UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 12, 2013
THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 1-13754 | 04-3263626 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (508) 855-1000
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
A. | The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. Revolving Credit Facility |
On November 12, 2013, The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (the Company), as Borrower, entered into a Credit Agreement (the Credit Agreement) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, Lloyds Bank PLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as co-syndication agents, and various other lender parties. The Credit Agreement provides for a five-year unsecured revolving credit facility for the Company not to exceed $200,000,000 at any one time outstanding, with the option to increase the facility up to $300,000,000, in increments of $10,000,000 (assuming no default and satisfaction of other specified conditions, including the receipt of additional lender commitments). The Credit Agreement also includes a subfacility of $50,000,000 for standby letters of credit. The Company may use the line of credit for general corporate purposes for itself and its subsidiaries. This Credit Agreement replaces the credit agreement dated August 2, 2011, among the Company, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and various other lender parties, which credit agreement the Company voluntarily terminated effective November 12, 2013.
When a borrowing under the new credit facility is an ABR Loan, interest on such a loan is payable quarterly, at a rate per annum equal to the Alternative Base Rate (the highest of (a) the prime commercial lending rate of the administrative agent; (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1 ⁄ 2 of 1%; and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one-month interest period plus 1%), plus the applicable margin, which ranges from 0.25% to 0.625%, depending on the Companys debt rating. When a borrowing under the facility is a Eurodollar Loan, interest on such loan is payable in one, two or three-month intervals, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Adjusted LIBO Rate for the applicable interest period plus the applicable margin, which ranges from 1.25% to 1.625%, depending on the Companys debt rating. Fees on outstanding letters of credit are payable quarterly, and range from 1.25% to 1.625%, depending on the Companys debt rating, of the average daily aggregate stated amount of such letters of credit.
The Credit Agreement contains financial covenants substantially similar to those in its prior credit agreement that require the Company and its subsidiaries to maintain a specified minimum net worth, restrict the Company and its subsidiaries from exceeding a specified leverage ratio and require certain of the Companys subsidiaries to maintain a minimum Risk-Based Capital ratio. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains covenants that limit the Companys and its subsidiaries ability, among other things, to incur or assume certain debt, grant liens on its property, merge or consolidate, dispose of assets, materially change the nature or conduct of its business and make restricted payments (except, in each case, as provided by certain exceptions). The Credit Agreement also contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default, including payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross defaults to certain indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy, certain events under ERISA, material judgments, and change of control. If such an event of default occurs, the lenders under the Credit Agreement would be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due under the Credit Agreement. The credit facility expires on November 12, 2018, with an option, subject to approval of the lender parties, to extend for an additional year.
The above summary of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Agreement. A copy of the Credit Agreement is included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. As of November 15, 2013, there were no advances against this line of credit.
B. | Chaucer Holdings plc Standby Letter of Credit Facility and Guaranty |
Chaucer Holdings plc (Chaucer), a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (the Company), has amended and restated its existing Standby Letter of Credit Facility, currently used to provide Funds at Lloyds for the 2013 year of account and prior open years of account, with an Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility for the 2014 and 2015 years of account and each open prior year of account (the Amended Facility). The following is a description of the Amended Facility and related Company Guaranty.
Amended Facility Agreement
On November 15, 2013, Chaucer, as account party, and The Hanover Insurance International Holdings Limited (formerly known as 440 Tessera Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the parent of Chaucer) and
certain subsidiaries of Chaucer, as guarantors, entered into an Amendment and Restatement Agreement for an Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement (the Amended Facility Agreement) with the lenders party thereto from time to time, Lloyds Bank plc, Barclays Bank PLC and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as mandated lead arrangers and Lloyds Bank plc as bookrunner, overdraft provider, facility agent of the other Finance Parties (as defined therein) and security agent to the Secured Parties (as defined therein). The Amended Facility Agreement amends and restates the $180,000,000 Standby Letter of Credit Facility entered into by Chaucer on November 28, 2011, previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 2011. The Amended Facility Agreement will become effective upon receipt of approval from the Society of Lloyds, which approval is expected to be received no later than November 27, 2013.
The Amended Facility Agreement provides for a U.K. Sterling denominated letter of credit facility for Chaucer, not to exceed £130,000,000 outstanding at any one time, with the option to increase the amount available for issuances of letters of credit to £195,000,000 in the aggregate on one occasion only during the term of the Amended Facility Agreement (subject to the consent of all Lenders thereunder and assuming no default and satisfaction of other specified conditions). Chaucer intends to use the letters of credit as Funds at Lloyds to provide regulatory capital supporting Chaucers underwriting through its managed Lloyds syndicates for the 2014 and 2015 years of account and each prior open year of account. A letter of credit commission fee on outstanding letters of credit is payable quarterly, and ranges from 1.375% to 1.75% per annum, depending on the Companys credit ratings, for letters of credit that are not cash collateralized. The letter of credit commission fee on any portion of any letter of credit that is cash collateralized is 0.275% per annum. A commitment fee in respect of the unutilized commitments under the Amended Facility Agreement is payable quarterly, and ranges from 0.55% to 0.70% per annum, depending on the Companys credit ratings. Chaucer is also required to pay customary agency fees.
The Amended Facility Agreement contains covenants that limit the ability of Chaucer and its subsidiaries and guarantors thereunder, among other things, to incur or assume certain debt, merge or reconstruct, dispose of assets and materially change the nature or conduct of its business or investment strategy (except, in each case, as provided by certain exceptions). The Amended Facility Agreement also contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default, including payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross defaults to certain indebtedness, certain events of insolvency, certain events under ERISA, noncompliance with certain final judgments, change of control and material adverse effect. If such an event of default occurs, the lenders under the Amended Facility Agreement would be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due under the Amended Facility Agreement, requiring Chaucer to cash collateralize outstanding letters of credit and cancelling the Amended Facility Agreement. Letters of credit are available for issuance under the Amended Facility Agreement until December 31, 2014. No letters of credit issued under the Amended Facility Agreement may expire after December 31, 2018.
As of November 15, 2013, there was a $180,000,000 letter of credit outstanding under the current facility issued to the Society of Lloyds. Upon the effective date of the Amended Facility Agreement, which is expected to be no later than November 27, 2013, the existing $180,000,000 letter of credit will be amended to be a £130,000,000 letter of credit outstanding.
Guaranty Agreement
Also on November 15, 2013, the Company entered into a Guaranty Agreement (the Guaranty Agreement) with Lloyds Bank plc, as Facility Agent and Security Agent (each as defined therein), pursuant to which the Company unconditionally guarantees the obligations of Chaucer under the Amended Facility Agreement. The Guaranty Agreement contains certain financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a minimum net worth, a minimum risk-based capital ratio at the Companys principal U.S. operating insurance companies and a maximum leverage ratio, and certain negative covenants that limit the Companys and its subsidiaries ability, among other things, to incur or assume certain debt, grant liens on its property, merge or consolidate, dispose of assets, materially change the nature or conduct of its business and make restricted payments (except, in each case, as provided by certain exceptions). The Guaranty Agreement also contains certain customary representations and warranties. The Guaranty Agreement contains terms and conditions substantially similar to the existing guaranty agreement the Company has in place with Lloyds Bank plc in connection with Chaucers current facility, and the Guaranty Agreement will replace the existing guaranty agreement upon the effectiveness of the Amended Facility Agreement, which is expected to occur no later than November 27, 2013.
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The above summaries of the Amended Facility Agreement and the Guaranty Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended Facility Agreement and the Guaranty Agreement. Copies of the Amended Facility Agreement and the Guaranty Agreement are included as Exhibits 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 1.02 | Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement |
The information provided in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.
Concurrent with the Companys entry into the Credit Agreement, the Company voluntarily terminated its existing four-year $200,000,000 credit agreement, previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2011, entered into by the Company, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and various other lender parties.
Concurrent with the effectiveness of the Amended Facility Agreement, the Companys existing guaranty agreement, dated November 28, 2011, between the Company and Lloyds Bank plc, previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 2011, will terminate.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
The information provided in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(a) | Not applicable. |
(b) | Not applicable. |
(c) | Not applicable. |
(d) | Exhibits. |
The following exhibits are furnished herewith.
Exhibit 10.1 | Credit Agreement, dated November 12, 2013, among The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., as Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and various other lender parties. | |
Exhibit 10.2 | Amendment and Restatement Agreement with Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement, dated November 15, 2013, among Chaucer Holdings plc and the lenders party thereto from time to time, Lloyds Bank plc, Barclays Bank PLC and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as mandated lead arrangers and Lloyds Bank plc as bookrunner, overdraft provider, facility agent of the other Finance Parties (as defined therein) and security agent to the Secured Parties (as defined therein). | |
Exhibit 10.3 | Guaranty Agreement, dated November 15, 2013, among The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. and Lloyds Bank plc, as Facility Agent and Security Agent (each as defined therein). |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. | ||||||
(Registrant) | ||||||
Date: November 18, 2013 | By: |
/s/ J. Kendall Huber |
||||
J. Kendall Huber | ||||||
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Asst. Secretary |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 10.1 | Credit Agreement, dated November 12, 2013, among The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., as Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and various other lender parties. | |
Exhibit 10.2 | Amendment and Restatement Agreement with Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement, dated November 15, 2013, among Chaucer Holdings plc and the lenders party thereto from time to time, Lloyds Bank plc, Barclays Bank PLC and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as mandated lead arrangers and Lloyds Bank plc as bookrunner, overdraft provider, facility agent of the other Finance Parties (as defined therein) and security agent to the Secured Parties (as defined therein). | |
Exhibit 10.3 | Guaranty Agreement, dated November 15, 2013, among The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. and Lloyds Bank plc, as Facility Agent and Security Agent (each as defined therein). |
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Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
November 12, 2013
among
THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
The Lenders Party Hereto
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent
LLOYDS BANK PLC and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Co-Syndication Agents
and
BRANCH BANKING & TRUST COMPANY and BARCLAYS BANK PLC
as Co-Documentation Agents
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,
LLOYDS SECURITIES INC. and
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
Article I Definitions |
1 | |||||
SECTION 1.01 |
Defined Terms |
1 | ||||
SECTION 1.02 |
Classification of Loans and Borrowings |
22 | ||||
SECTION 1.03 |
Terms Generally |
23 | ||||
SECTION 1.04 |
Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations |
23 | ||||
SECTION 1.05 |
Status of Obligations |
24 | ||||
Article II The Credits |
24 | |||||
SECTION 2.01 |
Commitments |
24 | ||||
SECTION 2.02 |
Loans and Borrowings |
24 | ||||
SECTION 2.03 |
Requests for Revolving Borrowings |
25 | ||||
SECTION 2.04 |
Intentionally Omitted |
25 | ||||
SECTION 2.05 |
Intentionally Omitted |
25 | ||||
SECTION 2.06 |
Letters of Credit |
26 | ||||
SECTION 2.07 |
Funding of Borrowings |
32 | ||||
SECTION 2.08 |
Interest Elections |
33 | ||||
SECTION 2.09 |
Termination and Reduction of Commitments |
34 | ||||
SECTION 2.10 |
Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt |
34 | ||||
SECTION 2.11 |
Prepayment of Loans |
35 | ||||
SECTION 2.12 |
Fees |
35 | ||||
SECTION 2.13 |
Interest |
36 | ||||
SECTION 2.14 |
Alternate Rate of Interest |
37 | ||||
SECTION 2.15 |
Increased Costs |
37 | ||||
SECTION 2.16 |
Break Funding Payments |
38 | ||||
SECTION 2.17 |
Taxes |
39 | ||||
SECTION 2.18 |
Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs |
42 | ||||
SECTION 2.19 |
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders |
44 | ||||
SECTION 2.20 |
Expansion Option |
44 | ||||
SECTION 2.21 |
Defaulting Lenders |
46 | ||||
SECTION 2.22 |
Extension of Maturity Date |
47 | ||||
Article III Representations and Warranties |
49 | |||||
SECTION 3.01 |
Representations and Warranties |
49 | ||||
Article IV Conditions |
52 | |||||
SECTION 4.01 |
Effective Date |
52 | ||||
SECTION 4.02 |
Each Credit Event |
53 | ||||
Article V Affirmative Covenants |
53 | |||||
SECTION 5.01 |
Reporting Requirements |
53 | ||||
SECTION 5.02 |
Payment of Taxes, Etc. |
55 | ||||
SECTION 5.03 |
Corporate Existence, Compliance with Laws, Etc. |
55 | ||||
SECTION 5.04 |
Maintenance of Properties, Etc. |
56 | ||||
SECTION 5.05 |
Keeping of Books |
56 | ||||
SECTION 5.06 |
Visitation Rights |
56 | ||||
SECTION 5.07 |
Use of Proceeds |
56 | ||||
Article VI Negative Covenants |
57 | |||||
SECTION 6.01 |
Financial Covenants |
57 | ||||
SECTION 6.02 |
Financial Debt |
57 | ||||
SECTION 6.03 |
Liens |
58 | ||||
SECTION 6.04 |
Mergers, Etc. |
58 |
i
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | ||||||
SECTION 6.05 |
Disposition of Assets |
59 | ||||
SECTION 6.06 |
Transactions with Affiliates |
59 | ||||
SECTION 6.07 |
Line of Business |
59 | ||||
SECTION 6.08 |
Anti-Dividend-Block |
59 | ||||
SECTION 6.09 |
Restricted Payments |
60 | ||||
Article VII Events of Default |
61 | |||||
SECTION 7.01 |
Events of Default |
61 | ||||
SECTION 7.02 |
Remedies |
62 | ||||
Article VIII The Administrative Agent |
62 | |||||
Article IX Miscellaneous |
64 | |||||
SECTION 9.01 |
Notices |
64 | ||||
SECTION 9.02 |
Waivers; Amendments |
66 | ||||
SECTION 9.03 |
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver |
68 | ||||
SECTION 9.04 |
Successors and Assigns |
70 | ||||
SECTION 9.05 |
Survival |
73 | ||||
SECTION 9.06 |
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution |
73 | ||||
SECTION 9.07 |
Severability |
73 | ||||
SECTION 9.08 |
Right of Setoff |
74 | ||||
SECTION 9.09 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process |
74 | ||||
SECTION 9.10 |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
74 | ||||
SECTION 9.11 |
Headings |
75 | ||||
SECTION 9.12 |
Confidentiality |
75 | ||||
SECTION 9.13 |
USA PATRIOT Act |
75 | ||||
SECTION 9.14 |
Interest Rate Limitation |
75 | ||||
SECTION 9.15 |
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility |
76 |
ii
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | ||
SCHEDULES : |
||
Schedule 2.01 Commitments |
||
Schedule 3.01 Subsidiaries |
||
Schedule 6.02 Existing Financial Debt; Existing Liens |
||
Schedule 6.08 Existing Burdensome Agreements |
||
EXHIBITS : |
||
Exhibit A Form of Assignment and Assumption |
||
Exhibit B Form of Opinion of Borrowers Counsel |
||
Exhibit C Form of Increasing Lender Supplement |
||
Exhibit D Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement |
||
Exhibit E List of Closing Documents |
||
Exhibit F Form of Compliance Certificate |
||
Exhibit G-1 Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships) |
||
Exhibit G-2 Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships) |
||
Exhibit G-3 Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships) |
||
Exhibit G-4 Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships) |
||
Exhibit H-1 Form of Borrowing Request |
||
Exhibit H-2 Form of Interest Election Request |
||
Exhibit I Form of Note |
iii
CREDIT AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) dated as of November 12, 2013 among THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC., the LENDERS from time to time party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, LLOYDS BANK PLC and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Syndication Agents and BRANCH BANKING & TRUST COMPANY and BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as Co-Documentation Agents.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
ABR , when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to a Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
Acquisition means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, by which the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly (i) acquires any ongoing business or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, (ii) acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) Control of at least a majority in ordinary voting power of the securities of a Person which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors or (iii) otherwise acquires Control of a more than 50% ownership interest in any such Person.
Adjusted LIBO Rate means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.
Administrative Agent means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
Administrative Questionnaire means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
Affiliate means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. For the avoidance of doubt, any Lloyds syndicate which is not a legal entity and has no power to enter into contracts or other binding obligations shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower.
Agent Party has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).
Aggregate Commitment means the aggregate of the Commitments of all of the Lenders, as reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. As of the Effective Date, the Aggregate Commitment is $200,000,000.
Alternate Base Rate means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1 ⁄ 2 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a
Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page of such page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.
Anti-Corruption Laws means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
Applicable Percentage means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment represented by such Lenders Commitment; provided that, in the case of Section 2.21 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, Applicable Percentage shall mean the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment (disregarding any Defaulting Lenders Commitment) represented by such Lenders Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lenders status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.
Applicable Rate means, for any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan or any ABR Loan or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption Eurodollar Spread, ABR Spread or Commitment Fee Rate, as the case may be, based upon the ratings by Moodys and S&P, respectively, applicable on such date to the Index Debt:
Index Debt Ratings (Moodys/S&P) |
Commitment
Fee Rate |
Eurodollar
Spread |
ABR
Spread |
|||||||||||
Category 1 : |
Baa1/BBB+ or higher | 0.175 | % | 1.25 | % | 0.25 | % | |||||||
Category 2 : |
Baa2/BBB | 0.20 | % | 1.375 | % | 0.375 | % | |||||||
Category 3 : |
Baa3/BBB- | 0.225 | % | 1.50 | % | 0.50 | % | |||||||
Category 4 : |
Ba1/BB+ or lower | 0.25 | % | 1.625 | % | 0.625 | % |
For purposes of the foregoing, (i) if only one of Moodys and S&P shall have in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this definition), the Category then in effect shall be based on such rating, (ii) if neither Moodys nor S&P shall have in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this definition), then both such rating agencies shall be deemed to have established a rating in Category 4; (iii) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moodys and S&P for the Index Debt shall fall within different Categories, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the higher of the two ratings unless one of the two ratings is two or more Categories lower than the other, in which case the Category then in effect shall be determined by reference to the Category next below that of the higher of the two ratings; and (iv) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moodys and S&P for the Index Debt shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of Moodys or S&P), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency, irrespective of when notice of such change shall have been furnished by the
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Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.01 or otherwise. Each change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of Moodys or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower 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 agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.
Approved Fund has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
Assignment and Assumption means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Augmenting Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
Availability Period means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.
Available Revolving Commitment means, at any time with respect to any Lender, the Commitment of such Lender then in effect minus the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender at such time.
Bankruptcy Event means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person 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 Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
Borrower means The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Borrowing means Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
Borrowing Request means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H-1 .
Burdensome Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.08.
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Business Day means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in Dollars in the London interbank market.
Cash Collateralize means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or the applicable LC Issuer (as applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for the LC Exposure or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances or, if the LC Issuer benefiting from such collateral shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) the applicable LC Issuer. Cash Collateral shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.
Change in Control means any of the following events:
(a) any person or group (as such terms are used for purposes of sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether or not applicable, except that for purposes of this paragraph (a) such person or group shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), is or becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated pursuant to said Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the Voting Shares of the Borrower; or
(b) during any period of 25 consecutive calendar months, a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower shall no longer be composed of individuals (i) who were members of said board on the first day of such period or (ii) whose election or nomination to said board was approved by a majority of the board of the directors of the Borrower, which members comprising such majority were either the individuals referred to in clause (i) or whose election or nomination was previously so approved.
Change in Law means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rules, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however , that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and 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, issued or implemented.
CIC means Citizens Insurance Company of America, a property and casualty insurance company organized under the laws of Michigan as a corporation.
CitySquare Project means the CitySquare development in Worcester, Massachusetts as described in Form 10-K of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
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Class , when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, as being either Revolving Loans or Incremental Term Loans.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Co-Documentation Agent means each of Branch Banking & Trust Company and Barclays Bank PLC in its capacity as co-documentation agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.
Commitment means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.20 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lenders Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 , or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.
Communications has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).
Connection Income Taxes means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
conservator has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01(f).
Consolidated refers to the consolidation of accounts of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.
Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative thereto.
Controlled Investment Affiliate means, as to any future, present, or former employee, director, officer or consultant of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, any other Person, which directly or indirectly is in Control of, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with such Person and is organized by such Person (or any Person Controlling such Person) primarily for making direct or indirect equity investments in the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.
Co-Syndication Agent means each of Lloyds Bank plc and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in its capacity as co-syndication agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.
Credit Party means the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Agent, any Fronting Bank or any other Lender.
CSL means Chaucer Syndicates Limited.
Debt of any Person means, without duplication, (a) indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and not
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overdue by more than 90 days), (d) obligations of such Person as lessee under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (e) Debt of others secured by a Lien on the Property of such Person, whether or not the Debt so secured has been assumed by such Person, (f) obligations of such Person under Guaranties in respect of Debt of others (including any obligations constituting Limited Originator Recourse in respect of Debt of a Securitization Subsidiary), (g) without duplication, (A) obligations of such Person in respect of Hybrid Securities (disregarding clause (ii) of the definition thereof) and (B) in each case, Disqualified Equity Interests (disregarding clause (ii) of the definition thereof) and Preferred Securities (disregarding clause (ii) of the definition thereof) requiring repayments, prepayments, mandatory redemptions or repurchases prior to 91 days after the Maturity Date, with the amount of Debt represented by such Disqualified Equity Interest or Preferred Security being equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation amount and its maximum fixed repurchase price or redemption amount, (h) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to Property acquired by such Person, (i) the net termination obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreements, calculated as of any date as if such agreement or arrangement were terminated as of such date and (j) the principal balance outstanding and owing by such Person under any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease or similar off-balance sheet financing product.
Default means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
Defaulting Lender means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by a Credit Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Partys receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event.
Disqualified Equity Interest means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest of such Person that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or otherwise, (i) (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable or subject to any mandatory repurchase requirement, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as the rights of holder thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to (1) the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable, (2) the termination of the Commitments and (3) the Cash Collateralization all Letters of Credit then outstanding (whether or not any beneficiary under any such Letter of Credit shall have drawn or be entitled at such time to draw thereunder) in an amount of cash equal to 103% of the aggregate Stated Amount thereof), (b) is redeemable or subject to any mandatory repurchase requirement at the sole option of the holder thereof,
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or (c) is convertible into or exchangeable for (whether at the option of the issuer or the holder thereof) (y) debt securities or (z) any Equity Interest referred to in (a) or (b) above, and (ii) requires no such repayments, prepayments, mandatory redemptions or repurchases, in each case in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c), prior to 91 days after the Maturity Date; provided that (1) if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations and (2) no such Equity Interests held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer or individual consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Borrower (or any of its Subsidiaries) shall be considered Disqualified Equity Interests because such Equity Interests are redeemable or subject to repurchase pursuant to any management equity subscription agreement, stock option, stock appreciation right or other stock award agreement, stock ownership plan, put agreement, stockholder agreement or similar agreement that may be in effect from time to time.
Dollars or $ refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
Effective Date means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
Electronic Signature means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.
Electronic System means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, Intralinks ®, ClearPar ® and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Agent and any of its respective Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.
Environmental Liability means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
Equity Interests means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.
Equity Issuance means any issuance or sale by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the Effective Date of Equity Interests, other than (a) any such issuance or sale by a Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, (b) any capital contribution by the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower to any Subsidiary of the Borrower, (c) stocks, warrants, options or other rights to obtain Equity Interests issued to directors, officers, consultants and other employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (d) any sale or disposition of a non-Material Subsidiary.
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ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
ERISA Affiliate means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of section 302 of ERISA and section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Event means (a) any reportable event, as defined in section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) a determination that a Plan is, or is expected to be, in at risk status (as defined in section 303(i)(4) of ERISA); (c) the failure to timely make a contribution required to be made with respect to any Plan or any Multiemployer Plan; (d) a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, in endangered status or critical status (each as defined in section 305(b) of ERISA); (e) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (f) the receipt by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (g) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (h) the receipt by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; or (i) the occurrence of a non-exempt prohibited transaction under section 406 of ERISA or section 4975 of the Code which could reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates.
Eurodollar , when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.
Event of Default has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01.
Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lenders assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipients failure to comply with Section 2.17(f) and (d) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
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Existing Credit Agreement means the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2011, by and among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof.
FATCA means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreement (including intergovernmental agreements) entered into pursuant thereto.
Federal Funds Effective Rate means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
Financial Debt means, without duplication, Debt of the kinds set forth in clauses (a), (b), (d) or (g) of the definition of Debt, or of the kinds set forth in clauses (e) or (f) thereof to the extent relating to Debt of the type referred to in (a), (b), (d) and (g) of the definition thereof.
Foreign Lender means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.
Fronted Letter of Credit has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).
Fronted Unpaid Drawing means any unreimbursed LC Disbursement with respect to a Fronted Letter of Credit.
Fronting Bank means any Lender (or any Affiliate thereof) which is requested by the Borrower, and which agrees in writing in its sole discretion, to issue Fronted Letters of Credit hereunder pursuant to Section 2.06.
Fronting Participant has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
Governmental Authority means any federal, state, municipal, national or other government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any entity, officer or examiner exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether associated with a state of the United States, the United States, or a foreign entity or government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Guaranty of or by any Person (the guarantor ) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person (the primary obligor ) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or to advance or supply funds for the
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purchase or payment of) such Debt or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease Property or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof, or (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt or other obligation or as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guarantee issued to support such Debt; provided that the term Guaranty shall not include (i) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or (ii) credit insurance or payment obligations under insurance policies or surety bonds issued by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
Hazardous Materials means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
Hedge Agreement means any interest or foreign currency rate swap, cap, collar, option, hedge, forward rate or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.
HIC means The Hanover Insurance Company, a property and casualty insurance company organized under the laws of New Hampshire as a corporation.
Hybrid Securities means securities (i) that afford equity benefit to the issuer thereof (under the procedures and guidelines of S&P) by having ongoing payment requirements that are more flexible than interest payments associated with conventional indebtedness for borrowed money and by being contractually subordinated to such indebtedness and (ii) that require no repayments or prepayments and no mandatory redemptions or repurchases, in each case, prior to 91 days after the Maturity Date.
Immediate Family Member means with respect to any individual, such individuals child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, qualified domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law (including adoptive relationships) and any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor-advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.
Impacted Interest Period has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of LIBO Rate.
Increasing Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
Incremental Term Loan has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
Incremental Term Loan Amendment has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
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Indemnified Taxes means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
Index Debt means senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower that is not guaranteed by any other person or entity or subject to any other credit enhancement.
Ineligible Institution has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
Information Memorandum means the Confidential Information Memorandum dated October 2013 relating to the Borrower and the Transactions.
Insurance Regulatory Authority means, for any Insurance Subsidiary, the insurance department or similar administrative authority or agency located in the state or other jurisdiction in which such Insurance Subsidiary is domiciled (including commercially domiciled as that term is defined under relevant state law), including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Society and Corporation of Lloyds.
Insurance Subsidiary means a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is licensed to do an insurance or reinsurance business.
Interest Election Request means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H-2 .
Interest Payment Date means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Maturity Date.
Interest Period means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided , that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
Interpolated Rate means, at any time, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time.
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IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
Issuing Agent means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as the issuing agent of Several Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(h). The Issuing Agent may, in its discretion, arrange for Affiliates of the Issuing Agent to act as the issuing agent of the Several Letters of Credit, in which case the term Issuing Agent shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Several Letters of Credit for which such Affiliate acts as Issuing Agent.
Joint Bookrunner means each of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Lloyds Securities Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in its capacity as a joint bookrunner and joint lead arranger for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.
LC Collateral Account has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(i).
LC Disbursement means a payment made by a Lender (in the case of a Several Letter of Credit) or a Fronting Bank (in the case of a Fronted Letter of Credit) pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
LC Exposure means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.
LC Issuer means each of the Issuing Agent and each Fronting Bank.
Lender Parent means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.
Lenders means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.20 or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term Lenders includes each LC Issuer.
Letters of Credit means the Several Letters of Credit and the Fronted Letters of Credit.
Leverage Ratio means, at any time, the ratio of (i) Modified Total Debt to (ii) Total Capitalization.
LIBO Rate means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any applicable Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate administered by the British Bankers Association (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen or, in the event such rate does not appear on either of such Reuters pages, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion (in each case the LIBOR Screen Rate ) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that, if the LIBOR Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement; provided , further , that if a LIBOR Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (the Impacted Interest Period ), then the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period shall be the Interpolated Rate; provided, that, if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement. It is understood and agreed that all of the terms and conditions of this definition of LIBO Rate shall be subject to Section 2.14.
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LIBOR Screen Rate has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of LIBO Rate.
Lien means any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement, including, without limitation, the lien or retained security title of a conditional vendor.
Limited Originator Recourse means a letter of credit, revolving loan commitment, cash collateral account or other such credit enhancement issued in connection with the incurrence of Financial Debt by a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Securitization Transaction; provided that, the aggregate amount of such letter of credit reimbursement obligations and the aggregate available amount of such revolving loan commitments, cash collateral accounts or other such credit enhancements of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries (other than any other Securitization Subsidiary) shall not exceed 10% of the principal amount of such Financial Debt at any time.
Loan Documents means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to Section 2.10(e), any Letter of Credit applications, powers of attorney, letter of credit agreements and all other written agreements whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of the Borrower and delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.
Loans means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.
Margin Stock means margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U.
Material Adverse Change or Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse change in or effect on (i) the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or (iii) the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement.
Material Debt has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01(d).
Material Insurance Subsidiary means any of CIC, HIC and CSL and any other Insurance Subsidiary that constitutes a Material Subsidiary.
Material Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than any Subsidiary the book value of whose assets do not constitute more than 5% of the book value (determined on a Consolidated basis) of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
Maturity Date means November 12, 2018, subject to extension (in the case of each Lender consenting thereto) as provided in Section 2.22.
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Modified Total Debt means, at any time, the sum of the following:
(a) Total Debt plus
(b) Without duplication, the amount (if any) by which (i) the aggregate outstanding amount of all Hybrid Securities that is attributed to Net Worth pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Net Worth plus (ii) the portion of all Preferred Securities issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than any Securitization Subsidiary) that is deemed to constitute equity, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time plus (iii) the portion of all Disqualified Equity Interests issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than any Securitization Subsidiary) that is deemed to constitute equity, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time plus (iv) the portion of all Specified Convertible Debt Securities issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than any Securitization Subsidiary) that is deemed to constitute equity, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time, exceeds 15% of Total Capitalization.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Multiemployer Plan means a multiemployer plan as defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
NAIC means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor thereto, or in lieu thereof, any other association, agency or other organization performing substantially similar advisory, coordination or other like functions among insurance departments, insurance commissions and similar governmental authorities of the various states of the United States of America toward the promotion of uniformity in the practices of such governmental authorities.
Net Equity Proceeds means, with respect to any Equity Issuance, the aggregate amount of all cash received by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than any Securitization Subsidiaries) in respect of such Equity Issuance net of all reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection therewith.
Net Worth means, at any time, the sum of the following for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than any Securitization Subsidiaries) (determined on a Consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP):
(a) total shareholders equity of the Borrower determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that the net unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities that are classified as available for sale and are subject to ASC 320 shall be excluded, plus
(b) without duplication of clauses (c) and (d) hereof, solely for purposes of determining Total Capitalization the portion of all outstanding Hybrid Securities that is deemed to constitute equity, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time, minus
(c) without duplication of clauses (b) and (d) hereof, solely for purposes of determining Total Capitalization the portion of all outstanding Preferred Securities that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time, minus
(d) without duplication of clauses (b) and (c) hereof, solely for purposes of determining Total Capitalization the portion of all outstanding Disqualified Equity Interests that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time.
Non-Public Information means information which has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally, within the meaning of Regulation FD.
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Obligations means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Exposure, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations and indebtedness (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of any of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any indemnified party under this Agreement, individually or collectively, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, arising or incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made or reimbursement or other obligations incurred or any of the Letters of Credit or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof.
OFAC means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Other Connection Taxes means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
Other Taxes means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment, grant of a participation or other transfer (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19).
Participant has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.
Participant Register has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).
Patriot Act means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
Permitted Liens means any of the following Liens:
(a) Liens imposed by any governmental authority for taxes, assessments or charges not yet due or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;
(b) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, repairmens, construction contractors or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and Liens securing judgments or orders for the payment of money but only to the extent not resulting in an Event of Default under Section 7.01(g) hereof;
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(c) pledges or deposits made (i) in connection with, or to secure payment of, workers compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, other social security legislation and other statutory obligations and in each case in compliance therewith, (ii) to secure in the ordinary course of business the performance of bids, tenders, contracts or leases, (iii) to secure statutory obligations, surety and customs bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) in the ordinary course of business, (iv) to secure stay and appeal bonds, (v) to secure indemnity, performance or other similar bonds in the ordinary course of business, or (v) in connection with contested amounts in the ordinary course of business;
(d) encumbrances in the nature of (i) easements, (ii) rights-of-way, (iii) zoning restrictions or similar laws or rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property, (iv) leases and subleases (other than any capital leases or synthetic leases), and licenses and sublicenses, (v) encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and restrictions on the use of real property or minor imperfections in title thereto, (vi) landlords and lessors Liens on rented premises, and (vii) restrictions on transfers or assignment of leases, which in each case do not secure monetary obligations and do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) Liens arising under escrows, trusts, custodianships, separate accounts, funds withheld procedures, and similar deposits, arrangements, or agreements established with respect to insurance or reinsurance policies, annuities, guaranteed investment contracts and similar products underwritten by, or Reinsurance Agreements entered into by, the Borrower or any Insurance Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
(f) deposits with Insurance Regulatory Authorities;
(g) Liens securing obligations under letters of credit issued for the benefit of Insurance Regulatory Authorities and letters of credit issued in support of funds at the Society and Corporation of Lloyds requirements, including as permitted under Section 6.02(n);
(h) Liens granted by Securitization Subsidiaries in connection with Securitization Transactions;
(i) Liens on Property of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower after the date hereof, provided that such Liens are in existence at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower and were not created in anticipation thereof;
(j) Liens upon real and/or tangible personal Property acquired after the date hereof (by purchase, construction or otherwise) by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, each of which Liens either (A) existed on such Property before the time of its acquisition and was not created in anticipation thereof or (B) was created solely for the purpose of securing Debt representing, or incurred to finance, refinance or refund, the cost (including the cost of construction) of such Property, provided that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any Property of the Borrower or such Subsidiary other than the Property so acquired and improvements thereon;
(k) Liens on securities or financial instruments arising out of (i) repurchase (and reverse repurchase) agreements for liquidity or yield enhancement purposes and in no event outstanding for a period exceeding ninety (90) days in each case and (ii) other investment strategies with respect to securities and financial instruments, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and on ordinary business terms;
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(l) the sale of delinquent accounts receivable for collection in the ordinary course of business;
(m) Liens in existence on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02 (and any extension, renewal or replacement thereof permitted under Section 6.02(o));
(n) Liens in favor of a Federal Home Loan Bank to secure borrowings from such Federal Home Loan Bank in the ordinary course of business and on ordinary business terms pursuant to a membership in such Federal Home Loan Bank;
(o) Liens on deposits made in connection with the discharge, defeasance or redemption of Debt;
(p) Liens securing Debt permitted under Section 6.02(e);
(q) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 of the Uniform Commercial Code on the items in the course of collection and (ii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of law or under customary contractual provisions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with such banking or other financial institution (including the right of set off and grants of security interests in deposits and/or securities held by such banking or other financial institution) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;
(r) Liens deemed to exist in connection with reasonable customary initial deposits, margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;
(s) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar filings that have not been authorized by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower;
(t) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement, provided that any such Lien is in existence for a period of no longer than one year;
(u) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;
(v) Customary rights of first refusal and tag, drag and similar rights relating to the sale of equity in joint venture agreements and franchise agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(w) Liens on cash or securities to secure Hedge Agreements and obligations under other derivatives transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes; provided that the amount of Debt secured by such Liens shall not exceed $150,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(x) Liens arising from the deposit of cash, securities or other property into collateral or reinsurance trusts for the benefit of ceding companies or Insurance Regulatory Authorities;
(y) Liens arising in connection with securities lending transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business for liquidity or yield enhancement purposes and in no event outstanding for a period exceeding two hundred and seventy (270) days in each case; and
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(z) Liens securing Debt in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $25,000,000.
Person means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Plan means an employee benefit or other plan established or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and that is covered by Title IV of ERISA, including a Multiemployer Plan.
Preferred Securities of any Person shall mean any preferred Equity Interests (or capital stock) of such Person that (i) have preferential rights with respect to dividends or redemptions or upon liquidation or dissolution of such Person over shares of common Equity Interests (or capital stock) of any other class of such Person and (ii) that require no repayments or prepayments and no mandatory redemptions or repurchases, in each case, prior to 91 days after the Maturity Date.
Prime Rate means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.
Property of any Person means any property or assets, or interest therein, of such Person.
Public Lenders means the Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their securities.
RBC Ratio of any Person means, at any time, the ratio of (i) Total Adjusted Capital of such Person to (ii) the amount equal to (x) Authorized Control Level Risk-Based Capital of such Person multiplied by (y) 2, as such terms are defined by the Insurance Regulatory Authority of the State in which such Person is incorporated, as amended from time to time. Using the annual SAP Financial Statements form prescribed by the NAIC Risk-Based Capital (RBC) for Insurers Model Act for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the Convention Blank ), the RBC Ratio as of December 31, 2012 is equal to the quotient of (a) the amount that appears on line 28 on page 17 of the Convention Blank divided by (b) the amount equal to (x) the amount that appears on line 29 on page 17 of the Convention Blank multiplied by (y) 2.
Recipient means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any LC Issuer, as applicable.
Register has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.
Regulation D means Regulation D issued by the Board, as from time to time amended.
Regulation FD means Regulation FD as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect from time to time.
Regulations T, U and X means Regulations T, U and X issued by the Board, as from time to time amended.
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Reinsurance Agreement means any agreement, contract, treaty or other arrangement whereby other insurers assume insurance from the Borrower or any Insurance Subsidiary.
Related Parties means, with respect to any specified Person, such Persons Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives of such Person and such Persons Affiliates.
Required Lenders means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time.
Responsible Officer of the Borrower means the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, or any Vice President of the Borrower.
Restricted Payments means (a) any cash dividend or other distribution in cash with respect to any Equity Interests in any Person, or any cash payment, including any sinking fund or similar cash deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in such Person or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in such Person and (b) any prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other satisfaction prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner of any Subordinated Indebtedness of any Person (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled principal and interest payments shall not constitute a Restricted Payment).
Revolving Credit Exposure means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lenders Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure at such time.
Revolving Loan means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC business.
Sanctions means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the European Union or Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom.
Sanctioned Country means, at any time, a country or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions and with respect to which such Sanctions apply to all Persons in such country or territory (for example, as of the Effective Date, Cuba) as opposed to any country or territory with respect to which Sanctions are applicable only to Persons listed in any Sanctions-related list.
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 European Union or Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person controlled by any such Person.
SAP means the accounting procedures and practices prescribed or permitted by the applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority.
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Securitization Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable or portfolio investments of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (a) no portion of the Debt or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (other than another Securitization Subsidiary) (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Debt) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or Limited Originator Recourse), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (other than another Securitization Subsidiary) in any way (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or Limited Originator Recourse) or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (other than another Securitization Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or Limited Originator Recourse, (b) with which neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (other than another Securitization Subsidiary) has any contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than pursuant to the documentation entered into in connection with any Securitization Transaction (including with respect to fees payable in the ordinary course of business in connection with the servicing of accounts receivable and related assets)) on terms less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower, and (c) to which neither the Borrower nor any other Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than another Securitization Subsidiary) has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entitys financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or Limited Originator Recourse). Any such designation shall be evidenced to the Administrative Agent by filing with the Administrative Agent an officers certificate of the Borrower certifying that, to the best of such officers knowledge and belief after consultation with counsel, such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.
Securitization Transaction means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, may sell, convey or otherwise transfer assets to any special purpose, bankruptcy-remote Subsidiary in a true sale transaction and such special purpose Subsidiary incurs Financial Debt to finance the purchase of such assets, provided that there shall be no recourse under any such securitization to the Borrower or any of its other Subsidiaries other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or Limited Originator Recourse.
Several Letter of Credit has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(a).
Several Unpaid Drawing means any unreimbursed LC Disbursement with respect to a Several Letter of Credit.
Solvent means, with respect to any Person at any time, that (a) the fair value of the Property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including without limitation contingent liabilities) of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of the Property of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Persons ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business and is not about to engage in a business for which such Persons Property would constitute an unreasonably small capital.
Specified Convertible Debt Securities means any debt securities the terms of which provide for the conversion thereof into Equity Interests, cash or a combination of Equity Interests and cash and (i) that afford equity benefit to the issuer thereof (under the procedures and guidelines of S&P) by having ongoing payment requirements that are more flexible than interest payments associated with conventional indebtedness for borrowed money and by being contractually subordinated to such indebtedness and (ii) that require no repayments or prepayments and no mandatory redemptions or repurchases of principal payable in cash, in each case, prior to 91 days after the Maturity Date.
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Standard Securitization Undertakings means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with any Securitization Transaction that are customary in comparable non-recourse securitization transactions.
Stated Amount means, with respect to any Letter of Credit at any time, the aggregate amount available to be drawn thereunder at such time (regardless of whether any conditions for drawing could then be met).
Statutory Reserve Rate means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as Eurocurrency Liabilities in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D of the Board. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D of the Board or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
Statutory Statement means, as to any Material Insurance Subsidiary, a statement of the condition and affairs of such Material Insurance Subsidiary, prepared in accordance with SAP, and filed with the applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority.
Subordinated Indebtedness means any Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary the payment of which is contractually subordinated in right of payment of the obligations under the Loan Documents.
subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which at least a majority of the securities or other ownership interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions of such other Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time securities or other ownership interests of any other class or classes of such other Person shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or Controlled by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such first Person or by such first Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such first Person.
Subsidiary means any subsidiary of the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, any Lloyds syndicate which is not a legal entity and has no power to enter into contracts or other binding obligations shall not be deemed to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
Taxes means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Total Capitalization means, at any time, the sum of (a) Total Debt plus (b) Net Worth.
Total Debt means, at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than any Securitization Subsidiary) of the
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kinds set forth in clauses (a) through (g) of the definition of Debt determined on a Consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP, but without giving effect to any election under the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (ASC 825) (or any similar accounting principle) permitting a Person to value its financial liabilities or indebtedness at the fair value thereof; provided , that solely for purposes of determining Total Debt, (i) without duplication of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) hereof, the outstanding principal amount of Debt attributed to any Hybrid Security shall be deemed equal to the portion of such Hybrid Security that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time, (ii) without duplication of clauses (i), (iii) and (iv) hereof, the outstanding principal amount of Debt attributed to any Disqualified Equity Interest shall be deemed equal to the portion of such Disqualified Equity Interest that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time, (iii) without duplication of clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) hereof, the outstanding principal amount of Debt attributed to any Preferred Security shall be deemed equal to the portion of such Preferred Security that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time and (iv) without duplication of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, the outstanding principal amount of Debt attributed to any Specified Convertible Debt Securities shall be deemed equal to the portion of such Specified Convertible Debt Securities that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time.
Transactions means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.
Type , when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
U.S. Person means a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(B)(3).
UKGAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United Kingdom as in effect from time to time.
Voting Shares means, with respect to any Person at any time, Equity Interests entitling the holder thereof to vote generally in an election of directors or other individuals performing similar functions.
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which all of the equity securities or other ownership interests (other than, in the case of a corporation, directors qualifying shares) are directly or indirectly owned or Controlled by such Person or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
Withdrawal Liability has the meaning specified in Part 1 of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g ., a Revolving Loan) or by Type ( e.g ., a Eurodollar Loan) or by Class and Type ( e.g ., a Eurodollar Revolving Loan). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g ., a Revolving Borrowing) or by Type ( e.g ., a Eurodollar Borrowing) or by Class and Type ( e.g ., a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing).
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SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall. The word law shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) 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, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) 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, (e) 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 and (f) the words asset and property shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Debt or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at fair value, as defined therein and (ii) except as otherwise provided under the definition of Modified Total Debt, without giving effect to any treatment of Debt in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Debt in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Debt shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.
(b) All pro forma computations required to be made hereunder giving effect to any acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Debt, or other transaction shall in each
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case be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto (and, in the case of any pro forma computation made hereunder to determine whether such acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Debt, or other transaction is permitted to be consummated hereunder, to any other such transaction consummated since the first day of the period covered by any component of such pro forma computation and on or prior to the date of such computation) as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, ending with the last fiscal quarter included in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.01(a)(ii)), and, to the extent applicable, to the historical earnings and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of (but without giving effect to any synergies or cost savings) and any related incurrence or reduction of Debt, all in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933. If any Debt bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Debt shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedge Agreement applicable to such Debt).
SECTION 1.05 Status of Obligations . In the event that the Borrower shall at any time issue or have outstanding any Subordinated Indebtedness, the Borrower shall take all such actions as shall be necessary to cause the Obligations to constitute senior indebtedness (however denominated) in respect of such Subordinated Indebtedness and to enable the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness. Without limiting the foregoing, the Obligations are hereby designated as senior indebtedness and as designated senior indebtedness and words of similar import under and in respect of any indenture or other agreement or instrument under which such Subordinated Indebtedness is outstanding and are further given all such other designations as shall be required under the terms of any such Subordinated Indebtedness in order that the Lenders may have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness.
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01 Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (a) such Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lenders Commitment or (b) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the Aggregate Commitment. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.
SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lenders failure to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall
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apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000. At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the Aggregate Commitment or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of ten (10) Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings outstanding.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.
SECTION 2.03 Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;
(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Interest Period; and
(v) the location and number of the Borrowers account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.
If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one months duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lenders Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04 Intentionally Omitted.
SECTION 2.05 Intentionally Omitted.
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SECTION 2.06 Letters of Credit.
(a) Several Letters of Credit .
