UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
¨ |
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934 |
OR
x |
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015
OR
¨ |
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934 |
OR
¨ |
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934 |
Commission File Number 001-35931
Constellium N.V.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Constellium N.V.
(Translation of Registrants name into English)
The Netherlands
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Tupolevlaan 41-61,
1119 NW Schiphol-Rijk
The Netherlands
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
|
Ordinary Shares | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuers classes of capital or common stock as of the period covered by the annual report:
105,476,899 Class A Ordinary Shares, Nominal Value 0.02 per share
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ¨ Yes x No
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ¨ Yes x No
NoteChecking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). ¨ Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP ¨ |
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board x | Other ¨ |
If Other has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow: Item 17 ¨ Item 18 ¨
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act).
¨
Yes
x
No
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Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers |
3 | |||
3 | ||||
3 | ||||
31 | ||||
55 | ||||
55 | ||||
83 | ||||
97 | ||||
103 | ||||
104 | ||||
105 | ||||
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
129 | |||
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities |
129 | |||
129 | ||||
129 | ||||
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds |
129 | |||
129 | ||||
130 | ||||
131 | ||||
131 | ||||
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees |
132 | |||
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers |
132 | |||
132 | ||||
132 | ||||
135 | ||||
135 | ||||
135 | ||||
135 | ||||
135 | ||||
Index to Financial Statements and Schedules | F-1 |
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements with respect to our business, results of operations and financial condition, and our expectations or beliefs concerning future events and conditions. You can identify certain forward-looking statements because they contain words such as, but not limited to, believes, expects, may, should, approximately, anticipates, estimates, intends, plans, targets, likely, will, would, could and similar expressions (or the negative of these terminologies or expressions). All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Many risks and uncertainties are inherent in our industry and markets. Others are more specific to our business and operations. The occurrence of the events described and the achievement of the expected results depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this annual report on Form 20-F.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements are disclosed under Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk Factors and elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F, including, without limitation, in conjunction with the forward-looking statements included in this annual report on Form 20-F and including with respect to our estimated and projected earnings, income, equity, assets, ratios and other estimated financial results. All forward-looking statements in this annual report on Form 20-F and subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements. Some of the factors that we believe could materially affect our results include:
| our ability to implement our business strategy, including our productivity and cost reduction initiatives; |
| competition and consolidation in the industries in which we operate; |
| our susceptibility to cyclical fluctuations in the metals industry, our end-markets and our customers industries, and changes in general economic conditions; |
| the highly competitive nature of the metals industry and the risk that aluminium will become less competitive compared to alternative materials; |
| adverse conditions and disruptions in regional and global economies, including Europe, North America and Asia; |
| risk associated with our global operations, including natural disasters and currency fluctuations; |
| unplanned business interruptions and equipment failure; |
| the risk associated with being dependent on a limited number of suppliers for a substantial portion of our primary and scrap aluminium; |
| our ability to maintain and continuously improve our information technology and operational systems and financial reporting and internal controls; |
| our ability to manage our labor costs and labor relations; |
| our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; |
| losses or increased funding and expenses related to our pensions, other post-employment benefits and other long-term employee benefits plans; |
| the risk that regulation and litigation pose to our business, including our ability to maintain required licenses and regulatory approvals and comply with applicable laws and regulations, and the effects of potential changes in governmental regulations; |
| changes in our effective income tax rate or accounting standards; |
| costs or liabilities associated with environmental, health and safety matters; |
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| our increased levels of indebtedness as a result of the Wise Acquisition (as defined herein) and the funding of Body-in-White (BiW) investments, which could limit our operating flexibility and opportunities; |
| the increased levels of working capital required to operate the Wise business, which we may be unable to obtain; |
| volatility in aluminium prices and our inability to pass through the cost of regional premiums to our customers or adequately hedge the impact of regional premium differentials; |
| our exposure to unknown or unanticipated costs or liabilities, including those related to environmental matters, in connection with the Wise Acquisition; |
| disruptions to business operations resulting from the Wise Acquisition; |
| a deterioration in our financial position or a downgrade of our ratings by a credit rating agency, which could increase our borrowing costs, lead to our inability to access liquidity facilities, and adversely affect our business relationships; |
| slower or lower than expected growth in North America for Body-in-White aluminium rolled products; |
| the possibility that Constelliums joint investment with UACJ Corporation (UACJ) in BiW sheet in the U.S., as contemplated by the UACJ Term Sheet (as defined herein), may not be consummated, or may be consummated on terms materially different from those currently contemplated; |
| our ability to timely complete our expected BiW investments in North America and achieve the anticipated benefits of such investments; and |
| the other factors presented under Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk Factors. |
We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this annual report on Form 20-F may not in fact occur. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not applicable.
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not applicable.
A. | Selected Financial Data |
The following tables set forth our selected historical financial and operating data.
On January 4, 2011, Omega Holdco B.V., which later changed its name to Constellium Holdco B.V., and then again to Constellium N.V. (Constellium) acquired the Engineered Aluminum Products business unit (the EAP Business) from affiliates of Rio Tinto, a leading international mining group (the Acquisition).
The selected historical financial information as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. The selected historical financial information as of December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2012 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this Annual Report.
The audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report have been prepared in a manner that complies, in all material respects, with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (the IASB), and as endorsed by the European Union (EU).
Effective January 1, 2013, we have adopted IAS 19 Employee Benefits (revised) (IAS 19) in our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013 and in accordance with transition rules in IAS 19 we have retrospectively applied this standard to the two years ending December 31, 2012 and 2011.
Effective January 1, 2014, we changed the measure of profitability for our segments under IFRS 8 Operating Segments from Management Adjusted EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA.
References to tons throughout this Annual Report are to metric tons.
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References to the Wise Acquisition refer to our January 5, 2015 acquisition of Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries, which companies we refer to collectively as Wise. The transaction is therefore not included in the Groups consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014.
As of and for the year ended
December 31, |
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( in millions other than per share and per ton data) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Statement of income data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
5,153 | 3,666 | 3,495 | 3,610 | 3,556 | |||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
450 | 483 | 471 | 474 | 317 | |||||||||||||||
(Loss)/Income from operations |
(426 | ) | 150 | 209 | 263 | (63 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net (loss)/income for the periodcontinuing operations |
(552 | ) | 54 | 96 | 149 | (170 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net (loss)/income for the period |
(552 | ) | 54 | 100 | 141 | (178 | ) | |||||||||||||
(Loss)/earnings per sharebasic |
(5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 1.00 | 1.55 | (2.00 | ) | |||||||||||||
(Loss)/earnings per sharediluted |
(5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 0.99 | 1.55 | (2.00 | ) | |||||||||||||
(Loss)/earnings per sharebasiccontinuing operations |
(5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 0.96 | 1.64 | (1.91 | ) | |||||||||||||
(Loss)/earnings per sharedilutedcontinuing operations |
(5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 0.95 | 1.64 | (1.91 | ) | |||||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares outstanding |
105,097,442 | 105,326,872 | 98,890,945 | 89,442,416 | 89,338,433 | |||||||||||||||
Dividends per ordinary share (euro) (1) |
| | | | | |||||||||||||||
Balance sheet data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets (2) |
3,628 | 3,012 | 1,764 | 1,631 | 1,612 | |||||||||||||||
Net (liabilities)/assets or total invested equity |
(540 | ) | (37 | ) | 36 | (37 | ) | (113 | ) | |||||||||||
Share capital |
2 | 2 | 2 | | | |||||||||||||||
Other operational and financial data (unaudited): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net trade working capital (3) |
149 | 210 | 222 | 289 | 381 | |||||||||||||||
Capital expenditure (4) |
350 | 199 | 144 | 126 | 97 | |||||||||||||||
Volumes (in kt) |
1,478 | 1,062 | 1,025 | 1,033 | 1,058 | |||||||||||||||
Revenue per ton ( per ton) |
3,486 | 3,452 | 3,410 | 3,495 | 3,362 |
(1) | Prior to our initial public offering in May 2013 (the IPO), we paid certain dividends to holders of our ordinary shares, as well as to holders of our preferred shares. |
(2) | In the third quarter of 2015, the Group decided to withdraw its disposal plan for a company from the A&T operating segment classified as held for sale at the end of 2014. Accordingly, related assets and liabilities are not presented as held for sale at December 31, 2014 and 2015. |
(3) | Net trade working capital, a measurement not defined by IFRS, represents total inventories plus trade receivables less trade payables. |
(4) | Represents purchases of property, plant, and equipment. |
B. | Capitalization and Indebtedness |
Not applicable.
C. | Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds |
Not applicable.
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D. | Risk Factors |
Risks Related to Our Business
If we fail to implement our business strategy, including our productivity and Lean initiatives, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Our future financial performance and success depend in large part on our ability to successfully implement our business strategy, including investing in high-return opportunities in our core markets, focusing on higher-margin, technologically advanced products, differentiating our products, expanding our strategic relationships with customers in selected international regions, fixed-cost containment and cash management, and executing on our Lean manufacturing program. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully implement our business strategy or be able to continue improving our operating results.
Implementation of our business strategy could be affected by a number of factors beyond our control, such as increased competition, legal and regulatory developments, or general economic conditions (including slower or lower than expected growth in North America for BiW aluminium rolled products). Any failure to successfully implement our business strategy could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we may decide to alter or discontinue certain aspects of our business strategy at any time. Although we have undertaken and expect to continue to undertake productivity and manufacturing system and process transformation initiatives to improve performance, such as the Lean manufacturing program, we cannot assure you that all of these initiatives will be completed or that any estimated cost savings from such activities will be fully realized. Even when we are able to generate new efficiencies in the short- to medium-term, we may not be able to continue to reduce costs and increase productivity over the long term.
Aluminium may become less competitive with alternative materials, which could reduce our share of industry sales, lower our selling prices and reduce our sales volumes.
Our fabricated aluminium products compete with products made from other materialssuch as steel, glass, plastics and compositesfor various applications. Higher aluminium prices relative to substitute materials tend to make aluminium products less competitive with these alternative materials. Environmental and other regulations may also increase our costs and may be passed on to our customers, and may restrict the use of chemicals needed to produce aluminium products. These regulations may make our products less competitive as compared to materials that are subject to fewer regulations.
Customers in our end-markets, including the can, aerospace and automotive sectors, use and continue to evaluate the further use of alternative materials to aluminium in order to reduce the weight and increase the efficiency of their products. Although trends in light-weighting have generally increased rates of using aluminium as a substitution of other materials, the willingness of customers to accept substitutions for aluminium, or the ability of large customers to exert leverage in the marketplace to reduce the pricing for fabricated aluminium products, could adversely affect the demand for our products, and thus materially adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
The cyclical and seasonal nature of the metals industry, our end-use markets and our customers industries could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The metals industry is generally cyclical in nature, and these cyclical fluctuations tend to directly correlate with changes in general and local economic conditions. These conditions include the level of economic growth, financing availability, the availability of affordable energy sources, employment levels, interest rates, consumer confidence and housing demand. Historically, in periods of recession or periods of minimal economic growth, metals companies have often tended to underperform other sectors. In addition, economic downturns in regional and global economies, including in Europe, or a prolonged recession in our principal industry segments, have had a negative impact on our operations in the past and could have a negative impact on our future financial
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condition or results of operations. Although we continue to seek to diversify our business on a geographic and end-market basis, we cannot assure you that diversification would mitigate the effect of cyclical downturns.
We are particularly sensitive to cycles in the aerospace, defense, automotive, other transportation, building and construction and general engineering end-markets, which are highly cyclical. During recessions or periods of low growth, these industries typically experience major cutbacks in production, resulting in decreased demand for aluminium products. This leads to significant fluctuations in demand and pricing for our products and services. Because our operations are capital intensive and we generally have high fixed costs and may not be able to reduce costs and production capacity on a sufficiently rapid basis, our near-term profitability may be significantly affected by decreased processing volumes. Accordingly, reduced demand and pricing pressures may significantly reduce our profitability and materially adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
In particular, we derive a significant portion of our revenues from products sold to the aerospace industry, which is highly cyclical and tends to decline in response to overall declines in the general economy. The commercial aerospace industry is historically driven by the demand from commercial airlines for new aircraft. Demand for commercial aircraft is influenced by airline industry profitability, trends in airline passenger traffic, the state of the U.S. and global economies and numerous other factors, including the effects of terrorism. A number of major airlines have undergone Chapter 11 bankruptcy or comparable insolvency proceedings and experienced financial strain from volatile fuel prices. The aerospace industry also suffered significantly in the wake of the events of September 11, 2001, resulting in a sharp decrease globally in new commercial aircraft deliveries and order cancellations or deferrals by the major airlines. Despite existing backlogs, continued financial uncertainty in the industry, inadequate liquidity of certain airline companies, production issues and delays in the launch of new aircraft programs at major aircraft manufacturers, stock variations in the supply chain, terrorist acts or the increased threat of terrorism may lead to reduced demand for new aircraft that utilize our products, which could materially adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Further, the demand for our automotive extrusions and rolled products and many of our general engineering and other industrial products is dependent on the production of cars, light trucks, and heavy duty vehicles and trailers. The automotive industry is highly cyclical, as new vehicle demand is dependent on consumer spending and is tied closely to the strength of the overall economy. We note that the demand for luxury vehicles in China has become significant over the past several years and therefore fluctuations in the Chinese economy may adversely affect the demand for our products. Production cuts by manufacturers may adversely affect the demand for our products. Many automotive-related manufacturers and first tier suppliers are burdened with substantial structural costs, including pension, healthcare and labor costs that have resulted in severe financial difficulty, including bankruptcy, for several of them. A worsening of these companies financial condition or their bankruptcy could have further serious effects on the conditions of the markets, which directly affects the demand for our products. In addition, the loss of business with respect to, or a lack of commercial success of, one or more particular vehicle models for which we are a significant supplier could have a materially adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Customer demand in the aluminium industry is also affected by holiday seasons, weather conditions, economic and other factors beyond our control. Our volumes are impacted by the timing of the holiday seasons in particular, with August and December typically being the lowest months and January to June being the strongest months. Our business is also impacted by seasonal slowdowns and upturns in certain of our customers industries. Historically, the can industry is strongest in the spring and summer season, whereas the automotive and construction sectors encounter slowdowns in both the third and fourth quarters of the calendar year. Therefore, our quarterly financial results could fluctuate as a result of climatic or other seasonal changes, and a prolonged period of unusually cool summers in different regions in which we conduct our business could have a negative effect on our financial results and cash flows.
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We may not be able to compete successfully in the highly competitive markets in which we operate, and new competitors could emerge, which could negatively impact our share of industry sales, sales volumes and selling prices.
We are engaged in a highly competitive industry. We compete in the production and sale of rolled aluminium products with a number of other aluminium rolling mills, including large, single-purpose sheet mills, continuous casters and other multi-purpose mills, some of which are larger and have greater financial and technical resources than we do. Producers with a different cost basis may, in certain circumstances, have a competitive pricing advantage. Our competitors may be better able to withstand reductions in price or other adverse industry or economic conditions.
In addition, a current or new competitor may also add or build new capacity, which could diminish our profitability by decreasing equilibrium prices in our marketplace. New competitors could emerge from within Europe or North America or globally, including from China, Russia and the Middle East, and could include existing producers and sellers of steel products that may seek to compete in our industry. Emerging or transitioning markets in these regions with abundant natural resources, low-cost labor and energy, and lower environmental and other standards may pose a significant competitive threat to our business. Our competitive position may also be affected by exchange rate fluctuations that may make our products less competitive. Changes in regulation that have a disproportionately negative effect on us or our methods of production may also diminish our competitive advantage and industry position. In addition, technological innovation is important to our customers who require us to lead or keep pace with new innovations to address their needs. If we do not compete successfully, our share of industry sales, sales volumes and selling prices may be negatively impacted.
In addition, the aluminium industry has experienced consolidation over the past years and there may be further industry consolidation in the future. Although industry consolidation has not yet had a significant negative impact on our business, if we do not have sufficient market presence or are unable to differentiate ourselves from our competitors, we may not be able to compete successfully against other companies. If as a result of consolidation, our competitors are able to obtain more favorable terms from suppliers or otherwise take actions that could increase their competitive strengths, our competitive position and therefore our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
The beverage can sheet industry is competitive, and our competitors have greater resources and product and geographic diversity than we do.
The market for beverage can sheet products is competitive. Our competitors have market presence, operating capabilities and financial and other resources that are greater than ours. They also have greater product and geographic diversity than we do. Because of their greater resources and product and geographic diversity, these competitors may have an advantage over us in their abilities to research and develop technology, pursue acquisition, investment and other business opportunities, market and sell their products and services, capitalize on market opportunities, enter new markets and withstand business interruptions or adverse global economic conditions. There are no assurances that we will be able to compete successfully in these circumstances.
In addition, we are subject to competition from non-aluminium sources of packaging, such as plastics and glass. Consumer demand and preferences also impact customer selection of packaging materials. While we believe that the recyclability of aluminium, coupled with increasing consumer focus on resource conservation, may reduce the impact of competition from certain alternative packaging sources, there is no guaranty that such competition will be reduced.
Our business involves significant activity in Europe, and adverse conditions and disruptions in European economies could have a material adverse effect on our operations or financial performance.
A material portion of our sales are generated by customers located in Europe. The financial markets remain concerned about the ability of certain European countries to finance their deficits and service growing debt burdens amidst difficult economic conditions. This loss of confidence has led to rescue measures by Eurozone
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countries and the International Monetary Fund. Despite these measures, concerns persist regarding the debt burden of certain Eurozone countries and their ability to meet future financial obligations, the overall stability of the euro and the suitability of the euro as a single currency given the diverse economic and political circumstances in individual Eurozone countries. In addition, the actions required to be taken by those countries as a condition to rescue packages, and by other countries to mitigate similar developments in their economies, have resulted in increased political discord within and among Eurozone countries. The interdependencies among European economies and financial institutions have also exacerbated concern regarding the stability of European financial markets generally. These concerns could lead to the re-introduction of individual currencies in one or more Eurozone countries, or, in more extreme circumstances, the possible dissolution of the euro currency entirely. Should the euro dissolve entirely, the legal and contractual consequences for holders of euro-denominated obligations would be determined by laws in effect at such time. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could materially adversely affect the value of the Companys euro-denominated assets and obligations. In addition, concerns over the effect of this financial crisis on financial institutions in Europe and globally could have a material adverse impact on the capital markets generally. Persistent disruptions in the European financial markets, the overall stability of the euro and the suitability of the euro as a single currency or the failure of a significant European financial institution, could have a material adverse impact on our operations or financial performance.
In addition, there can be no assurance that the actions we have taken or may take in response to global economic conditions may be sufficient to counter any continuation or reoccurrence of the downturn or disruptions. A significant global economic downturn or disruptions in the financial markets would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Adverse changes in currency exchange rates could negatively affect our financial results.
The financial condition and results of operations of some of our operating entities are reported in various currencies and then translated into euros at the applicable exchange rate for inclusion in our consolidated financial statements. As a result, the appreciation of the euro against the currencies of our operating local entities may have a negative impact on reported revenues and operating profit, and the resulting accounts receivable, while depreciation of the euro against these currencies may generally have a positive effect on reported revenues and operating profit. We do not hedge translation of forecasted results or actual results.
In addition, while the majority of costs incurred are denominated in local currencies, a portion of the revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars and other currencies. As a result, appreciation in the U.S. dollar may have a positive impact on earnings while depreciation of the U.S. dollar may have a negative impact on earnings. While we engage in significant hedging activity to attempt to mitigate this foreign transactions currency risk, this may not fully protect us from adverse effects due to currency fluctuations on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
A portion of our revenues is derived from our international operations, which exposes us to certain risks inherent in doing business globally.
We have operations primarily in the United States, Germany, France, Slovakia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and China and primarily sell our products across Europe, Asia and North America. We also continue to explore opportunities to expand our international operations. Our operations generally are subject to financial, political, economic and business risks in connection with our global operations, including:
| changes in international governmental regulations, trade restrictions and laws, including those relating to taxes, employment and repatriation of earnings; |
| currency exchange rate fluctuations; |
| tariffs and other trade barriers; |
| the potential for nationalization of enterprises or government policies favoring local production; |
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| renegotiation or nullification of existing agreements; |
| interest rate fluctuations; |
| high rates of inflation; |
| currency restrictions and limitations on repatriation of profits; |
| differing protections for intellectual property and enforcement thereof; |
| divergent environmental laws and regulations; and |
| political, economic and social instability. |
The occurrence of any of these events could cause our costs to rise, limit growth opportunities or have a negative effect on our operations and our ability to plan for future periods. In certain emerging markets, the degree of these risks may be higher due to more volatile economic conditions, less developed and predictable legal and regulatory regimes and increased potential for various types of adverse governmental action.
We are dependent on a limited number of suppliers for a substantial portion of our aluminium supply and a failure to successfully renew, renegotiate or re-price our long-term agreements or related arrangements with our suppliers may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our ability to produce competitively priced aluminium products depends on our ability to procure competitively priced supply of aluminium in a timely manner and in sufficient quantities to meet our production needs. We have supply arrangements with a limited number of suppliers for aluminium and other raw materials. Our top 10 suppliers accounted for approximately 45% of our total purchases for the year ended December 31, 2015. Increasing aluminium demand levels have caused regional supply constraints in the industry, and further increases in demand levels could exacerbate these issues. We maintain long-term contracts for a majority of our supply requirements, and for the remainder we depend on annual and spot purchases. There can be no assurance that we will be able to renew, or obtain replacements for, any of our long-term contracts or any related arrangements when they expire on terms that are as favorable as our existing agreements or at all. Additionally, if any of our key suppliers is unable to deliver sufficient quantities of this material on a timely basis, our production may be disrupted and we could be forced to purchase primary metal and other supplies from alternative sources, which may not be available in sufficient quantities or may only be available on terms that are less favorable to us. As a result, an interruption in key supplies required for our operations could have a material adverse effect on our ability to produce and deliver products on a timely or cost-efficient basis and therefore on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, a significant downturn in the business or financial condition of our significant suppliers exposes us to the risk of default by the supplier on our contractual agreements, and this risk is increased by weak and deteriorating economic conditions on a global, regional or industry sector level.
We depend on scrap aluminium for our operations and acquire our scrap inventory from numerous sources. Our suppliers generally are not bound by long-term contracts and have no obligation to sell scrap metal to us. In periods of low inventory prices, suppliers may elect to hold scrap until they are able to charge higher prices. In addition, a decrease in the supply of used beverage containers (UBCs) available to us resulting from a decrease in the rate at which consumers consume or recycle products contained or packaged in aluminium beverage cans could negatively impact our supply of aluminium. For example, the slowdown in industrial production and consumer consumption during the recent economic crisis reduced and may continue to reduce the supply of scrap metal available. If an adequate supply of scrap metal is not available to us, we would be unable to recycle metals at desired volumes and our results of operation, financial condition and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
In addition, we seek to take advantage of the lower price of scrap aluminium compared to primary aluminium to provide a cost-competitive product. A decrease in the supply of scrap aluminium could increase its cost per pound. To the extent the discount between the primary aluminium price and scrap price narrows, our competitive advantage may be reduced. We cannot make use of financial markets to effectively hedge against
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reductions in this discount as this market is not readily available. If the difference between the price of primary and scrap aluminium is narrow for a considerable period of time, it could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our financial results could be adversely affected by the volatility in aluminium prices.
