to the role of the Agent or any Fronting Bank hereunder, or (ii) required to be furnished by the Borrower directly to the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement.
| 12.8 | Arrangements for Borrowings |
| (a) | Notices by Agent: Promptly after receipt by the Agent of any Notice of Drawdown, Notice of Conversion or a Notice of Rollover, the Agent shall advise each relevant Lender of the amount, date and details of each Drawdown, Conversion and Rollover to which such notice relates and of such Lender's share in each Borrowing, as determined by the Agent in accordance with the provisions of Sections 12.8(b) and 12.8(c). |
| (b) | Drawdowns: Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on each Drawdown Date in respect of a Drawdown, in immediately available funds for good value, each Lender will make available to the Borrower: |
| (i) | the same proportion of such Borrowing by way of Loans as the amount of such Lender's Syndicated Commitment at such time bears to the Total Syndicated Commitment at such time, by forwarding to the Agent at the Agent's Account for Payments the amount of Loans required to be made available by such Lender; and |
| (ii) | the same proportion of such Borrowing by way of Bankers' Acceptances (by accepting and purchasing such Bankers' Acceptances, or, if such Lender is a Non-Acceptance Lender, making BA Equivalent Loans in lieu thereof) as the amount of such Lender's Syndicated Commitment at such time bears to the Total Syndicated Commitment at such time, by forwarding to the Agent at the Agent's Account for Payments the amount of the Discount Proceeds in respect of such Bankers' Acceptances or BA Equivalent Loans required to be accepted and purchased or made by such Lender (less the amount of applicable fees payable by the Borrower to such Lender pursuant to Section 3.5(f) or 5.4). |
| (c) | Conversions and Rollovers: Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on each Borrowing Conversion Date and Borrowing Rollover Date in respect of a Conversion or Rollover of a Borrowing, in immediately available funds for good value, each relevant Lender will Convert or Rollover the amount of such Borrowing held by it. |
| 12.9 | Arrangements for Repayment of Borrowings |
| (a) | Prior to Acceleration: Prior to the delivery of an Acceleration Notice or the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(b) or 9.1(c), upon receipt by the Agent of payments from the Borrower on account of principal, interest, fees or any other payment made to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders, the Agent shall pay over to each Lender at its Branch of Account the amount to which it is entitled under this Agreement and shall use its best efforts to make such payment to such Lender on the same Business Day on which such payment is received by the Agent. If the Agent does not remit any such payment to a Lender on the same Business Day as such payment is received in immediately available funds for good value by the Agent, the Borrower shall nevertheless be deemed to have made such payment to such Lender on such Business Day and the Agent shall pay interest thereon to such Lender until the date of payment at a rate determined by the Agent (such rate to be conclusive and binding on such Lender) in accordance with the Agent's usual banking practice in respect of deposits of amounts comparable to the amount of such payment which are received by the Agent at a time similar to the time at which such payment is received by the Agent. |
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| (b) | Subsequent to Acceleration: Following delivery of an Acceleration Notice or the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(b) or 9.1(c), the Lenders shall share any payments subsequently received in accordance with Section 9.7. |
| 12.10 | Repayment by Lenders to Agent |
| (a) | Where Borrower Fails to Pay: Unless the Agent has been notified in writing by the Borrower at least one (l) Business Day prior to the date on which any payment to be made by the Borrower hereunder is due that the Borrower does not intend to remit such payment, the Agent may, in its discretion, assume that the Borrower has remitted such payment when so due and the Agent may, in its discretion and in reliance upon such assumption, make available to each relevant Lender on such payment date an amount equal to the amount of such payment which is due to such Lender pursuant to this Agreement. If the Borrower does not in fact remit such payment to the Agent, the Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender and each such Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Agent the amount of such assumed payment made available to such Lender, together with interest thereon until the date of repayment thereof at a rate determined by the Agent (such rate to be conclusive and binding on such Lender) in accordance with the Agent's usual banking practice for similar advances to financial institutions of like standing to such Lender. |
| (b) | Where a Lender Fails to Pay: Unless the Agent has been notified in writing by a Lender at least one (l) Business Day prior to a Drawdown Date, Borrowing Conversion Date or Borrowing Rollover Date that such Lender does not intend to make available the amount required to be made available by such Lender pursuant to this Agreement on such Drawdown Date, Borrowing Conversion Date or Borrowing Rollover Date, the Agent may, in its discretion, assume that such Lender has remitted funds to the Agent in an amount equal to the amount required to be made available by such Lender pursuant to this Agreement and the Agent may, in its discretion and in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such Drawdown Date, Borrowing Conversion Date or Borrowing Rollover Date an amount equal to the amount required to be made available by such Lender pursuant to this Agreement. If a Lender does not in fact remit such funds to the Agent, the Agent shall promptly notify such Lender and such Lender shall forthwith remit such funds to the Agent, failing which the Borrower shall forthwith on demand repay to the Agent (without prejudice to the Borrower's rights against such Lender) the amount made available by the Agent on behalf of such Lender, in each case together with interest thereon until the date of repayment thereof at a rate determined by the Agent (such rate to be conclusive and binding on such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be) in accordance with the Agent's usual banking practice for similar advances to financial institutions of like standing to such Lender. |
| 12.11 | Adjustments Among Lenders |
| (a) | Adjustments to Outstanding Borrowings: Each Lender agrees that, after delivery of an Acceleration Notice or the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(b) or 9.1(c), it will at any time and from time to time upon the request of the Agent as required by any Lender purchase portions of the Borrowings made available by the other Lenders which remain outstanding and make any other adjustments which may be necessary or appropriate, in order that the amount of Outstandings owed to each Lender, as adjusted pursuant to this Section 12.11(a), will be in the same proportion as that Lender's Syndicated Commitment is of the Total Syndicated Commitment at such time. |
| (b) | Application of Payments: The Lenders agree that, after delivery of an Acceleration Notice or the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(b) or 9.1(c), the amount of any repayment made by the Borrower under this Agreement, and the amount of any proceeds from the exercise of any rights or remedies of the Lenders under the Loan Documents, which are to |
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be applied against amounts owing hereunder, will be so applied in a manner so that, to the extent possible, the amount of Outstandings owed to each Lender which remain outstanding after giving effect to such application and any adjustments made pursuant to Section 12.11(a) will be in the same proportion as the amount of Outstandings owed to such Lender is of the amount of Outstandings owed to all Lenders as of the date of delivery of such Acceleration Notice or occurrence of such Event of Default, as applicable.
