EX-10.1 2 d113222dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

AMENDMENT NO. 10 TO FIVE-YEAR REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 10 TO FIVE-YEAR REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is dated as of March 31, 2021 by and among BLACKROCK, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Designated Borrowers party hereto (each a “Designated Borrower” and, together with the Company, the “Borrowers” and, each a “Borrower”), the banks and other financial institutions or entities party hereto (the “Lenders”) and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

Statement of Purpose

The Borrowers, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of March 10, 2011 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 30, 2012, that certain Amendment No. 2 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 28, 2013, that certain Amendment No. 3 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 28, 2014, that certain Amendment No. 4 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 2, 2015, that certain Amendment No. 5 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 8, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 6 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 6, 2017, that certain Amendment No. 7 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 3, 2018, that certain Amendment No. 8 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 29, 2019 and that certain Amendment No. 9 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 31, 2020, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which the Lenders have extended certain credit facilities to the Borrowers.

The Borrowers have requested, and the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, to amend the Existing Credit Agreement as specifically set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1.    Capitalized Terms. All capitalized undefined terms used in this Amendment (including, without limitation, in the introductory paragraph and the Statement of Purpose hereto) shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement (as defined below).

2.    Amendments. Subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

(a)     the Existing Credit Agreement (excluding the Schedules and Exhibits thereto) is hereby amended to (i) delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text), (ii) add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) and (iii) move the green double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text), in each case, as set forth in the form thereof attached hereto as Annex A (as so amended, the “Credit Agreement”);

(b)    Schedule 1.1(b) to the Existing Credit Agreement is replaced with a revised Schedule 1.1(b) attached hereto as Annex B, which such Schedule 1.1(b) reflects the Commitments of all the Lenders and the L/C Fronting Commitments of all the Issuing Lenders upon the effectiveness of this Amendment;

 

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(c)    the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended to add a new Schedule 4.17 attached hereto as Annex C;

(d)    Exhibit L to the Existing Credit Agreement is replaced with a revised Exhibit L attached hereto as Annex D; and

(e)    the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended to add a new Exhibit M attached hereto as Annex E.

3.    Commitment Adjustments; Joining Lenders.

(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Credit Agreement, each party hereto agrees (i) that solely with respect to any assignments required or desired to effectuate the purposes set forth in this Amendment, such assignments shall be deemed to be made in requisite amounts among the Lenders and from each Lender to each other Lender, with the same force and effect as if such assignments were evidenced by any applicable Assignment and Assumptions under the Credit Agreement and (ii) to any adjustments to be made to the Register to effectuate such reallocations and assignments. In connection therewith, any reallocation of Commitments among the applicable Lenders resulting from such adjustments, and any reallocation among the applicable Lenders of outstanding Loans resulting from such adjustments, shall, in each case, occur on the Amendment No. 10 Effective Date (as defined below) in connection with this Amendment, and the Administrative Agent may make such adjustments between and among the Lenders in consultation with the Borrowers as are reasonably necessary to effectuate such adjustments, so that the Commitments are as set forth on the revised Schedule 1.1(b) attached hereto as Annex B as of the effectiveness of this Amendment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 13.10(b) of the Credit Agreement or this Amendment, (i) no other documents or instruments, including any Assignment and Assumption, shall be executed in connection with these assignments (all of which requirements are hereby waived), (ii) no fees shall be required to be paid to the Administrative Agent in connection with such assignments, and (iii) such assignments shall be deemed to be made with all applicable representations, warranties and covenants as if evidenced by an Assignment and Assumption; in each case, without limiting the requirement that each Lender shall be an Eligible Assignee.

(b)    Each Lender party hereto that is not party to the Existing Credit Agreement (each a “Joining Lender”) (i) represents and warrants that (A) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Amendment and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (B) it meets all of the requirements of an Eligible Assignee under the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 13.10(b) of the Credit Agreement), (C) from and after the Amendment No. 10 Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder with the Commitments applicable to such Joining Lender as set forth on Schedule 1.1 attached hereto as Annex B (as such Commitments may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents), (D) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by its Commitments and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire its Commitments, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (E) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to

 

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receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Amendment and to acquire its Commitments, (F) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Amendment and to acquire its Commitments, and (G) if it is a Foreign Lender, it has delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Company any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by such Joining Lender; and (ii) agrees that (A) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (B) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender. On and after the Amendment No. 10 Effective Date, all references to the “Lenders” in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to include the Joining Lenders.

4.    Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective on the date when each of the following conditions precedent are satisfied (such date, the “Amendment No. 10 Effective Date”):

(a)    Documentation. The Administrative Agent or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“Wells Fargo Securities”), as applicable, shall have received:

(i)    counterparts of this Amendment executed by the Borrowers, the Guarantor and all of the Lenders;

(ii)    a Note executed by the applicable Borrowers in favor of each Lender requesting the same;

(iii)    a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Borrower certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of such Borrower executing Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying that attached thereto is a true, correct and complete copy of (A) the articles of incorporation (or similar formation document for any Foreign Borrower) of such Borrower and all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the applicable Governmental Authority (or by such Borrower in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.2(b)(ii), in any jurisdiction where a Governmental Authority certification is neither customary nor available), (B) the bylaws (or similar governing documents) of such Borrower as in effect on the date hereof, (C) resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors or shareholders, as applicable, of such Borrower authorizing the transactions contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (D) each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.2(b)(iii);

(iv)    certificates as of a recent date of the good standing (or similar certificate for any Foreign Borrower, if available in the applicable jurisdiction) of each Borrower under the laws of the jurisdiction of formation of such Borrower; and

(v)    at least three (3) calendar days prior to the Amendment No. 10 Effective Date, all documentation and other information required by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as applicable, in order to comply with its obligations under applicable “know your

 

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customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, in each case, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in writing at least ten (10) business days prior to the Amendment No. 10 Effective Date.

(b)    Payment of Fees and Expenses. The Company shall have paid all fees, costs and expenses set forth in Sections 8(a) and (b) of this Amendment.

5.    Limited Effect. Except as expressly provided herein, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect. This Amendment shall not be deemed (a) to be a waiver of, or consent to, or a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document other than as expressly set forth herein, (b) to prejudice any right or rights which the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may now have or may have in the future under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time, or (c) to be a commitment or any other undertaking or expression of any willingness to engage in any further discussion with the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person with respect to any other waiver, amendment, modification or any other change to the Credit Agreement or the Loan Documents or any rights or remedies arising in favor of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, or any of them, under or with respect to any such documents. References in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement” (and indirect references such as “hereunder”, “hereby”, “herein”, “hereof” or other words of like import) and in any Loan Document to the “Credit Agreement” shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement as modified hereby.

6.    Representations and Warranties. Each Borrower and Guarantor represents and warrants that (a) it has the corporate power and authority to make, deliver and perform this Amendment, (b) it has taken all necessary corporate or other action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment, (c) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (d) this Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law), (e) each of the representations and warranties contained in Article VI of the Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof with the same effect as if made on and as of the date hereof, except for any representation and warranty made as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date and (f) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the date hereof or after giving effect hereto.

7.    Acknowledgement and Reaffirmation. By their execution hereof, each Borrower and the Guarantor hereby expressly (a) consents to this Amendment and to the amendments to the Credit Agreement set forth herein, (b) acknowledges that the covenants, representations, warranties and other obligations set forth in the Credit Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower or the Guarantor is a party remain in full force and effect (it being understood and agreed that to the extent any such covenants, representations, warranties or other obligations are expressly modified herein, such covenants, representations, warranties or obligations shall continue in full force and effect as expressly modified herein) and (c) acknowledges and agrees that this Amendment shall constitute a “Loan Document” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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8.    Costs, Expenses and Taxes. The Company agrees to pay:

(a)     in accordance with Section 13.3 of the Credit Agreement, but subject to the provisions set forth in Section 5 of that certain commitment letter dated as of March 4, 2021, from Wells Fargo and the other commitment parties thereto to the Company, all reasonable and invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration of this Amendment and the other instruments and documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, the reasonable and invoiced fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities; and

(b)     all fees payable pursuant to that certain letter agreement by and among the Company, Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Securities and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., dated as of March 4, 2021.

9.    Execution in Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Amendment on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Amendment by facsimile or electronic (pdf) transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. For the purpose of electronic execution, Section 13.17 of the Credit Agreement, is hereby incorporated by reference, mutatis mutandis.

10.    Governing Law. This Amendment and the rights and obligations of the parties under this Amendment shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the state of New York (including Section 5-1401 and Section 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York), without reference to any other conflicts or choice of law principles thereof.

11.    Entire Agreement. This Amendment is the entire agreement, and supersedes any prior agreements and contemporaneous oral agreements, of the parties concerning its subject matter.

12.    Successors and Assigns. This Amendment shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, beneficiaries, successors and permitted assigns.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized officers or representatives, all as of the day and year first written above.

 

BORROWERS:

BLACKROCK, INC.,

as Borrower and Guarantor

By:  

/s/ Philippe Matsumoto

Name: Philippe Matsumoto
Title:   Managing Director and Treasurer

BLACKROCK GROUP LIMITED,

as Designated Borrower

By:  

/s/ Colin McDonald

Name: Colin McDonald
Title: CFO

BLACKROCK (NETHERLANDS) B.V.,

as Designated Borrower

By:  

/s/ M. Donders

Name: M. Donders
Title: MD/Executive Director
By:  

/s/ P.J.M. Vrancken

Name: P.J.M. Vrancken
Title: MD/Executive Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


AGENT AND LENDERS:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender, Issuing Lender, L/C Agent and Lender
By:  

/s/ James Mastroianna

Name: James Mastroianna
Title: Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


CITIBANK, N.A., as Lender, Swingline Lender and Issuing Lender
By:  

/s/ Maureen Maroney

Name: Maureen Maroney
Title: Vice President

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Alexandra M. Knights

Name: Alexandra M. Knights
Title: Vice President

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Raymond Qiao

Name: Raymond Qiao
Title: Executive Vice President

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Craig Malloy

Name: Craig Malloy
Title: Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK CORPORATION, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Suosheng Li

Name: Suosheng Li
Title: General Manager

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


CREDIT SUISSE AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Doreen Barr

Name: Doreen Barr
Title: Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Andrew Griffin

Name: Andrew Griffin
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Ming K. Chu

Name: Ming K. Chu
Title: Director
By:  

/s/ Marko Lukin

Name: Marko Lukin
Title: Vice President

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Ryan Durkin

Name: Ryan Durkin
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Kieran Patel

Name: Kieran Patel
Title: Managing Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Jay Cyr

Name: Jay Cyr
Title: Executive Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Michael King

Name: Michael King
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA LIMITED, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Weiming Zhou

Name: Weiming Zhou
Title: Director
By:  

/s/ Charles Inkeles

Name: Charles Inkeles
Title: Executive Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


BNP PARIBAS, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Kenneth Austin

Name: Kenneth Austin
Title: Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Marguerite L. Lebon

Name: Marguerite L. Lebon
Title: Vice President

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


MIZUHO BANK, LTD., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Donna DeMagistris

Name: Donna DeMagistris
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Alex Figueroa

Name: Alex Figueroa
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Mary H. Carey

Name: Mary H. Carey
Title: Vice President

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Benjamin Goldberg

Name: Benjamin Goldberg
Title: Vice President

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


NOMURA CORPORATE FUNDING AMERICAS, LLC, as Lender
By:  

/s/ G. Andrew Keith

Name: G. Andrew Keith
Title: Executive Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Gordon Yip

Name: Gordon Yip
Title: Director
By:  

/s/ Rose Mary Perez

Name: Rose Mary Perez
Title: Managing Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


BANCO SANTANDER, S.A., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Lucas Videla

Name: Lucas Videla
Title: Executive Director
By:  

/s/ Laura Castan

Name: Laura Castan
Title: MO Senior Analyst

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


SOCIETE GENERALE, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Robert Roberto

Name: Robert Roberto
Title: Managing Director, Chairman, Financial Institutions Group

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


NATWEST MARKETS PLC, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Fred J. Matt

Name: Fred J. Matt
Title: Managing Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


MUFG BANK, LTD., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Rajiv Ranjan

Name: Rajiv Ranjan
Title: Vice President

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


JEFFERIES LEVERAGED CREDIT PRODUCTS, LLC, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Mark Sahler

Name: Mark Sahler
Title: Managing Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Jenny Maloney

Name: Jenny Maloney
Title: Vice President

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


ING BANK N.V., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Louise G. Humme

Name: Louise G. Humme
Title: Director
By:  

/s/ Jan-Paul van Houten

Name: Jan-Paul van Houten
Title: Managing Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


NATIXIS LONDON BRANCH, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Christine Coudray

Name: Christine Coudray
Title: Global Head of Banks, Public Institutions and Asset Managers Coverage

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, as Lender
By:  

/s/ James Beck

Name: James Beck
Title: Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, as a Lender and as the Japanese Yen Lender
By:  

/s/ Shane Klein

Name: Shane Klein
Title: Managing Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Maria Macchiaroli

Name: Maria Macchiaroli
Title: Autorized Signatory

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Robert Grillo

Name: Robert Grillo
Title: Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A. NEW YORK BRANCH, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Andrew Pargament

Name: Andrew Pargament
Title: Executive Director
By:  

/s/ Brian Crowley

Name: Brian Crowley
Title: Managing Director

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Ann Hobart

Name: Ann Hobart
Title: Senior Vice President

 

BlackRock, Inc.

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)

Signature Pages


Annex A

(to Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement)

Credit Agreement

See attached.

BlackRock, Inc.

Annex A

Amendment No. 10 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (2021)


EXECUTION VERSION

EXECUTION VERSION

Published CUSIP Number: 09251QAE9

Revolving Credit CUSIP Number: 09251QAF6

 

 

$4,000,000,000

$4,400,000,000

FIVE-YEAR REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT[1]

dated as of March 10, 2011,

as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of March 30, 2012,

as further amended by Amendment No. 2, dated as of March 28, 2013,

as further amended by Amendment No. 3, dated as of March 28, 2014,

as further amended by Amendment No. 4, dated as of April 2, 2015,

as further amended by Amendment No. 5, dated as of April 8, 2016

and as further amended by Amendment No. 6, dated as of April 6, 2017

by and among

BLACKROCK, INC.,

and

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES

as Borrowers,

the Lenders referred to herein,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent,

a Swingline Lender, Issuing Lender and L/C Agent,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as a Swingline Lender,

and

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,

as Japanese Yen Lender

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATEDBOFA SECURITIES, LLC,

 

 

1 Conformed through and including Amendment No. 9 dated as of March 31, 2020. NOTE: This document is being provided solely for ease of review and convenience. Neither McGuireWoods, LLP, Wells Fargo nor any of their affiliates makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of this document. Parties should rely solely on their review of the credit agreement and amendments.


EXECUTION VERSION

BARCLAYS CAPITALBANK PLC,

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.,

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, and

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA LIMITED, NEW YORK BRANCH

BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH, and

CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK CORPORATION, NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Syndication Agent,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

CREDIT SUISSE AG,

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, and

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA LIMITED, NEW YORK BRANCH

BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH, and

CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK CORPORATION, NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Documentation Agents

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, and

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

as Co-Sustainability Structuring Agents,

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I     DEFINITIONS

     16  

SECTION 1.1.

  Definitions      16  

SECTION 1.2.

  Other Definitions and Provisions      2948  

SECTION 1.3.

  Accounting Terms      3049  

SECTION 1.4.

  Rounding      3049  

SECTION 1.5.

  References to Agreement and Laws      3049  

SECTION 1.6.

  Times of Day      3049  

SECTION 1.7.

  Letter of Credit Amounts      3049  

SECTION 1.8.

  Effectiveness of Euro Provisions      3049  

SECTION 1.9.

  Amount of Obligations      3149  

SECTION 1.10.

  Divisions      50  

SECTION 1.11.

  Rates      50  

ARTICLE II     REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITIES

     3151  

SECTION 2.1.

  Revolving Credit Loans and USD Revolving Credit Loans      3151  

SECTION 2.2.

  Japanese Yen Loans      3252  

SECTION 2.3.

  Swingline Loans      3454  

SECTION 2.4.

  Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans, USD Revolving Credit Loans Japanese Yen Loans and Swingline Loans      3657  

SECTION 2.5.

  Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit, USD Revolving Credit, Japanese Yen and Swingline Loans      3859  

SECTION 2.6.

  Permanent Reduction of the Commitment      4162  

SECTION 2.7.

  Optional Increase of the Aggregate Commitment      4163  

SECTION 2.8.

  Termination of Credit Facility      4364  

SECTION 2.9.

  Designated Borrowers      4364  

SECTION 2.10.

  Extension of Maturity Date      4466  

ARTICLE III     LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY

     4768  

SECTION 3.1.

  L/C Commitment      4768  

SECTION 3.2.

  Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit      4870  

SECTION 3.3.

  Commissions and Other Charges      4971  

SECTION 3.4.

  L/C Participations      5071  

SECTION 3.5.

  Reimbursement Obligation of the Company      5172  

SECTION 3.6.

  Exchange Indemnification and Increased Costs      5273  

SECTION 3.7.

  Obligations Absolute      5273  

SECTION 3.8.

  Effect of Letter of Credit Application      5374  

SECTION 3.9.

  The L/C Agent      5374  

SECTION 3.10.

  Reporting of Letter of Credit Information and L/C Commitment      5374  

ARTICLE IV     GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS

     5475  

SECTION 4.1.

  Interest      5475  

 

i


SECTION 4.2.

  Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Revolving Credit Loans and USD Revolving Credit Loans      5677  

SECTION 4.3.

  Fees      5778  

SECTION 4.4.

  Manner of Payment      5778  

SECTION 4.5.

  Evidence of Indebtedness      5880  

SECTION 4.6.

  Adjustments      5980  

SECTION 4.7.

  Nature of Obligations of Lenders Regarding Extensions of Credit; Assumption by the Administrative Agent      6081  

SECTION 4.8.

  Redenomination of Alternative Currency Loans      6082  

SECTION 4.9.

  Regulatory Limitation      6182  

SECTION 4.10.

  Changed Circumstances      6183  

SECTION 4.11.

  Indemnity      6388  

SECTION 4.12.

  Increased Costs      6388  

SECTION 4.13.

  Taxes      6590  

SECTION 4.14.

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      7196  

SECTION 4.15.

  Rounding and Other Consequential Changes      7297  

SECTION 4.16.

  Defaulting Lenders      7397  

SECTION 4.17.

  Sustainability Adjustments      100  

ARTICLE V     CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING

     76104  

SECTION 5.1.

  Closing      76104  

SECTION 5.2.

  Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit      76104  

SECTION 5.3.

  Conditions to All Extensions of Credit      78106  

ARTICLE VI     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWERS

     79107  

SECTION 6.1.

  Representations and Warranties      79107  

SECTION 6.2.

  Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc      85112  

ARTICLE VII     FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NOTICES

     85113  

SECTION 7.1.

  Financial Statements      85113  

SECTION 7.2.

  Officer’s Compliance Certificate      86114  

SECTION 7.3.

  Other Reports      86114  

SECTION 7.4.

  Notice of Litigation and Other Matters      86114  

SECTION 7.5.

  Accuracy of Information      86114  

ARTICLE VIII     AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     86114  

SECTION 8.1.

  Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related Matters      87114  

SECTION 8.2.

  Maintenance of Property      87114  

SECTION 8.3.

  Insurance      87115  

SECTION 8.4.

  Accounting Methods and Financial Records      87115  

SECTION 8.5.

  Payment of Taxes      87115  

SECTION 8.6.

  Compliance With Laws and Approvals      87115  

SECTION 8.7.

  Visits and Inspections      88115  

SECTION 8.8.

  Use of Proceeds      88116  

 

ii


SECTION 8.9.

  Foreign Borrowers      88116  

SECTION 8.10.

  Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions 88; Beneficial Ownership Regulation      116  

ARTICLE IX     FINANCIAL COVENANTS

     88116  

SECTION 9.1.

  Leverage Ratio      88116  

ARTICLE X     NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     89117  

SECTION 10.1.

  Limitations on Liens      89117  

SECTION 10.2.

  Limitations on Mergers and Liquidation      90118  

SECTION 10.3.

  Sale of All or Substantially All Assets      90118  

SECTION 10.4.

  Nature of Business      91119  

SECTION 10.5.

  Designated Borrowers      91119  

ARTICLE XI     DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     91119  

SECTION 11.1.

  Events of Default      91119  

SECTION 11.2.

  Remedies      93121  

SECTION 11.3.

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc      94122  

SECTION 11.4.

  Judgment Currency      94122  

SECTION 11.5.

  Crediting of Payments and Proceeds      94122  

SECTION 11.6.

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      95123  

ARTICLE XII     THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     96124  

SECTION 12.1.

  Appointment and Authority      96124  

SECTION 12.2.

  Rights as a Lender      96124  

SECTION 12.3.

  Exculpatory Provisions      96124  

SECTION 12.4.

  Reliance by the Administrative Agent      97126  

SECTION 12.5.

  Delegation of Duties      98126  

SECTION 12.6.

  Resignation of Administrative Agent      98127  

SECTION 12.7.

  Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders      99127  

SECTION 12.8.

  No Other Duties, etc      99128  

SECTION 12.9.

  Resignation of Japanese Yen Lender      99128  

SECTION  12.10.

  Erroneous Payments      129  

ARTICLE XIII     MISCELLANEOUS

     100130  

SECTION 13.1.

  Notices      100130  

SECTION 13.2.

  Amendments, Waivers and Consents      102133  

SECTION 13.3.

  Expenses; Indemnity      103136  

SECTION 13.4.

  Right of Setoff      105138  

SECTION 13.5.

  Governing Law      106138  

SECTION 13.6.

  Waiver of Jury Trial      107139  

SECTION 13.7.

  Reversal of Payments      107139  

SECTION 13.8.

  Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages      107139  

 

iii


SECTION 13.9.

  Accounting Matters      108140  

SECTION 13.10.

  Successors and Assigns; Participations      108140  

SECTION 13.11.

  Confidentiality      111143  

SECTION 13.12.

  Performance of Duties      112144  

SECTION 13.13.

  All Powers Coupled with Interest      112144  

SECTION 13.14.

  Survival of Indemnities      112144  

SECTION 13.15.

  Titles and Captions      112144  

SECTION 13.16.

  Severability of Provisions      112144  

SECTION 13.17.

  Counterparts 112; Electronic Execution      145  

SECTION 13.18.

  Integration      112145  

SECTION 13.19.

  Term of Agreement      112146  

SECTION 13.20.

  Advice of Counsel, No Strict Construction      113146  

SECTION 13.21.

  USA Patriot Act      113146  

SECTION 13.22.

  Inconsistencies with Other Documents; Independent Effect of Covenants      113146  

SECTION 13.23.

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEAAffected Financial Institutions      113146  

SECTION  13.24.

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      147  

SECTION  13.25.

  Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs      148  

ARTICLE XIV     CONTINUING GUARANTY

     114149  

SECTION 14.1.

  Guaranty      114149  

SECTION 14.2.

  Rights of Lenders      114150  

SECTION 14.3.

  Certain Waivers      115150  

SECTION 14.4.

  Obligations Independent      115150  

SECTION 14.5.

  Subrogation      115150  

SECTION 14.6.

  Termination; Reinstatement      115151  

SECTION 14.7.

  Subordination      116151  

SECTION 14.8.

  Stay of Acceleration      116151  

SECTION 14.9.

  Condition of Borrower      116151  

SECTION  14.10.

  Certain ERISA Matters      152  

 

iv


EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A-1  -        Form of Revolving Credit Note

Exhibit A-2  -        Form of Japanese Yen Note

Exhibit A-3  -        Form of Swingline Note

Exhibit A-4  -        Form of USD Revolving Credit Note

Exhibit B   -       Form of Notice of Borrowing

Exhibit C   -       Form of Notice of Account Designation

Exhibit D  -       Form of Notice of Prepayment

Exhibit E   -       Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation

Exhibit F   -       Form of Officer’s Compliance Certificate

Exhibit G  -       Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit H  -       Form of Several Letter of Credit

Exhibit I    -       Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement

Exhibit J    -       Designated Borrower Notice

Exhibit K  -       Form of Letter of Credit Application

Exhibit L   -       Form of Sublimit Notice

Exhibit  M    -       Form of Pricing Certificate

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1.1    -    Mandatory Cost Rate

Schedule  4.17   -    Sustainability Table

Schedule 6.1(f)   -    ERISA Plans

Schedule 6.1(k)  -    Litigation

Schedule 10.1   -    Existing Liens

 

v


CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 10, 2011, by and among BlackRock, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certain Subsidiaries of the Company party hereto pursuant to Section 2.9 (each a “Designated Borrower” and, together with the Company, the “Borrowers” and, each a “Borrower”), the Lenders who are or may become a party to this Agreement and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Company has requested, and the Lenders have agreed, to extend certain credit facilities to the Borrowers on the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1. Definitions. The following terms when used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them below:

Act” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13.21.

Administrative Agent” means Wells Fargo, in its capacity as Administrative Agent hereunder, and any successor thereto appointed pursuant to Section 12.6.

Administrative Agents Correspondent” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, London Branch, or any other financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent and reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act as its correspondent hereunder with respect to the distribution and payment of Alternative Currency Loans.

Administrative Agents Office” means the office of the Administrative Agent specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1(c).

Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

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

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person (other than, with respect to the Company, a Subsidiary or Excluded Subsidiary of the Company) which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first Person or any of its Subsidiaries. As used in this definition, the term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt neither of the Existing Shareholders shall be treated as

 

6


an Affiliate of the Company on the basis of its beneficial ownership of Capital Stock of the Company so long as such Existing Shareholder is subject to a stockholders agreement with the Company on substantially the same terms as the stockholders agreement to which it is a party as of the date of this Agreement.

Agency Fee Letter” means the separate fee letter agreement executed by the Company, Wells Fargo and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, dated February 11, 2011.

Agreement” means this Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Aggregate Commitment” means the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Commitments hereunder, as such amount may be increased, reduced or otherwise modified at any time pursuant to the terms hereof. On the Amendment No. 510 Effective Date, the Aggregate Commitment shall be Four Billion Four Hundred Million Dollars ($4,000,000,000.004,400,000,000.00 ).

Aggregate Revolving Commitment” means the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Revolving Credit Lenders hereunder, as such amount may be increased, reduced or otherwise modified at any time pursuant to the terms hereof. On the Amendment No. 510 Effective Date, the Aggregate Revolving Commitment shall be Three Billion SevenEight Hundred Seventy OneFifty-Four Million Dollars ($3,771,000,000.003,854,000,000 ).

Aggregate USD Revolving Commitment” means the aggregate amount of the USD Revolving Credit Commitments of the USD Revolving Credit Lenders hereunder, as such amount may be increased, reduced or otherwise modified at any time pursuant to the terms hereof. On the Amendment No. 510 Effective Date, the Aggregate USD Revolving Commitment shall be TwoFive Hundred Twenty NineForty-Six Million Dollars ($229,000,000.00546,000,000).

Alternative Currency” means all Permitted Currencies other than the Dollar.

Alternative Currency Amount” means with respect to each Revolving Credit Loan made or continued (or to be made or continued) in an Alternative Currency, the amount of such Alternative Currency which is equivalent to the principal amount in Dollars of such Loan at the most favorable spot exchange rate for the applicable Borrower as determined by the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent to be available to it at approximately 11:00 a.m. (time of the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) two (2) Business Days before such Loan is made or continued (or to be made or continued). When used with respect to any other sum expressed in Dollars, “Alternative Currency Amount” shall mean the amount of such Alternative Currency which is equivalent to the amount so expressed in Dollars at the most favorable spot exchange rate for the applicable Borrower as determined by the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent to be available to it at the time of determination.