The overall price of primary aluminium consists of several components: (1) the underlying base metal component, which is typically based on quoted prices from the London Metal Exchange (LME); (2) the regional premium, which represents an incremental price over the base LME component that is associated with the physical delivery of metal to a particular region (e.g., the Midwest premium for metal sold in the U.S. or the Rotterdam premium for metal sold in Europe); and (3) the product premium, which represents a separate incremental price for receiving physical metal in a particular shape (e.g., billet, slab, rod, etc.), alloy, or purity. Each of these three components has its own drivers of variability. The LME price is typically driven by macroeconomic factors, global supply and demand of aluminium, including expectations for growth and contraction and the level of global inventories. Regional premiums tend to vary based on the supply and demand for metal in a particular region and associated warehousing and transportation costs. Product premiums generally are a function of supply and demand as well as production and raw material costs for a given primary aluminium shape and alloy combination in a particular region.
Speculative trading in aluminium has increased in recent years, contributing to higher levels of price volatility. In 2015, the LME cash price of aluminium reached a high of $1,919 per metric ton and a low of $1,424 per metric ton compared to a high of $2,114 and a low of $1,642 per metric ton in 2014. During 2014, regional premiums reached levels substantially higher than historical averages, whereas in 2015, such premiums experienced significant decreases in all regions, reverting to levels that are closer to historical averages. The Rotterdam regional premium increased from an average of 3% of the LME base price in the period from 2000 to 2009 to 26% of the LME base price in December 2014. The Midwest regional premium increased from an average of 6% of the LME base price to 27% of the LME base price during the same periods. New LME warehousing rules, which took effect in February 2015, and increasing exports from China led to an increase in the supply of aluminium entering the physical market and in turn caused regional premiums to decrease sharply between February and April 2015 to reach 11% of the LME base price for the Rotterdam regional premium and to 13% of the LME base price for the Midwest regional premium in December 2015. Sustained high aluminium prices, increases in aluminium prices, the inability to meaningfully hedge our exposure to aluminium prices, or the inability to pass through any fluctuation in regional premiums or product premiums to our customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations and cash flow.
If we are unable to adequately mitigate the cost of price increases of our raw materials, including aluminium, our profitability could be adversely affected.
Prices for the raw materials we require are subject to continuous volatility and may increase from time to time. Although our sales are generally made on a margin over metal price basis, if prices increase we may not be able to pass on the entire cost of the increases to our customers. There could also be a time lag between when changes in prices under our purchase contracts are effective and the point when we can implement corresponding changes under our sales contracts with our customers. As a result, we are exposed to fluctuations in raw materials prices, including metal, since during this time lag we may have to temporarily bear the additional cost of the price change under our purchase contracts. Further, although most of our contracts allow us to pass through metal prices to our customers, we have certain contracts that are based on fixed metal pricing where pass through is not available. Similarly, in certain contracts we have ineffective pass through mechanisms related to Midwest regional premium fluctuation. A related risk is that a sustained significant increase in raw materials prices may cause some of our customers to substitute our products with other materials. We attempt to mitigate these risks, including through hedging, but we may not be able to successfully reduce or eliminate any resulting negative impact, which could have a material adverse effect on our profitability and financial results.
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Our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity could be adversely affected if we are unable to execute on our hedging policy, if counterparties to our derivative instruments fail to honor their agreements or if we are unable to purchase derivative instruments.
We purchase and sell LME and other forwards, futures and options contracts as part of our efforts to reduce our exposure to changes in currency exchange rates, aluminium prices and other raw materials prices. If we are unable to purchase derivative instruments to manage those risks due to the cost or availability of such instruments or other factors, or if we are not successful in passing through the costs of our risk management activities, our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity could be adversely affected. Our ability to realize the benefit of our hedging program is dependent upon many factors, including factors that are beyond our control. For example, our foreign exchange hedges are scheduled to mature on the expected payment date by the customer; therefore, if the customer fails to pay an invoice on time and does not warn us in advance, we may be unable to reschedule the maturity date of the foreign exchange hedge, which could result in an outflow of foreign currency that will not be offset until the customer makes the payment. We may realize a gain or a loss in unwinding such hedges. In addition, our metal-price hedging programs depend on our ability to match our monthly exposure to sold and purchased metal, which can be made difficult by seasonal variations in metal demand, unplanned changes in metal delivery dates by either us or by our customers and other disruptions to our inventories, including for maintenance. In 2015, we were unable to hedge all of our exposure to the increase in the Midwest regional premium component of aluminium prices, resulting in unrecovered Midwest premium charges of 22 million at Wise.
We may also be exposed to losses if the counterparties to our derivative instruments fail to honor their agreements. Further, if major financial institutions continue to consolidate and are forced to operate under more restrictive capital constraints and regulations, there could be less liquidity in the derivative markets, which could have a negative effect on our ability to hedge and transact with creditworthy counterparties.
To the extent our hedging transactions fix prices or exchange rates, if primary aluminium prices, energy costs or foreign exchange rates are below the fixed prices or rates established by our hedging transactions, then our income and cash flows will be lower than they otherwise would have been. Similarly, if we do not adequately hedge for prices and premiums (including the Midwest regional premium) of our aluminium and other raw materials, our financial results may also be negatively impacted. Further, we do not apply hedge accounting to our forwards, futures or option contracts. As a result, unrealized gains and losses on our derivative financial instruments must be reported in our consolidated results of operations. The inclusion of such unrealized gains and losses in earnings may produce significant period over period earnings volatility that is not necessarily reflective of our underlying operating performance. In addition, in certain scenarios when market price movements result in a decline in value of our current derivatives position, our mark-to-market expense may exceed our credit line and counterparties may request the posting of cash collateral which, in turn, can be a significant demand on our liquidity.
At certain times, hedging instruments may simply be unavailable or not available on terms acceptable to us. In addition, recent legislation has been adopted to increase the regulatory oversight of over-the-counter derivatives markets and derivative transactions. The companies and transactions that are subject to these regulations may change. If future regulations subject us to additional capital or margin requirements or other restrictions on our trading and commodity positions, this could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our production capacity might not be able to meet growing market demand or changing market conditions.
We may be unable to meet market demand due to production capacity constraints or operational challenges. Meeting such demand may require us to make substantial capital investments to repair, maintain, upgrade, and expand our facilities and equipment. We intend to invest to increase Wises current hot mill capacity and we also
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recently announced that we executed a Term Sheet with UACJ to expand our joint venture with UACJ to produce automotive BiW sheet in the U.S., and to establish a leadership position in the growing North American BiW market. We also intend to install a new pusher furnace at our Ravenswood, West Virginia facility and have recently invested in equipment in our European facilities. Notwithstanding these plans and investments, we may not be able to expand our production capacity quickly enough in response to changing market conditions, and there can be no assurance that our production capacity will be able to meet our obligations and the growing market demand for our products. If we are unable to adequately expand our production capacity, we may be unable to take advantage of improved market conditions and increased demand for our products. We may also experience loss of market share, operational difficulties, increased costs, penalties for late delivery, reduction in demand for our products, and our reputation with our customers may be harmed, resulting in loss of business and a negative impact on our financial performance.
We are subject to unplanned business interruptions that may materially adversely affect our business.
Our operations may be materially adversely affected by unplanned events such as explosions, fires, war or terrorism, inclement weather, accidents, equipment, information technology systems and process failures, electrical blackouts or outages, transportation interruptions and supply interruptions. Operational interruptions at one or more of our production facilities could cause substantial losses and delays in our production capacity or increase our operating costs. In addition, replacement of assets damaged by such events could be difficult or expensive, and to the extent these losses are not covered by insurance or our insurance policies have significant deductibles, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows may be materially adversely affected by such events. For example, in 2008, a stretcher at Constelliums Ravenswood, West Virginia facility was damaged due to a defect in its hydraulic system, causing a substantial outage at that facility that had a material impact on our production volumes at this facility and on our financial results for the affected period. In September 2015, Constelliums Neuf-Brisach plant suffered an unplanned outage at the manufacturing facility as a result of the breakdown of a scalper. The outage had an adverse impact on the earnings for the third quarter of 2015.
Furthermore, because customers may be dependent on planned deliveries from us, customers that have to reschedule their own production due to our delivery delays may be able to pursue financial claims against us, and we may incur costs to correct such problems in addition to any liability resulting from such claims. Interruptions may also harm our reputation among actual and potential customers, potentially resulting in a loss of business.
If we were to lose order volumes from any of our largest customers, our sales volumes, revenues and cash flows would be reduced.
Our business is exposed to risks related to customer concentration. Our ten largest customers accounted for approximately 52% of our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015, two of which accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated revenues over the same period. A significant downturn in the business or financial condition of our significant customers exposes us to the risk of default on contractual agreements and trade receivables, and this risk is increased by weak and deteriorating economic conditions on a global, regional or industry sector level.
If we fail to successfully renew, renegotiate or re-price our long-term agreements or related arrangements with our largest customers, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
We have long-term contracts and related arrangements with a significant number of our customers, some of which are subject to renewal, renegotiation or re-pricing at periodic intervals or upon changes in competitive and regulatory supply conditions. They also provide certain termination rights to our customers. Our failure to successfully renew, renegotiate or re-price such agreements, at all or on terms as favorable as our existing contracts and arrangements, or a material deterioration in or termination of these customer relationships, could result in a reduction or loss in customer purchase volume or revenue, and if we are not successful in replacing business lost from such customers, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
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In addition, our strategy of having dedicated facilities and arrangements with customers subjects us to the inherent risk of increased dependence on a single or a few customers with respect to these facilities. In such cases, the loss of such a customer, or the reduction of that customers business at one or more of our facilities, could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations, and we may be unable to timely replace, or replace at all, lost order volumes and revenue.
The price volatility of energy costs may adversely affect our profitability.
Our operations use natural gas and electricity, which represent the third largest component of our cost of sales, after metal and labor costs. We purchase part of our natural gas and electricity on a spot-market basis. The volatility in costs of fuel, principally natural gas, and other utility services, principally electricity, used by our production facilities affects operating costs. Fuel and utility prices have been, and will continue to be, affected by factors outside our control, such as supply and demand for fuel and utility services in both local and regional markets as well as governmental regulation and imposition of further taxes on energy. Although we have secured some of our natural gas and electricity under fixed price commitments or long-term contracts with suppliers, future increases in fuel and utility prices, or disruptions in energy supply, may have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Regulations regarding carbon dioxide emissions, and unfavorable allocation of rights to emit carbon dioxide or other air emission-related issues, as well as other environmental laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Many scientists, legislators and others attribute climate change to increased levels of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, which has led to significant legislative and regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Measures to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions that could directly or indirectly affect us or our suppliers are currently being developed or may be developed in the future. Substantial quantities of greenhouse gases are released as a consequence of our operations. Compliance with regulations governing such emissions tend to become more stringent over time and could lead to a need for us to further reduce such greenhouse gas emissions, to purchase rights to emit from third parties, or to make other changes to our business, all of which could result in significant additional costs or could reduce demand for our products. In addition, we are a significant purchaser of energy. Existing and future regulations relating to the emission of carbon dioxide by our energy suppliers could result in materially increased energy costs for our operations, and we may be unable to pass along these increased energy costs to our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, a revised European emissions trading system or a successor to the Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our fabrication process is subject to regulations that may hinder our ability to manufacture our products. Some of the chemicals we use on our fabrication processes are subject to government regulation, such as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) in the EU. Under REACH, we are required to register some of our products with the European Chemicals Agency, and this process could cause significant delays or costs. If we fail to comply with these or similar laws and regulations, we may be required to make significant expenditures to reformulate the chemicals that we use in our products and materials or incur costs to register such chemicals to gain and/or regain compliance, and we may lose customers or revenue as a result. Additionally, we could be subject to significant fines or other civil and criminal penalties should we not achieve such compliance. To the extent that other nations in which we operate also require chemical registration, potential delays similar to those in Europe may delay our entry into these markets. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining regulatory approvals for chemical products used in our facilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We may not be able to successfully develop and implement new technology initiatives and other strategic investments in a timely manner.
We have invested in, and are involved with, a number of technology and process initiatives, including the development of new aluminium-lithium products. Being at the forefront of technological development is important to remain competitive. Several technical aspects of certain of these initiatives are still unproven and/or the eventual commercial outcomes and feasibility cannot be assessed with any certainty. Even if we are successful with these initiatives, we may not be able to bring them to market as planned before our competitors or at all, and the initiatives may end up costing more than expected. As a result, the costs and benefits from our investments in new technologies and the impact on our financial results may vary from present expectations.
In addition, we have undertaken and may continue to undertake growth, streamlining and productivity initiatives to improve performance. For example, we anticipate additional investments in the U.S. to increase our current hot mill capacity and build dedicated BiW finishing capacity. We cannot assure you that these initiatives will be completed or that they will have their intended benefits. Capital investments in debottlenecking or other organic growth initiatives may not produce the returns we anticipate. Even if we are able to generate new efficiencies successfully in the short- to medium-term, we may not be able to continue to reduce cost and increase productivity over the long term.
Our business requires substantial capital investments that we may be unable to fulfill. We may be unable to timely complete our expected capital investments, including in BiW, or may be unable to achieve the anticipated benefits of such investments.
Our operations are capital intensive. Our total capital expenditures were 350 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 199 million and 144 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. We further anticipate remaining capital investments requirements to total approximately 1,480 million in the years ending December 31, 2016 to 2021, in the aggregate. Investments in Wise and in our Joint Venture with UACJ, after giving effect to the contemplated transaction with UACJ, including both maintenance and growth investments are expected to aggregate to approximately 345 million and 193 million respectively in the years ending December 31, 2016 to 2021. After giving effect to the transaction contemplated with UACJ, investments in our BiW Expansion program are expected to be approximately 284 million in the years ending December 31, 2016 to 2021, in the aggregate. See Item 4. Information on the CompanyB. Business OverviewRecent DevelopmentsExpansion of Joint Venture with UACJ.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to complete our capital investments, including our expected investments in BiW, on schedule, or that we will be able to achieve the anticipated benefits of such capital investments. In addition, we are under no legal obligation to complete the BiW Expansion program. We may at any time determine not to complete the BiW Expansion program. Additionally, we may not generate sufficient operating cash flows and our external financing sources may not be available in an amount sufficient to enable us to make anticipated capital expenditures (including completing our expected BiW investments), service or refinance our indebtedness or fund other liquidity needs.
If we are unable to make upgrades or purchase new plants and equipment, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected by higher maintenance costs, lower sales volumes due to the impact of reduced product quality, and other competitive factors. If we are unable or determine not to complete our expected BiW investments, or such investments are delayed, we will not realize the anticipated benefits of such investments, which may adversely affect our results of operations.
Our planned joint investment with UACJ in BiW sheet in the U.S. may not be consummated, or may be consummated on terms that differ materially from those currently contemplated by the UACJ Term Sheet. We may be unable to execute on our strategy with respect to the joint venture with UACJ.
On March 10, 2016, Constellium announced that it had executed the UACJ Term Sheet with UACJ to expand the parties joint venture to produce automotive BiW sheet in the U.S. and establish a leadership position
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in the growing North American BiW market. Under the expanded joint venture, Constellium and UACJ contemplate a joint investment in two previously announced 100 kt finishing lines, which would be funded 51% by Constellium and 49% by Tri-Arrows Aluminium Holdings, a U.S. affiliate of UACJ. We currently expect the expanded joint venture, along with savings on upstream cost optimization, to reduce Constelliums estimated capital requirement in North America to approximately $340 million through 2021 ($312 million or 284 million in the years ended December 31, 2016 to 2021), compared to the $620 million previously announced in October 2015 and $750 million announced in October 2014. See Item 4. Information on the CompanyB. Business OverviewRecent DevelopmentsExpansion of Joint Venture with UACJ.
Pursuant to the terms of the UACJ Term Sheet, the joint investment is subject to board approval by each party and the negotiation and execution of definitive documentation. If the board of directors of either Constellium or UACJ does not approve the joint investment contemplated by the UACJ Term Sheet, or if Constellium and UACJ do not reach agreement on and execute definitive documents in respect of the joint investment, then Constellium will not obtain the anticipated benefits of the joint investments, including the reduction in Constelliums estimated capital requirement to fund its BiW investments in the U.S. Any definitive documents executed pursuant to the UACJ Term Sheet may have terms that differ materially from those currently contemplated.
In addition, we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully implement the planned expansion or our business strategy with respect to our joint venture with UACJ. Any inability to execute on the expansion or our strategy with respect to the joint venture could inhibit or materially reduce our expected reduction in capital expenditures and could adversely affect our operations overall.
As part of our ongoing evaluation of our operations, we may undertake additional restructuring efforts in the future which could in some instances result in significant severance-related costs and other restructuring charges.
We recorded restructuring charges of 8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, 12 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, and 8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Restructuring costs in 2015, 2014 and 2013 were primarily related to corporate and other sites restructuring operations. We may pursue additional restructuring activities in the future, which could result in significant severance-related costs, restructuring charges and related costs and expenses, including resulting labor disputes, which could materially adversely affect our profitability and cash flows.
A deterioration in our financial position or a downgrade of our ratings by a credit rating agency could increase our borrowing costs, lead to our inability to access liquidity facilities, and adversely affect our business relationships.
A deterioration in our financial position or a downgrade of our credit ratings could adversely affect our financing, limit access to the capital or credit markets or our liquidity facilities, or otherwise adversely affect the availability of other new financing on favorable terms, or at all, result in more restrictive covenants in agreements governing the terms of any future indebtedness that we incur, increase our borrowing costs, or otherwise impair our business, financial condition and results of operations.
While the terms of our other existing financing arrangements do not require us to maintain a specific credit rating, the commitments of Hitachi Capital America Corp. (the New Wise RPA Purchaser) under the New Wise Receivables Purchase Agreement (the New Wise RPA) are conditioned on, among other things, (i) Constelliums corporate credit rating not having been withdrawn by either Standard & Poors or Moodys or downgraded below B- by Standard & Poors and B3 by Moodys, and (ii) there not having occurred a material adverse change in the business condition, operations, or performance of Wise Alloys Funding II LLC (the New Wise RPA Seller), Wise Alloys LLC, or Constellium Holdco II B.V. If Constelliums corporate credit rating is withdrawn by either Standard & Poors or Moodys or downgraded below B- by Standard & Poors and B3 by
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Moodys, or a material adverse change occurs in the business condition, operations or performance of the New Wise RPA Seller, Wise Alloys LLC, or the Constellium Holdco II B.V., a condition precedent to the obligation of the New Wise RPA Purchaser under the New Wise RPA to purchase receivables from the New Wise RPA Seller will not be satisfied, and all purchases under the New Wise RPA will become uncommitted. If the New Wise RPA is not extended, refinanced or replaced, Wises cash collections from customers will be on longer terms than currently funded through the New Wise RPA. As a result, Wises liquidity could meaningfully decrease, causing Wise to have insufficient liquidity to operate its business and service its indebtedness, unless another source of liquidity, which may include capital contributions from the ultimate parent Constellium N.V., is identified. See Item 10. Additional InformationC. Material ContractsWise Factoring Facilities and Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk FactorsWise has substantial leverage and may be unable to obtain sufficient liquidity to operate its business and service its indebtedness. Constellium may elect to make capital contributions to Wise but is under no legal obligation to do so.
A deterioration of our financial position or a further downgrade of our credit ratings for any reason could also increase our borrowing costs and have an adverse effect on our business relationships with customers, suppliers and hedging counterparties. As discussed above, we enter into various forms of hedging arrangements against currency, interest rate or metal price fluctuations and trade metal contracts on the LME. Financial strength and credit ratings are important to the availability and pricing of these hedging and trading activities. As a result, any downgrade of our credit ratings may make it more costly for us to engage in these activities, and changes to our level of indebtedness may make it more difficult or costly for us to engage in hedging and trading activities in the future.
Our indebtedness could materially adversely affect our ability to invest in or fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry or force us to take alternative measures.
Our indebtedness impacts our flexibility in operating our business and could have important consequences for our business and operations, including the following: (i) it may make us more vulnerable to downturns in our business or the economy; (ii) a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations will be dedicated to the repayment of our indebtedness and will not be available for other purposes; (iii) it may restrict us from making strategic acquisitions, introducing new technologies or exploiting business opportunities; and (iv) it may adversely affect the terms under which suppliers provide goods and services to us. Our indebtedness has materially increased as a result of the Wise Acquisition. By increasing our indebtedness, we have made ourselves more susceptible to the risks discussed above.
If we are unable to meet our debt service obligations, including our obligations under the May 2014 Notes, the December 2014 Notes, the Senior Secured Notes issued on March 30, 2016, and the Wise Notes, and pay our expenses, we may be forced to reduce or delay business activities and capital expenditures (including, without limitation, our expected investments in BiW), sell assets, obtain additional debt or equity capital, restructure or refinance all or a portion of our debt before maturity or take other measures. Such measures may materially adversely affect our business. If these alternative measures are unsuccessful, we could default on our obligations, which could result in the acceleration of our outstanding debt obligations and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The terms of our indebtedness contain covenants that restrict our current and future operations, and a failure by us to comply with those covenants may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our indebtedness contains, and any future indebtedness we may incur would likely contain, a number of restrictive covenants that will impose significant operating and financial restrictions on our ability to, among other things: (i) incur or guarantee additional debt; (ii) pay dividends and make other restricted payments and investments (including investments in and guarantees of certain indebtedness of Wise); (iii) create or incur certain liens; (iv) make certain loans, acquisitions or investments; (v) engage in sales of assets and subsidiary stock; (vi) enter into transactions with affiliates (including transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries
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(other than Wise), on the one hand, and Wise, on the other, that are not at least as favorable to Wise as would be obtained in an arms-length transaction); (vii) transfer all or substantially all of our assets or enter into merger or consolidation transactions; and (viii) enter into sale and lease-back transactions.
In addition, the Wise ABL Facility provides that if borrowing availability thereunder drops below a threshold amount equal to the greater of (a) 10% of the aggregate commitments under the Wise ABL Facility and (b) $20 million, Wise Alloys LLC will be required to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0 to 1.0, calculated on a trailing twelve month basis until such time as borrowing availability has been at least equal to the greater of $20 million and 10% of the aggregate commitments under the Wise ABL Facility for thirty consecutive days.
A failure to comply with our debt covenants could result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. If we default under our indebtedness, we may not be able to borrow additional amounts and our lenders could elect to declare all outstanding borrowings, together with accrued and unpaid interest and fees, to be due and payable, or take other remedial actions. Our indebtedness also contains cross-default provisions, which means that if an event of default occurs under certain material indebtedness, such event of default may trigger an event of default under our other indebtedness. If our indebtedness were to be accelerated, we cannot assure you that our assets would be sufficient to repay such indebtedness in full and our lenders could foreclose on our pledged assets. See Item 10. Additional InformationC. Material Contracts.
Our existing, and any future, variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our annual debt service obligations to increase significantly.
A portion of our indebtedness is, and our future indebtedness may be, subject to variable rates of interest, exposing us to interest rate risk. See Item 10. Additional InformationC. Material Contracts. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on the variable rate indebtedness would increase, resulting in a reduction of our net income that could be significant, even though the principal amount borrowed would remain the same.
We could be required to make unexpected contributions to our defined benefit pension plans as a result of adverse changes in interest rates and the capital markets.
Most of our pension obligations relate to funded defined benefit pension plans for our employees in the United States and Switzerland, unfunded pension benefits in France and Germany, and lump sum indemnities payable to our employees in France and Germany upon retirement or termination. Our pension plan assets consist primarily of funds invested in listed stocks and bonds. Our estimates of liabilities and expenses for pensions and other post-retirement benefits incorporate a number of assumptions, including interest rates used to discount future benefits. Our results of operations, liquidity or shareholders equity in a particular period could be materially adversely affected by capital market returns that are less than their assumed long-term rate of return or a decline in the rate used to discount future benefits. If the assets of our pension plans do not achieve assumed investment returns for any period, such deficiency could result in one or more charges against our earnings for that period. In addition, changing economic conditions, poor pension investment returns or other factors may require us to make unexpected cash contributions to the pension plans in the future, preventing the use of such cash for other purposes.