| (c) | Receipt of Payments other than Borrowings: Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 12.11, there shall not be taken into account, for the purposes of computing any amount payable to any Lender pursuant to this Section 12.11, any amount which a Lender receives as a result of any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of any monies owing by the Borrower to such Lender other than on account of liabilities arising under the Loan Documents; provided that, if at any time after delivery of an Acceleration Notice or the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 9.1(b) or 9.1(c), a Lender receives any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of monies owing or payable to it by the Borrower in respect of liabilities of the Borrower arising under the Loan Documents, such Lender shall purchase portions of the Borrowings made available by the other Lenders which remain outstanding to the extent required so that, to the extent possible, the amount of Outstandings owed to each Lender after giving effect to such purchase and any adjustments made pursuant to Sections 12.11(a) and 12.11(b) will be in the same proportion as the amount of Outstandings owed to such Lender is of the amount of Outstandings owed to all Lenders as of the date of delivery of such Acceleration Notice or occurrence of such Event of Default, as applicable. |
| (d) | Further Assurances: The Borrower agrees to be bound by and, at the request of the Agent, to do all things necessary or appropriate to give effect to any and all purchases and other adjustments made by and between the Lenders pursuant to this Section 12.11, but shall incur no increased liabilities, costs or expenses, in aggregate, by reason thereof. |
| 12.12 | Lenders' Consents to Waivers, Amendments, etc. |
| (a) | Unanimous Consent of All Lenders: No amendment, waiver or consent with respect to any provision of the Loan Documents shall do any of the following: |
| (i) | waive (A) any of the conditions precedent specified in Section 7.1 or (B) a condition precedent to Borrowing if such condition relates to Section 9.1(a) or 9.1(j); |
| (ii) | change the percentage of the Commitments or the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Loans, or the aggregate undrawn face amount of outstanding Letters of Credit, or the number of Lenders, that shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder; |
| (iii) | (A) release any guarantee provided by the Guarantor for the benefit of the Lenders hereunder, (B) limit the liability of the Guarantor thereunder, (C) postpone any date fixed for payment thereunder or (D) shorten the term of any such guarantee; or |
| (iv) | amend this Section 12.12; |
in each case, unless such amendment, waiver or consent is agreed to in writing by all of the Lenders.
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| (b) | Consent of Directly Affected Lenders: No amendment, waiver or consent with respect to any provision of the Loan Documents shall do any of the following: |
| (i) | increase the Syndicated Commitments or subject the Lenders to any additional obligations; |
| (ii) | reduce the principal, or rate of interest on, the Outstandings or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder; |
| (iii) | postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Outstandings or any fees or other amounts payable to the Lenders hereunder or postpone the expiration date of any Letter of Credit beyond the Maturity Date; or |
| (iv) | extend the Maturity Date; |
in each case, unless such amendment, waiver or consent is agreed to in writing by each Lender directly affected thereby.
| (c) | Majority Consent: Subject to the other provisions of this Section 12.12, and except as otherwise provided in the Loan Documents, any waiver of, or any amendment to, any provision of the Loan Documents (including a waiver of a Default or an Event of Default) and any action, consent or other determination in connection with the Loan Documents shall bind all of the Lenders if such waiver, amendment, action, consent or other determination is agreed to in writing by the Majority Lenders. |
| (d) | Agent's Consent: Any waiver of, or any amendment to, any provision of the Loan Documents which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent shall require the agreement of the Agent thereto. |
| (e) | Fronting Banks' Consent: Any waiver of, or any amendment to, any provision of the Loan Documents which relates to the rights or obligations of the Fronting Banks shall require the agreement of all of the Fronting Banks thereto; provided that, in the case of fronting fees, only the agreement of the relevant Fronting Bank shall be required. |
| (f) | Defaulting Lender’s Consent: Any waiver or amendment described in the proviso in Section 12.20(a)(ii) shall require the agreement of the Defaulting Lender referred to in such proviso. |
| (g) | Minor Amendments: Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower, the Guarantor and the Agent to (i) cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency (as reasonably determined by the Agent, the Borrower and the Guarantor) or (ii) effect administrative changes of a technical or immaterial nature and any such amendment shall be deemed approved by the Lenders if the Lenders shall have received at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice of such amendment and the Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Majority Lenders stating that the Majority Lenders object to such amendment. |
| (h) | Benchmark Conforming Amendments: The Agent, the Borrower and the Guarantor may, without the consent of any Lender, enter into amendments or modifications to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to enter into additional Loan Documents as the Agent deems appropriate in order to implement any Benchmark Replacement or any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Change or otherwise effectuate the terms of Section 10.5 in accordance with the terms thereof. |
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| 12.13 | Reimbursement of Agent's Expenses |
Each Lender agrees that it will indemnify the Agent for its Lender's Proportion of any and all costs, expenses and disbursements (including, without limitation, those costs and expenses referred to in Section 11.1) which may be incurred or made by the Agent in good faith in connection with the Loan Documents, and agrees that it will, on written demand detailing such costs, expenses and disbursements, reimburse the Agent for any such costs, expenses or disbursements for which the Agent is not promptly reimbursed at any time by the Borrower. The Agent may refrain from exercising any right, power or discretion or taking any action to protect or enforce the rights of any Lender under the Loan Documents until it has been so reimbursed.
| 12.14 | Reliance by Agent on Notices, etc. |
The Agent shall be entitled:
| (a) | Reliance on Written Documents: to rely upon any writing, letter, written notice, certificate, telex, facsimile copy, cable, statement, order or other document believed by the Agent to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons; and |
| (b) | Reliance on Legal Advice: with respect to legal matters, to act upon advice of legal advisors selected by the Agent (including in-house counsel of the Agent) concerning all matters pertaining to the Loan Documents and the Agent's duties thereunder; |
and the Agent shall assume no responsibility and shall incur no liability to the Borrower or any Lender by reason of relying on any such document or acting on any such advice.
| 12.15 | Relations with Borrower |
Except for the transactions provided for in this Agreement, each Lender may deal with the Borrower in all transactions and generally do any banking business with, or provide any financial services to, the Borrower without having any liability to account to the other Lenders therefor. With respect to Royal's (or any successor Agent's) Commitment and Lender's Proportion, Royal (or any successor Agent) shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent.