Alternative Currency Loan” means any Revolving Credit Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency and “Alternative Currency Loans” means all such Alternative Currency Loans collectively.

 

7


Alternative Ratings Source” means either Moody’s or a comparable rating agency in either case that publishes a rating of the Company’s counterparty risk or similar rating and which is mutually acceptable to the Company and the Administrative Agent.

Amendment No. 510 Effective Date” means April 8, 2016 March 31, 2021.

Announcements has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.11.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to any Borrower or any Subsidiary of a Borrower from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including, without limitation, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws means any and all laws, statutes, regulations or obligatory government orders, decrees, ordinances or rules related to terrorism financing, money laundering, any predicate crime to money laundering or any financial record keeping, including any applicable provision of the PATRIOT Act and The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the Bank Secrecy Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959).

Applicable Law” means all applicable provisions of constitutions, laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, treaties, regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities and all orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators.

Applicant Commitment Fee Percentage has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of Applicable Percentage.

Applicable Percentage” means, for purposes of calculating (a) the applicable percentage for each of the Base Rate, the Japanese Base Rate, the LIBOR Market Index Rate and the LIBOR Rate for purposes of Section 4.1(a) (provided, that with respect to each LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Applicable Percentage shall include the Mandatory Cost Rate) (the Applicable Rate Percentage) and (b) the commitment feeapplicable percentage for the Commitment Fee for purposes of Section  4.3(a), (the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage) the corresponding rate set forth below for the applicable Debt Rating, as follows:

 

          Applicable Percentage Per Annum

Level

  

Debt

Rating

(S&P / Moody’s)

   LIBOR Rate /
LIBOR Market
Index Rate
  Base Rate /
Japanese Base
Rate
  Commitment Fee
I    >³ AA / Aa2    0.625%   0.000%   0.050%
II    AA- / Aa3    0.625%   0.000%   0.060%
III    A+ / A1    0.750%   0.000%   0.070%
IV    A / A2    0.875%   0.000%   0.080%
V    £ A- / A3    1.000%   0.000%   0.100%
VI    £ BBB+ / Baa1    1.250%   0.250%   0.150%

 

8


provided, that if S&P or any Alternative Ratings Source, as applicable, shall not have in effect a Debt Rating (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the penultimate sentence of this definition), then such Debt Rating shall be deemed to be Level VIV. In the event that the Debt Ratings publicly announced by S&P listed above and any corresponding Debt Rating of any Alternative Ratings Source previously agreed to by the Company and the Administrative Agent, if any, differ by (a) one Level, the Applicable Percentage shall be that Level which corresponds to the Debt Rating which is the higher of such announced Debt Ratings, and (b) two or more Levels, the Applicable Percentage shall be that Level which corresponds to the Debt Rating which is one rating immediately above the lowest of such announced Debt Ratings. Any change in the Applicable Percentage shall be effective (a) as to any increase in the Debt Rating, as of the Business Day on which the increase in the applicable Debt Rating is announced or is made publicly available, and (b) as to any decrease in the applicable Debt Rating, as of the Business Day on which the decrease in the applicable Debt Rating is announced or is made publicly available. If the rating systems of S&P or any other such Alternative Ratings Source shall change, or if all of such rating agencies shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Company and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agencies and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Percentage shall be determined by reference to the Debt Rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation. The parties hereto agree that, as of the Closing Date, Moody’s constitutes an Alternative Rating Source. It is hereby understood and agreed that notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage shall be adjusted from time to time based upon the Sustainability Fee Adjustment (to be calculated and applied as set forth in Section 4.17) and (b) the Applicable Rate Percentage shall be adjusted from time to time based upon the Sustainability Rate Adjustment (to be calculated and applied as set forth in Section 4.17).

Applicable Rate Percentage has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of Applicable Percentage.

Applicant Borrower” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.9(b).

Arrangers means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., BofA Securities, LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, New York Branch, Bank of China, New York Branch and China Construction Bank Corporation, New York Branch, each in their respective capacity as a joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner.

 

9


Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 13.10), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit G or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease, the capitalized amount or principal amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a Capital Lease.

Available Tenor means, as of any date of determination and with respect to any then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period 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 4.10(c)(iv).

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEAAffected 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, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (c) except during any period of time during which a notice delivered to the Company under Section 4.10 shall remain in effect, LIBOR for an Interest Period of one month (determined on a daily basis) plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or LIBOR (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).

Base Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the Base Rate as provided in Section 4.1(a).

Benchmark means, initially, with respect to (i) any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in Dollars or calculated with respect thereto, USD LIBOR or (ii) any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in Euro, Japanese Yen or Pounds Sterling, or calculated with respect thereto, the London interbank offered rate for Euro,

 

10


Japanese Yen or Pounds Sterling, as applicable; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to any such benchmark rate, then Benchmark with respect to Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in such currency means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 4.10(c)(i).

Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to all Loans denominated in a given currency, the sum of: (a means, for any Available Tenor,

(1)     with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event or Early Opt-in Election with respect to a then-current Benchmark, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided, that with respect to a Benchmark with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in any currency other than Dollars or calculated with respect thereto, the alternative set forth in clause (c) below:

(a)    the sum of: (A) Term SOFR and (B) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(b)    the sum of: (A) Daily Simple SOFR and (B) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(c)    the sum of: (A) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Company as the replacement for such 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 with respect to such currency or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate of interest as a replacement to LIBORfor such Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in suchthe currency and (b) the applicable to such Benchmark at such time and (B) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for such; or

(2)     with respect to any Term SOFR Transition Event and a Benchmark with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in Dollars or calculated with respect thereto, the sum of (i) Term SOFR and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

provided that, if any(i) in the case of clause (1)(a), if the Administrative Agent decides that Term SOFR is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then Term SOFR will be deemed unable to be determined for purposes of this definition and (ii) in the case of clause (1)(a) or clause (2) of this definition, the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is 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. If the Benchmark Replacement as so determined pursuant to clause (1)(a), (1)(b) or (1)(c) or clause (2) of this definition would be less than zerothe Floor, suchthe Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be zerothe Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

11


Benchmark Replacement Adjustment means, with respect to any replacement of LIBORany then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for eachany applicable Interest Period, and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement:

(1)    for purposes of clauses (1)(a) and (1)(b) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent:

(a)     the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;

(b)     the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that would apply to the fallback rate for a derivative transaction referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon an index cessation event with respect to such Available Tenor of such Benchmark;

(2)     for purposes of clause (1)(c) of the definition of 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 Company giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of LIBORsuch Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of LIBORsuch Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities at such time denominated in the relevant currency applicable to such Benchmark; and

(3)     for purposes of clause (2) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Available Tenor of USD LIBOR with a SOFR-based rate;

provided that, (x) in the case of clause (1) above, such adjustment is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion and (y) if such then-current

 

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Benchmark is a term rate, more than one tenor of such Benchmark is available as of the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement that will replace such Benchmark in accordance with Section 4.10(c)(i) will not be a term rate, the Available Tenor of such Benchmark for purposes of this definition of Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall be deemed to be, with respect to each Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement having a payment period for interest calculated with reference thereto, the Available Tenor that has approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustments) as such payment period.

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “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 consultation with the Company, may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of thesuch Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides, in consultation with the Company, is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any then-current Benchmark, the earlierearliest to occur of the following events with respect to LIBOR with respect to a given currencysuch 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 LIBOR such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide LIBOR with respect to such currency; or all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(2)    in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein;

(3)     in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent has provided the Term SOFR Notice to the Lenders and the Company pursuant to Section 4.10(c)(i)(B); or

(4)     in the case of an Early Opt-in Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

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

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

(1)    a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of LIBOR such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide LIBOR with respect to such currency 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 LIBOR with respect to such currency 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 LIBOR such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the U.S. FRB, the Federal Reserve SystemBank of New York, the central bank for the currency applicable to such Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for LIBOR such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for LIBOR such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for LIBOR or any other Relevant Governmental Body such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of LIBOR with respect tosuch Benchmark (or such currency component) has ceased or will cease to provide LIBOR 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 LIBOR with respect to such currency 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 LIBOR such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that LIBOR with respect to such currency isall Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer representative.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Start Date means (a) in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (i) the applicableEvent will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark Replacement Date and (ii) if such Benchmark Transition Event isif a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of informationset forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than 90 days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication) and (b) in the case of an Early Opt-in Election, the date specified by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, as applicable, by notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent (in the case of such notice by the Required Lenders) and the Lenders published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to all Loans denominated in a given currency, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to LIBOR and solely to the extent that LIBOR has not been replaced with a Benchmark Replacement with respect to Loans denominated in such currencyany then-current Benchmark, the period (if any) ( x) beginning at the time that sucha Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to such Benchmark pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced LIBORsuch Benchmark for all purposes hereunder with respect to Loans denominated in such currencyand under any Loan Document in accordance with this Section 4.10(c) and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced LIBORsuch Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with respect to Loans denominated in such currency pursuant to this Section 4.10(c) .

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 CFR § 1010.230.

Beneficiary has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13.10(a).

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 Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino Employment Rate means with respect to any Fiscal Year of the Company as reported under Code #FN-AC-330a.1 in the SASB Aligned Report, the ratio (stated as a percentage) of (i) the aggregate number of employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the United States who are Black, African American, Hispanic or Latino as of the first day of the next succeeding Fiscal Year (the sum of the percentages set forth in the two columns in the SASB Aligned Report referring to Black or African American employees and Hispanic or Latino employees) to (ii) the aggregate number of employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the United States as of the first day of the next succeeding Fiscal Year.

 

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Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino Employment Rate Target C means, with respect to any Fiscal Year, the Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino Employment Rate Target C for such Fiscal Year as set forth in the Sustainability Table in Schedule 4.17.

Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino Employment Rate Threshold C means, with respect to any Fiscal Year, the Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino Employment Rate Threshold C for such Fiscal Year as set forth in the Sustainability Table in Schedule 4.17.

BlackRock Group Limited” means BlackRock Group Limited, a company incorporated and organized under the laws of England and Wales.

Blackrock Netherlands means BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V., a corporation organized under the laws of the Netherlands.

Borrower” and “Borrowers” have the meaning assigned thereto in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on which banks in Charlotte, North Carolina, and New York, New York, are open for the conduct of their commercial banking business and:

(a)    if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to any LIBOR Rate Loan (or any Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to LIBOR or any Swingline Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to the LIBOR Market Index Rate) denominated in Dollars, any funding, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any LIBOR Rate Loan (or any Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to LIBOR or any Swingline Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to the LIBOR Market Index Rate), or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such LIBOR Rate Loan (or any Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to LIBOR) or any Swingline Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to the LIBOR Market Index Rate, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in thethat is also a London interbank eurodollar marketBanking Day;

(b)    if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to any LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such LIBOR Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such LIBOR Rate Loan, means a TARGET Day;

(c)    if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to any LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the London or other applicable offshore interbank market for such currency;

(d)    if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to any Japanese Yen Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Japanese Yen in respect of any

 

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such Japanese Yen Loan, or any other dealings in Japanese Yen to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Japanese Yen Loan, means any day on which banks are open for business in Tokyo, Japan;

(e)    if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in a currency other than Dollars or Euro in respect of a LIBOR Rate Loan, or any other dealings in any currency other than Dollars or Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such LIBOR Rate Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency; and

(f)    if such day relates to any payments related to a Designated Borrower, means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such Designated Borrower.

Capital Lease” means any lease of any property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as lessee, that should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Capital Stock” means (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (d) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests, (e) in the case of any other Person, any similar ownership interests and (f) with respect to the foregoing items (a) through (e), any and all warrants or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

Change in Control” means an event or series of events by which any Person or group of Persons (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) other than the Existing Shareholders shall obtain ownership or control in one or more series of transactions involving the Capital Stock of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of Capital Stock of the Company ordinarily entitled to vote in the election of members of the board of directors of the Company.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all 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 or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

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Closing Date” means the date of this Agreement or such later Business Day upon which each condition described in Section 5.2 shall be satisfied or waived in all respects in a manner acceptable to each of the Lenders in their sole discretion.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to time.

Commitment” means (a) as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Loans (including, without limitation, to participate in Japanese Yen Loans and Swingline Loans) under the applicable Credit Facility and to issue or participate in Letters of Credit for the account of any Borrower hereunder in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on the Register, as such amount may be reduced, increased or otherwise modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof and (b) as to all Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Lenders to make Loans (including, without limitation, to participate in Japanese Yen Loans and Swingline Loans) under the applicable Credit Facility and to issue or participate in Letters of Credit for the account of any Borrower hereunder, as such amount may be reduced, increased or otherwise modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The Commitment of each Lender is set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(b) or in the Register (giving effect to any Assignment and Assumption), as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Commitment Fee has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.3(a).

Commitment Percentage” means, as to any Lender at any time with respect to any Credit Facility, the ratio of (a) the amount of the Commitment of such Lender under such Credit Facility to (b) the aggregate amount of all Commitments of all Lenders under such Credit Facility.

Company” has the meaning assigned thereto in the introductory paragraph hereto, and includes the Company in its capacity as a Borrower and the Guarantor.

Company Sublimit” means $3,400,000,0003,775,000,000 , or such other amount as the Borrowers haveCompany has notified the Administrative Agent of by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Sublimit Notice; provided that, in the event there is a Defaulting Lender, the Company Sublimit shall be reduced by such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment Percentage for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, upon any such Defaulting Lender being deemed cured in accordance with Section 4.16(h), by replacement of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 4.14(b) or otherwise, the reduction of the Company Sublimit shall be of no further effect.

Consolidated” means, when used with reference to financial statements or financial statement items of any Person, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with, except as otherwise set forth herein, applicable principles of consolidation under GAAP.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Company and its Subsidiaries and such amounts that are attributable to the Company in respect of the Excluded Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP: (a) Consolidated Net Income attributable to the Company for such period plus (b) the sum of the following to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

 

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(i) income and franchise taxes, (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, (iii) amortization, depreciation and other non-cash charges (except to the extent that such non-cash charges are reserved for cash charges to be taken in the future), (iv) Securities Lending Indemnification Losses and any other extraordinary, unusual or otherwise non-recurring charges and losses (including from discontinued operations) and (v) expenses under the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ retention and incentive plans or otherwise that are actually, directly or indirectly, funded by any of the Existing Shareholders, less (c) extraordinary, unusual or otherwise non-recurring gains (including from discontinued operations). For purposes of this Agreement, Consolidated EBITDA shall be adjusted on a pro forma basis, in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Administrative Agent, to include, as of the first day of any applicable period, any acquisition closed during such period, including, without limitation, adjustments reflecting any non-recurring costs and any extraordinary expenses incurred during such period calculated on a basis consistent with GAAP and Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or as approved by the Administrative Agent.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries and such amounts that are attributable to the Company in respect of the Excluded Subsidiaries for any period, the gross interest expense (including, without limitation, interest expense attributable to Capital Leases and all net payment obligations pursuant to Interest Rate Contracts) of the Company and its Subsidiaries and such amounts that are attributable to the Company in respect of the Excluded Subsidiaries, all determined for such period on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, for any period of determination, the net income (or loss) attributable to the Company for such period, including the net income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of such Person or is merged into or consolidated with such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries except to the extent included pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) below, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income (a) the net income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary which shall be subject to clause (b) below), in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has a joint interest with a third party, except to the extent such net income is actually paid in cash to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by dividend or other distribution during such period and (b) the net income (if positive) of any Material Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of such net income is not during the entirety of any such period of determination permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Subsidiary.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness on such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date.

Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis without duplication, the sum of the following calculated, and only to the extent set forth on their consolidated balance sheet as

 

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a liability, in accordance with GAAP (except such amounts shall be calculated at face value without giving effect to FASB ASC 825):

(a)    all indebtedness for borrowed money including, but not limited to, obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments of any such Person;

(b)    all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services of any such Person (including, without limitation, all obligations under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements to the extent the foregoing are characterized as indebtedness in accordance with GAAP), except trade payables arising in the ordinary course of business;

(c)    the Attributable Indebtedness of such Person with respect to such Person’s obligations in respect of Capital Leases and Synthetic Leases (regardless of whether accounted for as indebtedness under GAAP);

(d)    all Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness of any other Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned or being purchased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is limited in recourse;

(e)    all obligations of any such Person to redeem, repurchase, exchange or defease, with cash, any Capital Stock of such Person;

(f)    all Guaranty Obligations of any such Person; and

(g)    amounts advanced or otherwise paid (without duplication) to the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries in connection with any Permitted Securitization;

less, the aggregate amount of “Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness” described in clauses (a) through (g) above of any Material Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary whose net income is excluded from the calculation of “Consolidated Net Income” of the Company and its Subsidiaries during any applicable period of determination pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”;

less the Unrestricted Cash as reflected on the Consolidated balance sheet of the Company (determined in accordance with GAAP) as of the last day of any applicable period of determination.

For all purposes hereof, the Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness of any Person shall (a) exclude any of the foregoing obligations of any Excluded Subsidiary, except to the extent there is recourse for such obligation to the Company or any Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) and (b) include the Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person or such Person’s sole material asset is its interest in such partnership or joint venture. For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness shall not include any obligations or liabilities arising under or in connection with any annuities, insurance policies, insurance contracts or any other similar agreements.

 

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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, collectively, the Revolving Credit Facility, the USD Revolving Credit Facility, the Swingline Facility, the Japanese Yen Facility and the L/C Facility.

Daily Simple SOFR means, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining Daily Simple SOFR for syndicated business loans; provided, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, either the Company’s counterparty credit rating as determined by S&P or any comparable rating as determined by any Alternative Ratings Source.

Debtor Relief Laws means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

Declaration of Trust has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13.10(a).

Default” means any of the events specified in Section 11.1 which with the passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition required by Section 11.1, would constitute an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 4.16(h), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of the Revolving Credit Loans, USD Revolving Credit Loans, Japanese Yen Loans or Swingline Loans, participations in or payments of L/C Obligations, participations in Japanese Yen Loans or participations in Swingline required to be funded by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded by it hereunder, in any such case within two (2) Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has otherwise failed to unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay over to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender, any Swingline Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of participations in Japanese Yen Loans, Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans) within two (2) Business DayDays of the date when due, unless such amount is the subject of a good faith dispute, (c(b) has notified the Company, any other Borrower or, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or any Swingline Lender in

 

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writing that it does not intend to comply with any ofits funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lenders obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lenders determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Company, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Company that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations under this Agreement or under other agreements in which it commits or is obligated to extend credit, hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Company), or (d) has become, or is insolvent orhas a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance, administrator, assignee for the benefit of, creditors or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointmentsimilar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the FDIC or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (eiii ) has become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition or ownership of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 4.16(h)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Company, each Issuing Lender, each Swingline Lender and each Lender.

Designated Borrower” has the meaning assigned thereto in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Designated Borrower Notice” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.9(b).

Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.9(b).

Designated Borrower Maximum Borrowing Sublimit” means (a) with respect to BlackRock Group Limited, $1,500,000,000, or such other amount as the Borrowers have notified the Administrative Agent of by delivery of a Sublimit Notice, and1,000,000,000, (b) with respect to BlackRock Netherlands, $50,000,000 and (c) with respect to any additional Designated Borrower, (i)the amount reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Company at the time such Subsidiary is added as a Designated Borrower pursuant to Section 2.9, the amount reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Company and (ii) from time to time thereafter, such other amount as the Borrowers have notified the Administrative Agent of; provided that, the Designated Borrower Maximum Borrowing

 

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Sublimit may be increased from time to time by the Company pursuant to Section 2.9(a)(E); provided further, that, in each case, in the event there is a Defaulting Lender, the Designated Borrower Maximum Borrowing Sublimit shall be reduced by such Defaulting Lenders Commitment Percentage for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, upon any such Defaulting Lender being deemed cured in accordance with Section 4.16(h), by replacement of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 4.14(b) or otherwise, the reduction of the Designated Borrower Maximum Borrowing Sublimit shall be of no further effect.

Designated Borrower Sublimit means, as to any Designated Borrower, the aggregate amount of Commitments available to such Borrower for borrowings under the Credit Facilities. As of the Amendment No. 10 Effective Date, the Designated Borrower Sublimit shall be $600,000,000, with respect to BlackRock Group Limited and $25,000,000, with respect to BlackRock Netherlands; provided that, the Company may modify such amount from time to time by deliverynotice to the Administrative Agent of a Sublimit Notice; provided in accordance with Section 2.9(a); provided further, that, in each case, in the event there is a Defaulting Lender, the Designated Borrower Sublimit shall be reduced by such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment Percentage for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, upon any such Defaulting Lender being deemed cured in accordance with Section 4.16(h), by replacement of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 4.14(b) or otherwise, the reduction of the Designated Borrower Sublimit shall be of no further effect.

Dollar Amount” means (a) with respect to each Revolving Credit Loan made or continued (or to be made or continued), or Letter of Credit issued, increased or extended (or to be issued, increased or extended), in Dollars, the principal or face amount, as applicable, thereof, (b) with respect to each Revolving Credit Loan made or continued (or to be made or continued) or Letter of Credit issued, increased or extended (or to be issued, increased or extended) in an Alternative Currency, the amount of Dollars which is equivalent to the principal amount of such Revolving Credit Loan, or face amount of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, at the most favorable spot exchange rate for the applicable Borrower as determined by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (the time of the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) two (2) Business Days before such Loan is made or continued (or to be made or continued) or Letter of Credit is issued, increased or extended (or to be issued, increased or extended) and (c) with respect to each Japanese Yen Loan made or continued (or to be made or continued), the amount of Dollars which is equivalent to the principal amount of such Japanese Yen Loan at the most favorable spot exchange rate for the applicable Borrower as determined by the Japanese Yen Lender at approximately 11:00 a.m. (Tokyo time) one (1) Business Day before such Japanese Yen Loan is made or continued (or to be made or continued). When used with respect to any other sum expressed in an Alternative Currency, “Dollar Amount” shall mean the amount of Dollars which is equivalent to the amount so expressed in such Alternative Currency at the most favorable spot exchange rate for the applicable Borrower as determined by the Administrative Agent or Japanese Yen Lender, as applicable, to be available to it at the relevant time.

Dollars” or “$” means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

 

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Early Opt-in Election means:

 

  (1)

with respect to a Benchmark with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in Dollars or calculated with respect thereto, if such Benchmark is USD LIBOR,the occurrence of:

 

  (a)

a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Company to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a SOFR-based rate (including SOFR, a term SOFR or any other rate based upon SOFR) as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review), and

 

  (b)

the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Company to trigger a fallback from USD LIBOR and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders; and

 

  (2)

with respect to a Benchmark with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in any currency other than Dollars or calculated with respect thereto, the occurrence of:

 

  (a)

(1) (i) a determination by the Administrative Agent or (ii) a notification by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to (or the request by the Company) that the Required Lenders have determined that to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding syndicated credit facilities denominated in a givensuch currency being executed at such time, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section are being executed or amended, as applicable, to incorporate or adopt contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR with respect to such currencyBenchmark, and

 

  (b)

(2) (i) the joint election by the Administrative Agent or (ii) and the election by the Required Lenders to declare that an Early Opt-in Election has occurredCompany to trigger a fallback from such Benchmark and the provision, as applicable, by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Company and the Lenders or by the Required Lenders of written notice of such election to the Administrative Agent.

EEA Financial Institution” means (i) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority and subject to the Bail-In Legislation, (ii) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (i) of this definition, or (iii) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

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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.

Eighth Amendment Effective Date” means March 29, 2019, the date on which that certain Amendment No. 8 to Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement became effective.

Electronic Record has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 15 U.S.C. 7006.

Electronic Signature has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 15 U.S.C. 7006.

Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender with respect to the applicable Credit Facility, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender with a commitment to the applicable Credit Facility and (c) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent and, solely with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, each Swingline Lender and each Issuing Lender, and (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

Employee Benefit Plan” means any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (a) is established or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary or (b) with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, has at any time within the preceding six (6) years been established or maintained by the Company, any Subsidiary or any current or former ERISA Affiliate.

EMU” means economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.

EMU Legislation” means legislative measures of the Council of European Union for the introduction of, change over to or operation of the Euro.

Environmental Claims” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, accusations, allegations, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by any Person in the ordinary course of business and not in response to any third party action or request of any kind) or proceedings relating in any way to any actual or alleged violation of or liability under any Environmental Law or relating to any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law, including, without limitation, any and all claims by Governmental Authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages, contribution, indemnification cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to human health or the environment.

 

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Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, foreign, state, provincial and local laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, standards and regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities, relating to the protection of human health or the environment, including, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, handling, reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of Hazardous Materials.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to time.

ERISA Affiliate” means any Person who together with the Company is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.

Erroneous Payment has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.10(a).

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Euro” means the single currency to which the Participating Member States of the European Union have converted.

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day, with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, the percentage (expressed as a decimal and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) which is in effect for such day as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any basic, supplemental or emergency reserves) in respect of eurocurrency liabilities or any similar category of liabilities for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City.

Event of Default” means any of the events specified in Section 11.1; provided that any requirement for passage of time, giving of notice, or any other condition required by Section 11.1, has been satisfied.

Excluded Subsidiary” shall mean (i) any investment fund or other investment vehicle which the Company or any of its Affiliates participates in as an investor (including for warehousing, seeding or other purposes), or acts for as a managing member, adviser, manager, co-manager or any comparable position, or any entity intended to be or becoming any of the foregoing (any such entity, an “Investment Fund”), (ii) any entity in which the Company or any of its Affiliates invests excess cash and which is not intended to be or become an operating subsidiary (any such entity, an “Investment Entity”), (iii) any Subsidiary of such Investment Fund or Investment Entity and (iv) any entity whose primary purpose is to acquire investments of any nature whatsoever pending their transfer to an Investment Fund. For the avoidance of doubt, each Excluded Subsidiary shall not be subject to any of the covenants contained in Article X hereof.

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower hereunder; (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income or net profits (however

 

26


denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located; (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which such Borrower is located; (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Company under Section 4.14(b)), (i) any United States withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or (ii) any withholding tax that is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 4.13(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from such Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 4.13(a); and (d) any Taxes imposed under FATCA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, “Excluded Taxes” shall not include any withholding tax imposed at any time on payments made by or on behalf of a Foreign Borrower to any recipient hereunder or under any other Loan Document, unless such withholding tax is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 4.13(e).

Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 22, 2007, by and among the Company, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank (successor by merger to Wachovia Bank, National Association) as administrative agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Existing Shareholders” means The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., Barclays PLC and their respective Affiliates.

Extensions of Credit” means, as to any Lender at any time, (a) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans and USD Revolving Credit Loans made by such Lender then outstanding, (ii) such Lender’s L/C Obligations then outstanding, (iii) such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the Japanese Yen Loans then outstanding and (iv) such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the Swingline Loans then outstanding, or (b) the making of, or participation in, any Loan or participation in, or issuance, increase or extension of, any Letter of Credit by such Lender, as the context requires.

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (as of the date hereof) and any regulations or official interpretations thereof (including any Revenue Ruling, Revenue Procedure, Notice or similar guidance issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service; provided that FATCA shall also include any amendments to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code if, as amended, FATCA continues to provide a mechanism to avoid the tax imposed thereunder by satisfying the information reporting and other requirements of FATCA.

FCA has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.11.

FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any successor thereto.

 

27


Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average of the quotation for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal Funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Funds Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Fee Letters” means the Wells/CGMI Fee Letter and the Agency Fee Letter.

Female Leadership Rate means with respect to any Fiscal Year of the Company as reported under Code #FN-AC-330a.1 in the SASB Aligned Report, the ratio (stated as a percentage) of (i) the aggregate number of employees in a capacity as Director or Managing Director of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a global basis who identify as female as of the first day of the next succeeding Fiscal Year to (ii) the aggregate number of employees in a capacity as Director or Managing Director of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a global basis as of the first day of the next succeeding Fiscal Year.