In addition, Wise provides benefits under a defined benefit pension plan that was frozen in 2007. Declines in interest rates or the value of pension assets or certain other changes could affect the level and timing of required contributions to the pension plan in the future. If future contributions are insufficient to fund the pension plan adequately to cover Wises future pension obligations, we could incur cash expenditures and costs materially higher than anticipated. Wises pension obligation is calculated annually and is based on several assumptions, including then prevailing conditions, which may change from year to year. In any year, if these assumptions are inaccurate, we could be required to expend greater amounts than anticipated.
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Wise also participates in various multi-employer pension plans administered by labor unions representing some of its employees. Wises withdrawal liability for any multi-employer plan would depend on the extent of the plans funding of vested benefits. In the ordinary course of Wises renegotiation of collective bargaining agreements with labor unions that maintain these plans, Wise could decide to discontinue participation in a plan, and in that event Wise could face a withdrawal liability. Wise could also be treated as withdrawing from participation in one of these plans if the number of its employees participating in these plans is reduced to a certain degree over certain periods of time. Such reductions in the number of Wises employees participating in these plans could occur as a result of changes in Wises business operations, such as facility closures or consolidations. Any withdrawal liability could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
A substantial percentage of our workforce is unionized or covered by collective bargaining agreements that may not be successfully renegotiated.
A significant number of our employees are represented by unions or equivalent bodies or are covered by collective bargaining or similar agreements that are subject to periodic renegotiation. Although we believe that we will be able to successfully negotiate new collective bargaining agreements when the current agreements expire, these negotiations may not prove successful, and may result in a significant increase in the cost of labor, or may break down and result in the disruption or cessation of our operations.
The loss of certain members of our management team may have a material adverse effect on our operating results.
Our success will depend, in part, on the efforts of our senior management and other key employees. These individuals possess sales, marketing, engineering, technical, manufacturing, financial and administrative skills that are critical to the operation of our business. If we lose or suffer an extended interruption in the services of one or more of our senior officers or other key employees, our ability to operate and expand our business, improve our operations, develop new products, and, as a result, our financial condition and results of operations, may be negatively affected. Moreover, the hiring of qualified individuals is highly competitive in our industry, and we may not be able to attract and retain qualified personnel to replace or succeed members of our senior management or other key employees.
As a result of the Wise Acquisition, we may not be able to retain key personnel or recruit additional qualified personnel and may experience disruptions and uncertainty surrounding our relationships with existing and future customers and suppliers.
We are highly dependent on the continuing efforts of our senior management team and other key personnel. As a result of the Wise Acquisition, our current and prospective employees, including Wise employees, could experience uncertainty about their future roles and relationships with Constellium and Wise. This uncertainty may adversely affect our ability to attract and retain current and prospective key management, sales, marketing and technical personnel, and may cause disruptions in our relationships with existing and future customers and suppliers. Any failure to attract and retain key personnel, including Wise employees, or disruption in our relationships with customers and suppliers, including customers and suppliers of Wise, could have a material adverse effect on our business. We do not maintain key person insurance covering any member of our management team.
The consummation of the Wise Acquisition could also cause disruptions in and create uncertainty surrounding our and Wises relationships with existing and future customers and suppliers. Such customers and suppliers may, in response to the consummation of the Wise Acquisition, delay or defer contracting decisions, or may not remain as customers and suppliers following the completion of the Wise Acquisition. Change of control provisions in certain of Wises contracts may have given customers the right to terminate or change the terms of those contracts as a result of the Wise Acquisition. The loss of significant customers or suppliers could have a material and adverse effect on our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
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If we are unable to successfully transition to new leadership following the expected retirement of our current Chief Executive Officer, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
Our Chief Executive Officer, Pierre Vareille, has informed the Companys Board of Directors of his desire to retire during the course of 2016. At the request of the Companys Board of Directors, Mr. Vareille has agreed to remain in his current role of Chief Executive Officer until a successor is appointed, and to thereafter become an advisor to the Companys Board of Directors to facilitate this leadership transition. While the Company has identified a particular candidate, no agreement has been reached. We are working to ensure a smooth transition but we cannot assure you when we will reach an agreement with a successor, what impact, if any, the transition may have on our business, and what effect, if any, a new Chief Executive Officer may have on our business and our ability to retain our senior executives and other key personnel. The loss of the services of such senior executives or key personnel or any general instability in the composition of our senior management team could have a negative impact on our ability to execute our business and operating strategies and may adversely affect our operating results. Once we hire a new Chief Executive Officer, our financial and operational success will be dependent in large part on the new executives ability to gain proficiency in leading our company, implement or adapt our corporate strategies and initiatives and develop key professional relationships, including relationships with our team members, our key customers and suppliers and other business partners.
We could experience labor disputes and work stoppages that could disrupt our business and have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
From time to time, we may experience labor disputes and work stoppages at our facilities. For example, we experienced work stoppages and labor disturbances at our Ravenswood, West Virginia facility in 2012 in conjunction with the renegotiation of the collective bargaining agreement. Additionally, we experienced work stoppages and labor disturbances at our Issoire and Neuf-Brisach facilities in November 2013 and resumed normal operations in early December 2013. We also faced minor stoppages in our Issoire site in December 2015 during the yearly Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. Existing collective bargaining agreements may not prevent a strike or work stoppage at our facilities in the future. Any such stoppages or disturbances may have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations by limiting plant production, sales volumes, profitability and operating costs.
In addition, in light of demographic trends in the labor markets where we operate, we expect that our factories will be confronted with high levels of natural attrition in the coming years due to retirements. Strategic workforce planning will be a challenge to ensure a controlled exit of skills and competencies and the timely acquisition of new talent and competencies, in line with changing technological and industrial needs.
If we do not adequately maintain and continue to evolve our financial reporting and internal controls (which could result in higher operating costs), we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.
We will need to continue to improve existing, and implement new, financial reporting and management systems, procedures and controls to manage our business effectively and support our growth in the future, especially because we lack a long history of operations as a standalone entity. Any delay in the implementation of, or disruption in the transition to, new or enhanced systems, procedures and controls, or the obsolescence of existing financial control systems, could harm our ability to accurately forecast sales demand and record and report financial and management information on a timely and accurate basis.
We could also suffer a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements if our independent registered public accounting firm reports a material weakness in our internal controls, if we do not develop and maintain effective controls and procedures or if we are otherwise unable to deliver timely and reliable financial information. Any loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements or other negative reaction to our failure to develop timely or adequate disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls could result in a
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decline in the trading price of our ordinary shares. In addition, if we fail to remedy any material weakness, our financial statements may be inaccurate, we may face restricted access to the capital markets and the price of our ordinary shares may be materially adversely affected.
We may not be able to adequately protect proprietary rights to our technology.
Our success depends in part upon our proprietary technology and processes. We believe that our intellectual property has significant value and is important to the marketing of our products and maintaining our competitive advantage. Although we attempt to protect our intellectual property rights both in the United States and in foreign countries through a combination of patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright laws, as well as through confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements and other measures, these measures may not be adequate to fully protect our rights. For example, we have a presence in China, which historically has afforded less protection to intellectual property rights than the United States. Our failure to obtain or maintain adequate protection of our intellectual property rights for any reason could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We have applied for patent protection relating to certain existing and proposed products and processes. While we generally apply for patents in those countries where we intend to make, have made, use or sell patented products, we may not accurately predict all of the countries where patent protection will ultimately be desirable. If we fail to timely file a patent application in any such country, we may be precluded from doing so at a later date. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that any of our patent applications will be approved. We also cannot assure you that the patents issued as a result of our foreign patent applications will have the same scope of coverage as our United States patents. The patents we own could be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by others and may not be of sufficient scope or strength to provide us with any meaningful protection or commercial advantage. Further, we cannot assure you that competitors or other third parties will not infringe our patents, or that we will have adequate resources to enforce our patents.
We also rely on unpatented proprietary technology. It is possible that others will independently develop the same or similar technology or otherwise obtain access to our unpatented technology. To protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information, we require employees, consultants, advisors and collaborators to enter into confidentiality agreements. We cannot assure you that these agreements will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use, misappropriation or disclosure of such trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information. If we are unable to maintain the proprietary nature of our technologies, we could be materially adversely affected.
We rely on our trademarks, trade names and brand names to distinguish our products from the products of our competitors, and have registered or applied to register many of these trademarks. We cannot assure you that our trademark applications will be approved. Third parties may also oppose our trademark applications, or otherwise challenge our use of the trademarks. In the event that our trademarks are successfully challenged, we could be forced to rebrand our products, which could result in loss of brand recognition, and could require us to devote resources to advertising and marketing new brands. Further, we cannot assure you that competitors or other third parties will not infringe our trademarks, or that we will have adequate resources to enforce our trademarks.
We may institute or be named as a defendant in litigation regarding our intellectual property and such litigation may be costly and divert managements attention and resources.
Any attempts to enforce our intellectual property rights, even if successful, could result in costly and prolonged litigation, divert managements attention and resources, and materially adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows. The unauthorized use of our intellectual property may adversely affect our results of operations as our competitors would be able to utilize such property without having had to incur the costs of developing it, thus potentially reducing our relative profitability.
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Furthermore, we may be subject to claims that we have infringed the intellectual property rights of another. Even if without merit, such claims could result in costly and prolonged litigation, cause us to cease making, licensing or using products or technologies that incorporate the challenged intellectual property, require us to redesign, reengineer or rebrand our products, if feasible, divert managements attention and resources, and materially adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows. We may also be required to enter into licensing agreements in order to continue using technology that is important to our business, or we may be unable to obtain license agreements on acceptable terms, either of which could negatively affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Interruptions in or failures of our information systems, or failure to protect our information systems against cyber-attacks or information security breaches, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The efficient operation of our business depends on our information technology systems. We rely on our information technology systems to effectively manage our business, data, accounting, financial reporting, communications, supply chain, order entry and fulfillment and other business processes. The failure of our information technology systems to perform as we anticipate could disrupt our business and could result in transaction errors, processing inefficiencies, and the loss of sales and customers, causing our business and results of operations to suffer.
Some of our information systems are nearing obsolescence, in that the software versions they are developed on are no longer fully supported or kept up-to-date by the original vendors. Whilst the correct day-to-day operations are not at risk, major new requirements (e.g., in legal or payroll) might require manual workarounds if the current software versions do not support those new functionalities.
Information security risks have generally increased in recent years because of the proliferation of new technologies and the increased sophistication and activities of perpetrators of cyber-attacks. A failure in or breach of our information systems as a result of cyber-attacks or information security breaches could disrupt our business, result in the disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information, damage our reputation, increase our costs or cause losses. As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to enhance our information security measures or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities.
Current liabilities under, as well as the cost of compliance with, environmental, health and safety laws could increase our operating costs and negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we do business, which govern, among other things, air emissions, wastewater discharges, the handling, storage and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, the remediation of contaminated sites, and employee health and safety. At December 31, 2015, we had close-down and environmental restoration costs provisions of 88 million. Future environmental regulations or more aggressive enforcement of existing regulations could impose stricter compliance requirements on us and on the industries in which we operate. Additional pollution control equipment, process changes, or other environmental control measures may be needed at some of our facilities to meet future requirements. If we are unable to comply with these laws and regulations, we could incur substantial costs, including fines and civil or criminal sanctions, or costs associated with upgrades to our facilities or changes in our manufacturing processes in order to achieve and maintain compliance. Additionally, evolving regulatory standards and expectations can result in increased litigation and/or increased costs. There are also no assurances that newly discovered conditions, or new or more aggressive enforcement of applicable environmental requirements, or any failure by counterparties to perform indemnification obligations, will not have a material adverse effect on our business.
Financial responsibility for contaminated property can be imposed on us where current operations have had an environmental impact. Such liability can include the cost of investigating and remediating contaminated soil
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or ground water, financial assurance, fines and penalties sought by environmental authorities, and damages arising out of personal injury, contaminated property and other toxic tort claims, as well as lost or impaired natural resources. Certain environmental laws impose strict, and in certain circumstances joint and several, liability for certain kinds of matters, such that a person can be held liable without regard to fault for all of the costs of a matter regardless of legality at the time of conduct and even though others were also involved or responsible.
Wise is subject to or party to certain environmental claims and matters and there can be no assurances that those matters will be resolved favorably or that such matters will not adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have accrued, and expect to accrue, costs relating to the above matters that are reasonably expected to be incurred based on available information. However, it is possible that actual costs may differ, perhaps significantly, from the amounts expected or accrued. Similarly, the timing of those expenditures may occur faster than anticipated. These differences could negatively affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Other legal proceedings or investigations, or changes in applicable laws and regulations, could increase our operating costs and negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We may from time-to-time be involved in, or be the subject of, disputes, proceedings and investigations with respect to a variety of matters, including matters related to personal injury, intellectual property, employees, taxes, contracts, anti-competitive or anti-corruption practices as well as other disputes and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. It could be costly to address these claims or any investigations involving them, whether meritorious or not, and legal proceedings and investigations could divert managements attention as well as operational resources, negatively affecting our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, as with the environmental laws and regulations, other laws and regulations which govern our business are subject to change at any time. Compliance with changes to existing laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Product liability claims against us could result in significant costs and could materially adversely affect our reputation and our business.
If any of the products that we sell are defective or cause harm to any of our customers, we could be exposed to product liability lawsuits and/or warranty claims. If we were found liable under product liability claims or are obligated under warranty claims, we could be required to pay substantial monetary damages. Even if we successfully defend ourselves against these types of claims, we could still be forced to spend a substantial amount of money in litigation expenses, our management could be required to devote significant time and attention to defending against these claims, and our reputation could suffer, any of which could harm our business.
Our operations present significant risk of injury or death.
Because of the heavy industrial activities conducted at our facilities, there exists a risk of injury or death to our employees or other visitors, notwithstanding the safety precautions we take. Our operations are subject to regulation by national, state and local agencies responsible for employee health and safety, which has from time to time levied fines against us for certain isolated incidents. While such fines have not been material and we have in place policies to minimize such risks, we may nevertheless be unable to avoid material liabilities for any employee death or injury that may occur in the future, and any such incidents may materially adversely impact our reputation.
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The insurance level that we maintain may not fully cover all potential exposures.
We maintain property, casualty and workers compensation insurance, but such insurance does not cover all risks associated with the hazards of our business and is subject to limitations, including deductibles and maximum liabilities covered. We may incur losses beyond the limits, or outside the coverage, of our insurance policies, including, but not limited to, liabilities for breach of contract, environmental compliance or remediation. In addition, from time to time, various types of insurance for companies in our industries have not been available on commercially acceptable terms or, in some cases, have not been available at all. In the future, we may not be able to obtain coverage at current levels, and our premiums may increase significantly on coverage that we maintain.
Increases in our effective tax rate, changes in income tax laws, additional income tax liabilities due to unfavorable resolution of tax audits and challenges to our tax position could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.
We operate in multiple tax jurisdictions and pay tax on our income according to the tax laws and regulations of these jurisdictions. Various factors, some of which are beyond our control, determine our effective tax rate and/or the amount we are required to pay, including changes in or interpretations of tax laws and regulations in any given jurisdiction or global- and EU-based initiatives such as the Action Plan on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the proposed EU anti-BEPS Directive which aim among other things to address tax avoidance by multinational companies, our ability to use net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards and other tax attributes, changes in geographical allocation of income and expense, and our judgment about the realizability of deferred tax assets. Such changes to our effective tax rate could materially adversely affect our financial position, liquidity, results of operations and cash flows.
In addition, due to the size and nature of our business, we are subject to ongoing reviews by taxing jurisdictions on various tax matters, including challenges to positions we assert on our income tax and withholding tax returns. We accrue income tax liabilities and tax contingencies based upon our best estimate of the taxes ultimately expected to be paid after considering our knowledge of all relevant facts and circumstances, existing tax laws and regulations, our experience with previous audits and settlements, the status of current tax examinations and how the tax authorities and courts view certain issues. Such amounts are included in income taxes payable, other non-current liabilities or deferred income tax liabilities, as appropriate, and updated over time as more information becomes available. We record additional tax expense in the period in which we determine that the recorded tax liability is less than the ultimate assessment we expect. We are currently subject to audit and review in a number of jurisdictions in which we operate, and further audits may commence in the future.
The Company is incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands and on this basis is subject to Dutch tax laws as a Dutch resident taxpayer. We believe that, because of the manner in which we conduct our business, the Company is resident solely in the Netherlands for tax purposes. However, if our tax position were successfully challenged by applicable tax authorities, or if there were changes in the tax laws, tax treaties, or the interpretation or application thereof (which could in certain circumstances have retroactive effect) or in the manner in which we conduct our business, this could materially adversely affect our financial position.
Our historical financial information presented in this report may not be representative of future results and our relatively short history operating as a standalone company may pose some challenges.
Due to inherent uncertainties of our business, the historical financial information does not necessarily indicate what our results of operations, financial position, cash flows or costs and expenses will be in the future as past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future performance. In addition, we have a relatively short history operating as a standalone company which may pose some operational challenges to our management. Our
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management team has faced and could continue to face operational and organizational challenges and costs related to operating as a standalone company, such as continuing to establish various corporate functions, formulating policies, preparing standalone financial statements and continued integration of the management team. These challenges may divert their attention from running our core business or otherwise materially adversely affect our operating results.
We are a foreign private issuer under the U.S. securities laws within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) rules. As a result, we qualify for and rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements and may rely on other exemptions available to us in the future.
As a foreign private issuer, as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, we are permitted to follow our home country practice in lieu of certain corporate governance requirements of the NYSE, including the NYSE requirements that (i) a majority of the board of directors consists of independent directors; (ii) the nominating and corporate governance committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities; and (iii) the compensation committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities. Foreign private issuers are also exempt from certain U.S. securities law requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including the requirement to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and to distribute a proxy statement pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) Section 14 in connection with the solicitation of proxies for shareholder meetings.
We rely on the exemptions for foreign private issuers and follow Dutch corporate governance practices in lieu of some of the NYSE corporate governance rules specified above. We currently rely on exemptions from the requirements set out in (i), (ii) and (iii) above, but in the future, we may change what home country corporate governance practices we follow, and, accordingly, which exemptions we rely on from the NYSE requirements. So long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer, you may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements.
We may lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional costs and expenses. If we were to lose our foreign private issuer status, the regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws as a U.S. domestic issuer could be significantly more than costs we incur as a foreign private issuer.
If we were not a foreign private issuer, we would be required to file periodic reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC, including proxy statements pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act. These SEC disclosure requirements are more detailed and extensive than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. In addition, our directors, officers and 10% owners would become subject to insider short-swing profit disclosure and recovery rules under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. We could also be required to modify certain of our policies to comply with corporate governance practices associated with U.S. domestic issuers. Such conversion and modifications would involve additional costs.
In addition, we would lose our ability to rely upon exemptions from certain NYSE corporate governance requirements that are available to foreign private issuers. In particular, within six months of losing our foreign private issuer status we would be required to have a majority of independent directors and a nominating/corporate governance committee and a compensation committee comprised entirely of independent directors, unless other exemptions are available under the NYSE rules. Any of these changes would likely increase our regulatory and compliance costs and expenses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
We do not comply with all the provisions of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code which could affect your rights as a shareholder.
We are subject to the Dutch Corporate Governance Code, which applies to all Dutch companies listed on a government-recognized stock exchange, whether in the Netherlands or elsewhere, including the NYSE and
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Euronext Paris. The Dutch Corporate Governance Code contains principles and best practice provisions for boards of directors, shareholders and general meetings of shareholders, financial reporting, auditors, disclosure, compliance and enforcement standards. The Dutch Corporate Governance Code is based on a comply or explain principle. Accordingly, companies are required to disclose in their annual reports, filed in the Netherlands, whether they comply with the provisions of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code and, if they do not comply with those provisions, to give the reasons for such noncompliance. The principles and best practice provisions apply to the board (relating to, among other matters, the boards role and composition, conflicts of interest and independence requirements, board committees and remuneration), shareholders and the general meeting of shareholders (for example, regarding anti-takeover protection and obligations of a company to provide information to its shareholders), and financial reporting (such as external auditor and internal audit requirements). We have decided not to comply with a number of the provisions of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code because such provisions conflict, in whole or in part, with the corporate governance rules of NYSE and U.S. securities laws that apply to our company whose ordinary shares are traded on the NYSE, or because such provisions do not reflect best practices of global companies listed on the NYSE. This may affect your rights as a shareholder and you may not have the same level of protection as a shareholder in a Dutch company that fully complies with the Dutch Corporate Governance Code. See Item 16G. Corporate GovernanceDutch Corporate Governance Code.
The market price of our ordinary shares may fluctuate significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
The market price of our ordinary shares may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control and could result in significant fluctuations, including: (i) the failure of financial analysts to cover our ordinary shares, changes in financial estimates by analysts or any failure by us to meet or exceed any of these estimates; (ii) actual or anticipated variations in our operating results; (iii) announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts or acquisitions; (iv) the recruitment or departure of key personnel; (v) regulatory and litigation developments; (vi) developments in our industry; (vii) future sales of our ordinary shares; and (viii) investor perceptions of us and the industries in which we operate.
In addition, the stock market in general has experienced substantial price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies affected. These broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our ordinary shares, regardless of our operating performance. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of certain companies securities, securities class action litigation has been instituted against these companies. If any such litigation is instituted against us, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Sales of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our ordinary shares to decline.
Sales of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our ordinary shares to decline. This could also impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of our equity securities. In addition, the sale of our ordinary shares by our officers and directors in the public market, or the perception that such sales may occur, could cause the market price of our ordinary shares to decline. Prior to the completion of our IPO, we amended our memorandum and articles of association (the Amended and Restated Articles of Association) to provide authorization to issue up to 398,500,000 Class A ordinary shares and 1,500,000 Class B ordinary shares. A total of 105,476,899 Class A ordinary shares are outstanding as of December 31, 2015. We may issue ordinary shares or other securities from time to time as consideration for, or to finance, future acquisitions and investments or for other capital needs. We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our shares or the effect, if any, that future sales and issuances of shares would have on the market price of our ordinary shares. If any such acquisition or investment is significant, the number of ordinary shares or the number or aggregate principal amount, as the case may be, of other
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securities that we may issue may in turn be substantial and may result in additional dilution to our shareholders. We may also grant registration rights covering ordinary shares or other securities that we may issue in connection with any such acquisitions and investments.
Any shareholder acquiring 30% or more of our voting rights may be required to make a mandatory takeover bid or be subject to voting restrictions.
Under Dutch law, if a party directly or indirectly acquires control of a Dutch company, all or part of whose shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market, that party may be required to make a public offer for all other shares of the company (mandatory takeover bid). Control is defined as the ability to exercise, whether or not in concert with others, at least 30% of the voting rights at a general meeting of shareholders. Controlling shareholders existing before an offering are generally exempt from this requirement, unless their controlling interest drops below 30% and then increases again to 30% or more. The purpose of this requirement is to protect the interests of minority shareholders. Any shareholder acquiring 30% or more of our voting rights may be limited in its ability to vote on our ordinary shares.
Provisions of our organizational documents and applicable law may impede or discourage a takeover, which could deprive our investors of the opportunity to receive a premium for their ordinary shares or to make changes in our board of directors.
Several provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of Association and the laws of the Netherlands could make it difficult for our shareholders to change the composition of our board of directors, thereby preventing them from changing the composition of our management. In addition, the same provisions may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, consolidation or acquisition that shareholders may consider favorable. Provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of Association impose various procedural and other requirements, which could make it more difficult for shareholders to effect certain corporate actions. These anti-takeover provisions could substantially impede the ability of our shareholders to benefit from a change in control and, as a result, may materially adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares and your ability to realize any potential change of control premium.