| 12.16 | Successor Agent |
The Agent shall resign if at any time:
| (a) | (i) | (A) the Commitment of the Agent in its capacity as a Lender is less than $100,000,000, at least one other Lender has a Commitment which is greater than the Commitment of the Agent in its capacity as a Lender, and such other Lender is willing to act as Agent or (B) the Agent is a Defaulting Lender and another Lender selected by the Borrower is willing to act as Agent; and |
| (ii) | the Borrower demands by written notice to the Agent that the Agent resign; |
in which circumstances such other Lender shall be appointed as Agent hereunder; or
| (b) | it is no longer a Lender hereunder by reason of an assignment of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Loan Documents pursuant to Section 16.9 and, in such event, it shall provide 30 days' prior written notice of any such intended assignment to each of the Lenders and the Borrower. |
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The Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days' prior written notice thereof to each of the Lenders and the Borrower, and the Agent may be removed at any time for cause by the Lenders, other than the Agent in its capacity as a Lender (the "Remaining Lenders"), provided that Remaining Lenders holding Commitments of eighty percent (80%) or more of the aggregate Commitments of all the Remaining Lenders consent to such removal. Upon any such resignation or removal, other than in the circumstances described in paragraph (a) above, the Remaining Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor agent with the written approval of the Borrower (such approval not in any event to be unreasonably withheld). Any successor agent appointed under this Section 12.16 shall be a financial institution which has offices in Calgary, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario. If no successor agent shall have been appointed by the Remaining Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent's giving of notice of resignation, or the Remaining Lenders' removal of the retiring Agent, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and with the written approval of the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld), appoint a successor agent. Should the Remaining Lenders and the retiring Agent fail to appoint a successor agent as aforesaid within 30 days of the aforesaid resignation or removal, the Borrower may appoint a financial institution as successor agent provided the long term debt of such financial institution (if not a Lender) or its parent entity (if not a Lender) is assigned a rating of A2 or better by Moody's. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent by a successor agent, such successor agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent as Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement as Agent. After any retiring Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as the Agent, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue in effect for its benefit and for the benefit of the Lenders in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by the retiring Agent while it was acting as the Agent.
| 12.17 | Change of Schedule I Reference Bank |
The Agent shall, with the prior written consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) appoint another Lender (with the latter's consent) to act as the Schedule I Reference Bank in replacement of the Schedule I Reference Bank if:
| (a) | Assignment of Rights: the Schedule I Reference Bank assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 16.9, all its rights hereunder or otherwise ceases to be a Lender; or |
| (b) | Giving of Notice of Intention: the Schedule I Reference Bank gives notice of its intention to cease being the Schedule I Reference Bank. |
| 12.18 | Indemnity of Agent |
Each Lender hereby agrees to indemnify the Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), rateably as to its Lender's Proportion, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agent, in any way relating to or arising out of the Loan Documents or any action taken or omitted by Agent under or in respect of the Loan Documents; provided that the Lenders shall not be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Agent's gross negligence or wilful misconduct (as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Agent promptly upon demand for its Lender's Proportion of any out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees) incurred by the Agent in connection with the preservation of any rights of the Agent or the Lenders under, or the enforcement of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, the Loan Documents, but only to the extent that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower.
| 12.19 | Cash Collateral and Withholding from a Defaulting Lender |
| (a) | To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Defaulting Lender shall be required to provide to the Agent cash in such amount, as determined from time to time by the Agent in its |
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reasonable discretion, equal to all obligations of such Defaulting Lender which are either then owing under this Agreement or, in the case of contingent obligations under any outstanding Letters of Credit (after giving effect to the re-allocation provisions in Section 12.20), may become owing to any Fronting Bank.
| (b) | The Agent shall be entitled to withhold from any Defaulting Lender’s Lender's Proportion of all payments received from the Borrower hereunder such amount as such Defaulting Lender is required to provide as cash collateral under Section 12.19(a) and the Agent is entitled to set-off such amounts against such Defaulting Lender’s defaulted obligations to fund amounts previously required to be paid by such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement and to purchase participations previously required to be purchased by such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement. |
| (c) | All funds received by the Agent pursuant to Sections 12.19(a) and 12.19(b) shall be deposited by the Agent in one or more cash collateral accounts in the name of the Agent, which amounts shall be used by the Agent: |
| (i) | first, to reimburse the Agent for any amounts owing to it, in its capacity as Agent, by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to any Loan Document; |
| (ii) | second, to repay on a pro rata basis the incremental portion of any Loans made by a Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 12.20 in order to fund a funding shortfall created by a Defaulting Lender and, upon receipt of such repayment, each such Non-Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have assigned to the Defaulting Lender such incremental portion of such Loans; and |
| (iii) | third, to cash collateralize all other contingent obligations of such Defaulting Lender to the Agent or any Fronting Bank which are outstanding pursuant to this Agreement in such amount as shall be determined from time to time by the Agent in its reasonable discretion; |
provided that any such funds in excess of such Defaulting Lender's defaulted obligations shall be paid to the Defaulting Lender.
| (d) | For greater certainty and in addition to the foregoing, neither the Agent nor any of its Affiliates nor any of their respective shareholders, officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives shall be liable to any Lender (including, without limitation, a Defaulting Lender) for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with amounts payable by the Borrower to a Defaulting Lender and received and deposited by the Agent in a cash collateral account and applied in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, except for the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the Agent (as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). |
| 12.20 | Funding if there is a Defaulting Lender |
| (a) | Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender: |
| (i) | the standby fees payable pursuant to Section 5.8 shall cease to accrue on the unused portion of the Commitment(s) of such Defaulting Lender if and for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to (i) or (ii) of the definition thereof or a Lender Insolvency Event exists with respect to such Lender or its Lender Parent; |
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| (ii) | a Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether, and the Commitments and Lender's Proportions of such Defaulting Lender shall be excluded in determining whether all Lenders or the Majority Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 12.12); provided that any waiver or amendment that (A) applies to such Defaulting Lender in a manner that differs in any material respect from its application to other affected Lenders, (B) increases any Commitment of such Defaulting Lender, (C) extends any Maturity Date applicable to such Defaulting Lender, (D) decreases the Applicable Pricing Margin applicable to such Defaulting Lender or (E) postpones, reduces or waives any principal payment due to such Defaulting Lender hereunder shall in each case require the consent of such Defaulting Lender; and |
| (iii) | for certainty, the Borrower shall retain and reserve its other rights and remedies respecting each Defaulting Lender; |
provided that the Agent shall only be required to give effect to (i) and (ii) above if the Agent has actual knowledge that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender. If the Agent acquires actual knowledge that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the other Lenders that such Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and such Lender shall be deemed to have consented to such disclosure); provided that, for certainty, the Agent shall have no duty to inquire as to whether any Lender is a Defaulting Lender.