(i) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the Issuing Agent, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period, to issue, on behalf of each Lender, for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, to any other Person, and subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Issuing Agent agrees to issue at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period one or more irrevocable standby letters of credit denominated in Dollars and in such form as may be approved by the Issuing Agent (each such letter of credit, a Several Letter of Credit and, collectively, the Several Letters of Credit ). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Agent relating to any Several Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. The Borrower unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, in connection with any Several Letter of Credit issued for the support of any Subsidiarys obligations as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Borrower will be fully responsible for the reimbursement of LC Disbursements in accordance with the terms hereof, the payment of interest thereon and the payment of fees due under Section 2.12(b) to the same extent as if it were the sole account party in respect of such Several Letter of Credit (the Borrower hereby irrevocably waiving any defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of the obligations of such a Subsidiary that is an account party in respect of any such Several Letter of Credit).
(ii) Each Several Letter of Credit will be issued by the Issuing Agent on behalf of the Lenders and the obligations of each Lender under any Several Letter of Credit will be based on such Lenders Applicable Percentage at the time such Several Letter of Credit is issued. The obligations of each Lender under and in respect of each Several Letter of Credit are several, and the failure by any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder or under any Letter of Credit shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower toward any other party hereto nor shall any other such party be liable for the failure by such Lender to perform its obligations hereunder or under any Several Letter of Credit.
(iii) Each Several Letter of Credit shall be executed and delivered by the Issuing Agent in the name and on behalf of, and as attorney-in-fact for, each Lender and the Issuing Agent shall act under each Several Letter of Credit, and each Several Letter of Credit shall expressly provide that the Issuing Agent shall act, as the agent of each Lender, to (a) receive drafts, other demands for payment and other documents presented by the beneficiary under such Several Letter of Credit, (b) determine whether such drafts, demands and documents are in compliance with the terms and conditions of such Several Letter of Credit and (c) notify such Lender and the Borrower that a valid drawing has been made and the date that the related Several Unpaid Drawing is to be made; provided that, the Issuing Agent shall have no obligation or liability for any Several Unpaid Drawing under such Several Letter of Credit, and each Several Letter of Credit shall expressly so provide. Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and designates the Issuing Agent as its attorney-in-fact, acting through any duly authorized officer of the Issuing Agent, to execute and deliver in the name and on behalf of such Lender each Several Letter of Credit to be issued by such Lender hereunder. Promptly upon the request of the Issuing Agent, each Lender will furnish to the Issuing Agent such powers of attorney or other evidence as any beneficiary of any Several Letter of Credit may reasonably request in order to demonstrate that the Issuing Agent has the power to act as attorney-in-fact for such Lender to execute and deliver such Several Letter of Credit.
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(iv) Each Lender represents and warrants that each Several Letter of Credit constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Lender enforceable in accordance with its terms; provided that, the enforceability thereof is subject to general principles of equity and to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally.
(v) Upon the request of any Lender, each Issuing Agent shall furnish to such Lender copies of any Several Letters of Credit issued by it and such other related and reasonably available documentation as may be reasonably requested by such Lender.
(b) Fronted Letters of Credit .
(i) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request any Fronting Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period, to issue, for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, to any other Person, and subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, such Fronting Bank agrees to issue at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period one or more irrevocable standby letters of credit denominated in Dollars and in such form as may be approved by such Fronting Bank (each such letter of credit, a Fronted Letter of Credit and, collectively, the Fronted Letters of Credit ). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, a Fronting Bank relating to any Fronted Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. The Borrower unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, in connection with any Fronted Letter of Credit issued for the support of any Subsidiarys obligations as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Borrower will be fully responsible for the reimbursement of LC Disbursements in accordance with the terms hereof, the payment of interest thereon and the payment of fees due under Section 2.12(b) to the same extent as if it were the sole account party in respect of such Fronted Letter of Credit (the Borrower hereby irrevocably waiving any defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of the obligations of such a Subsidiary that is an account party in respect of any such Fronted Letter of Credit).
(ii) Immediately upon the issuance by any Fronting Bank of any Fronted Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Fronted Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof), such Fronting Bank shall be deemed to have sold and transferred to each Lender other than such Fronting Bank (each such Lender, in its capacity under this Section 2.06(b), a Fronting Participant ), and each such Fronting Participant shall be deemed irrevocably and unconditionally to have purchased and received from such Fronting Bank, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation, to the extent of such Fronting Participants Applicable Percentage, in such Fronted Letter of Credit, each drawing made thereunder and the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement with respect thereto, and any security therefor or guaranty pertaining thereto. Upon any change in the Commitments or Applicable Percentages of the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.20), it is hereby agreed that, with respect to all outstanding Fronted Letters of Credit and Fronted Unpaid Drawings, there shall be an automatic adjustment to the participations pursuant to this Section 2.06 to reflect the new Applicable Percentages of the assignor and assignee Lender or of all Lenders with Commitments, as the case may be.
(iii) In the event that any Fronting Bank makes any payment under any Fronted Letter of Credit and the Borrower shall not have reimbursed such amount in full to such Fronting Bank pursuant to Section 2.06(e), such Fronting Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent, which shall promptly notify each Fronting Participant, of such failure, and each Fronting
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Participant shall promptly and unconditionally pay to such Fronting Bank the amount of such Fronting Participants Applicable Percentage of such unreimbursed payment in Dollars and in immediately available funds. If, prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day, the Administrative Agent so notifies any Fronting Participant required to fund a payment under a Fronted Letter of Credit, such Fronting Participant shall make available to such Fronting Bank in Dollars and in immediately available funds such Fronting Participants Applicable Percentage of the amount of such payment on such Business Day (or, if notice is given after 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day, on the next Business Day). If and to the extent such Fronting Participant shall not have so made its Applicable Percentage of the amount of such payment available to such Fronting Bank, such Fronting Participant agrees to pay to such Fronting Bank, forthwith on demand, such amount, together with interest thereon, for each day from such date to but excluding the date such amount is paid to such Fronting Bank at the overnight Federal Funds Effective Rate. The failure of any Fronting Participant to make available to such Fronting Bank its Applicable Percentage of any payment under any Fronted Letter of Credit shall not relieve any other Fronting Participant of its obligation hereunder to make available to such Fronting Bank its Applicable Percentage of any payment on the date required, as specified above.
(iv) Whenever any Fronting Bank receives any payment by the Borrower as to which it has also received payments from the Fronting Participants pursuant to paragraph (iii) above, such Fronting Bank shall forward such payment to the Administrative Agent, which in turn shall distribute to each Fronting Participant which has paid its Applicable Percentage thereof, in Dollars and in immediately available funds, an amount equal to such Fronting Participants share (based upon the amount funded by such Fronting Participant to the aggregate amount funded by all Fronting Participants and retained by such Fronting Bank) of the principal amount of such payment and interest thereon accruing after the purchase of the respective participations.
(v) The obligations of the Fronting Participants to make payments to each Fronting Bank with respect to Fronted Letters of Credit issued by it shall be irrevocable and not subject to any qualification or exception whatsoever and shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement under all circumstances, including any of the following circumstances:
(A) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any amendment, supplement or modification hereof;
(B) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which the Fronting Participant or any of its Affiliates may have at any time against a beneficiary named in a Fronted Letter of Credit, any transferee of any Fronted Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such transferee may be acting), the Administrative Agent, any Fronting Bank, any Fronting Participant, any Lender, or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any Fronted Letter of Credit, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transactions (including any underlying transaction between the Borrower or any of its Affiliates and the beneficiary named in any such Fronted Letter of Credit);
(C) any draft, certificate or any other document presented under any Fronted Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;
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(D) the surrender or impairment of any security for the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Agreement;
(E) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;
(F) any amendment, renewal or extension of any Fronted Letter of Credit or the reduction or termination of the Commitments; or
(G) any matter or event set forth in Section 2.06(f).
(vi) Upon the request of any Fronting Participant, each Fronting Bank shall furnish to such Fronting Participant copies of any Fronted Letter of Credit issued by it and such other documentation as may reasonably be requested by such Fronting Participant.
(c) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions . To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable LC Issuer) to the applicable LC Issuer and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Several Letter of Credit or Fronted Letter of Credit, as applicable, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (d) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the applicable LC Issuer, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the applicable LC Issuers standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the amount of the LC Exposure shall not exceed $50,000,000 and (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment. No LC Issuer shall at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if such issuance would conflict with, or cause the Issuing Agent or any Fronting Participant to exceed any limits imposed by, any Governmental Authority.
(d) Expiration Date . Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination by notice from the applicable LC Issuer to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided that each such Letter of Credit may by its terms automatically renew annually for one additional year unless (a) such extension would cause such Letter of Credit to remain outstanding five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date or (b) at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of such Letter of Credit, notice is given by the respective LC Issuer in accordance with the terms of the respective Letter of Credit (a Notice of Non-Extension ) that the expiration date of such Letter of Credit will not be extended beyond its current expiration date. The respective LC Issuer will give Notices of Non-Extension as to any or all outstanding Letters of Credit if requested to do so by the Required Lenders pursuant to Article VII . The respective LC Issuer will give Notices of Non-Extension as to all outstanding Letters of Credit (i) if the Maturity Date has occurred; provided , further , that if acceptable to the applicable Fronting Bank and the Administrative Agent, a Fronted Letter of Credit may have an expiration date no later than the date that occurs one (1) year after the Maturity Date so long as on the Maturity Date, such Fronted Letter of Credit is cash collateralized in a manner
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reasonably satisfactory to such Fronting Bank and the Administrative Agent or other arrangements as may be acceptable to such Fronting Bank and the Administrative Agent have been put in place. The respective LC Issuer will send a copy of each Notice of Non-Extension to the Borrower concurrently with delivery thereof to the respective beneficiary, unless prohibited by law from doing so.
(e) Reimbursement . If any Lender or any Fronting Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to such Lender or such Fronting Bank, as applicable, in Dollars the amount equal to such LC Disbursement, calculated as of the date such LC Disbursement is made not later than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice; provided that the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 (but without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in such Section) that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing in an equivalent amount of such LC Disbursement and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing.
(f) Obligations Absolute . The Borrowers obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by any Lender or any Fronting Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor any LC Issuer, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the applicable LC Issuer; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any LC Issuer from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such LC Issuers failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any LC Issuer (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such LC Issuer shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the applicable LC Issuer may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make or request a Lender to make, as applicable, payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make or request a Lender to make, as applicable, payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
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(g) Interim Interest . If any Lender or any Fronting Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of (i) each Lender pro rata in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, in the case of Several Letters of Credit, or (ii) the applicable Fronting Bank, in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (b)(iii) of this Section to reimburse the applicable Fronting Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.
(h) Replacement of Issuing Agent . The Issuing Agent may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the replaced Issuing Agent and the successor Issuing Agent. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Agent pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) any successor Issuing Agent shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Agent under this Agreement with respect to the applicable Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term LC Issuer and Issuing Agent shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Agent, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Agents, as the context shall require. After the replacement of the Issuing Agent hereunder, the replaced Issuing Agent shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Agent under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit then outstanding and issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(i) Cash Collateralization . If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of Cash Collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders (the LC Collateral Account ), an amount in cash equal to 103% of the amount of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such Cash Collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in Sections 7.01(e) or 7.01(f). The Borrower shall also deposit Cash Collateral in accordance with and to the extent required by Section 2.11, Section 2.21(c) and Section 6.09. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option of the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrower, and at the Borrowers risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Lenders or the Fronting Banks, as applicable, for LC Disbursements which have not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Obligations. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of Cash Collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.
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(j) Disbursement Procedures . The applicable LC Issuer shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The applicable LC Issuer shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether such LC Issuer has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Issuer and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.
(k) LC Issuer Agreements . Each LC Issuer agrees that, unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, such LC Issuer shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day of each week, the daily activity (set forth by day) during the immediately preceding week in respect of all Letters of Credit issued by such LC Issuer, including all issuances, extensions, amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancellations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such LC Issuer expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such LC Issuer shall not permit any issuance, renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (iii) on each Business Day on which such LC Issuer makes any LC Disbursement, the date of such LC Disbursement and the amount of such LC Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such LC Issuer (or any Lender, with respect to any Several Letter of Credit that such LC Issuer issued) on such day, the date of such failure and the amount and currency of such LC Disbursement and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.
SECTION 2.07 Funding of Borrowings .
(a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 2:00 p.m., New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City or Chicago and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentage (in the case of Several Letters of Credit) or the applicable Fronting Bank (in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit).
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing (or in the case of an ABR Borrowing, prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith
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on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lenders Loan included in such Borrowing.
SECTION 2.08 Interest Elections . (a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request signed by the Borrower. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to elect an Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d).
(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which Interest Period shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Interest Period.
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one months duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lenders portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
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SECTION 2.09 Termination and Reduction of Commitments . (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.
(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $2,500,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the Aggregate Commitment.
(c) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other transactions specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
SECTION 2.10 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt . (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date.
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lenders share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the Obligations.
(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I . Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or, to such payee and its registered assigns).
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SECTION 2.11 Prepayment of Loans . The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.11. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, a notice of prepayment may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other transactions specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16. If at any time the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all of the Revolving Credit Exposures exceeds the Aggregate Commitment, the Borrower shall immediately repay Borrowings or Cash Collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(i), as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to cause the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Exposures to be less than or equal to the Aggregate Commitment.
SECTION 2.12 Fees . (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided that, no commitment fee shall accrue on the Available Revolving Commitment of a Defaulting Lender as provided in Section 2.21(a) below. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, which fee shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lenders LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to Fronted Unpaid Drawings) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lenders Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, (ii) to the Issuing Agent, for its own account, its standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension
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of any Letter of Credit issued by the Issuing Agent or processing of drawings thereunder, and (iii) to each Fronting Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee, which shall accrue at a rate per annum separately agreed upon between the Borrower and such Fronting Bank on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Fronting Bank during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any such LC Exposure, as well as such Fronting Banks standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. The foregoing fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third (3 rd ) Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to any LC Issuer pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand. The foregoing fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the LC Issuers, in the case of fees payable to them) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and other fees payable to the Lenders, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.13 Interest . (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.
(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon termination of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Revolving Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a
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leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.14 Alternate Rate of Interest . If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:
(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or
(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and any such Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted into an ABR Borrowing on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.
SECTION 2.15 Increased Costs . (a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or any LC Issuer;
(ii) impose on any Lender or any LC Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or
(iii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to increase the cost to such Lender, such LC Issuer or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such LC Issuer or such other Recipient hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise, then the Borrower will pay to such Lender, such LC Issuer or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such LC Issuer or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
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(b) If any Lender or any LC Issuer determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or such LC Issuers capital or on the capital of such Lenders or such LC Issuers holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such LC Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such LC Issuer or such Lenders or such LC Issuers holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or such LC Issuers policies and the policies of such Lenders or such LC Issuers holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such LC Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such LC Issuer or such Lenders or such LC Issuers holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) A certificate of a Lender or a LC Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such LC Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such LC Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any LC Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or such LC Issuers right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or a LC Issuer pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or such LC Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders or such LC Issuers intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
SECTION 2.16 Break Funding Payments . In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11 and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. Such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in Dollars of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
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SECTION 2.17 Taxes . (a) Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower . Without duplication of other amounts payable by the Borrower under this Section, the Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for, Other Taxes.
(c) Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, the 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.
(d) Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate setting forth in reasonable detail a description of such Indemnified Taxes and the amount of such payment or liability for such Indemnified Taxes delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(e) Indemnification by the Lenders . Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lenders failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender 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 (e).
(f) Status of Lenders . (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to
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the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lenders reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender (it being understood that providing any information currently required by any U.S. Federal income tax withholding form shall not be considered prejudicial to the position of a Lender).
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person:
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 (or successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. Federal backup withholding tax; provided , however, that if the Lender is a disregarded entity for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, it shall provide the appropriate withholding form of its owner (together with appropriate supporting documentation);
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the interest article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the business profits or other income article of such tax treaty;
(2) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form);
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a 10 percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B)
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of the Code, or a controlled foreign corporation described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form); or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form), IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. Federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lenders obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds . If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without
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interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(h) Survival . Each partys obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
(i) Defined Terms . For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term Lender includes the LC Issuers and the term applicable law includes FATCA.
SECTION 2.18 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs . (a) Except as otherwise provided herein with respect to the reimbursement of LC Disbursements, the Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 10 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, except payments to be made directly to an LC Issuer as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.
(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.
(c) At the election of the Administrative Agent, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees and expenses pursuant to Section 9.03), and other sums payable under the Loan Documents that are not paid when due (after any applicable grace period) in accordance with the Loan
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Documents, subject to three (3) Business Days prior written notice to the Borrower, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder whether made following a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes, solely to the extent provided above, (i) the Administrative Agent to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Section 2.03 and (ii) the Administrative Agent to charge any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.
(d) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans or participations in LC Disbursements resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements of other Lenders to the extent necessary 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 Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or 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 LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or any LC Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the applicable LC Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the applicable LC Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender such LC Issuer with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(f) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or the applicable LC Issuer to satisfy such Lenders obligations to it under such Section until all such
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unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive control as Cash Collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section; in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.
SECTION 2.19 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders . (a) If any Lender or LC Issuer requests compensation under Section 2.15, or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or LC Issuer or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or LC Issuer pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender or LC Issuer, as applicable, shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans, LC Disbursements or participations in LC Disbursements (as applicable) hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or LC Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender or LC Issuer to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or LC Issuer. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or LC Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) If (i) any Lender or LC Issuer requests compensation under Section 2.15, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or LC Issuer or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or LC Issuer pursuant to Section 2.17 or (iii) any Lender or LC Issuer becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender or LC Issuer and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender or LC Issuer to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under the Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender or LC Issuer, if a Lender or LC Issuer accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Commitment is being assigned, each LC Issuer), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply
SECTION 2.20 Expansion Option . The Borrower may from time to time elect to increase the Commitments or enter into one or more tranches of term loans (each an Incremental Term Loan ), in each case in minimum increments of $10,000,000 so long as, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of such increases and all such Incremental Term Loans does not exceed $100,000,000. The Borrower may arrange for any such increase or tranche to be provided by one or more Lenders (each Lender so agreeing to an increase in its Commitment, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, an Increasing Lender ), or by one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an Augmenting Lender ; provided that no Ineligible Institution may be an Augmenting Lender), which agree to increase their existing Commitments, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, or provide new Commitments, as the case may be; provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender shall be subject to the approval (not to be unreasonably withheld) of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Lender, the Borrower and
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such Increasing Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Lender, the Borrower and such Augmenting Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto. No consent of any Lender (other than the Lenders participating in the increase or any Incremental Term Loan) shall be required for any increase in Commitments or Incremental Term Loan pursuant to this Section 2.20. Increases and new Commitments and Incremental Term Loans created pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall become effective on the date agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the relevant Increasing Lenders or Augmenting Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Commitments (or in the Commitment of any Lender) or tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall become effective under this paragraph unless, (i) on the proposed date of the effectiveness of such increase or Incremental Term Loans, (A) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and (B) the Borrower shall be in compliance (on a pro forma basis) with the covenants contained in Section 6.01 and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received documents consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date as to the organizational power and authority of the Borrower to borrow hereunder after giving effect to such increase. On the effective date of any increase in the Commitments or any Incremental Term Loans being made, (i) each relevant Increasing Lender and Augmenting Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as are equal to its commitment (if any) for Incremental Term Loans or, in the case of an increase in the Commitments, as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lenders portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Lenders to equal its Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) except in the case of an increase in Commitments effected solely by an increase in the Commitments of Increasing Lenders in conformity with their Applicable Percentages prior to giving effect to such increase, the Borrower shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase in the Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the Borrower, in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03). The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, in respect of each Eurodollar Loan, shall be subject to indemnification (unless waived by any Lender in its sole discretion) by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. The Incremental Term Loans (a) shall rank pari passu in right of payment with the Revolving Loans, (b) shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date (but may have amortization prior to such date) and (c) shall be treated substantially the same as (and in any event no more favorably than) the Revolving Loans (as reasonably determined by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) and provided that (i) the terms and conditions applicable to any tranche of Incremental Term Loans maturing after the Maturity Date may provide for material additional or different financial or other covenants applicable only during periods after the Maturity Date and (ii) the Incremental Term Loans may be priced differently, and have different fees and prepayment requirements, than the Revolving Loans. Incremental Term Loans may be made hereunder pursuant to an amendment or restatement (an Incremental Term Loan Amendment ) of this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Increasing Lender participating in such tranche, each Augmenting Lender participating in such tranche, if any, and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Term Loan Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20. This Section 2.20 shall supersede any provisions in Sections 2.18 or 9.02 to the contrary. Nothing contained in this Section 2.20 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to increase its Commitment hereunder, or provide Incremental Term Loans, at any time.
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SECTION 2.21 Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);
(b) the Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided , that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;
(c) if any LC Exposure with respect to Fronted Letters of Credit exists at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i) all or any part of such LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that (A) no Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such reallocation, (B) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders Revolving Credit Exposures plus such LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lenders does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders Commitments and (C) each non-Defaulting Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure does not exceed such non-Defaulting Lenders Commitment;
(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent Cash Collateralize the Borrowers obligations corresponding to such LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(i) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;
(iii) if the Borrower Cash Collateralizes any portion of such LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender during the period such LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is Cash Collateralized;
(iv) if such LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12(a) and Section 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentages; and
(v) if all or any portion of such LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is neither reallocated nor Cash Collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of any LC Issuer or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be payable to the Fronting Banks until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or Cash Collateralized; and
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(d) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Fronting Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Fronted Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lenders then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or Cash Collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.21(c), and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.21(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).
If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) any Fronting Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, no Fronting Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless such Fronting Bank shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to such Fronting Bank to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Fronting Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then (i) the LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lenders Commitment, (ii) on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage and (iii) if the Borrower has been required to Cash Collateralize all or a portion of such Lenders LC Exposure as a result of such Lender having been a Defaulting Lender, the amount of Cash Collateral so provided (to the extent not previously applied by the Administrative Agent) shall be promptly returned to the Borrower.
SECTION 2.22 Extension of Maturity Date .
(a) Request for Extension . The Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) not earlier than 120 days and not later than 90 days prior to each anniversary of the date of this Agreement (each such date, an Extension Date ), request that each Lender extend such Lenders Maturity Date to the date that is one year after the Maturity Date then in effect for such Lender (the Existing Maturity Date ).
(b) Lender Elections to Extend . Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent given not later than the date that is 15 days after the date on which the Administrative Agent received the Borrowers extension request (the Lender Notice Date ), advise the Borrower and the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension (each Lender that determines to so extend its Maturity Date, an Extending Lender ). Each Lender that determines not to so extend its Maturity Date (a Non-Extending Lender ) shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Lender Notice Date), and any Lender that does not so advise the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the Lender Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender. The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree, and it is understood and agreed that no Lender shall have any obligation whatsoever to agree to any request made by the Borrower for extension of the Maturity Date.
(c) Intentionally Omitted .
(d) Additional Commitment Lenders . The Borrower shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, on or before the applicable Maturity Date for any Non-Extending Lender to replace such
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Non-Extending Lender with, and add as Lenders under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more financial institutions (each, an Additional Commitment Lender ) approved by the Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) in accordance with the procedures provided in Section 2.19(b), each of which Additional Commitment Lenders shall have entered into an Assignment and Assumption (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04, with the Borrower or replacement Lender obligated to pay any applicable processing or recordation fee) with such Non-Extending Lender, pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lenders shall, effective on or before the applicable Maturity Date for such Non-Extending Lender, assume a Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Lender, its Commitment shall be in addition to such Lenders Commitment hereunder on such date). Prior to any Non-Extending Lender being replaced by one or more Additional Commitment Lenders pursuant hereto, such Non-Extending Lender may elect, in its sole discretion, by giving irrevocable notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (which notice shall set forth such Lenders new Maturity Date), to become an Extending Lender. The Administrative Agent may effect such amendments to this Agreement as are reasonably necessary to provide for any such extensions with the consent of the Borrower but without the consent of any other Lenders.
(e) Minimum Extension Requirement . If (and only if) the total of the Commitments of the Lenders that have agreed to extend their Maturity Date and the new or increased Commitments of any Additional Commitment Lenders is more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments in effect immediately prior to the applicable Extension Date, then, effective as of the applicable Extension Date, the Maturity Date of each Extending Lender and of each Additional Commitment Lender shall be extended to the date that is one year after the Existing Maturity Date (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such Maturity Date as so extended shall be the next preceding Business Day) and each Additional Commitment Lender shall thereupon become a Lender for all purposes of this Agreement and shall be bound by the provisions of this Agreement as a Lender hereunder and shall have the obligations of a Lender hereunder.
(f) Conditions to Effectiveness of Extension . Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) no more than one (1) extension of the Maturity Date shall be permitted hereunder and (y) any extension of any Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.22 shall not be effective with respect to any Extending Lender unless:
(i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the applicable Extension Date and immediately after giving effect thereto;
(ii) the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) on and as of the applicable Extension Date and after giving effect thereto, as though made on and as of such date (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date);
(iii) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the Borrower signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying the accuracy of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii); and
(iv) if there is a non-ratable increase in the Commitments, each outstanding Several Letter of Credit shall have been amended giving effect to the reallocation of the Commitments or, if required, returned by each respective beneficiary to the Administrative Agent and cancelled and/or exchanged for a new or amended Several Letter of Credit giving effect to the reallocated Commitments.
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(g) Maturity Date for Non-Extending Lenders . On the Maturity Date of each Non-Extending Lender, (i) the Commitment of each Non-Extending Lender shall automatically terminate and (ii) the Borrower shall repay such Non-Extending Lender in accordance with Section 2.10 (and shall pay to such Non-Extending Lender all of the other Obligations owing to it under this Agreement) and after giving effect thereto shall prepay any Revolving Loans outstanding on such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.16) to the extent necessary to keep outstanding Revolving Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages of the respective Lenders effective as of such date, and the Administrative Agent shall administer any necessary reallocation of the Revolving Credit Exposures (without regard to any minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and/or pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement). On the Maturity Date, the participations in outstanding Fronted Letters of Credit shall be automatically adjusted to give effect to the revised Applicable Percentages of the respective Lenders.
(h) Conflicting Provisions . This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.18 or Section 9.02 to the contrary.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
SECTION 3.01 Representations and Warranties . The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
(a) (i) the Borrower has heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders (including by furnishing the Form 10-K of the Borrower filed with the SEC) its audited Consolidated balance sheet and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows as at and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, and such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the date thereof and for such fiscal year, all in accordance with GAAP;
(ii) the Borrower has heretofore furnished (including by furnishing the Form 10-Q of the Borrower filed with the SEC) to each of the Lenders its unaudited Consolidated balance sheet and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows as at and for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013, and such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the date thereof and for such nine-month period, all in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes);
(iii) the Borrower has heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders the annual Statutory Statement of each Material Insurance Subsidiary and an equivalent financial statement for each Lloyds syndicate in which a Subsidiary of the Borrower has a membership interest, in each case for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, as filed with the applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority, and each such annual Statutory Statement (or, with respect to any Lloyds syndicate in which a Subsidiary of the Borrower has membership interest, such equivalent financial statement filing) presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and the results of operations of such Material Insurance Subsidiary or Lloyds syndicate, as applicable, as at and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, in accordance with SAP; and
(iv) since December 31, 2012, there has been no Material Adverse Change.
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(b) There is no action, proceeding or investigation pending, or to the knowledge of the Borrower, overtly threatened in writing against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator which (i) is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) purports to affect this Agreement or the Transactions.
(c) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (i) is duly organized, validly existing and (to the extent applicable in respect of the relevant jurisdiction) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) is duly qualified and (to the extent applicable in respect of the relevant jurisdiction) in good standing as a foreign corporation in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases Property or in which the conduct of its business requires it to so qualify or be licensed and where, in each case, failure so to qualify and be in good standing would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease and operate its Properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations (including, without limitation, all applicable environmental laws and ERISA) applicable to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective Properties, except to the extent failure to so comply would not (either individually or in the aggregate) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) All material consents, licenses, permits and governmental and third-party consents and approvals required for the due making and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party have been obtained and remain in full force and effect.
(f) This Agreement is, and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party when duly executed and delivered will be, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors rights generally or general principles of equity.
(g) The making and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party are within the Borrowers corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and (i) do not contravene the Borrowers certificate of incorporation or by-laws or (ii) contravene, violate or breach any material contractual restriction binding on the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any material law, rule or regulation (including Regulations T, U or X), or any material order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award, except for any such contravention, violation or breach referred to in clause (ii) which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in, or valid licenses to use, all Properties material to its business, and all such Properties are in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have paid and discharged all Taxes, assessments, claims and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its Property, except (i) any such Tax, assessment, claim or charge that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained in accordance with Section 5.02 or (ii) to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(j) The Borrower is not engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly for any purpose, that entails violation of Regulations T, U or X. At the time of each Borrowing or issuance of a Letter of Credit (other than the automatic renewal of a Letter of Credit in accordance with its terms) and after giving effect thereto, not more than 25 percent of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis) that are subject to the restrictions in Section 6.03 and Section 6.05 consist of Margin Stock.
(k) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a liability to the Borrower or its ERISA Affiliates in excess of $10,000,000.
(l) The Borrower is not an investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(m) As of the date hereof, (i) Schedule 3.01 hereto is a complete list of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower, (ii) each such Subsidiary is duly organized and validly existing under the jurisdiction of its organization shown in said Schedule 3.01 , and (iii) the percentage ownership by the Borrower of each such Subsidiary is as shown in said Schedule 3.01 .
(n) The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit only for the general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (in compliance in all material respects with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions); provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any responsibility as to the use of any such proceeds.
(o) (i) The Borrower is, and immediately after giving effect to the making of each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit and the use of proceeds thereof, will be, Solvent and (ii) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis and immediately after giving effect to the making of each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit hereunder and the use of proceeds thereof, will be, Solvent.
(p) All written information (other than information of a general economic or industry specific nature) that has been made available by the Borrower or any of its representatives to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such information in any Information Memorandum or related materials provided in connection with the syndication of the Commitments), when taken as a whole, on or as of the dates on which such information was made available, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the time and circumstances under which such statements were made (after giving effect to all supplements and updates thereto).
(q) The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and, when acting on its or their behalf, their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees
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and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, its directors, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other Transactions will violate, in any material respect, Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
SECTION 4.01 Effective Date . The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of any LC Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (B) written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and (ii) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents and such other certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit E .
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel for the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit B , and covering such other matters relating to the Borrower, the Loan Documents or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinion.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Borrower, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit E .
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that the commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been terminated and cancelled and all indebtedness and accrued interest and fees thereunder shall have been fully repaid (except to the extent being so repaid with the initial Revolving Loans).
(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.
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The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
SECTION 4.02 Each Credit Event . The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of any LC Issuer to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date).
(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated or, in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, have been cash collateralized or backstopped in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Fronting Banks and the Administrative Agent, in each case, without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 5.01 Reporting Requirements . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender:
(a) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of such quarter and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such quarter, in each case setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures from the corresponding quarter in the previous fiscal year, all prepared in conformity with GAAP and accompanied by a certificate of a senior financial officer of the Borrower, which certificate shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and the Consolidated results of their operations for the period covered thereby in conformity with GAAP, consistently applied (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes);
(b) as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of such fiscal year and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures from the previous fiscal year, all
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prepared in conformity with GAAP and accompanied by an unqualified report and opinion of independent certified public accountants of national standing and reputation, which shall state that such financial statements, in the opinion of such accountants, present fairly, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and the Consolidated results of their operations for such year in conformity with GAAP, consistently applied;
(c) as soon as possible and in any event within five Business Days after the Borrower obtains knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Default continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(d) within a reasonable time after filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (without exhibits) and all annual, quarterly and monthly reports (if any) filed by the Borrower with the SEC and promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the Borrower generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so mailed;
(e) promptly after the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate knows or should reasonably know that any ERISA Event has occurred with respect to which the liability or potential liability of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, a statement of a Responsible Officer describing such ERISA Event and the action, if any, which the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto;
(f) promptly after receipt thereof by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, copies of each notice from the PBGC stating its intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan where such action would have a Material Adverse Effect;
(g) promptly after filing with the applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly fiscal periods of each fiscal year of each Material Insurance Subsidiary and each Lloyds syndicate in which a Subsidiary of the Borrower has a membership interest, the quarterly Statutory Statement of such Material Insurance Subsidiary for such quarterly fiscal period (or, with respect to each Lloyds syndicate in which the Borrower has a membership interest, an equivalent financial statement of such Lloyds syndicate for such quarterly fiscal period);
(h) promptly after filing with the applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of each Material Insurance Subsidiary and each Lloyds syndicate in which a Subsidiary of the Borrower has a membership interest, the annual Statutory Statement of such Material Insurance Subsidiary, including, without limitation, managements discussion and analysis for such year (or, with respect to any Lloyds syndicate in which the Borrower has a membership interest, an equivalent financial statement of such Lloyds syndicate for such year);
(i) promptly upon the occurrence of any change in Moodys rating of the Index Debt or S&Ps rating of the Index Debt, or any change in the A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating with respect to any Insurance Subsidiary, notice thereof (for the avoidance of doubt, a change in outlook shall not constitute a change in rating);
(j) promptly upon the commencement of, or any material adverse development in, any litigation, investigation or proceeding against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, notice thereof with a description thereof in reasonable detail; and
(k) promptly after request therefor, such other business and financial information respecting the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or any of its Material Insurance Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in clauses (a), (b) and (d) of this Section 5.01 shall be deemed satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by the furnishing the Form 10-K or 10-Q or any other document of the Borrower filed with the SEC, as applicable, on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrowers website on the Internet at the website address provided to the Lenders; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrowers behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that (A) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests in writing (including by electronic mail) the Borrower to deliver such paper copies and (B) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents satisfying the obligations in clauses (a), (b) and (d) of this Section 5.01.
The Borrower will furnish to the Lenders at the time it furnishes its financial statements pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer, in the form of Exhibit F , setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating that the Borrower is in compliance with the covenants in Section 6.01. The Borrower and each Lender acknowledge that certain of the Lenders may be Public Lenders and, if documents or notices required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.01 or otherwise are being distributed on an Electronic System pursuant to Section 9.01(d), any document or notice that the Borrower has indicated contains Non-Public Information shall not be posted on that portion of the Electronic System designated for such Public Lenders. The Borrower agrees to clearly designate all information provided to the Administrative Agent by or on behalf the Borrower which is suitable to make available to Public Lenders. If the Borrower has not indicated whether a document or notice delivered pursuant to this Section 5.01 contains Non-Public Information, the Administrative Agent reserves the right to post such document or notice solely on that portion of the Electronic System designated for Lenders who wish to receive material nonpublic information with respect to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their securities.
SECTION 5.02 Payment of Taxes, Etc . The Borrower will pay and discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before the same shall become delinquent, all Taxes, assessments, claims and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its Property, except to the extent that any failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or discharge any such Tax, assessment, claim or charge that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained.
SECTION 5.03 Corporate Existence, Compliance with Laws, Etc . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, (a) preserve and maintain all of its material rights, privileges, licenses and franchises, including all tradenames, patents and other intellectual property necessary for its business, except to the extent the failure to preserve and maintain the same would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) preserve and maintain its legal existence, provided that nothing in this sentence shall prohibit any transaction not otherwise prohibited under Section 6.04. The Borrower will comply, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders, including, without limitation, ERISA, the Patriot Act, Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions and all applicable environmental laws, except for any non-compliance which would not (either individually or in the aggregate) reasonably be expected to
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have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and, when acting on its or their behalf, their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
SECTION 5.04 Maintenance of Properties, Etc . The Borrower will maintain and preserve, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its Properties that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, appropriate and adequate insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations or with self-insurance programs to the extent consistent with prudent practices of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or otherwise customary in their respective industries in such amounts and covering such risks as is customary in the industries in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary operates.
SECTION 5.05 Keeping of Books . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account as are necessary to prepare Consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, UKGAAP or SAP, as applicable, in which full and correct entries in all material respects shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the Borrower and each such Subsidiary in accordance with GAAP, UKGAAP or SAP, as applicable.
SECTION 5.06 Visitation Rights . The Borrower will, at any reasonable time during normal business hours and upon reasonable prior notice and from time to time, permit the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof (in each case at their own expense (except as described below) and subject to Section 9.12 hereof) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the Properties of, the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries with any of their officers or directors; provided that, excluding any such examination or visit during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall not, collectively, exercise such rights more than once during any calendar year. In addition, subject to customary access agreements, at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, permit the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with their independent certified public accountants, and the Borrower will be responsible for the reasonable costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and the agents and representatives thereof incurred in connection with this Section 5.06.
SECTION 5.07 Use of Proceeds . The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans and Letters of Credit only for the general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (in compliance in all material respects with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions); provided that (i) no such use of the proceeds will be, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying any Margin Stock in violation of Regulations T, U or X and (ii) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any responsibility as to the use of any such proceeds.
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ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated or, in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, have been cash collateralized or backstopped in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Fronting Banks and the Administrative Agent, in each case, without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01 Financial Covenants .
(a) Minimum Net Worth . The Borrower will not permit Net Worth as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than the sum of (i) $1,696,800,000 plus (ii) an amount equal to 50% of the Borrowers Consolidated net income (if positive) for such fiscal quarter and for each prior fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending after the Effective Date plus (iii) an amount equal to 50% of the aggregate Net Equity Proceeds of any Equity Issuances made after the Effective Date.
(b) RBC Ratio . The Borrower will not permit the RBC Ratio of either HIC or CIC as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than 175%.
(c) Leverage Ratio . The Borrower will not permit the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be greater than 35%.
SECTION 6.02 Financial Debt . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Financial Debt, except:
(a) Financial Debt created hereunder;
(b) Financial Debt and commitments to provide Financial Debt existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.02 ;
(c) Financial Debt of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;
(d) Financial Debt incurred by Securitization Subsidiaries pursuant to Securitization Transactions;
(e) Financial Debt in respect of capitalized lease obligations, synthetic lease obligations or secured by purchase money security interests, provided that the aggregate principal amount of Financial Debt permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(f) Guaranties by the Borrower of Financial Debt incurred by its Subsidiaries otherwise permitted under this Section 6.02;
(g) Financial Debt in respect of Hybrid Securities, Disqualified Equity Interests and Preferred Securities issued by the Borrower or any trust or other special purpose entity formed by the Borrower as to which no Subsidiary (other than any such trust or other special purpose entity) of the Borrower has any obligation;
(h) Financial Debt in respect of subordinated securities of the Borrower so long as (i) the obligations of the Borrower thereunder are unsecured and fully subordinated as to payment and performance in all respects to all of the Obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, (ii) no Subsidiary of the Borrower has any obligations thereunder and (iii) such subordinated securities do not
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have any required amortization, maturity, mandatory put, redemption, repayment, or other similar provision or requirement, or any cash interest thereon, and in any event is not payable, falling due or capable of falling due, prior to at least 91 days after the Maturity Date, provided that the Borrower shall be permitted to make cash interest payments pursuant to the terms of such other subordinated securities so long as (A) no payment Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (B) the interest rate in respect thereof shall be based on prevailing market rates at the time of issuance of such other subordinated securities;
(i) Financial Debt in respect of borrowings from a Federal Home Loan Bank in the ordinary course of business and on ordinary business terms pursuant to a membership in such Federal Home Loan Bank;
(j) [Reserved] ;
(k) Financial Debt assumed in connection with any Acquisition, provided that such Financial Debt is not incurred in contemplation of such Acquisition and no other Subsidiary (other than the Subsidiary being acquired, if applicable) has any liability or obligations in respect of such Financial Debt;
(l) Financial Debt incurred by the Borrower in addition to the foregoing;
(m) Financial Debt incurred by the Subsidiaries of the Borrower, provided that the aggregate principal amount of Financial Debt permitted by this clause shall not exceed $75,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(n) Financial Debt in respect of letters of credit issued for the benefit of Insurance Regulatory Authorities and letters of credit issued in support of funds at the Society and Corporation of Lloyds requirements (including any such Financial Debt set forth on Schedule 6.02 ); and
(o) Any extension, renewal or replacement of any of the foregoing Financial Debt that (i) does not include Financial Debt of an obligor that was not an obligor with respect to the Financial Debt being extended, renewed or replaced, (ii) does not increase the outstanding principal amount of the Financial Debt being extended, renewed or replaced except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest thereon, prepayment premiums not exceeding 5% of the outstanding principal amount of such Financial Debt, and fees and expenses incurred in connection with such extension, renewal or replacement, and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (iii) in the case of Financial Debt that is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, is subordinated to at least the same extent as, and has a maturity not earlier than, and weighted average life to maturity not shorter than, the Financial Debt being renewed or replaced.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.02, the Borrower will be entitled to divide an item of Financial Debt that meets the criteria of one of the categories of Financial Debt described in clauses (a) through (o) above between such applicable clause and any other applicable clause.
SECTION 6.03 Liens . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.
SECTION 6.04 Mergers, Etc. . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, merge or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions, all or substantially all of the Property (whether
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now owned or hereafter acquired) of the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary to, any Person, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (a) any Material Subsidiary may merge into (i) the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation or (ii) any other Subsidiary, (b) any Material Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary, (c) any Material Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders, (d) any Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation and (e) the Borrower and any Material Subsidiary may engage in a disposition permitted by Section 6.05.
SECTION 6.05 Disposition of Assets . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any substantial part of its Property, except (a) sales of inventory and investments in the ordinary course of its business, (b) sales of assets which are not material to the operation of the Borrower or such Material Subsidiaries or are no longer used or useful in connection with the operation of the Borrower or such Material Subsidiaries, (c) transfers of Property by the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, (d) dispositions pursuant to Securitization Transactions, (e) dispositions in connection with the CitySquare Project, (f) dispositions for fair market value of assets acquired after the Effective Date in connection with Acquisitions, to the extent that, at the time that the relevant Acquisition was consummated, the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary planned to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of such assets and (g) other dispositions, the net cash proceeds of which, when aggregated with the net cash proceeds of any other such dispositions consummated after the Effective Date pursuant to this clause (g), shall not exceed in the aggregate 5% of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (determined on a Consolidated basis as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available).
SECTION 6.06 Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any Property to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any assets from, or otherwise engage in any transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arms-length basis from unrelated third parties and (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate.
SECTION 6.07 Line of Business . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, make any material change in the nature or conduct of the business of the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary as conducted on the date hereof.
SECTION 6.08 Anti-Dividend-Block . Except to the extent required by applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, order or agreement with regulators, the Borrower will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to agree to or have in effect any contractual restriction on the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions to the Borrower (each, a Burdensome Agreement ) other than:
(a) Burdensome Agreements (i) in existence on the date hereof (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.08) that are listed on Schedule 6.08 hereto and (ii) to the extent Burdensome Agreements permitted by clause (i) are contained in an agreement evidencing Financial Debt, any agreement evidencing any permitted modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of such Financial Debt so long as such modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing does not expand the scope of such Burdensome Agreement or include any other Subsidiaries as parties thereto;
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(b) Burdensome Agreements that are binding on a Subsidiary of the Borrower at the time such Person first becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such Burdensome Agreements were not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower;
(c) Burdensome Agreements that are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto;
(d) Burdensome Agreements that are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of any Subsidiary of the Borrower;
(e) Burdensome Agreements that are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Burdensome Agreements that are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(g) Burdensome Agreements to the extent set forth in an agreement evidencing Financial Debt of the Borrower permitted under Section 6.02; and
(h) Burdensome Agreements entered into by a Securitization Subsidiary in respect of assets financed by such Securitization Subsidiary, or Burdensome Agreements restricting a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with the incurrence of Financial Debt by such Securitization Subsidiary, in each case pursuant to a Securitization Transaction.
SECTION 6.09 Restricted Payments . At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), Section 7.01(c) (only if such Event of Default arises due to the Borrowers failure to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(a), Section 5.01(b) or Section 6.01), Section 7.01(d), Section 7.01(e), Section 7.01(f), or Section 7.01(j) , the Borrower shall not, directly or indirectly declare or make, or agree to make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment other than Restricted Payments for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Borrower by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or any Immediate Family Member thereof) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee or director stock option plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any notes issued by the Borrower (or of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) in connection with any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions contained in this Section 6.09 shall not prohibit the Borrower from directly or indirectly declaring or making, or agreeing to make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment at any time (i) there are no Loans outstanding under this Agreement and (ii) the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent (and the Administrative Agent is in possession of) Cash Collateral in an amount equal to 103% of the aggregate Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding hereunder as contemplated by Section 2.06(i).
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ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
SECTION 7.01 Events of Default . Any of the following events shall be an Event of Default hereunder:
(a) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or reimburse any LC Disbursement when the same becomes due and payable; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or in respect of any LC Disbursement, any fees pursuant to Section 2.12, or any other fee or Obligation payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document when due and such failure remains unremedied for three Business Days;
(b) Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
(c) (i) The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(c), 5.03(b), 5.07, or Article VI ; or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed, and such failure remains unremedied for 30 days after notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent;
(d) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary solely in the event the applicable Debt of such Securitization Subsidiary does not provide for Limited Originator Recourse to or from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (excluding any other Securitization Subsidiary)) shall fail to pay any principal of any Debt (other than Debt hereunder) having an aggregate outstanding principal amount of more than $50,000,000 or its equivalent in other currencies (such Debt, Material Debt ), when the same becomes due and payable (whether at scheduled maturity, by required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise); or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any Material Debt (either individually or in the aggregate), if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the maturity of any Material Debt, or to require the same to be prepaid or defeased (other than by a regularly required payment);
(e) The Borrower or any of the Borrowers Material Subsidiaries shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Material Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its Property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Material Subsidiaries, such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this clause (e);
(f) In connection with the actual or alleged insolvency of the Borrower or any Material Insurance Subsidiary, any Insurance Regulatory Authority shall appoint a rehabilitator, receiver, custodian, trustee, conservator or liquidator or the like (collectively, a conservator ) for the Borrower or such Material Insurance Subsidiary, or cause possession of all or any substantial portion of the Property of the Borrower or such Material Insurance Subsidiary to be taken by any conservator;
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(g) Any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $50,000,000 (to the extent not covered by an insurer having a minimum A.M. Best financial strength rating of A- that has not denied coverage) shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and there shall be any period of 45 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect;
(h) An ERISA Event shall have occurred that when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(i) There shall occur a Change in Control; or
(j) This Agreement shall at any time and for any reason be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be null and void, or a proceeding shall be commenced by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof (exclusive of questions of interpretation of any provision thereof), or the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall repudiate or deny in writing any portion of its liability or obligations hereunder, other than in each case due to the satisfaction in full of the Obligations and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.