Our general meeting of shareholders has empowered our board of directors to issue shares and restrict or exclude preemptive rights on those shares for a period of five years. Accordingly, an issue of new shares may make it more difficult for a shareholder to obtain control over our general meeting of shareholders.
In addition, because certain of our products may have applications in the defense sector, we may be subject to rules and regulations in France and other jurisdictions that could impede or discourage a takeover or other change in control of Constellium or its subsidiaries. In particular, Constellium supplies aluminium alloy products, such as plates, sheets, profiles, tubes and castings, and related services and R&D activities in connection with aerospace and defense programs in France. As a result, a controlling investment in Constellium or certain of its French subsidiaries, or the purchase of assets constituting a business that produces products or provides services with applications in the defense sector, by a company or individual that is considered to be foreign or non-resident in France may be subject to the French Monetary and Financial Code, which requires prior authorization of the French Ministry of Economy.
United States civil liabilities may not be enforceable against us.
We are incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands and substantial portions of our assets are located outside of the United States. In addition, certain directors, officers and experts named herein reside outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or such other persons residing outside the United States, or to enforce outside the United States judgments obtained against such persons in U.S. courts in any action, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. In addition, it may be difficult for investors to enforce, in original actions brought in courts in jurisdictions located outside the United States, rights predicated upon the U.S. federal securities laws.
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There is no treaty between the United States and the Netherlands for the mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments (other than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters. Therefore, a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any federal or state court in the United States based on civil liability, whether or not predicated solely upon the U.S. federal securities laws, would not be enforceable in the Netherlands unless the underlying claim is re-litigated before a Dutch court. However, under current practice, the courts of the Netherlands may be expected to render a judgment in accordance with the judgment of the relevant United States court, provided that such judgment (i) is a final judgment and has been rendered by a court which has established its jurisdiction on the basis of internationally accepted grounds of jurisdictions, (ii) has not been rendered in violation of elementary principles of fair trial, (iii) is not contrary to the public policy of the Netherlands, and (iv) is not incompatible with (a) a prior judgment of a Netherlands court rendered in a dispute between the same parties, or (b) a prior judgment of a foreign court rendered in a dispute between the same parties, concerning the same subject matter and based on the same cause of action, provided that such prior judgment is not capable of being recognized in the Netherlands. It is uncertain whether this practice extends to default judgments as well.
Based on the foregoing, there can be no assurance that U.S. investors will be able to enforce against us or members of our board of directors, officers or certain experts named herein who are residents of the Netherlands or countries other than the United States any judgments obtained in U.S. courts in civil and commercial matters, including judgments under the U.S. federal securities laws.
In addition, there is doubt as to whether a Dutch court would impose civil liability on us, the members of our board of directors, our officers or certain experts named herein in an original action predicated solely upon the U.S. federal securities laws brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Netherlands against us or such members, officers or experts, respectively.
The rights of our shareholders may be different from the rights of shareholders governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Amended and Restated Articles of Association and by the laws governing companies incorporated in the Netherlands. The rights of shareholders and the responsibilities of members of our board of directors may be different from the rights and obligations of shareholders in companies governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions. In the performance of its duties, our board of directors is required by Dutch law to consider the interests of our company, its shareholders, its employees and other stakeholders, in all cases with due observation of the principles of reasonableness and fairness. It is possible that some of these parties will have interests that are different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder. See Item 16G. Corporate GovernanceDutch Corporate Governance Code.
Although shareholders have the right to approve legal mergers or demergers, Dutch law does not grant appraisal rights to a companys shareholders who wish to challenge the consideration to be paid upon a legal merger or demerger of a company. In addition, if a third party is liable to a Dutch company, under Dutch law shareholders generally do not have the right to bring an action on behalf of the company or to bring an action on their own behalf to recover damages sustained as a result of a decrease in value, or loss of an increase in value, of their stock. Only in the event that the cause of liability of such third party to the company also constitutes a tortious act directly against such stockholder and the damages sustained are permanent, may that stockholder have an individual right of action against such third party on its own behalf to recover damages. The Dutch Civil Code provides for the possibility to initiate such actions collectively. A foundation or an association whose objective, as stated in its articles of association, is to protect the rights of persons having similar interests, may institute a collective action. The collective action cannot result in an order for payment of monetary damages but may result in a declaratory judgment ( verklaring voor recht ), for example, declaring that a party has acted wrongfully or has breached a fiduciary duty. The foundation or association and the defendant are permitted to reach (often on the basis of such declaratory judgment) a settlement that provides for monetary compensation for damages. A designated Dutch court may declare the settlement agreement binding upon all the injured parties
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with an opt-out choice for an individual injured party. An individual injured party, within the period set by the court, may also individually institute a civil claim for damages if such injured party is not bound by a collective agreement.
The provisions of Dutch corporate law and our Amended and Restated Articles of Association have the effect of concentrating control over certain corporate decisions and transactions in the hands of our board of directors. As a result, holders of our shares may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions by members of the board of directors than if we were incorporated in the United States.
Exchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect the foreign currency value of the ordinary shares and any dividends.
The ordinary shares are quoted in U.S. dollars on the NYSE and in euros on Euronext Paris. Our financial statements are prepared in euros. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between euros and the U.S. dollar will affect, among other matters, the U.S. dollar value and the euro value of the ordinary shares and of any dividends.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports or publish unfavorable research about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ordinary shares depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, our business or our industry. We may have limited, and may never obtain significant, research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If no additional securities or industry analysts commence coverage of our company, the trading price for our shares could be negatively affected. In the event we obtain additional securities or industry analyst coverage, if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our stock, our share price will likely decline. If one or more of these analysts, or those who currently cover us, ceases to cover us or fails to publish regular reports on us, interest in the purchase of our shares could decrease, which could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.
We may be classified as a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which could subject U.S. investors in our ordinary shares to significant adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
A foreign corporation will be a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a PFIC) in any taxable year in which, after taking into account the income and assets of the corporation and certain subsidiaries pursuant to applicable look-through rules, either (i) at least 75% of its gross income is passive income, or (ii) at least 50% of its assets produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties and rents and certain other categories of income, subject to certain exceptions. We believe that we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year and that we have not been a PFIC for prior taxable years and we expect that we will not become a PFIC in the foreseeable future, although there can be no assurance in this regard. The determination of whether we are a PFIC is a fact-intensive determination that includes ascertaining the fair market value (or, in certain circumstances, tax basis) of all of our assets on a quarterly basis and the character of each item of income we earn. This determination is made annually and cannot be completed until the close of a taxable year. It depends upon the portion of our assets (including goodwill) and income characterized as passive under the PFIC rules. Accordingly, it is possible that we may become a PFIC due to changes in our income or asset composition or a decline in the market value of our equity. Because PFIC status is a fact-intensive determination, no assurance can be given that we are not, have not been, or will not become, classified as a PFIC.
If we were to be classified as a PFIC in any taxable year, U.S. Holders (as defined in Item 10. Additional InformationE. Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences) generally would be subject to special tax rules that could result in materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. Further, investors should assume that a qualified electing fund election, which, if made, could serve as an alternative to the general PFIC
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rules and could reduce any adverse consequences to U.S. Holders if we were to be classified as a PFIC, will not be available because we do not intend to provide U.S. Holders with the information needed to make such an election. A mark-to-market election may be available, however, if our ordinary shares are regularly traded. For more information, see Item 10. Additional InformationE. Material U.S. Federal Income Tax ConsequencesPassive Foreign Investment Company Consequences and consult your tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning or disposing of our ordinary shares if we are or become classified as a PFIC.
Wise has substantial leverage and may be unable to obtain sufficient liquidity to operate its business and service its indebtedness. Constellium may elect to make capital contributions to Wise but is under no legal obligation to do so.
As of December 31, 2015, Wise had total indebtedness of 871 million, including 622 million of the Wise Senior Secured Notes ($650 million nominal amount), 145 million of the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes ($150 million nominal amount), and 99 million in outstanding borrowings under the Wise ABL facility.
Since Constellium acquired Wise on January 5, 2015, Wise has not generated sufficient cash flow from operations to satisfy its financial obligations and has relied on capital contributions from Constellium to compensate for its negative cash flow. For the year ended December 31, 2015, cash capital contributions from Constellium to Wise totaled 118 million. Constellium is under no legal obligation to make further capital contributions to Wise but may continue to do so to the extent permitted by the covenants under Constelliums indebtedness.
If Constellium elects to make further investments in Wise, such investments will reduce Constelliums cash flow available to service its indebtedness, fund working capital and capital expenditures, and for other general corporate purposes,
In addition to contributions from Constellium, Wise is also reliant on the liquidity provided by (i) the Wise ABL Facility, (ii) Wises receivables factoring arrangements, and (iii) trade credit provided by Wises commercial counterparties.
We currently expect that Wise Alloys LLC may seek to finance, at any given time, pursuant to existing and any future receivables factoring arrangements, up to $250 million of receivables that are not included in the borrowing base under the Wise ABL and cannot be financed thereunder. On March 16, 2016, Wise Alloys LLC and Wise Alloys Funding II LLC entered into the New Wise RPA with the New Wise RPA Purchaser and Greensill Capital Inc., as purchaser agent, providing for the sale of certain receivables from Wise Alloys Funding II LLC to the New Wise RPA Purchaser in an amount not to exceed $100 million in the aggregate outstanding at any time. The existing Wise RPA between Wise Alloys LLC, a Wise Alloys Funding LLC, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association does not provide for further sales of receivables after March 23, 2016. The New Wise RPA contains customary covenants and termination events. See Item 10. Additional InformationC. Material ContractsWise Factoring Facilities. If the New Wise RPA terminates or otherwise becomes unavailable, and is not extended, refinanced, or replaced, Wises cash collections from customers will be on longer terms than currently funded through the Wise RPA and the New Wise RPA. As a result, Wises liquidity could meaningfully decrease. See Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk FactorsA deterioration in our financial position or a downgrade of our ratings by a credit rating agency could increase our borrowing costs, lead to our inability to access liquidity facilities, and adversely affect our business relationships.
A deterioration of Wises financial position for any reason could also have an adverse effect on Wises business relationships with suppliers. If Wise is unable to obtain trade credit, or the terms of such trade credit become less favorable to Wise, Wises liquidity could meaningfully decrease.
If Wises liquidity decreases for any of the reasons set forth herein or otherwise, Wise may have insufficient liquidity to operate its business and service its indebtedness, unless another source of liquidity, which may
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include capital contributions from Constellium, is obtained. The Constellium Notes (as defined herein) include certain cross-default provisions that could be triggered by certain defaults under indebtedness or bankruptcy events of Wise.
Despite current indebtedness levels, we and our subsidiaries may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial leverage.
We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. The terms of the indentures and agreements governing our existing indebtedness do not fully prohibit us or our subsidiaries from doing so. If new debt is added to our and our subsidiaries current debt levels, the related risks that we and they now face could intensify.
Our level of indebtedness could limit cash flow available for our operations and capital expenditures and could adversely affect our ability to service our debt or obtain additional financing, if necessary.
We have now and will continue to have a significant amount of indebtedness. As of December 31, 2015, we would have had, after giving effect to the Senior Secured Notes issued on March 30, 2016, total indebtedness of 2,614 million (of which 381 million would have consisted of the principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes issued on March 30, 2016, net of 9 million of issuance costs, 1,281 million of May 2014 Notes and December 2014 Notes, 871 million of debt of Wise and its direct or indirect subsidiaries, and the balance would have consisted of debt under the Ravenswood ABL Facility and other debt). Our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our operations. Among other things, our substantial indebtedness could:
| limit our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, research and development efforts, acquisitions and general corporate purposes; |
| make it more difficult for us to satisfy leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios required for us to incur additional indebtedness under our existing indebtedness; |
| make it more difficult for us to satisfy our financial obligations; |
| increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; |
| require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, research and development efforts and other general corporate purposes; |
| limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the markets in which we compete; and |
| place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt. |
In addition, the agreements governing our existing indebtedness contain financial and other restrictive covenants that will limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interests. Our failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our debts.
In addition, we have substantial pension and other post-employment benefit obligations, resulting in net liabilities of 701 million as of December 31, 2015.
To service our indebtedness, we will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control.
Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures and research and development efforts will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. Although there
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can be no assurances, we believe that the cash provided by our operations will be sufficient to provide for our cash requirements for the foreseeable future. However, our ability to satisfy our obligations will depend on our future operating performance and financial results, which will be subject, in part, to factors beyond our control, including interest rates and general economic, financial and business conditions. We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt, we may be required to:
| refinance all or a portion of our debt; |
| obtain additional financing; |
| sell some of our assets or operations; |
| reduce or delay capital expenditures and acquisitions; |
| reduce or delay our research and development efforts; or |
| revise or delay our strategic plans. |
If we are required to take any of these actions, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we cannot assure you that we would be able to take any of these actions, that these actions would enable us to continue to satisfy our capital requirements or that these actions would be permitted under the terms of our various debt instruments.
We may fail to achieve the expected benefits of the Wise Acquisition, and Wise may not have the value we anticipated prior to the consummation of the Wise Acquisition.
Since the closing of the Wise Acquisition on January 5, 2015, we have been unable to achieve the strategic, operational, financial and other benefits originally contemplated with respect to the Wise Acquisition to the full extent expected or in a timely manner, and we may not be able to achieve such benefits in the future. Constellium has recorded an impairment charge of 400 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 against the carrying value of the Wise assets. This charge, which has no impact on cash flows, reflects managements view of the future expected performance of Wise in light of the market conditions and competitive challenges faced by Wise in its can business. We may fail to achieve the expected benefits of the Wise Acquisition and incur additional impairment.
In connection with the Wise Acquisition, we currently expect to recognize approximately $25-30 million in annual run-rate cost synergies by the end of the third year following the closing of the Wise Acquisition (which we expect to be phased in over such three-year period). However, there can be no assurance that we will realize the anticipated synergies on the currently expected timeline or at all. In addition, we could incur greater than expected one-time costs in order to achieve these synergies, in which case the net benefit to us would be less than we currently anticipate.
We may experience or be exposed to unknown or unanticipated issues, expenses, and liabilities as a result of the Wise Acquisition.
As a result of the Wise Acquisition, we may be exposed to unknown or unanticipated costs or liabilities, such as undisclosed liabilities of Wise, including those relating to environmental matters, for which we, as successor owner, may be responsible. Such unknown or unanticipated issues, expenses, and liabilities could have an adverse effect on our business, financial results and cash flows.
Item 4. Information on the Company
A. | History and Development of the Company |
Constellium Holdco B.V. (formerly known as Omega Holdco B.V.) was incorporated as a Dutch private limited liability company on May 14, 2010. Constellium Holdco B.V. was formed to serve as the holding company for various entities comprising the EAP Business, which Constellium acquired from affiliates of Rio
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Tinto on January 4, 2011 (the Acquisition). On May 21, 2013, Constellium Holdco B.V. was converted into a Dutch public limited liability company and renamed Constellium N.V. Any references to Dutch law and the Amended and Restated Articles of Association are references to Dutch law and the articles of association of the Company as applicable following the conversion. On May 29, 2013, we completed our initial public offering.
The business address (head office) of Constellium N.V. is Tupolevlaan 41-61, 1119 NW Schiphol-Rijk, the Netherlands, and our telephone number is +31 20 654 97 80. The address for our agent for service of process in the United States is Corporation Service Company, 80 State Street, Albany, NY 12207-2543, and its telephone number is (518) 433-4740.
B. | Business Overview |
The Company
Overview
We are a global leader in the design and manufacture of a broad range of innovative specialty rolled and extruded aluminium products, serving primarily the packaging, aerospace, and automotive end-markets. We have a strategic footprint of manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Europe and China. Our business model is to add value by converting aluminium into semi-fabricated products. We believe we are the supplier of choice to numerous blue-chip customers for many value-added products with performance-critical applications. Our product portfolio commands higher margins as compared to less differentiated, more commoditized fabricated aluminium products, such as common alloy coils, paintstock, foilstock and soft alloys for construction and distribution.
As of December 31, 2015, we operated 22 production facilities, 9 administrative and commercial sites, and one R&D center. We are building one new facility in our joint venture with UACJ Corporation in Bowling Green, USA and one new facility in Bartow County, USA, in response to growing demand for automotive in North America. We have approximately 11,000 employees. We believe our portfolio of flexible and integrated facilities is among the most technologically advanced in the industry. It is our view that our established presence in the United States and Europe and our presence in China strategically position us to service our global customer base. We believe our well-invested facilities combined with more than 50 years of manufacturing experience, quality and innovation and preeminent R&D capabilities have put us in a leadership position in our core markets.
We seek to sell to end-markets that have attractive characteristics for aluminium, including (i) higher margin products, (ii) stability through economic cycles, and (iii) favorable growth fundamentals supported by substitution trends in European can sheet and automotive customers as well as order backlogs in aerospace. As of 2015, we are a leading European and North American supplier of can body stock, the leading global supplier of aluminium aerospace plates, and believe that we are the second largest provider of aluminium auto crash management systems globally. Our unique platform has enabled us to develop a stable and diversified customer base and to enjoy long-standing relationships with our largest customers. Our customer base includes market leading firms in packaging, aerospace, and automotive, such as Rexam PLC (Rexam), Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), Ball Corporation, Crown Holdings, Inc., Airbus, Boeing, and several premium automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including BMW AG, Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company (Ford). Excluding Wise, the customer base of which has undergone a strategic shift since 2010 and now includes AB InBev and Coke, the average length of our customer relationships with our most significant customers averages 25 years, and in some cases goes back as far as 40 years, particularly with our packaging and aerospace customers. Generally, we have 3 to 5 year terms in contracts with our packaging customers, five-year terms in contracts with our largest aerospace customers, and 6 to 7 year terms in our life of a car platform/car model contracts with our automotive customers. We believe that we are a mission critical supplier to many of our customers due to our technological and R&D capabilities as well as the long and complex qualification process required for many of our products. Our core products require close collaboration and, in many instances, joint development with our customers. We believe that this integrated collaboration with our customers for high value-added products reduces substitution risk and creates a competitive advantage.
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There are several ways in which our business model is designed to produce stable and consistent cash flows and profitability. For example, our pricing model allows us to pass through risks related to the volatility of commodity metal prices by charging customers London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices plus a conversion premium. We endeavor to continue to minimize our exposure to commodity metal price volatility primarily by (i) passing through aluminium price risk to customers, whereby customers pay the same metal price we receive from our suppliers, (ii) using financial derivatives, (iii) utilizing metal owned by the customer (tolling) and (iv) aligning the price and quantity of physical aluminium purchases and sales. In addition, in 2015 we have actively re-negotiated customer contracts at Wise, in order to mitigate the risk from Midwest premium volatility, whereby customers now pay the same Midwest premium price as we pay to our suppliers.
Our business also features relatively countercyclical cash flows. During an economic downturn, lower demand causes our sales volumes to decrease, which results in a corresponding reduction in our working capital requirements and a positive impact on our operating cash flows. We believe this helps to drive robust free cash flow across cycles and provides significant downside protection for our liquidity position in the event of a downturn.
For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, we shipped approximately 1,478kt, 1,062kt and 1,025kt of finished products, generated revenues of 5,153 million, 3,666 million and 3,495 million, generated net loss of 552 million, net income of 54 million and 100 million, and generated Adjusted EBITDA of 343 million, 275 million and 280 million, respectively. The financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2015 represented a 39% increase in shipments, a 41% increase in revenues and a 25% increase in Adjusted EBITDA from the prior year. Please see the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA in Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsSegment Results.
Our objective is to expand our leading position as a supplier of high value-added, technologically advanced products in which we believe that we have a competitive advantage through the following business strategies:
| Continue to target investment in high-return opportunities in our core markets (packaging, aerospace, automotive), with the goal of driving growth and profitability. |
| Focus on higher margin, technologically advanced products that facilitate long-term relationships as a mission critical supplier to our customers. |
| Continue to differentiate our products, with the goal of maintaining our leading market positions and remaining a supplier of choice to our customers. |
| Build a global footprint with a focus on expansion and work to gain scale through acquisitions in Europe, the United States and Asia. |
| Establish best-in-class operations through Lean manufacturing. |
Recent Developments
Issuance of Senior Secured Notes
On March 30, 2016, Constellium completed a private offering of $425 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the Senior Secured Notes, and together with the May 2014 Notes and the December 2014 Notes, the Constellium Notes) pursuant to an indenture among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee and collateral agent. The Company invested 100 million of the net proceeds in Wise. We used and expect to continue to use the remaining net proceeds from the Constellium Notes for general corporate purposes, including to put additional cash on our balance sheet. See Item 10. Additional InformationC. Material ContractsMarch 2016 Senior Secured Notes.
New Wise Receivables Purchase Agreement
On March 16, 2016, the New Wise RPA Seller and Wise Alloys LLC (Wise Alloys), as servicer, entered into a Receivables Purchase Agreement with the New Wise RPA Purchaser and Greensill Capital Inc., as
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purchaser agent, providing for the sale of certain receivables from the New Wise RPA Seller to the New Wise RPA Purchaser in an amount not to exceed $100 million in the aggregate outstanding at any time. Receivables under the New Wise RPA will be sold at a discount based on a rate equal to a LIBOR rate plus 2.00-2.50% (based on the credit rating of the account debtor) per annum. No additional sales of receivables will occur under the existing Receivables Purchase Agreement between Wise Alloys, Wise Alloys Funding LLC, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association. See Item 10. Additional InformationC. Material ContractsWise Factoring Facilities.
Expansion of Joint Venture with UACJ
On March 10, 2016, Constellium announced that it had executed a term sheet (the UACJ Term Sheet) with UACJ to expand the parties joint venture to produce automotive BiW sheet in the U.S and establish a leadership position in the growing North American BiW market. Under the expanded joint venture, Constellium and UACJ contemplate a joint investment in two previously announced 100 kt finishing lines, which would be funded 51% by Constellium and 49% by Tri-Arrows Aluminium Holdings, a U.S. affiliate of UACJ. We currently expect the expanded joint venture, along with savings on upstream cost optimization to reduce Constelliums estimated investment needs in North America to approximately $340 million through 2021 ($312 million or 284 million in the years ended December 31, 2016 to 2021), compared to the $620 million previously announced in October 2015 and $750 million announced in October 2014.
Constellium currently expects the expanded joint venture to result in significant benefits, helping us to become a leading player in the North American BiW market, and combining both parties strengths in technology, know-how and customer relationships.
Pursuant to the terms of the UACJ Term Sheet, the joint investment is subject to board approval by each party and the negotiation and execution of definitive documentation. See Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk FactorsOur planned joint investment with UACJ in BiW sheet in the U.S. may not be consummated, or may be consummated on terms that differ materially from those currently contemplated and we may be unable to execute on our strategy with respect to the joint venture with UACJ.
Impairment
Constellium has recorded an impairment charge of 400 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 against the carrying value of the Wise assets. This charge, which has no impact on cash flows, reflects managements view of the future expected performance of Wise in light of the challenges the can/ packaging business experienced in 2015. This impairment charge is reflected in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.
New Manufacturing Facility
In November 2015, we announced the building of a new manufacturing facility in Bartow County, Georgia, United States, in response to growing demand for automotive structures in North America. This project represents approximately a $20 million investment and an additional expected $12 million investment by a third-party developer, for a total project value of approximately $32 million. Construction of the plant is expected to begin in early 2016 with start of production anticipated in 2017. We expect to create approximately 150 high-tech manufacturing jobs at this location by 2019. The planned 130,000 square foot greenfield facility may be expanded up to 208,000 square feet to adapt to customers supply needs in the future.