| (b) | If the Agent has actual knowledge that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender at the time that the Agent receives a Notice of Drawdown, a Notice of Rollover that relates to a Letter of Credit or a Notice of Conversion (or deemed notice) that will result in a currency conversion, then each Non-Defaulting Lender shall fund its Lender's Proportion of such affected Loan (and, in calculating such Lender's Proportion, the applicable Commitment of each such Defaulting Lender shall be ignored); provided that such re-allocation may only be effected if and to the extent that (i) such re-allocation would not cause any Non-Defaulting Lender's Lender's Proportion of all Borrowings to exceed its applicable Commitment(s) and (ii) the conditions precedent in Sections 7.2(a) and 7.2(b) are satisfied at such time. Each Defaulting Lender agrees to indemnify each Non-Defaulting Lender for any amounts paid by such Non-Defaulting Lender under this Section 12.20 and which would otherwise have been paid by the Defaulting Lender if its applicable Commitment had been included in determining the Lender's Proportion of such affected Loans. |
| (c) | If any Letter of Credit is outstanding at the time that a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then: |
| (i) | all or any part of such Defaulting Lender's Lender's Proportion of such Letter of Credit shall be re-allocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Lender's Proportions; provided that such re-allocation may only be effected if and to the extent that (A) such re-allocation would not cause any Non-Defaulting Lender's Lender's Proportion of all Borrowings to exceed its applicable Commitment(s) and (B) the conditions precedent in Sections 7.2(a) and 7.2(b) are satisfied at such time; |
| (ii) | if the re-allocation described in clause (i) above cannot be effected, or can only partially be effected, then such Defaulting Lender shall, within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Agent, provide cash collateral for such Defaulting Lender's Lender's Proportion of such Letter of Credit (after giving effect to any partial re-allocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 12.19 for so long as such Letter of Credit is outstanding; and |
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| (iii) | if the Lender's Proportions of the Non-Defaulting Lenders are re-allocated pursuant to this Section 12.20(c), then the issuance fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.5 shall be adjusted to give effect to such re-allocations in accordance with each such Non-Defaulting Lender's Lender's Proportions. |
| (d) | So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Fronting Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless such Fronting Bank is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the Non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateralized in accordance with Section 12.20(c), and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among Non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 12.20(b) or 12.20(c)(i) as applicable (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein). |
| (e) | If any Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender, then, upon becoming aware of such change, the Agent shall notify the Non-Defaulting Lenders and (in accordance with the written direction of the Agent) such Lender (which has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender) shall purchase, and the Non-Defaulting Lenders shall on a rateable basis sell and assign to such Lender, portions of such Loans equal in total to such Lender's Lender's Proportion thereof without regard to this Section 12.20. |
| (f) | Each Defaulting Lender hereby indemnifies the Borrower for any losses, claims, costs, damages or liabilities (including reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and reasonable legal fees on a solicitor and his own client basis) incurred by the Borrower as a result of such Defaulting Lender failing to comply with the terms of this Agreement including any failure to fund its portion of any Loans required to be made by it hereunder. |
| 12.21 | Erroneous Payments by the Agent |
| (a) | 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 NYFRB 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 12.21 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. |
| (b) | 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 |
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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 NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
| (c) | The Borrower and each other Obligor 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 by the Borrower or any other Obligor, except, in each case, to the extent such erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Agent from the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor for the purpose of making such erroneous Payment. |
| (d) | Each party’s obligations under this Section 12.21 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. |
| 12.22 | Amendment to this Article 12 |
Save and except for the provisions of Sections 12.5, 12.6, 12.11(d), 12.12(a), 12.12(b), 12.12(c), 12.15, 12.16, 12.17, 12.19, 12.20 and this Section 12.22, the provisions of this Article 12 may be amended or added to from time to time without the agreement of the Borrower, provided such amendment or addition does not adversely affect any rights of the Borrower hereunder or increase, in aggregate, the liabilities, costs, expenses or reporting requirements of the Borrower hereunder. A copy of the instrument evidencing such amendment or addition shall be forwarded by the Agent to the Borrower as soon as practicable following the execution thereof.
ARTICLE
13
GUARANTEE
| 13.1 | Guarantee |
| (a) | The Guarantor hereby, unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees to the Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations. |
| (b) | Notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, the maximum liability of the Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by the Guarantor under applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of debtors. |
| (c) | The Guarantor further agrees to pay any and all reasonable expenses (including all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) which may be paid or incurred by the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, in enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting, any or all of the Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting against, the Guarantor under this Article 13. |
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| (d) | The Guarantor agrees that the Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of the Guarantor under this Article 13 without impairing this Article 13 or affecting the rights and remedies of the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, pursuant to this Article 13. |
| (e) | Except as required by applicable law, no payment or payments made by the Borrower, the Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Agent or any Lender from the Borrower, the Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of the Guarantor under this Article 13 which shall, notwithstanding any such payment or payments other than payments made by the Guarantor in respect of the Obligations or payments received or collected from the Guarantor in respect of the Obligations, remain liable for the Obligations up to the maximum liability of the Guarantor under this Article 13 until the Obligations (excluding from such Obligations and the obligations of the Guarantor under this Article 13 any contingent indemnity or similar obligations that expressly survive repayment or termination of the Loan Documents) are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated. |
| (f) | The Guarantor agrees that whenever, at any time, or from time to time, it shall make any payment to the Agent on account of its liability under this Article 13, it will notify the Agent in writing that such payment is made under this Article 13 for such purpose. |
| 13.2 | No Subrogation |
Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by the Guarantor pursuant to this Article 13 or any set-off or application of funds of the Guarantor by the Agent or any Lender, the Guarantor shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Agent or any Lender against the Borrower or any other guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Obligations, nor shall the Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from any other guarantor in respect of payments made by such the Guarantor pursuant to this Article 13, until all amounts owing to the Agent and the Lenders by the Guarantor on account of the Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by the Guarantor in trust for the Agent and the Lenders and shall, forthwith upon receipt by the Guarantor, be turned over to the Agent in the exact form received by the Guarantor (duly endorsed by the Guarantor to the Agent, if required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with this Agreement.
| 13.3 | Amendments, etc. With Respect to the Obligations; Waiver of Rights |
The Guarantor shall remain obligated under this Article 13 notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against the Guarantor and without notice to or further assent by the Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of the Obligations made by the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, may be rescinded by the Agent and any of the Obligations continued, and the Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Agent or any Lender, and this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Agent (or the Lenders, as the case may be) may deem advisable from time to time, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. When making any demand of the Guarantor under this Article 13 against the Guarantor, the Agent may, but shall
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be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on any other guarantor, and any failure by the Agent to make any such demand or to collect any payments from any such other guarantor or any release of any other guarantor shall not relieve the Guarantor of its obligations or liabilities under this Article 13, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of law, of the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, against the Guarantor under this Article 13. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.
| 13.4 | Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional |
The Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Agent or any Lender upon this Article 13 or acceptance of this Agreement, the Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon this Agreement; and all dealings between the Obligors, on the one hand, and the Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Article 13. The Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the Guarantor with respect to the Obligations. The Guarantor understands and agrees that this Article 13 shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to and shall not be released, discharged, limited or otherwise affected by (a) the validity, regularity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any of the Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by the Agent or any Lender, (b) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment of performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted against the Agent or any Lender, (c) any law or regulation of any jurisdiction or any other event affecting any term of a guaranteed obligation or (d) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Guarantor) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of the Guarantor for the Obligations, or of the Guarantor under this Article 13, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When the Agent is pursuing its rights and remedies under this Article 13 against the Guarantor, the Agent and any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to, pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the Borrower or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Agent or any Lender to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any such other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the Borrower or any such other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve the Guarantor of any liability under this Article 13, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the Agent against the Guarantor under this Article 13. This Article 13 shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon the Guarantor and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to be benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, until (x) all the outstanding Obligations and the obligations of the Guarantor under this Article 13 shall have been satisfied by payment in full (excluding from such Obligations and the obligations of the Guarantor under this Article 13 any contingent indemnity or similar obligations that expressly survive repayment or termination of the Loan Documents) and the Commitments shall be terminated or (y) the release of the Guarantor pursuant to Section 12.12(a), in each case notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of this Agreement the Obligations may be reduced to zero.
| 13.5 | Reinstatement |
This Article 13 shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Agent or any Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.