Female Leadership Rate Target B means, with respect to any Fiscal Year, the Female Leadership Rate Target B for such Fiscal Year as set forth in the Sustainability Table in Schedule 4.17.

Female Leadership Rate Threshold B means, with respect to any Fiscal Year, the Female Leadership Rate Threshold B for such Fiscal Year as set forth in the Sustainability Table in Schedule 4.17.

Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending on December 31.

Floor means, with respect to any Benchmark, 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 such Benchmark.

Foreign Borrower” means a Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary.

Foreign Lender” means, with respect to any Borrower, any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which such Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

Foreign Pension Plan” means any plan, fund (including, without limitation, any superannuation fund) or other similar program established or maintained outside the United States by a Borrower or any one or more of the Subsidiaries primarily for the benefit of employees of such Borrower or any Subsidiary residing outside the United States, which plan, fund or other similar program provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral of income in contemplation of retirement or payments to be made upon termination or severance of employment.

 

28


Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

FRB means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Fronted Letter of Credit” means a standby Letter of Credit issued by an Issuing Lender having an L/C Fronting Commitment in which each Lender purchases a risk participation pursuant to Section 3.4.

Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the Issuing Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to both Fronted Letters of Credit and Several Letters of Credit for which such Lender is a Participating Lender, other than any such L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, (b) with respect to any Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment Percentage of Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders, repaid by the Borrower or for which cash collateral or other credit support acceptable to each applicable Swingline Lender shall have been provided in accordance with the terms hereof and (c) with respect to the Japanese Yen Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment Percentage of Japanese Yen Loans other than Japanese Yen Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders, repaid by the Borrower or for which cash collateral or other credit support acceptable to the Japanese Yen Lender shall have been provided in accordance with the terms hereof.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles, as recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial Accounting Standards Board, as in effect from time to time.

German Borrower” means (a) any Borrower that is a resident for tax purposes in Germany and (b) any Borrower in respect of which written notice is given to the Administrative Agent (by the Company) prior to that Borrower becoming a Borrower hereunder that such Borrower is resident in Germany for German tax purposes.

German Qualifying Lender” means a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Loan Document and is:

(a)    lending through a Lending Office in Germany with which that Lender’s participation in the Loan is effectively connected; or

(b)    a Treaty Lender with respect to a German Borrower.

Governmental Approvals” means all authorizations, consents, approvals, permits, licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports to, all Governmental Authorities.

 

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Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 14.1.

Guaranteed Parties” means the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Several Issuing Lenders, the Japanese Yen Lender, the L/C Agent, each Swingline Lender, each Indemnitee and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 12.5.

Guarantor” means the Company in its capacity as guarantor under the Guaranty.

Guaranty” means that the unconditional guaranty made by the Company under Article XIV in favor of the Guaranteed Parties.

Guaranty Obligation” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, without duplication, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person pursuant to which such Person has directly or indirectly guaranteed any Indebtedness of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise of any such Person entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, that the term Guaranty Obligation shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

Hazardous Materials” means any substances or materials (a) which are or become defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any Environmental Law, (b) which are toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise harmful to human health or the environment and are or become regulated by any Governmental Authority, (c) the presence of which require investigation or remediation under any Environmental Law or common law, (d) the discharge or emission or release of which requires a permit or license under any Environmental Law or other Governmental Approval, (e) which are deemed to constitute a nuisance or a trespass which pose a health or safety hazard to Persons or neighboring properties, (f) which consist of underground or aboveground storage tanks, whether empty, filled or partially filled with any substance, or (g) which contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum derived substances or waste, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic gas.

Hedging Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any Interest Rate Contract, forward rate agreement, commodity swap, forward foreign exchange agreement, currency swap agreement, cross-currency rate swap agreement, currency option agreement or other agreement or arrangement designed to alter the risks of any Person arising from fluctuations in interest rates, currency values or commodity prices, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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IBA has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.11.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries at any date and without duplication, the sum of the following calculated in accordance with GAAP (except such amounts shall be calculated at face value without giving effect to FASB ASC 825):

(h)    all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness for borrowed money including obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments of any such Person;

(i)    all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services of any such Person (including, without limitation, all obligations under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements to the extent the foregoing are characterized as indebtedness in accordance with GAAP), except trade payables arising in the ordinary course of business;

(j)    the Attributable Indebtedness of such Person with respect to such Person’s obligations in respect of Capital Leases and Synthetic Leases (regardless of whether accounted for as indebtedness under GAAP);

(k)    all Indebtedness of any other Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned or being purchased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is limited in recourse;

(l)    all Guaranty Obligations of any such Person;

(m)    all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person relative to the face amount of letters of credit including, without limitation, any Reimbursement Obligation, and banker’s acceptances issued for the account of any such Person, other than such letters of credit, acceptances or similar extensions of credit that (i) do not support obligations for borrowed money and (ii) are not drawn upon (or, if drawn upon, are reimbursed within five (5) Business Days following payment thereof);

(n)    all obligations of any such Person to redeem, repurchase, exchange or defease, with cash, any Capital Stock of such Person; and

(o)    all Net Hedging Obligations.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person or such Person’s sole material asset is its interest in such partnership or joint venture. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness shall not include any obligations or liabilities arising under or in connection with any annuities, insurance policies, insurance contracts or any other similar agreements.

 

31


Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes and Other Taxes other than Excluded Taxes and any UK Tax Deduction or German Tax Deduction excluded from gross-up by clause (i) or (ii) of Section 4.13(a).

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13.3(b).

Interest Period” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.1(b).

Interest Rate Contract” means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate floor agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate option or any other agreement regarding the hedging of interest rate risk exposure executed in connection with hedging the interest rate exposure of any Person and any confirming letter executed pursuant to such agreement, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

ISDA Definitions means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto.

ISP98” means the International Standby Practices (1998 Revision, effective January 1, 1999), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590.

Issuing Lender” means (a) in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender having an L/C Fronting Commitment, in its capacity as the issuer of any Fronted Letter of Credit, or any successor thereto and (b) in the case of Several Letters of Credit, the L/C Agent. References to “the Issuing Lender” herein shall mean “an Issuing Lender” or “the applicable Issuing Lender” or “such Issuing Lender” or “each Issuing Lender” or similar constructions, as the context may indicate.

Japanese Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the Japanese Prime Rate for such day; provided, that if such rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement. Each change in the Japanese Base Rate shall become effective automatically as of the opening of business on the date of such change in the Japanese Base Rate, without prior written notice to the Company or the Lenders.

Japanese Base Rate Loan” means any Japanese Yen Loan which bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Japanese Base Rate.

Japanese Prime Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced by the Japanese Yen Lender from time to time as its “short prime rate” in Japan (it being understood that the same shall not necessarily be the best rate offered by the Japanese Yen Lender to customers).

Japanese Yen” means, at any time of determination, the then official currency of Japan.

Japanese Yen Amount” means, with respect to each Japanese Yen Loan made or continued (or to be made or continued) in Japanese Yen, the amount of such Japanese Yen which is equivalent to the principal amount in Dollars of such Japanese Yen Loan at the most favorable

 

32


spot exchange rate for the Company as determined by the Japanese Yen Lender to be available to it at approximately 11:00 a.m. (Tokyo time) two (2) Business Days before such Loan is made or continued (or to be made or continued). When used with respect to any other sum expressed in Dollars, “Japanese Yen Amount” shall mean the amount of such Japanese Yen which is equivalent to the amount so expressed in Dollars at the most favorable spot exchange rate for the Company as determined by the Japanese Yen Lender to be available to it at the relevant time.

Japanese Yen Commitment” means the lesser of (a) Forty Five Million Dollars ($45,000,000) and (b) the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

Japanese Yen Facility” means the Japanese Yen facility established pursuant to Section 2.2. The Japanese Yen Facility is a part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

Japanese Yen Lender” means Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, in its capacity as Japanese Yen Lender hereunder, or successor thereto in accordance with Section 12.9.

Japanese Yen Loan” means any revolving credit loan made by the Japanese Yen Lender to the Company pursuant to Section 2.2 and “Japanese Yen Loans” means all such Japanese Yen Loans, collectively, as the context requires.

Japanese Yen Note” means a promissory note made by the applicable Borrower in favor of the Japanese Yen Lender evidencing the Japanese Yen Loans made by the Japanese Yen Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, and any amendments, supplements and modifications thereto, any substitutes therefor and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.

KPI Metric means each of the (a) Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino Employment Rate, (b) Female Leadership Rate and (c) Sustainable Investing AUM Amount.

L/C Agent” means Wells Fargo, in its capacity as letter of credit administrator for the issuance of Several Letters of Credit hereunder and in its capacity as the fronting bank for Participating Lenders who have provided a Participating Notice with respect to any applicable Several Letter of Credit, or any successor thereto.

L/C Commitment” means an amount equal to the Aggregate Revolving Commitment then in effect.

L/C Facility” means the letter of credit facility established pursuant to Article III. The L/C Facility is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

L/C Fronting Commitment” means, as to any Issuing Lender, the obligation of such Issuing Lender to issue Fronted Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower from time to time in an aggregate amount up to the amount set forth opposite the name of each such Issuing Lender on Schedule 1.1(b) or such greater amount (but not in excess of the L/C Commitment) as is agreed to by such Issuing Lender, in its sole discretion, from time to time after request by the Company.

L/C Obligations” means at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate

 

33


amount of drawings under Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5. For purposes of determining the L/C Obligations held by any Lender, a Lender shall be deemed to hold an amount equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of each Lender’s direct obligation in respect of the undrawn portion of all outstanding Several Letters of Credit (or, if a Participating Lender, its risk participation in Several Letters of Credit with respect to which it is a Participating Lender), (ii) its risk participation in respect of the undrawn portion of all outstanding Fronted Letters of Credit, and (iii) its Revolving Commitment Percentage of the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.

L/C Participants” means (a) in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, the collective reference to all the Revolving Credit Lenders other than the Issuing Lender and (b) in the case of Several Letters of Credit, the collective reference to all the Participating Lenders.

Lender” means each Person executing this Agreement as a Lender (including, without limitation, the Japanese Yen Lender, the Issuing Lender, the L/C Agent, the Several Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lenders unless the context otherwise requires) set forth on the signature pages hereto and each Person that hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to Section 13.10.

Lending Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender maintaining such Lender’s Extensions of Credit.

Letter of Credit Application” means an application, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit K requesting the Issuing Lender to issue a Letter of Credit, as such Exhibit may be amended or modified from time to time by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion with the consent of the Company.

Letters of Credit” means a collective reference to the standby letters of credit issued pursuant to Section 3.1.

LIBOR” means, subject to the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 4.10(c):

(a)     with respect to any Extension of Credit denominated in a LIBOR Quoted Currency, the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars or the applicable Alternative Currency in minimum amounts of at least $5,000,000 or the applicable Alternative Currency Amountthe relevant currency for a period equal to the applicable Interest Period which appears on the Reuters Page LIBOR01, or its successor page as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company (or any other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Rate Determination Date. If, for any reason, such rate is not so published, then LIBOR shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Rate Determination Date for a period equal to such Interest Period;

 

34


(b)     with respect to any Extension of Credit denominated in a Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency, the rate designated with respect to such currency at the time such currency is approved by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof; and

(c)    for any interest rate calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for an Interest Period equal to one month (commencing on the date of determination of such interest rate) as published by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) on such date of determination, or, if such date is not a Business Days prior toDay, then the first day of the applicable Interest Period (rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) immediately preceding Business Day. If, for any reason, such rate doesis not appear on Reuters Page LIBOR01, or its successor page, so published then “LIBOR” for such Base Rate Loan shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars in minimum amounts of at least $5,000,000 or the applicable Alternative Currency Amount would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Periodon such date of determination for a period equal to one month commencing on such Interest Perioddate of determination.

Each calculation by the Administrative Agent of LIBOR shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if LIBOR (including, without limitation, any Benchmark Replacement with respect thereto) shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement and (ii) unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 4.10(c), in the event that a Benchmark Replacement with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Benchmark Replacement.

LIBOR Market Index Rate” means, subject to the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 4.10(c), for any day, the rate forof interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for an Interest Period equal to one (1) month U.S. Dollar deposits as reported on Reuters Page LIBOR01(commencing on the date of determination of such interest rate) as published by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or itsa comparable or successor page, as ofquoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m., (London time,) on such daydate of determination, or, if such daydate is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day (or if. If, for any reason, such rate is not so reported, published then asthe LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent from another recognized source or interbank quotation); provided, that if such rate to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination for a period equal to one month commencing on such date of determination.

Each calculation by the Administrative Agent of the LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the LIBOR Market Index Rate (including, without limitation, any Benchmark Replacement with respect thereto) shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this

 

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Agreement and (ii) unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 4.10(c), in the event that a Benchmark Replacement with respect to the LIBOR Market Index Rate is implemented then all references herein to the LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be deemed references to such Benchmark Replacement.

LIBOR Quoted Currency means each of the following currencies: Dollars, Euro, Pounds Sterling and Japanese Yen; in each case, as long as there is a published rate with respect thereto in the London interbank market and subject to the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 4.10(c) .

LIBOR Rate” means:

(a)    with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, a rate per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:

 

 

LIBOR Rate =

  

                     LIBOR

  
    

                 1.00-Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

  

and

(b)    with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, a rate per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) equal to LIBOR.

LIBOR Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the LIBOR Rate as provided in Section 4.1(a).

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, leasehold mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, hypothecation or encumbrance in the nature of security of any kind in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, each Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement, each Note and, subject to Section 13.22, the Letter of Credit Applications, all as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Loans” means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Loans, the USD Revolving Credit Loans, the Japanese Yen Loans and the Swingline Loans and “Loan” means any of such Loans.

London Banking Day means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market.

Mandatory Cost Rate” means the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Schedule 1.1 hereto.

 

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Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents.

Material Subsidiary” means (a) any Designated Borrower with outstanding Loans or Letters of Credit or requests for the same and (b) any Subsidiary of the Company that, as of any date of determination, either (i) accounts for ten percent (10%) or more of the revenue of the Company on a Consolidated basis or (ii) owns assets in excess of ten percent (10%) of the total assets of the Company on a Consolidated basis, in each case as determined by reference to the Company’s most recently completed annual audited financial statements and on a consistent basis with GAAP and Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Maturity Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) March 31, 20252026 (as such date may be extended with respect to consenting Lenders pursuant to Section 2.10), (b) the date of termination by the Company pursuant to Section 2.6, or (c) the date of termination pursuant to Section 11.2(a).

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

Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make, or has accrued an obligation to make contributions within the preceding six (6) years.

Net Hedging Obligations” means, as of any date, in respect of any Hedging Agreement, the Termination Value of any such Hedging Agreement on such date.

Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has not consented to any proposed amendment, modification, waiver or termination of any Loan Document which, pursuant to Section 13.2, requires the consent of such Lender and with respect to which the Required Lenders shall have granted their consent, (b) has objected to an increase or reinstatement of a Designated Borrower Maximum Borrowing Sublimit requested by the BorrowersCompany pursuant to a Sublimit Notice or (c) constitutes a Non-Consenting Lender with respect to any requested extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.10.

Non-LIBOR Quoted Currency means any currency other than a LIBOR Quoted Currency.

Notes” means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Notes, the USD Revolving Credit Notes, the Japanese Yen Note and the Swingline Notes.

Notice of Account Designation” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.4(g).

Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.4(a).

Notice of Conversion/Continuation” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.2.

Notice of Prepayment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.5(c).

 

37


Obligations” means, in each case, whether now in existence or hereafter arising: (a) the principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the filing of any bankruptcy or similar petition) the Loans, (b) the L/C Obligations and (c) all other fees and commissions (including attorneys’ fees), charges, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, financial accommodations, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Borrowers to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, in each case under any Loan Document, with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit of every kind, nature and description, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, contractual or tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or not evidenced by any note.

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

Officers Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of the chief financial officer, the head of business finance or the treasurer of the Company substantially in the form of Exhibit F.

Operating Lease” means, as to any Person as determined in accordance with GAAP, any lease of property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee which is not a Capital Lease.

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Participant” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13.10(d).

Participating Lender” means, from time to time, with respect to Several Letters of Credit identified in the relevant Participating Notice, a Lender that has provided a Participating Notice indicating that it is unable to issue such Letter of Credit due to regulatory restrictions or other legal impediments based on its relationship to the beneficiary. On the Closing Date, there are no Participating Lenders.

Participating Member State” means each state so described in any EMU Legislation.

Participating Notice” means a written notice delivered by a Lender to the Company, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Agent to the effect that such Lender is a Participating Lender with respect to any potential (or previously issued but to be amended) Several Letter of Credit and stating the basis for such status.

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

Pension Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan or Foreign Pension Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and which (a) is maintained for the employees of Company or any ERISA Affiliates or (b) has at any time within the preceding six (6) years been maintained for the employees of Company or any of its current or former ERISA Affiliates.

 

38


Permitted Currency” means (a) Dollars, (b) Japanese Yen, (c) Pounds Sterling, (d) Euros, and (e) any other currency agreed upon by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and all of the Lenders.

Permitted Liens” means the Liens permitted pursuant to Section 10.1.

Permitted Securitization” shall mean any sales or other transfers from time to time by the Company or its Material Subsidiaries of all or any portion of its receivables in one or more securitization transactions.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, governmental authority or other entity.

Pounds Sterling” means, at any time of determination, the then official currency of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Pricing Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit M executed by a Responsible Officer of the Company and attaching a true and correct copy of the SASB Aligned Report for the most recently ended Fiscal Year and setting forth the Sustainability Fee Adjustment and the Sustainability Rate Adjustment resulting therefrom.

Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy has the meaning specified in Section 4.17(d).

Prime Rate” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by Wells Fargo as its prime rate. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs. The parties hereto acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by Wells Fargo as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

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.

Rate Determination Date means, with respect to any Interest Period, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (or such other day as is generally treated as the rate fixing day by market practice in such interbank market, as determined by the Administrative Agent; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such other day as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent).

Reference Time with respect to any setting of any then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is USD LIBOR, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two (2) London Banking Days preceding the date of such setting, (2) if such Benchmark is the London interbank offered rate for a LIBOR Quoted Currency (other than Dollars), 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the applicable Rate Determination Date, and (3) otherwise, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

Register” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13.10(c).

 

39


Reimbursement Obligation” means the obligation of the Company to reimburse the Issuing Lender and the Several Issuing Lenders pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit.

Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the directors, officers, employees, agents, partners and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Relevant Governmental Body” means, with respect to any given Benchmark Replacement, (a) the central bank for the currency in whichapplicable to such Benchmark Replacement is denominated or any central bank or other supervisor whichthat is responsible for supervising either (i) such Benchmark Replacement or (ii) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement or (b) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (i) the central bank for the currency in whichapplicable to such Benchmark Replacement is denominated, (ii) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (A) such Benchmark Replacement or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement, (iii) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (iv) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.

Required Lenders” means, at any date, any combination of Lenders who hold in aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Aggregate Commitment or, if the Credit Facility has been terminated pursuant to Section 11.2, any combination of Lenders holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Extensions of Credit (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation in Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations being deemed to be “held” by such Lender for the purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Extensions of Credit, as applicable, held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

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

Responsible Officer” means, with respect to any Borrower, the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, head of business finance or treasurer of such Borrower or any other officer of such Borrower proposed by such Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of such Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Borrower .

Revolving Commitment Percentage” means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, the ratio of (a) the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Revolving Credit Lender to (b) the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders.

Revolving Credit Commitment” means (a) as to any Revolving Credit Lender, that portion of the Commitment of such Revolving Credit Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility and (b) as to all Revolving Credit Lenders, the aggregate Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility, as such amount may be reduced, increased or otherwise

 

40


modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The Revolving Credit Commitment of each Lender is set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(b) or in the Register (giving effect to any Assignment and Assumption), as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Revolving Credit Facility” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.1(a).

Revolving Credit Lender” means any Lender with a Commitment to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder.

Revolving Credit Loans” means any revolving loan made to any Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(a), and all such revolving loans collectively as the context requires.

Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note made by the applicable Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, and any amendments, supplements and modifications thereto, any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a part of McGraw-Hill Financial and any successor thereto.

Sanctioned Country” means at any time a country, region or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of comprehensive Sanctions (including, without limitation, Cuba, Crimea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

Sanctioned Person” means at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned 50% or more or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in clauses (a) and (b).

Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. Government (including those administered by OFAC), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or the United Nations Security Council.

SASB Aligned Report means an annual report prepared by the Company that is aligned to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB ) framework for Asset Management and Custody Activities or equivalent standards setting forth the results for each KPI Metric for any given Fiscal Year of the Company, commencing with the publicly available annual report covering 2021.

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

Securities Lending Indemnification Losses” means any loss to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries resulting from the indemnification of certain of its or their lending clients against a collateral shortfall arising from a counterparty’s default under a securities lending agreement

 

41


entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as agent on behalf of its or their lending clients, provided, however, that the securities loan counterparty was rated investment grade by any of the following three rating agencies at the time the loan was entered into or last rolled: S&P, Moody’s or Fitch Ratings.

Several Issuing Lender” means, with respect to any Several Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender other than a Participating Lender with respect to such Several Letter of Credit.

Several Letter of Credit” means a standby Letter of Credit issued severally by or on behalf of the Several Issuing Lenders pursuant to which the Several Issuing Lenders are severally liable for payment to the beneficiary, and pursuant to which any Participating Lender shall have a participation obligation therein to the L/C Agent, each of which such standby letters of credit shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit H or in such other form consistent with the second proviso to Section 3.1(d) as may be agreed by the Company and the L/C Agent.

SOFR means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrators Website on the immediately succeeding Business Day.

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

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

Specified Jurisdictions” means England and Wales, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland.

Sublimit Notice” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.1(a).

Subsidiary” means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Capital Stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at the time owned by or the management is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person (irrespective of whether, at the time, Capital Stock of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency); provided, however, that a Subsidiary shall not include any Excluded Subsidiary. Unless otherwise qualified, references to “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” herein shall refer to those of the Company.

Sustainability Structuring Agents means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. or such other entities appointed to such role in accordance with Section 4.17(h).

 

42


Sustainability Fee Adjustment means, with respect to any SASB Aligned Report for any Fiscal Year, an amount, expressed as a percentage, equal to +0.01%, 0% or -0.01%, as the case may be, in each case for such Fiscal Year, as set forth in Annex B of Exhibit M.

Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Date has the meaning specified in Section 4.17(a).

Sustainability Rate Adjustment with respect to any SASB Aligned Report for any Fiscal Year, an amount, expressed as a percentage, equal to +0.05%, 0% or -0.05%, as the case may be, in each case for such Fiscal Year, as set forth in Annex B of Exhibit M.

Sustainability Table means the Sustainability Table set forth on Schedule 4.17.

Sustainability Target means, in any Fiscal Year, with respect to the (i) Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino Employment Rate, the Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino Employment Rate Target C for such Fiscal Year, (ii) Sustainability Investing AUM Amount, the Sustainability Investing AUM Amount Target A for such Fiscal Year, and (iii) Female Leadership Rate, the Female Leadership Target B for such Fiscal Year.

Sustainability Threshold means, in any Fiscal Year, with respect to the (i) Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino Employment Rate, the Black, African American, Hispanic and Latino Employment Rate Threshold C for such Fiscal Year, (ii) Sustainability Investing AUM Amount, the Sustainability Investing AUM Amount Threshold A for such Fiscal Year, and (iii) Female Leadership Rate, the Female Leadership Threshold B for such Fiscal Year.

Sustainable Investing AUM Amount means, for any Fiscal Year of the Company, the amount of assets under management that employ Dedicated Sustainable Investments as defined in and as disclosed annually under Code # FN-AC-410a.1 in the SASB Aligned Report, as amended from time to time.

Sustainable Investing AUM Amount Target A means, with respect to any Fiscal Year, the Sustainable Investing AUM Amount Target A for such Fiscal Year as set forth in the Sustainability Table in Schedule 4.17.

Sustainable Investing AUM Amount Threshold A means, with respect to any Fiscal Year, Sustainable Investing AUM Amount Threshold A for such Fiscal Year as set forth in the Sustainability Table in Schedule 4.17.

Swingline Commitment” means, with respect to (i) each Swingline Lender at any time, the Swingline Commitment of such Swingline Lender as set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(b) or in the Register (giving effect to any Assignment and Assumption), as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) all Swingline Lenders at any time, all such Swingline Lenders’ aggregate Swingline Commitments then in effect, provided that in no event shall the Swingline Commitments of all Swingline Lenders exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

 

43


Swingline Facility” means the swingline facility established pursuant to Section 2.3. The Swingline Facility is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

Swingline Lender” means each of Wells Fargo, Citibank, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., each in its capacity as a swingline lender hereunder, or any other affiliate financial institution of any of the foregoing Lenders, designated by such Lender and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Company to act as its correspondent hereunder with respect to the distribution and payment of Swingline Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, or any successor thereto.

Swingline Loan” means any swingline loan made by any Swingline Lender to any Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3, and “Swingline Loans” means all such swingline loans collectively as the context requires.

Swingline Note” means each promissory note made by the applicable Borrower in favor of any Swingline Lender evidencing the Swingline Loans made by such Swingline Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, and any amendments, supplements and modifications thereto, any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.

Swingline Termination Date” means the first to occur of (a) the resignation of each Swingline Lender as a Swingline Lender in accordance with the terms hereof (solely to the extent no successor agrees to assume the duties and responsibilities of a Swingline Lender in connection with such resignation) and (b) the Maturity Date.

Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an Operating Lease in accordance with GAAP.

TARGET2” shall mean Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007.

TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

Tax Confirmation” means a confirmation by a Lender that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Loan Document is:

(a)    a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; or

(b)    a partnership each member of which is (i) a company resident in the United Kingdom or (ii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing

 

44


its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009; or

(c)    a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (for the purposes of section 19 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009) of that company.

Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Termination Event” means except for any such event or condition that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) a “Reportable Event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA for which the notice requirement has not been waived by the PBGC, or (b) the withdrawal of Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (c) the termination of a Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination, under Section 4041 of ERISA, if the plan assets are not sufficient to pay all plan liabilities, or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate, or the appointment of a trustee with respect to, any Pension Plan by the PBGC, or (e) any other event or condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan, or (f) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, or (g) the partial or complete withdrawal of Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan if withdrawal liability is asserted by such plan, or (h) any event or condition which results in the reorganization or insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Sections 4241 or 4245 of ERISA, or (i) any event or condition which results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the institution by PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA.

Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Hedging Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedging Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedging Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedging Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedging Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Threshold Adjustment has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.17(c).

Term SOFR means, for the applicable Corresponding Tenor as of the applicable Reference Time, the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

 

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Term SOFR Notice means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Company of the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event.

Term SOFR Transition Event means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term SOFR has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term SOFR is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, has previously occurred resulting in the replacement of the applicable then-current Benchmark with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in Dollars or calculated with respect thereto for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 4.10(c) with a Benchmark Replacement the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement component of which is not Term SOFR.

Treaty Lender” means a Lender which is treated as a resident of a Treaty State for the purposes of the Treaty, does not carry on a business in the United Kingdom (in respect of a UK Qualifying Lender) or Germany (in respect of a German Qualifying Lender) through a permanent establishment with which that Lender’s participation in the Loans is effectively connected and meets all other conditions in the Treaty for full exemption from tax imposed on interest by the United Kingdom (in respect of a UK Qualifying Lender) or by Germany (in respect of a German Qualifying Lender).

Treaty on European Union” means the Treaty of Rome of March 25, 1957, as amended by the Single European Act of 1986 and the Maastricht Treaty (signed February 7, 1992), as amended from time to time.