CEO to retire in 2016
Pierre Vareille, our Chief Executive Officer, has informed the Board of his desire to retire during the course of 2016. The Company is working to ensure a smooth transition, which may occur this summer. At the Boards request, Mr. Vareille has agreed to remain in his current role until his successor is appointed, and to thereafter
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become an advisor to the Board to facilitate the transition. The Company is in discussions with a particular candidate, but no agreement has been finalized at this time. The Company currently expects to provide an update on the transition plan by early May 2016.
Table: Overview of Operating Segments (as of December 31, 2015)
Packaging &
|
Aerospace
&
|
Automotive Structures
&
|
||||
Commercial and
|
4 (France, Germany, Switzerland, United States) |
12 (France, United
|
14 (France, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, United States, China) |
|||
Employees (as of
|
3,192 |
3,689 |
3,147 |
|||
Key products |
Can Body Stock
Can End Stock
Closure Stock
Auto
Body
Heat
Specialty
|
Aerospace plates
Aerospace
Plates for
general
Sheets for
|
Extruded products including:
Soft alloys
Hard alloys
Large profiles
Automotive structures
|
|||
Key customers |
Packaging:
Automotive:
|
Aerospace:
Transportation,
|
Automotive: Audi, BMW AG, Daimler AG, Porsche, General Motors, Ford, Benteler, Peugeot S.A., Chrysler, Fiat, JLR
Rail: Stadler, CAF |
|||
Key facilities |
Neuf-Brisach
Singen (DE)
Muscle Shoals (USA) |
Ravenswood (USA)
Issoire (FR)
Sierre (CH) |
Děčín (CZ)
Gottmadingen (DE)
Van Buren (USA)
|
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Our Operating Segments
Our business is organized into three operating segments: (i) Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products, (ii) Aerospace & Transportation, and (iii) Automotive Structures & Industry.
Operating Segment |
Products |
Description |
||
Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products |
Rolled Products | Includes the production of rolled aluminium products in our European and North American facilities. We supply the packaging market with can stock and closure stock for the beverage and food industry, as well as foil stock for the flexible packaging market. In addition, we supply products for a number of technically sophisticated applications such as automotive sheet, heat exchangers, and sheet and coils for the building and construction markets. | ||
Aerospace & Transportation |
Rolled Products | Includes the production of rolled aluminium products for the aerospace market, as well as rolled products for transport, industry and defense end-uses. We produce aluminium plate, sheet and fabricated products in our European and North American facilities. Substantially all of these aluminium products are manufactured to specific customer requirements using direct-chill ingot cast technologies that allow us to use and offer a variety of alloys and products. | ||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Extrusions and
Structures |
Includes the production of hard and soft aluminium alloy extruded profiles in Germany, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Our extruded products are targeted at high demand end-uses in the automotive, engineering, building and construction and other transportation markets (rail and shipbuilding). In addition, we fabricate highly advanced crash-management systems in Germany, the United States and China. |
The following charts present our revenues by operating segment and geography for the year ended December 31, 2015:
1 | Revenue by geographic zone is based on the destination of the shipment. |
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Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products Operating Segment
In our Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products operating segment, we produce and develop customized aluminium sheet and coil solutions. Approximately 85% of operating segment volume for the year ended December 31, 2015 was in packaging rolled products, which primarily include beverage and food can stock as well as closure stock and foil stock. Fifteen percent of operating segment volume for that period was in automotive and specialty and other thin-rolled products, which include technologically advanced products for the automotive and industrial sectors. Our Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products operating segment accounted for approximately 53% of revenues and 53% (1) of Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015.
As of December 2015, we are a leading European and North American supplier of can body stock and the leading worldwide supplier of closure stock. We are also a major European player in automotive rolled products for Auto Body Sheet (the structural framework of a car), and heat exchangers. We have a diverse customer base, consisting of many of the worlds largest beverage and food can manufacturers, specialty packaging producers, leading automotive firms and global industrial companies. Our customer base includes Rexam, AB InBev, Audi AG, Daimler AG, Peugeot S.A., Ball Corporation, Can-Pack S.A., Crown Holdings, Inc., Alanod GmbH & Co. KG, Ardagh Group S.A., Amcor Ltd. and ThyssenKrupp AG. Our packaging contracts have usually a duration of three to five years. Our automotive contracts are usually valid for the lifetime of a model, which is typically six to seven years.
We have two integrated rolling operations located in Europes industrial heartland and one integrated rolling operation in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, following our acquisition of Wise Metals. Neuf-Brisach, our facility on the border of France and Germany, is, in our view, a uniquely integrated aluminium rolling and finishing facility. Singen, located in Germany, is specialized in high-margin niche applications and has an integrated hot/cold rolling line and high-grade cold mills with special surfaces capabilities that facilitate unique metallurgy and lower production costs. We believe Singen has enhanced our reputation in many product areas, most notably in the area of functional high-gloss surfaces for the automotive, lighting, solar and cosmetic industries, other decorative applications, closure stock, paintstock and foilstock. Muscle Shoals is a highly focused factory mostly dedicated to can stock. After investment, the plant is expected to be capable of producing high-quality Body-in-White sheet.
Our Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products operating segment has historically been relatively resilient during periods of economic downturn and has had relatively limited exposure to economic cycles and periods of financial instability. According to CRU International Limited (CRU), during the 2008-2009 economic crisis, can stock volumes decreased by 10% in 2009 versus 2007 levels as compared to a 24% decline for flat rolled aluminium products volumes in aggregate during the same period in Europe. This demonstrates that demand for beverage cans tends to be less correlated with general economic cycles. In addition, we believe European can body stock has an attractive long-term growth outlook due to the following trends: (i) end-market growth in beer, soft drinks and energy drinks, (ii) increasing use of cans versus glass in the beer market, (iii) increasing use of aluminium in can body stock in the European market, at the expense of steel, and (iv) increasing consumption in Eastern Europe linked to purchasing power growth. The U.S. can body stock market on the other hand has seen gradual declines in volumes over the last ten years, mostly due to the decline in carbonated soft drinks consumption. Analysts expect however that the growth in Aluminium Auto Body Sheet will change the dynamic in the market, with capacity being shifted from can body stock to Auto Body Sheet. As a result, CRU expects that by the latter part of this decade, can stock conversion fees could increase, and even a step change upward may be possible.
(1) | The difference between the sum of Adjusted EBITDA for our three segments and the Group Adjusted EBITDA, is attributable to amounts for Holdings and Corporate. |
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The following table summarizes our volume, revenues and Adjusted EBITDA for our Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products operating segment for the periods presented:
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
( in millions, unless otherwise noted) |
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products: |
||||||||||||
Segment Revenues |
2,742 | 1,568 | 1,472 | |||||||||
Segment Shipments (kt) |
1,035 | 620 | 595 | |||||||||
Segment Revenues (/ton) |
2,649 | 2,529 | 2,474 | |||||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA (1) |
183 | 118 | 105 | |||||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA(/ton) |
176 | 190 | 176 | |||||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin |
7 | % | 8 | % | 7 | % |
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure defined under IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA is defined and discussed in Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsSegment Results. |
Aerospace & Transportation Operating Segment
Our Aerospace & Transportation operating segment has market leadership positions in technologically advanced aluminium and specialty materials products with wide applications across the global aerospace, defense, transportation, and industrial sectors. We offer a wide range of products including plate, sheet, extrusions and precision casting products which allows us to offer tailored solutions to our customers. We seek to differentiate our products and act as a key partner to our customers through our broad product range, advanced R&D capabilities, extensive recycling capabilities and portfolio of plants with an extensive range of capabilities across Europe and North America. In order to reinforce the competitiveness of our metal solutions, we design our processes and alloys with a view to optimizing our customers operations and costs. This includes offering services such as customizing alloys to our customers processing requirements, processing short lead time orders and providing vendor managed inventories or tolling arrangements. The Aerospace & Transportation operating segment accounted for approximately 26% of our revenues and 30% (2) of Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015.
In 2015, seven of our manufacturing facilities produce products that were sold via our Aerospace & Transportation operating segment. Our aerospace plate manufacturing facilities in Ravenswood (West Virginia, United States), Issoire (France) and Sierre (Switzerland) offer the full spectrum of plate required by the aerospace industries (alloys, temper, dimensions, pre-machined) and have unique capabilities such as producing some wide and very high gauge plates required for some aerospace programs (civil and commercial).
Downstream aluminium products for the aerospace market require relatively high levels of R&D investment and advanced technological capabilities, and therefore tend to command higher margins compared to more commoditized products. We work in close collaboration with our customers to develop highly engineered solutions to fulfill their specific requirements. For example, we developed AIRWARE ® , a lightweight specialty aluminium-lithium alloy, for our aerospace customers to address increasing demand for lighter and more environmentally sound aircraft.
Aerospace products are typically subject to long development and supply lead times and the majority of our contracts with our largest aerospace customers have a term of five years or longer, which provides excellent volume and profitability visibility. In addition, demand for our aerospace products typically correlates directly with aircraft backlogs and build rates. As of December 2015, the backlog reported by Airbus and Boeing for commercial aircraft reached 12,582 units on a combined basis, representing approximately 8 to 9 years of production at current build rates.
(2) | The difference between the sum of Adjusted EBITDA for our three segments and the Group Adjusted EBITDA, is attributable to amounts for Holdings and Corporate. |
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Additionally, aerospace products are generally subject to long qualification periods. Aerospace production sites are regularly audited by external certification organizations including the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP) and/or the International Organization for Standardization. NADCAP is a cooperative organization of numerous aerospace OEMs that defines industry-wide manufacturing standards. NADCAP appoints private auditors who grant suppliers like Constellium a NADCAP certification, which customers tend to require. New products or alloys are certified by the OEM that uses the product. Our sites have been qualified by external certification organizations and our products have been qualified by our customers. We are typically able to obtain qualification within 6 months to one year. We believe we are able to obtain such qualifications within that time frame for two main reasons. First, some new product qualifications depend on having older qualifications regarding their alloy, temper or shape which we have already obtained through our long history of working with the main aircraft OEMs. This range of qualifications includes in excess of 100 specifications, some of which we obtained during programs dating back to the 1960s. Second, over the course of the decades that we have been working with the aerospace OEMs, we have invested in a number of capital intensive equipment and R&D programs to be able to qualify to the current industry norms and standards.
The following table summarizes our volume, revenues and Adjusted EBITDA for our Aerospace & Transportation operating segment for the periods presented:
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
( in millions, unless otherwise noted) |
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Aerospace & Transportation: |
||||||||||||
Segment Revenues |
1,348 | 1,192 | 1,197 | |||||||||
Segment Shipments (kt) |
231 | 238 | 244 | |||||||||
Segment Revenues (/ton) |
5,835 | 5,008 | 4,906 | |||||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA (1) |
103 | 91 | 120 | |||||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA(/ton) |
445 | 380 | 491 | |||||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin |
8 | % | 8 | % | 10 | % |
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure defined under IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA is defined and discussed in Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsSegment Results. |
Automotive Structures & Industry Operating Segment
Our Automotive Structures & Industry operating segment produces (i) technologically advanced structures for the automotive industry including crash management systems (CMS), side impact beams, body structures and cockpit carriers and (ii) soft and hard alloy extrusions and large profiles for automotive, rail, road, energy, building and industrial applications. We complement our products with a comprehensive offering of downstream technology and services, which include pre-machining, surface treatment, R&D and technical support services. Our Automotive Structures & Industry operating segment accounted for approximately 20% of revenues and 23% (3) of Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015.
We believe that we are the second largest provider of aluminium auto crash management systems globally and the leading supplier of hard alloys and large structural profiles for rail, industrial and other transportation markets in Europe. We manufacture automotive structures products for some of the largest European and North American car manufacturers supplying a global market, including Daimler AG, BMW AG, Audi, Chrysler Group LLC and Ford. We also have a strong presence in soft alloys in France and Germany, with customized solutions for a diversity of end-markets. We recently successfully expanded our Constellium Automotive USA, LLC plant, located in Michigan, which is producing highly innovative crash-management systems for the automotive market. We are also operating a joint venture, Engley Automotive Structures Co., Ltd., which is currently producing aluminium crash-management systems in China.
(3) | The difference between the sum of Adjusted EBITDA for our three segments and the Group Adjusted EBITDA, is attributable to amounts for Holdings and Corporate. |
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In November 2015, we announced to build a new manufacturing facility in Bartow County, Georgia, in response to growing demand for automotive structures in North America. Construction of the plant will begin in early 2016 with start of production anticipated in 2017. We expect to create approximately 150 high-tech manufacturing jobs at this location by 2019. The planned 84,000 square foot greenfield facility may be expanded up to 220,000 square feet to adapt to customers supply needs in the future.
During 2015, we continued the product offering of the new aluminium high-strength (CMS) technology designed for the front and the rear of a vehicle for enhanced structural protection in the event of a collision. Our innovative technology enables the production of aluminium CMS that are 15 percent lighter or 10 percent stronger than the current aluminium CMS on the market. The new-generation CMS combine the properties of the 6xxx aluminium alloy familyformability, corrosion resistance, energy absorption, recyclabilitywith high-strength mechanical performance.
Fourteen of our manufacturing and engineering facilities, located in Germany, the United States, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Switzerland and China, produce products sold in our Automotive Structures & Industry operating segment. We believe our local presence, downstream services and industry leading cycle times help to ensure that we respond to our customer demands in a timely and consistent fashion. Our two integrated remelt and casting centers in Switzerland and the Czech Republic both provide security of metal supply and contribute to our recycling efforts.
The following table summarizes our volume, revenues and Adjusted EBITDA for our Automotive Structures & Industry operating segment for the periods presented:
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
( in millions, unless otherwise noted) |
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Automotive Structures & Industry: |
||||||||||||
Segment Revenues |
1,034 | 875 | 805 | |||||||||
Segment Shipments (kt) |
212 | 208 | 191 | |||||||||
Segment Revenues (/ton) |
4,877 | 4,207 | 4,215 | |||||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA (1) |
80 | 73 | 58 | |||||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA(/ton) |
380 | 351 | 311 | |||||||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin |
8 | % | 8 | % | 7 | % |
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure defined under IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA is defined and discussed in Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsSegment Results. |
For information on the seasonality of our business, see Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsA. Key Factors Influencing Constelliums Financial Conditions and Results of OperationsSeasonality.
Our Industry
Aluminium Sector Value Chain
The global aluminium industry consists of (i) mining companies that produce bauxite, the ore from which aluminium is ultimately derived, (ii) primary aluminium producers that refine bauxite into alumina and smelt alumina into aluminium, (iii) aluminium semi-fabricated products manufacturers, including aluminium casters, extruders and rollers, and (iv) integrated companies that are present across multiple stages of the aluminium production chain.
The price of aluminium, quoted on the LME, is subject to global supply and demand dynamics and moves independently of the costs of many of its inputs. Producers of primary aluminium have limited ability to manage the volatility of aluminium prices and can experience a high degree of volatility in their cash flows and profitability. We do not smelt aluminium, nor do we participate in other upstream activities such as mining or refining bauxite. We recycle aluminium, both for our own use and as a service to our customers.
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Rolled and extruded aluminium product prices are generally based on the price of metal plus a conversion fee (i.e., the cost incurred to convert the aluminium into its semi-finished product). The price of aluminium is not a significant driver of our financial performance, in contrast to the more direct relationship of the price of aluminium to the financial performance of primary aluminium producers. Instead, the financial performance of producers of rolled and extruded aluminium products, such as Constellium, is driven by the dynamics in the end markets that they serve, their relative positioning in those markets and the efficiency of their industrial operations.
Aluminium Rolled Products Overview
Aluminium rolled products, i.e., sheet, plate and foil, are semi-finished products that provide the raw material for the manufacture of finished goods ranging from packaging to automotive body panels. The packaging industry is a major consumer of the majority of sheet and foil for making beverage cans, foil containers and foil wrapping. Sheet is also used extensively in transport for airframes, road and rail vehicles, in marine applications, including offshore platforms, and superstructures and hulls of boats and in building for roofing and siding. Plate is used for airframes, military vehicles and bridges, ships and other large vessels and as tooling plate for the production of plastic products. Foil applications outside packaging include electrical equipment, insulation for buildings, lithographic plate and foil for heat exchangers.
Independent aluminium rolled products producers and integrated aluminium companies alike participate in this market. Our rolling process consists of passing aluminium through a hot-rolling mill and then transferring it to a cold-rolling mill, which can gradually reduce the thickness of the metal down to more than 6 mm for plates and to approximately 0.2-6 mm for sheet. We do not produce aluminium foil.
There are two main sources of input metal for aluminium rolled or extruded products:
| Primary aluminium, which is primarily in the form of standard ingot. |
| Recycled aluminium, which comes either from scrap from fabrication processes, known as recycled process material, or from recycled end products in their end of life phase, such as beverage cans. |
Whether primary or recycled, the aluminium is then cast into shapes such as:
| Sheet ingot or rolling slab. |
| Extrusion billets. |
We buy various types of metal, including primary metal from smelters in the form of ingots, rolling slabs or extrusion billets, remelted metal from external casthouses (in addition to our own casthouses) in the form of rolling slabs or extrusion billets, production scrap from our customers, and end of life scrap.
Primary aluminium and sheet ingot can generally be purchased at prices set on the LME plus a premium that varies by geographic region on delivery, alloying material, form (ingot or molten metal) and purity.
Recycled aluminium is also an important source of input material and is tied to the LME pricing (typically sold at discounts of up to 20%). Aluminium is indefinitely recyclable and recycling it requires only approximately 5% of the energy required to produce primary aluminium. As a result, in regions where aluminium is widely used, manufacturers and customers are active in setting up collection processes in which used beverage cans and other end-of-life aluminium products are collected for remelting at purpose-built plants. Manufacturers may also enter into agreements with customers who return recycled process material and pay to have it re-melted and rolled into the same product again.
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The following charts illustrate expected global demand for aluminium extruded and rolled products. The expected growth between 2015 and 2020 for the extruded products market and the flat rolled products market is 2.5% and 4.2%, respectively.
Projected Aluminium Products Demand 2015-2020 (in thousand tons)
The aluminium rolled products industry is characterized by economies of scale, as significant capital investments are required to achieve and maintain technological capabilities and demanding customer qualification standards. The service and efficiency demands of large customers have encouraged consolidation among suppliers of aluminium rolled products.
The supply of aluminium rolled products has historically been affected by production capacity, alternative technology substitution and trade flows between regions. The demand for aluminium rolled products has historically been affected by economic growth, substitution trends, down-gauging, cyclicality and seasonality.
Aluminium Extrusions Overview
Aluminium extrusion is a technique used to transform aluminium billets into objects with a defined cross-sectional profile for a wide range of uses. In the extrusion process, heated aluminium is forced through a die. Extrusions can be manufactured in many sizes and in almost any shape for which a die can be created. The extrusion process makes the most of aluminiums unique combination of physical characteristics. Its malleability allows it to be easily machined and cast, and yet aluminium is one-third the density and stiffness of steel so the resulting products offer strength and stability, particularly when alloyed with other metals.
Extruded profiles can be produced in solid or hollow form, while additional complexities can be applied using advanced die designs. After the extrusion process, a variety of options are available to adjust the color, texture and brightness of the aluminiums finish. This may include aluminium anodizing or painting.
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Today, aluminium extrusion is used for a wide range of purposes, including components of the transportation and industrial markets. Virtually every type of vehicle contains aluminium extrusions, including cars, boats, bicycles and trains. Home appliances and tools take advantage of aluminiums excellent strength-to-weight ratio. The increased focus on green building is also leading contractors and architects to use more extruded aluminium products, as aluminium extrusions are flexible and corrosion-resistant. These diverse applications are possible due to the advantageous attributes of aluminium, from its particular blend of strength and ductility to its conductivity, its non-magnetic properties and its ability to be recycled repeatedly without loss of integrity. All of these capabilities make aluminium extrusions a viable and adaptable solution for a growing number of manufacturing needs.
Our Key End-markets
We have a significant presence in the can sheet and packaging end-markets, which have proved to be relatively stable and recession-resilient and the aerospace end-market, which is driven by global demand trends rather than regional trends. Our automotive products are predominantly used in premium models manufactured by the German OEMs, which are not as dependent on the European economy and continue to benefit from rising demand in developing economies, particularly China. For example, CRU International Limited reports that the consumption of automotive body sheet between 2015 and 2024 will have a growth of 19% per annum in North America, 31% per annum in China and 13% per annum in Western Europe.
Rigid Packaging
Aluminium beverage cans represented approximately 17% of the total European aluminium flat rolled demand by volume in 2015 and 36% of total U.S. and Canada aluminium flat rolled demand. Aluminium is a preferred material for beverage packaging as it allows drinks to chill faster, can be stacked for transportation and storage more densely than competing formats (such as glass bottles), is highly formable for unique or differentiated branding, and offers the environmental advantage of easy, cost- and energy-efficient recycling. As a result of these benefits, aluminium is displacing glass as the preferred packaging material in certain markets, such as beer. In Europe, aluminium is replacing steel as the standard for beverage cans. Between 2001 and 2015, we believe that aluminiums penetration of the European can stock market versus tinplate increased from 58% to 83%. In the U.S., we believe aluminiums penetration has been at 100% for many years. In addition, we are benefitting from increased consumption in Eastern Europe and Mexico and growth in high margin products such as the specialty cans used for energy drinks.
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In addition to expected growth, demand for can sheet has been highly resilient across economic cycles. Between 2007 and 2009, during the economic crisis, European can body stock volumes decreased by less than 9% as compared to a 24% decline for total European flat rolled products volumes.
According to CRU, the aluminium demand for the can stock market globally is expected to grow by 3% per year between 2015 and 2020.
Aerospace
Demand for aerospace plates is primarily driven by the build rate of aircrafts, which we believe will be supported for the foreseeable future by (i) necessary replacement of aging fleets by airline operators, particularly in the United States and Western Europe, (ii) increasing global passenger air traffic (CRU estimates that the aerospace consumption for the aerospace market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 3% (4) from 2015 to 2020) and (iii) light-weighting (the substitution for lighter metals) to improve fuel efficiency and address increasingly rigorous environmental requirements. In 2015, Boeing and Airbus predicted respectively approximately 38,000 and 32,600 new aircraft over the next 20 years across all categories of large commercial aircraft. Boeing estimates that between 2014 and 2034, 38% of sales of new airplanes will be to Asia Pacific, 19% to Europe and 21% to North America. In early 2015, both Boeing and Airbus announced they will increase their single aisle build rates from a current 42 aircraft per month to nearly 50 to 60 monthly units by 2018.
(4) | Calculated based on North America and Western Europe aerospace markets. |
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Automotive
We supply the automotive sector with flat rolled products out of our Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products operating segment and extrusions and automotive structures out of our Automotive Structures & Industry operating segment.
In our view, the main drivers of automotive sales are overall economic growth, credit availability, consumer prices and consumer confidence. According to I.H.S., global light vehicle production is expected to grow from 89 million units in 2015 to 108 million units in 2023.
Within the automotive sector, the demand for aluminium has been increasing faster than the underlying demand for light vehicles due to recent growth in the use of aluminium products in automotive applications. We believe a main reason for this is aluminiums high strength-to-weight ratio in comparison to steel. This light-weighting facilitates better fuel economy and improved emissions performance. As a result, manufacturers are seeking additional applications where aluminium can be used in place of steel and an increased number of cars are being manufactured with aluminium panels and crash management systems. We believe that this trend will continue as increasingly stringent EU and U.S. regulations relating to reductions in carbon emissions, will force the automotive industry to increase its use of aluminium to lightweight vehicles. European Union legislation sets mandatory emission reduction targets for new cars. The EU fleet average target of 130g/km in 2015 was phased in between 2012 and 2015. From 2015 onwards, all newly registered cars must comply with the limit value curve. A shorter phase in period will apply to the target of 95g/km: 95% of each manufacturers new cars will have to comply with the limit value curve in 2020, increasing to 100% in 2021. We expect that EU and U.S. regulations requiring reductions in carbon emissions and fuel efficiency, as well as relatively fluctuating fuel prices, will continue to drive aluminium demand in the automotive industry. Whereas growth in aluminium use in vehicles has historically been driven by increased use of aluminium castings, we anticipate that future growth will be primarily in the kinds of extruded and rolled products that we supply to the OEMs.