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| 13.6 | Not Affected by Bankruptcy |
Notwithstanding any modification, discharge or extension of the Obligations or any amendment, modification, stay or cure of the Agent’s or Lenders’ rights which may occur in any bankruptcy or reorganization case or proceeding against the Borrower, whether permanent or temporary, and whether or not assented to by the Lender, the Guarantor hereby agrees that the Guarantor shall be obligated under this Article 13 to pay and perform the Obligations and discharge its other obligations in accordance with the terms of the Obligations and the terms of this Article 13. The Guarantor understands and acknowledges that, by virtue of this Article 13, it has specifically assumed any and all risks of a bankruptcy or reorganization case or proceeding with respect to the Borrower. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, any subsequent modification of the Obligations in any reorganization case concerning the Borrower shall not affect the obligation of the Guarantor to pay and perform the Obligations in accordance with the original terms thereof.
ARTICLE
14
NOTICES
| 14.1 | Method of Giving Notice |
Any notice or other document required or permitted to be given by a party pursuant to this Agreement (in this Article referred to as a "Notice"), if no particular manner is specified in which it is to be given, shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or transmitted by facsimile addressed in accordance with the particulars set forth (i) in the case of the Borrower, opposite the signature of the Borrower herein, (ii) in the case of the Guarantor, opposite the signature of the Guarantor herein, (iii) in the case of the Agent, as set forth in Schedule "J" or (iv) in the case of any Lender, as set out in its Administrative Questionnaire provided to the Agent.
| 14.2 | Change of Address |
A party shall have the right to change any of the particulars of its address or its Branch of Account or place for Notices under Section 12.6 by giving a Notice in accordance with this Article.
| 14.3 | Deemed Receipt |
Any Notice given in accordance with the foregoing provisions shall be conclusively deemed received:
| (a) | if delivered by hand: if given to the Person to whose attention such Notice is addressed, at the time of actual receipt; if given to a responsible Person at the address of the party to which the Notice is directed, two (2) hours following receipt by such responsible Person, provided that if such time of deemed receipt is not within the hours during which business is normally conducted by the recipient party, then such Notice shall be deemed received at the next commencement of business on a day that business is normally conducted; and |
| (b) | if given by facsimile: if the time of transmission is stated in such Notice, two (2) hours following the time so stated, provided that if such time of deemed receipt is not within the hours during which business is normally conducted by the recipient party, then such Notice shall be deemed received at the next commencement of business on a day that business is normally so conducted; provided that if the time of transmission is not so stated in such Notice, it shall be deemed received at the next commencement of business on a day which business is normally conducted by the recipient party. |
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ARTICLE 15
GOVERNING LAW AND JUDGMENT CURRENCY
| 15.1 | Governing Law |
Without prejudice to or limitation of any other rights or remedies available under the laws of any jurisdiction where property or assets of the Borrower may be, the parties agree that this Agreement is conclusively deemed to be made under and for all purposes to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Alberta and the laws of Canada applicable therein.
| 15.2 | Jurisdiction |
| (a) | Submission: The courts of the Province of Alberta shall have jurisdiction to determine any disputes in connection with the Loan Documents and each of the Lenders, the Agent, the Borrower and the Guarantor accordingly irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Alberta. |
| (b) | Forum Convenience and Enforcement Abroad: The Borrower, the Guarantor, each Lender and the Agent each hereby: |
| (i) | waives objection to the courts of the Province of Alberta on grounds of inconvenient forum or otherwise as regards proceedings in connection with the Loan Documents; and |
| (ii) | agrees that a judgment or order of a court of the Province of Alberta in connection with a Loan Document is conclusive and binding on it (subject to any rights or appeal in respect thereof) and may be enforced against it in the courts of any other jurisdiction. |
| (c) | Non-Exclusivity: Nothing in this Section 15.2 limits the right of a Lender or the Agent or the Borrower or the Guarantor to bring proceedings in connection with any Loan Document: |
| (i) | in any other court of competent jurisdiction; or |
| (ii) | concurrently in more than one jurisdiction. |
| 15.3 | Judgment Currency |
If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court or for any other related purpose hereunder, it is necessary for a Lender to convert an amount due hereunder in the currency in which it is due (the "Original Currency") into another currency (the "Second Currency"), the rate of exchange to be applied in respect of such conversion shall be that at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, such Lender could purchase, in the New York foreign exchange market, the Original Currency with the Second Currency on the date which is one (1) Business Day preceding that on which judgment is given. The Borrower agrees that its obligation in respect of any Original Currency due from it to such Lender hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment or payment in the Second Currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt of any sum so paid or adjudged to be due hereunder in the Second Currency such Lender may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase, in the New York foreign exchange market, the Original Currency with the amount of the Second Currency so paid or so adjudged to be due; and if the amount of the Original Currency so purchased is less than the amount originally due in the Original Currency, the Borrower agrees that the deficiency shall be a separate obligation of the Borrower independent from its other obligations under this Agreement, and which shall give such Lender a cause of action which shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment, or order to the contrary, and the Borrower agrees, notwithstanding any such payment or judgment, to indemnify such Lender against any such loss or deficiency. If the amount of the Original Currency so purchased is greater than the amount originally due to the Agent or any
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Lender, the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under Applicable Law).