Treaty State” means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement (a “Treaty”) with the United Kingdom (in respect of a UK Qualifying Lender) or with Germany (in respect of a German Qualifying Lender), which makes provision for full exemption from tax imposed by the United Kingdom (in respect of a UK Qualifying Lender) or by Germany (in respect of a German Qualifying Lender) on interest.

UK Borrower” means (a) any Borrower that is incorporated in the United Kingdom and (b) any Borrower in respect of which written notice is given to the Administrative Agent (by the Company) prior to that Borrower becoming a Borrower that that Borrower is resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes.

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

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

 

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UK Qualifying Lender” means a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Loan Document and is:

(a)    a Lender (i) which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the Income Tax Act 2007 of the United Kingdom (the “Taxes Act”)) making an advance under a Loan Document, or (ii) in respect of an advance made under a Loan Document by a person that was a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the Taxes Act) at the time that such advance was made, and which, in either case, is within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance; or

(b)    a Lender which is (i) a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; (ii) a partnership each member of which is (A) a company resident in the United Kingdom or (B) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009; or (iii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (for the purposes of section 19 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009) of that company; or

(c)    a Treaty Lender with respect to a UK Borrower.

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacementwith respect to a given Benchmark Replacement, suchmeans the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for such Benchmark Replacement.

United States” means the United States of America.

Unrestricted Cash” means all cash of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries (i) that is not subject to a Lien (other than banker’s or similar liens) or (ii) the use of such cash by the Company or any such Subsidiary is not restricted by Applicable Law.

USD LIBOR means the London interbank offered rate for Dollars.

USD Revolving Commitment Percentage” means, as to any USD Revolving Credit Lender at any time with respect to the USD Revolving Credit Facility, the ratio of (a) the USD Revolving Credit Commitment of such USD Revolving Credit Lender to (b) the aggregate USD Revolving Credit Commitments of all USD Revolving Credit Lenders.

USD Revolving Credit Commitment” means (a) as to any USD Revolving Credit Lender, that portion of the Commitment of such USD Revolving Credit Lender under the USD Revolving Credit Facility and (b) as to all USD Revolving Credit Lenders, the aggregate Commitments of all USD Revolving Credit Lenders under the USD Revolving Credit Facility, as such amount may be reduced, increased or otherwise modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The USD Revolving Credit Commitment of each Lender is set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(b) or in the Register (giving effect to any Assignment and Assumption), as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

USD Revolving Credit Facility” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.1(b).

 

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USD Revolving Credit Lender” means any Lender with a Commitment to make USD Revolving Credit Loans hereunder.

USD Revolving Credit Loans” means any revolving loan made to the Company in Dollars pursuant to Section 2.1(b), and all such revolving loans collectively as the context requires.

USD Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note made by the Company in favor of a Lender evidencing the USD Revolving Credit Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-4, and any amendments, supplements and modifications thereto, any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.

Wells/CGMI Fee Letter” means the separate fee letter agreement executed by the Company, Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., dated February 11, 2011.

Wells Fargo” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association, and its successors.

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

SECTION 1.2. Other Definitions and Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document: (a) the definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined, (b) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms, (c) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (d) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”, (e) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (f) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s permitted successors and assigns, (g) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (h) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (i) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities,

 

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accounts and contract rights, (j) the term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form, (k) in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including”, and (l) section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

SECTION 1.3. Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

SECTION 1.4. Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by any of the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

SECTION 1.5. References to Agreement and Laws. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to formation documents, governing documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Applicable Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Applicable Law.

SECTION 1.6. Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

SECTION 1.7. Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to mean the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Letter of Credit Application therefor, whether or not such maximum face amount is in effect at such time.

SECTION 1.8. Effectiveness of Euro Provisions. With respect to any state (or the currency of such state) that is not a Participating Member State on the date of this Agreement, the provisions of Sections 4.1(f), 4.8(b), 4.8(c), 4.8(d) and 4.15 shall become effective in relation to such state (and the currency of such state) at and from the date on which such state becomes a Participating Member State.

SECTION 1.9. Amount of Obligations. Unless otherwise specified, for purposes of this Agreement, any determination of the amount of any outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans, L/C Obligations or other Obligations shall be based upon the Dollar Amount of such outstanding Obligations.

 

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SECTION 1.10. Divisions. Any reference herein to a merger, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term (and including any reference to the creation of any Subsidiary), shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term (including the creation of a Subsidiary), as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).

SECTION 1.11. Rates. The interest rate on Loans denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency may be determined by reference to a benchmark rate that is, or may in the future become, the subject to regulatory reform or cessation. Regulators have signaled the need to use alternative reference rates for some of these benchmark rates and, as a result, such benchmark rates may cease to comply with applicable laws and regulations, may be permanently discontinued or the basis on which they are calculated may change. The London interbank offered rate, which may be one of the benchmark rates with reference to which the interest rate on Loans may be determined, is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. On March 5, 2021, the ICE Benchmark Administration (the IBA), the administrator of the London interbank offered rate, and the Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA ), the regulatory supervisor of IBA, announced in public statements (the Announcements) that the final publication or representativeness date for the London interbank offered rate for: (a) Pounds Sterling, Japanese Yen, and Euros will be December 31, 2021, (b) Dollars for 1-week and 2-month tenor settings will be December 31, 2021 and (c) Dollars for overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month tenor settings will be June 30, 2023. No successor administrator for IBA was identified in such Announcements. As a result, it is possible that commencing immediately after such dates, the London interbank offered rate for such currencies and tenors may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed a representative reference rate upon which to determine the interest rate on applicable Loans. There is no assurance that the dates set forth in the Announcements will not change or that IBA or the FCA will not take further action that could impact the availability, composition or characteristics of any London interbank offered rate. Public and private sector industry initiatives have been and continue, as of the date hereof, to be underway to implement new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of London interbank offered rates. In the event that the London interbank offered rate or any other then-current Benchmark is no longer available or in certain other circumstances set forth in Section 4.10(c), such Section 4.10(c) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent will notify the Company, pursuant to Section 4.10(c), of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on Loans is based. However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, (i) the administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of LIBOR or the LIBOR Market Index Rate or with respect to any alternative, comparable or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including any then-current Benchmark or any Benchmark Replacement), including

 

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whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate (including any Benchmark Replacement), as it may or may not be adjusted pursuant to Section 4.10(c), will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, LIBOR or the LIBOR Market Index Rate or any other Benchmark, or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (ii) the effect, implementation or composition of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.

ARTICLE II

REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITIES

SECTION 2.1. Revolving Credit Loans and USD Revolving Credit Loans.

(a)    Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans in a Permitted Currency to one or more of the Borrowers from time to time from the Closing Date through, but not including, the Maturity Date as requested by the Company in accordance with the terms of Section 2.4 (the “Revolving Credit Facility”); provided that (v) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested and the use thereof) shall not exceed an amount equal to the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the sum of all outstanding Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations, (w) the principal amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans from any Revolving Credit Lender to the Borrowers shall not at any time exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment less such Revolving Credit Lender’s L/C Obligations and Revolving Commitment Percentage of all outstanding Japanese Yen Loans and Swingline Loans, (x) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested and the use thereof) made to the Designated Borrowers shall not exceed the applicable Designated Borrower Sublimit less the sum of all outstanding Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations made to or for the account of the applicable Designated Borrower, (y) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested and the use thereof) made to the Company shall not exceed the applicable Company Sublimit less the sum of all outstanding Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations made to or for the account of the Company and (z) no Revolving Credit Loan shall be made at any time a Swingline Loan is outstanding unless all outstanding Swingline Loans are repaid concurrently with the making of such Revolving Credit Loan. Each Revolving Credit Loan by a Revolving Credit Lender shall be in a principal amount equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans requested on such occasion; provided, however, that (A) the Company Sublimit and the Designated Borrower Sublimit imposed by this Section shall remain in full force and effect until such time that the Borrowers notifyCompany notifies the Administrative Agent that such Company Sublimit or Designated Borrower Sublimit, as applicable, has been modified or terminated (subject to any applicable consent required by clause (C) below) by delivering to the Administrative Agent a Sublimit Notice substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit L (a “Sublimit Notice”), it being understood that any reduction or termination of a Designated Borrower Sublimit with respect to a Designated Borrower shall only be effective if, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Loans payable by, and Letters of

 

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Credit issued for the account of, such Designated Borrower shall be less than the Designated Borrower Sublimit applicable to such Designated Borrower after giving effect to such reduction or termination, (B) in the event the Company Sublimit or a Designated Borrower Sublimit is terminated, such Company Sublimit or Designated Borrower Sublimit, as applicable, may (subject to any applicable consent required by clause (C) below, and so long as such Designated Borrower has not been terminated pursuant to Section 2.9(e)) be reinstated at any time by the BorrowersCompany by delivering to the Administrative Agent a Sublimit Notice and, (C) any reduction of, or increase to, a Designated Borrower Sublimit shall become effective after the Company notifies the Administrative Agent thereof so long as, with respect to any increase thereof, such Designated Borrower Sublimit does not exceed the applicable Designated Borrower Maximum Borrowing Sublimit in effect at such time, (D) any reduction to the Designated Borrower Maximum Borrowing Sublimit shall become effective after the Company notifies the Administrative Agent thereof and (E) any increase of, or reinstatement of, any Designated Borrower Maximum Borrowing Sublimit shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed (it being understood that, in the case of any Designated Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent shall, prior to granting such consent, notify the Lenders providing any portion of the applicable Designated Borrower Maximum Borrowing Sublimit of the request under such Sublimit Notice, and if any such Lender informs the Administrative Agent in writing that any Applicable Law or applicable lending guideline or directive of, or applicable to, such Lender would result in such Lender not being permitted to provide its portion of the applicable Designated Borrower Maximum Borrowing Sublimit (or increase thereof), then the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have a reasonable basis for withholding consent).. Revolving Credit Loans to be made in an Alternative Currency shall be funded in an amount equal to the Alternative Currency Amount of such Revolving Credit Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans hereunder until the Maturity Date.

(b)    USD Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each USD Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make USD Revolving Credit Loans in Dollars to the Company from time to time from the Amendment No.  510 Effective Date through, but not including, the Maturity Date as requested by the Company in accordance with the terms of Section 2.4 (the “USD Revolving Credit Facility”); provided that (x) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding USD Revolving Credit Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested and the use thereof) shall not exceed an amount equal to the Aggregate USD Revolving Commitment and (y) the principal amount of outstanding USD Revolving Credit Loans from any USD Revolving Credit Lender to the Company shall not at any time exceed such USD Revolving Credit Lender’s USD Revolving Credit Commitment. Each USD Revolving Credit Loan by a USD Revolving Credit Lender shall be in a principal amount equal to such USD Revolving Credit Lender’s USD Revolving Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of USD Revolving Credit Loans requested on such occasion. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company may borrow, repay and reborrow USD Revolving Credit Loans hereunder until the Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.2. Japanese Yen Loans.

(a)    Availability. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Japanese Yen Lender agrees to make Japanese Yen Loans to any Borrower at the direction of the

 

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Administrative Agent, from time to time from the Closing Date through, but not including, the Maturity Date as requested by the Company, in accordance with the terms of Section 2.4; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Japanese Yen Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested) shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the sum of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations and (ii) the Japanese Yen Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow, repay and reborrow Japanese Yen Loans hereunder until the Maturity Date.

(b)    Refunding of Japanese Yen Loans.

(i)    Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Japanese Yen Loan may, at the discretion of the Japanese Yen Lender, be converted immediately to a Base Rate Loan funded in Dollars by the Revolving Credit Lenders in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such Japanese Yen Loan; provided that each Borrower shall pay (or shall cause to be paid) to the Japanese Yen Lender any and all reasonable out-of -pocket costs, fees and other expenses incurred by the Japanese Yen Lender in effecting such conversion of any Loans made to such Borrower. Such Base Rate Loan shall thereafter be reflected as a Revolving Credit Loan of the Revolving Credit Lenders to the applicable Borrower on the books and records of the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall fund its respective Revolving Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Credit Loan as required to repay Japanese Yen Loans outstanding to the Japanese Yen Lender upon such demand by the Japanese Yen Lender in no event later than 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on the next succeeding Business Day after such demand is made. No Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to fund its respective Revolving Commitment Percentage of any Revolving Credit Loan required to repay such Japanese Yen Loan shall be affected by any other Revolving Credit Lender’s failure to fund its Revolving Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Credit Loan, nor shall any Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage be increased as a result of any such failure of any other Revolving Credit Lender to fund its Revolving Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Credit Loan.

(ii)    The applicable Borrower shall pay to the Japanese Yen Lender on demand the amount of such Japanese Yen Loans to the extent that the Revolving Credit Lenders fail to refund in full the outstanding Japanese Yen Loans requested or required to be refunded. In addition, each Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to charge any account maintained by such Borrower with the Japanese Yen Lender or any Affiliate thereof (up to the amount available therein) upon one (1) Business Day’s notice to the Company in order to immediately pay the Japanese Yen Lender the amount of such Japanese Yen Loans to the extent amounts received from the Revolving Credit Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the outstanding Japanese Yen Loans requested or required to be refunded. If any portion of any such amount paid to the Japanese Yen Lender shall be recovered by or on behalf of the applicable Borrower from the Japanese Yen Lender in bankruptcy or otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Percentages (unless the amounts so recovered by or on behalf of the such Borrower pertain to a Japanese Yen Loan extended after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default of which the Japanese Yen Lender has received notice and which such Event of Default has not been waived in accordance with Section 13.2).

 

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(iii)    Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to refund Japanese Yen Loans in accordance with the terms of this Section is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including, without limitation, non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article V. Further, each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that if prior to the refunding of any outstanding Japanese Yen Loans pursuant to this Section, one of the events described in Sections 11.1(i) and (j) shall have occurred, each Revolving Credit Lender will, on the date the applicable Revolving Credit Loan would have been made to refund such Japanese Yen Loans, purchase an undivided participating interest in such Japanese Yen Loans in an amount equal to its Revolving Commitment Percentage of the aggregate amount of such Japanese Yen Loans. Each Revolving Credit Lender will immediately transfer to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Japanese Yen Lender, in immediately available funds in Japanese Yen, the amount of its participation and upon receipt thereof the Japanese Yen Lender will deliver to such Revolving Credit Lender a certificate evidencing such participation dated the date of receipt of such funds and for such amount. Whenever, at any time after the Japanese Yen Lender has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Revolving Credit Lender’s participating interest in the refunded Japanese Yen Loans, the Japanese Yen Lender receives any payment on account thereof, the Japanese Yen Lender will distribute to such Revolving Credit Lender its participating interest in such amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Credit Lender’s participating interest was outstanding and funded).

(c)    Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.2, the Japanese Yen Lender shall not be obligated to make any Japanese Yen Loan at a time when any other Lender is a Defaulting Lender, unless the Japanese Yen Lender has entered into arrangements (which may include delivery of cash collateral) with the applicable Borrower or such Defaulting Lender which are satisfactory to the Japanese Yen Lender to eliminate the Japanese Yen Lender’s Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 4.16), if any, with respect to any such Defaulting Lender.

SECTION 2.3. Swingline Loans.

(a)    Availability. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to any Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date through, but not including, the Swingline Termination Date; provided, that (i) all Swingline Loans shall be denominated in Dollars or Pounds Sterling, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swingline Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested and the use thereof) shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the sum of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Japanese Yen Loans and the L/C Obligations and (B) the aggregate Swingline Commitments of all Swingline Lenders and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swingline Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested and the use thereof) of any Swingline Lender shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the Swingline Commitment of such Swingline Lender then in effect and (B) the Revolving Credit Commitment of such

 

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Revolving Credit Lender acting as Swingline Lender less such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans, L/C Obligations and Revolving Commitment Percentage of all outstanding Japanese Yen Loans and Swingline Loans (other than Swingline Loans made by such Swingline Lender).

(b)    Refunding.

(i)    Swingline Loans shall be refunded by the Revolving Credit Lenders on demand by the applicable Swingline Lender. Such refundings shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Percentages and shall upon such refunding be immediately treated as Revolving Credit Loans hereunder and promptly thereafter be reflected as Revolving Credit Loans of the Revolving Credit Lenders on the Register. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall fund its respective Revolving Commitment Percentage of Revolving Credit Loans as required to repay Swingline Loans outstanding to the Swingline Lender upon demand by the Swingline Lender but in no event later than (x) 1:00 p.m. on the second succeeding Business Day after such demand is made to refund Swingline Loans denominated in Dollars and (y) 1:00 p.m. on the fourth succeeding Business Day after such demand is made to refund Swingline Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling. All such Revolving Credit Loans refunding Swingline Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling shall be made as Alternative Currency Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling. All such Revolving Credit Loans refunding Swingline Loans denominated in Dollars shall be made as Base Rate Loans. No Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to fund its respective Revolving Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan shall be affected by any other Revolving Credit Lender’s failure to fund its Revolving Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan, nor shall any Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage be increased as a result of any such failure of any other Revolving Credit Lender to fund its Revolving Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan.

(ii)    Each Borrower shall pay to the applicable Swingline Lender on demand the outstanding amount of Swingline Loans made to such Borrower by such Swingline Lender to the extent amounts received from the Revolving Credit Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. In addition, each Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to charge any account maintained by such Borrower with any Swingline Lender (up to the amount available therein) upon one (1) Business Day’s notice to the Company in order to immediately pay such Swingline Lender the amount of such Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from the Revolving Credit Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. If any portion of any such amount paid to a Swingline Lender shall be recovered by or on behalf of the applicable Borrower from such Swingline Lender in bankruptcy or otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Percentage (unless the amounts so recovered by or on behalf of the such Borrower pertain to a Swingline Loan extended after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default of which the Administrative Agent has received notice in the manner required pursuant to Section 12.3 and which such Event of Default has not been waived in accordance with Section 13.2).

 

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(iii)    Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to refund Swingline Loans in accordance with the terms of this Section is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including, without limitation, non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article V. Further, each Revolving Credit Lender agrees and acknowledges that if prior to the refunding of any outstanding Swingline Loans pursuant to this Section, one of the events described in Section 11.1(j) or (k) shall have occurred, each Revolving Credit Lender will, on the date the applicable Revolving Credit Loan would have been made, purchase an undivided participating interest in the Swingline Loan to be refunded in an amount equal to its Revolving Commitment Percentage of the aggregate amount of such Swingline Loan. Each Revolving Credit Lender will immediately transfer to the applicable Swingline Lender, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participation and upon receipt thereof the applicable Swingline Lender will deliver to such Revolving Credit Lender a certificate evidencing such participation dated the date of receipt of such funds and for such amount. Whenever, at any time after any Swingline Lender has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Revolving Credit Lender’s participating interest in a Swingline Loan, such Swingline Lender receives any payment on account thereof, such Swingline Lender will distribute to such Revolving Credit Lender its participating interest in such amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Credit Lender’s participating interest was outstanding and funded).

(c)    Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.3, no Swingline Lender shall be obligated to make any Swingline Loan at a time when any other Lender is a Defaulting Lender, unless such Swingline Lender has entered into arrangements (which may include delivery of cash collateral) with the Company (or the applicable Borrower) or such Defaulting Lender which are satisfactory to such Swingline Lender to eliminate such Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 4.16), if any, with respect to any such Defaulting Lender.

(d)    Reporting of Swingline Loans. At any time that there is a Swingline Lender that is not also the financial institution acting as Administrative Agent, then (a) on the last Business Day of each calendar month, (b) on each date that a Swingline Loan is made, repaid, prepaid, extended or modified, and (c) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Swingline Lender (or, in the case of clauses (b) or (c) of this Section, the applicable Swingline Lender) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a report setting forth in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent information (including, without limitation, any payment, repayment, prepayment, reimbursement, cash collateral, or termination in respect of Swingline Loans made by such Swingline Lender) with respect to each Swingline Loan made by such Swingline Lender. In addition, each Swingline Lender shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent of any assignment of any portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment or other change to its commitment to make Swingline Loans promptly upon such occurrence. No failure on the part of any Swingline Lender to provide such information pursuant to this Section 2.3(d) shall limit the obligations of any Borrower or any Revolving Credit Lender hereunder with respect to its reimbursement and participation obligations hereunder.

 

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SECTION 2.4. Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans, USD Revolving Credit Loans Japanese Yen Loans and Swingline Loans.

(a)    Requests for Borrowing. The Company shall give the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of Swingline Loans, each Swingline Lender from whom the Company is requesting a Swingline Loan, which may be on a non-pro-rata basis as between Swingline Lenders) irrevocable prior written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit B (a “Notice of Borrowing”) or telephonic notice (followed by prompt delivery of such Notice of Borrowing) not later than (i) 11:00 a.m. Charlotte time in the case of (w) a Base Rate Loan, (x) a Swingline Loan denominated in Dollars, (y) a Swingline Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling if such notice is provided the Business Day prior to such Swingline Loan or (z) a LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, (ii) 1:00 p.m. (or, in the case where Wells Fargo is the applicable Swingline Lender, 11:00 a.m.) London time in the case of a Swingline Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling if such notice is provided on the same day as such Swingline Loan, (iii) 5:00 p.m. London time in the case of a LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency or (iv) 1:00 p.m. Charlotte time in the case of a Japanese Yen Loan, in each case, as applicable (I) on the same Business Day as each Base Rate Loan, each Swingline Loan denominated in Dollars and each Swingline Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling if such notice is provided by 1:00 p.m. (or, in the case where Wells Fargo is the applicable Swingline Lender, 11:00 a.m.) London time, (II) on or prior to the Business Day before each Swingline Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling if such notice is provided by 11:00 a.m. Charlotte time, (III) on or prior to the second Business Day before each Japanese Base Rate Loan, (IV) on or prior to the third (3rd) Business Day before each LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in Dollars and (V) on or prior to the fourth (4th) Business Day before each LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, of the applicable Borrower’s intention to borrow, specifying (A) the date of such borrowing, which shall be a Business Day, (B) whether such Loan is to be a Revolving Credit Loan, a USD Revolving Credit Loan, a Swingline Loan or a Japanese Yen Loan, (C) the applicable Permitted Currency, (D) if such Loan is denominated in Dollars, whether such Loan shall be a LIBOR Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan, (E) the amount of such borrowing, which shall be in an amount equal to the amount of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment, the Aggregate USD Revolving Commitment, the applicable Swingline Commitment of the applicable Swingline Lender or the Japanese Yen Commitment, as applicable, then available to the applicable Borrower, or if less, (1) with respect to Base Rate Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (2) with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in Dollars in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (3) with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in a Permitted Currency (other than Dollars) in an aggregate principal Alternative Currency Amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (4) with respect to Japanese Yen Loans in an aggregate principal Japanese Yen Amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and (5) with respect to Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, (F) in the case of a LIBOR Rate Loan, the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto and (G) the applicable Borrower with respect to such Loan (which, in the case of any USD Revolving Credit Loan, shall be the Company). A Notice of Borrowing received after the time set forth above shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing, including, in the instance of a Japanese Yen Loan, instructions for the advancement of such loans.

 

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(b)    Disbursement of Revolving Credit Loans and USD Revolving Credit Loans Denominated in Dollars and Swingline Loans Denominated in Dollars. Not later than 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on the proposed borrowing date for any Revolving Credit Loan denominated in Dollars, any USD Revolving Credit Loan and any Swingline Loan denominated in Dollars, (i) each Revolving Credit Lender or USD Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable, will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Borrower, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in funds in Dollars immediately available to the Administrative Agent, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Credit Loans, or USD Revolving Commitment Percentage of USD Revolving Credit Loans, in each case to be made on such borrowing date and (ii) the applicable Swingline Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Borrower, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in funds in Dollars immediately available to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Loans denominated in Dollars to be made on such borrowing date.

(c)    Disbursement of Revolving Credit Loans Denominated in an Alternative Currency. Not later than 1:00 p.m. (the time of the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) on or before the proposed borrowing date for any Revolving Credit Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, each Revolving Credit Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent in the requested Alternative Currency in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the Alternative Currency Amount of the Revolving Credit Loan to be made on such borrowing date.

(d)    Disbursement of Japanese Yen Loans. Not later than 1:00 p.m. (Tokyo time) on the proposed borrowing date for any Japanese Yen Loan, the Japanese Yen Lender will make funds immediately available to the applicable Borrower, on the direction of the Administrative Agent. Each such Japanese Yen Loan will be made on the borrowing date at a rate determined by the Japanese Yen Lender in accordance with the definition of the Japanese Base Rate. The instructions regarding the Japanese Yen Loans may be modified from time to time with the agreement of the Administrative Agent, the Company and the Japanese Yen Lender, with notice thereof to the Lenders.

(e)    Disbursement of Next-Day Swingline Loans Denominated in Pounds Sterling. Not later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on or before the proposed borrowing date for any Swingline Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling if the relevant Borrowing Notice is provided on the Business day prior to such Swingline Loan, the applicable Swingline Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent in Pounds Sterling in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling to be made on such borrowing date.

(f)    Disbursement of Same-Day Swingline Loans Denominated in Pounds Sterling. On the proposed borrowing date for any Swingline Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling if the relevant Borrowing Notice is provided on the same day as such Swingline Loan, the applicable Swingline Lender will make immediately available (but, in any event, no later than 3:00 p.m. (London time)) directly to the applicable Borrower the Swingline Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling to be made on such borrowing date. Contemporaneously with the funding of each Swingline Loan to the applicable Borrower, the applicable Swingline Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent (Charlotte office) of such Swingline Loan.

 

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(g)    Account Designation. The Borrowers hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested pursuant to this Section in immediately available funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the applicable Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially in the form of Exhibit C (a “Notice of Account Designation”) delivered by the Company to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise agreed upon by the Company and the Administrative Agent from time to time. Subject to Section 4.7 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to disburse the portion of the proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loan or USD Revolving Credit Loan requested pursuant to this Section to the extent that any Revolving Credit Lender or USD Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable, has not made available to the Administrative Agent its Revolving Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Credit Loan or its USD Revolving Commitment Percentage of such USD Revolving Credit Loan, as applicable. Revolving Credit Loans to be made for the purpose of (A) refunding Japanese Yen Loans shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders as provided in Section 2.2(b) and (B) refunding Swingline Loans shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders as provided in Section 2.3(b).

SECTION 2.5. Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit, USD Revolving Credit, Japanese Yen and Swingline Loans.

(a)    Repayment on Maturity Date. Each Borrower hereby agrees to repay the outstanding principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan and each USD Revolving Credit Loan made to such Borrower in full in the currency in which such Revolving Credit Loan or USD Revolving Credit Loan was initially funded on the Maturity Date. Each Borrower hereby agrees to repay (i) all Japanese Yen Loans made to such Borrower in Japanese Yen in accordance with Section 2.2(b) (but, in any event, on the Maturity Date), (ii) all Swingline Loans denominated in Dollars in Dollars in accordance with Section 2.3(b) (but, in any event, on the Maturity Date) and (iii) all Swingline Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling in Pounds Sterling in accordance with Section 2.3(b) (but, in any event, on the Maturity Date), together, in each case, with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon.

(b)    Mandatory Prepayments.

(i)    Aggregate Commitment. If at any time after giving effect to any repayment of any Loan or cash collateralization of any undrawn or unexpired Letter of Credit (as determined by the Administrative Agent under Section 2.5(b)(v)), (A) solely because of currency fluctuation, the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans exceeds one hundred and five percent (105%) of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the sum of all outstanding Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations or (B) for any other reason, either (x) the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the sum of all outstanding Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations or (y) the outstanding principal amount of all USD Revolving Credit Loans exceeds the Aggregate USD Revolving Commitment, then, in each such case, the Company shall (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to) within four (4) Business Days of receipt of a notice of

 

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such excess from the Administrative Agent (I) first, in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility if (and to the extent) necessary to eliminate such excess, repay outstanding Swingline Loans (and/or reduce any pending request for such Loans on such day by the Dollar Amount of such excess), (II) second, if (and to the extent) necessary to eliminate such excess, repay outstanding Revolving Credit Loans or USD Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, which are Base Rate Loans by the Dollar Amount of such excess (and/or reduce any pending request for such Loans on such day by the Dollar Amount of such excess), (III) third, if (and to the extent) necessary to eliminate such excess, repay Japanese Yen Loans (and/or reduce any pending requests for such Loans on such day by the Dollar Amount of such excess), (IV) fourth, if (and to the extent) necessary to eliminate such excess, repay LIBOR Rate Loans (and/or reduce any pending requests for a borrowing or continuation or conversion of such Loans submitted in respect of such Loans on such day be the Dollar Amount of such excess), and (V) fifth, with respect to any Letters of Credit then outstanding, make a payment of cash collateral into a cash collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit (such cash collateral to be applied in accordance with Section 11.2(b)); provided that so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Lenders shall release any such cash collateral held to the extent it exceeds one hundred and five percent (105%) of any excess from time to time under this Section 2.5(b).