SECTION 7.02 Remedies . If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f)), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (a) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (b) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f), the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity.
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent
Each of the Lenders and each of the LC Issuers hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
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The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the LC Issuers and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor (such successor to be approved by the Borrower, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided , however , if an Event of Default shall exist at such time, no approval of the Borrower shall be required hereunder). If no successor shall have been so appointed by
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the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the LC Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agents resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.
Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities. Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.
None of the Lenders or their Affiliates, if any, identified in this Agreement as a Joint Bookrunner, Co-Syndication Agent or Co-Documentation Agent shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than, in the case of Lenders, those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Joint Bookrunners or such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with respect to the relevant Lenders and their Affiliates in their respective capacities as Co-Syndication Agents, Co-Documentation Agents or Joint Bookrunners, as applicable, as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in the preceding paragraph.
The Lenders are not partners or co-venturers, and no Lender shall be liable for the acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in case of the Administrative Agent) authorized to act for, any other Lender. The Administrative Agent shall have the exclusive right on behalf of the Lenders to enforce the payment of the principal of and interest on any Loan after the date such principal or interest has become due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01 Notices . (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower, to it at 440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653, Attention of Chief Financial Officer (Telecopy No. (508) 926-4587; Telephone No. (508) 855-2200), with a copy (except in the case of invoices or other notices of a routine administrative nature) to General Counsel (Telecopy No. (508) 926-1926; Telephone No. (508) 855-2691);
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(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn Street, Floor 7, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Nanette Wilson (Telecopy No. (888) 292-9533), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 270 Park Avenue, 41 st Floor, New York, New York, Attention of Hector Varona (Telecopy No. (646) 534-2254);
(iii) if to the Issuing Agent, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Attention of Anju Vanvala (Email: Chicago.LC.agency.closing.team@jpmorgan.com); and
(iv) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through Electronic Systems, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).
(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the LC Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Electronic Systems pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.
(d) Any notice of Default or Event of Default may be provided by telephone if confirmed promptly thereafter by delivery of written notice thereof.
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(e) Electronic Systems .
(i) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the LC Issuers and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar Electronic System.
(ii) Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided as is and as available. The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the Agent Parties ) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, any LC Issuer or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agents transmission of Communications through an Electronic System, except to the extent of direct or actual damages as are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party or any Related Party thereof. Communications means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any LC Issuer by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Electronic System.
SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendments . (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any LC Issuer may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
(b) Except as provided in Section 2.20 with respect to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment and as provided in Section 2.22 with respect to an extension of the Maturity Date, neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such
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payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.18(b) or (d) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender or (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of Required Lenders or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (it being understood that, solely with the consent of the parties prescribed by Section 2.20 to be parties to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment, (x) Incremental Term Loans may be included in the definition of Applicable Percentage and the defined terms used therein and in the determination of Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Commitments and the Revolving Loans are included on the Effective Date and (y) this Section 9.02 may be amended to permit amendments, waivers or other modifications that directly affect only one Class of Loans with the consent solely of the Borrower and the Lenders having either (A) in the case of amendments, waivers or other modifications directly affecting the Revolving Loans, Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time and (B) in the case of amendments, waivers or other modifications directly affecting the Incremental Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans representing more than 50% of the total Term Loans at such time); provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or any LC Issuer hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or such LC Issuer, as the case may be (it being understood that any change to Section 2.21 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent and, except to the extent that such change relates solely to Incremental Term Loans, the LC Issuers). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly affected by such amendment, waiver or other modification.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (x) to add one or more credit facilities (in addition to the Incremental Term Loans pursuant to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment) to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Revolving Loans, Incremental Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Lenders.
(d) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of each Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a Non-Consenting Lender ), then the Borrower may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, (i) concurrently with such replacement, (A) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, and (B) the Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an
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amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender and (ii) no assignment pursuant to this Section 9.02(d) shall be effective until all of the then outstanding Several Letters of Credit are either amended giving effect to such assignment or, if required, returned by each beneficiary to the Issuing Agent and either cancelled or exchanged for new or amended Several Letters of Credit that give effect to such assignment (it being understood that to the extent the respective beneficiaries whose consent is required do not consent to such assignment, such assignment cannot occur).
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency.
SECTION 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver . (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (which, in the case of counsel, shall be limited to the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel, and, if necessary, one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction) in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any LC Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender (which, in the case of counsel, shall be limited to the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, taken as a whole, and in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional counsel for each group of affected parties similarly situated, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each LC Issuer and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an Indemnitee ) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (which, in the case of counsel, shall be limited to the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional counsel for each group of affected Indemnitees similarly situated, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction) incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any LC Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding (including the preparation of
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any defense thereto) relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from (x) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Indemnified Party thereof, (y) the material breach by such Indemnitee or any Related Indemnified Party thereof of its express obligations under this Agreement pursuant to a claim initiated by the Borrower or (z) any dispute solely among Indemnitees (other than (A) claims against any of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders or any of their Affiliates in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as the Administrative Agent, Issuing Agent, a Fronting Bank, a lead arranger, a bookrunner or any similar role under this Agreement and (B) arising as a result of an act or omission by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates). As used herein, any Related Indemnified Party of a Person means (1) any Controlling Person or Controlled Affiliate of such Indemnitee, (2) the respective directors, officers, or employees of such Indemnitee or any of its Controlling Persons or Controlled Affiliates and (3) the respective agents or representatives of such Indemnitee or any of its Controlling Persons or Controlled Affiliates, in the case of this clause (3), acting on behalf of or at the instructions of such Indemnitee, Controlling Person or such Controlled Affiliate; provided that each reference to a Controlled Affiliate in this sentence pertains to a Controlled Affiliate involved in the negotiation or syndication of this Agreement and the credit facility hereunder. This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.
(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent or any LC Issuer under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section (and without limiting its obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent or such LC Issuer such Lenders Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Borrowers failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, or such LC Issuer in its capacity as such.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, neither the Borrower nor any Indemnitee shall assert, and each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each LC Issuer hereby waives, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Related Parties, any claim against any Indemnitee (in the case of such waiver by the Borrower) or against the Borrower (in the case of such waiver by any Indemnitee) (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet) (except to the extent of direct or actual damages as are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee), or (ii) on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that nothing contained in this Section 9.03(d) shall limit the Borrowers indemnification obligations set forth in Section 9.03(b).
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than fifteen (15) days after written demand therefor.
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SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns . (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any LC Issuer that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any LC Issuer that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:
(A) the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof); provided, further, that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;
(B) the Administrative Agent;
(C) the Issuing Agent; and
(D) each Fronting Bank.
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $10,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;
(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid (except as otherwise provided herein) by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders; and
(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignees compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.
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For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the term Approved Fund and Ineligible Institution have the following meanings:
Approved Fund means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Ineligible Institution means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender, (c) the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, or (d) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof.
(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03); provided, however, that no Lender may assign any obligation under a Several Letter of Credit unless such Several Letter of Credit is either amended or returned by the beneficiary and reissued by the Issuing Agent, removing or amending, as the case may be, the assigning Lenders percentage obligations and replacing or amending the same with the percentage obligations of the assignee. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.
(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register ). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, any LC Issuer and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignees completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
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(c) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any LC Issuer, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a Participant ), other than an Ineligible Institution, in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged; (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations; and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.15 or 2.17, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(d) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participants interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the Participant Register ); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participants interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations (or such disclosure is otherwise required by applicable law). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
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(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
SECTION 9.05 Survival . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid (other than contingent indemnification obligations that are not yet due and payable) or any Letter of Credit is outstanding (unless, in the case of Fronted Letters of Credit, such Fronted Letters of Credit have been cash collateralized or backstopped in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Fronting Banks and the Administrative Agent) and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.
SECTION 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, e-mailed .pdf or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words execution, signed, signature, delivery, and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
SECTION 9.07 Severability . Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
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SECTION 9.08 Right of Setoff . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final and in whatever currency denominated) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all of the Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
SECTION 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan, and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or its properties (x) in the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or (y) any other forum in which jurisdiction can be established.
(c) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 9.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES
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THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.11 Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12 Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuers and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the NAIC), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, Information means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuer or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
SECTION 9.13 USA PATRIOT Act . Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the Patriot Act hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.
SECTION 9.14 Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the Charges ), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the Maximum Rate ) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
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SECTION 9.15 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lenders are arms-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lenders and their Affiliates, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Lenders and their Affiliates is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the other Loan Documents and (B) no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except, in the case of a Lender, those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against each of the Lenders and their Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC., | ||||
as the Borrower | ||||
By |
/s/ David B. Greenfield |
|||
Name: | David B. Greenfield | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer | |||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually as a Lender, as the Issuing Agent and as Administrative Agent | ||||
By |
/s/ Hector J. Varona |
|||
Name: | Hector J. Varona | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
[OTHER AGENTS AND LENDERS], |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
SCHEDULE 2.01
COMMITMENTS
LENDER |
COMMITMENT | |||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. |
$ | 35,000,000 | ||
LLOYDS BANK PLC |
$ | 35,000,000 | ||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
$ | 35,000,000 | ||
BRANCH BANKING & TRUST COMPANY |
$ | 27,500,000 | ||
BARCLAYS BANK PLC |
$ | 27,500,000 | ||
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA |
$ | 20,000,000 | ||
MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A. |
$ | 20,000,000 | ||
AGGREGATE COMMITMENT |
$ | 200,000,000 |
[Remaining schedules and exhibits omitted]
Exhibit 10.2
|
EXECUTION VERSION |
Amendment and Restatement Agreement
Chaucer Holdings plc
As Account Party
Barclays Bank PLC, Lloyds Bank plc and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
As Mandated Lead Arrangers
Lloyds Bank plc
As Bookrunner
Lloyds Bank plc
As Facility Agent
Lloyds Bank plc
As Security Agent
relating to a standby letter of credit facility
agreement dated 28 November 2011
15 November 2013
CONTENTS
CLAUSE | PAGE | |||||
1. |
INTERPRETATION |
1 | ||||
2. |
AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT |
2 | ||||
3. |
STATUS OF DOCUMENTS |
3 | ||||
4. |
FEES AND TRANSACTION EXPENSES |
4 | ||||
5. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
4 | ||||
6. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
5 | ||||
7. |
GOVERNING LAW AND SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION |
5 | ||||
SCHEDULE 1 | 6 | |||||
Original Lenders | 6 | |||||
SCHEDULE 2 | 7 | |||||
Existing Obligors | 7 | |||||
SCHEDULE 3 | 8 | |||||
Conditions Precedent | 8 | |||||
SCHEDULE 4 | 10 | |||||
Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement | 10 |
THIS AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT is made on 15 November 2013
BETWEEN:
(1) | CHAUCER HOLDINGS PLC , a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 02847982 (the Account Party ); |
(2) | THE COMPANIES listed in schedule 2 as existing obligors (the Existing Obligors ); |
(3) | BARCLAYS BANK PLC, LLOYDS BANK PLC and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC as mandated lead arrangers (the Arrangers ); |
(4) | LLOYDS BANK PLC as bookrunner (the Bookrunner ); |
(5) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in schedule 1 as original lenders (the Original Lenders ); |
(6) | LLOYDS BANK PLC as provider of the Overdraft Facility (the Overdraft Provider ); |
(7) | LLOYDS BANK PLC as agent of the other Finance Parties (the Facility Agent ); and |
(8) | LLOYDS BANK PLC as security agent of the other Secured Parties (the Security Agent ). |
WHEREAS:
(A) | The parties to this agreement entered into a standby letter of credit facility agreement dated 28 November 2011 under which the Lenders made available to the Account Party a $180,000,000 facility (the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement ). |
(B) | The parties to this agreement have agreed to enter into this agreement in order to amend and restate the terms of the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement in the manner set out below. |
THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1. | INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
Unless a contrary intention appears in this agreement, any word or expression defined in the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement will have the same meaning when it is used in this agreement.
In this agreement:
Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement means the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement as amended and restated in accordance with this agreement in the form set out in schedule 4;
Effective Date means the date on which the Facility Agent notifies the Account Party that all the conditions precedent listed in schedule 3 have been fulfilled to its satisfaction; and
New Deed of Priority means the Deed of Priority as that term is defined in the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement;
New Charge Over Account means the Charge Over Account as that term is defined in the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement;
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New FAL Providers Deed means the FAL Providers Deed as that term is defined in the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Agreement;
New Finance Documents means:
(a) | this agreement; |
(b) | the New Parent Guarantee; |
(c) | the New Deed of Priority; |
(d) | the New Charge Over Account; and |
(e) | the Participation Fee Letter; |
New Letter of Comfort means the Letter of Comfort as that term is defined in the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Agreement;
New Parent Guarantee means the Parent Guarantee as that term is defined in the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Agreement;
Participation Fee Letter means the participation fee letter dated on or about the date of this agreement between the Agent and the Account Party setting out the terms of the participation fee referred to in clause 4.1 (Participation Fee); and
Refinancing Financial Statements means the Refinancing Financial Statements as that term is defined in the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Agreement.
1.2 | Construction |
Clause 1.2 (Construction) of the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement will be deemed to be set out in full in this agreement, but as if references in that clause to the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement were references to this agreement.
2. | AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT |
2.1 | Amendment and Restatement |
(a) | The Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement will, with effect from (and including) the Effective Date, be amended and restated in the form set out in schedule 4 so that the rights and obligations of the parties to this agreement relating to their performance under the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement from (and including) the Effective Date shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the terms of the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement. |
(b) | The parties to this agreement agree that, with effect from (and including) the Effective Date, they shall have the rights and take on the obligations ascribed to them under the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement. |
(c) |
Notwithstanding any other term of the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement, the parties to this agreement agree that the letter referred to in schedule 3 paragraph 6.2 of this agreement (the LC Amendment Request Letter ) shall be deemed to be a Utilisation Request for the purposes of the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement and that accordingly the Facility Agent will arrange for the delivery of the letter and the revocation notice to The Society and Council of Lloyds in the forms attached to the |
2
LC Amendment Request Letter on the date specified in the LC Amendment Request Letter (such date to occur no earlier than the Effective Date) in accordance with clause 6.6(b) of the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement. With effect from the date of delivery of such letter and revocation notice, all references in the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement to the Letter of Credit no. SBYB111000556 will be to such Letter of Credit as amended pursuant to such letter and revocation notice. |
2.2 | Effective Date |
(a) | The Facility Agent will notify the Account Party and the Lenders promptly when the Effective Date occurs. |
(b) | If the Effective Date has not occurred by 27 November 2013 (or any later date which the Facility Agent and the Account Party may agree), then clauses 2.1 (Amendment and Restatement) and 3 (Status of Documents) will lapse and none of the amendments recorded in clause 2.1 (Amendment and Restatement) will take effect. |
3. | STATUS OF DOCUMENTS |
3.1 | Continuing Obligations |
(a) | Except as varied by the terms of this agreement, the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents will remain in full force and effect. Each party to this agreement reconfirms all of its obligations under the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement (as amended and restated by this agreement) and under the other Finance Documents. |
(b) | Any reference in the Finance Documents to the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement or to any provision of the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement will be construed as a reference to the Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement, or that provision, as amended and restated by this agreement. |
3.2 | Finance Document |
Each of the New Finance Documents will constitute a Finance Document for the purposes of the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement.
3.3 | Guarantee Confirmation |
Each Guarantor confirms and agrees that with effect from (and including) the Effective Date, the guarantees and indemnities set out in clause 21 (Guarantee and Indemnity) of the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement shall apply and extend to the obligations of each Obligor under the Finance Documents (as defined in the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement) subject to the guarantee limitations set out in clause 21.11 (Guarantee Limitations) of the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement.
3
4. | FEES AND TRANSACTION EXPENSES |
4.1 | Participation Fee |
The Account Party shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender pro rata to its Commitments) a participation fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the Participation Fee Letter.
4.2 | Transaction Expenses |
The Account Party will on demand pay to the Facility Agent and the Arrangers the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees and other out-of-pocket expenses and any value added tax or other similar tax thereon) reasonably incurred by any of the Facility Agent, the Security Agent or the Arrangers in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and completion of this agreement and all documents, matters and things referred to in, or incidental to, this agreement.
5. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
5.1 | Reliance |
Each Obligor represents and warrants as set out in the following provisions of this clause 5 and acknowledges that each Finance Party has entered into this agreement and has agreed to the amendment and restatement effected by this agreement in full reliance on those representations and warranties.
5.2 | Power and Authority |
It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into and performance of the New Finance Documents and the transactions contemplated by the New Finance Documents.
5.3 | Non-conflict with Other Obligations |
The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the New Finance Documents do not and will not conflict with:
(a) | any law or regulation applicable to it; |
(b) | its and each of its Subsidiaries constitutional documents; or |
(c) | any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or any of its Subsidiaries assets. |
5.4 | Binding Obligations |
The obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the New Finance Documents are, subject to the Legal Reservations, legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations.
5.5 | Validity and Admissibility in Evidence |
All Authorisations required or desirable:
(a) | to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations under the New Finance Documents; and |
(b) | to make the New Finance Documents admissible in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation and in the courts of England, have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect. |
4
5.6 | Repetition |
(a) | The representations and warranties in this clause 5 are made on the date of this agreement and shall be deemed to be repeated on the Effective Date by reference to the facts and circumstances existing on that date. |
(b) | The representations and warranties in clause 22 (Representations) of the Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Agreement are deemed to be repeated by each Obligor on the date of this agreement and the Effective Date, in each case by reference to the facts and circumstances existing on that date. |
6. | MISCELLANEOUS |
6.1 | Invalidity of any Provision |
If any provision of this agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired in any way.
6.2 | Counterparts |
This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and all of those counterparts taken together will be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
6.3 | Third Party Rights |
The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 shall not apply to this agreement and no person other than the parties to this agreement shall have any rights under it.
7. | GOVERNING LAW AND SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION |
7.1 | Governing Law |
This agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.
7.2 | Jurisdiction of English Courts |
(a) | The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this agreement (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of this agreement or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with this agreement) (a Dispute ). |
(b) | The parties to this agreement agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no party will argue to the contrary. |
IN WITNESS whereof this agreement has been duly executed on the date first above written.
5
SCHEDULE 1
Original Lenders
Lloyds Bank plc
Barclays Bank PLC
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
6
SCHEDULE 2
Existing Obligors
Name of Original Guarantor | Jurisdiction of Incorporation | Registration number (or equivalent, if any) | ||
The Hanover Insurance International Holdings Limited (previously known as 440 Tessera Limited) |
England and Wales | 07606589 | ||
Chaucer Corporate Capital (No. 2) Limited |
England and Wales | 03099078 | ||
Chaucer Corporate Capital (No. 3) Limited |
England and Wales | 05203226 |
7
SCHEDULE 3
[Schedule 3 omitted]
8
SCHEDULE 4
Amended and Restated Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement
10
|
AGREED FORM |
Standby Letter of Credit Facility
Chaucer Holdings plc
As Account Party
Barclays Bank PLC, Lloyds Bank plc and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
As Mandated Lead Arrangers
Lloyds Bank plc
As Bookrunner
Lloyds Bank plc
As Facility Agent
Lloyds Bank plc
As Security Agent
Dated 28 November 2011 (as amended
and restated pursuant to an amendment and
restatement agreement dated 15 November 2013)
Page 1
CONTENTS
CLAUSE | PAGE | |||||
1. |
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1 | ||||
2. |
THE FACILITY |
21 | ||||
3. |
PURPOSE |
22 | ||||
4. |
RANKING AND APPLICATION OF FUNDS AT LLOYDS |
22 | ||||
5. |
CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION |
23 | ||||
6. |
UTILISATION |
23 | ||||
7. |
EXTENSION OF THE FACILITY |
25 | ||||
8. |
TERMINATION OF LETTERS OF CREDIT |
26 | ||||
9. |
NOTIFICATION |
26 | ||||
10. |
ACCOUNT PARTYS LIABILITIES IN RELATION TO LETTERS OF CREDIT |
27 | ||||
11. |
COLLATERALISATION AND CANCELLATION |
28 | ||||
12. |
COMMISSION AND FEES |
30 | ||||
13. |
TAX GROSS-UP AND INDEMNITIES |
31 | ||||
14. |
INCREASED COSTS |
36 | ||||
15. |
OTHER INDEMNITIES |
37 | ||||
16. |
ILLEGALITY |
38 | ||||
17. |
MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS |
39 | ||||
18. |
COSTS AND EXPENSES |
39 | ||||
19. |
DEFAULT INTEREST AND BREAKAGE COSTS |
40 | ||||
20. |
CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST |
41 | ||||
21. |
GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY |
42 | ||||
22. |
REPRESENTATIONS |
45 | ||||
23. |
INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS |
49 | ||||
24. |
FINANCIAL CONDITION |
53 | ||||
25. |
GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS |
53 | ||||
26. |
EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
57 | ||||
27. |
CHANGES TO THE LENDERS |
63 | ||||
28. |
CHANGES TO THE OBLIGORS |
67 | ||||
29. |
ROLE OF THE FACILITY AGENT AND THE ARRANGERS |
68 | ||||
30. |
ROLE OF THE SECURITY AGENT |
73 | ||||
31. |
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES |
81 | ||||
32. |
SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES |
81 | ||||
33. |
PAYMENT MECHANICS |
82 | ||||
34. |
SET-OFF |
86 | ||||
35. |
APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS |
86 | ||||
36. |
NOTICES |
87 | ||||
37. |
CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES |
89 | ||||
38. |
PARTIAL INVALIDITY |
89 | ||||
39. |
REMEDIES AND WAIVERS |
89 | ||||
40. |
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS |
89 | ||||
41. |
CONFIDENTIALITY |
91 | ||||
42. |
COUNTERPARTS |
95 | ||||
43. |
GOVERNING LAW |
95 | ||||
44. |
ENFORCEMENT |
95 | ||||
SCHEDULE 1 |
97 | |||||
The Original Parties |
97 | |||||
Part 1 - The Original Guarantors |
97 | |||||
Part 2 - The Original Lenders |
97 | |||||
SCHEDULE 2 |
98 | |||||
Conditions Precedent |
98 | |||||
Part 1 - Conditions Precedent to Initial Utilisation |
98 |
Page 2
Part 2 - Conditions Precedent Required to be Delivered by an Additional Guarantor |
101 | |||
SCHEDULE 3 |
102 | |||
Utilisation Request |
102 | |||
SCHEDULE 4 |
103 | |||
Form of Letter of Credit |
103 | |||
SCHEDULE 5 |
108 | |||
Letter of Comfort |
108 | |||
SCHEDULE 6 |
111 | |||
Form of Transfer Certificate |
111 | |||
SCHEDULE 7 |
113 | |||
Form of Assignment Agreement |
113 | |||
THE SCHEDULE |
114 | |||
SCHEDULE 8 |
116 | |||
Form of Accession Letter |
116 | |||
Part 1 - Form of Guarantor Accession Letter |
116 | |||
Part 2 Form of New Lender Accession Letter |
117 | |||
SCHEDULE 9 |
118 | |||
Form of Resignation Letter |
118 | |||
SCHEDULE 10 |
119 | |||
Form of Compliance Certificate |
119 | |||
SCHEDULE 11 |
120 | |||
Form of Parent Compliance Certificate |
120 | |||
SCHEDULE 12 |
126 | |||
LMA Form of Confidentiality Undertaking |
126 | |||
SCHEDULE 13 |
131 | |||
Form of Facility Extension Request |
131 |
Page 3
THIS AGREEMENT is made on 28 November 2011, as amended and restated pursuant to an amendment and restatement agreement dated 15 November 2013.
BETWEEN:
(1) | CHAUCER HOLDINGS PLC , a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 02847982 (the Account Party ); |
(2) | THE COMPANIES listed in part 1 of schedule 1 (The Original Parties) as original guarantors (the Original Guarantors ); |
(3) | BARCLAYS BANK PLC, LLOYDS BANK PLC and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC as mandated lead arrangers (the Arrangers ); |
(4) | LLOYDS BANK PLC as bookrunner (the Bookrunner ); |
(5) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in part 2 of schedule 1 (The Original Parties) as lenders (the Original Lenders ); |
(6) | LLOYDS BANK PLC as provider of the Overdraft Facility (the Overdraft Provider ); |
(7) | LLOYDS BANK PLC as agent of the other Finance Parties (the Facility Agent ); and |
(8) | LLOYDS BANK PLC as security agent of the other Secured Parties (the Security Agent ). |
THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1. | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
In this agreement:
Accession Date means, in relation to an accession by a New Lender pursuant to clauses 7 (Extension of the Facility) and 27 (Changes to the Lenders), the later of:
(a) | the proposed Accession Date specified in the relevant Accession Letter; and |
(b) | the date on which the Facility Agent executes the relevant Accession Letter; |
Accession Letter means:
(a) | in respect of a proposed Additional Guarantor, a document substantially in the form set out in part 1 of schedule 8 (Form of Guarantor Accession Letter); or |
(b) | in respect of any proposed New Lender pursuant to clause 7 (Extension of the Facility) a document substantially in the form set out in part 2 of schedule 8 (Form of New Lender Accession Letter); |
Account Party Group means the Account Party, each of its Subsidiaries for the time being and HIIH;
Additional Guarantor means a company which becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with clause 28 (Changes to the Obligors);
Affiliate means:
(a) | in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company; and |
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(b) | in relation to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, shall include The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. and each of its subsidiaries or subsidiary undertakings but shall not include: |
(i) | the UK Government or any member or instrumentality thereof, including Her Majestys Treasury and UK Financial Investments Limited (or any directors, officers, employees or entities thereof); or |
(ii) | any persons or entities controlled by or under common control with the UK Government or any member or instrumentality thereof (including Her Majestys Treasury and UK Financial Investments Limited) which are not part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc and its subsidiary or subsidiary undertakings (including The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. and each of its subsidiary or subsidiary undertakings); |
Amendment and Restatement Agreement means the amendment and restatement agreement dated on or about 15 November 2013 relating to this agreement and made between, among others, the Account Party, the Original Guarantors, the Arrangers, the Bookrunner, the Original Lenders, the Overdraft Provider, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent;
Approved Credit Institution means a credit institution within the meaning of the Council Directive on the co-ordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions (No. 2006/48/EC) which has been approved by the Council of Lloyds for the purpose of providing guarantees and issuing or confirming letters of credit comprising a Members Funds at Lloyds;
Approved New Lender has the meaning given to it in clause 7(e) (Extension of the Facility);
Assignment Agreement means an agreement substantially in the form set out in schedule 7 (Form of Assignment Agreement) or any other form agreed between the relevant assignor and assignee;
Authorisation means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration;
Authorised Signatory means, in relation to any Obligor, any person who is duly authorised (in such manner as may be reasonably acceptable to the Facility Agent) and in respect of whom the Facility Agent has received a certificate signed by a director or authorised officer of that Obligor setting out the name and signature of that person and confirming that persons authority to act;
Authority means any of the European Union, Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom or the United States government including OFAC or the U.S. Department of State;
Availability Period means the period from and including the Effective Date to and including 31 December 2014;
Available Commitment means, in relation to a Lender at any time and save as otherwise provided in this agreement, its Commitment minus:
(a) | the amount of its participation in the Outstandings at that time; and |
(b) | in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the amount of its participation in any other Utilisations that are due to be made on or before the proposed Utilisation Date. |
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For the purposes of calculating a Lenders Available Commitment in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the amount of that Lenders participation in any Letter of Credit that is due to expire or be returned as cancelled on or before the proposed Utilisation Date shall not be deducted from a Lenders Commitments;
Available Facility means, at any time, the aggregate of the Available Commitments of the Lenders;
Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London;
Cash Collateral means, in relation to a Letter of Credit or (as applicable) any Lenders Proportion of a Letter of Credit, a cash deposit in the Specified Account and Cash Collateralised shall be construed accordingly;
Change in Control means any of the following events:
(a) | any person or group (as such terms are used for purposes of sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether or not applicable, except that for purposes of this paragraph (a) such person or group shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), is or becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated pursuant to said Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 35 per cent. of the Voting Shares of the Parent; or |
(b) | during any period of 25 consecutive calendar months, a majority of the board of directors of the Parent shall no longer be composed of individuals (i) who were members of said board on the first day of such period or (ii) whose election or nomination to said board was approved by a majority of the board of the directors of the Parent, which members comprising such majority were either the individuals referred to in sub-clause (i) in this paragraph (b) or whose election or nomination was previously so approved; |
Charge Over Account means the charge over account dated on or about the date of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and executed by the Account Party and the Security Agent pursuant to which a charge is granted by the Account Party to the Security Agent in respect of the Specified Account;
Charged Property means all of the assets which from time to time are, or are expressed to be, the subject of the Security;
Chaucer Names means Chaucer No. 2 and Chaucer No. 3, and Chaucer Name means either one of them;
Chaucer No. 2 means Chaucer Corporate Capital (No. 2) Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 03099078;
Chaucer No. 3 means Chaucer Corporate Capital (No. 3) Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 05203226;
Code means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
Commencement Date means, in relation to any Letter of Credit, the date as and from which the Lenders liabilities (whether actual or contingent) under that Letter of Credit start to accrue;
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Commitment means:
(a) | in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name under the heading Commitment in part 2 of schedule 1 (The Original Parties) and the amount of any other Commitment transferred to it under this agreement or assumed by it pursuant to clause 7 (Extension of the Facility); and |
(b) | in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Commitment transferred to it under this agreement or assumed by it pursuant to clause 7 (Extension of the Facility), |
to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this agreement;
Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in schedule 10 (Form of Compliance Certificate);
Confidential Information means all information relating to the Parent, the Account Party, any Guarantor, the Group, the Account Party Group, the Finance Documents or the Facility of which a Finance Party becomes aware in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party or which is received by a Finance Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents or the Facility from either:
(a) | any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or |
(b) | another Finance Party, if the information was obtained by that Finance Party directly or indirectly from any member of the Group or any of its advisers, |
in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes information that:
(i) | is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of clause 41 (Confidentiality); or |
(ii) | is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or |
(iii) | is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) above or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the Group and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality; |
Confidentiality Undertaking means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a recommended form of the LMA as set out in schedule 12 (LMA Form of Confidentiality Undertaking) or in any other form agreed between the Account Party and the Facility Agent;
Corporate Member means a corporate member of Lloyds;
Corporate Members Deed means Lloyds Security and Trust Deed or such other deed or document as Lloyds may from time to time require each Chaucer Name (being or having applied to become a Member) to execute and deliver for the purposes of providing a Lloyds Deposit;
CTA means the Corporation Tax Act 2009;
Page 4
Debt Rating means, as of any date of determination, the rating of the Parents senior, unsecured, non-credit enhanced, long-term debt obligations then outstanding most recently announced by Standard & Poors and Moodys, provided that:
(a) | if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level (as set out in the table in the definition of L/C Commission Rate below) for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 4 being the lowest); |
(b) | if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; |
(c) | if the Parent has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level for that Debt Rating shall apply; |
(d) | if the Parent does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 4 shall apply; and |
(e) | if the rating system of Standard & Poors and Moodys shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Parent 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 agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation; |
Deed of Priority means the deed of priority dated on or about the date of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement between the Security Agent, the Account Party and Lloyds;
Default means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in clause 26 (Events of Default) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default;
Defaulting Lender means any Lender:
(a) | which has rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or |
(b) | with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing; |
Delegate means any delegate, agent, attorney or co-trustee appointed by the Security Agent;
Disruption Event means either or both of:
(a) | a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Facility (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or |
(b) | the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other Party: |
(i) | from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or |
(ii) | from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents, |
Page 5
and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted;
Effective Date has the meaning given to that term in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement;
Encumbrance means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect;
ERISA Event has the meaning given to it in the Parent Guarantee;
Equity Interests has the meaning given to it in the Parent Guarantee;
Event of Default means any event or circumstance specified as such in clause 26 (Events of Default);
Existing Facility Agreement means the £90,000,000 standby letter of credit facility agreement dated 28 November 2010 as amended on 28 February 2011, between, amongst others, the Account Party and Lloyds TSB Bank plc (now known as Lloyds Bank plc);
Expiry Date means, in relation to any Letter of Credit, the date on which the maximum aggregate liability thereunder is reduced to zero;
Extreme Stress Scenario means an extreme event which is not a Realistic Disaster Scenario and which falls outside the guidelines issued by Lloyds Franchise Performance Directorate department;
Facility means the Sterling letter of credit facility granted to the Account Party in this agreement;
Facility Extension means the exercising by the Account Party of the option to increase the Total Commitments of the Facility by up to the Facility Extension Amount in accordance with clause 7 (Extension of the Facility);
Facility Extension Amount means an additional amount of up to £65,000,000;
Facility Extension Request means a request in the form set out in schedule 13 (Form of Facility Extension Request);
Facility Office means the office or offices notified by a Finance Party to the Facility Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Finance Party (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this agreement;
FAL Providers Deed means the FAL providers deed dated on or around the date of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement between the Facility Agent, the Account Party, the Chaucer Names and Flagstone Reassurance Suisse SA Bermuda Branch;
FATCA means:
(a) | sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations or other official guidance; |
Page 6
(b) | any treaty, law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of paragraph (a) above; or |
(c) | any agreement pursuant to the implementation of paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction; |
FATCA Application Date means:
(a) | in relation to a withholdable payment described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 July 2014; |
(b) | in relation to a withholdable payment described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to gross proceeds from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the US), 1 January 2017; or |
(c) | in relation to a passthru payment described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) above, 1 January 2017, |
or, in each case, such other date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA as a result of any change in FATCA after the date of this agreement;
FATCA Deduction means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA;
FATCA Exempt Party means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction;
FCA means the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom and any regulatory body which succeeds to one or more of the functions and/or duties performed by it as at the date of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement;
Fee Letter means any letter or letters dated on or about the date of this agreement between the Arrangers and the Account Party (or the Facility Agent and the Account Party or the Security Agent and the Account Party) setting out any of the fees referred to in clause 12 (Commission and Fees);
Finance Document means this agreement, any Fee Letter, any Accession Letter, any Resignation Letter, each Compliance Certificate, the Mandate Letter, the Refinancing Mandate Letter, each Utilisation Request, a Facility Extension Request, the Security Documents, the Parent Guarantee, the Deed of Priority and any other document designated as such by the Facility Agent and the Account Party;
Finance Party means the Facility Agent, the Security Agent, an Arranger or a Lender;
Financial Indebtedness means any indebtedness for or in respect of:
(a) | Indebtedness for Borrowed Money; |
(b) | any documentary or standby letter of credit facility or performance bond facility; |
(c) |
any interest rate swap, currency swap, forward foreign exchange transaction, cap, floor, collar or option transaction or any other treasury transaction or any combination thereof or any other transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and the amount |
Page 7
of the Financial Indebtedness in relation to any such transaction shall be calculated by reference to the mark-to-market valuation of such transaction at the relevant time); and |
(d) | any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) above; |
Funds at Lloyds or FAL has the meaning given in paragraph 16 of the Membership Byelaw (No. 5 of 2005);
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United Kingdom, including IFRS;
General Prudential Sourcebook means the General Prudential Sourcebook for Banks, Building Societies, Insurers and Investment Firms (as amended and replaced from time to time), which forms part of the Handbook;
Group means the Parent and each of its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Parent Guarantee) for the time being;
Group Obligor means the Parent or an Obligor;
Guaranteed Documents means the Finance Documents and the Overdraft Letter;
Guaranteed Finance Parties means the Finance Parties and the Overdraft Provider;
Guarantor means an Original Guarantor or an Additional Guarantor, unless it has ceased to be a Guarantor in accordance with clause 28 (Changes to the Obligors);
Handbook means the PRA Handbook of Rules and Guidance or the FCA Handbook of Rules and Guidance, as applicable (each as amended from time to time);
Hanover Credit Agreement means the $200,000,000 credit agreement dated on or about the date of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement between, amongst others, the Parent as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Lloyds Bank plc as co-syndication agents and Branch Banking and Trust Company and Barclays Bank PLC as co-documentation agents;
HIIH means The Hanover Insurance International Holdings Limited (previously known as 440 Tessera Limited), a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 7606589;
Holding Company means, in relation to a company or corporation, any other company or corporation in respect of which it is a Subsidiary;
IFRS means international accounting standards within the meaning of the IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements;
Impaired Agent means the Agent at any time when:
(a) | it has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for that payment; |
(b) | the Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document; |
(c) | (if the Agent is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a) of the definition of Defaulting Lender; or |
(d) | an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Agent; |
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Indebtedness for Borrowed Money means any indebtedness (other than such indebtedness incurred by a Managed Syndicate as a result of a Syndicate Arrangement) for or in respect of:
(a) | moneys borrowed; |
(b) | any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility or dematerialised equivalent; |
(c) | any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument; |
(d) | the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with GAAP, be treated as a finance or capital lease; |
(e) | receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis); |
(f) | any agreement or option to re-acquire on asset if one of primary reasons for entering into such agreement or option is to raise finance; |
(g) | any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution; |
(h) | any redeemable preference share; |
(i) | any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing; and |
(j) | the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (i) (inclusive) above; |
Insolvency Event means, in relation to a Finance Party:
(a) | any receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, liquidator, bank liquidator, bank administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer is appointed in respect of that Finance Party or all or substantially all of its assets; |
(b) | that Finance Party is subject to any event which has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraph (a) above under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction; or |
(c) | that Finance Party suspends making payments on all or substantially all of its debts or publicly announces an intention to do so; |
INSPRU means the Prudential Sourcebook for Insurers (as amended and replaced from time to time), which forms part of the Handbook;
Interest Period means, save as otherwise provided herein, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, any of those periods mentioned in clause 19.1 (Default Interest Periods);
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Interpolated Screen Rate means, in relation to LIBOR for any Utilisation, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the two relevant Screen Rates) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:
(a) | the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Term of that Utilisation; and |
(b) | the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Term of that Utilisation, |
each as of 11.00 a.m. on the Quotation Day for the currency of that Utilisation;
ITA means the Income Tax Act 2007;
L/C Commission Rate means:
(a) | in relation to the portion of any Letter of Credit that is not Cash Collateralised, the rate per annum set out opposite the applicable Debt Rating in the table below: |
Pricing Level | Debt Rating (S&P/Moodys) | L/C Commission Rate | ||
1 |
BBB+ / Baa1 or above | 1.375 per cent | ||
2 |
BBB / Baa2 | 1.50 per cent | ||
3 |
BBB- / Baa3 | 1.625 per cent | ||
4 |
BB+ / Ba1 or below | 1.75 per cent |
provided that any change in the applicable L/C Commission Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective on the date on which the relevant change in such Debt Rating is first announced by Standard & Poors or Moodys, as the case may be; and
(b) | in relation to any portion of any Letter of Credit that is Cash Collateralised, 0.275 per cent per annum; |
Legal Reservations means:
(a) | the principle that equitable remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court and the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to insolvency, reorganisation and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors; |
(b) | the time barring of claims under applicable statutes of limitation, the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or indemnify a person against non-payment of stamp duty may be void and defences of set-off or counterclaim; |
(c) | similar principles, rights and defences under the laws of any jurisdiction of incorporation of any Obligor; and |
(d) | any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations as to matters of law of general application in any legal opinion delivered pursuant to clause 5 (Conditions of Utilisation) or clause 28 (Changes to the Obligors); |
Lender means:
(a) | any Original Lender; and |
(b) | any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party in accordance with clause 27 (Changes to the Lenders), which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this agreement; |
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Letter of Comfort means a letter of comfort from Lloyds to the Account Party in substantially the form set out in schedule 5 (Letter of Comfort) or in such other form as may be agreed between the Facility Agent and the Account Party in order to procure the execution of that letter by Lloyds;
Letter of Credit means a letter of credit issued or to be issued pursuant to clause 6 (Utilisation) substantially in the form set out in schedule 4 (Form of Letter of Credit);
LIBOR means, in relation to any Unpaid Sum:
(a) | the applicable Screen Rate; or |
(b) | (if no Screen Rate is available for the currency or Interest Period) the Interpolated Screen Rate; or |
(c) | if: |
(i) | no Screen Rate is available for the currency of that Unpaid Sum; and |
(ii) | no Screen Rate is available for the Interest Period and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate, |
the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Facility Agent at its request quoted by the Reference Banks to leading banks in the Relevant Interbank Market,
as at 11.00 a.m. on the Quotation Day for the currency of that Unpaid Sum and for a period comparable to the Interest Period for that Unpaid Sum and, if any such rate is below zero, LIBOR will be deemed to be zero;
Lloyds means the Society incorporated by Lloyds Act 1871 by the name of Lloyds;
Lloyds Deposit has the meaning given in the Definitions Byelaw (No. 7 of 2005);
Lloyds Syndicate Accounting Rules means the Lloyds syndicate accounting rules within the meaning of the Definitions Byelaw (No. 7 of 2005);
LMA means the Loan Market Association;
Majority Lenders means a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate at least 66 2 ⁄ 3 per cent of the Total Commitments (or, if the Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated at least 66 2 ⁄ 3 per cent of the Commitments immediately prior to the reduction);
Managed Syndicate means:
(a) | any one of Syndicate 1084, Syndicate 1176, Syndicate 4000; and |
(b) | any other Syndicate at Lloyds managed by the Managing Agent and through which a Chaucer Name underwrites business at Lloyds of more than ten per cent of the aggregate underwriting risk in respect of all such Syndicates; |
Managing Agent means Chaucer Syndicates Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 00184915;
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Mandate Letter means the mandate letter dated on or about the date of this agreement from the Arrangers to the Parent;
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on:
(a) | the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Group (taken as a whole); |
(b) | the ability of any Group Obligor to perform or comply with its payment obligations under the Finance Documents (taking into account the existence of the guarantee contained in clause 21 (Guarantee and Indemnity) and the guarantee contained in section 2.01 (The Guaranty) of the Parent Guarantee); |
(c) | the ability of the Parent to comply with its financial covenant obligations under section 4.03 (Financial Covenants) of the Parent Guarantee or the Account Party to comply with its financial covenant obligations under clause 24.1 (Financial Condition of the Account Party); |
(d) | the ability of the Group Obligors, taken as a whole, to perform any of their other obligations under the Finance Documents not referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) above; or |
(e) | the legality, validity or enforceability of any Finance Document; |
Material Company means, at any time:
(a) | an Obligor; |
(b) | a member of the Group (other than the Parent and Chaucer Syndicates Limited) that holds shares in an Obligor; or |
(c) | a Subsidiary of the Account Party (other than Chaucer Syndicates Limited) which has profit before tax representing five per cent or more of consolidated profit before tax of the Account Party Group or has gross assets representing five per cent or more of the gross assets of the Account Party Group, calculated on a consolidated basis. |
Compliance with the conditions set out in paragraph (c) above shall be determined by reference to the latest annual financial statements of that Subsidiary (consolidated in the case of a Subsidiary which itself has Subsidiaries) and the latest annual consolidated financial statements of the Account Party Group delivered pursuant to clause 23.1(a) (Financial Statements of the Account Party Group) or clause 23.1(b) (Financial Statements of the Account Party Group). However, if a Subsidiary has been acquired since the date as at which the latest consolidated financial statements of the Account Party Group were prepared, the financial statements shall be deemed to be adjusted in order to take into account the acquisition of that Subsidiary;
A report by the auditors of the Account Party that a Subsidiary is or is not a Material Company shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties;
Material Subsidiary has the meaning given to it in the Parent Guarantee;
Member means a Corporate Member or a Name;
Members Share means the Members Syndicate Premium Limit of an Underwriting Member divided by the Syndicate Allocated Capacity of the Managed Syndicate on which the Lloyds Member writes business;
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Members Syndicate Premium Limit means a Members syndicate premium limit within the meaning of paragraph 26 of the Membership Byelaw (No. 5 of 2005);
Month means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that:
(a) | if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, that period shall end on the next Business Day in that calendar month in which that period is to end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately preceding Business Day; and |
(b) | if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which that period is to end, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that calendar month. |
The above exceptions will only apply to the last Month of any period; Monthly shall be construed accordingly;
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service Limited and any successor to the rating agency business of Moodys Investors Service Limited;
Name means an individual member of Lloyds;
New Lender has the meaning given to it in clause 27.1 (Assignments and Transfers by the Lenders);
Notice of Termination means a notice of the kind defined in clause 8.1 (Availability and Termination Provisions);
Obligor means the Account Party or a Guarantor;
Obligors Agent means the Account Party, appointed to act on behalf of each Obligor in relation to the Finance Documents pursuant to clause 2.3 (Obligors Agent);
OFAC means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury;
Open Year Solvency Deficiency has the meaning given to that expression in the Lloyds Membership and Underwriting Conditions and Requirements (Funds at Lloyds);
Original Financial Statements means:
(a) | in relation to the Account Party, the audited consolidated financial statements of the Account Party Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2010; and |
(b) | in relation to each Original Guarantor (other than HIIH)), its audited financial statements for its financial year ended 31 December 2010; |
Other FAL means, in relation to Chaucer No. 2 or (as applicable) Chaucer No. 3, its Funds at Lloyds other than Own FAL, Reinsurance FAL and FAL provided under this agreement;
Outstandings means, at any time, the aggregate of the maximum actual and contingent liabilities of the Lenders in respect of any outstanding Letter of Credit;
Overdraft means the £2,000,000 overdraft facility made available to the Account Party by Lloyds TSB Bank plc (now known as Lloyds Bank plc) and which is documented by the Overdraft Letter;
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Overdraft Letter means the overdraft facility letter between Lloyds TSB Bank plc (now known as Lloyds Bank plc) and the Account Party dated 25 November 2011, as amended, supplemented or extended from time to time, which documents the terms and conditions of a £2,000,000 overdraft facility made available to the Account Party;
Own FAL means, in relation to any Chaucer Name, such part of its Funds at Lloyds as is provided by the Account Party or by that Chaucer Name by way of cash and/or investments and/or covenant and charge or otherwise as permitted by Lloyds from time, to time excluding the Reinsurance FAL;
Parent means The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. a Delaware corporation;
Parent Guarantee means the guarantee agreement dated on or about the date of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement, between the Parent, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent;
Party means a party to this agreement;
Permitted Encumbrance means:
(a) | any Encumbrance arising under the Finance Documents; |
(b) | any Encumbrance granted with the prior consent of the Majority Lenders, provided the amount secured thereby is not increased; |
(c) | any Encumbrance granted or subsisting under any deed or agreement required by Lloyds or by the PRA or its successor or successors to be executed or entered into by or on behalf of a Chaucer Name in connection with its insurance business at Lloyds; |
(d) | any Encumbrance over or affecting any asset forming part of a trust fund (or, in the case of reinsurance recoveries or other things in action, whose proceeds will form part of a trust fund) which is held subject to the provisions of any deed or agreement of the kind referred to in paragraph (c) above, where that Encumbrance is created to secure obligations arising under a Syndicate Arrangement; |
(e) | any Encumbrance over or affecting any asset acquired by a member of the Account Party Group after the date of this agreement and subject to which that asset is acquired, provided: |
(i) | that Encumbrance was not created in contemplation of the acquisition of that asset by a member of the Account Party Group; |
(ii) | the amount secured by that Encumbrance has not been increased in contemplation of, or since the date of, the acquisition of that asset by a member of the Account Party Group; and |
(iii) | that Encumbrance is released or discharged within six Months of the date of acquisition of that asset; |
(f) | any Encumbrance over or affecting any asset of any company which becomes a member of the Account Party Group after the date of this agreement, where that Encumbrance is created prior to the date on which that company becomes a member of the Account Party Group, provided: |
(i) | that Encumbrance was not created in contemplation of the acquisition of that company; |
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(ii) | the amount secured by that Encumbrance has not been increased in contemplation of, or since the date of, the acquisition of that company; and |
(iii) | such Encumbrance is released or discharged within six Months of that company becoming a member of the Account Party Group; |
(g) | any netting or set-off arrangement entered into by any member of the Account Party Group in the normal course of its banking arrangements for the purpose of netting debit and credit balances; |
(h) | any title transfer or retention of title arrangement entered into by any member of the Account Party Group in the normal course of its trading activities on the counterpartys standard or usual terms; |
(i) | any lien arising by operation of law and in the normal course of business, provided that lien is discharged within ten days of the date on which it arises; |
(j) | any Encumbrance securing amounts outstanding under the Existing Facility Agreement, provided such Encumbrance is irrevocably released on or before the first Utilisation Date; |
(k) | any Encumbrance that is registered at Companies House at the date of this agreement in respect of a member of the Account Party Group; and |
(l) | any other Encumbrance granted by a member of the Account Party Group securing Financial Indebtedness provided the amount secured by the aggregate of any such Encumbrances does not at any time exceed £5,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies); |
Permitted Financial Indebtedness means Financial Indebtedness:
(a) | arising under the Finance Documents; |
(b) | arising under the Overdraft Letter provided that the principal amount borrowed under the Overdraft Letter does not exceed £2,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies); |
(c) | arising under any Syndicate Arrangement; |
(d) | arising under loan notes issued by HIIH under a loan note instrument dated 6 July 2011 constituting up to £20,000,000 fixed rate unsecured loan notes due 31 December 2016; |
(e) | approved in writing by the Majority Lenders in accordance with a written request delivered by the Account Party to the Facility Agent in accordance with clause 40 (Amendments and Waivers); |
(f) | among members of the Account Party Group; |
(g) | arising under the $300,000,000 loan agreement between the Parent and HIIH dated 2 August 2011; |
(h) | of a member of the Account Party Group where such Financial Indebtedness is owed to a member of the Group; |
(i) | arising under any multicurrency pooling arrangements entered into by any member of the Account Party Group in the ordinary course of their banking arrangements which involves a netting or a set-off of any debit and credit balances of such member of the Account Party Group, provided that the net amount of such financial indebtedness does not exceed zero; |
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(j) | arising under any interest rate swap, currency swap, forward foreign exchange transaction, cap, floor, collar or option transaction or any other treasury transaction or any combination thereof or any other transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and the amount of the Financial Indebtedness in relation to any such transaction shall be calculated by reference to the mark-to-market valuation of such transaction at the relevant time) in an amount not exceeding in aggregate £20,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) and not for investment or speculative purposes; and |
(k) | other Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of members of the Account Party Group not exceeding in aggregate £5,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies); |
PRA means the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom and any regulatory body which succeeds to one or more of the functions and/or duties performed by it as at the date of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement;
Proportion means, in relation to a Lender:
(a) | the proportion borne by its Commitment to the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, by its Commitment to the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero); and |
(b) | in respect of any Letter of Credit and save as otherwise provided in this agreement, the proportion (expressed as a percentage) borne by that Lenders Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to the issue of that Letter of Credit; |
Qualifying Lender has the meaning given to it in clause 13 (Tax Gross-Up and Indemnities);
Quotation Day means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined, the first day of that period;
Realistic Disaster Scenario means any realistic disaster scenario presented in a business plan prepared in relation to a Managed Syndicate under paragraph 35 of the Underwriting Byelaw (No. 2 of 2003) which shows the potential impact upon a Managed Syndicate of a catastrophic event, which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be taken to include any Extreme Stress Scenario which may be requested to be covered by Lloyds from time to time;
Receiver means a receiver or receiver and manager, or administrative receiver, administrator or trustee (as the context requires) or other similar officer of the whole or any part of the Charged Property;
Reference Banks means the principal London office of Lloyds Bank plc and Barclays Bank PLC or such other banks as may be appointed by the Facility Agent in consultation with the Account Party;
Refinancing Financial Statements means:
(a) | in relation to the Account Party, the audited consolidated financial statements of the Account Party Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2012; and |
(b) | in relation to each Original Guarantor (other than HIIH), its audited financial statements for its financial year ended 31 December 2012; |
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Refinancing Mandate Letter means the mandate letter dated 10 October 2013 from Lloyds Bank plc to the Parent;
Reinsurance FAL means any letter or letters of credit to be provided to Lloyds on behalf of the Account Party and/or any Chaucer Name and which are supported by a reinsurance contract;
Related Fund in relation to a fund (the First Fund ), means a fund which is managed or advised by the same investment manager or adviser as the First Fund or, if it is managed by a different investment manager or adviser, a fund whose investment manager or adviser is an Affiliate of the investment manager or adviser of the First Fund;
Relevant Interbank Market means the London interbank market;
Repeating Representations means each of the representations set out in clauses 22.1 (Status) to 22.6 (Legality, Validity and Enforceability) (inclusive), clauses 22.10 (No Filing or Stamp Taxes) to 22.13 (Financial Statements) (inclusive), clauses 22.15 (No Proceedings Pending or Threatened) to 22.18 (Shares) (inclusive), clause 22.21 (No Breach of Borrowing Restrictions) and clause 22.22 (Sanctions);
Representative means any delegate, agent, manager, administrator, nominee, attorney, trustee or custodian;
Resignation Letter means a letter substantially in the form set out in schedule 9 (Form of Resignation Letter);
Sanctions means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by any Authority;
Screen Rate means, in relation to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate administered by the British Bankers Association (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant currency and period displayed on pages LIBOR1 or LIBOR2 of the Reuters screen (or any replacement Reuters page which displays that rate) or, on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Reuters. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Facility Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Account Party and the Lenders;
SDN List means the Specially Designated Nationals List maintained by OFAC, or any similar list maintained by any Authority;
Secured Obligations means all present and future obligations at any time due, owing or incurred by any Group Obligor to any Secured Party under the Guaranteed Documents, both actual and contingent and whether incurred solely or jointly and as principal or surety or in any other capacity;
Secured Party means the Security Agent, any Receiver or Delegate, or any other Guaranteed Finance Party;
Security means the security granted under or pursuant to the Security Documents;
Security and Trust Deed means the following security and trust deeds, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent:
(a) | the security and trust deed, between the Account Party, Chaucer No. 3, Chaucer No. 2 and Lloyds evidencing the arrangement by which Chaucer No. 2 agrees to make its Own FAL interavailable to Chaucer No. 3; |
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(b) | the security and trust deed between Chaucer No. 3, Chaucer No. 2 and Lloyds evidencing the arrangement by which Chaucer No. 2 agrees to make the Reinsurance FAL interavailable to Chaucer No. 3; and |
(c) | the security and trust deed between Chaucer No. 3, Chaucer No. 2 and Lloyds evidencing the arrangement by which Chaucer No. 2 agrees to make the Letter of Credit to be issued on its behalf pursuant to clause 6 (Utilisation) interavailable to Chaucer No. 3; |
Security Documents means the Charge Over Account together with any other document entered into by any Obligor or any other member of the Group, in form and substance acceptable to the Security Agent, creating or expressed to create any Encumbrance over all or any part of its assets in respect of the obligations of any of the Group Obligors under any of the Guaranteed Documents;
Specified Account means the Sterling interest-bearing account in the name of the Account Party held with the Security Agent, at the Security Agents branch at 39 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AU, with account number 01193214, sort code 30-00-09 and designated LTSB plc re Chaucer Holdings plc Sterl;
Standard & Poors means Standard and Poors Rating Service and any successor to the rating agency business of Standard & Poors Rating Services;
Sterling and £ means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom;
Subordinated Funds at Lloyds has the meaning given to it in clause 4.1 (Ranking of Funds at Lloyds);
Subsidiary means a subsidiary undertaking within the meaning of section 1162 of the Companies Act 2006;
Substitution Letter a letter dated on or about the date of this agreement from Lloyds to the Account Party in the form agreed between the Facility Agent and the Account Party;
Syndicate means a group of Members or a single Corporate Member underwriting insurance business at Lloyds through the agency of a managing agent to which a particular syndicate number is assigned by the Council of Lloyds;
Syndicate Allocated Capacity means, in relation to any Syndicate, a reference to the aggregate of the Members Syndicate Premium Limits of all the members for the time being that Syndicate;
Syndicate Arrangement means any arrangement (whether pursuant to guarantees, letters of credit or otherwise) entered into by a managing agent at Lloyds on behalf of the Chaucer Names, together with the other members of a Syndicate with respect to financing or reinsurance for the purposes of or in connection with the underwriting business carried on by all such members of that Syndicate;
Tax means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same);
Term means, save as otherwise provided in this agreement:
(a) | in relation to any Letter of Credit, the period from its Commencement Date until its Expiry Date; and |
(b) | in relation to an Unpaid Sum, any Interest Period; |
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Third Party Syndicate means a syndicate at Lloyds:
(a) | which is managed by the Third Party Syndicate Managing Agent; or |
(b) | through which the Chaucer Name underwrites business at Lloyds, |
and which, in each case, is not a Managed Syndicate;
Third Party Syndicate Managing Agent means:
(a) | the Managing Agent; or |
(b) | a limited liability company which is controlled by the Account Party and acts as a managing agent; |
Total Commitments means, at any time, the aggregate of the Lenders Commitments, being £130,000,000 at the Effective Date;
Transfer Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in schedule 6 (Form of Transfer Certificate) or any other form agreed between the Facility Agent and the Account Party;
Transfer Date means, in relation to an assignment or a transfer, the later of:
(a) | the proposed Transfer Date specified in the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate; and |
(b) | the date on which the Facility Agent executes the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate; |
Uncollateralised Outstandings means the Outstandings in respect of which the Account Party has not provided funds by way of Cash Collateral to the Security Agent;
Uncovered Deficit means the aggregate of any Open Year Solvency Deficiency of the Chaucer Names in relation to which funds at Lloyds have not been provided by the date upon which Lloyds has requested such funds at Lloyds be provided;
Underwriting Member means any one of the Chaucer Names;
Unpaid Sum means any sum due and payable but unpaid by an Obligor under the Finance Documents;
US Dollars and $ means the lawful currency of the United States;
US GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, including IFRS;
Utilisation means a utilisation of the Facility;
Utilisation Date means the date of a Utilisation, being the date on which the relevant Letter of Credit is to be issued (or, as applicable, amended);
Utilisation Request means a notice substantially in the form set out in schedule 3 (Requests);
VAT means value added tax as provided for in the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and any other tax of a similar nature;
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Voluntary Collateralisation Date means, in any year, any of 1 January, 31 March, 30 June and 30 September or, if such date is not a Business Day, the next Business Day; and
Voting Shares means, with respect to any Person (as defined in the Hanover Credit Agreement) at any time, Equity Interests entitling the holder thereof to vote generally in an election of directors or other individuals performing similar functions.