We believe that Constellium is one of only a limited number of companies that is able to produce the quality and quantity required by car manufacturers for both flat rolled products and automotive structures, and that we are therefore well positioned to take advantage of these market trends.
Our R&D-focused approach led to the development of a number of innovative automotive product solutions; for example, Constellium worked with Mercedes-Benz to develop an all-aluminium crash management system that reduced the systems weight by 50%. In 2015, Constellium provided Ford Motor Co. with aluminium structural parts for the all-new Ford F-150 pickup truck that extensively uses high-strength, military-grade, aluminium alloy as a build material. In addition, increasing demand for European luxury cars in emerging
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markets, particularly in China, and increasing demand of aluminium solutions for OEMs high volume series cars are expected to enhance the long-term growth prospects for our automotive products given our strong established relationships with the major car manufacturers.
|
|
According to the CRU, the aluminium consumption for the Auto Body market is expected to grow by 21% between 2015 and 2020. 1
1 | Calculated based on NA Auto Body and Europe Auto Body. |
Managing Our Metal Price Exposure
Our business model is to add value by converting aluminium into semi-fabricated products. It is our policy not to speculate on metal price movements.
For all contracts, we continuously seek to minimize the impact of aluminium price fluctuations in order to protect our net income and cash flows against the LME price variations of aluminium that we buy and sell, with the following methods:
| In cases where we are able to align the price and quantity of physical aluminium purchases with that of physical aluminium sales, we do not need to employ derivative instruments to further mitigate our exposure, regardless of whether the LME portion of the price is fixed or floating. |
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| However, when we are unable to align the price and quantity of physical aluminium purchases with that of physical aluminium sales, we enter into derivative financial instruments to pass through the exposure to financial institutions at the time the price is set. |
| For a small portion of our volumes, the aluminium is owned by our customers and we bear no aluminium price risk. |
We mark-to-market derivatives at the period end giving rise to unrealized gains or losses which are classified as other gains/(losses)net. These unrealized gains/losses have no bearing on the underlying performance of the business and are removed when calculating Adjusted EBITDA.
The price of the aluminium that we buy comprises other premiums (or in some cases discounts) on top of the LME price. These premiums relate to specific features of the metal being purchased, such as its location, purity, shape, etc.
The price of these premiums has been historically relatively stable. However, between 2012 and 2014, the price of the geographical premiums (ECDU or ECDP in Europe, Midwest in North America) has risen by more than 100%, before collapsing to initial levels. While we have always aimed at charging these premiums to our customers, the unexpected dramatic increase in the volatility has not fully been passed-through to our customers, and in the absence of a liquid and standardized market dedicated to premiums similar to what the LME is for the LME price, the use of financial instruments (OTC derivatives) has been limited and could not cover the overall need created by the commercial exposure.
Where possible, we have changed sales and purchases contracts to align premium formulas and mitigate premium exposure. We seek to apply the same policy and methods to minimize the impact of geographical premiums price fluctuations as we do for the LME aluminium price variations.
Sales and Marketing
Our sales force is based in Europe (France, Germany, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Italy), the United States and Asia (Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, and Singapore). We serve our customers either directly or through distributors.
Raw Materials and Supplies
Our primary metal supply is secured through long-term contracts with several upstream companies. In addition, approximately 75% of our slab demand is produced in our casthouses. All of our top 10 suppliers have been long-standing suppliers to our plants (in many cases for more than 10 years) and in aggregate accounted for approximately 45% of our total purchases for the year ended December 31, 2015. We typically enter into multi-year contracts with these metal suppliers pursuant to which we purchase various types of metal, including:
| Primary metal from smelters or metal traders in the form of ingots, rolling slabs or extrusion billets. |
| Remelted metal in the form of rolling slabs or extrusion billets from external casthouses, as an addition to our own casthouses. |
| Production scrap from customers and scrap traders. |
| End-of-life scrap (e.g., used beverage cans) from customers, collectors and scrap traders. |
| Specific alloying elements and primary ingots from producers and metal traders. |
Our operations use natural gas and electricity, which represent the third largest component of our cost of sales, after metal and labor costs. We purchase part of our natural gas and electricity on a spot-market basis. However, in an effort to acquire the most favorable energy costs, we have secured some of our natural gas and
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electricity pursuant to fixed-price commitments. To reduce the risks associated with our natural gas and electricity requirements, we use financial futures or forward contracts with our suppliers to fix the price of energy cost. Furthermore, in our longer-term sales contracts, we try to include indexation clauses on energy prices.
Our Customers
Our customer base includes some of the largest leading manufacturers in the packaging. aerospace, and automotive end-markets. We have a relatively diverse customer base with our 10 largest customers representing approximately 52% of our revenues and approximately 58% of our volumes for the year ended December 31, 2015. Excluding Wise, the customer base of which has undergone a strategic shift since 2010 and now includes AB InBev and Coke, the average length of our customer relationships with our most significant customers averages 25 years, and in some cases goes back as far as 40 years, particularly with our packaging and aerospace customers. Generally, we have 3 to 5 year terms in contracts with our packaging customers, five-year terms in contracts with our largest aerospace customers, and 6 to 7 year terms in our life of a car platform/car model contracts with our automotive customers.
Most of our major packaging, aerospace and automotive customers have multi-year contracts with us (i.e., contracts with terms of three to five years). We estimate that approximately 67% of our volumes for 2015 were generated under multi-year contracts, more than 65% were governed by contracts valid until 2016 and more than 56% were governed by contracts valid until 2017 or later. In addition, more than 51% of our packaging volumes are contracted through 2018. This provides us with significant visibility into our future volumes and earnings.
We see our relationships with our customers as partnerships where we work together to find customized solutions to meet their evolving requirements. In addition, we collaborate with our customers to complete a rigorous process for qualifying our products in each of our end-markets, which requires substantial time and investment and creates high switching costs, resulting in longer-term, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers. For example, in the packaging industry, where qualification happens on a plant-by-plant basis, we are currently the exclusive qualified supplier to several facilities of our customers.
Our product portfolio is predominantly focused on high value-added products, which we believe we are particularly well-suited to developing and manufacturing for our customers. These products tend to require close collaboration with our customers to develop tailored solutions, as well as significant effort and investment to adhere to rigorous qualification procedures, which enables us to foster long-term relationships with our customers. Our products typically command higher margins than more commoditized products, and are supplied to end-markets that we believe have highly attractive characteristics and long-term growth trends.
Our Service
We believe that there are significant opportunities to improve the services and quality that we provide to our customers and to reduce our manufacturing costs by implementing Lean manufacturing initiatives. Lean manufacturing is a production practice that improves efficiency of operations by identifying and removing tasks and process steps that do not contribute to value creation for the end customer. We continually evaluate debottlenecking opportunities globally through modifications of and investments in existing equipment and processes. We aim to establish best-in-class operations and achieve cost reductions by standardizing manufacturing processes and the associated upstream and downstream production elements where possible, while still allowing the flexibility to respond to local market demands and volatility.
To focus our efforts, we launched a Lean manufacturing program designed to improve the flow of value to customers by eliminating waste in both processes and resources. We measure operational success of this program in six key areas: (i) safety, (ii) quality, (iii) acceleration of the flows and working capital reduction, (iv) delivery performance, (v) equipment efficiency and (vi) innovation. Our Lean manufacturing program is overseen by a dedicated and experienced team with long track records of successfully implementing Lean manufacturing programs at other companies.
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The first phase of our Lean program aimed to establish a culture of continuous improvement to accelerate our performance, increase our capacity and build a robust company; Constellium sites achieved this by improving on various areas as standardization of visual management tools, management routines or customer satisfaction. Henceforth, to move forward, we choose to pursue with a second phase which put quality, delivery performance, and safety along with employee development at the top of the agenda. Phase 2 of the program will last until the end of 2019.
Competition
The worldwide aluminium industry is highly competitive and we expect this dynamic to continue for the foreseeable future. We believe the most important competitive factors in our industry are: product quality, price, timeliness of delivery and customer service, geographic coverage and product innovation. Aluminium competes with other materials such as steel, plastic, composite materials and glass for various applications. Our key competitors in our Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products operating segment are Novelis Inc., Norsk Hydro ASA, Alcoa, Inc. and Tri-Arrows Aluminum Inc. Our key competitors in our Aerospace & Transportation operating segment are Alcoa, Inc., Aleris International, Inc., Kaiser Aluminum Corp., Austria Metall AG, and Universal Alloy Corporation. Our key competitors in our Automotive Structures & Industry operating segment are Sapa AB, Sankyo Tateyama, Inc., Eural Gnutti S.p.A., Otto Fuchs KG, Impol Aluminium Corp., Benteler International AG and YKK.
Research and Development
We believe that our research and development capabilities coupled with our integrated, longstanding customer relationships create a distinctive competitive advantage versus our competition. Our R&D center is based in Voreppe, France and provides services and support to all of our facilities. The R&D center focuses on product and process development, provides technical assistance to our plants and works with our customers to develop new products. In developing new products, we focus on increased performance that aims to lower the total cost of ownership for the end users of our products, for example, by developing materials that decrease maintenance costs of aircraft or increase fuel efficiency in cars. As of December 31, 2015, the research and development center employs 242 employees, including approximately 108 scientists and 104 technicians.
Within the Voreppe facility, we also focus on the development, improvement, and testing of processes used in our plants such as melting, casting, rolling, extruding, finishing and recycling. We also develop and test technologies used by our customers, such as friction stir welding and automotive hoods bumping and provide technological support to our customers.
The key contributors to our success in establishing our R&D capabilities include:
| Close interaction with key customers, including through formal partnerships or joint development teamsexamples include Strongalex ® , Formalex ® and Surfalex ® , which were developed with automotive Auto Body Sheet customers (mainly Daimler and Audi) and the Fusion bottle, a draw wall ironed technology created in partnership with Rexam. |
| Technologically advanced equipment. |
| Long-term partnerships with European universitiesfor example, Swiss Technology Partners and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland generate significant innovation opportunities and foster new ideas. |
We invested 35 million in research and development in the year ended December 31, 2015, 38 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, and 36 million in the year ended December 31, 2013.
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Trademarks, Patents, Licenses and IT
In connection with the acquisition, Rio Tinto assigned or licensed to us certain patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights. In connection with our collaborations with universities such as the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and other third parties, we occasionally obtain royalty-bearing licenses for the use of third-party technologies in the ordinary course of business.
We actively review intellectual property arising from our operations and our research and development activities and, when appropriate, apply for patents in the appropriate jurisdictions. We currently hold approximately 170 active patent families and regularly apply for new ones. While these patents and patent applications are important to the business on an aggregate basis, we do not believe any single patent family or patent application is critical to the business.
We are from time to time involved in opposition and re-examination proceedings that we consider to be part of the ordinary course of our business, in particular at the European Patent Office, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the State Intellectual Property Office of the Peoples Republic of China. We believe that the outcome of existing proceedings would not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Insurance
We have implemented a corporate-wide insurance program consisting of both corporate-wide master policies with worldwide coverage and local policies where required by applicable regulations. Our insurance coverage includes: (i) property damage and business interruption; (ii) general liability including operation, professional, product and environment liability; (iii) aviation product liability; (iv) marine cargo (transport); (v) business travel and personal accident; (vi) construction all risk (EAR/CAR); (vii) automobile liability; (viii) trade credit; and (ix) other specific coverages for executive and special risk.
We believe that our insurance coverage terms and conditions are customary for a business such as Constellium and are sufficient to protect us against catastrophic losses.
We also purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of our directors and officers.
Governmental Regulations and Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
Our operations are subject to a number of federal, state and local regulations relating to the protection of the environment and to workplace health and safety. Our operations involve the use, handling, storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous substances, and accordingly we are subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations governing emissions to air, discharges to water emissions, the generation, storage, transportation, treatment or disposal of hazardous materials or wastes and employee health and safety matters. In addition, prior operations at certain of our properties have resulted in contamination of soil and groundwater which we are required to investigate and remediate pursuant to applicable environmental, health and safety (EH&S) laws. Environmental compliance at our key facilities is overseen by the Direction Régionale de lEnvironnement de lAménagement et du Logement in France, the Umweltbundesamt in Germany, the Service de la Protection de lEnvironnement du Canton du Valais in Switzerland, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the Alabama Department of the Environmental Management and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection in the United States, the Regional Authority of the Usti Region in the Czech Republic, the Slovenká Inpekcia ivotného prostredia in Slovakia, and the Environmental Monitoring Agency in China. Violations of EH&S laws, and remediation obligations arising under such laws, may result in restrictions being imposed on our operating activities as well as fines, penalties, damages or other costs. Accordingly, we have implemented EH&S policies and procedures to protect the environment and ensure compliance with these laws, and incorporate EH&S considerations into our planning for new projects. We perform regular risk assessments and EH&S reviews. We closely and systematically monitor and manage situations of noncompliance with EH&S
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laws and cooperate with authorities to redress any noncompliance issues. We believe that we have made adequate reserves with respect to our remediation obligations. Nevertheless, new regulations or other unforeseen increases in the number of our non-compliant situations may impose costs on us that may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Our operations also result in the emission of substantial quantities of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that is regulated under the EUs Emissions Trading System (ETS). Although compliance with ETS to date has not resulted in material costs to our business, compliance with ETS requirements currently being developed for the 2016-2020 period, and increased energy costs due to ETS requirements imposed on our energy suppliers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We may also be liable for personal injury claims or workers compensation claims relating to exposure to hazardous substances. In addition, we are, from time to time, subject to environmental reviews and investigations by relevant governmental authorities.
Directive 2010/75 titled Industrial Emissions regulates some of our European activities as recycling or melting/casting. With the forthcoming final revision of the Best Available Technics Reference in 2016, which will define associated emissions limits values for these activities, within the next 4 years, staying in compliance with the law, could require significant expenditures to tune our processes or implement abatement installations.
Additionally, some of the chemicals we use in our fabrication processes are subject to REACH in the EU. Under REACH, we are required to register some of our products with the European Chemicals Agency, and this process could cause significant delays or costs. We are currently compliant with REACH, and expect to stay in compliance, but if the nature of the regulation changes in the future or if substances we use currently in our process, considered as Substances of Very High Concern, fall under need of authorization for use, we may be required to make significant expenditures to reformulate the chemicals that we use in our products and materials or incur costs to register such chemicals to gain and/or regain compliance. Future noncompliance could also subject us to significant fines or other civil and criminal penalties. Obtaining regulatory approvals for chemical products used in our facilities is an important part of our operations.
We accrue for costs associated with environmental investigations and remedial efforts when it becomes probable that we are liable and the associated costs can be reasonably estimated. The aggregate close down and environmental restoration costs provisions at December 31, 2015 were 88 million. All accrued amounts have been recorded without giving effect to any possible future recoveries. With respect to ongoing environmental compliance costs, including maintenance and monitoring, we expense the costs when incurred.
We have incurred, and in the future will continue to incur, operating expenses related to environmental compliance. As part of the general capital expenditure plan, we expect to incur capital expenditures for other capital projects that may, in addition to improving operations, reduce certain environmental impacts as energy consumption, air emissions, water releases, wastes streams optimization.
Litigation and Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we are party to a variety of claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company is currently not involved, nor has it been involved during the twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of this Annual Report, in any governmental, legal or arbitration proceedings which may have or have had a significant effect on the Companys business, financial position or profitability, and the Company is not aware of any such proceedings which are currently pending or threatened. From time to time, asbestos-related claims are also filed against us, relating to historic asbestos exposure in our production process. Constellium has implemented internal controls to comply with applicable environmental law. We have made reserves for potential occupational disease claims for a total of 5 million as of December 31, 2015. It is not anticipated that any of our currently pending litigation and proceedings will have a material effect on the future results of the Company.
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C. | Organizational Structure |
The following diagram summarizes our corporate legal entity structure as of April 18, 2016, including our significant subsidiaries.
D. | Property, Plants and Equipment |
At December 31, 2015, we operated 22 production sites serving both global and local customers, including seven major facilities, and one world class R&D center. Our top seven sites Neuf-Brisach, Muscle Shoals, Ravenswood, Issoire, Děčín, Singen, and Sierre) make up a total of approximately 1,400,000 square meters. A summary of the seven major facilities is provided below:
| The Neuf-Brisach, France facility is an integrated aluminium rolling, finishing and recycling facility in Europe. Our recent investments in a can body stock slitter and recycling furnace has enabled us to secure long-term can stock contracts. Additionally, the facilitys automotive furnace has allowed it to become a significant supplier of aluminium Auto Body Sheet in the automotive market. We invested 145 million in the facility in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015. |
| The Muscle Shoals, Alabama facility operates one of the largest and most efficient can reclamation facilities in the world. In addition, the facility utilizes multi-station electromagnetic casting, houses the widest hot line in North America and has the fastest can end stock coating line in the world. Production capabilities include body stock, tab stock, and end stock. After the acquisition in early 2015, we have invested approximately 71 million in the facility in the one-year period ended December 31, 2015. |
|
The Ravenswood, West Virginia facility has significant assets for producing aerospace plates and is a recognized supplier to the defense industry. The facility has wide-coil capabilities and stretchers that make it the only facility in the world capable of producing plates of a size needed for the largest |
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commercial aircraft. We spent approximately 61 million in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015 on significant equipment upgrades (including a new state-of-the-art pusher furnace), which are in the completion stages. |
| The Issoire, France facility is one of the worlds two leading aerospace plate mills based on volumes. A second AIRWARE ® industrial casthouse started operations in 2015 and currently uses recycling capabilities to take back scrap along the entire fabrication chain. Issoire works as an integrated platform with Ravenswood, providing a significant competitive advantage for us as a global supplier to the aerospace industry. We invested 103 million in the facility in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015. |
| The Děčín, Czech Republic facility is a large extrusion facility, mainly focusing on hard alloy extrusions for industrial applications, with significant recycling capabilities. It is located near the German border, strategically positioning it to supply the German OEMs. Its integrated casthouse allows it to offer high value-add customized hard alloys to our customers. We invested 14 million in the facility in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015. The investment includes a new small lot size casthouse complemented with a recycling facility and extrusion line that is expected to increase production of hard alloys tubes and bars by almost 10,000 tons per year expanding our capabilities to serve the automotive market. |
| The Singen, Germany facility has one of the largest extrusion presses in the world as well as advanced and highly productive integrated bumper manufacturing lines. The automotive press lines are fully dedicated to produce semis for crash management applications; a dedicated unit allows the production of finished side-impact beams ready for the OEMs assembly lines. We invested 38 million in the facility in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015. The rolling part has industry leading cycle times and high-grade cold mills with special surfaces capabilities. |
| The Sierre, Switzerland facility is dedicated to precision plates for general engineering, aero plates and slabs and is a leading supplier of extruded products for high-speed train railway manufacturers and a wide range of applications. The Sierre facility includes the Steg casthouse that produces automotive, general engineering and aero slabs and the Chippis casthouse that has the capacity to produce non-standard billets and a wide range of extrusions. Its recent qualification as an aerospace plate and slabs plant increases our aerospace production and will help us to support the increased build rates of commercial aircraft OEMs. We invested 12 million in the facility in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015. |
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Our production facilities are listed below by operating segment:
Operating Segment |
Location |
Country |
Owned/Leased |
|||
Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products |
Biesheim, Neuf-Brisach | France | Owned | |||
Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products |
Singen | Germany | Owned/Leased (1) | |||
Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products |
Muscle Shoals, AL | United States | Owned | |||
Aerospace & Transportation |
Ravenswood, WV | United States | Owned | |||
Aerospace & Transportation |
Carquefou | France | Owned (2) | |||
Aerospace & Transportation |
Issoire | France | Owned | |||
Aerospace & Transportation |
Montreuil-Juigné | France | Owned | |||
Aerospace & Transportation |
Ussel | France | Owned | |||
Aerospace & Transportation |
Steg | Switzerland | Owned | |||
Aerospace & Transportation |
Sierre | Switzerland | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Novi, MI | United States | Leased (3) | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Van Buren, MI | United States | Leased | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Changchun, Jilin Province (JV) | China | Leased | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Děčín | Czech Republic | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Nuits-Saint-Georges | France | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Burg | Germany | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Crailsheim | Germany | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Neckarsulm | Germany | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Gottmadingen | Germany | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Landau/Pfalz | Germany | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Singen | Germany | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Levice | Slovakia | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Chippis | Switzerland | Owned | |||
Automotive Structures & Industry |
Sierre | Switzerland | Owned |
(1) | While a majority of the land is owned by us, certain plots of land are subject to a lease agreement. |
(2) | Divested on February 1, 2016. |
(3) | Leased / in the process of being fully transferred back to the owner by March 31, 2016. |
The production capacity and utilization rate for our main plants are listed below as of December 31, 2015:
Plant |
Capacity | Utilization Rate | ||
Neuf-Brisach |
450kt | 90-95% | ||
Muscle Shoals |
500-550kt | 75% | ||
Issoire |
100kt | 90-95% | ||
Ravenswood |
135-145kt | 90-95% | ||
Děčín |
75kt | 80% | ||
Singen |
290-310kt | 70-75% | ||
Sierre |
70-75kt | 64-69% |
Estimates assume currently operating equipment, current staffing configuration and current product mix.
For information concerning the material plans to construct, expand or improve facilities, see Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsLiquidity and Capital Resources.
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Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
The following discussion and analysis is based principally on our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 included elsewhere in this Annual Report. The following discussion is to be read in conjunction with Selected Historical Financial Information and our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
The following discussion and analysis includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report. See in particular Important Information and Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk Factors.
Introduction
The following discussion and analysis is provided to supplement the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of our operations, and liquidity. This section is organized as follows:
| Company Overview. This section provides a general description of our business |
| Our Operating Segments. This section provides a summary of each of our operating segments, including a description of the end markets to which they sell and the industries in which they operate. |
| Discontinued Operations and Disposals. This section provides a summary of completed and contemplated disposals of businesses. |
| Key Factors Influencing Constelliums Financial Condition and Results from Operations. This section provides a description of the factors that may significantly affect our financial condition, results from operations, or liquidity from year to year. |
| Results of Operations. This section provides a discussion of the results of operations on a historical basis for each of our fiscal periods in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. |
| Segment Results. This section provides a discussion of our segment results on a historical basis for each of our fiscal periods in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources. This section provides an analysis of our cash flows for each of our fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. |
| Contractual Obligations. This section provides a discussion of our commitments as of December 31, 2015. |
| Pension Obligations. This section provides a summary of the post-retirement benefit plans in which our employees across Constelliums global operations participate. |
Company Overview
We are a global leader in the development, manufacture and sale of a broad range of highly engineered, value-added specialty rolled and extruded aluminium products to the packaging, aerospace, automotive, other transportation and industrial end-markets. Our leadership positions include a leading position in European and
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North American can body stock market, a number one position in global aerospace plates and a leading global position as aluminium automotive structures provider. This global leadership is supported by our well-invested facilities in Europe and the United States, as well as more than 50 years of proven ability to deliver manufacturing quality and innovation, a global sales network and pre-eminent R&D capabilities.
As of December 31, 2015, we had approximately 11,000 employees and 22 state-of-the-art, integrated production facilities, 9 administrative and commercial sites, and one R&D center.