(ii)    Japanese Yen Commitment. If at any time after giving effect to any repayment of any Loan or cash collateralization of any undrawn or unexpired Letter of Credit (as determined by the Administrative Agent under Section 2.5(b)(v)), (A) solely because of currency fluctuation, the outstanding principal amount of all Japanese Yen Loans exceeds the lesser of (1) one hundred and five percent (105%) of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the sum of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations and (2) one hundred and five percent (105%) of the Japanese Yen Commitment or (B) for any other reason, the outstanding principal amount of all Japanese Yen Loans exceeds the lesser of (1) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the sum of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations and (2) the Japanese Yen Commitment, then, in each such case, such excess shall be repaid within four (4) Business Days of receipt of a notice of non-compliance with this Section 2.5(b)(ii) from the Administrative Agent, in Japanese Yen, by the Company to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Japanese Yen Lender.

(iii)    Excess L/C Obligations. If at any time after giving effect to any repayment of any Loan (as determined by the Administrative Agent under Section 2.5(b)(v)), (A) solely because of currency fluctuation, the outstanding amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds the lesser of (1) one hundred and five percent (105%) of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the sum of all outstanding Loans, and (2) one hundred and five percent (105%) of the L/C Commitment or (B) for any other reason the outstanding amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds the lesser of (1) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the sum of the amount of all outstanding Loans and (2) the L/C Commitment, then, in each such case, the Company (or the applicable Borrower) shall within four (4) Business Days of receipt of a notice of such excess from the Administrative Agent make a payment of cash collateral into a cash collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent for the

 

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benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders in an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit (such cash collateral to be applied in accordance with Section 11.2(b)).

(iv)    Swingline Commitment. If at any time after giving effect to any repayment of any Loan or cash collateralization of any undrawn or unexpired Letter of Credit (as determined by the Administrative Agent under Section 2.5(b)(v)), either (A) the outstanding principal amount of all Swingline Loans exceeds the lesser of (1) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment less the sum of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Japanese Yen Loans and L/C Obligations and (2) the aggregate Swingline Commitments of the Swingline Lenders or (B) the outstanding principal amount of all Swingline Loans of any Swingline Lender exceeds the lesser of (1) the Swingline Commitment of such Swingline Lender then in effect and (2) the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Revolving Credit Lender acting as Swingline Lender less such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans, L/C Obligations and Revolving Commitment Percentage of all outstanding Japanese Yen Loans and Swingline Loans (other than Swingline Loans made by such Swingline Lender), then, in each such case, such excess shall be repaid within four (4) Business Days of receipt of a notice of non-compliance with this Section 2.5(b)(iv) from the Administrative Agent, in Dollars, by the Company to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Swingline Lender.

(v)    Compliance and Payments. The Borrowers’ compliance with this Section 2.5(b) shall be tested from time to time by the Administrative Agent at its sole discretion. Each such repayment pursuant to this Section 2.5(b) shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 4.11 hereof.

(c)    Optional Prepayments. The Borrowers may at any time and from time to time prepay Revolving Credit Loans, USD Revolving Credit Loans, Japanese Yen Loans and Swingline Loans, in whole or in part, with irrevocable prior written notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit D (a “Notice of Prepayment”) or telephonic notice (followed by prompt delivery of such Notice of Prepayment) given not later than 11:00 a.m. Charlotte time in the case of Base Rate Loans, Swingline Loans and LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in Dollars or 5:00 p.m. London time in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency or 11:00 a.m. Tokyo time, in the case of Japanese Yen Loans, as applicable, (i) on the same Business Day as each repayment of a Base Rate Loan and each repayment of a Swingline Loan, (ii) on the Business Day prior to each repayment of a Japanese Yen Loan, (iii) on the third (3rd) Business Day before each repayment of a LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in Dollars and (iv) on the fourth (4th) Business Day before each repayment of a LIBOR Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, specifying (A) the date of prepayment, (B) the amount of prepayment, (C) whether the prepayment is of Revolving Credit Loans, USD Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans, Japanese Yen Loans, or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each, (D) the applicable Permitted Currency in which such prepayment is denominated, and (E) whether the prepayment is of LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, Base Rate Loans, Japanese Base Rate Loans or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Lender. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice

 

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shall be due and payable on the date set forth in such notice. Partial prepayments shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof with respect to Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans), $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof with respect to Japanese Yen Loans, and $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof with respect to Swingline Loans. A Notice of Prepayment received after the applicable time stated above shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. Each such prepayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 4.11 hereof.

(d)    Limitation on Prepayment of LIBOR Rate Loans. The Borrowers may not prepay any LIBOR Rate Loan on any day other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto unless such prepayment is accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 4.11 hereof.

(e)    Hedging Agreements. No repayment or prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall affect any of the Borrowers’ obligations under any Hedging Agreement.

SECTION 2.6. Permanent Reduction of the Commitment.

(a)    Voluntary Reduction. The Company shall have the right at any time and from time to time, upon at least three (3) Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, to, without premium or penalty, permanently (i) terminate the entire Aggregate Commitment at any time or (ii) reduce portions of the Aggregate Commitment, from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not less than $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitment shall be applied to the Commitment to the applicable Credit Facility of each applicable Lender according to its Commitment Percentage with respect to such Credit Facility. All commitment feesCommitment Fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitment shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

(b)    Corresponding Payment. Each permanent reduction permitted pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a payment of principal sufficient to reduce the aggregate Dollar Amount of all outstanding USD Revolving Credit Loans (in the case of the USD Revolving Credit Facility) or Revolving Credit Loans, Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans and unpaid Reimbursement Obligations (in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility), as applicable, to an amount not greater than the Aggregate Commitment of each such Credit Facility as so reduced, and if after such payment the aggregate amount of all outstanding, undrawn and unexpired Letters of Credit exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitment as so reduced, the Company shall be required to deposit cash collateral in a cash collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the excess of the then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit over the Aggregate Revolving Commitment as so reduced. Such cash collateral shall be applied in accordance with Section 11.2(b). Any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment to zero shall be accompanied by payment of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans and Reimbursement Obligations (and furnishing of cash collateral satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for all L/C Obligations) and shall result in the

 

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termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment, the Japanese Yen Commitment, the Swingline Commitment and the L/C Facility. Such cash collateral shall be applied in accordance with Section 11.2(b). Any reduction of the Aggregate USD Revolving Commitment to zero shall be accompanied by payment of all outstanding USD Revolving Credit Loans and shall result in the termination of the Aggregate USD Revolving Commitment. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitment to zero shall result in the termination of the Credit Facility. If any reduction of the Aggregate Commitment requires the repayment of any LIBOR Rate Loan, such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 4.11(c) hereof.

SECTION 2.7. Optional Increase of the Aggregate Commitment. At any time following the Closing Date, the Company shall have the right, in consultation with the Administrative Agent, from time to time and upon not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, to request an increase in the Aggregate Commitment (identifying whether such increase is to the Aggregate Revolving Commitment or the Aggregate USD Revolving Commitment); provided, that:

(a)    no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from any such requested increase or Extension of Credit made on the date of such increase;

(b)    the Company shall provide the Administrative Agent with an Officer’s Compliance Certificate dated as of the date of such increase in form and substance substantially similar to the certificate delivered under Section 7.2 demonstrating pro forma compliance (solely, for purposes of the numerator of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, after giving effect to any increase or decrease in outstanding Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness) with the covenant contained in Article IX in respect of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 and after giving effect to any Extensions of Credit made on the date of such increase;

(c)    each increase in Aggregate Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of at least $50,000,000 or an integral of $5,000,000 in excess thereof, or in each case if less, the remaining principal amount of increases to the Aggregate Commitment that are available under this Section 2.7 (after giving effect to all prior increases pursuant to this Section 2.7);

(d)    the aggregate amount of all Aggregate Commitment increases made pursuant to this Section 2.7 shall not exceed $1,000,000,000;

(e)    increases in the Aggregate Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.7 shall not increase or otherwise affect the Japanese Yen Commitment, L/C Commitment or any Swingline Commitment unless otherwise agreed;

(f)    the Commitment of any Lender shall not be increased without the approval of such Lender as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of such Lender;

(g)    in connection with each proposed increase, the Company may but is not required to solicit commitments from (i) any Lender (provided that no Lender shall have an obligation to commit to all or a portion of the proposed increase) or (ii) any third party financial institutions that are Eligible Assignees that are reasonably acceptable to both the Administrative Agent and the Company;

 

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(h)    the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued in respect of any increase in the Aggregate Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.7 (i) will rank pari passu in right of payment and security with the other Loans made and Letters of Credit issued hereunder and shall constitute and be part of the “Obligations” arising under this Agreement, and (ii) shall have the same pricing and tenor as the other Loans and Letters of Credit hereunder; and

(i)    in the event that any existing Lender or any new lender commits to such requested increase, (i) any new lender will execute an accession agreement to this Agreement, (ii) the Commitment to the relevant Credit Facility of any existing Lender which has committed to provide any of the requested increase shall be increased, (iii) the Commitment Percentages of the Lenders with respect to such Credit Facility shall be adjusted, (and the Lenders agree to make all payments and adjustments necessary to effect such reallocation and the Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) any and all costs required pursuant to Section 4.11 in connection with such reallocation as if such reallocation were a repayment) and (iv) other changes shall be made to the Loan Documents as may be necessary to reflect the aggregate amount, if any, by which the Lenders have agreed to increase their respective Commitments or new lenders have agreed to or make new commitments in response to the Company’s request for an increase pursuant to this Section 2.7, and which other changes do not adversely affect the rights of those Lenders not participating in any such increase.

SECTION 2.8. Termination of Credit Facility. The Credit Facility shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.9. Designated Borrowers.

(a)    Effective as of the date hereof BlackRock Group Limited, shall be a “Designated Borrower” hereunder and may receive Loans and have Letters of Credit issued for its account as a Designated Borrower on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

(b)    The Company may at any time, upon not less than ten (10) Business Days’ (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion; provided that in no event shall such period be less than (i) three (3) Business Days if an Applicant Borrower is a Domestic Subsidiary or (ii) five (5) Business Days if an Applicant Borrower is a Foreign Subsidiary) notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (with prompt notice from the Administrative Agent to the Lenders), designate any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company (an “Applicant Borrower”) as a Designated Borrower to receive Loans and have Letters of Credit issued hereunder by delivering to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly deliver counterparts thereof to each Lender) a duly executed notice and agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit I (a “Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement”). The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that prior to any Applicant Borrower becoming entitled to utilize the credit facilities provided for herein the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received such supporting resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel, and other documents or information (including documents and information in connection with each Lender’s compliance under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Act), in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as may be reasonably and promptly required by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, and Notes signed by such

 

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new Borrower to the extent any Lenders so require. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following receipt of all such requested resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents or information to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, as well as any consent of the Administrative Agent required by the proviso to this sentence, send a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit J (a “Designated Borrower Notice”) to the Company and the Lenders specifying the effective date upon which such Applicant Borrower shall constitute a Designated Borrower for purposes hereof and the Designated Borrower Sublimit applicable thereto, whereupon each of the Lenders agrees to permit such Designated Borrower to request and receive Loans and have Letters of Credit issued hereunder, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and each of the parties hereto agrees that such Designated Borrower otherwise shall be a Borrower for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that (A) if an Applicant Borrower is a Foreign Subsidiary organized and resident under the laws of a Specified Jurisdiction (other than England and Wales and Germany), then such Applicant Borrower shall not become a Designated Borrower hereunder if any Lender informs the Administrative Agent that any Applicable Law would result in such Lender not being permitted to make Extensions of Credit to such Applicant Borrower and (B) if an Applicant Borrower is not a Domestic Subsidiary or a Foreign Subsidiary organized and resident under the laws of a Specified Jurisdiction, then such Applicant Borrower shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent to become a Designated Borrower hereunder, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed (it being agreed and understood that such consent shall be withheld if any Lender informs the Administrative Agent that any Applicable Law would result in such Lender not being permitted to make Extensions of Credit to such Applicant Borrower); provided further that no Lender (i) organized under the laws of Germany or (ii) that is a branch, subsidiary or affiliate of an entity organized under the laws of Germany shall have any obligation to extend credit to a Designated Borrower (other than BlackRock Group Limited) if, in its reasonable judgment, such Lender is (x) prohibited by Applicable Law or regulation to commit to extend credit to, or (y) otherwise not permitted to make Extensions of Credit to, such Designated Borrower, in the case of each of clause (x) and (y), under the laws of Germany or applicable regulations of the European Union or the European Central Bank (and such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company thereof in writing) (it being understood and agreed that the Company may replace any such Lender pursuant to Section 4.14(b) hereof).

(c)    The Obligations of all Foreign Borrowers shall be several in nature.

(d)    Each Subsidiary of the Company that is or becomes a “Designated Borrower” pursuant to this Section 2.9 hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent for all purposes relevant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including (i) the giving and receipt of notices, (ii) the execution and delivery of all documents, instruments and certificates contemplated herein and all modifications hereto, and (iii) the receipt of the proceeds of any Loans made by the Lenders to any such Designated Borrower hereunder. Any Designated Borrower incorporated in Germany hereby releases the Company from any restrictions on representing several persons and self-dealing under any Applicable Law, and in particular from the restrictions of Section 181 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch). Any acknowledgment, consent, direction, certification or other action which might otherwise be valid or effective only if given or taken by all Borrowers, or by each Borrower acting singly, shall be valid and effective if given or taken only by the Company, whether or not any such other Borrower joins therein. Any notice, demand, consent, acknowledgement, direction, certification or other communication delivered to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been delivered to each Designated Borrower.

 

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(e)    The Company may from time to time, upon not less than three (3) Business Days’ notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), terminate a Designated Borrower’s status as such, provided that there are no outstanding Loans payable by, or Letters of Credit issued for the account of, such Designated Borrower, or other amounts due and payable by such Designated Borrower as of the effective date of such termination; provided further, that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders shall cooperate with any Designated Borrower to amend or replace any Letter of Credit in order to name the Company as the applicant or account party with respect to any Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Designated Borrower. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such termination of a Designated Borrower’s status. If at any time a Designated Borrower is not a Material Subsidiary but would otherwise trigger an Event of Default under clause (i) or (j) of Section 11.1 if it were a Material Subsidiary, then such Designated Borrower shall automatically cease to be a Designated Borrower and all commitments thereto shall be terminated.

SECTION 2.10. Extension of Maturity Date.

(a)    Requests for Extension. The Company may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) made not later than 35 days prior to the latest Maturity Date in effect hereunder in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility or the USD Revolving Credit Facility (the “Existing Maturity Date”), make up to two requests that each Revolving Credit Lender or each USD Revolving Credit Lender (as applicable) extend such Lender’s Maturity Date in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility or the USD Revolving Credit Facility for an additional period of time equal to exactly one year from the Existing Maturity Date (the date of such request, the “Extension Request Date”) with respect to such Credit Facility, which notice shall set forth the desired effective date (which shall be a Business Day) for such extension (the “Requested Extension Date”) and the desired extended Maturity Date (the “Extended Maturity Date”).    Any simultaneous request to extend the Maturity Date of both the Revolving Credit Facility and the USD Revolving Credit Facility to the same Extended Maturity Date shall constitute only one of the two permitted requests pursuant to this Section 2.10(a).

(b)    Lender Elections to Extend. Each applicable Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not later than the date (the “Notice Date”) that is 15 days after the Extension Request Date, advise the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension, and each applicable Lender that determines not to so extend its Maturity Date shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Notice Date) and shall constitute a “Non-Consenting Lender” hereunder, and any applicable Lender that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or before the Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Consenting Lender with respect to such extension. The election of any applicable Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate any other applicable Lender to so agree.

(c)    Notification by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company of each applicable Lender’s determination under this Section no later than the date 20 days after the Extension Request Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day).

 

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(d)    Additional Commitment Lenders. The Company shall have the right to replace each Non-Consenting Lender with, and add as “Revolving Credit Lenders” or “USD Revolving Credit Lenders”, as applicable, under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an “Additional Commitment Lender”) as provided in Section 4.14; provided that each of such Additional Commitment Lenders shall enter into an Assignment and Assumption in connection with any such extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lender shall undertake a Revolving Credit Commitment or USD Revolving Credit Commitment, as applicable (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Revolving Credit Lender or USD Revolving Credit Lender, its Revolving Credit Commitment or USD Revolving Credit Commitment shall be in addition to any other Revolving Credit Commitment or USD Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender hereunder on such date) from one or more Non-Consenting Lenders. Additional Commitment Lenders shall only become Revolving Credit Lenders or USD Revolving Credit pursuant to Section 4.14 if the extension request is approved pursuant to subsection (e) below.

(e)    Minimum Extension Requirement. Solely to the extent the total of either (i) the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the Additional Commitment Lenders) that have agreed to extend their Maturity Date (each, including the Additional Commitment Lenders, an “Extending Revolving Credit Lender”) shall be more than 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in effect immediately prior to the Requested Extension Date or (ii) the USD Revolving Credit Commitments of the USD Revolving Credit Lenders (including the Additional Commitment Lenders) that have agreed to extend their Maturity Date (each, including the Additional Commitment Lenders, an “Extending USD Revolving Credit Lender”) shall be more than 50% of the Aggregate USD Revolving Commitments in effect immediately prior to the Requested Extension Date, then in either such applicable case, effective as of the Requested Extension Date, the Maturity Date of each Extending Lender shall be extended to the Extended Maturity Date.

(f)    Changes to Applicable Percentage. In connection with any extension of the Maturity Date made pursuant to this Section 2.10, the Applicable Percentage applicable to Loans made and to be made by Extending Lenders may be modified without any consent of any Non-Consenting Lender, provided that no such modification shall apply to the Loans of the Non-Consenting Lenders unless the Company and the Administrative Agent (without any requirement of consultation with or approval by any Non-Consenting Lender) determine that such change should apply to the Loans of the Non-Consenting Lenders and either (i) such Non-Consenting Lender has consented to such change (notwithstanding its not consenting to the extension of the Maturity Date) or (ii) such change represents an increase in the Applicable Percentage applicable to the Loans of the Non-Consenting Lenders.

(g)    Conditions to Effectiveness of Extensions. As a condition precedent to such extension, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Borrower and Guarantor dated as of the Requested Extension Date signed by a Responsible Officer of such Person (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Person approving or consenting to such extension and (ii) in the case of the Company, certifying that, before and after giving effect

 

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to such extension, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Requested Extension Date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date, except for any representation and warranty made as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and (B) no Default exists. In addition, on the Maturity Date of each Non-Consenting Lender, the Borrowers shall (x) prepay any Revolving Credit Loans or USD Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, outstanding on such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 4.11) to the extent necessary to keep outstanding Revolving Credit Loans or USD Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, ratable with any revised Revolving Commitment Percentages or USD Revolving Commitment Percentage, as applicable, of the respective Lenders effective as of such date and (y) make such other prepayments of Revolving Loans or USD Revolving Loans (including any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 4.11) and/or Swingline Loans outstanding on such date and/or cash collateralize Letters of Credit in accordance with, and to the extent necessary to comply with, Section 2.5(b) after giving effect to the reduction in the Commitments to the applicable Credit Facilities occurring on such Maturity Date.

(h)    Extension by Additional Lenders. At any time after the effectiveness of an extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.10 but prior to the Maturity Date in effect with regard to such Lender prior to it becoming an Extending Lender, any Lender that is originally a Non-Consenting Lender in connection with any extension that becomes effective may, prior to the effectiveness of any assignment of such Non-Consenting Lender’s Commitment pursuant to Section 4.14, agree to become an Extending Lender by a writing delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Company, and promptly after receipt of such writing by the Administrative Agent, such Lender shall be an Extending Lender.

(i)    Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 4.4, 4.6 or 13.2 to the contrary.

ARTICLE III

LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY

SECTION 3.1. L/C Commitment.

(a)    Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, (i) each Issuing Lender having an L/C Fronting Commitment, in reliance on the agreements of the L/C Participants set forth in Section 3.4(a), agrees to issue Fronted Letters of Credit in an aggregate Dollar Amount at any time outstanding not to exceed its L/C Fronting Commitment for the account of any Borrower on any Business Day from and after the Closing Date in such form as may be approved from time to time by such Issuing Lender, (ii) each Several Issuing Lender (including the L/C Agent as Several Issuing Lender for any Participating Lenders in accordance with subsection (b) below) severally agrees (A) to issue Several Letters of Credit in such Several Issuing Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage for the account of any Borrower on any Business Day from and after the Closing Date in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing Lender and (B) to honor its Revolving Commitment Percentage of drawings under the Several Letters of Credit and

 

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(iii) each Participating Lender hereby agrees to purchase from the L/C Agent a risk participation in the portion of such Several Letter of Credit issued by the L/C Agent pursuant to this Section for the benefit of such Participating Lender in an amount equal to such Participating Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage; provided that neither the applicable Issuing Lender nor any Several Issuing Lender shall have any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (I) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Commitment, (II) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Japanese Yen Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans, plus the aggregate amount of L/C Obligations would exceed an amount equal to the Aggregate Revolving Commitment or (III) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Japanese Yen Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans, plus the aggregate amount of L/C Obligations for the account of any Designated Borrower would exceed the applicable Designated Borrower Sublimit.

(b)    In addition, the L/C Agent agrees that with respect to Several Letters of Credit as to which any Lender is a Participating Lender and which are issued after L/C Agent’s receipt of the applicable Participating Notice from such Lender, the L/C Agent shall, in reliance on the agreements of the Participating Lenders set forth in Section 3.1(a)(iii), act as a Several Issuing Lender for such Participating Lender. In the event that there are any Participating Lenders with respect to any Several Letter of Credit, the L/C Agent shall constitute the Several Issuing Lender for such Participating Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of such Several Letter of Credit in any relevant calculations with respect thereto (including calculations in Section 3.1(a) above).

(c)    Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be denominated in a Permitted Currency in a minimum amount of $100,000 or such lesser amount acceptable to the Issuing Lender, (ii) be a standby letter of credit issued to support obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, contingent or otherwise, incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iii) expire on a date agreed upon by the Company and the Issuing Lender, which date shall be no later than the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the Maturity Date and (iv) be subject to ISP98, as set forth in the Letter of Credit Application or as determined by the Issuing Lender and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York.

(d)    Neither any Issuing Lender nor any Several Issuing Lender shall at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if (i) such issuance would conflict with, or cause the applicable Issuing Lender, any Several Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to exceed any limits imposed by, any Applicable Law, (ii) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such Person related to letters of credit generally, (iii) in the case of Several Letters of Credit, if such Letter of Credit is not substantially in the form of Exhibit H (provided that the L/C Agent may agree to reasonable changes to such form, not adverse in any material respect to the interests of the Lenders) or (iv) in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, after giving effect thereto, the maximum amount of all Fronted Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender shall exceed Dollar Amount of the L/C Fronting Commitment of such Issuing Lender.

 

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(e)    References herein to “issue” and derivations thereof with respect to Letters of Credit shall also include extensions or modifications of any outstanding Letters of Credit, unless the context otherwise requires.

(f)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3.1, the Issuing Lender shall not be obligated to issue any Fronted Letter of Credit at any time a Lender is a Defaulting Lender, nor shall the Issuing Lender be obligated to issue any Several Letter of Credit at any time any Participating Lender with respect thereto is a Defaulting Lender, unless in either such case the Issuing Lender has entered into arrangements (which may include delivery of cash collateral in an amount not less than the Fronting Exposure not reallocated pursuant to Section 4.16(c)) with the Company or such Defaulting Lender which are satisfactory to the Issuing Lender to eliminate the Issuing Lender’s Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 4.16), if any, with respect to any such Defaulting Lender. Further, in the event that any Several Issuing Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Issuing Lender shall not be obligated to issue any Several Letter of Credit unless the beneficiary, the Company and the Issuing Lender have entered into arrangements with respect to such situation reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Lender and the Company.

SECTION 3.2. Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Company may from time to time request that an Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit by delivering to the applicable Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office) a Letter of Credit Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of the applicable Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as the applicable Issuing Lender may reasonably request, which such information shall include (a) in the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, (i) the Permitted Currency in which such Letter of Credit shall be denominated, (ii) whether such Letter of Credit is to be a Fronted Letter of Credit or a Several Letter of Credit (and, in the case of Several Letters of Credit, in the event a Lender advises the L/C Agent that such Lender is a Participating Lender, such Participating Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of such Several Letter of Credit will be issued by the L/C Agent as the Several Issuing Lender in reliance on such Participating Lender’s obligation to purchase participations in such amount pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(iii)), (iii) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day), (iv) the amount thereof, (v) the expiry date thereof, (vi) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, (vii) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder, (viii) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder, and (ix) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (b) in the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, (i) the Letter of Credit to be amended, (ii) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day) and (iii) the nature of the proposed amendment. Upon receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the Issuing Lender shall process such Letter of Credit Application and the certificates, documents and other papers and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall, subject to Section 3.1 and Article V, promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall the Issuing Lender be required to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than three (3) Business Days after its receipt of the Letter of Credit Application therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed by the Issuing Lender and the Company. The Issuing Lender shall promptly furnish to the Company a copy of such Letter of Credit and promptly notify each Several Issuing Lender (in the case of

 

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Several Letters of Credit) and L/C Participant of the issuance and upon request by any applicable Several Issuing Lender or L/C Participant, furnish to such Several Issuing Lender or L/C Participant a copy of such Letter of Credit and the amount of such L/C Participant’s participation therein.

SECTION 3.3. Commissions and Other Charges.

(a)    Letter of Credit Commissions. Subject to Section 4.16(g), each Borrower shall pay (or shall cause to be paid) to the Administrative Agent, for the pro rata account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, a letter of credit commission with respect to the undrawn Dollar Amount of each Letter of Credit issued for such Borrower’s account at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage with respect to Loans that are LIBOR Rate Loans (determined on a per annum basis). For the purposes of computing the amount to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.7. Such commission shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter, on the Maturity Date and thereafter on demand of the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, distribute to the Revolving Credit Lenders all commissions received pursuant to this Section in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Percentages.

(b)    Issuance Fee. In addition to the foregoing commission, each Borrower shall pay (or shall cause to be paid) to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender an issuance fee equal to (a) in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, the Dollar Amount of the undrawn face amount of each Fronted Letter of Credit issued for such Borrower’s account at the rate of 0.20% per annum and (b) in the case of Several Letters of Credit, the Dollar Amount of the portion of each such Several Letter of Credit issued for such Borrower’s account provided by the L/C Agent acting as Several Issuing Lender for the relevant Participating Lenders pursuant to Section 3.1(b) at the rate of 0.20% per annum (as if the portion of such Several Letter of Credit provided by the L/C Agent for such Participating Lenders were a Fronted Letter of Credit). Such issuance fees shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Maturity Date and thereafter on demand of the Administrative Agent.