1.2 | Construction |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in this agreement to: |
(i) | the Facility Agent , the Arrangers , the Security Agent , any Secured Party , any Finance Party , any Lender , the Overdraft Provider , any Obligor , the Parent or any Party or any other person shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees; |
(i) | amendment includes any amendment, supplement, variation, novation, modification, replacement or restatement and amend , amending and amended shall be construed accordingly; |
(ii) | assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description; |
(iii) | a Finance Document or any other agreement or instrument is (unless otherwise specified in this agreement) a reference to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated, supplemented, extended or restated (however fundamentally) (excluding any amendment, novation, supplement, extension or restatement made contrary to any provision of the Finance Documents); |
(iv) | including means including without limitation and includes and included shall be construed accordingly; |
(v) | indebtedness includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent; |
(vi) | a person includes any individual, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust, joint venture, consortium or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality) of two or more of the foregoing; |
(vii) | a regulation includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation; |
(viii) | controlled for the purposes of the defined term Third Party Syndicate Managing Agent means that the Account Party: |
(A) | has the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise) to cast, or control the casting of, more than 50 per cent of the maximum number of votes that might be cast at a general meeting of the relevant company; or |
(B) | holds beneficially 50 per cent or more of the issued share capital of such a company (excluding any part of that issued share capital that carries no right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital); |
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(ix) | a provision of law (including any by-law) is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted; and |
(x) | a time of day is a reference to London time. |
(b) | Clause and schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
(c) | Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this agreement. |
(d) | A Default is continuing if it has not been remedied or waived. |
1.3 | Third Party Rights |
(a) | Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document a person who is not a Party has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the Third Parties Act ) to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this agreement. |
(b) | Notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, the consent of any person who is not a Party is not required to rescind or vary this agreement at any time. |
2. | THE FACILITY |
2.1 | The Facility |
Subject to the terms of this agreement, the Lenders make available to the Account Party a Sterling letter of credit facility in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Total Commitments.
2.2 | Finance Parties Rights and Obligations |
(a) | The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents. |
(b) | The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party from an Obligor shall be a separate and independent debt. |
(c) | A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents. |
2.3 | Obligors Agent |
(a) | Each Guarantor by its execution of this agreement or an Accession Letter irrevocably appoints the Account Party to act on its behalf as its agent in relation to the Finance Documents and irrevocably authorises: |
(i) |
the Account Party on its behalf to supply all information concerning itself contemplated by this agreement to the Finance Parties and to give all notices and instructions, to execute on its behalf any Accession Letter, to |
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make such agreements and to effect the relevant amendments, supplements and variations (in each case, however fundamental) capable of being given, made or effected by any Guarantor (notwithstanding that they may increase the Guarantors obligations or otherwise affect the Guarantor) and to give confirmation as to continuation of surety obligations, without further reference to or the consent of that Guarantor; and |
(ii) | each Finance Party to give any notice, demand or other communication to that Guarantor pursuant to the Finance Documents to the Account Party, |
and in each case the Guarantor shall be bound as though the Guarantor itself had given the notices and instructions (including, without limitation, any Utilisation Requests) or executed or made the agreements or effected the amendments, supplements or variations, or received the relevant notice, demand or other communication.
(b) | Every act, omission, agreement, undertaking, settlement, waiver, amendment, supplement, variation, notice or other communication given or made by the Obligors Agent or given to the Obligors Agent under any Finance Document on behalf of a Guarantor or in connection with any Finance Document (whether or not known to any Guarantor and whether occurring before or after such Guarantor became a Guarantor under any Finance Document) shall be binding for all purposes on that Guarantor as if that Guarantor had expressly made, given or concurred with it. In the event of any conflict between any notices or other communications of the Obligors Agent and any Guarantor, those of the Obligors Agent shall prevail. |
3. | PURPOSE |
3.1 | Purpose and Application |
The Facility is made available to the Account Party for the purpose of providing one or more Letters of Credit to be used as Funds at Lloyds to support and stand security for the general business at Lloyds of each of the Chaucer Names for the 2014 and 2015 years of account and each prior open year of account and, accordingly, the Account Party shall ensure that each Chaucer Name will apply all amounts raised by it under this agreement towards the satisfaction of that purpose.
3.2 | Monitoring |
No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount raised pursuant to this agreement.
4. | RANKING AND APPLICATION OF FUNDS AT LLOYDS |
4.1 | Ranking of Funds at Lloyds |
It is acknowledged by the Parties that, subject to the duties of Lloyds as trustee of all Funds at Lloyds and to any conditions and requirements prescribed under the Membership Byelaw (No. 5 of 2005) which are for the time being applicable, the Facility will provide Funds at Lloyds for each Chaucer Name for the 2014 and 2015 years of account and each prior open year of account which, to the extent that the Account Party is able to procure the same upon and subject to the terms of this agreement, shall rank senior to all Funds at Lloyds of the relevant Chaucer Name constituted from time to time by Own FAL, Reinsurance FAL and Other FAL (together the Subordinated Funds at Lloyds ).
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4.2 | Application of Funds at Lloyds |
The Account Party shall use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the Subordinated Funds at Lloyds of a Chaucer Name are applied or otherwise utilised to the fullest extent possible before any payment is requested under a Letter of Credit.
5. | CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION |
5.1 | Initial Conditions Precedent |
The Account Party may only deliver a Utilisation Request if the Facility Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in part 1 of schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent. The Facility Agent shall notify the Account Party and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied.
5.2 | Further Conditions Precedent |
Subject to clause 5.1 (Initial Conditions Precedent), the Lenders will only be obliged to comply with clause 6.4 (Each Lenders Participation in Letters of Credit) if, on the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date:
(a) | no Default is continuing or would result from the issue of the proposed Letter of Credit; and |
(b) | the Repeating Representations to be made by each Obligor and the representations to be made by the Parent in the Parent Guarantee are true in all material respects. |
6. | UTILISATION |
6.1 | Delivery of a Utilisation Request |
The Account Party may utilise the Facility by delivery to the Facility Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request no later than five Business Days before the proposed Utilisation Date (or such shorter period as the Facility Agent may agree).
6.2 | Completion of a Utilisation Request |
Each Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:
(a) | the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day falling on or before 31 December 2014; |
(b) | the proposed Term of the Letter of Credit is not less than four years and the Expiry Date of the Letter of Credit is no later than 31 December 2018; |
(c) | the proposed Commencement Date of the Letter of Credit is a Business Day falling within the Availability Period; |
(d) | the Letter of Credit is substantially in the form set out in schedule 4 (Form of Letter of Credit); |
(e) | the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit is Lloyds; |
(f) | the currency and amount of the Letter of Credit comply with clause 6.3 (Currency and Amount); and |
(g) | as a result of the proposed Utilisation, no more than three Letters of Credit would be outstanding. |
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6.3 | Currency and Amount |
(a) | The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be Sterling; |
(b) | The amount of the proposed Letter of Credit is: |
(i) | a minimum of £250,000 or, if less, the Available Facility; and |
(ii) | less than or equal to the Available Facility. |
6.4 | Each Lenders Participation in Letters of Credit |
(a) | If the conditions set out in this agreement have been met, each Lender shall participate in each Letter of Credit through its Facility Office. |
(b) | Save as otherwise provided in this agreement, the amount of each Lenders participation in each Letter of Credit issued in accordance with this clause 6 will be equal to the proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to the issue of that Letter of Credit. |
6.5 | Applied Letters of Credit |
If, notwithstanding the provisions of clause 4.2 (Application of Funds at Lloyds), any sum is paid under a Letter of Credit (an Applied Letter of Credit ) which is greater than any sum which would have been paid had Subordinated Funds at Lloyds been applied prior to the Funds at Lloyds provided pursuant to this Facility in accordance with clause 4.2 (Application of Funds at Lloyds) (the difference between the sum paid under the Applied Letter of Credit and the sum which should have been paid being the Overpayment ), the Account Party shall, to any extent necessary to facilitate the indemnification of the Lenders under clause 10.1 (Account Partys Indemnity to the Lenders), use all reasonable endeavours to procure the release by Lloyds of the Subordinated Funds at Lloyds and, upon the Lenders being indemnified in full thereunder (but subject to the Lenders receiving confirmation in writing from the Account Party that no Default is continuing):
(a) | a supplementary Letter of Credit will be issued by the Facility Agent on behalf of the Lenders in an amount equal to the Overpayment having an Expiry Date which is the same as that of the Applied Letter of Credit; or |
(b) | the Applied Letter of Credit will be amended by increasing the amount thereof by an amount equal to the Overpayment. |
6.6 | Completion of Letters of Credit |
The Facility Agent is authorised to arrange for the issue or amendment of any Letter of Credit pursuant to clause 6.2 (Completion of a Utilisation Request) or clause 6.5 (Applied Letters of Credit) by:
(a) | completing the Commencement Date and the Expiry Date of that Letter of Credit; |
(b) | (in the case of an amendment increasing or decreasing the amount thereof) amending that Letter of Credit in such manner as Lloyds may agree; |
(c) | completing schedule 1 to that Letter of Credit with the percentage participation of each Lender as allocated pursuant to the terms of this agreement; |
(d) | executing that Letter of Credit and following such execution delivering that Letter of Credit to Lloyds on the Utilisation Date; and |
(e) | issuing such formal notification as Lloyds may require confirming that the Letter of Credit has been issued or amended. |
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7. | EXTENSION OF THE FACILITY |
(a) | The Account Party may, on one occasion only during the life of the Facility, request that the Total Commitments are increased by up to the Facility Extension Amount by delivery to the Facility Agent of a duly completed Facility Extension Request. |
(b) | The Facility Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the receipt of the Facility Extension Request. |
(c) | A Facility Extension shall only be permitted with the consent of all the Lenders. |
(d) | Each Lender shall have 20 Business Days from receipt of the completed Facility Extension Request from the Facility Agent to notify the Account Party and Facility Agent: |
(i) | if such Lender grants its consent to the proposed Facility Extension; |
(ii) | of its decision (which shall be in its absolute and sole discretion) whether or not to participate in the proposed Facility Extension Amount; and |
(iii) | in the case of a Lender which agrees to participate in the Facility Extension Amount (an Accepting Lender ), of the proportion of the Facility Extension Amount in which it is prepared to participate and subject to such conditions as it may specify (the Existing Lender Notice ). |
(e) | If all of the Lenders consent to the Facility Extension but no, or insufficient, Lenders give an Existing Lender Notice on terms satisfactory to the Account Party within any time limit specified by the Account Party in the Facility Extension Request (being not less than 20 Business Days) then, subject to compliance with the terms of this clause 7 (Extension of the Facility), any other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets and which is acceptable to the Lenders (an Approved New Lender ) may provide or participate in that Facility Extension provided that such Approved New Lender is an Approved Credit Institution. |
(f) | If all of the Lenders consent to the Facility Extension Request and all give an Existing Lender Notice agreeing to make available, in aggregate, an amount equal to or greater than the Facility Extension Amount requested by the Account Party in the Facility Extension Request, each Lender shall participate in the Facility Extension Amount in the same proportion as their Commitment bears to the Total Commitments immediately preceding the date of receipt by the Facility Agent of the Facility Extension Request. |
(g) | The Account Party shall confirm to each Accepting Lender and each Approved New Lender (if any) that Accepting Lender or Approved New Lender (as appropriate) proportion of the Facility Extension Amount and shall notify the Facility Agent of each Accepting Lender and each Approved New Lender (if any) and their respective proportions of the Facility Extension Amount. |
(h) | Each Lender, each Approved New Lender and the Obligors agree to negotiate (in good faith and acting reasonably) and document any necessary amendments to this agreement to facilitate the Facility Extension. |
(i) | A New Lender shall accede as a Lender in accordance with clause 27.5 (Procedure for Transfer or Accession). |
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8. | TERMINATION OF LETTERS OF CREDIT |
8.1 | Availability and Termination Provisions |
The Finance Parties agree that each Letter of Credit will continue in effect until such time as a notice is given in accordance with the terms of clause 8.2 (Notice of Termination) and that accordingly such Letter of Credit will expire on the later of the date specified in the notice and:
(a) | in relation to any Letter of Credit that the Parties intend to cover the 2014 year of account (and each prior open year of account but no subsequent year of account), 31 December 2017; and |
(b) | in relation to any Letter of Credit that the Parties intend to cover the 2015 year of account (and each prior open year of account but no subsequent year of account), 31 December 2018. |
8.2 | Notice of Termination |
The Parties agree that, in respect of every Letter of Credit issued in accordance with this agreement, the Facility Agent shall, in respect of:
(a) | the 2014 year of account (and each prior open year of account but no subsequent year of account) no earlier than 28 November 2013 and no later than 31 December 2013, give a Notice of Termination to Lloyds so that each such Letter of Credit expires no later than the 31 December 2017; and |
(b) | the 2015 year of account (and each prior open year of account but no subsequent year of account) no earlier than 28 November 2014 and no later than 31 December 2014, give a Notice of Termination to Lloyds so that each such Letter of Credit expires no later than 31 December 2018, |
and upon such expiry, the maximum actual and contingent liabilities of the Finance Parties thereunder are reduced to zero).
9. | NOTIFICATION |
9.1 | Letters of Credit |
Not less than one Business Day before the first day of a Letter of Credit, the Facility Agent shall notify each Lender of:
(a) | the proposed length of the relevant Term; and |
(b) | the aggregate principal amount, |
of that Letter of Credit allocated to that Lender pursuant to this agreement.
9.2 | Demands under a Letter of Credit |
If a demand is made under a Letter of Credit, the Facility Agent shall promptly make demand upon the Account Party in accordance with this agreement and notify the Lenders.
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10. | ACCOUNT PARTYS LIABILITIES IN RELATION TO LETTERS OF CREDIT |
10.1 | Account Partys Indemnity to the Lenders |
The Account Party shall irrevocably and unconditionally as a primary obligation indemnify each Finance Party, within 3 Business Days of a written demand by the Facility Agent, against:
(a) | any sum paid or due and payable by that Finance Party under or in connection with any Letter of Credit; and |
(b) | all liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, any costs incurred in funding any amount which falls due from that Finance Party under or in connection with any Letter of Credit), claims, losses and expenses which that Finance Party may at any time incur or sustain in connection with any Letter of Credit (other than as a result of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct). |
10.2 | Preservation of Rights |
The obligations of the Account Party under this clause 10 will not be affected by any act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this clause, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this clause including (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any other person):
(a) | any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor, any beneficiary under a Letter of Credit or any other person; |
(b) | the release of any other Group Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor or any member of the Group; |
(c) | the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor, any beneficiary under a Letter of Credit or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security; |
(d) | any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of a Group Obligor, any beneficiary under a Letter of Credit or any other person; |
(e) | any amendment (however fundamental) or replacement of a Finance Document, any Letter of Credit or any other document or security; |
(f) | any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document, any Letter of Credit or any other document or security; or |
(g) | any insolvency or similar proceedings. |
10.3 | Settlement Conditional |
Any settlement or discharge between the Account Party and the Facility Agent or any Lender shall be conditional upon no security or payment to the Facility Agent or any Lender by the Account Party, or any other person on behalf of the Account Party, being avoided or reduced by virtue of any laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or similar laws of general application and, if any such security or payment is so avoided or reduced, the Facility Agent shall be entitled to recover the value or amount of such security or payment from the Account Party subsequently as if such settlement or discharge had not occurred.
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10.4 | Right to make Payments under Letters of Credit |
(a) | Each Lender shall be entitled to make any payment in accordance with the terms of a Letter of Credit without any reference to or further authority from the Account Party, the other Finance Parties or any other investigation or enquiry. The Account Party irrevocably authorises the Lenders to comply with any demand under a Letter of Credit which appears on its face to be in order (a demand ). |
(b) | The obligations of the Account Party under this clause 10 will not be affected by: |
(i) | the sufficiency, accuracy or genuineness of any demand or other document; or |
(ii) | any incapacity of, or limitation on the powers of, any person signing a demand or other document. |
11. | COLLATERALISATION AND CANCELLATION |
11.1 | Cancellation of the Facility |
(a) | The Account Party may, by giving to the Facility Agent not less than five Business Days prior notice to that effect, cancel the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of £5,000,000 and an integral multiple of £1,000,000) of the Available Facility. Any such cancellation shall reduce the Available Commitment and Commitment of each Lender rateably. |
(b) | On the last day of the Availability Period, the Available Commitment shall be cancelled and reduced to zero. |
11.2 | Voluntary Cash Collateralisation of Letters of Credit |
(a) | The Account Party may, by giving to the Facility Agent not less than five Business Days prior notice to that effect, procure that, on any Voluntary Collateralisation Date, the liability of the Lenders under any Letter of Credit is Cash Collateralised in full or in part, in minimum amounts of £5,000,000 (and in integral multiples of £1,000,000 thereafter). On receipt by the Facility Agent of such notice, the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of the Account Partys intention to provide Cash Collateral. |
(b) | On receipt by the Facility Agent of Cash Collateral in accordance with paragraph (a) above or at any time where the Account Party has provided Cash Collateral to the Facility Agent in respect of any Letter of Credit pursuant to the terms of this agreement, the L/C Commission Rate on the maximum actual and contingent liabilities of the Lenders under the relevant Letter of Credit in respect of which Cash Collateral has been provided by the Account Party shall fall to 0.275 per cent per annum at that time. |
(c) | For so long as no Event of Default has occurred which is continuing, the Account Party may give the Facility Agent not less than five Business Days notice of its intention to procure that on any Voluntary Collateralisation Date the Account Party shall have the right to withdraw any Cash Collateral provided in accordance with paragraph (a) above (whereupon it shall do so). At any time when the Account Party has withdrawn Cash Collateral in respect of any Letter of Credit pursuant to the terms of this agreement, the L/C Commission Rate on the maximum actual and contingent liabilities of the Lenders under all Letters of Credit in respect of the Uncollateralised Outstandings shall immediately be increased to the applicable L/C Commission Rate as set out in limb (a) of the definition of L/C Commission Rate. |
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11.3 | Mandatory Cash Collateralisation or Cancellation of Letters of Credit |
If:
(a) | the Account Party ceases to be a direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of HIIH; or |
(b) | HIIH ceases to be a direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent, |
then:
(i) | the Account Party and HIIH shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon becoming aware of that event; |
(ii) | the Lenders shall not thereafter be obliged to participate in or issue any further Letter of Credit; |
(iii) | the Facility Agent shall, if so instructed by all the Lenders, by not less than five Business Days notice to the Account Party, cancel the Total Commitments and declare all amounts (together with any accrued interest, commission and fees) accrued under the Finance Documents immediately due and payable; |
(iv) | the Account Party shall procure that on such date as the Facility Agent shall have specified (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders) the liabilities of the Lenders under or in respect of each Letter of Credit is reduced to zero or otherwise secured by providing Cash Collateral in an amount equal to the aggregate Outstandings; and |
(v) | the Facility Agent shall give a Notice of Termination to Lloyds in respect of each Letter of Credit for which the Outstandings are reduced to zero in accordance with this clause 11.3. |
11.4 | Mandatory Cancellation Extension of Facility |
If, by 27 November 2015, the Lenders and the Account Party have not:
(a) | agreed to extend the Facility to provide Funds at Lloyds for each Chaucer Name for the 2016 underwriting year of account and each prior open year of account; and |
(b) | effected such amendments to the Finance Documents as the Lenders consider necessary to effect such extension or otherwise require in connection with such extension, |
the Account party shall procure that, no later than the date falling three Business Days after 31 December 2015, the aggregate liability of the Lenders under each Letter of Credit is reduced to zero or otherwise secured by providing Cash Collateral, in an amount equal to the aggregate Outstandings.
11.5 | Notice of Removal of a Lender |
If:
(a) | any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased pursuant to clause 13.2 (Tax Gross-up); or |
(b) | any Lender claims indemnification from the Account Party under clause 13.3 (Tax Indemnity) or clause 14 (Increased Costs); or |
(c) | any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, |
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the Account Party may, whilst such circumstance giving rise to the requirement or indemnification continues or (as the context requires) whilst the relevant Lender is a Defaulting Lender, give the Facility Agent at least five Business Days notice (which notice shall be irrevocable) of its intention to procure that the liabilities of that Lender under each Letter of Credit are reduced to zero and/or provide Cash Collateral in an amount equal to such Lenders Proportion of each Letters of Credit.
Upon receipt by the Facility Agent of such notice, the Commitment of the relevant Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero and, on the last day of each Term which ends after the Account Party has given any such notice (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Account Party in that notice) the Account Party shall procure either that that Lenders Proportion of each Letter of Credit be reduced to zero (by reduction of the amount of that Letter of Credit in an amount equal to that Lenders Proportion) or that it is otherwise secured by providing Cash Collateral to the Facility Agent in an amount equal to that Lenders Outstandings.
11.6 | No Further Availability |
A Lender whose total aggregate liabilities under each Letter of Credit have been reduced to zero or Cash Collateralised pursuant to clause 11.4 (Notice of Removal of a Lender) or have been Cash Collateralised pursuant to clause 11.2 (Voluntary Cash Collateralisation of Letters of Credit) shall not be obliged to participate in any Letter of Credit issued on or after the date upon which the Facility Agent receives the Account Partys notice of its intention to procure the repayment of or provide Cash Collateral in respect of such Lenders share of the Outstandings, and such Lenders Available Commitment shall be reduced to zero.
11.7 | No Other Cancellation |
The Available Facility may be cancelled, and the liabilities of each Lender under any Letter of Credit may be reduced to zero, only at the times and in the manner expressly provided for herein.
11.8 | Reduction of Liabilities to Zero |
For the purposes of this clause 11 and all other purposes of this agreement, each Lenders liability under any Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be reduced to zero upon the determination by Lloyds (or other trustee for the time being) of the trusts created by the Corporate Members Deed in respect of that Letter of Credit and the return to each Lender of that Letter of Credit for cancellation.
12. | COMMISSION AND FEES |
12.1 | Letter of Credit Commission |
The Account Party shall, in respect of each Letter of Credit requested by it, pay to the Facility Agent for the account of each Lender (for distribution in proportion to each Lenders Proportion of such Letter of Credit) a letter of credit commission in Sterling at the relevant L/C Commission Rate on the Outstandings under the relevant Letter of Credit. Such letter of credit commission shall be paid in arrears in respect of each successive period of three Months (or such shorter period as shall end on the relevant Expiry Date) which begins during the Term of the relevant Letter of Credit, the first such payment to be made on the date falling three Months after the Utilisation Date for such Letter of Credit and thereafter on the last day of each successive three Month period.
12.2 | Commitment Fee |
(a) |
The Account Party shall pay to the Facility Agent (for the account of each Lender) a commitment fee in Sterling computed at the rate per annum equal to 40 per cent |
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of the applicable L/C Commission Rate, as set out in paragraph (a) of the definition of L/C Commission Rate, on that Lenders Available Commitment under the Facility for the Availability Period. |
(b) | The accrued commitment fee is payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each successive period of three Months which ends during the relevant Availability Period, on the last day of a Availability Period and on any cancelled amount of the Lenders Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective. |
12.3 | Participation Fee |
The Account Party shall pay to the Facility Agent (for the account of each Original Lender) a participation fee in the amount and at the time agreed in a Fee Letter.
12.4 | Agency Fee |
The Account Party shall pay to the Facility Agent and the Security Agent an agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.
13. | TAX GROSS-UP AND INDEMNITIES |
13.1 | Definitions |
(a) | In this agreement: |
Protected Party means a Finance Party which is or will be subject to any liability, or required to make any payment, for or on account of Tax in relation to a sum received or receivable (or any sum deemed for the purposes of Tax to be received or receivable) under a Finance Document;
Qualifying Lender means:
(i) | a Lender (other than a Lender within paragraph (ii) below) which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document and is: |
(A) | a Lender: |
(aa) | which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the ITA) making an advance under a Finance Document; or |
(bb) | in respect of an advance made under a Finance Document by a person that was a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the ITA) at the time that that advance was made, |
and which is within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance; or
(B) | a Treaty Lender; or |
(ii) | a building society (as defined for the purpose of section 880 of the ITA) making an advance under a Finance Document; |
Tax Credit means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax;
Tax Deduction means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document other than a FATCA Deduction;
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Tax Payment means an increased payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under clause 13.2 (Tax Gross-Up) or a payment under clause 13.3 (Tax Indemnity);
Treaty Lender means a Lender which:
(i) | is treated as a resident of a Treaty State for the purposes of the Treaty; and |
(ii) | does not carry on a business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with which that Lenders participation in the Loan is effectively connected; and |
Treaty State means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement (a Treaty ) with the United Kingdom which makes provision for full exemption from tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest.
(b) | Unless a contrary indication appears, in this clause 13 a reference to determines or determined means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination. |
13.2 | Tax Gross-Up |
(a) | Each Obligor shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law. |
(b) | The Account Party shall promptly upon becoming aware that an Obligor must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Facility Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Facility Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Facility Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Account Party and that Obligor. |
(c) | If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by an Obligor, the amount of the payment due from that Obligor shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required. |
(d) | A payment shall not be increased under paragraph (c) above by reason of a Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by the United Kingdom if on the date on which the payment falls due: |
(i) | the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a Tax Deduction if the Lender had been a Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a 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 published concession of any relevant taxing authority provided, however, this clause (i) shall not apply to the extent (x) the relevant Lender is a New Lender that is a Qualifying Lender at the date it becomes a New Lender (or it would have been a Qualifying Lender on that date but for a change in any Treaty which change occurs between the date of this agreement and the date on which it becomes a New Lender) and (y) the corresponding Existing Lender would have received, in respect of a payment, at the time of transfer or assignment to that New Lender, additional amounts with respect to such Tax Deduction pursuant to paragraphs (c) above; or |
(ii) | the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the Obligor making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the Tax Deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under paragraph (g) below. |
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(e) | If an Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction, that Obligor shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law. |
(f) | Within 30 days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Obligor making that Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Facility Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment a statement under section 975 of the ITA or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority. |
(g) | A Treaty Lender and each Obligor which makes a payment to which that Treaty Lender is entitled shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that Obligor to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction. |
13.3 | Tax Indemnity |
(a) | The Account Party shall (within three Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent) pay to a Protected Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Protected Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of Tax by that Protected Party in respect of a Finance Document. |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above shall not apply: |
(i) | with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party: |
(A) | under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes; or |
(B) | under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Partys Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction, |
if that Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by that Finance Party; or
(ii) | to the extent a loss, liability or cost: |
(A) | is compensated for by an increased payment under clause 13.2 (Tax Gross-Up); |
(B) | would have been compensated for by an increased payment under clause 13.2 (Tax Gross-Up) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in clause 13.2(d) (Tax Gross-Up) applied; or |
(C) | relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party. |
(c) | A Protected Party making, or intending to make a claim under paragraph (a) above shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall notify the Account Party. |
(d) | A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from an Obligor under this clause 13.3, notify the Facility Agent. |
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13.4 | Tax Credit |
If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:
(a) | a Tax Credit is attributable to all or part of that Tax Payment; and |
(b) | that Finance Party has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit, |
the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Obligor which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been made by the Obligor.
13.5 | Lender Status Confirmation |
Each Lender which becomes a Party to this agreement after the date of this agreement shall indicate, in the Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Accession Letter which it executes on becoming a Party, and for the benefit of the Facility Agent and without liability to any Obligor, which of the following categories it falls in:
(a) | not a Qualifying Lender; |
(b) | a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender); or |
(c) | a Treaty Lender. |
If a New Lender fails to indicate its status in accordance with this clause 13.5 then such New Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this agreement (including by each Obligor) as if it is not a Qualifying Lender until such time as it notifies the Facility Agent which category applies (and the Facility Agent, upon receipt of such notification, shall inform the Account Party). For the avoidance of doubt, a Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply -with this clause 13.5.
13.6 | Stamp Taxes |
The Account Party shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Secured Party against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document.
13.7 | VAT |
(a) | All amounts set out or expressed in a Finance Document to be payable by any Party to a Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for a supply or supplies for VAT purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to paragraph (b) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document, that Party shall pay to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT (and such Finance Party shall promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to such Party). |
(b) |
If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the Supplier ) to any other Finance Party (the Recipient ) under a Finance Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (the Subject Party ) is |
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required by the terms of any Finance Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for such supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse the Recipient in respect of that consideration), such Party shall also pay to the Supplier (in addition to and at the same time as paying such amount) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT. The Recipient will promptly pay to the Subject Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment obtained by the Recipient from the relevant tax authority which it reasonably determines is in respect of such VAT. |
(c) | Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority. |
(d) | Any reference in this clause 13.7 to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the representative member of such group at such time (the term representative member to have the same meaning as in the Value Added Tax Act 1994). |
13.8 | FATCA Information |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Party shall, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party: |
(i) | confirm to that other Party whether it is: |
(A) | a FATCA Exempt Party; or |
(B) | not a FATCA Exempt Party; and |
(ii) | supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA (including its applicable passthru payment percentage or other information required under the US Treasury Regulations or other official guidance including intergovernmental agreements) as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Partys compliance with FATCA. |
(b) | If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be, a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party shall notify that other Party reasonably promptly. |
(c) | Paragraph (a) above shall not oblige any Finance Party to do anything which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of: |
(i) | any law or regulation; |
(ii) | any fiduciary duty; or |
(iii) | any duty of confidentiality. |
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(d) | If a Party fails to confirm its status or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (a) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (c) above applies), then: |
(i) | if that Party failed to confirm whether it is (and/or remains) a FATCA Exempt Party then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party; and |
(ii) | if that Party failed to confirm its applicable passthru payment percentage then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments made thereunder) as if its applicable passthru payment percentage is 100 per cent, |
until (in each case) such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.
13.9 | FATCA Deduction |
(a) | Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction. |
(b) | Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction) notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Account Party, the Facility Agent and the other Finance Parties. |
14. | INCREASED COSTS |
14.1 | Increased Costs |
(a) | Subject to clause 14.3 (Exceptions) the Account Party shall, within three Business Days of a demand by the Facility Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of: |
(i) | the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation; or |
(ii) | compliance with any law or regulation, |
made after the date of this agreement, provided, however, that for purposes of this agreement, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all regulations, rules, requests, guidelines and directives in connection therewith shall be deemed to be a change in law or regulation regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.
(b) | In this agreement Increased Costs means: |
(i) | a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Partys (or its Affiliates) overall capital; |
(ii) | an additional or increased cost; or |
(iii) | a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document, |
which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.
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14.2 | Increased Cost Claims |
(a) | A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to clause 14.1 (Increased Costs) shall notify the Facility Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Account Party. |
(b) | Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs. |
14.3 | Exceptions |
(a) | Clause 14.1 (Increased Costs) does not apply to the extent that any Increased Cost is: |
(i) | attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor; |
(ii) | attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party; |
(iii) | compensated for by clause 13.3 (Tax Indemnity) (or would have been compensated for under clause 13.3 (Tax Indemnity) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in clause 13.3(b) (Tax Indemnity) applied); or |
(iv) | attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation. |
(b) | In this clause 14.3, a reference to a Tax Deduction has the same meaning given to the term in clause 13.1 (Definitions). |
15. | OTHER INDEMNITIES |
15.1 | Currency Indemnity |
(a) | If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a Sum ), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the First Currency ) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the Second Currency ) for the purpose of: |
(i) | making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor; |
(ii) | obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings, |
that Obligor shall as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.