ARTICLE
16
MISCELLANEOUS
| 16.1 | Exchange and Confidentiality of Information |
| (a) | The Borrower agrees that the Agent and each Lender may provide any assignee or participant or any bona fide prospective assignee or participant pursuant to Section 16.9 with any information concerning the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries provided such Person agrees in writing with the Agent or such Lender for the benefit of the Guarantor to be bound by a like duty of confidentiality to that contained in this Section. |
| (b) | Each of the Agent and the Lenders acknowledges the confidential nature of the financial, operational and other information and data provided and to be provided to them by the Borrower or the Guarantor pursuant to the Loan Documents (the "Information") and agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information; provided, however, that: |
| (i) | the Agent and each of the Lenders may disclose all or any part of the Information if, in their reasonable opinion, such disclosure is required (A) by their respective auditors or (B) in connection with any judicial, administrative or governmental proceedings, including proceedings initiated under or in respect of this Agreement; |
| (ii) | the Agent and each of the Lenders may disclose any Information required to be disclosed by any Applicable Law or by applicable treaty, order, policy or directive having the force of law, to the extent of such requirement; |
| (iii) | the Agent and each of the Lenders may disclose the Information to any Governmental/Judicial Body (including any self-regulatory agency or authority) having jurisdiction over it upon the request thereof; |
| (iv) | the Agent and each of the Lenders may provide any Affiliate thereof with the Information on a “need to know” basis; provided that each such Affiliate shall be under a like duty of confidentiality to that contained in this Section 16.1 and further provided that the Agent or the Lender, as the case may be, providing the Information shall be responsible for any breach by its Affiliate of the aforementioned like duty of confidentiality; |
| (v) | the Agent and each of the Lenders may provide Lenders' counsel and their other agents and professional advisors with any Information; provided that such advisors shall be under a like duty of confidentiality to that contained in this Section 16.1 and further provided that the Agent or the Lender, as the case may be, providing the Information shall be responsible for any breach by such advisors of the aforementioned like duty of confidentiality; |
| (vi) | the Agent and each of the Lenders may disclose Information to any actual or prospective counterparty to any securitization, swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower; provided that such counterparty or other Person agrees in writing to be under a like duty of confidentiality to that contained in this Section and such disclosure is limited solely to the Information necessary for the transaction in question; |
| (vii) | the Agent and each of the Lenders may disclose any Information: (A) which is or becomes readily available to the public (other than by a breach hereof, including, for |
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certainty, by a breach hereof by a Person for which the applicable Lender or the Agent is responsible), (B) which the Agent or the relevant Lender can show was, prior to receipt thereof from the Borrower or the Guarantor, lawfully in the Agent's or Lender's possession from a source other than the Borrower or the Guarantor or a representative of the Borrower or the Guarantor and not then subject to any obligation on its part to maintain confidentiality, or (C) which the Agent or the relevant Lender received from a third party who was not, to the actual knowledge of the Agent or such Lender, under a duty of confidentiality to the Borrower or the Guarantor at the time the information was so received;
| (viii) | the Agent and each of the Lenders may disclose all or any part of the Information so as to enable the Agent and the Lenders to (A) initiate any lawsuit against the Borrower or the Guarantor or to defend any lawsuit commenced by the Borrower or the Guarantor the issues of which specifically relate to the Information, but only to the extent such disclosure is necessary to the initiation or defense of such lawsuit or (B) enforce any rights or remedies under any Loan Document, but only to the extent such disclosure is necessary to such enforcement; |
| (ix) | the Agent and each of the Lenders may disclose all or any part of the Information to any other party to this Agreement; |
| (x) | 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 any Lender in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments; and |
| (xi) | the Agent and each of the Lenders may disclose all or any part of the Information with the prior written consent of the Borrower or the Guarantor. |
| (c) | The provisions of this Section 16.1 shall survive hereunder for a period of five years following the termination of the Agreement and the repayment of all Loan Indebtedness by the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders. |
| 16.2 | Severability |
Any provision of this Agreement which is or becomes prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction does not invalidate, affect or impair the remaining provisions; any prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction does not invalidate or render unenforceable the provision concerned in any other jurisdiction.
| 16.3 | Amendments and Waivers |
No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower from any provision of this Agreement is effective against the Agent or the Lenders except in accordance with Section 12.12 and then the amendment, modification, waiver or consent is effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it is given. Any waiver by the Lenders of the strict observance, performance or compliance with any term, covenant, condition or agreement of this Agreement, and any indulgence granted by the Lenders, is not a waiver of any subsequent default.
| 16.4 | Survival of Representations |
All representations and warranties made pursuant to this Agreement survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
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| 16.5 | Whole Agreement |
This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents delivered by the Borrower hereunder, constitutes the whole and entire agreement between the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and, except as provided herein, cancels and supersedes any prior agreements, undertakings, declarations and representations, written or verbal, pertaining to the subject matter hereof.
| 16.6 | Term of Agreement |
The term of this Agreement shall continue until the later of the date on which the Lenders have no further Commitments hereunder and the date on which the Borrower has paid to the Agent and the Lenders all Loan Indebtedness owing to them under the Loan Documents.
| 16.7 | Time of Essence |
Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.
| 16.8 | Substitution of Lender |
In the event:
| (a) | the Borrower is required to pay any Lender any additional amounts as a result of applying Section 6.3 or Article 10 or receives a notice as contemplated under Section 10.1 or 10.3; |
| (b) | any Lender shall become a Defaulting Lender; or |
| (c) | any Lender shall withhold its approval to a proposed consent under, waiver of or amendment to the Loan Documents which requires unanimous approval of the Lenders under the Loan Documents (any such Lender being a "Non-Consenting Lender"); |
(any such Lender being a "Subject Lender"), the Borrower may, in its sole discretion (i) request the Agent to use reasonable efforts to obtain a replacement financial institution satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent to acquire and assume all or part of the Subject Lender's Borrowings and Commitment (a "Replacement Lender"); (ii) request the Subject Lender to use reasonable efforts to obtain a Replacement Lender satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent to acquire and assume all or part of the Subject Lender's Loan Indebtedness and Commitments; (iii) request one or more of the other Lenders to acquire and assume all or part of the Subject Lender's Loan Indebtedness and Commitments (there being no obligation on the other Lenders to do so); (iv) designate a Replacement Lender acceptable to the Agent, acting reasonably, to acquire and assume all or part of the Subject Lender's Loan Indebtedness and Commitments; (v) elect to terminate all of the non-assigned Commitments of the Subject Lender on 15 days' notice to the Agent and such Lender, without terminating any or all of the Commitments of any other Lenders; and (vi) any combination of the foregoing. Any such replacement, acquisition and assumption, designation or termination shall only be effective upon the Subject Lender receiving, as applicable, payment of, or the purchase price for, all loans, interest and fees accrued hereunder to the date of such event, or such lesser amount as may be agreed by the Subject Lender, and adequate provision, satisfactory to the Subject Lender (acting reasonably), being made for (w) payment at maturity of the face amount of Bankers' Acceptances outstanding hereunder which were accepted by the Subject Lender; (x) indemnification, cash collateralization or release of the Subject Lender from its obligations in respect of any outstanding Letters of Credit including its obligations under Section 3.7(d); (y) any costs, losses, premiums or expenses incurred by the Subject Lender by reason of a liquidation or re-deployment of deposits or other funds in respect of Term Benchmark Loans outstanding hereunder; and (z) in any case, payment of all other amounts accrued to the date of such event which are owed to the Subject Lender hereunder. Any such acquisition and assumption by a Replacement Lender shall be made pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the last 3 sentences of Section 16.9(a), mutatis mutandis. Any such replacement or repayment of a Non-
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Consenting Lender shall only be permitted if, after doing so, the proposed consent, waiver or amendment will be approved in accordance with the Loan Documents.