(c)    Other Costs. In addition to the foregoing fees and commissions, each Borrower shall pay or reimburse the applicable Issuing Lender (or cause the applicable Issuing Lender to be paid or reimbursed) for such normal and customary costs and expenses as are reasonably incurred or charged by such Issuing Lender in issuing, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit issued for such Borrower’s account.

(d)    Payments. The commissions, fees, charges, costs and expenses payable pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall be payable in Dollars.

SECTION 3.4. L/C Participations.

(a)    The Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from the

 

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Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, for such L/C Participant’s own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Commitment Percentage in the Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit issued hereunder and the amount of each draft paid by the Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with the Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit for which the Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the applicable Borrower through a Revolving Credit Loan or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender in the applicable Permitted Currency upon demand at the Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof, which is not so reimbursed.

(b)    Upon becoming aware of any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall notify each L/C Participant of the amount and due date of such required payment and such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender in the applicable Permitted Currency the amount specified on the applicable due date. If any such amount is paid to the Issuing Lender after the date such payment is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender in the applicable Permitted Currency on demand, in addition to such amount, the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the daily average Federal Funds Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent during the period from and including the date such payment is due to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Issuing Lender, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360. A certificate of the Issuing Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. With respect to payment to the Issuing Lender of the unreimbursed amounts described in this Section, if the L/C Participants receive notice that any such payment is due (A) prior to 1:00 p.m. on any Business Day, such payment shall be due that Business Day, and (B) after 1:00 p.m. on any Business Day, such payment shall be due on the following Business Day.

(c)    Whenever, at any time after the Issuing Lender has made payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any L/C Participant its Revolving Commitment Percentage of such payment in accordance with this Section, the Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Company or otherwise), or any payment of interest on account thereof, the Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its pro rata share thereof; provided, that in the event that any such payment received by the Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by the Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to the Issuing Lender the portion thereof previously distributed by the Issuing Lender to it.

SECTION 3.5. Reimbursement Obligation of the Company. In the event of any drawing under any Letter of Credit, each Borrower agrees to reimburse (either with the proceeds of a Revolving Credit Loan as provided for in this Section or with funds from other sources), in same day funds in the applicable Permitted Currency in which the Letter of Credit was denominated, the Issuing Lender (for the account of the Several Issuing Lenders in the case of Several Letters of Credit) on each date on which the Issuing Lender notifies the Company of the date and amount of a draft paid under any Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Borrower for the amount of the sum of (a) such draft so paid and (b) any amounts referred to in Section 3.3(c) incurred by the

 

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Issuing Lender in connection with such payment. Unless the Company shall immediately notify the Issuing Lender (and in any event within one (1) Business Day of the date the Company received notice from the Issuing Lender) that the applicable Borrower intends to reimburse the Issuing Lender for such drawing from other sources or funds, the Company shall be deemed to have timely given a Notice of Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting that the Lenders make a Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at the Base Rate on such date in a Dollar Amount equal to the amount of (a) such draft so paid and (b) any amounts referred to in Section 3.3(c) incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with such payment (including, without limitation, any and all costs, fees and other expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender or the Several Issuing Lenders in effecting the payment of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency), and the Revolving Credit Lenders shall make a Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at the Base Rate in such amount, the proceeds of which shall be applied to reimburse the Issuing Lender and the Several Issuing Lenders, as applicable, for the amount of the related drawing and costs and expenses. Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to fund a Revolving Credit Loan in accordance with this Section to reimburse any draft paid under a Letter of Credit and related drawing costs and expenses provided herein is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including, without limitation, non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.4(a) or Article V. If the applicable Borrower has elected to pay the amount of such drawing with funds from other sources and shall fail to reimburse the Issuing Lender or the Several Issuing Lenders, as applicable, as provided above, the unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear interest at the rate which would be payable on any outstanding Revolving Credit Loans which are Base Rate Loans which were then overdue from the date such amounts become payable (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) until payment in full.

SECTION 3.6. Exchange Indemnification and Increased Costs. The applicable Borrower shall, upon demand from any Issuing Lender, Several Issuing Lender or L/C Participant, pay to such Issuing Lender, Several Issuing Lender or such L/C Participant, the amount of (i) any loss, expense or cost incurred by such Issuing Lender, Several Issuing Lender or such L/C Participant and (ii) any currency exchange loss, in each case that such Issuing Lender or such L/C Participant sustains as a result of the Company’s (or the applicable Borrower’s) repayment in any Permitted Currency other than the Permitted Currency in which the applicable Letter of Credit was initially denominated. A certificate of such Issuing Lender, Several Issuing Lender or such L/C Participant setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for determining such additional amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Issuing Lender, Several Issuing Lender or such L/C Participant shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error.

SECTION 3.7. Obligations Absolute. Each Borrower’s obligations under this Article III (including, without limitation, the Reimbursement Obligation) shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment which such Borrower may have or have had against the Issuing Lender, any Several Issuing Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or any other Person. Each Borrower also agrees that the Issuing Lender, the Several Issuing Lenders and the L/C Participants shall not be responsible for, and any Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligation under Section 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among any Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other

 

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party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of any Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee. Neither the Issuing Lender nor any Several Issuing Lender shall be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit, except for errors or omissions caused by the Issuing Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final nonappealable judgment. Each Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by the Issuing Lender under or in connection with any Letter of Credit or the related drafts or documents, if done in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct shall be binding on such Borrower and shall not result in any liability of the Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to such Borrower. The responsibility of the Issuing Lender and any Several Issuing Lender to the applicable Borrower in connection with any draft presented for payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition to any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each draft) delivered under such Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment are in conformity with such Letter of Credit.

SECTION 3.8. Effect of Letter of Credit Application. To the extent that any provision of any Letter of Credit Application related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply.

SECTION 3.9. The L/C Agent. The L/C Agent is hereby authorized to execute and deliver each Several Letter of Credit and each amendment to a Several Letter of Credit on behalf of each Several Issuing Lender with respect to such Several Letter of Credit. The L/C Agent shall use the Revolving Commitment Percentage of a Several Issuing Lender under each Several Letter of Credit to determine its “Commitment Share” as set forth in the applicable Several Letter of Credit provided that the L/C Agent shall be severally (and not jointly) liable for an amount equal to the Revolving Commitment Percentage of each Participating Lender. The L/C Agent shall not amend any Several Letter of Credit to change the “Commitment Shares” of a Lender or add or delete a Lender liable thereunder unless such amendment is done in connection with an assignment in accordance with Section 13.10, a change in the Lenders and/or the Revolving Commitment Percentages as a result of any increase in the Aggregate Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.7 or any other addition or replacement of a Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or a change in status of a Lender as a Participating Lender. Each Lender hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the L/C Agent its true and lawful attorney-in-fact for and on behalf of such Lender with full power of substitution and revocation in its own name or in the name of the L/C Agent to issue, execute and deliver, as the case may be, each Several Letter of Credit and each amendment to a Several Letter of Credit and to carry out the purposes of this Agreement with respect to Several Letters of Credit. Upon request, each Lender shall execute such powers of attorney or other documents as any beneficiary of any Several Letter of Credit may reasonably request to evidence the authority of the L/C Agent to execute and deliver such Several Letter of Credit and any amendment or other modification thereto on behalf of the Lenders.

SECTION 3.10. Reporting of Letter of Credit Information and L/C Commitment. At any time that there is an Issuing Lender that is not also the financial institution acting as Administrative Agent, then (a) on the last Business Day of each calendar month, (b) on each date that a Letter of Credit is amended, terminated or otherwise expires, (c) on each date that a Letter of Credit is issued or the expiry date of a Letter of Credit is extended, and (d) upon the request of the Administrative

 

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Agent, each Issuing Lender (or, in the case of clauses (b), (c) or (d) of this Section, the applicable Issuing Lender) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a report setting forth in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent information (including, without limitation, any reimbursement, cash collateral, or termination in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender) with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender that is outstanding hereunder. In addition, each Issuing Lender shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent of its L/C Fronting Commitment, or any change thereto, promptly upon it becoming an Issuing Lender or making any change to its L/C Commitment. No failure on the part of any Issuing Lender to provide such information pursuant to this Section 3.10 shall limit the obligations of the Borrower or any Revolving Credit Lender hereunder with respect to its reimbursement and participation obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE IV

GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS

SECTION 4.1. Interest.

(a)    Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this Section, at the election of the Company, (i) Revolving Credit Loans and USD Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars shall bear interest at (A) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage or (B) the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Percentage, (ii) Revolving Credit Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency shall bear interest at the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Percentage, (iii) the Japanese Yen Loans shall bear interest at (A) the Japanese Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage and (iv) each Swingline Loan shall bear interest at (A)  the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus the Applicable Percentage or (B) during any period in which the LIBOR Market Index Rate is unavailable or unascertainable, the Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage (provided that the LIBOR Rate shall not be available until three (3) Business Days after the Closing Date unless the Company has delivered to the Administrative Agent a letter in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent indemnifying the Lenders against any loss or expense which may arise or be attributable to such Lender’s obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits or other funds acquired to effect, fund or maintain any Loan due to any failure of any Borrower to borrow on the date specified therefore in the initial Notice of Borrowing). The Company shall select the rate of interest and Interest Period, if any, applicable to any Revolving Credit Loan or USD Revolving Credit Loan at the time a Notice of Borrowing is given or at the time a Notice of Conversion/Continuation is given pursuant to Section 4.2. Any Revolving Credit Loan or USD Revolving Credit Loan denominated in Dollars or any portion thereof as to which the Company has not duly specified an interest rate as provided herein shall be deemed a Base Rate Loan and any Revolving Credit Loan or any portion thereof as to which the Company has not duly specified the applicable Permitted Currency (x) in its Notice of Borrowing as provided herein shall be deemed a request for a Revolving Credit Loan denominated in Dollars and (y) in its Notice of Conversion/Continuation as provided herein shall be deemed to be a request for a Revolving Credit Loan denominated in the same Permitted Currency as the Revolving Credit Loan to be converted or continued (it being understood that USD Revolving Loans are available only in Dollars).

(b)    Interest Periods. In connection with each LIBOR Rate Loan, the Company, by giving notice at the times described in Section 2.4 or 4.2, as applicable, shall elect an interest period

 

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(each, an “Interest Period”) to be applicable to such Loan, which Interest Period shall be a period of one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months, or, if agreed to by all Lenders, a period of less than thirty (30) days, or a period of nine (9) or twelve (12) months; provided that:

(i)    the Interest Period shall commence on the date of advance of or conversion to any LIBOR Rate Loan and, in the case of immediately successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the date on which the immediately 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 LIBOR Rate 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 immediately preceding Business Day;

(iii)    any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the relevant calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(iv)    there shall be no more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect at any time.

(c)    Default Rate. Subject to Section 11.3, as directed by the Required Lenders, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 11.1(a) or (b), (i) the Company shall no longer have the option to request Letters of Credit, LIBOR Rate Loans, Japanese Yen Loans or Swingline Loans, (ii) the principal amount of all past due LIBOR Rate Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum two percent (2%) in excess of the rate then applicable to LIBOR Rate Loans until the end of the applicable Interest Period and thereafter at a rate equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans, and (iii) all past due Base Rate Loans and other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans or such other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document. Interest shall continue to accrue on the Obligations after the filing by or against any Borrower of any petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or under any act or law pertaining to insolvency or debtor relief, whether state, federal, or foreign.

(d)    Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base Rate Loan, Japanese Yen Loan and Swingline Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing March 31, 2011; and interest on each LIBOR Rate Loan shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and if such Interest Period extends over three (3) months, at the end of each three (3) month interval during such Interest Period. Interest on LIBOR Rate Loans (except for Alternative Currency Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling), Base Rate Loans based on the Federal Funds Rate, Swingline Loans and all fees payable hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and assessed for the actual number of days elapsed and interest on Base Rate Loans based on the Prime Rate, Japanese Yen Loans and Alternative Currency Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling shall be computed on the basis of a 365/366-day year and assessed for the actual number of days elapsed.

 

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(e)    Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the aggregate of all amounts deemed interest under this Agreement charged or collected pursuant to the terms of this Agreement in respect of any Borrower exceed the highest rate permissible under any Applicable Law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto. In the event that such a court determines that the Lenders have charged or received interest hereunder or under any other Loan Document in respect of any Borrower in excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in effect hereunder with respect to such Borrower shall automatically be reduced to the maximum rate permitted by Applicable Law and the Lenders shall at the Administrative Agent’s option (i) promptly refund to such Borrower any interest received by the Lenders in excess of the maximum lawful rate or (ii) apply such excess to the principal balance of the Obligations on a pro rata basis. It is the intent hereof that no Borrower pay or contract to pay, and that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be paid by such Borrower under Applicable Law.

(f)    Basis of Accrual. Subject to Section 1.8 hereof, if the basis of accrual of interest or fees expressed in this Agreement with respect to the currency of any state that becomes a Participating Member State, in judgment of the Administrative Agent, shall not be available because interest rate quotes for the applicable national currency unit are no longer provided, or shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest or fees in respect of the Euro, such convention or practice shall replace such expressed basis effective as of and from the date on which such state becomes a Participating Member State; provided that if any Revolving Credit Loan in the currency of such state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Revolving Credit Loan, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

SECTION 4.2. Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Revolving Credit Loans and USD Revolving Credit Loans. Provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Company shall have the option to (a) convert at any time following the third Business Day after the Closing Date all or any portion of any outstanding Base Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof into one or more LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in Dollars and (b) upon the expiration of any Interest Period, (i) convert all or any part of its outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in Dollars in a principal amount equal to $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof into Base Rate Loans or (ii) continue any LIBOR Rate Loans as LIBOR Rate Loans of the same currency. Whenever the Company desires to convert or continue Revolving Credit Loans or USD Revolving Credit Loans as provided above, the Company shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice in the form attached as Exhibit E (a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) or telephonic notice (followed by prompt delivery of such Notice of Conversion/Continuation) not later than 11:00 a.m. (time of Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) four (4) Business Days (with respect to any Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency) and 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte time) three (3) Business Days (with respect to any Loan denominated in Dollars) before the day on which a proposed conversion or continuation of such Loan is to be effective specifying (A) the Revolving Credit Loans or USD Revolving Credit Loans

 

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to be converted or continued, and, in the case of any LIBOR Rate Loan to be converted or continued, the last day of the Interest Period therefor, (B) the currency in which such Revolving Credit Loan is denominated, (C) the effective date of such conversion or continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (D) the principal amount of such Revolving Credit Loans or USD Revolving Credit Loans to be converted or continued, and (E) the Interest Period to be applicable to such converted or continued LIBOR Rate Loan. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Revolving Credit Lenders or the USD Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable, of such Notice of Conversion/Continuation.

SECTION 4.3. Fees.

(a)    Commitment Fee. Commencing on the Closing Date, subject to Section 4.16(g), the Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders and USD Revolving Credit Lenders, a non-refundable commitment fee (the Commitment Fee) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage on the average daily unused portion of the Commitments; provided that the amount of outstanding Swingline Loans and Japanese Yen Loans shall not be considered usage of the Commitments for the purpose of calculating such commitment feeCommitment Fee. The commitment feeCommitment Fee shall be payable in Dollars in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter during the term of this Agreement commencing March 31, 2011 and on the Maturity Date. Such commitment feeCommitment Fee shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders and the USD Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata in accordance with such Lenders’ respective Commitment Percentages to the applicable Credit Facility.

(b)    Administrative Agents and Other Fees. The Company agrees to pay in Dollars any fees set forth in the Fee Letters.

SECTION 4.4. Manner of Payment.

(a)    Loans Denominated in Dollars. Each payment by the Borrowers on account of the principal of or interest on the Loans denominated in Dollars or of any fee, commission or other amounts payable to the applicable Lenders under this Agreement shall be made in Dollars not later than 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the account of the applicable Lenders (other than as set forth below) pro rata in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages to the applicable Credit Facility (except as specified below), in Dollars, in immediately available funds and shall be made without any setoff, counterclaim or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 11.1, but for all other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes.

(b)    Revolving Credit Loans Denominated in Alternative Currencies. Each payment by the Borrowers on account of the principal of or interest on the Revolving Credit Loans denominated in any Alternative Currency shall be made in such Alternative Currency not later than 1:00 p.m. (the time of the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) on the date specified for

 

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payment under this Agreement to the Administrative Agent’s account with the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders (other than as set forth below) pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Percentages (except as set forth below) in immediately available funds, and shall be made without any set-off, counterclaim or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m. (the time of the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 11.1, but for all other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. (the time of the Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes.

(c)    Japanese Yen Loans. Each payment by the Company on account of the principal of or interest on the Japanese Yen Loans shall be made in Japanese Yen not later than 1:00 p.m. (Tokyo time) on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the account of the Japanese Yen Lender (other than as set forth below) in immediately available funds and shall be made without any setoff, counterclaim or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m. (Tokyo time) on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 11.1, but for all other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. (Tokyo time) shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes.

(d)    Pro Rata Treatment. Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent (or the applicable Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) of each such payment, the Administrative Agent (or the applicable Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) shall distribute to each applicable Lender at its address for notices set forth herein its pro rata share of such payment in accordance with such Lender’s Commitment Percentage to the applicable Credit Facility (except as specified below), and shall wire advice of the amount of such credit to each such Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent of the Issuing Lender’s fees or Revolving Credit Lenders’ commissions with respect to Letters of Credit shall be made in like manner, but for the account of the Issuing Lender or the Revolving Credit Lenders, as the case may be. Each payment to the Administrative Agent of the Administrative Agent’s fees or expenses shall be made for the account of the Administrative Agent and any amount payable to any Lender under Section 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 or 13.3 shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent (or the applicable Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) with respect to Swingline Loans (including, without limitation, the applicable Swingline Lender’s fees or expenses) shall be made for the account of the applicable Swingline Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent (or the applicable Administrative Agent’s Correspondent) with respect to the Japanese Yen Loans (including, without limitation, the Japanese Yen Lender’s fees or expenses) shall be made for the account of the Japanese Yen Lender. Subject to Section 4.1(b)(ii) if any payment under this Agreement shall be specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in computing any interest if payable along with such payment.

 

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(e)    Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.4, if there exists a Defaulting Lender each payment by any Borrower to or for the account of such Defaulting Lender hereunder shall be applied in accordance with Section 4.16(b).

SECTION 4.5. Evidence of Indebtedness.

(a)    Extensions of Credit. The Extensions of Credit made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Extensions of Credit made by the Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the applicable Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Revolving Credit Note, USD Revolving Credit Note, Japanese Yen Note and/or Swingline Note, as applicable, which shall evidence such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans, USD Revolving Credit Loans, Japanese Yen Loans and/or Swingline Loan, as applicable, in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Notes and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b)    Participations. In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Japanese Yen Loans, Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

SECTION 4.6. Adjustments. 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 Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations (other than pursuant to Section 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 or 13.3 hereof) 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 Loans 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 Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that

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

 

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(b)    the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply).

Each Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under Applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation in any obligation of such Borrower pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.

SECTION 4.7. Nature of Obligations of Lenders Regarding Extensions of Credit; Assumption by the Administrative Agent. The obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement to make the Loans and issue or participate in Letters of Credit are several and are not joint or joint and several. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to a proposed borrowing date or as of a proposed borrowing time, as applicable, that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of the amount to be borrowed on such date or time (which notice shall not release such Lender of its obligations hereunder), the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on such proposed borrowing date or as of such proposed borrowing time in accordance with Section 2.4(b), and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower on such date or time a corresponding amount. If such amount is made available to the Administrative Agent on a date or time after such borrowing date or time, as applicable, such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent on demand an amount, until paid, equal to (a) with respect to any Loan denominated in Dollars, the product of (i) the amount not made available by such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof, times (ii) the daily average Federal Funds Rate during such period as determined by the Administrative Agent, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse from and including such borrowing date or time to the date on which such amount not made available by such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof shall have become immediately available to the Administrative Agent and the denominator of which is 360 and (b) with respect to any Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, the amount not made available by such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof and interest thereon at a rate per annum equal to the Administrative Agent’s aggregate marginal cost (including the cost of maintaining any required reserves or deposit insurance and of any fees, penalties, overdraft charges or other costs or expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent as a result of the failure to deliver funds hereunder) of carrying such amount. A certificate of the Administrative Agent with respect to any amounts owing under this Section shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of such borrowing under such Credit Facility is not made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender within three (3) Business Days after such borrowing date or time, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount made available by the Administrative Agent with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to Base Rate Loans hereunder, on demand, from the applicable Borrower. The failure of any Lender to make available its Commitment Percentage under the applicable Credit Facility of any Loan requested hereunder shall not relieve it or any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Commitment

 

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Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date or as of such borrowing time, as applicable, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date or as of such borrowing time, as applicable.

SECTION 4.8. Redenomination of Alternative Currency Loans.

(a)    Conversion to the Base Rate. If any Alternative Currency Loan is required to bear interest based at the Base Rate rather than the LIBOR Rate, pursuant to Section 4.1(c), Section 4.10 or any other applicable provision hereof, such Loan shall be deemed funded in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such Alternative Currency Loan, all subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b). The applicable Borrower shall reimburse the Lenders upon any such conversion for any amounts required to be paid under Section 4.11 and Section 4.12(d).

(b)    Redenomination of Loans. Subject to Section 1.8 hereof, any Revolving Credit Loan to be denominated in the currency of the applicable Participating Member State shall be made in the Euro.

(c)    Redenomination of Obligations. Subject to Section 1.8 hereof, any obligation of any party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document which has been denominated in the currency of a Participating Member State shall be redenominated into the Euro.

(d)    Further Assurances. The terms and provisions of this Agreement will be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as determined by the Administrative Agent to reflect the implementation of the EMU in any Participating Member State or any market conventions relating to the fixing and/or calculation of interest being changed or replaced and to reflect market practice at that time, and subject thereto, to put the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Credit Lenders and the Borrowers in the same position, so far as possible, that they would have been if such implementation had not occurred. In connection therewith, each Borrower agrees, at the request of the Administrative Agent, at the time of or at any time following the implementation of the EMU in any Participating Member State or any market conventions relating to the fixing and/or calculation of interest being changed or replaced, to enter into an agreement amending this Agreement in a mutually satisfactory manner.

SECTION 4.9. Regulatory Limitation. In the event, as a result of increases in the value of Alternative Currencies against the Dollar or for any other reason, the obligation of any of the Lenders to make Loans (taking into account the Dollar Amount of the Obligations and all other indebtedness required to be aggregated under 12 U.S.C.A. §84, as amended, the regulations promulgated thereunder and any other Applicable Law) is determined by such Lender to exceed its then applicable legal lending limit under 12 U.S.C.A. §84, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or any other Applicable Law, the amount of additional Extensions of Credit such Lender shall be obligated to make or issue or participate in hereunder shall immediately be reduced to the maximum amount which such Lender may legally advance (as determined by such Lender), the obligation of each of the remaining Lenders hereunder shall be proportionately reduced, based on their applicable Commitment Percentages to the relevant Credit Facility and, to the extent necessary under such laws and regulations (as determined by each of the Lenders, with respect to the applicability of such laws and regulations to itself), and the Company

 

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shall reduce, or cause to be reduced, complying to the extent practicable with the remaining provisions hereof, the Obligations outstanding hereunder by an amount sufficient to comply with such maximum amounts.

SECTION 4.10. Changed Circumstances.

(a)    Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate and Alternative Currency Availability. Unless and until a Benchmark Replacement is implemented in accordance withSubject to clause (c) below, if with respect to any Interest Period the Administrative Agent or any Lender (after consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall determine that (i) by reason of circumstances affecting the foreign exchange and interbank markets generally, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that deposits (whether in eurodollars or an Alternative Currency in the applicable amountsDollars or an Alternative Currency) are not being quoted via the Reuters Page LIBOR01, or its successor page, or offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent or such Lender for such Interest Period, (iishall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for the ascertaining the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Rate Loan (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Company. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Company that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders under the applicable Credit Facility to make LIBOR Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies and the right of the Borrowers to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan in the affected currency or currencies shall be suspended, and the applicable Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan together with accrued interest thereon, on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan denominated in Dollars as of the last day of such Interest Period. Subject to clause (c) below, if for any reason, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (after consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall determine that (i) a fundamental change has occurred in the foreign exchange or interbank markets with respect to any Alternative Currency (including, without limitation, changes in national or international financial, political, or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls) or (iiiii) it has become otherwise materially impractical for the Administrative Agent, the Japanese Yen Lender or the Lenders to make such Loan in an Alternative Currency, then the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Company. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Company that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders under the applicable Credit Facility to make LIBOR Rate Loans, Alternative Currency Loans, or Japanese Yen Loans, as applicable, and the right of the Company to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Loan or Japanese Yen Loan, as applicable, under the applicable Credit Facility shall be suspended, and the applicable Borrower shall (A) in the case of any Alternative Currency Loan, either (1) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full)

 

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the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan, Alternative Currency Loan, or Japanese Yen Loan, as applicable, under the applicable Credit Facility together with accrued interest thereon, or (A2) with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Loans, on the last day of the then current Interest Period, if applicable, convert the then outstanding principal amount thereof to such LIBORa Base Rate Loan or Alternative Currency Loan or convert to LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, if available, as applicable, orof the last day of such Interest Period and (B) with respect to Japanese Base RateYen Loans, shall repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such Japanese Yen Loan, together with accrued interest thereon, immediately upon the request of the Japanese Yen Lender, or (C) with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loans, convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan or Alternative Currency Loan, as applicable, to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.

(b)    Laws Affecting LIBOR Rate and Alternative Currency Availability. If, after the date hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any LIBOR Rate Loan (or a Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR) under the applicable Credit Facility, any Alternative Currency Loan, or any Japanese Yen Loan, such Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Company and the other Lenders. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Company that such circumstances no longer exist with respect to the applicable Credit Facility, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate Loans (or a Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR) under the applicable Credit Facility, Alternative Currency Loans, or Japanese Yen Loans, as applicable, and the right of the Company to convert any Revolving Credit Loan or USD Revolving Credit Loan to, or continue any Revolving Credit Loan or USD Revolving Credit Loan as, a LIBOR Rate Loan (or a Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR) or Alternative Currency Loan, as applicable, shall be suspended and thereafter the Company may select Base Rate Loans (as to which the interest rate is not determined by reference to LIBOR) or convert to LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, if available hereunder, and (ii) if any of the Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain a LIBOR Rate Loan (or a Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR) or Alternative Currency Loan or convert to LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, as applicable, to the end of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto as a LIBOR Rate Loan (or a Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR) or Alternative Currency Loan or convert to LIBOR Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, if available, as applicable, the applicable LIBOR Rate Loan (or a Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR) or Alternative Currency Loan, as applicable, shall immediately be converted to a Base Rate Loan (as to which the interest rate is not determined by reference to LIBOR) for the remainder of such Interest Period; provided that if the Company elects to make such conversion, the Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders any and all costs, fees and other expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in effecting such conversion.

 

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(c)    Alternative Rate of InterestBenchmark Replacement Setting.

(i)    Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence ofif a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Company may amend this Agreement to replace LIBOR with respect to any applicable currency with one or more Benchmark Replacements, as applicable (it being understood that all Loans denominated in a given currency for which LIBOR is being replaced shall be subject toand its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of any then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1)(a) or (1)(b) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement for such Benchmark Replacement Date and such Benchmark, 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 (1)(c) of the same definition of Benchmark Replacement). Any for such amendment with respect to a Benchmark Transition Event will become effectiveReplacement Date and such Benchmark, 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 Administrative Agent has posted such proposed amendmentdate notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to allthe Lenders and the Borrowerswithout 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 amendmentBenchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. Any such amendment with respect to an Early Opt-in Election will become

(ii)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, solely with respect to any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in Dollars or calculated with respect thereto, if a Term SOFR Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the applicable then-current Benchmark, then the applicable Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or 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; provided that this clause (ii) shall not be effective onunless the date that Lenders comprising the Required Lenders haveAdministrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders and the Company a Term

 

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SOFR Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders accept such amendment. No replacement of LIBOR with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this Section will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Dateshall not be required to deliver a Term SOFR Notice after a Term SOFR Transition Event and may elect or not elect to do so in its sole discretion.