(b) | Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable. |
15.2 | Other Indemnities |
The Account Party shall (or shall procure that an Obligor will), within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a result of:
(a) | the occurrence of any Event of Default; |
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(b) | a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result of clause 32 (Sharing among the Finance Parties); |
(c) | issuing or making arrangements to issue a Letter of Credit requested by the Account Party in a Utilisation Request but not issued by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of this agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone); and |
(d) | any claim by the Facility Agent against any Lender pursuant to clause 29.10 (Lenders indemnity to the Agent). |
15.3 | Indemnity to the Facility Agent |
The Account Party shall promptly indemnify the Facility Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:
(a) | investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default; or |
(b) | acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised. |
15.4 | Indemnity to the Security Agent |
(a) | Each Obligor shall promptly indemnify the Security Agent and every Receiver and Delegate against any cost, loss or liability incurred by any of them: |
(i) | (acting reasonably) as a result of the taking, holding or protection of the Security; |
(ii) | as a result of enforcement of the Security; |
(iii) | (acting reasonably at any time other than when a Default is continuing) as a result of the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions and remedies vested in the Security Agent and each Receiver and Delegate by the Finance Documents or by law; or |
(iv) | any default by any Obligor in the performance of any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents. |
(b) | The Security Agent may, in priority to any payment to the Secured Parties, indemnify itself out of the Charged Property in respect of, and pay and retain, all sums necessary to give effect to the indemnity in this clause 15.4 and shall have a lien on the Security and the proceeds of the enforcement of the Security for all monies payable to it. |
16. | ILLEGALITY |
The provisions of this clause 16 shall take effect subject to clause 17.1 (Mitigation). If, at any time, it is or becomes unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction or prohibited pursuant to any request from or requirement of any central bank or other fiscal, monetary or other authority (being a request or requirement with which banks are accustomed to comply) for a Lender to make, fund, issue, participate in or allow to remain outstanding all or part of the Letters of Credit, or to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this agreement, then:
(a) | that Lender shall, promptly after becoming aware of the same, deliver to the Account Party through the Facility Agent a notice to that effect; |
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(b) | that Lender shall not, following delivery of a notice in accordance with paragraph (a) above, be obliged to participate in or issue any Letter of Credit and its Commitment shall be immediately reduced to zero; |
(c) | if that Lender so requires, the Account Party shall, on such date as the Facility Agent shall have specified: |
(i) | repay all amounts owing to that Lender under this agreement; and |
(ii) | ensure that the liabilities of that Lender under or in respect of each affected Letter of Credit are reduced to zero or otherwise secured by providing Cash Collateral in an amount equal to that Lenders Proportion of the Outstandings under that Letter of Credit; and |
(d) | the Account Party shall use best endeavours to procure that the liabilities of that Lender under or in respect of each affected Letter of Credit are promptly reduced to zero and/or a replacement Lender is identified who is prepared to take an assignment of the liabilities of that Lender in accordance with clause 27.5 (Procedure for Transfer or Accession). |
17. | MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS |
17.1 | Mitigation |
(a) | Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Account Party, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of clause 13 (Tax Gross-Up and Indemnities), clause 14 (Increased Costs) or clause 16 (Illegality) or including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office. |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents. |
17.2 | Limitation of Liability |
(a) | The Account Party shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under clause 17.1 (Mitigation). |
(b) | A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under clause 17.1 (Mitigation) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it. |
18. | COSTS AND EXPENSES |
18.1 | Transaction Expenses |
The Account Party shall, promptly on demand pay the Facility Agent, the Arrangers and the Security Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution, syndication and perfection of:
(a) | this agreement and any other documents referred to in this agreement and the Security; and |
(b) | any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this agreement. |
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18.2 | Amendment Costs |
If (a) an Obligor or the Parent requests an amendment, waiver or consent or (b) an amendment is required pursuant to clause 33.9 (Change of Currency), the Account Party shall, within three Business Days of demand, reimburse the Facility Agent, the Security Agent and any Receiver for the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by any of them in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.
18.3 | Security Agents Ongoing Costs |
(a) | Any amount payable to the Security Agent under clause 15.4 (Indemnity to the Security Agent) and this clause 18 shall include the cost of utilising the Security Agents management time or other resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Security Agent may notify to the Parent and the Lenders, and is in addition to any other fee paid or payable to the Security Agent. |
(a) | In the event of: |
(i) | a Default; or |
(ii) | the Security Agent considering it necessary or expedient; or |
(iii) | the Security Agent being requested by an Obligor, the Parent or the Majority Lenders to undertake duties which the Security Agent and the Account Party agree to be of an exceptional nature and/or outside the scope of the normal duties of the Security Agent under the Finance Documents, |
the Account Party shall pay to the Security Agent any additional remuneration that may be agreed between them.
(b) | If the Security Agent and the Account Party fail to agree upon the nature of the duties or upon any additional remuneration, that dispute shall be determined by an investment bank (acting as an expert and not as an arbitrator) selected by the Security Agent and approved by the Account Party or, failing approval, nominated (on the application of the Security Agent) by the President for the time being of the Law Society of England and Wales (the costs of the nomination and of the investment bank being payable by the Account Party) and the determination of any investment bank shall be final and binding upon the Parties. |
18.4 | Enforcement and Preservation Costs |
The Account Party shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to the Arrangers and each other Secured Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by it in connection with the enforcement of or the preservation of any rights under any Finance Document and the Security and any proceedings instituted by or against the Security Agent as a consequence of taking or holding the Security or enforcing these rights.
19. | DEFAULT INTEREST AND BREAKAGE COSTS |
19.1 | Default Interest Periods |
If any sum due and payable by an Obligor under a Finance Document is not paid on its due date or if any sum due and payable by the Obligor under any judgement of any court
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in connection with any Finance Document is not paid on the date of such judgement, the period beginning on such due date or, as the case may be, the date of such judgement and ending on the date upon which the obligation of such Obligor to pay such sum is discharged shall be divided into successive periods, each of which (other than the first) shall start on the last day of the preceding such period and the duration of each of which shall (except as otherwise provided in this clause 19) be selected by the Facility Agent.
19.2 | Default Interest |
An Unpaid Sum shall bear interest during each Term in respect thereof at the rate per annum which is the sum from time to time of 2.0 per cent per annum above LIBOR (on the Quotation Day therefor) plus:
(a) | in respect of any portion of an Unpaid Sum under clause 10.1 (Account Partys Indemnity to the Lenders) which is Cash Collateralised, 0.275 per cent per annum; and |
(b) | in respect of the balance of an Unpaid Sum or any other Unpaid Sum, 1.75 per cent per annum. |
19.3 | Payment of Default Interest |
Any interest which has accrued under clause 19.2 (Default Interest) in respect of an Unpaid Sum shall be due and payable and shall be paid by the Obligor owing such Unpaid Sum on the last day of each Interest Period in respect thereof or on such other dates as the Facility Agent may specify by notice to such Obligor or the Parent (as the case may be).
19.4 | Break Costs |
If any Lender or the Facility Agent on its behalf receives or recovers all or any part of an Unpaid Sum otherwise than on the last day of a Term in respect thereof, the Account Party shall pay to the Facility Agent on demand for the account of that Lender an amount equal to the amount (if any) by which (a) the additional interest which would have been payable on the amount so received or recovered had it been received or recovered on the last day of such Term exceeds (b) the amount of interest which in the opinion of the Facility Agent would have been payable to the Facility Agent on the last day of that Term in respect of a sterling deposit equal to the amount so received or recovered placed by it with a prime bank in the Relevant Interbank Market for a period starting on the first Business Day following the date of such receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of that Term.
20. | CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST |
20.1 | Absence of Quotations |
Subject to clause 20.2 (Market Disruption), if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by 11.00 a.m. on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks.
20.2 | Market Disruption |
(a) | If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to an Unpaid Sum for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lenders share of that Unpaid Sum for the Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of: |
(i) | two per cent per annum; plus |
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(ii) | the rate notified to the Facility Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event before interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Unpaid Sum from whatever source it may reasonably select; and |
(iii) | (A) | in respect of any portion of an Unpaid Sum under clause 10.1 (Account Partys Indemnity to the Lenders) which is Cash Collateralised, 0.275 per cent per annum; and |
(B) | in respect of the balance of an Unpaid Sum or any other Unpaid Sum, 1.75 per cent per annum. |
(b) | In this agreement Market Disruption Event means: |
(i) | at or about noon on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period the Screen Rate is not available and none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Facility Agent to determine LIBOR for the relevant currency and Interest Period; or |
(ii) | before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Facility Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in a Loan exceed 35 per cent of that Unpaid Sum) that the cost to it of obtaining matching deposits in the Relevant Interbank Market would be in excess of LIBOR. |
20.3 | Alternative Basis of Interest or Funding |
(a) | If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Facility Agent or the Account Party so requires, the Facility Agent and the Account Party shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than 30 days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest. |
(b) | Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Account Party, be binding on all Parties. |
21. | GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY |
21.1 | Guarantee and Indemnity |
Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally jointly and severally:
(a) | guarantees to each Guaranteed Finance Party punctual performance by each other Group Obligor of all that Group Obligors obligations under the Guaranteed Documents; |
(b) | undertakes with each Guaranteed Finance Party that whenever another Group Obligor does not pay any amount when due under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document, that Guarantor shall immediately on demand pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and |
(c) | agrees with each Guaranteed Finance Party that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify that Guaranteed Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability it incurs as a result of the Account Party not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by it under any Guaranteed Document on the date when it would have been due. The amount payable by a Guarantor under this indemnity will not exceed the amount it would have had to pay under this clause 21 if the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guarantee. |
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21.2 | Continuing Guarantee |
This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by any Group Obligor under the Guaranteed Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part.
21.3 | Reinstatement |
If any discharge, release or arrangement (whether in respect of the obligations of any Group Obligor or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is made by a Guaranteed Finance Party in whole or in part on the basis of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided or must be restored in insolvency, liquidation, administration or otherwise, without limitation, then the liability of each Guarantor under this clause 21 will continue or be reinstated as if the discharge, release or arrangement had not occurred.
21.4 | Waiver of Defences |
The obligations of each Guarantor under this clause 21 will not be affected by an act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this clause, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this clause 21 (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any Guaranteed Finance Party) including:
(a) | any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Group Obligor or other person; |
(b) | the release of any other Group Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group; |
(c) | the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Group Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security; |
(d) | any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of a Group Obligor or any other person; |
(e) | any amendment, novation, supplement, extension, restatement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of any Guaranteed Document or any other document or security including without limitation any change in the purpose of, any extension of or any increase in any facility or the addition of any new facility under any Guaranteed Document or other document or security; |
(f) | any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Guaranteed Document or any other document or security; or |
(g) | any insolvency or similar proceedings. |
21.5 | Guarantor Intent |
Without prejudice to the generality of clause 21.4 (Waiver of Defences), each Guarantor expressly confirms that it intends that this guarantee shall extend from time to time to any (however fundamental) variation, increase, extension or addition of or to any of the Guaranteed Documents and/or any facility or amount made available under any of the
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Guaranteed Documents for the purposes of or in connection with any of the following: acquisitions of any nature; increasing working capital; enabling investor distributions to be made; carrying out restructurings; refinancing existing facilities; refinancing any other indebtedness; making facilities available to new borrowers; any other variation or extension of the purposes for which any such facility or amount might be made available from time to time; and any fees, costs and/or expenses associated with any of the foregoing.
21.6 | Immediate Recourse |
Each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Guaranteed Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this clause 21. This waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Guaranteed Document to the contrary.
21.7 | Appropriations |
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Group Obligors under or in connection with the Guaranteed Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Guaranteed Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:
(a) | refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Guaranteed Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the benefit of the same; and |
(b) | hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any Guarantor or on account of any Guarantors liability under this clause 21. |
21.8 | Deferral of Guarantors Rights |
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Group Obligors under or in connection with the Guaranteed Documents have been irrevocably paid in full and unless the Facility Agent otherwise directs, no Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under the Guaranteed Documents or by reason of any amount being payable, or liability arising under this clause 21:
(a) | to be indemnified by a Group Obligor; |
(b) | to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any Group Obligors obligations under the Guaranteed Documents; |
(c) | to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Guaranteed Finance Parties under the Guaranteed Documents or of any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Guaranteed Documents by any Finance Party; |
(d) | to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring any Group Obligor to make any payment, or perform any obligation, in respect of which any Guarantor has given a guarantee, undertaking or indemnity under clause 21.1 (Guarantee and Indemnity); |
(e) | to exercise any right of set-off against any Group Obligor; and/or |
(f) | to claim or prove as a creditor of any Obligor in competition with any Guaranteed Finance Party. |
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If a Guarantor receives any benefit, payment or distribution in relation to such rights it shall hold that benefit, payment or distribution to the extent necessary to enable all amounts which may be or become payable to the Guaranteed Finance Parties by the Group Obligors under or in connection with the Guaranteed Documents to be repaid in full on trust for the Guaranteed Finance Parties and shall promptly pay or transfer the same to the Facility Agent or as the Facility Agent may direct for application in accordance with clause 33 (Payment Mechanics).
21.9 | Release of Guarantors Right of Contribution |
If any Guarantor (a Retiring Guarantor ) ceases to be a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Guaranteed Documents for the purpose of any sale or other disposal of that Retiring Guarantor then on the date such Retiring Guarantor ceases to be a Guarantor:
(a) | that Retiring Guarantor is released by each other Guarantor from any liability (whether past, present or future and whether actual or contingent) to make a contribution to any other Guarantor arising by reason of the performance by any other Guarantor of its obligations under the Guaranteed Documents; and |
(b) | each other Guarantor waives any rights it may have by reason of the performance of its obligations under the Guaranteed Documents to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under any Guaranteed Document or of any other security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, any Guaranteed Document where such rights or security are granted by or in relation to the assets of the Retiring Guarantor. |
21.10 | Additional Security |
This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by any Guaranteed Finance Party.
22. | REPRESENTATIONS |
Each Obligor makes the representations and warranties set out in this clause 22 to each Finance Party on the date of this agreement.
22.1 | Status |
(a) | It is a corporation, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation. |
(b) | It and each of its Subsidiaries has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted. |
22.2 | Binding Obligations |
Subject to the Legal Reservations, the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in each Finance Document are legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations.
22.3 | Non-Conflict with other Obligations |
The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents do not and will not conflict with:
(a) | any law or regulation applicable to it; |
(b) | its constitutional documents; or |
(c) | any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any of its assets in such a way which is likely to have a material adverse effect on the interest of the Lenders under the Finance Documents. |
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22.4 | Power and Authority |
It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into, performance and delivery of, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance Documents.
22.5 | Validity and Admissibility in Evidence |
All Authorisations required:
(a) | to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations in the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and |
(b) | to make the Finance Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation, |
have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect.
22.6 | Legality, Validity and Enforceability |
All acts, conditions and things required to be done, fulfilled and performed (other than compliance with section 860 of the Companies Act 2006) in order (a) to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights under and perform and comply with the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents and (b) to ensure that (subject to the Legal Reservations) the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents are legal, valid, binding and enforceable have been done, fulfilled and performed.
22.7 | No Material Adverse Change |
Since the date as at which the most recent financial statements of the Account Party Group were stated to be prepared and save as disclosed in writing to the Facility Agent on or prior to the Effective Date, there has been no material adverse change in its business or financial condition or, as the case may be, that of the Account Party Group as a whole.
22.8 | Insolvency |
No:
(a) | corporate action, legal proceeding or other procedure or step described in clause 26.9(a) (Insolvency Proceedings); or |
(b) | creditors process described in clause 26.10 (Creditors Process), |
has been taken or, to the knowledge of the Account Party, threatened in relation to a member of the Account Party Group and none of the circumstances described in clause 26.8 (Insolvency) applies to a member of the Account Party Group.
22.9 | Deduction of Tax |
It is not required under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it may make under any Finance Document.
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22.10 | No Filing or Stamp Taxes |
Under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation, it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents, save for the registration of any registrable charges created under the Security Documents and the payment of a fee in connection therewith.
22.11 | No Default |
(a) | No Event of Default and, on the date of this agreement, no Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the making of any Utilisation. |
(b) | No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes a default under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or any of its Subsidiaries or to which its (or any of its Subsidiaries) assets are subject which would have a Material Adverse Effect. |
22.12 | No Misleading Information |
All written information provided to a Finance Party by any member of the Account Party Group was true, complete and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided and is not misleading in any material respect. No information has been given or withheld that results in the information supplied to the Finance Parties by any member of the Account Party Group being untrue or misleading in any material respect.
22.13 | Financial Statements |
Its most recent financial statements, which at the date of this agreement are the Original Financial Statements, and at the Effective Date are the Refinancing Financial Statements, (in each case consolidated, if appropriate):
(a) | were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in its jurisdiction of incorporation and consistently applied; |
(b) | disclose all liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of which its directors were or might reasonably be expected to have been aware and all unrealised or anticipated losses of such Obligor (or, as the case may be, any member of the Account Party Group); and |
(c) | save as disclosed therein, give a true and fair view of the financial condition and operations of such Obligor (or, as the case may be, the Account Party Group) during the relevant financial year. |
22.14 | Pari Passu Ranking |
Its payment obligations under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.
22.15 | No Proceedings Pending or Threatened |
No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings of or before any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition have (to the best of its knowledge and belief) been started or threatened against it or any of its Subsidiaries or involves a Managed Syndicate in the ordinary course of its insurance business.
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22.16 | Ranking |
The Security has or (when duly registered) will have first ranking priority and is not subject to any prior ranking or pari passu ranking Encumbrances other than any Permitted Encumbrances which have prior ranking or pari passu ranking.
22.17 | Security |
Subject to the Legal Reservations, each Security Document to which it is a party validly creates each of the Encumbrances which is expressed by that Security Document and evidences each of the Encumbrances it is expressed to evidence.
22.18 | Shares |
(a) | The shares of any member of the Account Party Group which are subject to the Security are fully paid and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights. |
(b) | The constitutional documents of companies whose shares are subject to the Security do not and could not restrict or inhibit any transfer of those shares on creation or enforcement of the Security. |
(c) | There are no agreements in force which provide for the issue or allotment of, or grant any person the right to call for the issue or allotment of, any share or loan capital of any Obligor or member of the Account Party Group (including any option or right of pre-emption or conversion). |
22.19 | Encumbrances |
Save for Permitted Encumbrances, no Encumbrance exists over all or any of the present or future revenues or assets of any member of the Account Party Group.
22.20 | Ownership of the Chaucer Name |
Each Chaucer Name is a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Account Party and is duly authorised to underwrite business at Lloyds.
22.21 | No Breach of Borrowing Restrictions |
The utilisation of the Facility in full by the Account Party will not result in or cause a breach of any borrowing restriction which applies to any Obligor.
22.22 | Sanctions |
No Obligor, nor any of its Subsidiaries or directors, is either:
(a) | listed, or is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any person which is listed, on an SDN List; |
(b) | located, organised or resident in a country which is the subject of Sanctions; or |
(c) | a governmental agency, authority, or body or state-owned enterprise of any country which is the subject of Sanctions. |
22.23 | Repetition |
The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by each Obligor by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on:
(a) | the date of each Utilisation Request; and |
(b) | the Commencement Date of each Letter of Credit and every six Months after that date until the Expiry Date of that Letter of Credit. |
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23. | INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS |
The undertakings in this clause 23 remain in force from the date of this agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
23.1 | Financial Statements of the Account Party Group |
The Account Party shall supply to the Facility Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders:
(a) | as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 210 days after the end of each of its financial years, the annual financial statements of each Chaucer Name and any other member of the Account Party Group which is an Obligor for that financial year; and |
(b) | as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each quarter of its financial years, its consolidated management accounts for that quarter prepared in accordance with US GAAP. |
23.2 | Compliance Certificates |
(a) | The Account Party shall supply to the Facility Agent, with each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to clause 23.1 (Financial Statements of the Account Party Group), a Compliance Certificate: |
(i) | setting out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with clause 24.1 (Financial Condition of the Account Party) as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up; and |
(ii) | listing all Material Companies and setting out (in reasonable detail) computations which determine those companies classification as Material Companies. |
(b) | Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by two directors of the Account Party. |
23.3 | Budget of the Account Party |
(a) | The Account Party shall supply to the Facility Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, as soon as the same have been approved by its board of directors but in any event no later than 30 days prior to the start of each of its financial years, an annual budget and/or annual consolidated budget for that financial year. |
(b) | The Account Party shall ensure that each budget: |
(i) | is in a form reasonably acceptable to the Facility Agent and includes a projected consolidated profit and loss account (or equivalent income statement) and cashflow statement for the Account Party Group and projected financial covenant calculations; |
(ii) | is prepared in accordance with US GAAP, and the accounting practices and financial reference periods applied to financial statements under clause 23.1 (Financial Statements of the Account Party Group), |
and has been approved by the board of directors of the Account Party.
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23.4 | Annual Report for each Managed Syndicate |
The Account Party shall, as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each year of account of each Managed Syndicate, deliver to the Facility Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, the annual report for that Managed Syndicate, audited by an internationally recognised firm of auditors licensed to practice in the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Managing Agent and on the list of auditors approved by the Council of Lloyds from time to time.
23.5 | Quarterly Information Pack |
The Account Party shall, as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each quarter of each year of account of each Managed Syndicate, deliver to the Facility Agent an information pack which will include (but is not limited to) a profit and loss statement, balance sheet, cashflow statement, quarterly returns or its equivalent, settlement statistics, a statement of current forecast underwriting results and a statement on the solvency deficit position (including calculations in reasonable detail) for each Managed Syndicate.
23.6 | Business Plan and Realistic Disaster Scenario for each Managed Syndicate |
The Account Party shall, as soon as the same becomes available, but in any event within 30 days of the date prescribed by the Council of Lloyds with respect to the preparation and despatch thereof, deliver to the Facility Agent the annual business plan then prepared in respect of a Managed Syndicate (including details of the capital stack and reinsurance layers) and (if separate) the Realistic Disaster Scenario relating thereto.
23.7 | Reinsurance Resume for each Managed Syndicate |
The Account Party shall, as soon as the same becomes available but in any event within 90 days of 1 January each year, deliver to the Facility Agent a copy of the reinsurance resume of each Managed Syndicate as delivered by the Account Party to Lloyds from time to time in accordance with the Lloyds Syndicate Accounting Rules.
23.8 | Information in respect of Third Party Syndicates |
The Account Party shall, as soon as the same become available but in any event within 90 days after the end of each year of account of each Third Party Syndicate, deliver to the Facility Agent the annual report of that Third Party Syndicate audited by an internationally recognised firm of auditors licensed to practise in the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Managing Agent and on the list of auditors approved by the Council of Lloyds from time to time.
23.9 | Requirements as to Financial Statements |
(a) | Each set of financial statements delivered by the Account Party pursuant to clause 23.1 (Financial Statements of the Account Party Group) shall be certified by a director of the relevant company as fairly representing its financial condition as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up. |
(b) |
The Account Party shall procure that each set of financial statements of an Obligor delivered pursuant to clause 23.1 (Financial Statements of the Account Party Group) is prepared using accounting policies, practices, procedures and reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Original Financial Statements for that Obligor (or, in respect of the financial statements of HIIH, is prepared using accounting policies, practices, procedures and reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Original Financial Statements for the Account Party) (other than the consolidated management accounts for each quarter which will be prepared in accordance with US GAAP) |
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unless, in relation to any set of financial statements, it notifies the Facility Agent that there has been a change in such accounting policies, practices, procedures or reference periods and its auditors (or, if appropriate, the auditors of that Obligor) deliver to the Facility Agent: |
(i) | a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect the accounting policies, practices, procedures and reference periods upon which that Obligors Original Financial Statements were prepared; and |
(ii) | sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required by the Facility Agent, to enable the Lenders to determine whether clause 24 (Financial Conditions) has been complied with and make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in those financial statements and that Obligors Original Financial Statements. |
23.10 | Lloyds Syndicate Accounting Rules |
The Account Party shall ensure that each annual report in respect of each Managed Syndicate delivered pursuant to clause 23.3 (Annual Report for each Managed Syndicate) is prepared in accordance with Lloyds Syndicate Accounting Rules under accounting policies consistently applied.
23.11 | Litigation and Regulatory Intervention |
The Account Party shall notify the Facility Agent of any actual or (upon it becoming aware of the same) any threatened litigation or arbitration (whether as plaintiff or defendant and whether civil, criminal or administrative) and/or any actual or threatened regulatory intervention by Lloyds and/or the FCA and/or the PRA in respect of the Account Party Group and/or a Managed Syndicate which are likely to be adversely determined and/or made and which, if adversely determined and/or made, would have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Account Party Group and/or a Managed Syndicate (but excluding any litigation or arbitration involving a Managed Syndicate in the ordinary course of its insurance business).
23.12 | Inspection of Books and Records |
If there are reasonable grounds to believe that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, each Obligor shall, on request of the Facility Agent and upon reasonable notice, provide the Facility Agent and/or its advisers with access, during the normal business hours to and permit inspection of its books and records.
23.13 | Information on FAL |
The Account Party shall provide the Facility Agent with a description and valuation of its FAL in the Compliance Certificate to be accompanied with the quarterly financial statements delivered in accordance with clause 23.1 (Financial Statements of the Account Party Group).
23.14 | Information: Miscellaneous |
The Account Party shall supply to the Facility Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Facility Agent so requests):
(a) | all documents dispatched by the Account Party to its shareholders (or any class of them) or its creditors generally at the same time as they are dispatched; |
(b) | all regulatory returns dispatched by the Account Party to Lloyds; |
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(c) | promptly, such information as the Security Agent may reasonably require about the Charged Property and compliance of the Obligors with the terms of any Security Documents; and |
(d) | promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition and business of any member of the Group, the Managed Syndicates and the Third Party Syndicates as any Finance Party (through the Facility Agent) may reasonably request except (i) where the furnishing of such information is restricted or prohibited by applicable law or regulation or (ii) the furnishing of such information does not comply with any requirement as to confidentiality which applies to such Obligor. |
23.15 | Notification of Default |
(a) | Each Obligor shall (unless that Obligor is aware that a notification has already been provided by another Obligor) notify the Facility Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence. |
(b) | Promptly upon a request by the Facility Agent, the Account Party shall supply to the Facility Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors or senior officers on its behalf certifying that no Default is continuing (or if a Default is continuing, specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it). |
23.16 | Know Your Customer Checks |
(a) | If: |
(i) | the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this agreement; |
(ii) | any change in the status of an Obligor or the composition of the shareholders of an Obligor after the date of this agreement; or |
(iii) | a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer, |
obliges the Facility Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with know your customer or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, each Obligor shall promptly upon the request of the Facility Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Facility Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Facility Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
(b) | Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Facility Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Facility Agent (for itself) in order for the Facility Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents. |
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(c) | The Account Party shall, by giving not less than ten Business Days prior written notice to the Facility Agent, notify the Facility Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of its intention to request that one of its Subsidiaries becomes an Additional Guarantor pursuant to clause 28 (Changes to the Obligors). |
(d) | Following the giving of any notice pursuant to paragraph (c) above, if the accession of such Additional Guarantor obliges the Facility Agent or any Lender to comply with know your customer or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Account Party shall promptly upon the request of the Facility Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Facility Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Facility Agent or such Lender or any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the accession of such Subsidiary to this agreement as an Additional Guarantor. |
24. | FINANCIAL CONDITION |
24.1 | Financial Condition of the Account Party |
The Account Party shall ensure that its financial condition is such that:
(a) | any Uncovered Deficit shall not exceed 10 per cent of the aggregate of the Chaucer Names Members Syndicate Premium Limits; |
(b) | the aggregate of the Members Share of the estimated net losses in respect of any of the scenarios contained in the Realistic Disaster Scenarios prepared in relation to Syndicate 1084 of each Underwriting Member shall not exceed 20 per cent of the aggregate Members Syndicate Premium Limit of such Underwriting Members in any one year of account; and |
(c) | the Uncollateralised Outstandings shall not at any time exceed 40 per cent of the total Funds at Lloyds of the Account Party (including Subordinated Funds at Lloyds and FAL provided in accordance with this agreement). |
24.2 | Financial Testing |
The financial covenants set out in clause 24.1 (Financial Condition of the Account Party) shall be complied with at all times but compliance with such financial covenants shall be verified by reference to each of the relevant financial statements and each relevant Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to clause 23.2 (Compliance Certificates).
24.3 | Accounting Terms |
All accounting expressions which are not otherwise defined in this agreement shall be construed in accordance with GAAP.
25. | GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS |
The undertakings in this clause 25 remain in force from the date of this agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
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25.1 | Authorisations |
Each Obligor shall promptly:
(a) | obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and |
(b) | supply certified copies to the Facility Agent of, |
any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of its jurisdiction of incorporation to enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation of any Finance Document.
25.2 | Compliance with Laws |
Each Obligor shall comply in all respects with all laws, by-laws and regulations (including, without limitation, under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (and related subordinate legislation), the Lloyds Acts 1871 to 1982 and the Lloyds Sourcebook Instrument 2001 (as amended from time to time) and any conditions or requirements prescribed thereunder) to which it may be subject, if failure so to comply would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
25.3 | Negative Pledge |
(a) | No Obligor shall (and the Account Party shall ensure that no other member of the Account Party Group will) create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets other than a Permitted Encumbrance. |
(b) | No Obligor shall (and the Account Party shall ensure that no other member of the Account Party Group will): |
(i) | sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or re-acquired by an Obligor or any other member of the Group; |
(ii) | sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms; |
(iii) | enter into any arrangement under which money or the benefit of a bank or other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a combination of accounts; or |
(iv) | enter into any other preferential arrangement having a similar effect, |
in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into primarily as a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the acquisition of an asset, other than a Permitted Encumbrance.
25.4 | Disposals |
(a) | No Obligor shall (and the Account Party shall ensure that no other member of the Account Party Group will), enter into a single transaction or a series of transactions (whether related or not) and whether voluntary or involuntary to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any asset. |
(b) | Paragraph (a) does not apply to any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal by a member of the Account Party Group: |
(i) | of any investments made in the ordinary course of business of the disposing entity; |
(ii) | of obsolete assets for cash; |
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(iii) | made with the prior consent of the Majority Lenders; or |
(iv) | of tangible assets where the book value (when aggregated with the book value of all other tangible assets sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disused of in the same financial year) does not exceed £10,000,000 (or its equivalent in another currency or currencies). |
25.5 | Merger |
No Obligor shall (and the Account Party shall ensure that no other member of the Account Party Group will) enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger or corporate reconstruction without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders (which consent, in the case of a merger or amalgamation between two members of the Group which are not Obligors, shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
25.6 | Change of Business |
The Account Party shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of the Account Party, any member of the Account Party Group or any other Obligor from that carried on at the date of this agreement.
25.7 | Financial Indebtedness |
No Obligor shall (and the Account Party shall ensure that no other member of the Account Party Group will) incur or allow to remain outstanding any Financial Indebtedness, other than Permitted Financial Indebtedness.
25.8 | Pari Passu Ranking |
Each Obligor shall ensure that at all times the claims of a Finance Party against it under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors except those creditors whose claims are mandatorily preferred by laws of general application to companies.
25.9 | Insurance |
Each Obligor shall (and the Account Party shall ensure that each other member of the Account Party Group will) maintain insurance (other than and in addition to any reinsurance in respect of such members underwriting business) on and in relation to its business and assets against those risks and to such extent as is usual for companies carrying on the same or substantially similar business with any reputable underwriters or reputable insurance company.
25.10 | Further Assurance |
Each Obligor shall take all steps reasonably requested by the Facility Agent to ensure the creation, perfection and maintenance at all times of the Security intended to be constituted by the Security Documents.
25.11 | Ownership of the Chaucer Names |
The Account Party shall ensure that each Chaucer Name remains its wholly-owned Subsidiary.
25.12 | Application of Funds at Lloyds and Cash Calls |
(a) | The Account Party shall use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the Subordinated Funds at Lloyds of the Account Party are applied to the fullest extent possible before any payment is requested under a Letter of Credit. |
(b) | The Account Party shall ensure that the Managing Agent will make a request for funds of a Chaucer Name in its capacity as a member of each Managed Syndicate before applying the Funds at Lloyds of that Chaucer Name in the payment of any claims, expenses or outgoings made or incurred in connection with its underwriting business. |
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25.13 | Demands for Payment of FAL |
The Account Party shall upon service on it by Lloyds (or the trustee for the time being of such Funds at Lloyds) of a written demand for the payment of a sum on account of its Funds at Lloyds immediately inform the Facility Agent of such demand.
25.14 | Investment Strategy |
The Account Party shall ensure that there is no material change to the investment strategy pursued by the Account Party Group as at the date of this agreement without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders.
25.15 | Business plan |
The Account Party shall ensure that there is no material change to the business plan submitted in accordance with clause 23.6 (Business Plan and Realistic Disaster Scenario for each Managed Syndicate) without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders.
25.16 | Prohibition on underwriting by Obligors |
The Account Party shall procure that the only members of the Account Party Group to underwrite business at Lloyds will be the Chaucer Names.
25.17 | Reinsurance FAL |
(a) | The Account Party will not amend its FAL arrangements, including the addition of any Reinsurance FAL, without first obtaining the written consent of the Majority Lenders, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. |
(b) | If the Account Party obtains any Reinsurance FAL for the 2014 or 2015 years of account ( 2014/2015 Reinsurance FAL ), the Account Party shall use its best endeavours to: |
(i) | obtain and deliver to the Facility Agent, a replacement Letter of Comfort executed by Lloyds incorporating the 2014/2015 Reinsurance FAL as additional Subordinated Funds at Lloyds for the 2014/2015 years of account; and |
(ii) | procure an amendment to the FAL Providers Deed to provide for the accession of the provider or providers of the 2014/2015 Reinsurance FAL and to amend clause 2.4 of the FAL Providers Deed so that the order of priority includes the application of 2014/2015 Reinsurance FAL prior to the FAL provided under this agreement. |
25.18 | Ownership of Obligors |
The Account Party shall ensure that each other Obligor (other than HIIH) is and remains a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Account Party.
25.19 | Centre of Main Interests |
No Obligor shall, and each Obligor will procure that none of its Subsidiaries will, do anything to change the location of its centre of main interests, for the purposes of Council
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Regulation (EC) No 1346/2000 of 29 May 2000 on insolvency proceedings, where that change would be reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the interests of the Finance Parties.
25.20 | Sanctions |
(a) | Each Obligor will ensure that the proceeds of the Letter of Credit will not, directly or indirectly, be used or paid for the purposes of any transaction in violation of applicable Sanctions, to the extent that such use or payment would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) | No Obligor shall engage in any conduct which would reasonably be expected to cause it to become a subject of Sanctions in any material respect. |
26. | EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
Each of the events or circumstances set out in clause 26 is an Event of Default (save for clause 26.27 (Acceleration and Cancellation)).
26.1 | Non-Payment |
Any Group Obligor does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document at the place at and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable unless:
(a) | its failure to pay is caused by: |
(i) | administrative or technical error; or |
(ii) | a Disruption Event; and |
(b) | payment is made within five Business Days of its due date. |
26.2 | Financial Condition and Other Specific Covenants |
(a) | At any time any requirement of clause 24.1 (Financial Condition of the Account Party) or section 4.03 (Financial Covenants) of the Parent Guarantee is not satisfied. |
(b) | An Obligor fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in clause 23 (Information Undertakings), clause 25.3 (Negative Pledge), clause 25.4 (Disposals), clause 25.5 (Mergers), clause 25.7 (Financial Indebtedness), clause 25.11 (Ownership of the Chaucer Names), clause 25.12(a) (Application of Funds at Lloyds and Cash Calls) and clause 25.13 (Demands for Payment of FAL). |
(c) | The Parent fails duly to perform or comply with any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in sections 4.02(a) (Reporting Requirements) and section 4.04(a) (Financial Debt) to (d) (Disposition of Assets) (inclusive) of the Parent Guarantee. |
26.3 | Other Obligations |
(a) | Any Group Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in clause 26.1 (Non-Payment) and clause 26.2 (Financial Condition and Other Specific Covenants)). |
(b) | No Event of Default under paragraph (a) will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 30 days of the earlier of: |
(i) | the Facility Agent giving notice to the Account Party or the Parent; and |
(ii) | any Group Obligor becoming aware of the failure to comply. |
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26.4 | Misrepresentation |
Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by any Group Obligor in the Finance Documents or any notice or other document, certificate or statement delivered by or on behalf of any Group Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made.
26.5 | Change in Control |
The occurrence of a Change in Control.
26.6 | Cross Default |
(a) | Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period. |
(b) | Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described). |
(c) | Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of any member of the Group as a result of an event of default (however described). |
(d) | Any creditor of any member of the Group becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described). |
(e) | No Event of Default will occur under this clause 26.6 if the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraphs (a) to (d) (inclusive) above in respect of the Group, is less than $50,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies). |
26.7 | Failure to Comply with Final Judgment |
Any member of the Group fails to comply with or pay any sum due from it in excess of $50,000,000 (to the extent not covered by an insurer having a minimum A.M. Best financial strength rating of A- that has not denied coverage) under any final judgement or any final order made or given by any court of competent jurisdiction within 45 days of any such judgement or order being made or given.
26.8 | Insolvency |
(a) | Any Group Obligor or a Material Subsidiary is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due, suspends making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness. |
(b) | The value of the assets of any Group Obligor or a Material Subsidiary is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities). |
(c) | A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Group Obligor or a Material Subsidiary. |
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26.9 | Insolvency Proceedings |
(a) | Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to: |
(i) | the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any Group Obligor or a Material Subsidiary; |
(ii) | a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any Group Obligor or a Material Subsidiary; |
(iii) | the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of any Group Obligor or a Material Subsidiary or any of its assets; or |
(iv) | enforcement of any Security over any assets of any Group Obligor or a Material Subsidiary provided such enforcement is not stayed within 15 Business Days or any event occurs which under the laws of any jurisdiction has a similar or analogous effect. |
(b) | Paragraph (a)(i) to (iii) shall not apply to any winding-up petition which is frivolous or vexatious and is discharged, stayed or dismissed within 60 days of commencement or, if earlier, the date on which it is advertised. |
26.10 | Creditors Process |
Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution affects any asset or assets of any Group Obligor or a Material Subsidiary and is not discharged within 15 Business Days.
26.11 | Similar Events Elsewhere |
There occurs in relation to any Group Obligor or any Material Subsidiary or any of its assets in any country or territory in which it is incorporated or carries on business or to the jurisdiction of whose courts it or any of its assets is subject any event which appears to the Facility Agent to correspond in that country or territory with any of those mentioned in clauses 26.8 (Insolvency) to 26.10 (Creditors Process) (inclusive).
26.12 | Unlawfulness |
(a) | It is or becomes unlawful for any Group Obligor to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents. |
(b) | Any Finance Document or any obligation of any Group Obligor thereunder are not or ceases to be in full force and effect or is alleged by a Group Obligor to be ineffective for any reason. |
26.13 | Repudiation |
Any Group Obligor repudiates a Finance Document or evidences an intention to repudiate a Finance Document.
26.14 | Cessation of Business |
Any member of the Account Party Group or the Parent suspends or ceases to carry on (or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on) all or a material part of the business which it carries on at the date of this agreement or enters into any unrelated business.
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26.15 | Litigation |
Any litigation, arbitration, administrative, governmental, regulatory or other investigations, proceedings or disputes are commenced against any member of the Group or its assets which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably), has, or is reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
26.16 | Solvency Test |
A Chaucer Name fails as a Member to maintain the members capital resources requirement calculated by Lloyds and notified to it in accordance with the General Prudential Sourcebook and INSPRU.
26.17 | Ownership of the Chaucer Names |
Any Chaucer Name ceases to be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Account Party.
26.18 | Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and Lloyds Acts 1871-1982 |
(a) | A failure by Lloyds (or, where appropriate, the members of Lloyds taken together) to satisfy the solvency requirements to which it is or they are subject by virtue of Part XIX of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the General Prudential Sourcebook, INSPRU (each as amended from time to time) or any statutory provision enacted after the date of this agreement and a failure to comply with any binding requirement to rectify the position within the time period permitted for such rectification; or |
(b) | the authorisation or permission granted to Lloyds to carry on a regulated activity pursuant to the Financial Markets and Services Act 2000 is withdrawn, removed, revoked or cancelled by the PRA, |
which, in either such case, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, is reasonably likely materially and adversely to affect the ability of the Account Party to perform or comply with its material obligations under the Finance Documents.
26.19 | Modification of Lloyds Acts, Byelaws or Trusts |
Any modification, repeal, amendment, replacement or revocation of Lloyds Acts 1871 to 1982, any byelaw or any deed or agreement required by Lloyds to be executed or entered into by any person in connection with insurance business at Lloyds (whether carried on by such person or otherwise) or any trust created thereby is made or proposed which, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, is reasonably likely materially and adversely to affect the ability of the Account Party to perform or comply with its material obligations under the Finance Documents.
26.20 | Lloyds Market Reorganisation Order |
The making of a Lloyds Market Reorganisation Order provided that:
(a) | the Account Party is an affected market participant as defined in the Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding Up) (Lloyds) Regulations 2005; and |
(b) | the making of the order in the reasonable opinion of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) is reasonably likely materially and adversely to affect the ability of the Account Party to perform or comply with its material obligations under the Finance Documents. |
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26.21 | FAL Providers Deed |
(a) | Any party to the FAL Providers Deed (other than the Facility Agent) does not comply with any provision of the FAL Providers Deed. |
(b) | No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 15 Business Days of the earlier of: |
(i) | the Facility Agent giving notice to the Account Party; and |
(ii) | an Obligor becoming aware of the failure to comply. |
(c) | Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by a party in the FAL Providers Deed (other than the Facility Agent) or any notice or other document, certificate or statement delivered by or on behalf of any such party under or in connection with the FAL Providers Deed is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made. |
(d) | The FAL Providers Deed or any obligation of a party (other than the Facility Agent) thereunder is not or ceases to be in full force and effect or is alleged by any such party to be ineffective for any reason. |
26.22 | Cash Collateral |
The Account Party fails duly to perform or comply with its obligations to pay Cash Collateral into the Specified Account in the amounts and at the times required under clause 11.3 (Mandatory Cash Collateralisation of Letters of Credit).
26.23 | Material Adverse Change |
Any event or circumstance occurs which the Majority Lenders reasonably believe has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
26.24 | Deed of Priority |
(a) | Any party to the Deed of Priority (other than the Security Agent) does not comply with any provision of the Deed of Priority. |
(b) | No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 15 Business Days of the earlier of: |
(i) | the Facility Agent giving notice to the Account Party; and |
(ii) | an Obligor becoming aware of the failure to comply. |
(c) | The Deed of Priority or any obligation of a party (other than the Security Agent) thereunder is not or ceases to be in full force and effect or is alleged by any such party to be ineffective for any reason. |
26.25 | ERISA |
An ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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26.26 | US Bankruptcy Proceeding |
Without limiting any of the other clauses of this clause 26:
(a) | a court of the United States of America or any state thereof (a US Federal or State Court ) having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Parent or any Material Subsidiary in an involuntary case under the US Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law of the United States of America or any state thereof now or hereafter in effect, which decree or order is not stayed within seven days of it being entered; or any other similar relief shall be granted under any applicable US federal or state law; |
(b) | an involuntary case shall be commenced against the Parent or any Material Subsidiary under the US Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law of the United States of America or any state thereof now or hereafter in effect; or a decree or order of a US Federal or State Court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee, custodian or other officer having similar powers over the Parent or any Material Subsidiary, or over all or a substantial part of its property, shall have been entered; and in any such event described in this paragraph (b) shall continue for 60 days unless dismissed, bonded or discharged; or |
(c) | the Parent or any Material Subsidiary shall have an order for relief entered with respect to it or commence a voluntary case under the US Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law of the United States of America or any state thereof now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relieve in an involuntary case, or to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any such law. |
26.27 | Acceleration and Cancellation |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (b) below, on and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, the Facility Agent may, and shall if so directed by all the Lenders: |
(i) | by notice to the Account Party: |
(A) | require the Account Party to use best endeavours to procure that the liabilities of the Lenders under each Letter of Credit are promptly reduced to zero; and/or |
(B) | require the Account Party to procure that Cash Collateral is, within 3 Business Days of demand, provided for each Letter of Credit in an amount specified by the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) (whereupon the Account Party shall do so); and/or |
(C) | declare that the whole of the Available Facility shall be cancelled, whereupon the same shall be cancelled and the Available Commitment of each Lender shall be reduced to zero; |
(ii) | require the Account Party to use best endeavours to procure that: |
(A) | all Letters of Credit are cancelled and returned by Lloyds to the Facility Agent; and |
(B) | in relation to any Letters of Credit which are cancelled, Lloyds deliver written confirmation to the Facility Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) that: |
(aa) | Lloyds has not retained any copies of any Letter of Credit; and |
(bb) | Lloyds no longer places any reliance on any Letter of Credit, |
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in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Facility Agent;
(iii) | exercise (or direct the Security Agent to exercise) any or all of its rights, remedies, powers or discretions under any of the Finance Documents; and/or |
(iv) | give a Notice of Termination to Lloyds in respect of any Letter of Credit. |
(b) | If an Event of Default under clause 26.26 (US Bankruptcy Proceeding) occurs, then without notice to the Parent or any other act by the Facility Agent or any other person, the Facility, interest thereon, Cash Collateral in respect of each Letter of Credit issued for the account of the relevant member of the Group and all other amounts owed by such Obligor under the Finance Documents shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived. |
27. | CHANGES TO THE LENDERS |
27.1 | Assignments and Transfers by the Lenders |
Subject to this clause 27, a Lender (the Existing Lender ) may:
(a) | assign any of its rights; or |
(b) | transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations, |
to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the New Lender ) provided that such bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity is an Approved Credit Institution.
27.2 | Conditions of Assignment, Transfer or Accession |
(a) | An assignment will only be effective on: |
(i) | receipt by the Facility Agent (whether in the Assignment Agreement or otherwise) of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the other Finance Parties as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender; and |
(ii) | performance by the Facility Agent (to the extent it thinks fit) of all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender. |
(b) | A transfer or accession will only be effective if the procedure set out in clause 27.5 (Procedure for Transfer or Accession) is complied with. |
(c) | If: |
(i) | a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and |
(ii) | as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, an Obligor would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under clause 13 (Tax Gross-Up and Indemnities) or clause 14 (Increased Costs), |
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then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only entitled to receive payment under those clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred.
(d) | Each New Lender, by executing the relevant Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Accession Letter, confirms, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Facility Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this agreement on or prior to the date on which the transfer or assignment or accession becomes effective in accordance with this agreement and that it is bound by that decision to the same extent as the Existing Lender would have been had it remained a Lender. |
27.3 | Assignment, Transfer or Accession Fee |
The New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment, transfer or accession takes effect, pay to the Facility Agent (for its own account) a fee of £3,000.
27.4 | Limitation of Responsibility of Existing Lenders |
(a) | Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for: |
(i) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Finance Documents or any other documents; |
(ii) | the financial condition of any Obligor; |
(iii) | the performance and observance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or |
(iv) | the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document, |
and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.