Our product portfolio is predominantly focused on high value-added, technologically advanced specialty products that command higher margins than less differentiated aluminium products. This portfolio serves a broad range of end-markets that exhibit attractive growth trends in future periods such as the aerospace and automotive markets. Our technological advantage and relationship with our customers is driven by our pre-eminent R&D capabilities. We believe that our R&D capabilities are a key attraction for our customers. Many projects are designed to support specific commercial opportunities at the request of our customers and are carried out in partnership with them.
This regular interaction and partnership with our customers also help us maintain our leading market positions. We have long-standing, established relationships with some of the largest companies in the packaging, aerospace, automotive and other transportation industries including Rexam, Crown, Ball and Amcor, Boeing, Airbus, as well as a number of leading automotive firms. Excluding Wise, the customer base of which has undergone a strategic shift since 2010 and now includes AB InBev, the average length of our customer relationships amongst our top 20 customers averages 25 years.
Our primary metal supply is secured through long-term contracts with several upstream companies, including affiliates of Rio Tinto. In addition, a material portion of our slab and billet supply is produced in our own casthouses.
The table below presents our revenue, net income or loss from continuing operations and Adjusted EBITDA in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. A reconciliation of the net income from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA is included in Segment Results.
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
( in millions) | ||||||||||||
Revenue |
5,153 | 3,666 | 3,495 | |||||||||
Net (loss) income from continuing operations |
(552 | ) | 54 | 96 | ||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
343 | 275 | 280 |
Our Operating Segments
We serve a diverse set of customers across a broad range of end-markets with very different product needs, specifications and requirements. As a result, we have organized our business into the following three segments to better serve our customer base:
Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products Segment
Our Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products segment produces and develops customized aluminium sheet and coil solutions. Approximately 85% of segment volume for the year ended December 31, 2015 was in packaging applications, which primarily include beverage and food can stock as well as closure stock and foil stock. Fifteen percent of segment volume for that period was in automotive rolled products. Our Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products segment accounted for 53% of revenues and 53% (1) of Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015.
(1) | The difference between the sum of reported segment Adjusted EBITDA and the Group Adjusted EBITDA is related to Holdings and Corporate. |
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Aerospace & Transportation Segment
Our Aerospace & Transportation segment has market leadership positions in technologically advanced aluminium and specialty materials products with wide applications across the global aerospace, defense, transportation, and industrial sectors. We offer a wide range of products including plate and sheet which allows us to offer tailored solutions to our customers. We seek to differentiate our products and act as a key partner to our customers through our broad product range, advanced R&D capabilities, extensive recycling capabilities and portfolio of plants with an extensive range of capabilities across Europe and North America. In order to reinforce the competitiveness of our metal solutions, we design our processes and alloys with a view to optimizing our customers operations and costs. This includes offering services such as customizing alloys to our customers processing requirements, processing short lead time orders and providing vendor managed inventories or tolling arrangements. Aerospace & Transportation accounted for 26% of our revenues and 30% (1) of Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Automotive Structures & Industry Segment
Our Automotive Structures & Industry segment produces (i) technologically advanced structures for the automotive industry, including crash management systems, side impact beams and cockpit carriers and (ii) soft and hard alloy extrusions and large extruded profiles for automotive, rail, road, energy, building and industrial applications. We complement our products with a comprehensive offering of downstream technology and service activities, which include pre-machining, surface treatment, R&D and technical support services. Our Automotive Structures & Industry segment accounted for 20% of revenues and 23% (1) of Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Discontinued Operations and Disposals
In the first quarter of 2015, we decided to dispose of our plant in Carquefou (France) which is part of our A&T operating segment and accordingly it was classified as held for sale at December 31, 2015. An 8 million charge was recorded upon the write-down of the related assets to their net realizable value. The sale was completed on February 1, 2016 and no gain was recognized upon disposal.
In the year ended December 31, 2014, the sale of our Tarascon-sur-Ariège (Sabart) plant in France was completed generating a 7 million loss on disposal. This operation did not meet the criteria of discontinued operations in accordance with IFRS and therefore has not been classified or disclosed as such.
In the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold two of our soft alloy plants in France, Ham and Saint Florentin, which did not meet the criteria of discontinued operations in accordance with IFRS and therefore have not been classified or disclosed as such. We have excluded the revenue or shipments from these plants in some of our analysis, where indicated, to allow comparison of period-over-period production.
In the year ended December 31, 2013, the investment in Alcan Strojmetal Aluminium Forging s.r.o., previously accounted for under the equity method, was sold, generating a 3 million disposal gain.
Key Factors Influencing Constelliums Financial Condition and Results from Operations
Acquisition of Wise
On January 5, 2015, we acquired 100% of Wise , a private aluminium sheet producer located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States of America. As we have a controlling interest in the acquired business, its results of operations have been consolidated as of the date of the acquisition. Given the size of the acquired business relative to our legacy businesses and the timing of the Wise Acquisition, the consolidation of the results of the acquired business have had a significant impact on our cash flows and the year over year change in certain key line items of the consolidated statement of income. To the extent our cash flows or the change in an income
(1) | The difference between the sum of reported segment Adjusted EBITDA and the Group Adjusted EBITDA is related to Holdings and Corporate. |
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statement item was significantly impacted by the addition of Wise to our consolidated results in the year ended December 31, 2015, we have indicated this and excluded the associated impact when discussing the results of our analysis of the year over year changes. The full results of Wise since its acquisition are included in the results of our P&ARP segment.
The Aluminium Industry
We participate in select segments of the aluminium semi-fabricated products industry, including rolled and extruded products. Aluminium is lightweight, has a high strength-to-weight ratio and is resistant to corrosion. It compares favorably to several alternative materials, such as steel, in these respects. Aluminium is also unique in the respect that it recycles repeatedly without any material decline in performance or quality. The recycling of aluminium delivers energy and capital investment savings relative to the cost of producing both primary aluminium and many other competing materials. Due to these qualities, the penetration of aluminium into a wide variety of applications continues to increase. We believe that long-term growth in aluminium consumption generally, and demand for those products we produce specifically, will be supported by factors that include growing populations, purchasing power and increasing focus globally on sustainability and environmental issues. Aluminium is increasingly seen as the material of choice in a number of applications, including packaging, aerospace and automotive.
We do not mine bauxite, refine alumina, or smelt primary aluminium as part of our business. Our industry is cyclical and is affected by global economic conditions, industry competition and product development.
The financial performance of our operations is dependent on several factors, the most critical of which are as follows:
Volumes
The profitability of our businesses is determined, in part, by the volume of tons sold and processed. Increased production volumes will result in lower per unit costs, while higher sold volumes will result in additional revenues and associated margins.
Price and Margin
For all contracts, we continuously seek to minimize the impact of aluminium price fluctuations in order to protect our net income and cash flows against the LME and premium/aluminium price variations of aluminium that we buy and sell, with the following methods:
| In cases where we are able to align the price and quantity of physical aluminium purchases with that of physical aluminium sales, we do not need to employ derivative instruments to further mitigate our exposure, regardless of whether the LME portion of the price is fixed or floating. |
| However, when we are unable to align the price and quantity of physical aluminium purchases with that of physical aluminium sales, we enter into derivative financial instruments to pass through the exposure to financial institutions at the time the price is set. |
| For a small portion of our volumes, the aluminium is owned by our customers and we bear no aluminium price risk. |
We do not apply hedge accounting for the derivative instruments we enter into in connection with our ongoing commercial activities and therefore any mark-to-market movements for these instruments are recognized in other (losses)/gainsnet (note that we did apply hedge accounting to the derivative instruments we entered into in connection with the Wise Acquisition). Our risk management practices aim to reduce, but do not eliminate, our exposure to changing primary aluminium prices and, while we limit our exposure to unfavorable price changes, we also limit our ability to benefit from favorable price changes.
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In addition, our operations require that a significant amount of inventory be kept on hand to meet future production requirements. The value of the base level of inventory is also susceptible to changing primary aluminium prices. In order to reduce these exposures, we focus on reducing inventory levels and offsetting future physical purchases and sales.
We refer to the timing difference between the price of primary aluminium included in our revenues and the price of aluminium impacting our cost of sales as metal price lag.
Also included in our results is the impact of differences between changes in the prices of primary and scrap aluminium. As we price our product using the prevailing price of primary aluminium but purchase large amounts of scrap aluminium to produce our products, we benefit when primary aluminium price increases exceed scrap price increases. Conversely, when scrap price increases exceed primary aluminium price increases, our results are negatively impacted. The difference between the price of primary aluminium and scrap prices is referred to as the scrap spread and is impacted by the effectiveness of our scrap purchasing activities, the supply of scrap available and movements in the terminal commodity markets.
The price we pay for aluminium also includes regional premiums, such as the Rotterdam premium for metal purchased in Europe or the Midwest premium for metal purchased in the U.S. The regional premiums which had historically been fairly stable have recently become more volatile. Notably, regional premiums increased significantly in 2013 and 2014, with the Rotterdam premium and the Midwest premium reaching unprecedented levels in the fourth quarter of 2014. During the second half of 2015, both the Rotterdam and Midwest premiums returned to levels seen prior to 2013. Although our business model seeks to minimize the impact of aluminium price fluctuations on our net income and cash flows, we are not always able to pass-through the cost of regional premiums to our customers or adequately hedge the impact of regional premium differentials. We refer to this exposure as metal premium losses. See Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk FactorsOur financial results could be adversely affected by the volatility in aluminium prices.
Seasonality
Customer demand in the aluminium industry is cyclical due to a variety of factors, including holiday seasons, weather conditions, economic and other factors beyond our control. Our volumes are impacted by the timing of the holiday seasons in particular, with the lowest volumes typically delivered in August and December and highest volumes delivered in January to June. Our business is also impacted by seasonal slowdowns and upturns in certain of our customers industries. Historically, the can industry is strongest in the spring and summer seasons, whereas the automotive and construction sectors encounter slowdowns in both the third and fourth quarters of the calendar year. In response to this seasonality, we seek to scale back and may even temporarily close some operations to reduce our operating costs during these periods.
Economic Conditions, Markets and Competition
We are directly impacted by the economic conditions that affect our customers and the markets in which they operate. General economic conditions in the geographic regions in which our customers operatesuch as the level of disposable income, the level of inflation, the rate of economic growth, the rate of unemployment, exchange rates and currency devaluation or revaluationinfluence consumer confidence and consumer purchasing power. These factors, in turn, influence the demand for our products in terms of total volumes and the price that can be charged. In some cases we are able to mitigate the risk of a downturn in our customers businesses by building committed minimum volume thresholds into our commercial contracts. We further seek to mitigate the risk of a downturn by utilizing a temporary workforce for certain operations, which allows us to match our resources with the demand for our services. We are also seeking to purchase transportation and logistics services from third parties, to the extent possible, in order to limit capital expenditure and manage our fixed cost base.
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Although the metals industry and our end-markets are cyclical in nature and expose us to related risks, we believe that our portfolio is relatively resistant to these economic cycles in each of our three main end-markets (packaging, aerospace and automotive):
| Can packaging is a seasonal market peaking in the summer because of the increased consumption of soft drinks during the summer months. It tends not to be highly correlated to the general economic cycle and in addition, we believe European can body stock has an attractive long-term growth outlook due to ongoing trends in (i) end-market growth in beer, soft drinks and energy drinks, (ii) increasing use of cans versus glass in the beer market, and (iii) increasing penetration of aluminium in can body stock at the expense of steel. |
| We believe that the aerospace industry is currently insulated from the economic cycle through a combination of drivers sustaining its growth. These drivers include increasing passenger traffic and the replacement of the fleet fueled by the age of the planes in service and the need for more efficient planes. These factors have materialized in the form of historically high backlogs for the aircraft manufacturers; the combined order backlog for Boeing and Airbus currently represents approximately 8 to 9 years of manufacturing at current delivery rates. |
| Although the automotive industry as a whole is a cyclical industry, its demand for aluminium has been increasing in recent years. This has been triggered by the light-weighting demand for new car models, which drives a positive substitution of heavier metals in favor of aluminium. |
In addition to the counter-cyclicality of our key end-markets, we believe our cash flows are also largely protected from variations in LME prices due to the fact that we hedge our sales based on their replacement cost, by setting the maturity of our futures on the delivery date to our customers. As a result, when LME prices increase, we have limited additional cash requirements to finance the increased replacement cost of our inventory. Aluminium prices are determined by worldwide forces of supply and demand, and, as a result, aluminium prices are volatile. The average LME transaction price per ton of primary aluminium in 2015, 2014 and 2013 was 1,498, 1,410 and 1,390, respectively.
The average quarterly LME per ton using U.S. dollar prices converted to euros using the applicable European Central Bank rates are presented in the following table:
(Euros/ton) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
First Quarter |
1,600 | 1,247 | 1,516 | |||||||||
Second Quarter |
1,600 | 1,312 | 1,405 | |||||||||
Third Quarter |
1,431 | 1,500 | 1,345 | |||||||||
Fourth Quarter |
1,366 | 1,573 | 1,300 | |||||||||
Average for the year |
1,498 | 1,410 | 1,390 |
The average quarterly Midwest Premium per ton using U.S. dollar prices converted to euros using the applicable European Central Bank rates are presented in the following table:
(Euros/ton) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
First Quarter |
449 | 301 | 193 | |||||||||
Second Quarter |
257 | 302 | 198 | |||||||||
Third Quarter |
159 | 338 | 190 | |||||||||
Fourth Quarter |
163 | 409 | 171 | |||||||||
Average for the year |
255 | 338 | 188 |
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The average quarterly Rotterdam Premium per ton using U.S. dollar prices converted to euros using the applicable European Central Bank rates are presented in the following table:
(Euros/ton) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
First Quarter |
382 | 249 | 222 | |||||||||
Second Quarter |
188 | 286 | 215 | |||||||||
Third Quarter |
139 | 345 | 198 | |||||||||
Fourth Quarter |
143 | 399 | 187 | |||||||||
Average for the year |
211 | 321 | 205 |
A portion of our revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars while the majority of our costs incurred are denominated in local currencies. We engage in significant hedging activity to attempt to mitigate the effects of foreign transaction currency fluctuations on our profitability.
In accordance with IFRS, we mark-to-market derivatives at the period end giving rise to unrealized gains or losses which are classified as other (losses)/gainsnet. These unrealized gains or losses have no bearing on the underlying performance of the business and are removed when calculating Adjusted EBITDA.
Personnel Costs
Our operations are labor intensive and, as a result, our personnel costs represent 18%, 20%, and 20% of our cost of sales, selling and administrative expenses and research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 respectively. Personnel costs generally increase and decrease proportionately with the expansion, addition or closing of operating facilities. Personnel costs include the salaries, wages and benefits of our employees, as well as costs related to temporary labor. During our seasonal peaks and especially during summer months, we have historically increased our temporary workforce to compensate for staff on vacation and increased volume of activity.
Currency
We are a global company with operations as of December 31, 2015 in France, the United States, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and China. As a result, our revenue and earnings have exposure to a number of currencies, primarily the U.S. dollar, the euro and the Swiss Franc. As our presentation currency is the euro, and the functional currencies of the businesses located outside of the Eurozone are primarily the U.S. dollar and the Swiss franc, the results of the businesses located outside of the Eurozone must be translated each period to euros. Accordingly, fluctuations in the exchange rate of the functional currencies of our businesses located outside of the Eurozone against the euro impacts our results of operations. This impact is referred to as the effect of foreign currency translation in the Results of Operations discussion below. We calculate the effect of foreign currency translation by converting our current period local currency financial information using the prior period foreign currency average exchange rates and comparing these adjusted amounts to our prior period reported results. This calculation may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies and, accordingly, the changes excluding the effect of foreign currency translation are not meant to substitute for changes in recorded amounts presented in conformity with IFRS nor should such amounts be considered in isolation. When discussing the revenue and Adjusted EBITDA of our P&ARP segment we exclude the impact of the Wise Acquisition on year over year changes. As Wise is the only business within our P&ARP segment with a functional currency that is different from our presentation currency, year over year changes that exclude the impact of the Wise Acquisition are not impacted by the effect of foreign currency translation.
Transaction impacts arise when our businesses transact in a currency other than their own functional currency. As a result, we are exposed to foreign exchange risk on payments and receipts in multiple currencies. Where we have multiple-year sale agreements for the sale of fabricated metal products in U.S. dollars, we have entered into derivative contracts to forward sell U.S. dollars to match these future sales. Hedge accounting is not applied to such ongoing commercial transactions and therefore the mark-to-market impact is recorded in other gains/(losses)net.
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Presentation of Financial Information
The financial information presented in this section is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and in conformity with IFRS as adopted by the EU.
Results of Operations
Description of Key Line Items of the Historical Consolidated Statements of Income
Set forth below is a brief description of the composition of the key line items of our historical consolidated statements of income for continuing operations:
| Revenue . Revenue represents the income recognized from the delivery of goods to third parties, including the sale of scrap metal and tooling, less discounts, credit notes and taxes levied on sales. |
| Cost of sales . Cost of sales include the costs of materials directly attributable to the normal operating activities of the business, including raw material and energy costs, personnel costs for those involved in production, depreciation and the maintenance of producing assets, packaging and freight on-board costs, tooling, dyes and utility costs. |
| Selling and administrative expenses . Selling and administrative expenses include depreciation of non-producing assets, amortization, personnel costs of those personnel involved in sales and corporate functions such as finance and IT. |
| Research and development expenses . Research and development expenses are costs in relation to bringing new products to market. Included in such expenses are personnel costs and depreciation and maintenance of assets offset by tax credits for research activities where applicable. |
| Restructuring costs . Restructuring costs represent expenses incurred in implementing management initiatives for cost-cutting and efficiency improvements, primarily related to severance payments, pension curtailment costs and contract termination costs. |
| Impairment . Impairment represents asset impairment charges. |
| Other (losses)/gainsnet . Other losses or gains include unusual infrequent or non-recurring items, realized and unrealized gains or losses on derivative instruments and exchange gains or losses on the remeasurement of monetary assets or liabilities. |
| Other expenses . Other expenses are mainly comprised of expenses related to our May 2013 initial public offering and subsequent secondary offerings. |
| Finance costs, net . Finance costs, net is comprised mainly of interest expense on borrowings, and the net impact of realized foreign exchange transaction gains or losses recognized on U.S. dollar denominated debt at euro functional currency entities and realized and unrealized gains or losses recognized on cross currency swaps entered in to in order to hedge this transactional exposure. |
| Share of (loss)/profit of joint ventures . Results from investments in joint ventures represent Constelliums share of results of joint ventures accounted for using the equity method. |
| Income taxes . Income tax represents the aggregate of current and deferred tax expense or benefit. Current tax is the amount of income taxes payable (recoverable) in respect of the taxable profit/(loss) for a year. Deferred tax represents the amounts of income taxes payable/ (recoverable) in future periods in respect of taxable (deductible) temporary differences and unused tax losses. |
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Results of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
( in millions and as a % of revenues) | ||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations |
% | % | ||||||||||||||
Revenue |
5,153 | 100 | % | 3,666 | 100 | % | ||||||||||
Cost of sales |
(4,703 | ) | 91 | % | (3,183 | ) | 87 | % | ||||||||
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Gross profit |
450 | 9 | % | 483 | 13 | % | ||||||||||
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Selling and administrative expenses |
(245 | ) | 5 | % | (200 | ) | 5 | % | ||||||||
Research and development expenses |
(35 | ) | 1 | % | (38 | ) | 1 | % | ||||||||
Restructuring costs |
(8 | ) | | (12 | ) | | ||||||||||
Impairment |
(457 | ) | 9 | % | | | ||||||||||
Other losses net |
(131 | ) | 3 | % | (83 | ) | 2 | % | ||||||||
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Income (loss) from operations |
(426 | ) | 8 | % | 150 | 4 | % | |||||||||
Finance costs, net |
(155 | ) | 3 | % | (58 | ) | 2 | % | ||||||||
Share of loss of joint ventures |
(3 | ) | | (1 | ) | | ||||||||||
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Income (loss) before income taxes |
(584 | ) | 11 | % | 91 | 2 | % | |||||||||
Income tax benefit/(expense) |
32 | 1 | % | (37 | ) | 1 | % | |||||||||
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Net income/(loss) |
(552 | ) | 11 | % | 54 | 1 | % | |||||||||
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Shipment volumes (in kt) |
1,478 | n/a | 1,062 | n/a | ||||||||||||
Revenue per ton ( per ton) |
3,486 | n/a | 3,452 | n/a |
Revenue
Revenue from continuing operations increased by 41% or 1,487 million to 5,153 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 3,666 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Wise, which contributed 1,198 million of revenue in the year ended December 31, 2015, and the effect of foreign currency translation, revenue increased 125 million or 3%.
Excluding the impact of the Wise Acquisition, our volumes decreased by 3%, or 27 kt, to 1,035 kt for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to shipments of 1,062 kt for the year ended December 31, 2014. This decrease is primarily driven by lower shipment volumes from our P&ARP segment attributable to a decline in volumes of 28 kt or 5%, excluding the impact of the Wise Acquisition, over the period. The year over year decline in volumes was offset by a 6% increase in revenue per ton from 3,452 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2014 to 3,663 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2015, excluding the impact of the Wise Acquisition and the effect of foreign currency translation. This was primarily driven by favorable mix attributable to higher average prices on automotive and aerospace products.
Our revenue is discussed in more detail in the Segment Results section.
Cost of Sales and Gross Profit
Cost of sales increased by 48%, or 1,520 million, to 4,703 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 3,183 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Wise, which contributed 1,219 million of cost of sales in the year ended December 31, 2015, and the effect of foreign currency translation, cost of sales increased by 5%, or 159 million.
Excluding the impact of the Wise Acquisition and the effect of foreign currency translation, the increase in cost of sales is driven by the following:
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A 7% or 140 million increase in the total cost of raw material and consumables used. Although total shipment volumes declined as explained further in the Revenue section above, the raw material and |
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consumables cost per ton increased by 9%, reflective of the impact of metal price lag which changed from a positive impact in 2014 to a negative impact in 2015 (72 million negative impact on cost of sales over the period) and higher combined LME prices and premium in the earlier part of 2015 and late 2014 over the comparable period in the prior year; |
| A 7% or 38 million increase in employee benefit expenses in cost of sales driven by an increase in headcount across our businesses to support the continued expansion of our aerospace and automotive production capabilities and 6 million of non-recurring employee benefit related manufacturing system and process transformation and start-up and development costs; |
| A 31 million increase in depreciation and amortization in cost of sales driven by increased investment in our production facilities in prior years to support our operations and respond to market demand. |
The decrease in metal premium losses over the period had a 15 million positive impact on gross profit and further investments in manufacturing system and process transformation related costs at businesses within our A&T segment in 2015 and increased start-up and development costs at businesses within our AS&I and P&ARP segments had an offsetting negative impact on gross profit over the period. Excluding the impact of these items on our gross profit and the impact of metal price lag, and despite the other factors described above, our gross profit margin as a percentage of revenue increased slightly to 14% in the year ended December 31, 2015 from 13% in the year ended December 31, 2014, excluding the impact of the Wise Acquisition and the effect of foreign currency translation.
Selling and Administrative Expenses
Selling and administrative expenses increased by 23%, or 45 million, to 245 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 200 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Wise, which contributed 19 million in selling and administrative expenses in the year ended December 31, 2015, and the effect of foreign currency translation, the increase was 10%, or 19 million, driven by a 14 million increase in employee benefit expenses included in selling, general, and administrative expenses. The increase in employee related expenses is both attributable to an increase in support functions headcount and external workforce to support future expansion combined with non-recurring costs related to the turnover in executive personnel and increase in share equity plans.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses decreased by 8% or 3 million, to 35 million in the year ended December 31, 2015, from 38 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. Wise did not contribute research and development expenses in the year ended December 31, 2015. Excluding the impact of 9 million in French research and development tax credits (9 million in the year ended December 31, 2014), research and development costs were 12 million, 20 million, 9 million, and 3 million at the P&ARP, A&T, AS&I, and Corporate & Holding segments, respectively, in the year ended December 31, 2015.