(iii)     (ii) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right, in consultation with the Company, 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 or any other Loan Document.

(iv)     (iii) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date and Benchmark Transition Start Date, (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 Section 4.10(c)(iv) below and (ivv) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent , if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 4.10(c) , 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 heretoto this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 4.10(c).

(v)     Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if any then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR or USD LIBOR) and either (1) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (2) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is 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 (1) is subsequently displayed on a

 

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screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (2) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is 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.

(vi)     (iv) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Company’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a given Benchmark, the Company may revoke any request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans subject to such Benchmark Unavailability Period or Swingline Loans, as applicable, to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, (i) in the case of a request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Loans denominated in Dollars, the Company will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowingborrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans and (ii) in the case of a request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, the CompanyBorrowers will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to any Benchmark or at any time that a tenor for any Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Base Rate or any other Benchmark that is based upon LIBORthe Benchmark that is the subject of such Benchmark Unavailability Period or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Base Rate or such other Benchmark.

(vii)     London Interbank Offered Rate Benchmark Transition Event. On March 5, 2021, the IBA, the administrator of the London interbank offered rate, and the FCA, the regulatory supervisor of the IBA, made the Announcements that the final publication or representativeness date for the London interbank offered rate for: (I) Pounds Sterling, Japanese Yen, and Euros will be December 31, 2021, (II) Dollars for 1-week and 2-month tenor settings will be December 31, 2021 and (III) Dollars for overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month tenor settings will be June 30, 2023. No successor administrator for the IBA was identified in such Announcements. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the Announcements resulted in the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event with respect to the London interbank offered rate for the each of the aforementioned currencies and that any obligation of the Administrative Agent to notify any parties of any such Benchmark Transition Event pursuant to clause (iii) of this Section 4.10(c) shall be deemed satisfied.

(viii)    If, as at August 15, 2021, this Agreement provides that the rate of interest for any Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in Pounds Sterling or calculated with respect thereto is to be determined by reference to LIBOR then the Administrative Agent and the Company shall enter into negotiations in good faith with a view to agreeing to the use of a replacement benchmark in relation to Pounds Sterling in place of LIBOR from and including a date no later than September 29, 2021.

 

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SECTION 4.11. Indemnity. Each Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify each of the Lenders against any loss or expense (including, without limitation, any foreign exchange costs, and excluding loss of profits or anticipated profits) which may arise or be attributable to each Lender’s obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits or other funds acquired to effect, fund or maintain any Loan (a) as a consequence of any failure by such Borrower to make any payment when due of any amount due hereunder in connection with a LIBOR Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Loan, (b) due to any failure of such Borrower to borrow, continue or convert on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation or (c) due to any payment, prepayment or conversion of any LIBOR Rate Loan or any Alternative Currency Loan by such Borrower on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor. The amount of such loss or expense shall be determined, in the applicable Lender’s sole discretion, based upon the assumption that such Lender funded its Commitment Percentage of the LIBOR Rate Loans under the relevant Credit Facility in the London interbank market and using any reasonable attribution or averaging methods which such Lender deems appropriate and practical. A certificate of such Lender setting forth the basis for determining such amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender shall be forwarded to the Company through the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error.

SECTION 4.12. Increased Costs.

(a)    Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

(i)    impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or advances, loans or other credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Rate);

(ii)    subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Japanese Yen Loan, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Japanese Yen Loan or a Letter of Credit or any LIBOR Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 4.13 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of any Excluded Tax or any UK Tax Deduction or German Tax Deduction excluded from gross-up by clause (i) or (ii) of Section 4.13(a) payable by such Lender); or

(iii)    impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement, LIBOR Rate Loans or Japanese Yen Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit, or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting into or maintaining any LIBOR Rate Loan or any Japanese Yen Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Japanese Yen Loan or Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in any Japanese Yen Loan or to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to

 

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reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon written request of such Lender, the Company shall promptly pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to any such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b)    Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit, Japanese Yen Loans or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Lender or the Several Issuing Lenders, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time upon written request of such Lender, the Company shall promptly pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c)    Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Company shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof.

(d)    Exchange Indemnification and Increased Costs. Each Borrower shall, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent or any applicable Lender, the amount of (i) any loss, expense or cost incurred by the Administrative Agent or any applicable Lender, (ii) any interest or any other return, including principal, foregone by the Administrative Agent or any applicable Lender as a result of the introduction of, change over to or operation of the Euro, or (iii) any currency exchange loss, that the Administrative Agent or any Lender sustains as a result of any payment being made by such Borrower in a currency other than that originally extended to such Borrower or as a result of any other currency exchange loss incurred by the Administrative Agent or any applicable Lender under this Agreement in respect of extensions of credit to such Borrower. A certificate of the Administrative Agent setting forth the basis for determining such additional amount or amounts necessary to compensate the Administrative Agent or the applicable Lender shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error.

(e)    Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

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SECTION 4.13. Taxes.

(a)    Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes; provided that if any Indemnified Taxes shall be required by Applicable Law to be deducted from any payments by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document, then (x) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or applicable Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (y) such Borrower shall make such deductions and (z) such Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a payment shall not be required to be increased pursuant to this Section 4.13(a) where:

(i)    any United Kingdom Taxes are required to be deducted or withheld (a “UK Tax Deduction”) from a payment of interest hereunder or under any other Loan Document if on the date on which the payment falls due:

(A)    the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a UK Tax Deduction if it was a UK Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a UK Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or Treaty, or any published practice or concession of any relevant taxing authority; or

(B)    the relevant Lender is a UK Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of sub-paragraph (b) of the definition of UK Qualifying Lender and that relevant Lender has not given a Tax Confirmation to the Company where the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a UK Tax Deduction if that Lender had given a Tax Confirmation to the Company or the relevant UK Borrower, on the basis that the Tax Confirmation would have enabled that UK Borrower to have formed a reasonable belief that the payment was an “excepted payment” for the purpose of section 930 of the Taxes Act; or

(C)    the relevant Lender is a UK Qualifying Lender solely under sub-paragraph (b) of the definition of UK Qualifying Lender; an officer of HM Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) has given (and not revoked) a direction (a “Direction”) under section 931 of the Taxes Act (as that provision has effect on the date on which the relevant Lender became a Lender) which relates to that payment and that Lender has received from a UK Borrower or the Company a certified copy of that Direction; and the payment could have been made to the Lender without any UK Tax Deduction in the absence of that Direction; or

 

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(D)    the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the party making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the UK Tax Deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under Section 4.13(e) and (f);

(ii)    any German Taxes are required to be deducted or withheld (a “German Tax Deduction”) from a payment of interest hereunder or under any other Loan Document if on the date on which the payment falls due:

(A)    the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a German Tax Deduction if it was a German Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a German Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or Treaty, or any published practice or concession of any relevant taxing authority; or

(B)    the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the party making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the German Tax Deduction had that Lender cooperated in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that party to obtain authorization to make the payment without a German Tax Deduction.

(b)    Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers. Without limiting the provisions of paragraph (a) above, the applicable Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, except for any Other Taxes imposed on any assignment or participation pursuant to Section 13.10.

(c)    Indemnification by the Borrowers. The applicable Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower under any Loan Document or otherwise imposed in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority; provided that if the Company reasonably believes that such Indemnified Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company (at the Company’s expense) to obtain a refund of such Indemnified Taxes (in cash or as a credit against another existing tax liability), the benefit of which refund shall be returned to the Company (or applicable Borrower) to the extent provided in Section 4.13(g). A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability (along with a copy of any applicable documents from the Internal Revenue Service or other Governmental Authority that asserts such claim as to Indemnified Taxes) delivered to the Company by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(d)    Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes by a Borrower to a Governmental Authority, such Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e)    Status of Lenders. Each Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which a Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Company (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by Applicable Law (with respect to documentation prescribed by the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany) or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent (with respect to all other documentation), such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by Applicable Law as will permit (once filed with the relevant Governmental Authority where so required) such payments under this Agreement to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding and in delivering such properly completed and executed documentation to the Company each such Foreign Lender shall be deemed to have complied with its obligations as set out in this sentence. The Company shall timely file such documentation with the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with and as required by Applicable Law within 10 days of receipt. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the first sentence of this Section 4.13(e), the completion, execution and submission of such documentation shall not be required if in the Lender’s judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender, provided that this sentence shall not apply to any applicable documentation prescribed by Applicable Law in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Company or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to United States backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Foreign Lender (determined for this purpose solely in relation to the Company) shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Company or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so):

(i)    duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, or

(ii)    duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, or

(iii)    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of such Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or

 

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(iv)    any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit such Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(f)    UK Status of Lenders.

(i)    Nothing in section 4.13(e) shall require a Treaty Lender to:

(A)    register under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme;

(B)    apply the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to any Loan if it has so registered; or

(C)    file Treaty forms if it (x) has included an indication that it wishes the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to apply to this Agreement in accordance with paragraph (ii) or (iv) below; (y) notified the Company or Administrative Agent of its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence pursuant to paragraph (ii) or (iv) below; and (z) the Borrower making that payment has not complied with its obligations under paragraphs (iii) or (v) below. Where a Borrower has not been able to comply with its obligations under paragraphs (iii) or (v) due to failure of the Administrative Agent or the relevant Lender to provide the indication (including the scheme reference numbers and jurisdiction of tax residence) described in paragraphs (ii) or (iv) (as the case may be), such inability shall not constitute an Event of Default.

(ii)    A Treaty Lender which becomes a Party to this Agreement on the date on which this Agreement is entered into that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall make an indication to that effect by providing its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence to the Administrative Agent or the Company on or before the date of this Agreement.

(iii)    Where a Lender provides the indication described in paragraph (ii) above;

(A)    each UK Borrower shall file a duly completed form DTTP2 in respect of such Lender with HMRC within 30 days of the date of this Agreement (provided that, where the indication has been given solely to the Administrative Agent, such UK Borrower received such indication in a sufficiently timely manner) and shall promptly provide the Lender with a copy of that filing; and

(B)    each Borrower that becomes a UK Borrower after the date of this Agreement, shall to the extent that Lender is making a Commitment available to that Borrower, file a duly completed form DTTP2 in respect of such Lender with HMRC within 30 days of such Borrower becoming a party to this Agreement and shall promptly provide the Lender with a copy of that filing.

 

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(iv)    A Lender that becomes a party to this Agreement after the date (the “Relevant Date”) of this Agreement and is a Treaty Lender that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes for that scheme to apply to this Agreement shall include an indication to that effect by providing its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence to the Company or the Administrative Agent in the documents it executes.

(v)    Where a Lender provides the indication described in paragraph (iv):

(A)    each UK Borrower which is a Party as a Borrower as at the Relevant Date shall, to the extent that Lender becomes a Lender under Commitments made available to that Borrower file a duly completed form DTTP2 with HMRC within 30 days of that Relevant Date (provided that, where the indication has been given solely to the Administrative Agent, such UK Borrower receives such indication in a sufficiently timely manner,) and shall promptly provide the Lender with a copy of that filing ;and

(B)    each Borrower that becomes a UK Borrower after the Relevant Date, shall to the extent that Lender is making a Commitment available to that Borrower, file a duly completed form DTTP2 in respect of such Lender with HMRC within 30 days of such Borrower becoming a party to this Agreement and shall promptly provide the Lender with a copy of that filing.

(vi)    If a Lender has not:

(A)    included an indication to the effect that it wishes the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to apply to this Agreement in accordance with paragraphs (ii) or (iv) above; or

(B)    notified the Company or Administrative Agent of its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence pursuant to paragraph (ii) or (iv) above; then

no Borrower shall file any form relating to the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme in respect of that Lender’s Commitment(s) or its participation in any Loan.

(vii)    A Lender which becomes a Party to this Agreement on the date on which this Agreement is entered into that is a UK Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of sub-paragraph (b) of the definition of UK Qualifying Lender gives a Tax Confirmation to the Company by entering into the Agreement. Such a Lender shall promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent if there is any change in the position from that set out in the Tax Confirmation. A Person that hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to Section 13.10 that is a UK Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of sub-paragraph (b) of the definition of UK Qualifying Lender shall provide a Tax Confirmation in the forms and certificates provided in accordance with this Section which

 

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it executes by including whether it falls within sub-paragraph (b)(i), (ii) or (iii) of the definition of UK Qualifying Lender. Such a Lender shall promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent if there is any change in the position from that set out in the Tax Confirmation.

(g)    Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent or a Lender reasonably determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of, or a credit with respect to, any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Borrower or with respect to which any Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to such Borrower an amount equal to such refund or credit (only to the extent such credit is realized) (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund or credit); provided that each Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This paragraph shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to any Borrower or any other Person.

(h)    If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to United States federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Applicable Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by Applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Company (or any Designated Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary, as applicable) and the Administrative Agent to comply with their respective obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. To the extent that the relevant documentation provided pursuant to this paragraph is rendered obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect as a result of changes in circumstances with respect to the status of a Lender, such Lender shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent revised and/or updated documentation sufficient for the Company and the Administrative Agent to confirm the compliance of the Company (or any Designated Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary, as applicable), the Administrative Agent, and such Lender with their respective obligations under FATCA and/or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold under FATCA. Solely for purposes of this paragraph (h), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement. For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the effective date hereof, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to treat) the Loans as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

 

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(i)    Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for any Taxes (but, in the case of Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes, only to the extent that any Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so) attributable to such Lender that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document (or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source) against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (i).

(j)    Survival. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of any Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of each Borrower contained in this Section shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.

SECTION 4.14. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a)    Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender other than the Administrative Agent delivers a notice to the Company under Section 4.10 or requests compensation under Section 4.12, or requires any Borrower to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 4.13, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would avoid the circumstances giving rise to the need to give notice under Section 4.10 or eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 4.12 or Section 4.13, 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 be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Company hereby agrees to pay (or cause to be paid) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)    Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 4.12, or if any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 4.13, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 13.10), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that

 

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(i)    the Company or its designee shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 13.10,

(ii)    such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in Letters of Credit, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 4.13) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts),

(iii)    in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 4.12 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 4.13, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter,

(iv)    in the case of any such assignment of the rights, interests and obligations of a Non-Consenting Lender, such assignee has agreed to consent to the applicable amendment, modification, waiver or termination, and

(v)    such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law.

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

Each party hereto agrees that (x) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 4.14 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (y) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender or the Administrative Agent, provided, further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

SECTION 4.15. Rounding and Other Consequential Changes. Subject to Section 1.8 hereof, without prejudice and in addition to any method of conversion or rounding prescribed by any EMU Legislation and without prejudice to the respective obligations of the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to the Borrowers under or pursuant to this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, each provision of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to combine currencies to effect a set-off, shall be subject to such reasonable changes of interpretation as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the introduction of or change over to the Euro in Participating Member States.

SECTION 4.16. Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law:

(a)    Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 13.2 and the definition of Required Lender.

 

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(b)    Reallocation of Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 13.4), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender (including amounts owed in its capacity as a L/C Participant) to the Japanese Yen Lender, Issuing Lender, the L/C Agent and/or a Swingline Lender hereunder; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by the Japanese Yen Lender, Issuing Lender, the L/C Agent and/or a Swingline Lender, to be held as cash collateral for future funding obligations of such Defaulting Lender of any participation in any then outstanding Japanese Yen Loan, Swingline Loan or any Letter of Credit as to which it is a participant in Japanese Yen Loans, a Several Issuing Lender or an L/C Participant; fourth, as the Company may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of such Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Administrative Agent or any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default under Section 11.1(a), (b), (i) or (j) hereof exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to any Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by such Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (i) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any USD Revolving Credit Loans, Revolving Credit Loans or funded participations in Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans or Letters of Credit in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (ii) such USD Revolving Credit Loans, Revolving Credit Loans or funded participations in Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans or Letters of Credit were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 5.3 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the USD Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Loans (as applicable) of, and funded participations in Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans or Letters of Credit owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis (among the relevant Credit Facilities and among the obligations within such relevant Credit Facilities) prior to being applied to the payment of any USD Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Loans of, or funded participations in Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans or Letters of Credit owed to, such Defaulting Lender. 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 4.16(b) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

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(c)    Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Japanese Yen Loans, Swingline Loans or Fronted Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.2(b), Section 2.3(b) and Section 3.4, the “Revolving Commitment Percentage” of each non-Defaulting Lender shall be computed without giving effect to the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Defaulting Lender; provided that the aggregate obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to issue, acquire, refinance or fund participations in Japanese Yen Loans, Fronted Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (A) the Revolving Credit Commitment of that non-Defaulting Lender minus (B) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of that Lender and the L/C Obligations of that Lender with respect to Several Letters of Credit and funded participations in Fronted Letters of Credit and Japanese Yen Loans. Solely to the extent that a Defaulting Lender is a Participating Lender with respect to any Several Letter of Credit, the foregoing provisions with respect to the obligations of non-Defaulting Lenders to acquire or fund participations in Fronted Letters of Credit from the Issuing Lender for such Fronted Letter of Credit shall be applicable mutatis mutandis to the determination of their obligations to acquire or fund participations in such Several Letter of Credit from the L/C Agent acting as Several Issuing Lender for such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Several Letter of Credit (i.e., subject to the proviso above, the non-Defaulting Lenders shall be obligated to acquire or fund such participations from the L/C Agent to the extent of their Revolving Commitment Percentages (as adjusted hereby) of the obligations of such Defaulting Lender to the L/C Agent as a Participating Lender in respect of such Several Letter of Credit). For the avoidance of doubt, in no event at any time, after giving effect to this Section 4.16(c), shall any Lender’s aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans, aggregate amount of L/C Obligations and aggregate amount of participation obligations with respect to Swingline Loans and Japanese Yen Loans exceed such Lender’s Commitment.

(d)    Cash Collateral for Letters of Credit. Promptly on demand by the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent from time to time, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent cash collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure with respect to the Issuing Lender (after giving effect to Section 4.16(c)) on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender (and such cash collateral shall be in Dollars). Any such cash collateral shall be deposited in a separate account with the Administrative Agent, subject to the exclusive dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, as collateral (solely for the benefit of the Issuing Lender) for the payment and performance of each Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of outstanding L/C Obligations. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Lender immediately for each Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of any drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not otherwise been reimbursed by the Borrowers or such Defaulting Lender. In any event, the Company shall have at least twenty (20) Business Days after any demand to provide the cash collateral required under this Section 4.16(d).

(e)    Prepayment of Swingline Loans. Promptly on demand by any Swingline Lender or the Administrative Agent from time to time, the Company shall prepay Swingline Loans in an amount of all Fronting Exposure with respect to such Swingline Lender (after giving effect to Section 4.16(c)). In any event, the Company shall have at least twenty (20) Business Days after any demand to make any prepayment required under this Section 4.16(e).

 

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(f)    Prepayment of Japanese Yen Loans. Promptly on demand by the Japanese Yen Lender or the Administrative Agent from time to time, the Company shall prepay Japanese Yen Loans in an amount of all Fronting Exposure with respect to the Japanese Yen Lender (after giving effect to Section 4.16(c)). In any event, the Company shall have at least twenty (20) Business Days after any demand to make any prepayment required under this Section 4.16(f).

(g)    Certain Fees. For any period during which any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender (i) shall not be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee pursuant to Section 4.3 (and the Company shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to such Defaulting Lender) and (ii) shall not be entitled to receive any letter of credit commissions pursuant to Section 3.3(a) otherwise payable to the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided cash collateral or other credit support arrangements satisfactory to the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 4.16(d), but instead, the Company shall pay to the non-Defaulting Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility the amount of such letter of credit commissions in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Revolving Commitment Percentages allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 4.16(c), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the Issuing Lender for its own account.

(h)    Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Company, the Administrative Agent, the Japanese Yen Lender, each Swingline Lender and each Issuing Lender agree in writing in their respective sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any cash collateral), (i) that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, outstanding Swingline Loans and/or outstanding USD Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the USD Revolving Credit Loans, the Revolving Credit Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the applicable Lenders under the relevant Credit Facility in accordance with their Commitment Percentages under the relevant Credit Facility (without giving effect to Section 4.16(c)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Company while 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 to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender and (ii) all cash collateral provided by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 4.16(d) shall thereafter be promptly returned to the Borrowers.

SECTION 4.17. Sustainability Adjustments.

(a)     Following the date on which the Company provides a Pricing Certificate in respect of the most recently ended Fiscal Year, (i) the Applicable Rate Percentage shall be increased or decreased (or neither increased nor decreased), as applicable, pursuant to the Sustainability Rate Adjustment as set forth in such Pricing Certificate in the manner and at the

 

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times described in this Section 4.17 (but in no event shall any adjustment result in the Applicable Rate Percentage being less than 0.00%) and (ii) the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage shall be increased or decreased (or neither increased nor decreased), as applicable, pursuant to the Sustainability Fee Adjustment as set forth in such Pricing Certificate in the manner and at the times described in this Section 4.17 (but in no event shall any adjustment result in the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage being less than 0.00%). For purposes of the foregoing, (A) the Sustainability Rate Adjustment and the Sustainability Fee Adjustment shall not be applicable for the relevant Fiscal Year unless (i) at least two of the three KPI Metrics are equal to or more than the applicable Sustainability Target set forth in the Sustainability Table and no KPI Metric is less than the applicable Sustainability Threshold set forth in the Sustainability Table or (ii) at least two of the three KPI Metrics are less than the applicable Sustainability Threshold set forth in the Sustainability Table and no KPI Metric is equal to or more than the applicable Sustainability Target set forth in the Sustainability Table, (B) each of the Sustainability Rate Adjustment and the Sustainability Fee Adjustment shall be effective as of the fifth (5th) Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Pricing Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.17(i) based upon the KPI Metrics set forth in such Pricing Certificate and the calculations of the Sustainability Rate Adjustment and the Sustainability Fee Adjustment, as applicable, therein (such day, the Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Date) and (C) each change in the Applicable Rate Percentage and the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage resulting from a Pricing Certificate and the Sustainability Rate Adjustment and the Sustainability Fee Adjustment related thereto shall be effective during the period commencing on and including the applicable Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Date and ending on the date immediately preceding the next such Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Date (or, in the case of non-delivery of a Pricing Certificate for the immediately following period, the last day such Pricing Certificate for such following period could have been delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 4.17(i)) (any such period, an Applicable Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Period).

(b)    For the avoidance of doubt, only one Pricing Certificate may be delivered in respect of any Fiscal Year. It is further understood and agreed that any Sustainability Rate Adjustment or Sustainability Fee Adjustment made for any Applicable Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Period shall only be applicable for such Applicable Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Period and any increases or reductions to the Applicable Rate Percentage and Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage, respectively, resulting therefrom shall be reset to zero following the conclusion of such Applicable Sustainability Pricing Adjustment Period.

(c)    It is hereby understood and agreed that if no such Pricing Certificate is delivered by the Company within the period set forth in Section 4.17(i), the Sustainability Rate Adjustment will be positive 0.05% and the Sustainability Fee Adjustment will be positive 0.01% (such positive rates, collectively, the Threshold Adjustment) commencing on the last day such Pricing Certificate could have been delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 4.17(i) and continuing until the Company delivers a Pricing Certificate to the Administrative Agent. In the event no Pricing Certificate is delivered for a Fiscal Year by June 15th of such year, the Sustainability Rate Adjustment and Sustainability Fee Adjustment for such Fiscal Year shall be the Threshold Adjustment.

 

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(d)     If (i)(A) the Company or any Lender becomes aware of any material inaccuracy in the Sustainability Rate Adjustment, the Sustainability Fee Adjustment, or the KPI Metrics as reported in a Pricing Certificate (any such material inaccuracy, a Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy), and in the case of any Lender, such Lender delivers, not later than ten (10) Business Days after obtaining knowledge thereof, a written notice to the Administrative Agent describing such Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy in reasonable detail (which description shall be shared with each Lender and the Company), or (B) the Company and the Lenders agree that there was a Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy at the time of delivery of a Pricing Certificate, and (ii) a proper calculation of the Sustainability Rate Adjustment, the Sustainability Fee Adjustment or the KPI Metrics would have resulted in an increase in the Applicable Rate Percentage and the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage for any period, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuers, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code (or any comparable event under non-U.S. debtor relief laws), automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer), but in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the Company has received written notice of, or has agreed in writing that there was a Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy, an amount equal to the excess of (1) the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over (2) the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. If the Company becomes aware of any Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy and, in connection therewith, if a proper calculation of the Sustainability Rate Adjustment, the Sustainability Fee Adjustment or the KPI Metrics would have resulted in a decrease in the Applicable Rate Percentage and the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage for any period, then, upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of notice from the Company of such Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy (which notice shall include corrections to the calculations of the Sustainability Rate Adjustment, the Sustainability Fee Adjustment, or the KPI Metrics, as applicable), commencing on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, the Applicable Rate Percentage and the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage shall be adjusted to reflect the corrected calculations of the Sustainability Rate Adjustment, the Sustainability Fee Adjustment or the KPI Metrics, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, any information in a Pricing Certificate shall be deemed to be not materially inaccurate (and no Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy shall be deemed to have occurred in respect thereof), and any calculation of the Sustainability Rate Adjustment, the Sustainability Fee Adjustment or the KPI Metrics shall be deemed proper, and in each case shall not implicate this Section 4.17(d), if such information or calculation was made by the Company in good faith based on information reasonably available to the Company at the time such calculation was made.

(e)     It is understood and agreed that any Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy (and any consequences thereof) shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default; provided, that, the Company complies with the terms of this Section 4.17(e) with respect to such Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless such amounts shall be due upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to a Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code (or any comparable event under non-U.S. debtor relief laws), (i) any additional amounts required to be paid pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph shall not be due and payable until the date that is ten (10) Business Days after a written demand is made for such payment by the Administrative Agent in accordance with such paragraph, (ii) any

 

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nonpayment of such additional amounts prior to or upon the date that is ten (10) Business Days after such written demand for payment by the Administrative Agent shall not constitute a Default (whether retroactively or otherwise) and (iii) none of such additional amounts shall be deemed overdue prior to such date that is ten (10) Business Days after such written demand or shall accrue interest at the default rate prior to such date that is ten (10) Business Days after such written demand.

(f)    Each party hereto hereby agrees that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Sustainability Structuring Agent shall have any (i) responsibility for (or liability in respect of) reviewing, auditing or otherwise evaluating any calculation by the Company of any Sustainability Fee Adjustment or any Sustainability Rate Adjustment (or any of the data or computations that are part of or related to any such calculation) set forth in any Pricing Certificate or (ii) right to review, audit or otherwise evaluate any calculation by the Company of any Sustainability Fee Adjustment or any Sustainability Rate Adjustment (or any of the data or computations that are part of or related to any such calculation) set forth in any Pricing Certificate. The Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such Pricing Certificate, without further inquiry. In addition, the Company shall have no obligation to disclose any further data, computations or other information to the Administrative Agent, any Sustainability Structuring Agent or any Lender with respect to any KPI Metric, Sustainability Target or Sustainability Threshold.

(g)    To the extent any event occurs (which would include, without limitation, a material disposition or material acquisition) which, in the opinion of the Company and the Sustainability Structuring Agents, acting reasonably, means that one or more of the Sustainability Targets or Sustainability Thresholds set forth in the Sustainability Table is no longer applicable given changes in the Companys structure, then the Company and the Sustainability Structuring Agents will report to the Lenders that such Sustainability Targets and Sustainability Thresholds will no longer apply. In such a scenario, the Company will then cease to refer to the applicable KPI Metrics, Sustainability Targets and Sustainability Thresholders in the Pricing Certificate for such period.

(h)    To the extent a Sustainability Structuring Agent ceases to be a Lender, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to seek to appoint another Person that is a Lender to fulfill the role such Sustainability Structuring Agent.