(b) | Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it: |
(i) | has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in this agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Finance Document; and |
(ii) | will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force. |
(c) | Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to: |
(i) | accept a re-transfer or re-assignment from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this clause 27; or |
(ii) | support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or otherwise. |
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27.5 | Procedure for Transfer or Accession |
(a) | Subject to the conditions set out in clause 27.2 (Conditions of Assignment, Transfer or Accession) a transfer or accession is effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Facility Agent executes an otherwise duly completed (i) Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender or (ii) Accession Letter duly completed by the New Lender. The Facility Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate or Accession Letter appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate or Accession Letter. |
(b) | The Facility Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender or an Accession Letter delivered to it by a New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender. |
(c) | On the Transfer Date: |
(i) | to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents each of the Obligors and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents shall be cancelled (being the Discharged Rights and Obligations ); |
(ii) | each of the Obligors and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as that Obligor and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of that Obligor and the Existing Lender; |
(iii) | the Facility Agent, the Arrangers, the New Lender and other Lenders shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Facility Agent, the Arrangers and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and |
(iv) | the New Lender shall become a Party as a Lender. |
(d) | On the Accession Date: |
(i) | each of the New Lender and the other Parties shall assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and obligations acquired as a result of the Accession Letter; and |
(ii) | the New Lender shall become a Party to this agreement as a Lender. |
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27.6 | Procedure for Assignment |
(a) | Subject to the conditions set out in clause 27.2 (Conditions of Assignment, Transfer or Accession) an assignment may be effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Facility Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Facility Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Assignment Agreement appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this agreement, execute that Assignment Agreement. |
(b) | The Facility Agent shall only be obliged to execute an Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assignment to such New Lender. |
(c) | On the Transfer Date: |
(i) | the Existing Lender will assign absolutely to the New Lender the rights under the Finance Documents expressed to be the subject of the assignment in the Assignment Agreement; |
(ii) | the Existing Lender will be released by each Obligor and the other Finance Parties from the obligations owed by it (the Relevant Obligations ) and expressed to be the subject of the release in the Assignment Agreement; and |
(iii) | the New Lender shall become a Party as a Lender and will be bound by obligations equivalent to the Relevant Obligations. |
(d) | Lenders may utilise procedures other than those set out in this clause 27.6 to assign their rights under the Finance Documents (but not, without the consent of the relevant Obligor or unless in accordance with clause 27.5 (Procedure for Transfer), to obtain a release by that Obligor from the obligations owed to that Obligor by the Lenders nor the assumption of equivalent obligations by a New Lender) provided that they comply with the conditions set out in clause 27.2 (Conditions of Assignment, Transfer or Accession). |
27.7 | Copy of Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement to Account Party |
The Facility Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate or an Assignment Agreement, send to the Account Party a copy of that Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement.
27.8 | Security over Lenders rights |
In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this clause 27, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Obligor, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create Security in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:
(a) | any charge, assignment or other Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank or to a government authority, department or agency (including, without limitation, HM Treasury); and |
(b) | in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities, |
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except that no such charge, assignment or Security shall:
(i) | release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or Security for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or |
(ii) | require any payments to be made by an Obligor other than or in excess of, or grant to any person any more extensive rights than, those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents. |
28. | CHANGES TO THE OBLIGORS |
28.1 | Assignments and Transfer by Obligors |
No Obligor may assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.
28.2 | Additional Guarantors |
(a) | Subject to compliance with the provisions of clauses 23.16(c) and (d) (Know Your Customer Checks), the Account Party may request that any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries become an Additional Guarantor. |
(b) | The Account Party shall procure that any other member of the Account Party Group which is a Material Company shall, as soon as possible after becoming a Material Company, become an Additional Guarantor. |
(c) | A Subsidiary of the Account Party shall become an Additional Guarantor if: |
(i) | all the Lenders and the Overdraft Provider approve the addition of that Subsidiary (and each Lender hereby approves each Material Company); |
(ii) | the Account Party delivers to the Security Agent a duly completed and executed Accession Letter; and |
(iii) | the Security Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in part 2 of schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) in relation to that Additional Guarantor, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Security Agent. |
(d) | The Security Agent shall notify the Account Party and all the Guaranteed Finance Parties promptly upon being satisfied that it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) all the documents and other evidence listed in part 2 of schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent). |
28.3 | Repetition of Representations |
Delivery of an Accession Letter constitutes confirmation by the relevant Subsidiary that the Repeating Representations are true and correct in relation to it as at the date of delivery as if made by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.
28.4 | Resignation of a Guarantor |
(a) | The Account Party may request that a Guarantor (other than the Account Party) ceases to be a Guarantor by delivering to the Security Agent a Resignation Letter. |
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(b) | The Security Agent shall accept a Resignation Letter and notify the Account Party and the Facility Agent, the Lenders and the Overdraft Provider of its acceptance if: |
(i) | no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of the Resignation Letter (and the Account Party has confirmed this is the case); and |
(ii) | all the Lenders and the Overdraft Provider have consented to the Account Partys request. |
29. | ROLE OF THE FACILITY AGENT AND THE ARRANGERS |
29.1 | Appointment of the Facility Agent |
(a) | Each of the Finance Parties appoints the Facility Agent to act as its facility agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents. |
(b) | Each of the Finance Parties authorises the Facility Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Facility Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions. |
29.2 | Duties of the Facility Agent |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (b) below, the Facility Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Facility Agent for that Party by any other Party. |
(b) | Without prejudice to clause 27.7 (Copy of Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement to Account Party), paragraph (a) above shall not apply to any Transfer Certificate or to any Assignment Agreement. |
(c) | Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Facility Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party. |
(d) | If the Facility Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the Finance Parties. |
(e) | If the Facility Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Facility Agent or the Arrangers or the Security Agent) under this agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties. |
(f) | The Facility Agents duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature. |
29.3 | Role of the Arrangers |
Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Arrangers has no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.
29.4 | No Fiduciary Duties |
(a) | Nothing in this agreement constitutes the Facility Agent or the Arrangers as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person. |
(b) | None of the Facility Agent nor the Arrangers or the Security Agent shall be bound to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account. |
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29.5 | Business with the Group |
The Facility Agent and the Arrangers may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group.
29.6 | Rights and Discretions of the Facility Agent |
(a) | The Facility Agent may rely on: |
(i) | any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; and |
(ii) | any statement made by a director, Authorised Signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify. |
(b) | The Facility Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders) that: |
(i) | no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under clause 26.1 (Non-Payment)); |
(ii) | any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Majority Lenders has not been exercised; and |
(iii) | any notice or request made by the Account Party (other than a Utilisation Request) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Obligors. |
(c) | The Facility Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts. |
(d) | The Facility Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents. |
(e) | The Facility Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this agreement. |
(f) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Facility Agent nor the Arrangers is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality. |
29.7 | Majority Lenders Instructions |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Facility Agent shall: |
(i) | exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Facility Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Majority Lenders (or, if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Facility Agent); and |
(ii) | not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking any action) in accordance with an instruction of the Majority Lenders. |
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(b) | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Finance Parties other than the Security Agent. |
(c) | The Facility Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) until it has received such security as it may require for any cost, loss or liability (together with any associated VAT) which it may incur in complying with the instructions. |
(d) | In the absence of instructions from the Majority Lenders, (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) the Facility Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders. |
(e) | The Facility Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lenders consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. |
29.8 | Responsibility for Documentation |
Neither the Facility Agent nor the Arrangers:
(a) | is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Facility Agent, the Arrangers, any Group Obligor or any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents; or |
(b) | is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security; or |
(c) | is responsible for any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Finance Party is non-public information the use of which may be regulated or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider dealing or otherwise. |
29.9 | Exclusion of Liability |
(a) | Without limiting paragraph (b) below, and without prejudice to the provisions of clause 33.10(e) (Disruption to Payment Systems etc.) the Facility Agent will not be liable (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct. |
(b) | No Party (other than the Facility Agent) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Facility Agent in respect of any claim it might have against the Facility Agent or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document and any officer, employee or agent of the Facility Agent may rely on this clause subject to clause 1.3 (Third Party Rights) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act. |
(c) | The Facility Agent will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by the Facility Agent if the Facility Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by the Facility Agent for that purpose. |
(d) | Nothing in this agreement shall oblige the Facility Agent or the Arrangers to carry out any know your customer or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Facility Agent and the Arrangers that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Facility Agent or the Arrangers. |
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29.10 | Lenders Indemnity to the Facility Agent |
Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Facility Agent, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by the Facility Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Facility Agents gross negligence or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to clause 33.10 (Disruption to Payment Systems etc.) notwithstanding the Facility Agents negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Facility Agent) in acting as Facility Agent under the Finance Documents.
29.11 | Resignation of the Facility Agent |
(a) | The Facility Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates acting through an office in the United Kingdom as successor by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Account Party. |
(b) | Alternatively the Facility Agent may resign by giving 30 days notice to the other Finance Parties and the Account Party, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Account Party) may appoint a successor Facility Agent. In addition, the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Account Party) may require an Impaired Agent to resign after any notice period and (after consultation with the Account Party) may appoint a successor Facility Agent. |
(c) | If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Facility Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 30 days after notice of resignation was given, the retiring Facility Agent (after consultation with the Account Party) may appoint a successor Facility Agent (acting through an office in the United Kingdom). |
(d) | The retiring Facility Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Facility Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Facility Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Facility Agent under the Finance Documents. |
(e) | The Facility Agents resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor. |
(f) | Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Facility Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this clause 29. Any successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party. |
(g) | After consultation with the Account Party, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Facility Agent, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above. In this event, the Facility Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above. |
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29.12 | Confidentiality |
(a) | In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the Facility Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments. |
(b) | If information is received by another division or department of the Facility Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Facility Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it. |
(c) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Facility Agent nor the Arrangers are obliged to disclose to any other person: |
(i) | any confidential information; or |
(ii) | any other information |
if the disclosure would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or a breach of a fiduciary duty.
29.13 | Relationship with the Lenders |
(a) | The Facility Agent may treat the person shown in its records as Lender at the opening of business (in the place of the Facility Agents principal office as notified to the Finance Parties from time to time) as the Lender acting through its Facility Office: |
(i) | entitled to or liable for any payment due under any Finance Document on that day; and |
(ii) | entitled to receive and act upon any notice, request, document or communication or make any decision or determination under any Finance Document made or delivered on that day, |
unless it has received not less than five Business Days prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this agreement.
(b) | Each Lender shall supply the Facility Agent with any information that the Security Agent may reasonably specify (through the Facility Agent) as being necessary or desirable to enable the Security Agent to perform its functions as Security Agent. Each Lender shall deal with the Security Agent exclusively through the Facility Agent and shall not deal directly with the Security Agent. |
(c) | Any Lender may by notice to the Facility Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf all notices, communications, information and documents to be made or despatched to that Lender under the Finance Documents. Such notice shall contain the address, fax number and (where communication by electronic mail or other electronic means is permitted under clause 36.6 (Electronic communication)) electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means (and, in each case, the department or officer, if any, for whose attention communication is to be made) and be treated as a notification of a substitute address, fax number, electronic mail address, department and officer by that Lender for the purposes of clause 36.2 (Addresses) and clause 36.6(a)(iii) (Electronic communication) and the Facility Agent shall be entitled to treat such person as the person entitled to receive all such notices, communications, information and documents as though that person were that Lender. |
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29.14 | Credit Appraisal by the Lenders |
Without affecting the responsibility of any Group Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms to the Facility Agent and the Arrangers that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:
(a) | the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group; |
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and the Security and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security; |
(c) | whether that Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the Security, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; |
(d) | the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any other information provided by the Facility Agent, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and |
(e) | the right or title of any person in or to, or the value or sufficiency of any part of the Charged Property, the priority of any of the Security or the existence of any Encumbrance affecting the Charged Property. |
29.15 | Facility Agents Management Time |
Any amount payable to the Agent under clause 15.3 (Indemnity to the Facility Agent), clause 18 (Costs and Expenses) and clause 29.10 (Lenders indemnity to the Facility Agent) shall include the cost of utilising the Facility Agents management time or other resources, up to a maximum of £10,000 in any 12 month period, and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Agent may notify to the Account Party and the Lenders.
29.16 | Deduction from Amounts Payable by the Facility Agent |
If any Party owes an amount to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents the Facility Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Facility Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.
30. | ROLE OF THE SECURITY AGENT |
30.1 | Appointment of the Security Agent |
(a) | Each of the Guaranteed Finance Parties appoints the Security Agent to act as its security agent under and in connection with the Guaranteed Documents. |
(b) | Each of the Guaranteed Finance Parties authorises the Security Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Security Agent under or in connection with the Guaranteed Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions. |
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30.2 | Trust |
(a) | The Security Agent declares that it shall hold the Security on trust for the Secured Parties on the terms contained in this agreement. |
(b) | Each of the Parties agrees that the Security Agent shall have only those duties, obligations and responsibilities expressly specified in this agreement or in the Security Documents to which the Security Agent is expressed to be a party (and no others shall be implied). |
30.3 | No Independent Power |
The Secured Parties shall not have any independent power to enforce, or have recourse to, any of the Security or to exercise any rights or powers arising under the Security Documents except through the Security Agent.
30.4 | Instructions to Security Agent and Exercise of Discretion |
(a) | Subject to paragraphs (d) and (e) below, the Security Agent shall act in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Majority Lenders or, if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Security Agent and shall be entitled to assume that (i) any instructions received by it from the Facility Agent, the Lenders or a group of Lenders are duly given in accordance with the terms of the relevant Finance Documents and (ii) unless it has received actual notice of revocation, that those instructions or directions have not been revoked. |
(b) | The Security Agent shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any direction, from the Majority Lenders as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any rights, powers, authorities and discretions and the Security Agent may refrain from acting unless and until those instructions or clarification are received by it. |
(c) | Any instructions given to the Security Agent by the Majority Lenders shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties. |
(d) | Paragraph (a) above shall not apply: |
(i) | where a contrary indication appears in this agreement; |
(ii) | where this agreement requires the Security Agent to act in a specified manner or to take a specified action; |
(iii) | in respect of any provision which protects the Security Agents own position in its personal capacity as opposed to its role of Security Agent for the Secured Parties including, without limitation, the provisions set out in clauses 30.6 (Security Agents Discretions) to clause 30.21 (Disapplication) (inclusive). |
(e) | In exercising any discretion to exercise a right, power or authority under this agreement where it has not received any instructions from the Majority Lenders as to the exercise of that discretion, the Security Agent shall do so having regard to the interests of all the Secured Parties. |
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30.5 | Security Agents Actions |
The Security Agent may (but shall not be obliged to), in the absence of any instructions to the contrary, take such action in the exercise of any of its powers and duties under the Finance Documents as it considers in its discretion to be appropriate.
30.6 | Security Agents Discretions |
The Security Agent may:
(a) | assume (unless it has received actual notice to the contrary from the Facility Agent) that (i) no Default has occurred and no Group Obligor is in breach of or default under its obligations under any of the Guaranteed Documents and (ii) any right, power, authority or discretion vested by any Guaranteed Document in any person has not been exercised; |
(b) | if it receives any instructions or directions from the Agent to take any action in relation to the Security, assume that all applicable conditions under the Guaranteed Documents for taking that action have been satisfied |
(c) | engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any legal advisers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other experts (whether obtained by the Security Agent or by any other Secured Party) whose advice or services may at any time seem necessary, expedient or desirable; |
(d) | rely upon any communication or document believed by it to be genuine and, as to any matters of fact which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of a Secured Party or any Group Obligor, upon a certificate signed by or on behalf of that person; and |
(e) | refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of any Party (including bringing any legal action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with the Guaranteed Documents) until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (whether by way of payment in advance or otherwise) for all costs, losses and liabilities which it may incur in so acting. |
30.7 | Security Agents Obligations |
The Security Agent shall promptly:
(a) | copy to the Facility Agent the contents of any notice or document received by it from any Group Obligor under any Finance Document; |
(b) | forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Security Agent for that Party by any other Party provided that, except where a Finance Document expressly provides otherwise, the Security Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party; and |
(c) | inform the Facility Agent of the occurrence of any Default or any default by any Group Obligor in the due performance of or compliance with its obligations under any Guaranteed Document of which the Security Agent has received notice from any other party to this agreement. |
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30.8 | Excluded Obligations |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary expressed or implied in the Guaranteed Documents, the Security Agent shall not:
(a) | be bound to enquire as to (i) whether or not any Default has occurred or (ii) the performance, default or any breach by any Group Obligor of its obligations under any of the Guaranteed Documents; |
(b) | be bound to account to any other Party for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account; |
(c) | be bound to disclose to any other person (including but not limited to any Secured Party) (i) any confidential information or (ii) any other information if disclosure would, or might in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or be a breach of fiduciary duty; or |
(d) | have or be deemed to have any relationship of trust or agency with any Group Obligor. |
30.9 | Exclusion of Liability |
None of the Security Agent, any Receiver nor any Delegate shall accept responsibility or be liable for:
(a) | the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Security Agent or any other person in or in connection with any Guaranteed Document or the transactions contemplated in the Guaranteed Documents, or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document; |
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Guaranteed Document, the Charged Property or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document or the Charged Property; |
(c) | any losses to any person or any liability arising as a result of taking or refraining from taking any action in relation to any of the Guaranteed Documents, the Charged Property or otherwise, whether in accordance with an instruction from the Facility Agent or otherwise unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct; |
(d) | the exercise of, or the failure to exercise, any judgment, discretion or power given to it by or in connection with any of the Guaranteed Documents, the Charged Property or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, the Guaranteed Documents or the Charged Property; or |
(e) | any shortfall which arises on the enforcement or realisation of the Charged Property. |
30.10 | No Proceedings |
No Party (other than the Security Agent, that Receiver or that Delegate) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Security Agent, a Receiver or a Delegate in respect of any claim it might have against the Security Agent, a Receiver or a Delegate or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Guaranteed Document or any Charged Property and any officer, employee or agent of the Security Agent, a Receiver or a Delegate may rely on this clause subject to clause 1.3 (Third Party Rights) and the provisions of the Third Parties Rights Act.
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30.11 | Own Responsibility |
Without affecting the responsibility of any Group Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Guaranteed Document, each Secured Party confirms to the Security Agent that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document including but not limited to:
(a) | the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group; |
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy and enforceability of any Guaranteed Document, the Charged Property and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document or the Charged Property; |
(c) | whether that Secured Party has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document, the Charged Property, the transactions contemplated by the Guaranteed Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document or the Charged Property; |
(d) | the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information provided by the Security Agent or by any other person under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document, the transactions contemplated by any Guaranteed Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document; and |
(e) | the right or title of any person in or to, or the value or sufficiency of any part of the Charged Property, the priority of any of the Security or the existence of any Security affecting the Charged Property, |
and each Secured Party warrants to the Security Agent that it has not relied on and will not at any time rely on the Security Agent in respect of any of these matters.
30.12 | No Responsibility to Perfect Security |
The Security Agent shall not be liable for any failure to:
(a) | require the deposit with it of any deed or document certifying, representing or constituting the title of any Group Obligor to any of the Charged Property; |
(b) | obtain any licence, consent or other authority for the execution, delivery, legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any of the Guaranteed Documents or the Security; |
(c) | register, file or record or otherwise protect any of the Security (or the priority of any of the Security) under any applicable laws in any jurisdiction or to give notice to any person of the execution of any of the Guaranteed Documents or of the Security; |
(d) | take, or to require any of the Group Obligors to take, any steps to perfect its title to any of the Charged Property or to render the Security effective or to secure the creation of any ancillary Encumbrance under the laws of any jurisdiction; or |
(e) | require any further assurances in relation to any of the Security Documents. |
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30.13 | Insurance by Security Agent |
(a) | The Security Agent shall not be under any obligation to insure any of the Charged Property, to require any other person to maintain any insurance or to verify any obligation to arrange or maintain insurance contained in the Guaranteed Documents. The Security Agent shall not be responsible for any loss which may be suffered by any person as a result of the lack of or inadequacy of any such insurance. |
(b) | Where the Security Agent is named on any insurance policy as an insured party, it shall not be responsible for any loss which may be suffered by reason of, directly or indirectly, its failure to notify the insurers of any material fact relating to the risk assumed by such insurers or any other information of any kind, unless the Facility Agent shall have requested it to do so in writing and the Security Agent shall have failed to do so within fourteen days after receipt of that request. |
30.14 | Custodians and Nominees |
The Security Agent may appoint and pay any person to act as a custodian or nominee on any terms in relation to any assets of the trust as the Security Agent may determine, including for the purpose of depositing with a custodian this agreement or any document relating to the trust created under this agreement and the Security Agent shall not be responsible for any loss, liability, expense, demand, cost, claim or proceedings incurred by reason of the misconduct, omission or default on the part of any person appointed by it under this agreement or be bound to supervise the proceedings or acts of any person.
30.15 | Acceptance of Title |
The Security Agent shall be entitled to accept without enquiry, and shall not be obliged to investigate, any right and title that any of the Group Obligors may have to any of the Charged Property and shall not be liable for or bound to require any Obligor to remedy any defect in its right or title.
30.16 | Refrain from Illegality |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary expressed or implied in the Guaranteed Documents, the Security Agent may refrain from doing anything which in its opinion will or may be contrary to any relevant law, directive or regulation of any jurisdiction and the Security Agent may do anything which is, in its opinion, necessary to comply with any such law, directive or regulation.
30.17 | Business with the Obligors |
The Security Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any of the Group Obligors.
30.18 | Winding up of Trust |
If the Security Agent, with the approval of the Majority Lenders, determines that (a) all of the Secured Obligations and all other obligations secured by the Security Documents have been fully and finally discharged and (b) none of the Secured Parties is under any commitment, obligation or liability (actual or contingent) to make advances or provide other financial accommodation to any Obligor pursuant to the Guaranteed Documents:
(a) | the trusts set out in this agreement shall be wound up and the Security Agent shall release, without recourse or warranty, all of the Security and the rights of the Security Agent under each of the Security Documents; and |
(b) | any Retiring Security Agent shall release, without recourse or warranty, all of its rights under each of the Security Documents. |
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30.19 | Powers Supplemental |
The rights, powers and discretions conferred upon the Security Agent by this agreement shall be supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000 and in addition to any which may be vested in the Security Agent by general law or otherwise.
30.20 | Trustee Division Separate |
(a) | In acting as trustee for the Secured Parties, the Security Agent shall be regarded as acting through its trustee division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any of its other divisions or departments. |
(b) | If information is received by another division or department of the Security Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Security Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it. |
30.21 | Disapplication |
Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 shall not apply to the duties of the Security Agent in relation to the trusts constituted by this agreement. Where there are any inconsistencies between the Trustee Act 1925 or the Trustee Act 2000 and the provisions of this agreement, the provisions of this agreement shall, to the extent allowed by law, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000, the provisions of this agreement shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act.
30.22 | Resignation of the Security Agent |
(a) | The Security Agent may resign and appoint one of its affiliates as successor by giving notice to the Account Party and the Secured Parties. |
(b) | Alternatively the Security Agent may resign by giving notice to the other Parties in which case the Majority Lenders may appoint a successor Security Agent. |
(c) | After consultation with the Account Party, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Security Agent, terminate the appointment of the Security Agent and appoint a successor Security Agent. That termination and new appointment may be made in respect of all or any part of the Security Agents duties, obligations and responsibilities. |
(d) | If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Security Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) above within 30 days after the notice of resignation or termination was given, the Security Agent (after consultation with the Facility Agent) may appoint a successor Security Agent. |
(e) | The resigning or terminated Security Agent (the Retiring Security Agent ) shall, at its own cost (in the case of resignation) and at the Account Partys cost (in the case of termination), make available to the successor Security Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Security Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Security Agent under the Guaranteed Documents. |
(f) | The Security Agents resignation or termination shall only take effect upon the transfer of all of the Charged Property to a duly appointed successor (unless the Security Agent, the intended successor and the Majority Lenders agree otherwise). |
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(g) | Upon the appointment of a successor, the Retiring Security Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Guaranteed Documents (other than its obligations under clause 30.18 (Winding up of Trust) and under paragraph (d) above) but shall, in respect of any act or omission by it whilst it was the Security Agent, remain entitled to the benefit of clauses 30 (Role of the Security Agent) and clause 10.1 (Account Partys Indemnity to the Secured Parties). Its successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if that successor had been an original Party. |
(h) | The Facility Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) above) if on or after the date which is three Months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents, either: |
(i) | the Facility Agent fails to respond to a request under clause 13.8 (FATCA Information) and a Lender reasonably believes that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; |
(ii) | the information supplied by the Facility Agent pursuant to clause 13.8 (FATCA Information) indicates that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or |
(iii) | the Facility Agent notifies the Account Party and the Lenders that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date, |
and (in each case) a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Facility Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and that Lender, by notice to the Agent, requires it to resign.
30.23 | Delegation |
(a) | Each of the Security Agent, any Receiver and any Delegate may, at any time, delegate by power of attorney or otherwise to any person for any period, all or any of the rights, powers and discretions vested in it by any of the Guaranteed Documents. |
(b) | That delegation may be made upon any terms and conditions (including the power to sub-delegate) and subject to any restrictions that the Security Agent, that Receiver or that Delegate (as the case may be) may, in its discretion, think fit in the interests of the Secured Parties and it shall not be bound to supervise, or be in any way responsible for any loss incurred by reason of any misconduct or default on the part of any such delegate or sub-delegate. |
30.24 | Additional Security Agents |
(a) | The Security Agent may at any time appoint (and subsequently remove) any person to act as a separate trustee or as a co-trustee jointly with it (i) if it considers that appointment to be in the interests of the Secured Parties or (ii) for the purposes of conforming to any legal requirements, restrictions or conditions which the Security Agent deems to be relevant or (iii) for obtaining or enforcing any judgment in any jurisdiction, and the Security Agent shall give prior notice to the Account Party and to the Facility Agent of that appointment. |
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(b) | Any person so appointed shall have the rights, powers and discretions (not exceeding those conferred on the Security Agent by this agreement) and the duties and obligations that are conferred or imposed by the instrument of appointment. |
(c) | The remuneration that the Security Agent may pay to that person, and any costs and expenses (together with any applicable VAT) incurred by that person in performing its functions pursuant to that appointment shall, for the purposes of this agreement, be treated as costs and expenses incurred by the Security Agent. |
31. | CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES |
No provision of this agreement will:
(a) | interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit; |
(b) | oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or |
(c) | oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax. |
32. | SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES |
32.1 | Payments to Finance Parties |
If a Finance Party (a Recovering Finance Party ) receives or recovers any amount from any Obligor other than in accordance with clause 33 (Payment Mechanics) (a Recovered Amount ) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then:
(a) | the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery to the Facility Agent; |
(b) | the Facility Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt or recovery been received or made by the Facility Agent and distributed in accordance with clause 33 (Payment Mechanics), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Facility Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and |
(c) | the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent, pay to the Facility Agent an amount (the Sharing Payment ) equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Facility Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with clause 33.5 (Partial Payments). |
32.2 | Redistribution of Payments |
The Facility Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Obligor and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) (the Sharing Finance Parties ) in accordance with clause 33.5 (Partial Payments) towards the obligations of that Obligor to the Sharing Finance Parties.
32.3 | Recovering Finance Partys Rights |
On a distribution by the Facility Agent under clause 32.2 (Redistribution of payments) of a payment received by a Recovering Finance Party from an Obligor, as between the relevant Obligor and the Recovering Finance Party, an amount of the Recovered Amount equal to the Sharing Payment will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.
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32.4 | Reversal of Redistribution |
If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:
(a) | each Sharing Finance Party shall, upon request of the Facility Agent, pay to the Facility Agent for the account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay) (the Redistributed Amount ); and |
(b) | as between the relevant Obligor and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor. |
32.5 | Exceptions |
(a) | This clause 32 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the relevant Obligor. |
(b) | A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if: |
(i) | it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and |
(ii) | that other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings. |
33. | PAYMENT MECHANICS |
33.1 | Payments to the Facility Agent |
(a) | On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document, that Obligor or Lender shall make the same available to the Facility Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Facility Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment. |
(b) | Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency with such bank as the Facility Agent specifies. |
33.2 | Distributions by the Facility Agent |
Each payment received by the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to clause 33.3 (Distributions to an Obligor) and clause 33.4 (Clawback), be made available by the Facility Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Facility Agent by not less than five Business Days notice with a bank in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency (or, in relation to euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London).
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33.3 | Distributions to an Obligor |
The Facility Agent may (with the consent of the Obligor or in accordance with clause 34 (Set-Off)) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from that Obligor under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.
33.4 | Clawback |
(a) | Where a sum is to be paid to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Facility Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum. |
(b) | If the Facility Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the Facility Agent had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Facility Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Facility Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Facility Agent, calculated by the Facility Agent to reflect its cost of funds. |
33.5 | Partial Payments |
(a) | If the Facility Agent receives a payment that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, the Facility Agent shall (to the extent permitted by applicable law) apply that payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under the Finance Documents in the following order: |
(i) | first , in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Facility Agent and the Security Agent under the Finance Documents; |
(ii) | secondly , in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under this agreement; |
(iii) | thirdly , in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under this agreement; and |
(iv) | fourthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents. |
(b) | The Facility Agent shall, if so directed by Majority Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (a)(ii) to (iv) (inclusive) above. |
(c) | Paragraphs (a) and (b) above will override any appropriation made by an Obligor. |
33.6 | No Set-Off by Obligors |
All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.
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33.7 | Business Days |
(a) | Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not). |
(b) | During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the original due date. |
33.8 | Currency of Account |
(a) | Subject to paragraphs (b) to (e) (inclusive) below, Sterling is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document. |
(b) | A repayment or prepayment of an Unpaid Sum or a part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum shall be made in the currency in which that Unpaid Sum is denominated on its due date. |
(c) | Each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in respect of which the interest is payable was denominated when that interest accrued. |
(d) | Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred. |
(e) | Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than Sterling shall be paid in that other currency. |
33.9 | Change of Currency |
(a) | Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then: |
(i) | any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Facility Agent (after consultation with the Account Party); and |
(ii) | any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably). |
(b) | If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this agreement will, to the extent the Facility Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Account Party) specifies to be necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency. |
33.10 | Disruption to Payment Systems etc. |
If either the Facility Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Facility Agent is notified by the Account Party that a Disruption Event has occurred:
(a) | the Facility Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Account Party, consult with the Account Party with a view to agreeing with the Account Party such changes to the operation or administration of the Facilities as the Facility Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances; |
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(b) | the Facility Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Account Party in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes; |
(c) | the Facility Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; |
(d) | any such changes agreed upon by the Facility Agent and the Account Party shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of clause 40 (Amendments and Waivers); |
(e) | the Facility Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever (including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Facility Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this clause 33.10; and |
(f) | the Facility Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to paragraph (d) above. |
33.11 | Impaired Agent |
(a) | If, at any time, the Facility Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, an Obligor or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Facility Agent in accordance with this clause 33 may instead either pay that amount direct to the required recipient or pay that amount to an interest-bearing account held with a Lender nominated by the Majority Lenders and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Obligor or the Lender making the payment and designated as a trust account for the benefit of the Party or Parties beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents. In each case such payments must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents. |
(b) | All interest accrued on the amount standing to the credit of the trust account shall be for the benefit of the beneficiaries of that trust account pro rata to their respective entitlements. |
(c) | A Party which has made a payment in accordance with this clause 33.11 shall be discharged of the relevant payment obligation under the Finance Documents and shall not take any credit risk with respect to the amounts standing to the credit of the trust account. |
(d) | Promptly upon the appointment of a successor Facility Agent in accordance with this agreement, each Party which has made a payment to a trust account in accordance with this clause 33.11 shall give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the amount (together with any accrued interest) to the successor Facility Agent for distribution in accordance with clause 33.2 (Distributions by the Facility Agent). |
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34. | SET-OFF |
Following an Event of Default which is continuing, a Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to that Obligor, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.
35. | APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS |
35.1 | Order of Application |
All amounts from time to time received or recovered by the Security Agent in connection with the realisation or enforcement of all or any part of the Security shall be held by the Security Agent on trust to apply them at any time as the Security Agent (in its discretion) sees fit, to the extent permitted by applicable law (and subject to the provisions of this clause 35), in the following order of priority:
(a) | in discharging any sums owing to the Security Agent, any Receiver or any Delegate; |
(b) | in payment to the Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties (or, in the case of the Overdraft Facility, directly to the Overdraft Provider), for application on a pro rata basis towards the discharge of all sums due and payable by any Obligor under any of the Finance Documents (to be applied) in accordance with clause 33.5 (Partial Payments) and the Overdraft Facility Letter to the extent that it constitutes Permitted Financial Indebtedness; |
(c) | if none of the Obligors is under any further actual or contingent liability under any Guaranteed Document, in payment to any person to whom the Security Agent is obliged to pay in priority to any Obligor; and |
(d) | the balance, if any, in payment to the relevant Obligor. |
35.2 | Investment of Proceeds |
Prior to the application of the proceeds of the Security Property in accordance with clause 35.1 (Order of Application), the Security Agent may, in its discretion, hold all or part of those proceeds in an interest-bearing suspense or impersonal account(s) in the name of the Security Agent with such financial institution (including itself) and for so long as the Security Agent shall think fit (the interest being credited to the relevant account) pending the application from time to time of those monies in the Security Agents discretion in accordance with the provisions of this clause 35.
35.3 | Currency Conversion |
(a) | For the purpose of, or pending the discharge of, any of the Secured Obligations, the Security Agent may convert any moneys received or recovered by the Security Agent from one currency to another, at the Security Agents spot rate of exchange. |
(b) | The obligations of any Obligor to pay in the due currency shall only be satisfied to the extent of the amount of the due currency purchased after deducting the costs of conversion. |
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35.4 | Permitted Deductions |
The Security Agent shall be entitled, in its discretion, (a) to set aside by way of reserve amounts required to meet and (b) to make and pay, any deductions and withholdings (on account of taxes or otherwise) which it is or may be required by any applicable law to make from any distribution or payment made by it under this agreement, and to pay all Taxes which may be assessed against it in respect of any of the Charged Property, or as a consequence of performing its duties, or by virtue of its capacity as Security Agent under any of the Finance Documents or otherwise (other than in connection with its remuneration for performing its duties under this agreement).
35.5 | Good Discharge |
(a) | Any payment to be made in respect of the Secured Obligations by the Security Agent may be made to the Facility Agent on behalf of the Lenders or (as applicable) the Overdraft Provider and any payment made in that way shall be a good discharge, to the extent of that payment, by the Security Agent. |
(b) | The Security Agent is under no obligation to make the payments to the Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Overdraft Provider under paragraph (a) above in the same currency as that in which the Secured Obligations owing to the relevant Lender or (as applicable) the Overdraft Provider are denominated. |
35.6 | Sums received by Obligors |
If any of the Obligors receives any sum which, pursuant to any of the Guaranteed Documents, should have been paid to the Security Agent, that sum shall promptly be paid to the Security Agent for application in accordance with this clause 35.
36. | NOTICES |
36.1 | Communications in Writing |
Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter.
36.2 | Addresses |
The address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:
(a) | in the case of the Account Party, that identified with its name below; |
(b) | in the case of each Lender or any other Obligor, that notified in writing to the Facility Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party; and |
(c) | in the case of the Facility Agent or the Security Agent, that identified with its name below, |
or any substitute address or fax number or department or officer as the Party may notify to the Facility Agent (or the Facility Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Facility Agent) by not less than five Business Days notice.
36.3 | Delivery |
(a) | Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective: |
(i) | if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or |
(ii) | if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address, |
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and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under clause 36.2 (Addresses), if addressed to that department or officer.
(b) | Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Facility Agent or the Security Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Facility Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with the Facility Agents signature below (or any substitute department or officer as the Facility Agent shall specify for this purpose). |
(c) | All notices from or to an Obligor shall be sent through the Facility Agent. |
(d) | Any communication or document made or delivered to the Account Party or the Parent (as applicable) in accordance with this clause will be deemed to have been made or delivered to each of the Obligors. |
36.4 | Notification of Address and Fax Number |
Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address or fax number or change of address or fax number pursuant to clause 36.2 (Addresses) or changing its own address or fax number, the Facility Agent shall notify the other Parties.
36.5 | Communication when Facility Agent is Impaired Agent |
If the Facility Agent is an Impaired Agent, the Parties may, instead of communicating with each other through the Facility Agent, communicate with each other directly and (while the Facility Agent is an Impaired Agent) all the provisions of the Finance Documents which require communications to be made or notices to be given to or by the Facility Agent shall be varied so that communications may be made and notices given to or by the relevant Parties directly. This provision shall not operate after a replacement Facility Agent has been appointed.
36.6 | Electronic Communication |
(a) | Any communication to be made between the Facility Agent and a Lender or the Security Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Facility Agent, the Security Agent and the relevant Lender: |
(i) | agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication; |
(ii) | notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and |
(iii) | notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them. |
(b) | Any electronic communication made between the Facility Agent and a Lender or the Security Agent will be effective only when actually received in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication made by a Lender to the Facility Agent or the Security Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Facility Agent or the Security Agent shall specify for this purpose. |
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36.7 | English Language |
(a) | Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English. |
(b) | All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be: |
(i) | in English; or |
(ii) | if not in English, and if so required by the Facility Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document. |
37. | CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES |
37.1 | Accounts |
In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.
37.2 | Certificates and Determinations |
Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates.
37.3 | Day Count Convention |
Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 365 days or, in any case where the practice in the Relevant Interbank Market differs, in accordance with that market practice.
38. | PARTIAL INVALIDITY |
If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.
39. | REMEDIES AND WAIVERS |
No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in this agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
40. | AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS |
40.1 | Required Consents |
(a) | Subject to clause 40.2 (Exceptions) any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders, the Account Party and the Parent and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties. |
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(b) | The Facility Agent or in respect of the Security Documents, the Security Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this clause. |
(c) | Each Obligor agrees to any such amendment or waiver permitted by this clause 40. which is agreed to by the Account Party and the Parent. This includes any amendment or waiver which would, but for this paragraph (c), require the consent of all of the Guarantors. |
40.2 | Exceptions |
(a) | An amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to: |
(i) | the definition of Majority Lenders in clause 1.1 (Definitions); |
(ii) | an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents; |
(iii) | a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable; |
(iv) | an increase in or an extension of any Commitment; |
(v) | a change to the Guarantors other than in accordance with clause 28 (Changes to the Obligors) or a change to the identity of the guarantor under the Parent Guarantee; |
(vi) | any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders; |
(vii) | clause 2.2 (Finance Parties Rights and Obligations), clause 27 (Changes to the Lenders), clause 32 (Sharing among the Finance Parties) or this clause 40; |
(viii) | clause 11.3 (Mandatory Cash Collateralisation or Cancellation of Letters of Credit) or clause 11.4 (Mandatory Cancellation Extension of Facility); |
(ix) | the definition of Availability Period in clause 1.1 (Definitions); |
(x) | clause 24.1 (Financial Condition) or section 4.03 (Financial Covenants) of the Parent Guarantee; |
(xi) | a waiver of an Event of Default; |
(xii) | the nature or scope of the guarantee and indemnity granted under clause 20 (Guarantee and Indemnity) or under the Parent Guarantee; |
(xiii) | the nature and scope of the Charged Property or the manner in which the proceeds of enforcement of the Security are distributed; or |
(xiv) | the release of any Security or the Parent Guarantee, |
shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders.
(b) | An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Facility Agent, an Arranger or the Security Agent (each in their capacity as such) may not be effected without the consent of the Facility Agent, that Arranger or, as the case may be, the Security Agent. |
(c) | An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Overdraft Provider (including any such amendment or waiver referred to in paragraphs (a)(v), (viii), (ix) or (x) above) may not be effected without the consent of the Overdraft Provider. |
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40.3 | Replacement of a Defaulting Lender |
(a) | The Account Party may, at any time a Lender has become and continues to be a Defaulting Lender, by giving ten Business Days prior written notice to the Facility Agent and that Lender: |
(i) | replace that Lender by requiring that Lender to (and that Lender shall) transfer pursuant to clause 27 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this agreement; |
(ii) | require that Lender to (and that Lender shall) transfer pursuant to clause 27 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of the undrawn Commitment of that Lender; or |
(iii) | require that Lender to (and that Lender shall) transfer pursuant to clause 27 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations in respect of the Facility, |
to a Lender or other Approved Credit Institution selected by the Account Party, and which (unless the Facility Agent is an Impaired Agent) is acceptable to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably), which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations or all the relevant obligations of the transferring Lender (including the assumption of the transferring Lenders participations on the same basis as the transferring Lender).
(b) | Any transfer of rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause shall be subject to the following conditions: |
(i) | the Account Party shall have no right to replace the Facility Agent or Security Agent; |
(ii) | the Default Lender must receive the purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer equal to any amount paid by that Defaulting Lender under or in connection with any Letter of Credit and all accrued interest, fees, break costs and any other amount payable to such Defaulting Lender under the Finance Documents; |
(iii) | neither the Facility Agent nor the Defaulting Lender shall have any obligation to the Account Party to find a replacement Lender; and |
(iv) | in no event shall the Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents. |
41. | CONFIDENTIALITY |
41.1 | Confidential Information |
Each Finance Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by clause 41.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information), and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.
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41.2 | Disclosure of Confidential Information |
Any Finance Party may disclose:
(a) | to any of its Affiliates and Related Funds and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (a) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information; |
(b) | to any person: |
(i) | to (or through) whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents and to any of that persons Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers; |
(ii) | with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether directly or indirectly, any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one or more Finance Documents and/or one or more Obligors and to any of that persons Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers; |
(iii) | appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (ii) above applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed of clause 29.13(c) (Relationship with the Lenders)); |
(iv) | who invests in or otherwise finances (or may potentially invest in or otherwise finance), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above; |
(v) | to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation; |
(vi) | to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes; |
(vii) | who is a Party; or |
(viii) | with the consent of the Account Party; |
in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if:
(A) | in relation to paragraphs (b)(i), (b)(ii) and b(iii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information; |
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(B) | in relation to paragraph (b)(iv) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information; |
(C) | in relation to paragraphs (b)(v), (b)(vi) and (b)(vii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Finance Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances; |
(c) | to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents including without limitation, in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services referred to in this paragraph (c) if the service provider to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Parent and the relevant Finance Party; |
(d) | to any rating agency (including its professional advisers) such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such rating agency to carry out its normal rating activities in relation to the Finance Documents and/or the Obligors if the rating agency to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information; and |
(e) | the size and term of the Facilities and the name of each of the Obligors to any investor or a potential investor in a securitisation (or similar transaction of broadly equivalent economic effect) of that Lenders rights or obligations under the Finance Documents. |
41.3 | Disclosure to Numbering Service Providers |
(a) | Any Finance Party may disclose to any national or international numbering service provider appointed by that Finance Party to provide identification numbering services in respect of this agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors the following information: |
(i) | names of Group Obligors; |
(ii) | country of domicile of Group Obligors; |
(iii) | place of incorporation of Group Obligors; |
(iv) | date of this agreement; |
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(v) | the names of the Facility Agent and the Arrangers; |
(vi) | date of each amendment and restatement of this agreement; |
(vii) | amount of Total Commitments; |
(viii) | currency of the Facility; |
(ix) | type of Facility; |
(x) | ranking of Facility; |
(xi) | Termination Date for Facility; |
(xii) | changes to any of the information previously supplied pursuant to paragraphs (i) to (xi) (inclusive) above; and |
(xiii) | such other information agreed between such Finance Party and the Parent, |
to enable such numbering service provider to provide its usual syndicated loan numbering identification services.
(b) | The Parties acknowledge and agree that each identification number assigned to this agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Group Obligors by a numbering service provider and the information associated with each such number may be disclosed to users of its services in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of that numbering service provider. |
(c) | The Account Party represents that none of the information set out in paragraphs (i) to (xiii) (inclusive) of paragraph (a) above is, nor will at any time be, unpublished price-sensitive information. |
(d) | The Facility Agent shall notify the Parent and the other Finance Parties of: |
(i) | the name of any numbering service provider appointed by the Facility Agent in respect of this agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Group Obligors; and |
(ii) | the number or, as the case may be, numbers assigned to this agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Group Obligors by such numbering service provider. |
41.4 | Entire agreement |
This clause 41 (Confidentiality) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the obligations of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents regarding Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.
41.5 | Inside information |
Each of the Finance Parties acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Finance Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.
Page 94
41.6 | Notification of disclosure |
Each of the Finance Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the Account Party:
(a) | of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to clause 41.2(b)(v) (Disclosure of Confidential Information) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and |
(b) | upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this clause 41 (Confidentiality). |
41.7 | Continuing obligations |
The obligations in this clause 41 (Confidentiality) are continuing and, in particular, shall survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of twelve Months from the earlier of:
(a) | the date on which all amounts payable by the Obligors under or in connection with this agreement have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise cease to be available; and |
(b) | the date on which such Finance Party otherwise ceases to be a Finance Party. |
42. | COUNTERPARTS |
Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Finance Document.
43. | GOVERNING LAW |
This agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by the laws of England.