| 16.9 | Successors and Assigns |
| (a) | Assignments: Subject to Section 8.2(c), the Borrower may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Lenders. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a Lender may, at the Borrower's cost and expense, with the prior consent of the Agent (other than in the case of an assignment to such Lender’s Affiliate) and the Fronting Banks (such consents not to be unreasonably withheld) but without the Borrower's consent, assign in whole or in part its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to any Person (other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries). If no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a Lender may, at its sole cost and expense, with the prior consent of the Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Borrower (such consents not to be unreasonably withheld), assign in whole or in part, its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to any Person (other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries); it being agreed by each Lender that if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, it shall not make any such assignment which does not comply with this sentence. If no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, unless a lesser amount shall be agreed by the Borrower and the Agent, no assignment of a part of the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder shall (i) be less than an aggregate of US$10,000,000 of the assigning Lender's Commitments unless the assigning Lender's Commitments are then less than US$10,000,000 in which case the assignment shall be of the whole of the assigning Lender's Commitments, (ii) be made in increments of less than US$1,000,000, unless the Commitments being assigned consist of the whole of the assigning Lender's Commitments, or (iii) result in any Lender's Commitments, after giving effect to a partial assignment of that Lender's Commitments amounting to less than US$10,000,000. Assignments shall be substantially in the form of Schedule "I". Upon any assignment by a Lender to a Person (a "Permitted Assignee") in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.9, such Lender shall pay a fee of US$3,500 as a processing fee to the Agent and shall cause such Permitted Assignee to be substituted for such Lender in respect of the rights and obligations under the Loan Documents which are so assigned; the Agent shall, and is hereby authorized by the Borrower and each Lender to, issue a revised Schedule "J" giving effect to such assignment; and the assigning Lender shall, as of the effective date thereof, be released from its obligations to the Borrower hereunder relating to the assigned interests arising subsequent to such date to the extent thereof. Any such assignment shall not increase, in aggregate, the liabilities (by way of withholding tax, any obligation to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 6.3 or Additional Compensation pursuant to Article 10, or otherwise), costs and out-of-pocket expenses of the Borrower hereunder, other than the requirement to pay any costs and expenses incurred by the Lenders in completing any assignment by the Borrower, or by a Lender if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided that an assignment shall be deemed not to increase the liabilities, costs and expenses of the Borrower hereunder solely due to the fact that the assignee is a Schedule II Bank or a Schedule III Bank thereby potentially resulting in a higher Discount Rate than would be the case with a Schedule I Bank, or that such assignment increases the number of Lenders. |
| (b) | Participations: The Borrower agrees that a Lender may, without the consent of or notice to the Agent, the Borrower or any Fronting Bank, sell or agree to sell a participation (a "Participation") to a Person (a "Participant") in all or any part of any Borrowings made or to be made by it; provided that upon the sale of any such Participation, the Participant purchasing such Participation shall not have any rights under any of the Loan Documents other than the same benefits as the Lenders with respect to Section 10.2 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to Section 16.9(a) |
| - 107 - |
as if it were an assignee thereunder; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 10.2, 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 any Applicable Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation; and the Borrower shall not have any obligations to such Participant, and all amounts payable by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be determined pursuant to this Agreement solely as between such Lender and the Borrower as if such Lender had not sold or agreed to sell such Participation. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in Section 12.12(a) or 12.12(b) that affects such Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the consent of the Agent and the Borrower shall not be required in connection with any Participation which is sold (i) to an Affiliate of the selling Lender or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
| (c) | Rights and Obligations of a Lender on a Participation: Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the sale by a Lender of a Participation to a Participant shall not affect the Lender's Proportion of such Lender nor otherwise alter the obligations of such Lender to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, and such Lender shall continue to perform fully all of its obligations to the Borrower under this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof, regardless of any failure to perform by any Participant or any other term, condition or event relating to any Participation. Any Participant's rights against such Lender and obligations in favour of such Lender in respect of such Participation shall be those set forth in any agreement executed by such Lender and such Participant relating thereto. |
| (d) | Exception for Lender Pledges: Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Agent or the Fronting Banks, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under the 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 such Lender and this Section 16.9 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. |
| 16.10 | AML Legislation and "Know Your Client" Requirements |
| (a) | Each Lender and the Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada), the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA) or any other applicable anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing, government sanction and "know your client" Applicable Laws (collectively, including any guidelines or orders thereunder, "AML Legislation"), it may be required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Guarantor, the Borrower and each Material Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiary, which information includes the name and address of each such Person and such other information that will allow such Lender or the Agent, as applicable, to identify each such Person in accordance with AML Legislation (including, information regarding such Person's directors, authorized signing officers, or other Persons in control of each such Person). The Borrower shall provide, to the extent commercially reasonable, such information and take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Agent or any Lender in order to assist the Agent and the Lenders in maintaining compliance with AML Legislation. The Borrower shall promptly provide all such information, including supporting documentation and other evidence, as may be |
| - 108 - |
reasonably requested by any Lender or the Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender), or any prospective assignee of a Lender or the Agent, in order to comply with any applicable AML Legislation, whether now or hereafter in existence.
| (b) | If, upon the written request of any Lender, the Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) has ascertained the identity of the Guarantor, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiary or any authorized signatories of such Person for the purposes of applicable AML Legislation on such Lender's behalf, then the Agent: |
| (i) | shall be deemed to have done so as an agent for such Lender, and this Agreement shall constitute a "written agreement" in such regard between such Lender and the Agent within the meaning of applicable AML Legislation; and |
| (ii) | shall provide to such Lender copies of all information obtained in such regard without any representation or warranty as to its accuracy or completeness. |
| (c) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 16.10, each of the Lenders agrees that the Agent has no obligation to ascertain the identity of the Guarantor, the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiary or any authorized signatories of such Person, on behalf of any Lender, or to confirm the completeness or accuracy of any information it obtains from any such Person or any such authorized signatory in doing so. |
| 16.11 | Platform |
| (a) | Each of the Borrower and the Guarantor agrees 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, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the "Platform"). |
| (b) | 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 caused by posting such Communications on the Platform. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Platform. In no event shall the Agent or any of its Affiliates (collectively, the "Agent Parties") have any liability to the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries, any Lender or any other Person for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower's, any of its Subsidiaries' or the Agent's transmission of Communications through the Platform. "Communications" means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material that the Guarantor or any Subsidiary thereof provides to the Agent specifically for posting on the Platform pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed to any Lender by means of the Platform. |
| 16.12 | Waiver of Jury Trial |
To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, each of the Borrower, the Guarantor, 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 the Loan Documents or the actions of the Agent or any Lender in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement thereof.