(i)     The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Administrative Agent a Pricing Certificate for the most recently ended Fiscal Year (commencing with delivery in 2022 for the Fiscal Year ended in 2021) within thirty (30) days of the release of the annual SASB Aligned Report (but in no event earlier than April 1st of any Fiscal Year); provided that, unless the Company elects not to deliver a Pricing Certificate for such Fiscal Year, such Pricing Certificate shall be delivered no later than June 15th of any Fiscal Year. Any such election shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, but shall subject the Company to the Threshold Adjustment described in Section 4.17(c) above.

 

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ARTICLE V

CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING

SECTION 5.1. Closing. The closing shall take place at such place, date and time as the parties hereto shall mutually agree.

SECTION 5.2. Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit. The obligation of the Lenders to close this Agreement and to make the initial Loans or issue or participate in the initial Letter of Credit, if any, is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

(a)    Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement, a Revolving Credit Note in favor of each Revolving Credit Lender requesting a Revolving Credit Note, a Japanese Yen Note in favor of the Japanese Yen Lender (if requested thereby) and a Swingline Note in favor of the Swingline Lender (if requested thereby) shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the parties thereto, shall be in full force and effect and no Default or Event of Default shall exist hereunder or thereunder.

(b)    Closing Certificates; Etc. The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i)    Officers Certificate of the Company. A certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Company to the effect that all representations and warranties of each Borrower contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects as if made on such date, except to the extent that any such representation or warranty relates to an earlier specific date in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date; that no Borrower is in violation of any of the covenants contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; that, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and that each Borrower has satisfied each of the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 and Section 5.3(a) and (b).

(ii)    Certificate of Secretary of each Borrower. A certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Borrower certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of such Borrower executing Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying that attached thereto is a true, correct and complete copy of (A) the articles of incorporation (or similar formation document for any Foreign Borrower) of such Borrower and all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the applicable Governmental Authority (or by such Borrower in the certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 5.2(b)(ii), in any jurisdiction where a Governmental Authority certification is neither customary nor available), (B) the bylaws (or similar governing documents) of such Borrower as in effect on the Closing Date, (C) resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors or shareholders, as applicable, of such Borrower authorizing the transactions contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (D) each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.2(b)(iii).

 

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(iii)    Certificates of Good Standing. Certificates as of a recent date of the good standing (or similar certificate for any Foreign Borrower, if available in the applicable jurisdiction) of each Borrower under the laws of the jurisdiction of formation of such Borrower and, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, each other jurisdiction where the such Borrower is qualified to do business and, to the extent available, a certificate of the relevant taxing authorities of such jurisdictions certifying that such Borrower has filed required tax returns and owes no delinquent taxes except for those being contested in good faith pursuant to Section 6.1(e).

(iv)    Opinions of Counsel. Favorable opinions of counsel to the Borrowers (including applicable local counsel) addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Borrowers, the Loan Documents and such other matters as the Lenders shall reasonably request.

(v)    Tax Forms. Copies of the United States Internal Revenue Service forms required by Section 4.13(e).

(c)    Consents; Defaults.

(i)    Governmental and Third Party Approvals. Each Borrower shall have received all material governmental, shareholder and third party consents and approvals necessary (or any other material consents as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the other transactions contemplated hereby and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken by any Person that could reasonably be expected to restrain, prevent or impose any material adverse conditions on such Borrower or the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or that could seek or threaten any of the foregoing, and no law or regulation shall be applicable which in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii)    No Injunction, Etc. Except for the Disclosed Litigation Matters (as defined in Section 6.1), no action, proceeding, investigation, regulation or legislation shall have been instituted, threatened or proposed before any Governmental Authority to enjoin, restrain, or prohibit, or to obtain substantial damages in respect of, or which is related to or arises out of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d)    Financial Matters.

(i)    Financial Statements. The Lenders shall have received the most recent audited Consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2010, in each case of the Company and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

(ii)    Payment at Closing; Fee Letters. The Company shall have paid (A) to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the accrued and unpaid fees due and set forth or referenced in Section 4.3 and any other accrued and unpaid fees or commissions due

 

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hereunder (including, without limitation, reasonable and invoiced legal fees and expenses), (B) to any other Person such amount as may be due thereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including all taxes, and reasonable and invoiced fees and other charges in connection with the execution, delivery, recording, filing and registration of any of the Loan Documents and (C) to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders the upfront fees set forth in the commitment letter executed by the Company, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. and the other arrangers and lenders party thereto dated February 11, 2011 (including the term sheet attached thereto).

(e)    Miscellaneous.

(i)    Notice of Borrowing. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing from the Company in accordance with Section 2.4(a) with respect to any amounts to be borrowed on the Closing Date, and a Notice of Account Designation specifying the account or accounts to which the proceeds of any Loans made after the Closing Date are to be disbursed.

(ii)    Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate (A) setting forth the true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number of the Company and each Designated Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary and a party hereto on the Closing Date, (B) setting forth the true and correct unique identification number of each Foreign Borrower that is a party hereto on the Closing Date that has been issued by its jurisdiction of organization and the name of such jurisdiction and (C) such other information as may be required by the Lenders for their compliance with the Act.

(iii)    Other Documents. All opinions, certificates and other instruments and all proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of all other documents, certificates and instruments reasonably requested thereby, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(iv)    Termination of Existing Credit Agreement. Concurrent with the closing of the Agreement, the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been terminated, together with the commitments thereunder, and all amounts owing in respect of the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been repaid in full.

SECTION 5.3. Conditions to All Extensions of Credit. The obligations of the Lenders to make any Extensions of Credit (including the initial Extension of Credit), the Issuing Lender and/or the Several Issuing Lenders to issue or extend any Letter of Credit are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the relevant borrowing, issuance or extension date:

(a)    Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in Article VI shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such borrowing, issuance or extension date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date,

 

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except for any representation and warranty made as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and except for the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.1(e), 6.1(f), 6.1(j) and 6.1(k); provided that, after giving effect to such Extension of Credit and with respect to any Designated Borrower, any such representation and warranty need only be true and correct in all material respects to the extent that such Designated Borrower has Loans or Letters of Credit outstanding on such date.

(b)    No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) on the borrowing date with respect to such Loan or after giving effect to the Loans to be made on such date or (ii) on the issuance or extension date with respect to such Letter of Credit or after giving effect to the issuance or extension of such Letter of Credit on such date.

(c)    Notices. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing from the Company in accordance with Section 2.4(a).

(d)    Designated Borrower. If the applicable Borrower is a Designated Borrower pursuant to Section 2.9(b), then the conditions of Section 2.9 as to the designation of such Borrower as a Designated Borrower shall have been met.

(e)    Permitted Currency. In the case of a Revolving Credit Loan, Swingline Loan or Letter of Credit to be denominated in a Permitted Currency other than Dollars, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders or the Issuing Lender that would make it impracticable for such Revolving Credit Loan, Swingline Loan or Letter of Credit to be denominated in the relevant Alternative Currency.

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWERS

SECTION 6.1. Representations and Warranties. To induce the Administrative Agent and Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make Extensions of Credit, the Company and each other Borrower (unless such representation and warranty is expressly limited to any such Person) hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and Lenders with respect to itself and its Subsidiaries that:

(a)    Organization; Power; Qualification. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, has the power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being and hereafter proposed to be conducted and is duly qualified and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of its properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification and authorization, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or the failure of any such Subsidiary to be so organized or existing could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Borrower is an EEAAffected Financial Institution.

 

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(b)    Authorization of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing. Each Borrower has the right, power and authority and has taken all necessary corporate and other action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents in accordance with their respective terms. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of such Borrower, and each such document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar state or federal debtor relief laws from time to time in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and the availability of equitable remedies.

(c)    Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with Laws, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of the Loan Documents, in accordance with their respective terms, the Extensions of Credit hereunder and the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not, by the passage of time, the giving of notice or otherwise, (i) require any Governmental Approval relating to such Borrower where the failure to obtain such Governmental Approval could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) violate any Applicable Law relating to such Borrower except where such violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under the articles of incorporation (or similar formation document for any Foreign Borrower) or bylaws (or similar governing documents for any Foreign Borrower) of such Borrower, (iv) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which such Borrower is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound or any Governmental Approval relating to such Borrower, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (v) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Borrower or (vi) require any consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act in respect of, an arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement other than consents, authorizations, filings or other acts or consents which have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect or for which the failure to obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d)    Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) has all Governmental Approvals required by any Applicable Law for it to conduct its business, each of which is in full force and effect, is final and not subject to review on appeal and is not the subject of any pending or, to the best of its knowledge, threatened attack by direct or collateral proceeding, (ii) is in compliance with each Governmental Approval applicable to it and in compliance with all other Applicable Laws (including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws and the Act) relating to it or any of its respective properties and (iii) has timely filed all material reports, documents and other materials required to be filed by it under all Applicable Laws with any Governmental Authority and has retained all material records and documents required to be retained by it under Applicable Law except in each case under this subsection (d) where the failure to have, comply, file or retain could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(e)    Tax Returns and Payments. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has duly filed or caused to be filed all federal, state, local and other tax returns required by Applicable Law to be filed, and has paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all federal, state, local and other taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable except for (i) those that are being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Company or the relevant Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP and (ii) filings, taxes and charges as to which the failure to make or pay could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(f)    ERISA; Foreign Pensions.

(i)    Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(f) or as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Employee Benefit Plan is in material compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder except for any required amendments for which the remedial amendment period as defined in Section 401(b) or other applicable provision of the Code has not yet expired and except where a failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ii)    As of the Closing Date, no Pension Plan has been terminated that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor has any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412 of the Code) been incurred (without regard to any waiver granted under Section 412 of the Code), nor has any funding waiver from the Internal Revenue Service been received or requested with respect to any Pension Plan, nor has there been any event requiring any disclosure under Section 4041(c)(3)(C) or 4063(a) of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan; and

(iii)    Except where the failure of any of the following representations to be correct in all material respects could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has: (A) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Section 406 of the ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, (B) incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums and there are no premium payments which are due and unpaid, (C) failed to make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer Plan, or (D) failed to make a required installment or other required payment under Section 412 of the Code.

(iv)    Except where the failure of any of the following representations to be correct in all material respects could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (A) each Foreign Pension Plan has been maintained in substantial compliance with its terms and in substantial compliance with the requirements of any and all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders (including all funding requirements and the respective requirements of the governing documents for each such Foreign Pension Plan) and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, (B) all contributions required to be made with respect to a Foreign Pension Plan have been timely made, (C) neither any Borrower nor any Subsidiary has incurred any material obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any

 

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Foreign Pension Plan, and (D) the present value of the accrued benefit liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Foreign Pension Plan, determined as of the end of the latest Fiscal Year on the basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable, did not exceed the current value of the assets of such Foreign Pension Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities.

(g)    Margin Stock. No Borrower is engaged principally or as one of its activities in the business of extending credit for the purpose of “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” (as each such term is defined or used, directly or indirectly, in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). No part of the proceeds of any of the Loans or Letters of Credit will be used in a manner which violates the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of such Board of Governors.

(h)    Government Regulation. No Borrower is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” (as each such term is defined or used in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) and such Borrower is not, nor after giving effect to any Extension of Credit will be, subject to regulation under the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, or any other Applicable Law which limits its ability to incur the indebtedness or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

(i)    Financial Statements. The Company represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that the audited financial statements delivered by the Company pursuant to Section 5.2(d) are complete and correct in all material respects and fairly present in all material respects on a Consolidated basis the assets, liabilities and financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at such dates, and the results of the operations and changes of financial position for the periods then ended. All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Such financial statements show all material indebtedness and other material liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including material liabilities for taxes and material commitments, in each case, to the extent required to be disclosed under GAAP.

(j)    No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2010, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as disclosed in any filings made with the SEC or as otherwise disclosed to the Administrative Agent or its Affiliates or each Lender, in each case prior to the date hereof.

(k)    Litigation. Except for matters existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.1(k) or disclosed in any filings made with the SEC prior to the Closing Date (collectively with Schedule 6.1(k), the “Disclosed Litigation Matters”), there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending nor, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or in any other way relating adversely to or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(l)    Absence of Defaults. No event has occurred or is continuing which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.

 

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(m)    Sanctions.

(i)    No Borrower, any Subsidiary of any Borrower, or, to the knowledge of any Borrower, any Affiliate, or any director, officer, employee or agent of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a Sanctioned Person.

(ii)    No Borrower will, directly or, to its knowledge, indirectly, use the proceeds of any Loan, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, Affiliate, joint venture partner or other Person, (i) to fund any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Loans, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise).

(n)    Disclosure. No financial statement, material report, material certificate (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any Pricing Certificate) or other material information furnished (whether in writing or orally), taken together as a whole with all SEC filings made from time to time by the Company, by or on behalf of any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, pro forma financial information, estimated financial information and other projected or estimated information, the Company only represents that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

(o)    Each of the Company and each Foreign Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

(i)    Such Foreign Borrower is subject to civil and commercial Applicable Laws with respect to its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (collectively as to such Foreign Borrower, the “Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents”), and the execution, delivery and performance by such Foreign Borrower of the Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents constitute and will constitute private and commercial acts and not public or governmental acts. Neither such Foreign Borrower nor any of its property has any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Borrower is organized and existing in respect of its obligations under the Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents.

(ii)    The Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents are in proper legal form under all Applicable Laws of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Borrower is incorporated or organized and existing for the enforcement thereof against such Foreign Borrower under all Applicable Laws of such jurisdiction, and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents. It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability,

 

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priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents that the Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents be filed, registered or recorded with, or executed or notarized before, any court or other authority in the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Borrower is organized and existing or that any registration charge or stamp or similar tax be paid on or in respect of the Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents or any other document, except for (A) any such filing, registration, recording, execution or notarization as has been made or is not required to be made until the Applicable Foreign Borrower Document or any other document is sought to be enforced, or as to which the failure to so file, register, record, execute or notarize could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (B) any charge or tax as has been timely paid or as to which the failure to pay could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(iii)    Except as has been disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent or as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, there is no tax, levy, impost, duty, fee, assessment or other governmental charge, or any deduction or withholding, imposed by any Governmental Authority in or of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Borrower is organized and existing either (A) on or by virtue of the execution or delivery of the Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents or (B) on any payment to be made by such Foreign Borrower pursuant to the Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents.

(iv)    The execution, delivery and performance of the Applicable Foreign Borrower Documents executed by such Foreign Borrower are, under applicable foreign exchange control regulations of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Borrower is incorporated or organized and existing, not subject to any notification or authorization except (A) such as have been made or obtained or (B) such as cannot be made or obtained until a later date (provided that any notification or authorization described in clause (B) shall be made or obtained as soon as is reasonably practicable) or (C) where the failure to so notify or authorize could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(p)    Each Borrower is resident for Tax purposes only in the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

SECTION 6.2. Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc. All representations and warranties set forth in this Article VI and all representations and warranties contained in any certificate delivered by any Borrower pursuant hereto, or any of the Loan Documents (including, but not limited to, any such representation or warranty made in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute representations and warranties made under this Agreement. All representations and warranties made under this Agreement shall be made or deemed to be made at and as of the Closing Date (except those that are expressly made as of a specific date), shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.

 

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ARTICLE VII

FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NOTICES

Until all the Loans and accrued Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner set forth in Section 13.2, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent (and the Administrative Agent shall promptly furnish or cause to be furnished to the Lenders) at the Administrative Agent’s Office at the address set forth in Section 13.1, or such other office as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time (provided, in the case of Section 7.4(d), the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished such information to the Sustainability Structuring Agents):

SECTION 7.1. Financial Statements.

(a)    Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each Fiscal Year, an unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and unaudited Consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows and a report containing management’s discussion and analysis of such financial statements for the fiscal quarter then ended and that portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures as of the end of and for the corresponding period in the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared by the Company in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial position or results of operations of any change in the application of accounting principles and practices during the period, and certified by the chief financial officer of the Company to present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as of their respective dates and the results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the respective periods then ended, subject to normal year end adjustments. Delivery by the Company to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of the Company’s quarterly report to the SEC on Form 10-Q with respect to any fiscal quarter, or the availability of such report on EDGAR Online, within the period specified above shall be deemed to be compliance by the Company with this Section 7.1(a).

(b)    Annual Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in any event within one hundred fifty (150) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, an audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such Fiscal Year and audited Consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows and a report containing management’s discussion and analysis of such financial statements for the Fiscal Year then ended, including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures as of the end of and for the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial position or results of operations of any change in the application of accounting principles and practices during the year. Such annual financial statements shall be audited by an independent certified public accounting firm, and accompanied by a report thereon by such certified public accountants that is not qualified with respect to scope limitations imposed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with respect to accounting principles followed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not in accordance with GAAP. Delivery by the Company to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of the Company’s annual report to the SEC on Form 10-K with respect to any fiscal year, or the availability of such report on EDGAR Online, within the period specified above shall be deemed to be compliance by the Company with this Section 7.1(b).

 

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SECTION 7.2. Officers Compliance Certificate. At each time financial statements are delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or (b), an Officer’s Compliance Certificate.

SECTION 7.3. Other Reports. Promptly upon request, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of any Borrower or any of such Borrower’s Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request.

SECTION 7.4. Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Promptly after a Responsible Officer of the Company obtains knowledge thereof, written notice of:

(a)    the occurrence of any Default;

(b)    the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or before any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any court or before any arbitrator against or involving such Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties, assets or businesses that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c)    any public announcement by S&P or any Alternative Ratings Source of any change in a Debt Rating; and

(d)     any material modification to the structure or format of SASB Aligned Reports.

SECTION 7.5. Accuracy of Information. All written information, reports, statements and other papers and data furnished by or on behalf of any Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender whether pursuant to this Article VII or any other provision of this Agreement, shall, at the time the same is so furnished and when taken together as a whole with all SEC filings made from time to time by such Borrower, comply with the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6.1(n).

ARTICLE VIII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until all of the Loans and accrued Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner provided for in Section 13.2, the Company and each other Borrower will, and will cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 8.1. Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related Matters. Except as permitted by Section 10.2, preserve and maintain its separate existence and all rights, franchises, licenses and privileges necessary to the conduct of its business, and qualify and remain authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which it is required to do so, except, in each case (other than the existence of such Borrower), where the failure to comply with the foregoing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.2. Maintenance of Property. Protect and preserve all properties necessary in and material to its business, including copyrights, patents, trade names, service marks and

 

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trademarks; maintain in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, all buildings, equipment and other tangible real and personal property; and from time to time make or cause to be made all repairs, renewals and replacements thereof and additions to such property necessary for the conduct of its business, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be conducted in a commercially reasonable manner, except, in each case, for such failures that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.3. Insurance. Maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or, if such Borrower deems it consistent with prudent business practices, maintain self-insurance, in either case, against such risks and in such amounts as are customarily maintained by similar businesses and as may be required by Applicable Law (including, without limitation, hazard and business interruption insurance), and from time to time deliver to the Administrative Agent upon its request information in reasonable detail as to the insurance then in effect, stating the names of the insurance provider, the amounts of the insurance, the dates of the expiration thereof and the properties and risks covered thereby.

SECTION 8.4. Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Maintain a system of accounting, and keep proper books, records and accounts (which shall be true and complete in all material respects) as may be required or as may be necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and in compliance with the regulations of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or any of its properties.

SECTION 8.5. Payment of Taxes. Pay and perform all Taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that may be levied or assessed upon it or any of its property to the extent the failure to pay any such item (either individually or together with all other such unpaid items) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, that such Borrower or such Subsidiary may contest any such item in good faith so long as adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

SECTION 8.6. Compliance With Laws and Approvals. Observe and remain in compliance in all material respects with all Applicable Laws (including without limitation, all Environmental Laws, ERISA and the Act) and maintain in full force and effect all Governmental Approvals, in each case applicable to the conduct of its business except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.7. Visits and Inspections. Permit representatives of the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, any Lender, from time to time upon prior reasonable notice and at such times during normal business hours, to visit and inspect its properties; and inspect, audit and make extracts from its books, records and files, including, but not limited to, management letters prepared by independent accountants; provided, that, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (a) any inspection shall be at the Administrative Agent’s own expense and (b) such inspections, visitations and/or examinations shall be limited to once during any calendar year.

 

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SECTION 8.8. Use of Proceeds.

(a)    Each Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit for working capital and general corporate purposes of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the payment of certain fees and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Loan Documents.

(b)    Each Borrower will not request any Extension of Credit, and each Borrower shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Extension of Credit (i) for any payments to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country in a manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions, or (iii) in any other manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

SECTION 8.9.    Foreign Borrowers. With respect to any Foreign Borrower, maintain all authorizations, consents, approvals and licenses from, exemptions of, and filings and registrations with, each Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which each Foreign Borrower is organized and existing, and all approvals and consents of each other Person in such jurisdiction, in each case that are required in connection with the Loan Documents to the extent the failure to do so could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.10. Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions; Beneficial Ownership Regulation. Each Borrower will (a) maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance in all material respects by each Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees with Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and applicable Sanctions, (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification (or a certification that such Borrower qualifies for an express exclusion to the legal entity customer definition under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation) of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein (or, if applicable, the Borrower ceasing to fall within an express exclusion to the definition of legal entity customer under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation) and (c) promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

ARTICLE IX

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

Until all of the Loans and accrued Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner set forth in Section 13.2, the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis will not:

SECTION 9.1. Leverage Ratio. As of any fiscal quarter end, permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to be greater than 3.00 to 1.00.

 

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ARTICLE X

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until all of the Loans and accrued Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner set forth in Section 13.2, the Company has not and will not:

SECTION 10.1. Limitations on Liens. Permit the Company or any Material Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its assets or properties (including, without limitation, shares of Capital Stock of any other Person), real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, as security for Indebtedness, except:

(a)    Liens existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Material Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with or into a Material Subsidiary which (i) were not created in contemplation of or in connection with such event and (ii) do not extend to or cover any other property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary;

(b)    (x) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section and in existence on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 10.1 and (y) other Liens existing on the Closing Date that secure Indebtedness existing on the date hereof the aggregate outstanding principal amount of which does not exceed $50,000,000;

(c)    Liens securing Indebtedness (a) of any Material Subsidiary owed to the Company, any Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary or (b) incurred or assumed to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any asset, including, without limitation, purchase money Liens and Liens evidencing equipment financings and equipment leases;

(d)    cash deposits and securities securing obligations in respect of Hedging Agreements;

(e)    any extension, renewal or replacement of any Lien permitted by clauses (a) through (d); provided that (i) the Liens permitted under this clause shall not (A) secure any Indebtedness other than the Indebtedness that was secured by the Lien being extended, renewed or replaced (or Indebtedness extending, renewing or replacing such Indebtedness as permitted hereunder) and (B) be extended to cover any property that was not encumbered by the Lien being extended, renewed or replaced; and (ii) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by the Lien permitted by this clause shall not be increased over the principal amount of such Indebtedness immediately prior to such extension, renewal or replacement;

(f)    Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 11.1(m) or securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments;

(g)    Liens on assets of any Material Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary;

(h)    Liens or rights of set-off in favor of a bank or financial institution in respect of a bank account maintained with such bank or financial institution;

(i)    Liens granted in respect of any Permitted Securitization; and

 

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(j)    Liens not otherwise permitted hereunder securing outstanding Indebtedness not at any time exceeding in the aggregate $500,000,000.

SECTION 10.2. Limitations on Mergers and Liquidation. Permit the Company or any Designated Borrower, to merge, consolidate or enter into any similar combination with any other Person or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution) except:

(a)    any Subsidiary of the Company may be merged or consolidated or enter into any similar combination with or into the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided that (i) the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person of any such merger, consolidation or similar combination to which it is a party and (ii) a Designated Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person of any such merger, consolidation or similar combination to which it is a party and the Company is not a party;

(b)    any Subsidiary of the Company may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets in respect of a liquidation to the Company or any Subsidiary;

(c)    the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company may merge, consolidate or enter into any similar combination with or into another Person in connection with an acquisition; provided that (i) the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person of any such merger, consolidation or similar combination to which it is a party, (ii) a Designated Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person of any such merger, consolidation or similar combination to which it is a party and the Company is not a party and (iii) a Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person of any such merger, consolidation or similar combination to which it is a party and neither the Company nor a Designated Borrower is a party;

(d)    any Subsidiary of the Company may wind-up into the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided that a Designated Borrower may only wind-up into the Company or a Designated Borrower; and

(e)    mergers, consolidations or similar combinations of a Subsidiary of the Company with a third-party as part of a sale or other disposition of all or any part of such Subsidiary not prohibited by Sections 10.3 and 10.5; provided that a Designated Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person of any such merger, consolidation or similar combination to which it is a party.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.2, if any Designated Borrower ceases to exist as a result of any transaction permitted by this Section 10.2, then (i) the surviving Person (A) whether the Company or another Subsidiary shall have agreed to be the successor obligor with respect to any Obligations of such Designated Borrower and (B) if other than the Company, shall have complied with all the requirements of Section 2.9(b) prior to becoming such successor and (ii) the Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect, in each case, in a manner and pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 10.3. Sale of All or Substantially All Assets. Sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, in each case for the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, unless any such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition is made on an arms-length basis for fair consideration (as reasonably determined by the Company).

 

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SECTION 10.4. Nature of Business. Engage, together with its Subsidiaries, in any business as their principal lines of business, taken as a whole, other than the principal lines of business engaged in by the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the date hereof and similar or related businesses.

SECTION 10.5. Designated Borrowers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article X, permit any Designated Borrower to cease to be a wholly-owned direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company.

ARTICLE XI

DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

SECTION 11.1. Events of Default. Each of the following shall constitute an Event of Default, whatever the reason for such event and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority or otherwise:

(a)    Default in Payment of Principal of Loans. Any Borrower shall default in any payment of principal of any Loan when and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise).

(b)    Other Payment Default. Any Borrower shall default in the payment when and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) of any Reimbursement Obligation or interest on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or the payment of any other Obligation, and such default shall continue for a period of three (3) Business Days.

(c)    Misrepresentation. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Company or any Designated Borrower herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy; provided that the Company complies with the terms of Section 4.17(e) with respect to such Pricing Certificate Inaccuracy).

(d)    Default in Performance of Certain Covenants. Any Borrower shall default in the performance or observance of any covenant or agreement applicable to it contained in Section 7.1, 7.2, 7.4(a) or Article IX or X, and, in the case of a default in the performance or observance of any covenant or agreement contained in Article X, such default shall continue for a period of ten (10) Business Days.

(e)    Default in Performance of Other Covenants and Conditions. Any Borrower shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than as specifically provided for otherwise in this Section) or any other Loan Document and such default shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice thereof has been given to the Company by the Administrative Agent.

(f)    Hedging Agreement. The Company shall default in the performance or observance of any terms, covenant, condition or agreement (after giving effect to any applicable grace or cure

 

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period) under any Hedging Agreement and such default causes the termination of such Hedging Agreement and the Termination Value owed by the Company as a result thereof exceeds $100,000,000.

(g)    Indebtedness Cross-Default; Indebtedness Cross-Acceleration. The Company shall (i) fail to pay any principal or interest, regardless of amount, due in respect of any Indebtedness (other than the Loans or any Reimbursement Obligations) the aggregate outstanding amount of which is in excess of $100,000,000 and such failure to pay shall continue for a period beyond the greater of (x) any period of grace provided with respect thereto and (y) a period of three (3) Business Days or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any agreement or condition relating to any Indebtedness (other than the Loans or any Reimbursement Obligation) the aggregate outstanding amount of which Indebtedness is in excess of $100,000,000 or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity (any applicable grace period having expired).

(h)    Change in Control. Any Change in Control shall occur.

(i)   &nbs