44. | ENFORCEMENT |
44.1 | Jurisdiction of English Courts |
(a) | The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this agreement or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with this agreement) (a Dispute ). |
(b) | The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary. |
(c) | This clause 44 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. As a result, no Finance Party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions. |
Page 95
44.2 | Service of Process |
(a) | Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each Guarantor (other than any Guarantor incorporated in England and Wales): |
(i) | irrevocably appoints the Account Party as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document the Account Party by its execution of this agreement, accepts that appointment); and |
(ii) | agrees that failure by an agent for service of process to notify the relevant Guarantor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned. |
(b) | If any person appointed as an agent for service of process is unable for any reason to act as agent for service of process, the Account Party (on behalf of all the Obligors) must immediately (and in any event within five days of such event taking place) appoint another agent on terms acceptable to the Facility Agent. Failing this, the Facility Agent may appoint another agent for this purpose. |
(c) | The Account Party expressly agrees and consents to the provisions of this clause 44 and clause 43 (Governing Law). |
IN WITNESS whereof this agreement has been executed on the date first above written
Page 96
SCHEDULE 1
The Original Parties
Part 1 - The Original Guarantors
Name of Original Guarantor |
Jurisdiction of Incorporation |
Registration number (or equivalent, if any) |
||
The Hanover Insurance International Holdings Limited (previously known as 440 Tessera Limited) | England and Wales | 07606589 | ||
Chaucer Corporate Capital (No. 2) Limited | England and Wales | 03099078 | ||
Chaucer Corporate Capital (No. 3) Limited | England and Wales | 05203226 |
Part 2 - The Original Lenders
Name of Original Lender | Commitment | |||
Lloyds Bank plc |
£ | 58,000,000 | ||
Barclays Bank PLC |
£ | 36,000,000 | ||
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc |
£ | 36,000,000 | ||
£ | 130,000,000 |
Page 97
SCHEDULE 2
[Schedules 2 through 13 omitted]
Page 98
SIGNATURES TO THE FACILITY AGREEMENT
THE ACCOUNT PARTY
CHAUCER HOLDINGS PLC
By: | K D Curtis | |
Address: | Plantation Place | |
30 Fenchurch Street | ||
London | ||
EC3M 3AD | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 397 9710 | |
Attention: | Company Secretary |
ORIGINAL GUARANTORS
CHAUCER CORPORATE CAPITAL (NO. 2) LIMITED
By: | K D Curtis | |
Address: | Plantation Place | |
30 Fenchurch Street | ||
London | ||
EC3M 3AD | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 397 9710 | |
Attention: | Company Secretary |
CHAUCER CORPORATE CAPITAL (NO. 3) LIMITED
By: | K D Curtis | |
Address: | Plantation Place | |
30 Fenchurch Street | ||
London | ||
EC3M 3AD | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 397 9710 | |
Attention: | Company Secretary |
THE HANOVER INSURANCE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS 440 TESSERA LIMITED)
By: | K D Curtis | |
Address: | Plantation Place | |
30 Fenchurch Street | ||
London | ||
EC3M 3AD | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 397 9710 | |
Attention: | Company Secretary |
THE ARRANGERS
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By: | J V French | |
Address: | 1 Churchill Place | |
London | ||
E14 5HP | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 116 6]919 | |
Attention: | John French |
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | E Salter | |
Address: | 25 Gresham Street | |
London | ||
EC2V 7HN | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 661 4790 | |
Attention: | Mark Jackson |
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
By: | J Mehmood | |
Address: | 3 rd Floor | |
280 Bishopsgate | ||
London | ||
EC2M 4RB | ||
Fax: | +44(0)20 7672 1067 | |
Attention: | David Weaver |
THE BOOKRUNNER
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | E Salter | |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street | |
London | ||
EC2V 7AE | ||
Fax number: | +44 (0)207 1583198 | |
Attention: | Ian Baggott, Loan Markets |
THE OVERDRAFT PROVIDER
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | E Salter | |
Address: | 25 Gresham Street | |
London | ||
EC2V 7HN | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 661 4790 | |
Attention: | Mark Jackson |
THE FACILITY AGENT
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | E Salter |
For Operational Duties (such as Utilisations, Interest Rate Fixing, Interest/fee calculations and payments):
Address: | Lloyds TSB Bank plc | |
CityMark | ||
150 Fountainbridge | ||
Edinburgh EH3 9PE | ||
Fax number: | +44 (0)207 1583204 | |
Attention: | Wholesale Loans Servicing Agency Operations |
For Non Operational Matters (such as documentation; covenant compliance; amendments and waivers etc):
Address: | Lloyds TSB Bank plc | |
10 Gresham Street | ||
London EC2V 7AE | ||
Fax Number: | +44 (0)207 1583198 | |
Attention: | Wholesale Loans Agency |
THE SECURITY AGENT
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | E Salter | |
Address: | Lloyds TSB Bank plc | |
10 Gresham Street | ||
London EC2V 7AE | ||
Fax Number: | +44 (0)207 1583198 | |
Attention: | Wholesale Loans Agency |
THE ORIGINAL LENDERS
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By: | J V French | |
Address: | 1 Churchill Place | |
London | ||
E14 5HP | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 116 6]919 | |
Attention: | John French |
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
By: | E Salter | |
Address: | 25 Gresham Street | |
London | ||
EC2V 7HN | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 661 4790 | |
Attention: | Mark Jackson |
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
By: | J Mehmood | |
Address: | 3 rd Floor | |
280 Bishopsgate | ||
London | ||
EC2M 4RB | ||
Fax: | +44(0)20 7672 1067 | |
Attention: | David Weaver |
Signatories To The Amendment Agreement
THE ACCOUNT PARTY
CHAUCER HOLDINGS PLC
By: | /s/ J.G. Slabbert | |
Name: | J.G. Slabbert | |
Address: | Plantation Place | |
30 Fenchurch Street | ||
London | ||
EC3M 3AD | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 397 9710 | |
Attention: | Company Secretary |
ORIGINAL GUARANTORS
CHAUCER CORPORATE CAPITAL (NO. 2) LIMITED
By: | /s/ S. Smith | |
Name: | S. Smith | |
Address: | Plantation Place | |
30 Fenchurch Street | ||
London | ||
EC3M 3AD | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 397 9710 | |
Attention: | Company Secretary |
CHAUCER CORPORATE CAPITAL (NO. 3) LIMITED
By: | /s/ S. Smith | |
Name: | S. Smith | |
Address: | Plantation Place | |
30 Fenchurch Street | ||
London | ||
EC3M 3AD | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 397 9710 | |
Attention: | Company Secretary |
11
THE HANOVER INSURANCE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS 440 TESSERA LIMITED)
By: | /s/ J.G. Slabbert | |
Name: | J.G. Slabbert | |
Address: | Plantation Place | |
30 Fenchurch Street | ||
London | ||
EC3M 3AD | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 397 9710 | |
Attention: | Company Secretary |
12
THE ARRANGERS
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By: | /s/ Dan Broome | |
Name: | Dan Broome | |
Address: | 1 Churchill Place | |
London | ||
E14 5HP | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 116 6919 | |
Attention: | John French |
LLOYDS BANK PLC
By: | /s/ Jonathan Ferris | |
Name: | Jonathan Ferris | |
Address: | 25 Gresham Street | |
London | ||
EC2V 7HN | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 661 4790 | |
Attention: | Mark Jackson |
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
By: | /s/ David Weaver | |
Name: | David Weaver | |
Address: | 3 rd Floor | |
280 Bishopsgate | ||
London | ||
EC2M 4RB | ||
Fax: | +44(0)20 7672 1067 | |
Attention: | David Weaver |
13
THE BOOKRUNNER
LLOYDS BANK PLC
By: | /s/ Jonathan Ferris | |
Name: | Jonathan Ferris | |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street | |
London | ||
EC2V 7AE | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 1583198 | |
Attention: | Ian Baggott, Loan Markets |
THE OVERDRAFT PROVIDER
LLOYDS BANK PLC
By: | /s/ Jonathan Ferris | |
Name: | Jonathan Ferris | |
Address: | 25 Gresham Street | |
London | ||
EC2V 7HN | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 661 4790 | |
Attention: | Mark Jackson |
14
THE FACILITY AGENT
LLOYDS BANK PLC
By: | /s/ Jonathan Ferris | |
Name: | Jonathan Ferris |
For Operational Duties (such as Utilisations, Interest Rate Fixing, Interest/fee calculations and payments):
Address: | Lloyds Bank plc | |
CityMark | ||
150 Fountainbridge | ||
Edinburgh EH3 9PE | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 1583204 | |
Attention: | Libor Loans Operations |
For Non Operational Matters (such as documentation; covenant compliance; amendments and waivers etc):
Address: | Lloyds Bank plc | |
10 Gresham Street | ||
London EC2V 7AE | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 1583198 | |
Attention: | Loans Agency |
THE SECURITY AGENT
LLOYDS BANK PLC
By: | /s/ Jonathan Ferris | |
Name: | Jonathan Ferris | |
Address: | Lloyds Bank plc | |
10 Gresham Street | ||
London EC2V 7AE | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 1583198 | |
Attention: | Loans Agency |
15
THE ORIGINAL LENDERS
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By: | /s/ Dan Broome | |
Name: | Dan Broome | |
Address: | 1 Churchill Place | |
London | ||
E14 5HP | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 116 6919 | |
Attention: | John French |
LLOYDS BANK PLC
By: | /s/ Jonathan Ferris | |
Name: | Jonathan Ferris | |
Address: | 10 Gresham Street | |
London | ||
EC2V 7AE | ||
Fax: | +44 (0)207 158 3198 | |
Attention: | Loans Agency |
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
By: | /s/ David Weaver | |
Name: | David Weaver | |
Address: | 3 rd Floor | |
280 Bishopsgate | ||
London | ||
EC2M 4RB | ||
Fax: | +44(0)20 7672 1067 | |
Attention: | David Weaver |
16
Exhibit 10.3
Execution Copy
GUARANTY
dated as of November 15, 2013
among
THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
and
LLOYDS BANK PLC,
as Facility Agent and Security Agent
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS*
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 1 | |||||
Section 1.01 |
Definitions |
1 | ||||
Section 1.02 |
Accounting Terms; GAAP |
13 | ||||
ARTICLE II GUARANTY | 13 | |||||
Section 2.01 |
The Guaranty |
13 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Payments |
16 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Discharge; Reinstatement in Certain Circumstances |
17 | ||||
Section 2.05 |
Waiver by the Guarantor |
17 | ||||
Section 2.06 |
Agreement to Pay; Subordination of Subrogation Claims |
20 | ||||
Section 2.07 |
Stay of Acceleration |
20 | ||||
Section 2.08 |
No Set-Off |
20 | ||||
ARTICLE III INDEMNIFICATION, SUBROGATION AND CONTRIBUTION | 20 | |||||
Section 3.01 |
Indemnity and Subrogation |
20 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Contribution and Subrogation |
20 | ||||
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS | 21 | |||||
Section 4.01 |
Representations and Warranties |
21 | ||||
Section 4.02 |
Affirmative Covenants |
24 | ||||
Section 4.03 |
Financial Covenants |
27 | ||||
Section 4.04 |
Negative Covenants |
27 | ||||
Section 4.05 |
Relation to Facility Agreement |
31 | ||||
Section 4.06 |
Certain Agreements |
31 | ||||
Section 4.07 |
Information |
32 | ||||
Section 4.08 |
Subordination by Guarantor |
32 | ||||
ARTICLE V SET-OFF | 32 | |||||
Section 5.01 |
Right of Set-Off |
32 | ||||
ARTICLE VI TAX GROSS-UP AND INDEMNITIES | 33 | |||||
Section 6.01 |
Tax Gross-Up |
33 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Currency Indemnity |
34 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
Other Indemnities |
35 | ||||
Section 6.04 |
Indemnity to the Facility Agent and the Security Agent |
35 | ||||
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS | 35 | |||||
Section 7.01 |
Notices |
35 | ||||
Section 7.02 |
Know Your Customer |
35 |
* | The Table of Contents is not part of the Guaranty. |
- i -
Table of Contents (Cont. )
Page | ||||||
Section 7.03 |
Benefit of Agreement |
36 | ||||
Section 7.04 |
No Waivers; Non-Exclusive Remedies |
36 | ||||
Section 7.05 |
Amendments and Waivers |
36 | ||||
Section 7.06 |
Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction |
36 | ||||
Section 7.07 |
Limitation of Law; Severability |
37 | ||||
Section 7.08 |
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness |
37 | ||||
Section 7.09 |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
37 | ||||
Section 7.10 |
Termination |
37 |
Schedules:
Schedule 1.01 |
|
Permitted Liens |
||
Schedule 4.01 |
|
Subsidiaries |
||
Schedule 4.04(a) |
|
Financial Debt |
||
Schedule 4.04(g) |
|
Burdensome Agreements |
Exhibits:
Exhibit A |
|
Compliance Certificate |
- ii -
This Guaranty Agreement (this Agreement ) dated as of November 15, 2013 by THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC., a Delaware Corporation (the Guarantor ), LLOYDS BANK PLC, as Facility Agent for itself and on behalf of the Finance Parties (the Facility Agent ) and LLOYDS BANK PLC, as Security Agent on behalf of the Overdraft Provider (the Security Agent ).
RECITALS
Chaucer Holdings plc, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales (the Account Party ), and a subsidiary of the Guarantor, is party to a Standby Letter of Credit Facility dated as of November 28, 2011, as amended and restated by that certain Amendment and Restatement Agreement (the Amendment and Restatement Agreement ) dated November 15, 2013 (as further amended, restated, supplemented, extended (including, without limitation, as extended pursuant to Clause 8 (Termination of Letters of Credit) thereof), or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the Facility Agreement ) with certain Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Lloyds Bank plc, as Facility Agent and Security Agent. The Guarantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the transactions contemplated by the Facility Agreement. It is a condition precedent to the issuance of Letters of Credit by the Lenders under the Facility Agreement that the Guarantor shall have executed and delivered this Guaranty. Capitalized terms used herein but undefined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Facility Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to induce the Lenders to issue Letters of Credit under the Facility Agreement, the Guarantor hereby agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
Account Party has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.
Acquisition means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, by which the Guarantor and/or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly (i) acquires any ongoing business or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, (ii) acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) Control of at least a majority in ordinary voting power of the securities of a Person which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors or (iii) otherwise acquires Control of a more than 50% ownership interest in any such Person.
Administrative Agent means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent, together with its successors and assigns appointed under the Hanover Credit Agreement.
Affiliate means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. For the avoidance of doubt:
(a) | any Lloyds syndicate which is not a legal entity and has no power to enter into contracts or other binding obligations shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Guarantor. |
(b) | in relation to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, shall include The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. and each of its subsidiaries or subsidiary undertakings but shall not include: |
(i) | the UK Government or any member or instrumentality thereof, including Her Majestys Treasury and UK Financial Investments Limited (or any directors, officers, employees or entities thereof); or |
(ii) | any persons or entities controlled by or under common control with the UK Government or any member or instrumentality thereof (including Her Majestys Treasury and UK Financial Investments Limited) which are not part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc and its subsidiary or subsidiary undertakings (including The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. and each of its subsidiary or subsidiary undertakings). |
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
Amendment and Restatement Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.
Anti-Corruption Laws means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
Bankruptcy Code means 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq., as amended from time to time, and any successor statute, and all regulations from time to time promulgated thereunder.
CIC means Citizens Insurance Company of America, a property and casualty insurance company organized under the laws of Michigan as a corporation.
CitySquare Project means the CitySquare development in Worcester, Massachusetts as described in Form 10-K of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Consolidated refers to the consolidation of accounts of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.
Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative thereto.
Controlled Investment Affiliate means, as to any future, present, or former employee, director, officer or consultant of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, any other Person, which directly or indirectly is in Control of, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with such Person and is organized by such Person (or any Person Controlling such Person) primarily for making direct or indirect equity investments in the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries.
CSL means Chaucer Syndicates Limited.
Debt of any Person means, without duplication, (a) indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and not overdue by more than 90 days), (d) obligations of such Person as lessee under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (e) Debt of others secured by a Lien on the Property of such Person, whether or not the Debt so secured has been assumed by such Person, (f) obligations of such Person under Guaranties in respect of Debt of others (including any obligations constituting Limited Originator Recourse in respect of Debt of a Securitization Subsidiary), (g) without duplication, (A) obligations of such Person in respect of Hybrid Securities (disregarding clause (ii) of the definition thereof) and (B) in each case, Disqualified Equity
2
Interests (disregarding clause (ii) of the definition thereof) and Preferred Securities (disregarding clause (ii) of the definition thereof) requiring repayments, prepayments, mandatory redemptions or repurchases prior to 91 days after Final Maturity Date, with the amount of Debt represented by such Disqualified Equity Interest or Preferred Security being equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation amount and its maximum fixed repurchase price or redemption amount, (h) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to Property acquired by such Person, (i) the net termination obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreements, calculated as of any date as if such agreement or arrangement were terminated as of such date and (j) the principal balance outstanding and owing by such Person under any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease or similar off-balance sheet financing product.
Debtor Relief Laws means the Bankruptcy Code, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.
Default means a Default under (and as defined in) the Facility Agreement.
Discharge of Finance Obligations has the meaning specified in Section 2.04 .
Disqualified Equity Interest means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest of such Person that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or otherwise, (i) (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable or subject to any mandatory repurchase requirement, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as the rights of holder thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations that are accrued and payable, (b) is redeemable or subject to any mandatory repurchase requirement at the sole option of the holder thereof, or (c) is convertible into or exchangeable for (whether at the option of the issuer or the holder thereof) (y) debt securities or (z) any Equity Interest referred to in (a) or (b) above, and (ii) requires no such repayments, prepayments, mandatory redemptions or repurchases, in each case in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c), prior to 91 days after the Final Maturity Date; provided that (1) if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of employees of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations and (2) no such Equity Interests held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer or individual consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Guarantor (or any of its Subsidiaries) shall be considered Disqualified Equity Interests because such Equity Interests are redeemable or subject to repurchase pursuant to any management equity subscription agreement, stock option, stock appreciation right or other stock award agreement, stock ownership plan, put agreement, stockholder agreement or similar agreement that may be in effect from time to time.
Effective Date means the Effective Date under (and as defined in) the Amendment and Restatement Agreement.
Electronic System means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, Intralinks®, ClearPar® and any other internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Facility Agent or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.
Equity Interests means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.
3
Equity Issuance means any issuance or sale by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement of Equity Interests, other than (a) any such issuance or sale by a Subsidiary of the Guarantor to the Guarantor or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Guarantor, (b) any capital contribution by the Guarantor or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Guarantor to any Subsidiary of the Guarantor, (c) stocks, warrants, options or other rights to obtain Equity Interests issued to directors, officers, consultants and other employees of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries or (d) any sale or disposition of a non-Material Subsidiary.
ERISA means the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
ERISA Affiliate means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Guarantor, is treated as a single employer under section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of section 302 of ERISA and section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Event means (a) any reportable event, as defined in section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) a determination that a Plan is, or is expected to be, in at risk status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA); (c) the failure to timely make a contribution required to be made with respect to any Plan or any Multiemployer Plan; (d) a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, in endangered status or critical status (each as defined or Section 305(b) of ERISA); (e) the incurrence by the Guarantor or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (f) the receipt by the Guarantor or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (g) the incurrence by the Guarantor or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (h) the receipt by the Guarantor or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Guarantor or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; or (i) the occurrence of a non-exempt prohibited transaction under section 406 of ERISA or section 4975 of the Code which could reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Guarantor or any of its ERISA Affiliates.
Event of Default means an Event of Default under (and as defined in) the Facility Agreement.
Existing Guaranty Agreement means that certain Guaranty Agreement dated as of November 28, 2011 among Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., as guarantor, and Lloyds TSB Bank PLC, as facility agent and security agent.
Facility Agent has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
Facility Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.
FATCA means FATCA under (and as defined in) the Facility Agreement.
FATCA Deduction means FATCA Deduction under (and as defined in) the Facility Agreement.
Financial Debt means, without duplication, Debt of the kinds set forth in clauses (a), (b), (d) or (g) of the definition of Debt, or of the kinds set forth in clauses (e) or (f) thereof to the extent relating to Debt of the type referred to in (a), (b), (d) and (g) of the definition thereof.
Final Maturity Date means, (i) so long as the Hanover Credit Agreement is in full force and effect, the Hanover Commitment Termination Date or (ii) otherwise, the date of the Discharge of Finance Obligations.
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GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.
Governmental Authority means any federal, state, municipal, national or other government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any entity, officer or examiner exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether associated with a state of the United States, the United States, or a foreign entity or government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Guaranteed Documents means the Guaranteed Documents under (and as defined in) the Facility Agreement.
Guaranteed Obligations has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .
Guarantor has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
Guaranty of or by any Person (the guarantor ) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person (the primary obligor ) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease Property or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof, or (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt or other obligation or as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guarantee issued to support such Debt; provided that the term Guaranty shall not include (i) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or (ii) credit insurance or payment obligations under insurance policies or surety bonds issued by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
Hanover Business Day means a day on which banks are not required or authorized to close in New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Hanover Commitment Termination Date means November 12, 2018, as the same may be extended (in the case of each lender consenting thereto) pursuant to Section 2.22 of the Hanover Credit Agreement; provided that if such date is not a Hanover Business Day, the Hanover Commitment Termination Date shall be the immediately preceding Hanover Business Day.
Hanover Credit Agreement means that certain $200,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2013 among the Guarantor, as Borrower, the Lenders named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, as such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Hedge Agreement means any interest or foreign currency rate swap, cap, collar, option, hedge, forward rate or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.
HIC means The Hanover Insurance Company, a property and casualty insurance company organized under the laws of New Hampshire as a corporation.
Hybrid Securities means securities (i) that afford equity benefit to the issuer thereof (under the procedures and guidelines of S&P) by having ongoing payment requirements that are more flexible than interest payments associated with conventional indebtedness for borrowed money and by being contractually subordinated to such indebtedness and (ii) that require no repayments or prepayments and no mandatory redemptions or repurchases, in each case, prior to 91 days after the Final Maturity Date.
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Immediate Family Member means with respect to any individual, such individuals child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, qualified domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law (including adoptive relationships) and any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor-advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.
Index Debt means senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the Guarantor that is not guaranteed by any other person or entity or subject to any other credit enhancement.
Insurance Regulatory Authority means, for any Insurance Subsidiary, the insurance department or similar administrative authority or agency located in the state or other jurisdiction in which such Insurance Subsidiary is domiciled (including commercially domiciled as that term is defined under relevant state law), including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Society and Corporation of Lloyds.
Insurance Subsidiary means a Subsidiary of the Guarantor that is licensed to do an insurance or reinsurance business.
Leverage Ratio means, at any time, the ratio of (i) Modified Total Debt to (ii) Total Capitalization.
Lien means any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement, including, without limitation, the lien or retained security title of a conditional vendor.
Limited Originator Recourse means a letter of credit, revolving loan commitment, cash collateral account or other such credit enhancement issued in connection with the incurrence of Financial Debt by a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Securitization Transaction; provided that, the aggregate amount of such letter of credit reimbursement obligations and the aggregate available amount of such revolving loan commitments, cash collateral accounts or other such credit enhancements of the Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries (other than any other Securitization Subsidiary) shall not exceed 10% of the principal amount of such Financial Debt at any time.
Margin Stock means margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U.
Material Adverse Change or Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse change in or effect on (i) the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Guarantor to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or (iii) the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement.
Material Insurance Subsidiary means any of CIC, HIC and CSL and any other Insurance Subsidiary that constitutes a Material Subsidiary.
Material Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Guarantor, other than any Subsidiary the book value of whose assets do not constitute more than 5% of the book value (determined on a Consolidated basis) of the total assets of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries.
Modified Total Debt means, at any time, the sum of the following:
(a) Total Debt plus
(b) without duplication, the amount (if any) by which (i) the aggregate outstanding amount of all Hybrid Securities that is attributed to Net Worth pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Net Worth plus (ii) the portion of all Preferred Securities issued by the Guarantor or any
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Subsidiary (other than any Securitization Subsidiary) that is deemed to constitute equity, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time plus (iii) the portion of all Disqualified Equity Interests issued by the Guarantor or any Subsidiary (other than any Securitization Subsidiary) that is deemed to constitute equity, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time plus (iv) the portion of all Specified Convertible Debt Securities issued by the Guarantor or any Subsidiary (other than any Securitization Subsidiary) that is deemed to constitute equity, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time, exceeds 15% of Total Capitalization.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
Multiemployer Plan means a multiemployer plan as defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
NAIC means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor thereto, or in lieu thereof, any other association, agency or other organization performing substantially similar advisory, coordination or other like functions among insurance departments, insurance commissions and similar governmental authorities of the various states of the United States of America toward the promotion of uniformity in the practices of such governmental authorities.
Net Equity Proceeds means, with respect to any Equity Issuance, the aggregate amount of all cash received by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries (other than any Securitization Subsidiaries) in respect of such Equity Issuance net of all reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries in connection therewith.
Net Worth means, at any time, the sum of the following for the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries (other than any Securitization Subsidiaries) (determined on a Consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP):
(a) total shareholders equity of the Guarantor determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that the net unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities that are classified as available for sale and are subject to ASC 320 shall be excluded, plus
(b) without duplication of clauses (c) and (d) hereof, solely for purposes of determining Total Capitalization the portion of all outstanding Hybrid Securities that is deemed to constitute equity, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time, minus
(c) without duplication of clauses (b) and (d) hereof, solely for purposes of determining Total Capitalization the portion of all outstanding Preferred Securities that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time, minus
(d) without duplication of clauses (b) and (c) hereof, solely for purposes of determining Total Capitalization the portion of all outstanding Disqualified Equity Interests that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time.
Non-Public Information means information which has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally, within the meaning of Regulation FD.
PATRIOT Act means USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).
PBGC means the United States Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
Permitted Liens means any of the following Liens:
(a) Liens imposed by any governmental authority for taxes, assessments or charges not yet due or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;
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(b) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, repairmens, construction contractors or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and Liens securing judgments or orders for the payment of money but only to the extent not resulting in an Event of Default under Clause 26.7 (Events of Default, Failure to Comply with Final Judgment) of the Facility Agreement;
(c) pledges or deposits made (i) in connection with, or to secure payment of, workers compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, other social security legislation and other statutory obligations and in each case in compliance therewith, (ii) to secure in the ordinary course of business the performance of bids, tenders, contracts or leases, (iii) to secure statutory obligations, surety and customs bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) in the ordinary course of business, (iv) to secure stay and appeal bonds, (v) to secure indemnity, performance or other similar bonds in the ordinary course of business, or (v) in connection with contested amounts in the ordinary course of business;
(d) encumbrances in the nature of (i) easements, (ii) rights-of-way, (iii) zoning restrictions or similar laws or rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property, (iv) leases and subleases (other than any capital leases or synthetic leases), and licenses and sublicenses, (v) encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and restrictions on the use of real property or minor imperfections in title thereto, (vi) landlords and lessors Liens on rented premises, and (vii) restrictions on transfers or assignment of leases, which in each case do not secure monetary obligations and do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) Liens arising under escrows, trusts, custodianships, separate accounts, funds withheld procedures, and similar deposits, arrangements, or agreements established with respect to insurance or reinsurance policies, annuities, guaranteed investment contracts and similar products underwritten by, or Reinsurance Agreements entered into by, the Guarantor or any Insurance Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
(f) deposits with Insurance Regulatory Authorities;
(g) Liens securing obligations under letters of credit issued for the benefit of Insurance Regulatory Authorities and letters of credit issued in support of funds at the Society and Corporation of Lloyds requirements, including as permitted under Section 4.04(a)(xiv) ;
(h) Liens granted by Securitization Subsidiaries in connection with Securitization Transactions;
(i) Liens on Property of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Guarantor after the date hereof, provided that such Liens are in existence at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Guarantor and were not created in anticipation thereof;
(j) Liens upon real and/or tangible personal Property acquired after the date hereof (by purchase, construction or otherwise) by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries, each of which Liens either (A) existed on such Property before the time of its acquisition and was not created in anticipation thereof or (B) was created solely for the purpose of securing Debt representing, or incurred to finance, refinance or refund, the cost (including the cost of construction) of such Property, provided that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any Property of the Guarantor or such Subsidiary other than the Property so acquired and improvements thereon;
(k) Liens on securities or financial instruments arising out of (i) repurchase (and reverse repurchase) agreements for liquidity or yield enhancement purposes and in no event outstanding for a period exceeding ninety (90) days in each case and (ii) other investment strategies with respect to securities and financial instruments in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and on ordinary business terms;
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(l) the sale of delinquent accounts receivable for collection in the ordinary course of business;
(m) Liens in existence on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 1.01 (and any extension, renewal or replacement thereof permitted under Section 4.04(a)(xvi) ;
(n) Liens in favor of a Federal Home Loan Bank to secure borrowings from such Federal Home Loan Bank in the ordinary course of business and on ordinary business terms pursuant to a membership in such Federal Home Loan Bank;
(o) Liens on deposits made in connection with the discharge, defeasance or redemption of Debt;
(p) Liens securing Debt permitted under Section 4.04(a)(v) ;
(q) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 of the Uniform Commercial Code on the items in the course of collection and (ii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of law or under customary contractual provisions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with such banking or other financial institution (including the right of set off and grants of security interests in deposits and/or securities held by such banking or other financial institution) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;
(r) Liens deemed to exist in connection with reasonable customary initial deposits, margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;
(s) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar filings that have not been authorized by the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor;
(t) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement, provided that any such Lien is in existence for a period of no longer than one year;
(u) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;
(v) Customary rights of first refusal and tag, drag and similar rights relating to the sale of equity in joint venture agreements and franchise agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(w) Liens on cash or securities to secure Hedge Agreements and obligations under other derivatives transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes; provided that the amount of Debt secured by such Liens shall not exceed $150,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(x) Liens arising from the deposit of cash, securities or other property into collateral or reinsurance trusts for the benefit of ceding companies or Insurance Regulatory Authorities;
(y) Liens arising in connection with securities lending transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business, for liquidity or yield enhancement purposes and in no event outstanding for a period exceeding two hundred and seventy (270) days in each case; and
(z) Liens securing Debt in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $25,000,000.
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Person means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Government Authority or other entity.
Plan means an employee benefit or other plan established or maintained by the Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate and that is covered by Title IV of ERISA, including a Multiemployer Plan.
Preferred Securities of any Person shall mean any preferred Equity Interests (or capital stock) of such Person that (i) have preferential rights with respect to dividends or redemptions or upon liquidation or dissolution of such Person over shares of common Equity Interests (or capital stock) of any other class of such Person and (ii) that require no repayments or prepayments and no mandatory redemptions or repurchases, in each case, prior to 91 days after the Final Maturity Date.
Property of any Person means any property or assets, or interest therein, of such Person.
Public Lenders means the Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Guarantor, its Subsidiaries or their securities.
RBC Ratio of any Person means, at any time, the ratio of (i) Total Adjusted Capital of such Person to (ii) the amount equal to (x) Authorized Control Level Risk-Based Capital of such Person multiplied by (y) 2, as such terms are defined by the Insurance Regulatory Authority of the State in which such Person is incorporated, as amended from time to time. Using the annual SAP Financial Statements form prescribed by the NAIC Risk-Based Capital (RBC) for Insurers Model Act for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the Convention Blank ), the RBC Ratio as of December 31, 2012 is equal to the quotient of (a) the amount that appears on line 28 on page 17 of the Convention Blank divided by (b) the amount equal to (x) the amount that appears on line 29 on page 17 of the Convention Blank multiplied by (y) 2.
Regulation FD means Regulation FD as promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect from time to time.
Regulations T, U and X means Regulations T, U and X issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as from time to time amended.
Reinsurance Agreement means any agreement, contract, treaty or other arrangement whereby other insurers assume insurance from the Guarantor or any Insurance Subsidiary.
Responsible Officer of the Guarantor means the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, or any Vice President of the Guarantor.
Restricted Payments means (a) any cash dividend or other distribution in cash with respect to any Equity Interests in any Person, or any cash payment, including any sinking fund or similar cash deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in such Person or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in such Person and (b) any prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other satisfaction prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner of any Subordinated Indebtedness of any Person (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled principal and interest payments shall not constitute a Restricted Payment).
Restricted Payment Event of Default means (i) while the Hanover Credit Agreement is in full force and effect, any Event of Default (as such term is defined in the Hanover Credit Agreement) under Section 7.01(a), Section 7.01(c) (only if such Event of Default arises due to the Guarantors failure to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(a), Section 5.01(b) or Section 6.01 of the Hanover Credit Agreement), Section 7.01(d), Section 7.01(e), Section 7.01(f), or Section 7.01(j) of the Hanover Credit Agreement or (ii) otherwise, any Event of Default under Clause 26.1 (Events of Default, Non-Payment) , Clause 26.2 (Events of Default, Financial Condition and Other Specific Covenants) , Clause 26.3 (Events of Default, Other Obligations) (only if such Event of Default arises due to the Guarantors failure to perform or observe any term, covenant
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or agreement contained in Section 4.02(a)(i) , Section 4.02(a)(ii) or Section 4.03 ), Clause 26.6 ( Events of Default, Cross Default ) , Clause 26.8 ( Events of Default, Insolvency ) , Clause 26.9 ( Events of Default, Insolvency Proceedings ) , Clause 26.13 ( Events of Default, Repudiation ) or Clause 26.26 ( Events of Default, US Bankruptcy Proceeding ) of the Facility Agreement.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC business.
SAP means the accounting procedures and practices prescribed or permitted by the applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority.
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sanctions means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the European Union or Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom.
Sanctioned Country means, at any time, a country or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions and with respect to which such Sanctions apply to all Persons in such country or territory (for example, as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba), as opposed to any country or territory with respect to which Sanctions are applicable only to Persons listed in any Sanctions-related list.
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 European Union or Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, or (c) any Person controlled by any such Person.
Securitization Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable or portfolio investments of the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary (a) no portion of the Debt or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary (other than another Securitization Subsidiary) (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Debt) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or Limited Originator Recourse), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary (other than another Securitization Subsidiary) in any way (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or Limited Originator Recourse) or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary (other than another Securitization Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or Limited Originator Recourse, (b) with which neither the Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries (other than another Securitization Subsidiary) has any contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than pursuant to the documentation entered into in connection with any Securitization Transaction (including with respect to fees payable in the ordinary course of business in connection with the servicing of accounts receivable and related assets)) on terms less favorable to the Guarantor or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from persons that are not Affiliates of the Guarantor, and (c) to which neither the Guarantor nor any other Subsidiary of the Guarantor (other than another Securitization Subsidiary) has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entitys financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or Limited Originator Recourse).
Securitization Transaction means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Guarantor or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, may sell, convey or otherwise transfer assets to any special purpose, bankruptcy-remote Subsidiary in a true sale transaction and such special purpose Subsidiary incurs Financial Debt to finance the purchase of such assets, provided that there shall be no recourse under any such securitization to the Guarantor or any of its other Subsidiaries other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or Limited Originator Recourse.
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Security Agent has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
Solvent means, with respect to any Person at any time, that (a) the fair value of the Property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including without limitation contingent liabilities) of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of the Property of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Persons ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business and is not about to engage in a business for which such Persons Property would constitute an unreasonably small capital.
Specified Convertible Debt Securities means any debt securities the terms of which provide for the conversion thereof into Equity Interests, cash or a combination of Equity Interests and cash and (i) that afford equity benefit to the issuer thereof (under the procedures and guidelines of S&P) by having ongoing payment requirements that are more flexible than interest payments associated with conventional indebtedness for borrowed money and by being contractually subordinated to such indebtedness and (ii) that require no repayments or prepayments and no mandatory redemptions or repurchases of principal payable in cash, in each case, prior to 91 days after the Final Maturity Date.
Standard Securitization Undertakings means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Guarantor or any Subsidiary in connection with any Securitization Transaction that are customary in comparable non-recourse securitization transactions.
Statutory Statement means, as to any Material Insurance Subsidiary, a statement of the condition and affairs of such Material Insurance Subsidiary, prepared in accordance with SAP, and filed with the applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority.
Subordinated Indebtedness means any Debt of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary the payment of which is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the obligations under this Agreement.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which at least a majority of the securities or other ownership interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions of such other Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time securities or other ownership interests of any other class or classes of such other Person shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or Controlled by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such first Person or by such first Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such first Person. For the avoidance of doubt, any Lloyds syndicate which is not a legal entity and has no power to enter into contracts or other binding obligations shall not be deemed to be a Subsidiary of the Guarantor.
Total Capitalization means, at any time, the sum of (a) Total Debt plus (b) Net Worth.
Total Debt means, at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Debt of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries (other than any Securitization Subsidiary) of the kinds set forth in clauses (a) through (g) of the definition of Debt determined on a Consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP, but without giving effect to any election under the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (ASC 825) (or any similar accounting principle) permitting a Person to value its financial liabilities or indebtedness at the fair value thereof; provided , that solely for purposes of determining Total Debt, (i) without duplication of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) hereof, the outstanding principal amount of Debt attributed to any Hybrid Security shall be deemed equal to the portion of such Hybrid Security that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time, (ii) without duplication of clauses (i), (iii) and (iv) hereof, the outstanding principal amount of Debt attributed to any Disqualified Equity Interest shall be deemed equal to the portion of such Disqualified Equity Interest that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time, (iii) without duplication of clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) hereof, the outstanding principal amount of Debt attributed to any Preferred Security shall be deemed equal to the portion of such Preferred Security that is deemed
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to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time and (iv) without duplication of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, the outstanding principal amount of Debt attributed to any Specified Convertible Debt Securities shall be deemed equal to the portion of such Specified Convertible Debt Securities that is deemed to constitute indebtedness, as determined in accordance with S&Ps methodology at such time.
UKGAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United Kingdom as in effect from time to time.
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which all of the equity securities or other ownership interests (other than, in the case of a corporation, directors qualifying shares) are directly or indirectly owned or Controlled by such Person or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
Withdrawal Liability has the meaning specified in Part 1 of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
Section 1.02 Accounting Terms; GAAP . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided, that if the Guarantor notifies the Facility Agent that it requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Facility Agent notifies the Guarantor that the Lenders, in accordance with the Facility Agreement, request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. To enable the ready and consistent determination of compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 4.03 , the Guarantor will cause the last day of its fiscal year to be December 31.
ARTICLE II
GUARANTY
Section 2.01 The Guaranty . The Guarantor unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety the due and punctual payment of any amounts due under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document, together with all renewals, modifications, consolidations or extensions thereof and whether now or hereafter due, owing or incurred in any manner, whether actual or contingent, whether incurred solely or jointly with any other Person and whether as principal or surety (and including all liabilities in connection with any notes, bills or other instruments accepted by any Guaranteed Finance Party in connection therewith), together in each case with all renewals, modifications, consolidations or extensions thereof (all such obligations being herein collectively referred to as the Guaranteed Obligations ).
Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to a maximum aggregate amount equal to the greatest amount that would not render the Guarantors obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any provisions of applicable state Law (collectively, the Fraudulent Transfer Laws ), in each case after giving effect to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under the Fraudulent Transfer Laws (specifically excluding, however, any liabilities of the Guarantor (i) in respect of intercompany indebtedness to any other Group Obligor or any of its Affiliates to the extent that such indebtedness (A) would be discharged or would be subject to a right of set-off in an amount equal to the amount paid by the Guarantor hereunder or (B) has been pledged to, and is enforceable by, the Security Agent on behalf of the Guaranteed Finance Parties and (ii) under any guaranty of Debt subordinated in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations which guaranty contains a limitation as to a maximum amount similar to that set forth in this paragraph pursuant to which the liability of the Guarantor hereunder is included in the liabilities taken into account in determining such
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maximum amount) and after giving effect as assets of the Guarantor to the value (as determined under the applicable provisions of the Fraudulent Transfer Laws) of any rights to subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar rights of the Guarantor pursuant to (i) applicable Law or (ii) any agreement providing for an equitable allocation among the Guarantor and any other Group Obligor and its Affiliates of obligations arising under guaranties by such parties (including the agreements in Article II of this Agreement). If the Guarantors liability hereunder is limited pursuant to this paragraph to an amount that is less than the total amount of the Guaranteed Obligations, then it is understood and agreed that the portion of the Guaranteed Obligations for which the Guarantor is liable hereunder shall be the last portion of the Guaranteed Obligations to be repaid.
Section 2.02 Guaranty Absolute . The Guarantor guarantees that the Guaranteed Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Guaranteed Documents, regardless of any Law now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of the Guaranteed Finance Parties with respect thereto. The obligations of the Guarantor under this Agreement are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Guarantor to enforce this Agreement, irrespective of whether any action is brought against the Account Party or any other Group Obligor or whether the Account Party or any other Group Obligor is joined in any such action or actions. This Agreement is an absolute and unconditional guaranty of payment when due, and not of collection, by the Guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations in each and every particular. The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder are several from those of the other Group Obligors and are primary obligations concerning which the Guarantor is the principal obligor. The Guaranteed Finance Parties shall not be required to mitigate damages or take any action to reduce, collect or enforce the Guaranteed Obligations.
The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including the existence of any claim, set-off or other right which the Guarantor may have at any time against any other Group Obligor or any Guaranteed Finance Party or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or any unrelated transactions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guarantors liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of the Guaranteed Obligations and would be owed by any Group Obligor to any Guaranteed Finance Party under the Guaranteed Documents but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Account Party or such Group Obligor.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected or impaired by:
(i) any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, acceleration, waiver or release in respect of any obligation of any Group Obligor or any Guaranteed Document or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or securing any Guaranteed Obligation, by operation of Law or otherwise;
(ii) any change in the manner, place, time or terms of payment of any Guaranteed Obligation or any other amendment, supplement or modification to the Facility Agreement or any other Guaranteed Document or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or securing any Guaranteed Obligation;
(iii) any release, non-perfection or invalidity of any direct or indirect security for any Guaranteed Obligation, any sale, exchange, surrender, realization upon, offset against or other action in respect of any direct or indirect security for any Guaranteed Obligation or any release of any other Group Obligor or any other guarantor or guarantors of any Guaranteed Obligation;
(iv) any change in the existence, structure or ownership of any Group Obligor or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation or other similar proceeding affecting any Group Obligor or its assets or
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any resulting disallowance, release or discharge of all or any portion of any Guaranteed Obligation, other than in connection with the payment in full of all obligations under and termination of the Guaranteed Documents;
(v) the existence of any claim, set-off or other right which the Guarantor may have at any time against any other Group Obligor, any Guaranteed Finance Party or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or any unrelated transaction; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;
(vi) any invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any Group Obligor for any reason of the Facility Agreement, any other Guaranteed Document or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or securing any Guaranteed Obligation or any provision of applicable Law purporting to prohibit the payment by any Group Obligor of any Guaranteed Obligation;
(vii) any failure by any Guaranteed Finance Party: (A) to file or enforce a claim against any Group Obligor or its estate (in a bankruptcy or other proceeding); (B) to give notice of the existence, creation or incurrence by any Group Obligor of any new or additional indebtedness or obligation under or with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations; (C) to commence any action against any Group Obligor; (D) to disclose to the Guarantor any facts which such Guaranteed Finance Party may now or hereafter know with regard to any Group Obligor; or (E) to proceed with due diligence in the collection, protection or realization upon any collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations;
(viii) any direction as to application of payment by any Group Obligor or any other Person;
(ix) any subordination by any Guaranteed Finance Party of the payment of any Guaranteed Obligation to the payment of any other liability (whether matured or unmatured) of any Group Obligor to its creditors;
(x) any act or failure to act by any Guaranteed Finance Party under this Agreement or otherwise which may deprive the Guarantor of any right to subrogation, contribution or reimbursement against any other Group Obligor or any right to recover full indemnity for any payments made by the Guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations; or
(xi) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by any Group Obligor or any Guaranteed Finance Party or any other Person or any other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the provisions of this clause, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of the Guarantors obligations hereunder.
The Guarantor has irrevocably and unconditionally delivered this Agreement to the Facility Agent and the Security Agent, for the benefit of the Guaranteed Finance Parties, and the failure by any other Group Obligor or any other Person to sign this Agreement or a guaranty similar to this Agreement or otherwise shall not discharge the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder. The irrevocable and unconditional liability of the Guarantor hereunder applies whether it is jointly and severally liable for the entire amount of the Guaranteed Obligations, or only for a pro-rata portion, and without regard to any rights (or the impairment thereof) of subrogation, contribution or reimbursement that the Guarantor may now or hereafter have against any other Group Obligor or any other Person. This Agreement is and shall remain fully enforceable against the Guarantor irrespective of any defenses that any Group Obligor may have or assert in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, including, without limitation, failure of consideration, breach of warranty, payment, statute of frauds, statute of limitations, accord and satisfaction and usury, except that the Guarantor may assert the defense of final payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations.
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Section 2.03 Payments .
(a) Payments to be Made When Due . The Guarantor shall, forthwith on demand of the Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent following the failure of any Group Obligor to make any payment under the Guaranteed Documents when due, including following the acceleration of the maturity of any Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to Clause 26.27 (Events of Default, Acceleration and Cancellation) of the Facility Agreement, pay the aggregate amount of all Guaranteed Obligations to the Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent.
(b) General Provisions as to Payments . Each payment hereunder shall be made without set-off, counterclaim or other deduction, in immediately available funds, to the Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent at the address(es) referred to in Section 7.01 .
(c) Application of Payments . All amounts from time to time received or recovered by the Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent in connection with this Agreement (the Guaranty Payments ) shall be applied by the Facility Agent, to the extent permitted by applicable law (and subject to the provisions of this Section 2.03 ), in the following order of priority:
(i) in discharging any sums owing to the Facility Agent or Security Agent under the Guaranteed Documents;
(ii) in payment to the Facility Agent, on behalf of the Finance Parties (or, in the case of the Overdraft Facility, directly to Security Agent on behalf of the Overdraft Provider), for application on a pro rata basis towards the discharge of all sums due and payable by any Group Obligor under any of the Guaranteed Documents (to be applied) in accordance with Clause 33.5 ( Payment Mechanics, Partial Payments ) of the Facility Agreement and the Overdraft Facility Letter to the extent that it constitutes Permitted Financial Indebtedness.
(d) Investment of Proceeds . Prior to the application of the proceeds of the Guaranty Payments in accordance with subsection (c) above, the Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent may, in its discretion, hold all or part of those proceeds in an interest-bearing suspense or impersonal account(s) in the name of the Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent with such financial institution (including itself) and for so long as the Facility Agent shall think fit (the interest being credited to the relevant account) pending the application from time to time of those monies in the Facility Agents or (as applicable) the Security Agents discretion in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.03 .
(e) Currency Conversion .
(i) For the purpose of, or pending the discharge of, any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent may convert any moneys received or recovered by the Facility Agent from one currency to another, at the Facility Agents spot rate of exchange.
(ii) The obligations of the Guarantor to pay in the due currency shall only be satisfied to the extent of the amount of the due currency purchased after deducting the costs of conversion.
(f) Permitted Deductions . The Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent shall be entitled, in its discretion, (i) to set aside by way of reserve amounts required to meet and (ii)
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to make and pay, any deductions and withholdings (on account of taxes or otherwise) which it is or may be required by any applicable law to make from any distribution or payment made by it under this Agreement, or as a consequence of performing its duties, or by virtue of its capacity as Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent under any of the Guaranteed Documents or otherwise (other than in connection with its remuneration for performing its duties under the Guaranteed Documents).