| - 109 - |
| 16.13 | Electronic Communications |
| (a) | Any demand, notice or communication to be made or given hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including email and internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender if such Lender has notified the Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices by electronic communication. The Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular demands, notices or communications. |
| (b) | Unless the Agent otherwise prescribes, demands, notices and other communications sent to an email 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 email or other written acknowledgement), and demands, notices or communications posted to an internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its email address of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor, provided that, if such demand, notice, email or other communication is not sent within normal business hours of the recipient, such demand, notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day. |
| 16.14 | Counterparts |
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopier or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “execute,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including, without limitation, as provided in Parts 2 and 3 of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canada), the Electronic Commerce Act, 2000 (Ontario), the Electronic Transactions Act (British Columbia), the Electronic Transactions Act (Alberta), or any other similar laws based on the Uniform Electronic Commerce Act of the Uniform Law Conference of Canada. The Agent may, in its discretion, require that any such documents and signatures executed electronically or delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature executed electronically or delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission.
| 16.15 | 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 Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, 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 party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and | |
| (b) | the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable: |
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| (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 Lender Parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or |
| (iii) | the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority. |
| 16.16 | No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility |
In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each Obligor acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (a) (i) no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between each Obligor and its Subsidiaries and any Lead Arranger, the Agent or any Lender is intended to be or has been created in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents, irrespective of whether any Lead Arranger, the Agent, or any Lender has advised or is advising any Obligor or any Subsidiary on other matters, (ii) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lead Arrangers, the Agent and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between each Obligor and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lead Arrangers, the Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, (iii) each Obligor has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent that it has deemed appropriate and (iv) each Obligor is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; and (b) (i) the Lead Arrangers, the Agent and the Lenders each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for any Obligor or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person; (ii) none of the Lead Arrangers, the Agent and the Lenders has any obligation to any Obligor or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Lead Arrangers, the Agent and the Lenders and their respective branches and Affiliates may be engaged, for their own accounts or the accounts of customers, in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of each Obligor and its Affiliates, and none of the Lead Arrangers, the Agent and the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to any Obligor or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Obligor hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against any of the Lead Arrangers, the Agent and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
(Remainder of page intentionally left blank.)
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| Notice Address: | OVINTIV CANADA ULC, AS BORROWER | ||
| 500 Centre Street S.E. | |||
| P.O. Box 2850 | By: | /s/ Corey D. Code | |
| Calgary, Alberta | Name: Corey D. Code | ||
| T2P 2S5 | Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer | ||
| Attention: Chief Financial Officer | |||
| Facsimile: (403) 645-4853 | By: | /s/ L. Troy Cudmore | |
| with a copy to: | Name: L. Troy Cudmore | ||
| Treasury Department | Title: Assistant Treasurer | ||
| Facsimile: (403) 645-4613 | |||
| Notice Address: | OVINTIV INC., AS GUARANTOR | ||
| 370 17th Street, Suite 1700 | |||
| Denver, Colorado 80202 | By: | /s/ Corey D. Code | |
| Attention: Treasurer | Name: Corey D. Code | ||
| Facsimile: (303) 623-2400 | Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael J. Liedtke | ||
| Name: Michael J. Liedtke | |||
| Title: Treasurer | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as Agent | |||
| By: | /s/ Yvonne Brazier | ||
| Name: Yvonne Brazier | |||
| Title: Manager, Agency Services | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| ROYAL BANK OF CANADA | |||
| By: | /s/ Mike Gaudet | ||
| Name: Mike Gaudet | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., TORONTO BRANCH |
|||
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Coleman | ||
| Name: Jeffrey Coleman | |||
| Title: Executive Director | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE | |||
| By: | /s/ Ryan Shea | ||
| Name: Ryan Shea | |||
| Title: Executive Director | |||
| By: | /s/ Adam Fellows | ||
| Name: Adam Fellows | |||
| Title: Executive Director | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK | |||
| By: | /s/ Anil Nayak | ||
| Name: Anil Nayak | |||
| Title: Managing Director | |||
| By: | /s/ Cathy McGee | ||
| Name: Cathy McGee | |||
| Title: Director | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| CITIBANK, N.A., CANADIAN BRANCH | |||
| By: | /s/ Jonathan Cain | ||
| Name: Jonathan Cain | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| BANK OF MONTREAL | |||
| By: | /s/ Ebba Jantz | ||
| Name: Ebba Jantz | |||
| Title: Managing Director | |||
| By: | /s/ Matthew Graf | ||
| Name: Matthew Graf | |||
| Title: Vice President | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA | |||
| By: | /s/ Michael Linder | ||
| Name: Michael Linder | |||
| Title: Director | |||
| By: | /s/ Claire Bergh | ||
| Name: Claire Bergh | |||
| Title: Associate | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA | |||
| By: | /s/ James Dexter | ||
| Name: James Dexter | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| By: | /s/ Tara Yates | ||
| Name: Tara Yates | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| FÉDÉRATION DES CAISSES
DESJARDINS DU QUÉBEC |
|||
| By: | /s/ Oliver Sumugod | ||
| Name: Oliver Sumugod | |||
| Title: Director, Corporate Banking | |||
| By: | /s/ Matt van Remmen | ||
| Name: Matt van Remmen | |||
| Title: Managing Director, Corporate Banking | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, CANADA BRANCH | |||
| By: | /s/ Alfred Lee | ||
| Name: Alfred Lee | |||
| Title: Managing Director | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| CREDIT SUISSE AG, TORONTO BRANCH | |||
| By: | /s/ Szymon Ordys | ||
| Name: Szymon Ordys | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
| By: | /s/ Savinay Chopra | ||
| Name: Savinay Chopra | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. | |||
| By: | /s/ Borden Tennant | ||
| Name: Borden Tennant | |||
| Title: Director | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., CANADA BRANCH | |||
| By: | /s/ Adrian Plummer | ||
| Name: Adrian Plummer | |||
| Title: Vice President | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| MUFG BANK, LTD., CANADA BRANCH | |||
| By: | /s/ Samin Atique | ||
| Name: Samin Atique | |||
| Title: Managing Director | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| BARCLAYS BANK PLC | |||
| By: | /s/ Sydney G. Dennis | ||
| Name: Sydney G. Dennis | |||
| Title: Director | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| MIZUHO BANK, LTD. | |||
| By: | /s/ Brad Crilly | ||
| Name: Brad Crilly | |||
| Title: Managing Director | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| PNC BANK CANADA BRANCH | |||
| By: | /s/ Caroline M. Stade | ||
| Name: Caroline M. Stade | |||
| Title: Senior Vice President | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| TRUIST BANK | |||
| By: | /s/ Benjamin L. Brown | ||
| Name: Benjamin L. Brown | |||
| Title: Director | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A. | |||
| By: | /s/ Michael King | ||
| Name: Michael King | |||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |
| BANK OF CHINA (CANADA) | |||
| By: | /s/ Gordon Sun | ||
| Name: Gordon Sun | |||
| Title: Relationship Manager, Corporate Banking Department | |||
| By: | /s/ David Liang | ||
| Name: David Liang | |||
| Title: Deputy Head of Corporate Banking Department | |||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement – Ovintiv Canada ULC] |