Section 2.04 Discharge; Reinstatement in Certain Circumstances . The Guarantors obligations hereunder shall remain in full force and effect until the latest to occur of:
(i) payment in full in cash of all Debt outstanding, together with all interest (including interest accruing on or after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, whether or not a claim for such interest is, or would be, allowed in such proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law) and premium thereon, under the Guaranteed Documents and the termination of all Commitments;
(ii) payment in full in cash of all other Guaranteed Obligations that are due and payable or otherwise accrued and owing under the Guaranteed Documents (including legal fees and other expenses, costs or charges in each case payable thereunder and accruing on or after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, whether or not a claim for such fees, expenses, costs or charges is, or would be, allowed in such proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law); and
(iii) termination, cancellation or cash collateralization (in an amount reasonably satisfactory to the Facility Agent) of, all Letters of Credit issued or deemed issued under the Guaranteed Documents.
(the occurrence of all of the foregoing being referred to herein as Discharge of Finance Obligations ).
No payment or payments made by any other Group Obligor or any other Person or received or collected by any Guaranteed Finance Party from any other Group Obligor or any other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of the Guarantor hereunder, it being understood that the Guarantor shall, notwithstanding any such payment or payments, remain liable for the Guaranteed Obligations until the Discharge of Finance Obligations. If at any time any payment by any other Group Obligor or any other Person of any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of any other Group Obligor or other Person or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervener or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, such other Group Obligor or other Person or any substantial part of its respective property or otherwise, the Guarantors obligations hereunder with respect to such payment shall be reinstated as though such payment had been due but not made at such time. The Guarantor party hereto agrees that payment or performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or other acts which toll any statute of limitations applicable to the Guaranteed Obligations shall also toll the statute of limitations applicable to the Guarantors liability hereunder.
Section 2.05 Waiver by the Guarantor . The Guarantor hereby waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Group Obligors of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and also waives promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance of its guarantee, any other notice with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations and this Agreement and any requirement that any Guaranteed Finance Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien or any property subject thereto. The Guarantor further waives any right to require that resort be had by any Guaranteed Finance Party to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations or to any balance of any deposit, account or credit on the books of the Guaranteed Finance Party in favor of any Group Obligor
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or any other Person. The Guarantor hereby consents and agrees to each of the following to the fullest extent permitted by Law, and agrees that the Guarantors obligations under this Agreement shall not be released, diminished, impaired, reduced or adversely affected by any of the following (other than, in each case, in connection with the full and final payment and satisfaction of the Guaranteed Obligations, in cash), and waives any rights (including rights to notice) which the Guarantor might otherwise have as a result of or in connection with any of the following:
(i) any renewal, extension, modification, increase, decrease, alteration or rearrangement of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any instrument executed in connection therewith, or any contract or understanding with any Group Obligor, any Guaranteed Finance Party, or any of them, or any other Person, pertaining to the Guaranteed Obligations;
(ii) any adjustment, indulgence, forbearance or compromise that might be granted or given by any Guaranteed Finance Party to any Group Obligor or any other Person liable on the Guaranteed Obligations; or the failure of any Guaranteed Finance Party to assert any claim or demand or to exercise any right or remedy against any Group Obligor under the provisions of any Guaranteed Document or otherwise; or any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, any Guaranteed Document or any other agreement, including with respect to any Group Obligor under this Agreement;
(iii) the insolvency, bankruptcy, arrangement, adjustment, composition, liquidation, disability, dissolution or lack of power of any Group Obligor or any other Person at any time liable for the payment of all or part of the Guaranteed Obligations; or any dissolution of any Group Obligor, or any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of any Group Obligor, or any sale, lease or transfer of any or all of the assets of any Group Obligor, or any change in the shareholders, partners, or members of any Group Obligor; or any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(iv) the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any document or agreement executed in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations, for any reason whatsoever, including the fact that the Guaranteed Obligations, or any part thereof, exceed the amount permitted by Law, the act of creating the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof is ultravires , the officers or representatives executing the documents or otherwise creating the Guaranteed Obligations acted in excess of their authority, the Guaranteed Obligations violate applicable usury laws, any Group Obligor has valid defenses, claims or offsets (whether at Law, in equity or by agreement) which render the Guaranteed Obligations wholly or partially uncollectible from such Group Obligor (other than Discharge of Finance Obligations), the creation, performance or repayment of the Guaranteed Obligations (or the execution, delivery and performance of any document or instrument representing part of the Guaranteed Obligations or executed in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations or given to secure the repayment of the Guaranteed Obligations) is illegal, uncollectible, legally impossible or unenforceable, or the documents or instruments pertaining to the Guaranteed Obligations have been forged or otherwise are irregular or not genuine or authentic;
(v) any full or partial release of the liability of any other Group Obligor or of any other Person now or hereafter liable, whether directly or indirectly, jointly, severally, or jointly and severally, to pay, perform, guarantee or assure the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, it being recognized, acknowledged and agreed by the Guarantor that it may be required to pay the Guaranteed Obligations in full without assistance or support of any other Person, and the Guarantor has not been induced to enter into this
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Agreement on the basis of a contemplation, belief, understanding or agreement that any party other than the Account Party will be liable to perform the Guaranteed Obligations, or that the Guaranteed Finance Parties will look to any other party to perform the Guaranteed Obligations;
(vi) the taking or accepting of any other security, collateral or guarantee, or other assurance of payment, for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(vii) any release, surrender, exchange, subordination, deterioration, waste, loss or impairment (including negligent impairment) of any Letter of Credit, collateral, property or security, at any time existing in connection with, or assuring or securing payment of, all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(viii) [reserved];
(ix) the failure of the Guaranteed Finance Party or any other Person to exercise diligence or reasonable care in the preservation, protection, enforcement, sale or other handling or treatment of all or any part of such collateral, property or security;
(x) the fact that any collateral, security, security interest or lien contemplated or intended to be given, created or granted as security for the repayment of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not be properly perfected or created, or shall prove to be unenforceable or subordinate to any other security interest or lien, it being recognized and agreed by the Guarantor that the Guarantor is not entering into this Agreement in reliance on, or in contemplation of the benefits of, the validity, enforceability, collectibility or value of any collateral;
(xi) [reserved];
(xii) any other action taken or omitted to be taken with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, or the security and collateral therefor, whether or not such action or omission prejudices the Guarantor or increases the likelihood that the Guarantor will be required to pay the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to the terms hereof, it being the unambiguous and unequivocal intention of the Guarantor that the Guarantor shall be obligated to pay the Guaranteed Obligations when due, notwithstanding any occurrence, circumstance, event, action or omission whatsoever, whether or not contemplated, and whether or not otherwise or particularly described herein, except for the full and final payment and satisfaction of the Guaranteed Obligations in cash;
(xiii) [reserved];
(xiv) the existence of any claim, set-off or other right which the Guarantor may have at any time against any other Group Obligor, any Guaranteed Finance Party or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or any unrelated transactions; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim; or
(xv) any other circumstance that might in any manner or to any extent otherwise constitute a defense available to, vary the risk of, or operate as a discharge of, the Guarantor as a matter of Law or equity.
All waivers herein contained shall be without prejudice to the right of the Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent at its option to proceed against any Group Obligor or any other Person, whether by separate action or by joinder.
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Section 2.06 Agreement to Pay; Subordination of Subrogation Claims . In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that any Guaranteed Finance Party has at Law or in equity against the Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any Group Obligor to pay any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, or such Guaranteed Finance Party as designated thereby in cash the amount of such unpaid Guaranteed Obligations. Upon payment by the Guarantor of any sums to the Facility Agent or any Guaranteed Finance Party as provided above, all rights of the Guarantor against any other Group Obligor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Guaranteed Obligations and Discharge of Finance Obligations. No failure on the part of any other Group Obligor or any other Person to make any payments in respect of any subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar right (or any other payments required under applicable Law or otherwise) shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of the Guarantor with respect to its obligations hereunder. If any amount shall erroneously be paid to the Guarantor on account of such subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar right, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Guaranteed Finance Parties and shall forthwith be turned over to the Facility Agent in the exact form received by the Guarantor (duly endorsed by the Guarantor to the Facility Agent, if required) to be credited against the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Guaranteed Documents.
Section 2.07 Stay of Acceleration . If acceleration of the time for payment of any amount payable by any other Group Obligor under or with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such other Group Obligor, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of the Facility any Guaranteed Document or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or securing the Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the Guarantor hereunder forthwith on demand by the Facility Agent or (as applicable) the Security Agent or, following payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations, the applicable Guaranteed Finance Parties under the applicable Guaranteed Documents, in the manner provided in Section 2.01 .
Section 2.08 No Set-Off . No act or omission of any kind or at any time on the part of any Guaranteed Finance Party in respect of any matter whatsoever shall in any way affect or impair the rights of any Guaranteed Finance Party to enforce any right, power or benefit under this Agreement, and no set-off, claim, reduction or diminution of any Guaranteed Obligation or any defense of any kind or nature which the Guarantor has or may have against any other Group Obligor or any Guaranteed Finance Party shall be available against any Guaranteed Finance Party in any suit or action brought by any Guaranteed Finance Party to enforce any right, power or benefit provided for by this Agreement; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the assertion by the Guarantor of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver by the Guarantor of any rights or claims which it may have against any Guaranteed Finance Party hereunder or otherwise, but any recovery upon such rights and claims shall be had from such Guaranteed Finance Party separately, it being the intent of this Agreement that the Guarantor shall be unconditionally, absolutely and jointly and severally obligated to perform fully all its obligations, covenants and agreements hereunder for the benefit of each Guaranteed Finance Party.
ARTICLE III
INDEMNIFICATION, SUBROGATION AND CONTRIBUTION
Section 3.01 Indemnity and Subrogation . In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Guarantor may have under applicable Law (but subject to Section 2.06 above), the Account Party agrees that if a payment shall be made by the Guarantor under this Agreement, the Account Party shall indemnify the Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and the Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment.
Section 3.02 Contribution and Subrogation . The Guarantor agrees (subject to Section 2.06 above) that, if a payment shall be made by any other Group Obligor (other than the
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Account Party) under the Guaranteed Documents or assets of any other Group Obligor (other than the Account Party) shall be sold pursuant to any Security Document to satisfy a claim of any Guaranteed Finance Party and such other Group Obligor (the Claiming Guarantor ) shall not have been fully indemnified by the Account Party, the Guarantor shall indemnify the Claiming Guarantor in an amount equal to the amount of such payment or the greater of the book value or the fair market value of such assets, as the case may be, in each case multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the net worth of the Guarantor on the date that the obligation(s) supporting such claim were incurred under the Guaranteed Documents and the denominator of which shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Group Obligors (other than the Account Party) on such date. Any such payment by the Guarantor pursuant to this Section 3.02 shall be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Guarantor under Section 3.01 to the extent of such payment, in each case subject to the provisions of Section 2.06 .
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
S ection 4.01 Representations and Warranties .
(a) On the date of this Agreement, the Guarantor represents and warrants as follows:
(i) The Guarantor has heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders (including by furnishing the Form 10-K of the Guarantor filed with the SEC) its audited Consolidated balance sheet and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows as at and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, and such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as at the date thereof and for such fiscal year, all in accordance with GAAP;
(ii) The Guarantor has heretofore furnished (including by furnishing the Form 10-Q of the Guarantor filed with the SEC) to each of the Lenders its unaudited Consolidated balance sheet and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows as at and for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013, and such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as at the date thereof and for such nine-month period, all in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes);
(iii) The Guarantor has heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders the annual Statutory Statement of each Material Insurance Subsidiary and an equivalent financial statement for each Lloyds syndicate in which a Subsidiary of the Guarantor has a membership interest, in each case for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, as filed with the applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority, and each such annual Statutory Statement (or, with respect to any Lloyds syndicate in which a Subsidiary of the Guarantor has membership interest, such equivalent financial statement filing) presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and the results of operations of such Material Insurance Subsidiary or Lloyds syndicate, as applicable, as at and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, in accordance with SAP;
(iv) Since December 31, 2012, there has been no Material Adverse Change;
(v) There is no action, proceeding or investigation pending, or to the knowledge of the Guarantor, overtly threatened in writing against the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator which (A) is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) purports to affect the Guaranteed Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby;
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(vi) The Guarantor and each of its Subsidiaries (A) is duly organized, validly existing and (to the extent applicable in respect of the relevant jurisdiction) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (B) is duly qualified and (to the extent applicable in respect of the relevant jurisdiction) in good standing as a foreign corporation in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases Property or in which the conduct of its business requires it to so qualify or be licensed and where, in each case, failure so to qualify and be in good standing would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (C) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease and operate its Properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(vii) The Guarantor and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations (including, without limitation, all applicable environmental laws and ERISA) applicable to the Guarantor, its Subsidiaries and their respective Properties, except to the extent failure to so comply would not (either individually or in the aggregate) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(viii) All material consents, licenses, permits and governmental and third-party consents and approvals required for the due making and performance by the Guarantor of each of the Guaranteed Documents to which the Guarantor is a party have been obtained and remain in full force and effect;
(ix) Each of the Guaranteed Documents to which the Guarantor is a party is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors rights generally or general principles of equity;
(x) The making and performance by the Guarantor of each of the Guaranteed Documents to which it is a party are within the Guarantors corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and (A) do not contravene the Guarantors certificate of incorporation or by-laws or (B) contravene, violate or breach any material contractual restriction binding on the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries or any material law, rule or regulation (including Regulations T, U or X), or any material order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award, except for any such contravention, violation or breach referred to in clause (B) which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(xi) Each of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in, or valid licenses to use, all Properties material to its business, and all such Properties are in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(xii) The Guarantor and each of its Subsidiaries have paid and discharged all taxes, assessments, claims and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its Property, except (A) any such tax, assessment, claim or charge that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained in accordance with Section 4.02(b) or (B) to the extent that any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
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(xiii) The Guarantor is not engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin Stock;
(xiv) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a liability to the Guarantor or its ERISA Affiliates in excess of $10,000,000;
(xv) The Guarantor is not an investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(xvi) (A) Schedule 4.01 hereto is a complete list of the Subsidiaries of the Guarantor, (B) each such Subsidiary is duly organized and validly existing under the jurisdiction of its organization shown in said Schedule 4.01 , and (C) the percentage ownership by the Guarantor of each such Subsidiary is as shown in said Schedule 4.01 ;
(xvii) (A) The Guarantor is Solvent and (B) the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis are Solvent;
(xviii) All written information (other than information of a general economic or industry specific nature) that has been made available by the Guarantor or any of its representatives to any Guaranteed Finance Party in connection with the negotiation of the Guaranteed Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such information in any confidential information memorandum or related materials provided in connection with the syndication of the Commitments), when taken as a whole, on or as of the dates on which such information was made available, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the time and circumstances under which such statements were made (after giving effect to all supplements and updates thereto); and
(xix) The Guarantor has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by the Guarantor, its Subsidiaries and, when acting on its or their behalf, their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Guarantor, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and, to the knowledge of the Guarantor, its directors, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of the Guarantor, any Subsidiary or to the knowledge of the Guarantor or such Subsidiary any of their respective directors, officers or employees is a Sanctioned Person.
(b) The representations set out in Section 4.01(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (ix) and (x) are also deemed to be made by the Guarantor by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on:
(i) the date of each Utilisation Request; and
(ii) the Commencement Date of each Letter of Credit and every six months after that date until the Expiry Date of that Letter of Credit.
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Section 4.02 Affirmative Covenants So long as any amount is outstanding under the Guaranteed Documents or any Commitment is in force, the Guarantor covenants and agrees that:
(a) Reporting Requirements . The Guarantor will furnish to the Facility Agent on behalf of the Lenders:
(i) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Guarantor, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of such quarter and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such quarter, in each case setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures from the corresponding quarter in the previous fiscal year, all prepared in conformity with GAAP and accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Guarantor, which certificate shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial position of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and the Consolidated results of their operations for the period covered thereby in conformity with GAAP, consistently applied (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes);
(ii) as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of such fiscal year and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures from the previous fiscal year, all prepared in conformity with GAAP and accompanied by an unqualified report and opinion of independent certified public accountants of national standing and reputation, which shall state that such financial statements, in the opinion of such accountants, present fairly, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial position of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and the Consolidated results of their operations for such year in conformity with GAAP, consistently applied;
(iii) as soon as possible and in any event within five Business Days after the Guarantor obtains knowledge of the occurrence of (i) a Default or an Event of Default (as such terms are defined in the Hanover Credit Agreement) continuing on the date of such statement or (ii) any Event of Default or Default continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth details of such event and the action which the Guarantor has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(iv) within a reasonable time after filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (without exhibits) and all annual, quarterly and monthly reports (if any) filed by the Guarantor with the SEC and promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the Guarantor generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so mailed;
(v) promptly after the Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate knows or should reasonably know that any ERISA Event has occurred with respect to which the liability or potential liability of the Guarantor or any of its ERISA Affiliates has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, a statement of a Responsible Officer describing such ERISA Event and the action, if any, which the Guarantor or such ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto;
(vi) promptly after receipt thereof by the Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate, copies of each notice from the PBGC stating its intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan where such action would have a Material Adverse Effect;
(vii) promptly after filing with the applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly fiscal periods of each fiscal year of each Material Insurance Subsidiary and each Lloyds syndicate in which a
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Subsidiary of the Guarantor has a membership interest, the quarterly Statutory Statement of such Material Insurance Subsidiary for such quarterly fiscal period (or, with respect to each Lloyds syndicate in which the Guarantor has a membership interest, an equivalent financial statement of such Lloyds syndicate for such quarterly fiscal period);
(viii) promptly after filing with the applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of each Material Insurance Subsidiary and each Lloyds syndicate in which a Subsidiary of the Guarantor has a membership interest, the annual Statutory Statement of such Material Insurance Subsidiary, including, without limitation, managements discussion and analysis for such year (or, with respect to any Lloyds syndicate in which the Guarantor has a membership interest, an equivalent financial statement of such Lloyds syndicate for such year);
(ix) promptly upon the occurrence of any change in the Moodys Rating or the S&Ps Rating of the Index Debt, or any change in the A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating with respect to any Insurance Subsidiary, notice thereof (for the avoidance of doubt, a change in outlook shall not constitute a change in rating);
(x) promptly upon the commencement of, or any material adverse development in, any litigation, investigation or proceeding against the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, notice thereof with a description thereof in reasonable detail; and
(xi) promptly after request therefor, such other business and financial information respecting the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of the Guarantor or any of its Material Insurance Subsidiaries as the Facility Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iv) of this Section 4.02(a) shall be deemed satisfied with respect to financial information of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries by the furnishing the Form 10-K or 10-Q or any other document of the Guarantor filed with the SEC, as applicable, on the date (i) on which the Guarantor posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Guarantors website on the Internet at the website address provided to the Lenders; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Guarantors behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Facility Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Facility Agent); provided that (A) the Guarantor shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Facility Agent or any Lender that requests in writing (including by electronic mail) the Guarantor to deliver such paper copies and (B) the Guarantor shall notify the Facility Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents satisfying the obligations in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iv) of this Section 4.02(a) .
The Guarantor will furnish to the Lenders at the time it furnishes its financial statements pursuant to paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer, in the form of Exhibit A , setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating that the Guarantor is in compliance with the covenants in Section 4.03 . The Guarantor and each Lender acknowledge that certain of the Lenders may be Public Lenders and, if documents or notices required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 4.02(a) or otherwise are being distributed on an Electronic System, any document or notice that the Guarantor has indicated contains Non-Public Information shall not be posted on that portion of the Electronic System designated for such Public Lenders. The Guarantor agrees to clearly designate all information provided to the Facility Agent by or on behalf the Guarantor which is suitable to make available to Public Lenders. If the Guarantor has not indicated whether a document or notice delivered pursuant to this Section 4.02(a) contains Non-Public Information, the Facility Agent reserves the right to post such document or notice solely on that portion of the Electronic System designated for Lenders who wish to receive material nonpublic information with respect to the Guarantor, its Subsidiaries and their securities.
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(b) Payment of Taxes, Etc . The Guarantor will pay and discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before the same shall become delinquent, all taxes, assessments, claims and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its Property, except to the extent that any failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that neither the Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or discharge any such tax, assessment, claim or charge that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained.
(c) Corporate Existence, Compliance with Laws, Etc . The Guarantor will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, (i) preserve and maintain all of its material rights, privileges, licenses and franchises, including all tradenames, patents and other intellectual property necessary for its business, except to the extent the failure to preserve and maintain the same would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) preserve and maintain its legal existence, provided that nothing in this sentence shall prohibit any transaction not otherwise prohibited under Section 4.04(c) . The Guarantor will comply, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders, including, without limitation, ERISA, the PATRIOT Act, Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions and all applicable environmental laws, except for any non-compliance which would not (either individually or in the aggregate) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Guarantor will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by the Guarantor, its Subsidiaries and, when acting on its or their behalf, their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
(d) Maintenance of Properties, Etc . The Guarantor will maintain and preserve, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its Properties that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Guarantor will maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, appropriate and adequate insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations or with self-insurance programs to the extent consistent with prudent practices of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries or otherwise customary in their respective industries in such amounts and covering such risks as is customary in the industries in which the Guarantor or such Subsidiary operates.
(e) Keeping of Books . The Guarantor will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account as are necessary to prepare Consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, UKGAAP or SAP, as applicable, in which full and correct entries in all material respects shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the Guarantor and each such Subsidiary in accordance with GAAP, UKGAAP or SAP, as applicable.
(f) Visitation Rights . The Guarantor will, at any reasonable time during normal business hours and upon reasonable prior notice and from time to time, permit the Facility Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof (in each case at their own expense (except as described below) and subject to Clause 41 (Confidentiality) of the Facility Agreement) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the Properties of, the Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries with any of their officers or directors; provided that, excluding any such examination or visit during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Facility Agent and the Lenders shall not, collectively, exercise such rights more than once during any calendar year. In addition, subject to customary access agreements, at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantor will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, permit the Facility Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries with their independent certified public accountants, and the Guarantor will be responsible for the reasonable costs and expenses of the Facility Agent and the Lenders and the agents and representatives thereof incurred in connection with this clause (f).
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Section 4.03 Financial Covenants . So long as any amount is outstanding under the Guaranteed Documents or any Commitment is in force, the Guarantor covenants and agrees that:
(a) Minimum Net Worth . The Guarantor will not permit Net Worth as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Guarantor to be less than the sum of (i) $1,696,800,000 plus (ii) an amount equal to 50% of the Guarantors Consolidated net income (if positive) for such fiscal quarter and for each prior fiscal quarter of the Guarantor ending after November 12, 2013 plus (iii) an amount equal to 50% of the aggregate Net Equity Proceeds of any Equity Issuances made after November 12, 2013.
(b) RBC Ratio . The Guarantor will not permit the RBC Ratio of either HIC or CIC as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Guarantor to be less than 175%.
(c) Leverage Ratio . The Guarantor will not permit the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Guarantor to be greater than 35%.
Section 4.04 Negative Covenants . So long as any amount is outstanding under the Guaranteed Documents or any Commitment is in force, the Guarantor covenants and agrees that:
(a) Financial Debt . The Guarantor will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Financial Debt, except:
(i) Financial Debt created under the Guaranteed Documents;
(ii) Financial Debt and commitments to provide Financial Debt existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 4.04(a) ;
(iii) Financial Debt of the Guarantor to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary;
(iv) Financial Debt incurred by Securitization Subsidiaries pursuant to Securitization Transactions;
(v) Financial Debt in respect of capitalized lease obligations, synthetic lease obligations or secured by purchase money security interests, provided that the aggregate principal amount of Financial Debt permitted by this clause (v) shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(vi) Guaranties by the Guarantor of Financial Debt incurred by its Subsidiaries otherwise permitted under this Section 4.04(a) ;
(vii) Financial Debt in respect of Hybrid Securities, Disqualified Equity Interests and Preferred Securities issued by the Guarantor or any trust or other special purpose entity formed by the Guarantor as to which no Subsidiary (other than any such trust or other special purpose entity) of the Guarantor has any obligation;
(viii) Financial Debt in respect of subordinated securities of the Guarantor so long as (a) the obligations of the Guarantor thereunder are unsecured and fully subordinated as to payment and performance in all respects to all of the Obligations of the Guarantor under the Guaranteed Documents, (b) no Subsidiary of the Guarantor has any obligations thereunder and (c) such subordinated securities do not have any required amortization, maturity,
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mandatory put, redemption, repayment, or other similar provision or requirement, or any cash interest thereon, and in any event is not payable, falling due or capable of falling due, prior to at least 91 days after the Final Maturity Date, provided that the Guarantor shall be permitted to make cash interest payments pursuant to the terms of such other subordinated securities so long as (x) no payment Default or Event of Default under the Hanover Credit Agreement so long as the Hanover Credit Agreement is in full force and effect and, otherwise, under the Facility Agreement has occurred and is continuing and (y) the interest rate in respect thereof shall be based on prevailing market rates at the time of issuance of such other subordinated securities;
(ix) Financial Debt in respect of borrowings from a Federal Home Loan Bank in the ordinary course of business and on ordinary business terms pursuant to a membership in such Federal Home Loan Bank;
(x) [Reserved];
(xi) Financial Debt assumed in connection with any Acquisition, provided that such Financial Debt is not incurred in contemplation of such Acquisition and no other Subsidiary (other than the Subsidiary being acquired, if applicable) has any liability or obligations in respect of such Financial Debt;
(xii) Financial Debt incurred by the Guarantor in addition to the foregoing;
(xiii) Financial Debt incurred by the Subsidiaries of the Guarantor, provided that the aggregate principal amount of Financial Debt permitted by this clause shall not exceed $75,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(xiv) Financial Debt in respect of letters of credit issued for the benefit of Insurance Regulatory Authorities and letters of credit issued in support of funds at the Society and Corporation of Lloyds requirements (including any such Financial Debt set forth on Schedule 4.04(a) );
(xv) Financial Debt incurred in connection with the Hanover Credit Agreement; provided, that the aggregate principal amount of Financial Debt permitted by this clause shall not exceed $300,000,000; and
(xvi) any extension, renewal or replacement of any of the foregoing Financial Debt that (A) does not include Financial Debt of an obligor that was not an obligor with respect to the Financial Debt being extended, renewed or replaced, (B) does not increase the outstanding principal amount of the Financial Debt being extended, renewed or replaced except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest thereon, prepayment premiums not exceeding 5% of the outstanding principal amount of such Financial Debt, and fees and expenses incurred in connection with such extension, renewal or replacement, and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (C) in the case of Financial Debt that is subordinated in right of payment under the Facility, is subordinated to at least the same extent as, and has a maturity not earlier than, and weighted average life to maturity not shorter than, the Financial Debt being renewed or replaced.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.04(a) , the Guarantor will be entitled to divide an item of Financial Debt that meets the criteria of one of the categories of Financial Debt described in clauses (i) through (xv) above between such applicable clause and any other applicable clause.
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(b) Liens . The Guarantor will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.
(c) Mergers, Etc . The Guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, merge or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions, all or substantially all of the Property (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) of the Guarantor or such Material Subsidiary to, any Person, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default under the Hanover Credit Agreement so long as the Hanover Credit Agreement is in full force and effect and, otherwise, under the Facility Agreement, shall have occurred and be continuing, (i) any Material Subsidiary may merge into (1) the Guarantor in a transaction in which the Guarantor is the surviving corporation or (2) any other Subsidiary, (ii) any Material Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to the Guarantor or to another Subsidiary, (iii) any Material Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Guarantor determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Guarantor and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders, (d) any Subsidiary may merge into the Guarantor in a transaction in which the Guarantor is the surviving corporation and (iv) the Guarantor and any Material Subsidiary may engage in a disposition permitted by Section 4.04(d) .
(d) Disposition of Assets . The Guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any substantial part of its Property, or grant any option or other right to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any such Property, except (i) sales of inventory and investments in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) sales of assets which are not material to the operation of the Guarantor or such Material Subsidiaries or are no longer used or useful in connection with the operation of the Guarantor or such Material Subsidiaries, (iii) transfers of Property by the Guarantor or any Material Subsidiary to the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary (but to the extent that the Guarantor transfers a substantial portion of its property to any Subsidiaries, such Subsidiaries must enter into a guaranty substantially similar to this Agreement or as otherwise acceptable to the Facility Agent and Security Agent), (iv) dispositions pursuant to Securitization Transactions, (v) dispositions in connection with the CitySquare Project, (vi) dispositions for fair market value of assets acquired after November 12, 2013 in connection with Acquisitions, to the extent that, at the time that the relevant Acquisition was consummated, the Guarantor or such Material Subsidiary planned to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of such assets and (vii) other dispositions, the net cash proceeds of which, when aggregated with the net cash proceeds of any other such dispositions consummated after November 12, 2013 pursuant to this clause (vii) shall not exceed in the aggregate 5% of the total assets of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries (determined on a Consolidated basis as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available).
(e) Transactions with Affiliates . The Guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any Property to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any assets from, or otherwise engage in any transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Guarantor or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arms-length basis from unrelated third parties and (b) transactions between or among the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate.
(f) Line of Business . The Guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, make any material change in the nature or conduct of the business of the Guarantor or such Material Subsidiary as conducted on the date hereof.
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(g) Anti-dividend-block . Except to the extent required by applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, order or agreement with regulators, the Guarantor will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to agree to or have in effect any contractual restriction on the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions to the Guarantor (each, a Burdensome Agreement ) other than:
(i) Burdensome Agreements (A) in existence on the date hereof (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 4.04(g)) that are listed on Schedule 4.04(g) hereto and (B) to the extent Burdensome Agreements permitted by clause (A) are contained in an agreement evidencing Financial Debt, any agreement evidencing any permitted modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of such Financial Debt so long as such modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing does not expand the scope of such Burdensome Agreement or include any other Subsidiaries as parties thereto;
(ii) Burdensome Agreements that are binding on a Subsidiary of the Guarantor at the time such Person first becomes a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, so long as such Burdensome Agreements were not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Guarantor;
(iii) Burdensome Agreements that are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto;
(iv) Burdensome Agreements that are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of any Subsidiary of the Guarantor;
(v) Burdensome Agreements that are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(vi) Burdensome Agreements that are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and
(vii) Burdensome Agreements to the extent set forth in an agreement evidencing Financial Debt of the Guarantor permitted under Section 4.04(a) .
(viii) Burdensome Agreements entered into by a Securitization Subsidiary in respect of assets financed by such Securitization Subsidiary, or Burdensome Agreements restricting a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with the incurrence of Financial Debt by such Securitization Subsidiary, in each case pursuant to a Securitization Transaction.
(h) Restricted Payments . At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Restricted Payment Event of Default, the Guarantor shall not, directly or indirectly declare or make, or agree to make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment other than Restricted Payments for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Guarantor by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or any Immediate Family Member thereof) of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee or director stock option plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any notes issued by the Guarantor (or of any direct or indirect parent of the Guarantor) in connection with any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions contained in this Section 4.04(h) shall not prohibit the Guarantor from directly or indirectly declaring or making, or agreeing to make, directly or indirectly,
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and Restricted Payment at any time when (A) (i) there are no Loans outstanding under the Hanover Credit Agreement and (ii) the Guarantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent (and the Administrative Agent is in possession of) cash collateral in an amount equal to 103% of the aggregate Stated Amount (as defined under the Hanover Credit Agreement) of all Letters of Credit Outstanding thereunder as contemplated by Section 2.06(i) of the Hanover Credit Agreement and (B) the Account Party has delivered to the Facility Agent (and the Facility Agent is in possession of) cash collateral in an amount equal to 100% of any Outstandings under the Facility Agreement.
(i) Amendment to Hanover Credit Agreement . The Guarantor shall not consent to any amendment of the Hanover Credit Agreement that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the interest of any Guaranteed Finance Party, without the consent of the Facility Agent and the Security Agent.
Section 4.05 Relation to Facility Agreement . For the avoidance of doubt, none of the provisions of this Agreement (including, but not limited to, Section 4.04 ) shall be deemed to alter or modify in any way the representations, covenants or obligations of the Obligors under the Facility Agreement (including, but not limited to Clause 25 (General Undertakings) of the Facility Agreement).
Section 4.06 Certain Agreements . The Guarantor hereby additionally represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
(a) (i) The Guarantor agrees to comply with each of the covenants contained in the Facility Agreement that impose or purport to impose, through agreements with the Account Party, restrictions or obligations on the Guarantor and (ii) the Guarantor hereby agrees that Clause 33.11 of the Facility Agreement shall be applicable to this Agreement, and references therein to Obligor shall be deemed to be references to the Guarantor for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a) ;
(b) The Guarantor acknowledges that any default in the due observance or performance by the Guarantor of any covenant, condition or agreement contained herein may constitute an Event of Default under Clause 26 ( Events of Default ) of the Facility Agreement;
(c) The Guarantor has, independently and without reliance upon any Guaranteed Finance Party and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. The Guarantor has investigated fully the benefits and advantages which will be derived by it from execution of this Agreement, and the Board of Directors (or persons performing similar functions in case of the Guarantor which is not a corporation) of the Guarantor has decided that a direct or an indirect benefit will accrue to the Guarantor by reason of the execution of this Agreement;
(d) (i) This Agreement is not given with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any Person to which the Guarantor is or will become, on or after the date hereof, indebted; and (ii) the Guarantor has received at least a reasonably equivalent value in exchange for the giving of this Agreement;
(e) The Guarantor agrees and acknowledges that the Facility Agent is acting as an agent on behalf of itself and the other Guaranteed Finance Parties pursuant to Clause 29 ( Role of the Facility Agent and the Arrangers ) of the Facility Agreement, and the Security Agent is acting as an agent on behalf of the Overdraft Provider pursuant to Clause 30 (Role of the Security Agent) of the Facility Agreement; and
(f) If the Guarantor agrees after the date hereof to any covenants in the Hanover Credit Agreement that are more stringent or restrictive as to the Guarantor than such limitations or covenants in this Agreement, then this Agreement will be deemed amended automatically, without
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any further action by the Guarantor, the Facility Agent or any other Person, to benefit from such covenants that are more stringent or restrictive, as the case may be, such that a breach thereof shall constitute a breach of this Agreement, regardless of any waiver or forbearance granted by the creditors under the Hanover Credit Agreement; provided that such limitations and financial covenants shall be deemed included in this Agreement for only so long as the same shall be in effect in the Hanover Credit Agreement. The Guarantor agrees to inform the Facility Agent promptly of any such amendments to the Hanover Credit Agreement and to furnish a copy of the documentation containing such covenants. The Guarantor and the Facility Agent further agree to enter into such amendments to this Agreement as reasonably requested by the Facility Agent or the Guarantor so as to conform this Agreement to the changes contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 4.06(f) (including its proviso), it being understood that the failure to effect any such amendment shall not limit the effectiveness of the first sentence of this Section 4.06(f) (including its proviso).
Section 4.07 Information . The Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the financial condition and assets of the other Group Obligors and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that the Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that no Guaranteed Finance Party will have any duty to advise the Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.
Section 4.08 Subordination by Guarantor . In addition to the terms of subordination provided for under Section 2.07 , the Guarantor hereby subordinates in right of payment all indebtedness of the other Group Obligors owing to it, whether originally contracted with the Guarantor or acquired by the Guarantor by assignment, transfer or otherwise, whether now owed or hereafter arising, whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise, together with all renewals, extensions, increases or rearrangements thereof, to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether now owed or hereafter arising, whether for principal, interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), fees, expenses or otherwise, together with all renewals, extensions, increases or rearrangements thereof.
ARTICLE V
SET-OFF
Section 5.01 Right of Set-Off . In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable Law or otherwise, and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default under the Facility Agreement, each Guaranteed Finance Party (and each of its Affiliates) is authorized at any time and from time to time, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind (all of such rights being hereby expressly waived), to set off and to appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by such Guaranteed Finance Party (including, without limitation, branches, agencies or Affiliates of such Guaranteed Finance Party wherever located) to or for the credit or account of the Guarantor against obligations and liabilities of the Guarantor then due to the Guaranteed Finance Parties hereunder, under the other Guaranteed Documents or otherwise, and any such set-off shall be deemed to have been made immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default even though such charge is made or entered on the books of such Guaranteed Finance Party subsequent thereto. The Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent permitted by Law any Person purchasing a participation in the Facility, whether or not acquired pursuant to the arrangements provided for in Clause 27 (Changes to the Lenders) of the Facility Agreement, may exercise all rights of set-off with respect to its participation interest as fully as if such Person were a Guaranteed Finance Party.
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ARTICLE VI
TAX GROSS-UP AND INDEMNITIES
Section 6.01 Tax Gross-Up .
(a) The Guarantor shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law.
(b) If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by the Guarantor, the amount of the payment due from the Guarantor shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required; provided, however, in no event shall a Guaranteed Finance Party be entitled to receive a payment from the Guarantor under this Section 6.01(b) in respect of amounts that would not have been entitled to be increased by an Obligor under Clause 13.2 (Tax Gross-Up) of the Facility Agreement.
(c) A payment shall not be increased under paragraph (b) above by reason of a Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by the United Kingdom if on the date on which the payment falls due:
(i) the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a Tax Deduction if the Lender had been a Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under the Facility Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or Treaty, or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority provided, however, this clause (i) shall not apply to the extent (x) the relevant Lender is a New Lender that would have been a Qualifying Lender on the date of the Facility Agreement and (y) the corresponding Existing Lender would have received, in respect of a payment, at the time of transfer or assignment to that New Lender, additional amounts with respect to such Tax Deduction pursuant to paragraphs (c) above; or
(ii) the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the Guarantor is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the Tax Deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under Clause 13.2(g) ( Tax Gross-Up ) of the Facility Agreement.
(d) A payment shall not be increased under paragraph (b) above by reason of a Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by the United States if it relates to:
(i) any Tax that is in effect at such time that a payment is first required to be made by the Guarantor under this Agreement and would apply (even if the proper certificates and documentation were given to the Guarantor) to amounts payable hereunder at such time a Lender becomes a party to the Facility Agreement, or designates a new Facility Office, except to the extent such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled at the time of designation of a new Facility Office (or assignment) to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 6.01(b) ; and
(ii) Taxes imposed as a result of Section 6.01(e)(iii) .
(e) In order to establish the amount of Tax Deductions, if any, required by law to be made by the Guarantor on account of Tax imposed by the United States:
(i) Each Lender that is not a U.S. person as defined in section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, from time to time as requested in writing by the Guarantor, shall (but only so long as such Lender remains lawfully able to do so) provide the Guarantor with an applicable Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form W-8, as appropriate, or any successor form prescribed by the IRS, certifying that such Lender is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party which reduces the rate of withholding Tax on payments of interest or certifying that the income receivable pursuant to this Agreement is
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effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, or if a Lender is not the beneficial owner of any obligation of the Guarantor (for example, where the Lender is a partnership or participating Lender granting a typical participation), duly completed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY and the applicable IRS Form W-8 or W-9 from each beneficial owner.
(ii) Each Lender that is a U.S. person under section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, from time to time as requested in writing by the Guarantor (but only so long as such Lender remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide the Guarantor with an IRS Form W-9 or any successor form certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding Tax.
(iii) For any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the Guarantor with the appropriate form described in Section 6.01(e)(i) or (ii) (other than if such failure is due to a change in law occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be provided, or if such form otherwise is not required under the first sentence of Section 6.01(e)(i) or (ii) above), such Lender shall not be entitled to increase under Section 6.01(b) with respect to Tax Deductions imposed by the United States.
(f) If the Guarantor is required to make a Tax Deduction, it shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law.
(g) Within 30 days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Guarantor shall deliver to the Facility Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment a statement under section 975 of the ITA or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority.
(h) Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction. Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction) notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Account Party, the Facility Agent and the other Finance Parties.
Section 6.02 Currency Indemnity .
(a) If any sum due from the Guarantor under the Guaranteed Documents (a Sum ), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the First Currency ) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the Second Currency ) for the purpose of:
(i) making or filing a claim or proof against the Guarantor;
(ii) obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings,
the Guarantor shall as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.
(b) The Guarantor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Guaranteed Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.
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Section 6.03 Other Indemnities . The Guarantor shall, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a result of:
(a) the occurrence of any Event of Default;
(b) a failure by any Group Obligor to pay any amount due under a Guaranteed Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result of Clause 32 ( Sharing Among the Finance Parties ) of the Facility Agreement;
(c) issuing or making arrangements to issue a Letter of Credit requested by the Account Party in a Utilisation Request but not issued by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of the Facility Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone).
Section 6.04 Indemnity to the Facility Agent and the Security Agent . The Guarantor shall promptly indemnify the Facility Agent and Security Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by any of them:
(a) as a result of enforcement of this Agreement;
(b) (acting reasonably at any time other than when a Default is continuing) as a result of the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions and remedies vested in the Facility Agent and the Security Agent by the Guaranteed Documents (as applicable) or by law; or
(c) any default by any Group Obligor in the performance of any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Guaranteed Documents.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.01 Notices . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be provided in the manner specified in Clause 36 (Notices) of the Facility Agreement, except that in the case of the Guarantor, such notices and communications shall be mailed faxed or delivered to the address or facsimile number as set forth on the signature pages hereto.
Section 7.02 Know Your Customer .
If:
(a) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of the Facility Agreement;
(b) any change in the status of the Guarantor or the composition of the shareholders of a Guarantor after the date of this Agreement; or
(c) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under the Facility Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,
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obliges the Facility Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (c) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with know your customer or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Guarantor shall promptly upon the request of the Facility Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Facility Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (c) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Facility Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (c) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Guaranteed Documents.
Section 7.03 Benefit of Agreement . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto; provided the Guarantor may not assign or transfer any of its interests and obligations without prior written consent of the Facility Agent and Security Agent (and any such purported assignment or transfer without such consent shall be void); provided further that the rights of each Lender to transfer, assign or grant participations in its rights and/or obligations hereunder shall be limited as set forth in Clause 27 (Changes to the Lenders) of the Facility Agreement. Upon the assignment by any Finance Party of all or any portion of its rights and obligations under the Facility Agreement (including all or any portion of its Commitments) or any other Guaranteed Document to any other Person or by any other Guaranteed Finance Party of all or any portion of its rights and obligations under the applicable Guaranteed Document to any other Person, such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to such transferor or assignor herein or otherwise.
Section 7.04 No Waivers; Non-Exclusive Remedies . No failure or delay on the part of any Guaranteed Finance Party to exercise, no course of dealing with respect to, and no delay in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or any other Guaranteed Document, or other document or agreement contemplated hereby or thereby shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies provided herein and in the other Guaranteed Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by Law.
Section 7.05 Amendments and Waivers . Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by the Guarantor, the Facility Agent and the Security Agent (acting in accordance with the requirements of the Facility Agreement).
Section 7.06 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement may be brought in the courts of the State of New York in New York County, or of the United States for the Southern District of New York, and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, each party hereto hereby irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditional, the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such courts. Each party hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such court and any claim that any such proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by the mailing of a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to such partys address referred to in Section 7.01 . Each party hereto agrees that such service (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to it. Nothing in this Section 7.06 shall affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or limit the right of any party to bring proceedings against any other party in the courts of any jurisdiction in connection with the enforcement of and judgment.
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Section 7.07 Limitation of Law; Severability .
(a) All rights, remedies and powers provided in this may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of Law, and all of the provisions of this Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of Law which may be controlling and be limited to the extent necessary so that they will not render this Agreement invalid, unenforceable in whole or in part, or not entitled to be recorded, registered or filed under the provisions of any applicable Law.
(b) If any provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent permitted by Law: (i) the other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Facility Agent, the Security Agent and the other Guaranteed Finance Parties in order to carry out the intentions of the parties hereto as nearly as may be possible; and (ii) the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such provisions in any other jurisdiction.
Section 7.08 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness . This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. This Agreement shall become effective with respect to the Guarantor when the Facility Agent shall have received counterparts hereof signed by itself and the Guarantor.
Section 7.09 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 7.10 Termination . Upon the Discharge of Finance Obligations, this Agreement shall terminate and have no further force or effect.
Section 7.11 Release of Existing Guaranty . The parties hereto, being all of the parties to the Existing Guaranty Agreement, hereby agree that upon, and subject to, the occurrence of the Effective Date, the Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Existing Guaranty Agreement, which shall be of no further force and effect. Any release pursuant to this Section 7.11 does not, and shall not be construed to, constitute the satisfaction, discharge or extinguishment of, or affect in any other way any of the Guarantors obligations under, this Agreement or any other Guaranteed Document.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
GUARANTOR : |
HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC. | |||||||
By: |
/s/ David B. Greenfield |
|||||||
Name: | David B. Greenfield | |||||||
Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer | |||||||
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., | ||||||||
Attention: David Greenfield | ||||||||
Telecopy No. 508-926-4587 | ||||||||
Email: dgreenfield@hanover.com | ||||||||
with a copy to | ||||||||
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. | ||||||||
Attention J. Kendall Huber | ||||||||
Telecopy No. 508-926-1926 | ||||||||
Email: jhuber@hanover.com |
Acknowledged and Agreed with Respect to Section 3.01 : | ||||
CHAUCER HOLDINGS PLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Johan G. Slabbert |
|||
Name: | Johan G. Slabbert | |||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |||
Agreed to and Accepted: | ||||
LLOYDS BANK PLC, as Facility Agent | ||||
By: |
/s/ Jonathan Ferris |
|||
Name: | Jonathan Ferris | |||
Title: | Associate Director | |||
Agreed to and Accepted: | ||||
LLOYDS BANK PLC, as Security Agent | ||||
By: |
/s/ Jonathan Ferris |
|||
Name: | Jonathan Ferris | |||
Title: | Associate Director |
[Schedules and exhibit omitted]