Restructuring Costs
Restructuring costs decreased by 4 million to 8 million in the year ended December 31, 2015, from 12 million in the year ended December 31, 2014.
Impairment
Impairment charges of 457 million were recorded in the year ended December 31, 2015 while no impairment charges were recorded in the year ended December 31, 2014. The charges recorded during the period are primarily comprised of a 49 million impairment related to our operations in Valais, Switzerland within the AS&I and A&T segments and a 400 million impairment related to Wise within our P&ARP segment. The
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Valais impairment was triggered by a combination of factors including unfavorable exposure to the strengthening Swiss franc during the period and declining market share in the aerospace market. The Wise impairment was triggered by continued under performance and actual results for the year ended December 31, 2015 showing a much lower financial performance than the initial business plan prepared as part of the Wise Acquisition, and the downgrade of the revised budget and strategic plan, notably after taking into account the commercial conditions of new sale agreements for the can/packaging business.
Other (losses)/gainsNet
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
( in millions) |
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Realized losses on derivatives |
(93 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||
Unrealized losses on derivatives at fair value through profit and lossnet |
(20 | ) | (53 | ) | ||||
Unrealized exchange (losses)/gains from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilitiesnet |
(3 | ) | 1 | |||||
Swiss pension plan settlement |
| 6 | ||||||
Ravenswood pension plan amendment |
(5 | ) | 9 | |||||
Wise acquisition costs |
(5 | ) | (34 | ) | ||||
Income tax contractual reimbursements |
| 8 | ||||||
Loss on disposal and assets classified as held for sale |
(5 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||
Othernet |
| (2 | ) | |||||
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Total other losses, net |
(131 | ) | (83 | ) |
Other lossesnet were 131 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 83 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Realized losses recognized upon the settlement of derivative instruments increased by 80 million, to 93 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 13 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Of these, realized losses on LME derivatives were 56 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. The year over year increase in the LME related loss is attributable to the decline in LME prices throughout the year. Realized losses on foreign exchange derivatives increased by 25 million to 37 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 from 12 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the euro.
Unrealized losses on derivatives held at fair value through profit and loss were 20 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 53 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. Of these, mark-to-market unrealized losses recognized on LME related derivative instruments were 10 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 12 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. The mark-to-market unrealized losses recognized on foreign exchange derivatives, which relate primarily to the exposure on a multiple year sale agreement for products sold in U.S. dollars, which ends in 2016, decreased from 41 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 to 10 million in the year ended December 31, 2015. The year over year change can be attributed to a decrease in the notional value as of the end of 2015 compared to the end of 2014 as we near the end the agreement.
In the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we recognized a 5 million loss and 9 million gain, respectively, associated with amendments made to our Ravenswood pension benefit plans.
The loss on disposal and assets classified as held for sale in the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily relates to the write-down of the value of assets at our plant in Carquefou, France upon our decision to sell the plant during the year. The loss recognized in the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily relates to the disposal of our Tarascon sur Ariege plant in October 2014.
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Finance Cost-Net
Finance costsnet increased by 97 million, to 155 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 58 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. Finance costsnet is comprised of finance costs of 226 million and 88 million in the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and finance income of 71 million and 30 million in the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Finance costs increased by 138 million to 226 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 88 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Wise, which contributed 61 million (net of the amortization of borrowing costs) of finance costs in the year ended December 31, 2015, finance costs increased by 87%, or 77 million. The increase in finance costs, excluding the impact of the Wise Acquisition, is primarily attributable to an increase in interest expense recognized on borrowings, an increase in realized and unrealized exchange losses on financing activities, and the offsetting impact of the absence of exit fees paid and the write-off of unamortized arrangement fees associated with the repayment of the 2013 Term Loan recognized in the year ended December 31, 2014.
Finance income increased by 41 million, to 71 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 from 30 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. There was no finance income contributed by Wise in the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in finance income is primarily attributable to an increase in realized and unrealized gains on debt derivatives and an increase in realized and unrealized gains on financing activities, which almost fully offset the losses included in finance costs.
Interest expense recognized on borrowings, excluding the interest expense contributed by Wise of 66 million, increased by 51 million to 83 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 32 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase is mainly attributable to a full year of interest expense recognized on our Senior Notes issued in May and December 2014.
In the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized 15 million of exit and arrangement fees related to the repayment of the 2013 Term Loan. No such fees were incurred in the year ended December 31, 2015. Interest expense on our factoring arrangements were stable over the period, being 11 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, and 9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
We recognized a net 48 million loss related to realized and unrealized exchange losses on financing activities in the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to a loss of 27 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. This activity is primarily comprised of foreign exchange transaction losses related to the revaluation of a portion of the Senior Notes denominated in U.S. dollars, which resides at euro functional currency entities, and is driven by the further strengthening of the U.S. dollar over the period. We have entered in to cross currency swaps and rolling foreign exchange forwards in order to offset this exposure to currency rate volatility. Realized and unrealized gains, included in finance income, recognized on the settlement and mark-to-market revaluation of these instruments, of 50 million and 29 million were recognized in the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Income Tax
Income tax for the year ended December 31, 2015 was a benefit of 32 million compared to an income tax expense of 37 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Our effective tax rate represented 5% of our loss before income tax for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 41% of our income before tax for the year ended December 31, 2014. This 36 percentage point change in our effective tax rate reflects an increase in composite statutory tax rate applicable by tax jurisdiction (the blended tax rate), from 31% in 2014 to 38 % in 2015 and significant reconciling items in both years.
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The blended tax rate for the group reflects the mix of profits and losses in the different jurisdictions in which we are operating and notably a higher proportion of profit and losses in higher tax rate jurisdictions, primarily in the United States in the year ended December 31, 2015.
Reconciling items between our blended rate and our actual effective tax rate in 2015 included the following:
| Unrecognized deferred tax assets in the amount of 174 million (or unfavorable 30 percentage points) primarily resulting from impairment charges recorded in connection with our Muscle Shoals assets, |
| Unrecognized deferred tax assets in the amount of 46 million (or unfavorable 8 percentage points) relating to losses which are not expected to be recovered, |
| Derecognition of certain deferred tax assets of one of our Swiss entities for 24 million (or unfavorable 4 percentage points), and |
| Recognition of deferred tax assets previously unrecognized at one of our United States tax entities for 74 million (or favorable 13 percentage points). |
Reconciling items between our blended rate and our actual effective tax rate in 2014, included the following:
| Unrecognized deferred tax assets in the amount of 16 million (or unfavorable 18 percentage points) relating to losses which are not expected to be recovered, |
| Derecognition of certain deferred tax assets of one of our Swiss entities for 6 million (or unfavorable 7 percentage points) and |
| Use of unrecognized deferred tax assets for 16 million (or favorable 18 percentage points) at one of our United States tax entities. |
Net Income / Loss for the Year
As a result of the above factors, in the year ended December 31, 2015, we recognized a net loss of 552 million compared to income of 54 million in the year ended December 31, 2014.
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Results of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
( in millions and as a % of revenues) | ||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations |
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Revenue |
3,666 | 100 | % | 3,495 | 100 | % | ||||||||||
Cost of sales |
(3,183 | ) | 87 | % | (3,024 | ) | 87 | % | ||||||||
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Gross profit |
483 | 13 | % | 471 | 13 | % | ||||||||||
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Selling and administrative expenses |
(200 | ) | 5 | % | (210 | ) | 6 | % | ||||||||
Research and development expenses |
(38 | ) | 1 | % | (36 | ) | 1 | % | ||||||||
Restructuring costs |
(12 | ) | | (8 | ) | | ||||||||||
Other (losses) /gainsnet |
(83 | ) | 2 | % | (8 | ) | | |||||||||
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Income from operations |
150 | 4 | % | 209 | 6 | % | ||||||||||
Other expenses |
| | (27 | ) | 1 | % | ||||||||||
Finance costs, net |
(58 | ) | 2 | % | (50 | ) | 1 | % | ||||||||
Share of profit / (losses) of joint ventures |
(1 | ) | | 3 | | |||||||||||
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Income before income taxes |
91 | 2 | % | 135 | 4 | % | ||||||||||
Income tax expense |
(37 | ) | 1 | % | (39 | ) | 1 | % | ||||||||
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Net Income for the year from continuing operations |
54 | 1 | % | 96 | 3 | % | ||||||||||
Net income/(loss) from discontinued operations |
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Net Income/(Loss) for the year |
54 | 1 | % | 100 | 3 | % | ||||||||||
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Shipment volumes (in kt) |
1,062 | n/a | 1,025 | n/a | ||||||||||||
Revenue per ton ( per ton) |
3,452 | n/a | 3,410 | n/a |
Revenue
Revenue from continuing operations increased by 5% or 171 million to 3,666 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 3,495 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase can be attributed to a 4% increase in volumes shipped and stable average LME prices. On a like-for-like basis, revenues increased by 5%, excluding the impact of changes in LME metal prices, premiums and currency exchange rates, when compared to the full year 2013. Revenues per ton were stable at 3,452 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to 3,410 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2013.
Our volumes increased by 4%, or 37kt, to 1,062 kt for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to shipments of 1,025 kt for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase reflects higher shipment volumes from our P&ARP and AS&I segment, despite the sale of Ham and Saint-Florentin, two of our soft alloy plants in France.
Our revenues are discussed in more detail in the Segment Results section.
Cost of Sales and Gross Profit
Cost of sales increased by 5%, or 159 million, to 3,183 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 3,024 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, in line with the increase in shipments and aluminium prices. Higher LME prices and premiums contributed to a 5%, or 92 million, increase in raw materials and consumable expenses to 1,952 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to 1,860 million in the year ended December 31, 2013.
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On a per ton basis, cost of sales increased by 2% to 2,997 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2014, from 2,950 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2013, due primarily to higher spot prices for aluminium and premiums. Our raw materials cost per ton increased by 1% to 1,838 per ton in 2014.
Our gross profit benefitted from our accounting for inventory under the weighted average cost method. Due to LME price movements and the timing of transfers from inventory to cost of sales the effect of metal price lag improved our gross profit by 27 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to a negative impact of 29 million in the year ended December 31, 2013.
Employee benefit expenses recorded in cost of sales increased by 7% or 36 million, to 548 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 512 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, reflecting increases in salaries and in headcount.
Depreciation and impairment increased by 17 million to 49 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 32 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, reflecting our level of investments. As a result of the combination of the multiple factors described above, gross profit increased by 12 million or 3%, to 483 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 471 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our gross profit margin remained stable at 13% of revenues in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
Selling and Administrative Expenses
Selling and administrative expenses decreased by 5%, or 10 million, to 200 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 210 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Consulting and audit fees decreased by 20%, or 10 million, to 40 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 50 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. External consulting expenses related primarily to costs incurred in preparing for and operating as a publicly traded company following our IPO in May 2013.
Other selling & administrative expenses, including personnel expenses recorded in selling and administrative expenses, were stable at 160 million in both years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, reflecting our continuous efforts to contain our costs.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses increased by 6% or 2 million, to 38 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, from 36 million in the year ended December 31, 2013.
Restructuring Costs
Restructuring expenses increased by 50% or 4 million, to 12 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
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Other (losses) / gainsNet
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
( in millions) |
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Realized losses on derivatives |
(13 | ) | (31 | ) | ||||
Unrealized gains on derivatives at fair value through profit and lossnet |
(53 | ) | 12 | |||||
Unrealized exchange gains / (losses) from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilitiesnet |
1 | 2 | ||||||
Ravenswood pension plan amendment |
9 | 11 | ||||||
Swiss pension plan settlement |
6 | | ||||||
Income tax contractual reimbursements |
8 | | ||||||
Loss on disposal |
(5 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||
Wise acquisition costs |
(34 | ) | | |||||
Othernet |
(2 | ) | 3 | |||||
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Total other (losses) / gainsnet |
(83 | ) | (8 | ) |
Other lossesnet were 83 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to 8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Other losses-net for the year ended December 31, 2014 included 34 million costs in connection with our acquisition of Wise, which was finalized in January 2015.
Unrealized (losses)/gains on derivatives held at fair value through profit and loss were a loss of 53 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to a gain of 12 million in the year ended December 31, 2013. Of these, unrealized losses on LME derivatives were 7 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to 7 million in the year ended December 31, 2013. Unrealized gains and losses on foreign exchange derivatives relate primarily to the exposure on a multiple year sale agreement for products sold in U.S. dollars and the appreciation of the U.S. dollar compared to the euro in 2014 led to unrealized losses on foreign exchange derivatives of 41 million compared to a gain of 21 million in the year ended December 31, 2013.
Realized losses on derivatives decreased by 18 million, to 13 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 31 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Of these, realized losses on LME derivatives were nil in the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to 29 million in the year ended December 31, 2013. Realized losses on foreign exchange derivatives were a loss of 12 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to a loss of 1 million in the year ended December 31, 2013.
In the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we recognized a 9 million and 11 million gain, respectively, associated with amendments to our Ravenswood pension benefit plans reducing employee benefits and resulting in recognition of negative past service cost. In the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized an 8 million gain related to certain contractual reimbursements of income tax from a previous shareholder.
Loss on disposal in the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 relates primarily to the disposal of our Tarascon sur Ariege plant in October 2014 and our Saint Florentin and Ham plants in May 2013 and amounted to 5 million in both periods.
Other Expenses
Other expenses were 27 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 (nil in the year ended December 31, 2014) and related to fees incurred in connection with our IPO in May 2013, amounting to 24 million, and with our secondary public offerings, amounting to 3 million.
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Finance Cost-Net
Finance costsnet increased by 16%, or 8 million, to 58 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 50 million in the year ended December 31, 2013.
Finance costs increased by 27 million, or 40%, to 94 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 67 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 as a result of our refinancings.
Interest expense on borrowings increased by 10 million to 32 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 22 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, mainly attributable to the Senior Notes we issued in May 2014 and December 2014. In the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized:
| 23 million of interest expensed and accrued associated with the May and December Notes (nil in 2013) |
| 7 million of interest expensed associated with our 2013 Term Loan, which was repaid with the proceeds from our May 2014 Notes. Our 2013 Term Loan had replaced our 2012 Term Loan we entered into in May 2012 and in the year ended December 31, 2013 we recognized 17 million and 3 million interest associated with our 2013 and 2012 Term Loan, respectively. |
| Following the refinancing we recognized 15 million of exit and arrangement fees related to the repayment of the 2013 Term Loan in the year ended December 31, 2014 and 21 million following the repayment of the 2012 Term Loan in the year ended December 31, 2013. |
Interest expense on our factoring arrangements were stable over the period, being 9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, and 10 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Our realized and unrealized gains and losses on debt derivatives at fair valuenet relate to the cross currency swap which was settled when the 2013 Term Loan was repaid and represent a 29 million gain for the year ended December 31, 2014 and a 9 million loss for the year ended December 31, 2013. We also recognized an 11 million gainnet related to unrealized and realized exchange gains on financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to a 27 million net loss for the year ended December 31, 2014, reflecting the strengthening of the U.S. dollar over the period.
Income Tax
Income tax expenses decreased by 5% or 2 million, to 37 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 39 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our effective tax rate increased by 12 percentage points from 29% for the year ended December 31, 2013 to 41% for the year ended December 31, 2014. This 12 percentage point increase in our effective tax rate reflects the following:
| a 12 percentage point unfavorable impact from the derecognition of the deferred tax assets of one of our Swiss entities, |
| a 3 percentage point unfavorable impact from liquidation losses in 2014 as opposed to net gains on divestments in 2013, |
| a 2 percentage point unfavorable impact from non-deductible interest expense primarily in France, |
| a 5 percentage point favorable impact from the mix of profits as a result of a lower weight of profits in higher tax rate jurisdictions (most notably the United States). |
Net Income for the Year from Continuing Operations
Net income from continuing operations was 54 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to 96 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, representing a decrease of 42 million. Gross profit margin
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remained stable and the decrease was primarily attributable to unrealized losses on derivatives of 53 million in fiscal year 2014 compared to unrealized gains on derivatives of 12 million in fiscal year 2013. In addition, fiscal year 2014 was impacted by 34 million of transaction costs related to the Wise Acquisition while the fiscal year 2013 had been impacted by 27 million of expenses related to our IPO and subsequent offerings.
Discontinued Operations
Net income from discontinued operations of 4 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 (nil in the year ended December 31, 2014) represented the impact of the agreement reached with the acquirer of our former AIN business.
Segment Results
Segment Revenue
The following table sets forth the revenues for our operating segments for the periods presented:
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(millions of and as a % of revenue) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
P&ARP |
2,742 | 53 | % | 1,568 | 43 | % | 1,472 | 42 | % | |||||||||||||||
A&T |
1,348 | 26 | % | 1,192 | 32 | % | 1,197 | 34 | % | |||||||||||||||
AS&I |
1,034 | 20 | % | 875 | 24 | % | 805 | 23 | % | |||||||||||||||
Holdings and Corporate |
29 | 1 | % | 31 | 1 | % | 21 | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||
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Total revenues from continuing operations |
5,153 | 100 | % | 3,666 | 100 | % | 3,495 | 100 | % | |||||||||||||||
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P&ARP . Revenues in our P&ARP segment increased by 75%, or 1,174 million, to 2,742 million in the year ended December 31, 2015, from 1,568 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Wise, which contributed 1,198 million to the segments revenue in the year ended December 31, 2015, revenue decreased by 24 million or 2%. Excluding the impact of the Wise Acquisition, shipments decreased by 5% or 28 kt, to 592 kt for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 620 kt for the year ended December 31, 2014, driven by a 35 kt or 7% decrease in shipments of our packaging rolled products. The year over year decline in volumes is attributable to lower demand from can stock customers due to challenges and competition experienced in 2015, which was partially offset by automotive rolled product volume growth. A 3% increase in average prices from 2,529 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2014 to 2,608 in the year ended December 31, 2015, excluding the impact of the Wise Acquisition, partially offset the impact of the decline in volumes on the segments revenue.
Revenues in our P&ARP segment increased by 7%, or 96 million, to 1,568 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, from 1,472 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Excluding the impact of LME and foreign exchange variations, our revenue would have increased by 6% over the period. Shipments increased by 4% or 25 kt, to 620 kt for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 595kt for the year ended December 31, 2013, driven by a 20kt or 36% increase in shipments of automotive rolled products as our BiW projects ramped up which contributed 63 million to the revenue increase. Stable packaging shipments contributed an additional 22 million to revenue as a result of increased average selling prices, with segment revenue per ton increasing by 2% to 2,529 / ton for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 2,474 / ton for the year ended December 31, 2013.
A&T . Revenue at our A&T segment increased by 156 million, or 13% from 1,192 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 to 1,348 million in the year ended December 31, 2015. Excluding the effect of foreign currency translation, the segments revenue increased by 39 million, or 3% over the period. Our volumes decreased by 7 kt, or 3% from 238 kt in the year ended December 31, 2014 to 231 kt in the year ended
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December 31, 2015, driven primarily by a 15 kt decrease in shipments of our transportation, industry, and other rolled products, which can be attributed to softer customer demand in the transportation and industry markets in 2015. This was partially offset by an 8 kt, or 7% increase in aerospace rolled product volume. Excluding the effect of foreign currency translation, revenue per ton increased by 6% from 5,008 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2014 to 5,329 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily driven by favorable mix within the aerospace product line.
Revenues in our A&T segment was stable, at 1,192 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 1,197 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our volumes decreased by 2%, or 6 kt, to 238 kt for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 244 kt for the year ended December 31, 2013, mostly attributable to a 4kt decrease in shipments of our aerospace rolled products. Excluding the impact of LME and foreign exchange, our revenue decreased by 1% over the period, in line with the decrease in shipments and following the adverse impact of a less favorable sales mix in aerospace and competitive pressure in our non-aerospace applications. Revenue per ton increased by 2% to 5,008 / ton for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 4,906 / ton for the year ended December 31, 2013.
AS&I . Revenues in our AS&I segment increased by 18%, or 159 million, to 1,034 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 875 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the effect of foreign currency translation, segment revenues increased by 13%, or 112 million, primarily driven by an 11% increase in revenue per ton, from 4,207 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2014 to 4,656 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2015. Volumes remained stable, with a slight increase in automotive shipments offset by a decrease in the shipment of other products. The year over year improvement in revenue per ton can be attributed to a 21% increase within our automotive product line mainly due to favorable unit spread on sales to automotive customers.
Revenues in our AS&I segment increased by 9%, or 70 million, to 875 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 805 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. On a like-for-like basis, revenues for AS&I increased by 7% in 2014, adjusting for the sale of two of our soft alloy plants in 2013 and excluding the favorable effect of LME metal prices, premiums, and foreign exchange impacts. Our segment volumes increased by 9% or 17kt to 208kt for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 191 kt for the year ended December 31, 2013, driven by an additional 19kt shipped in automotive extruded products. Revenue per ton was stable at 4,207 per ton for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Holdings and Corporate . Revenues in the Holdings and Corporate segment for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 related primarily to metal sales to our former soft alloy plants.
Adjusted EBITDA
In considering the financial performance of the business, management analyzes the primary financial performance measure of Adjusted EBITDA in all of our business segments. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure defined by IFRS. We believe the most directly comparable IFRS measure to Adjusted EBITDA is our net income or loss for the relevant period.
We believe Adjusted EBITDA, as defined below, is useful to investors as it illustrates the underlying performance of continuing operations by excluding non-recurring and non-operating items. Similar concepts of adjusted EBITDA are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in their evaluation of our company and in comparison to other companies, many of which present an adjusted EBITDA-related performance measure when reporting their results.
Our CODM measures the profitability and financial performance of our operating segments based on Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income from continuing operations before income taxes, results from joint ventures, net finance costs, other expenses and depreciation and amortization as adjusted to
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exclude restructuring costs and impairment charges, unrealized gains or losses on derivatives and on foreign exchange differences, metal price lag, Share Equity Plan expense, effects of purchase accounting adjustments, start-up costs or acquisition, integration and separation costs, certain incremental costs and other exceptional, unusual or generally non-recurring items.
Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool. It is not a measure defined by IFRS and therefore does not purport to be an alternative to operating profit or net income as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity.
Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. As a result, you should not consider these performance measures in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, our results of operations.
The following table shows Constelliums consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
Total Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015 was 343 million, an increase compared to 275 million of total Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Wise, which contributed 68 million of Adjusted EBITDA in the year ended December 31, 2015, and the effect of foreign currency translation, Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 4% or 10 million over the period to 265 million and represented 7% of revenues in the year ended December 31, 2015. Excluding Holdings and Corporate, this decrease mainly reflects the net positive impact of improved shipment performance and mix at our AS&I segment, favorable product mix at the A&T segment, and lower shipment volumes at P&ARP segment, offset by increased spending during the year to support future growth and operational quality.
P&ARP . Adjusted EBITDA at our P&ARP segment increased by 55%, or 65 million, to 183 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 118 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Wise, which contributed 68 million of Adjusted EBITDA to this segment in the year ended December 31, 2015, Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 3 million or 3% and Adjusted EBITDA per ton increased by 2% from 190 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2014 to 194 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2015. Overall, Adjusted EBITDA remained relatively stable. Lower shipment volumes, which had a negative impact of 14 million, were offset by better mix on the sale of higher margin automotive products, which had a positive impact of 8 million, as well as premium loss favorability and better control of production costs and overhead spending.
Adjusted EBITDA in our P&ARP segment increased by 12%, or 13 million, to 118 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 105 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Adjusted EBITDA per ton increased by 8% over the same period, to 190 per ton for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 176 per ton for the year ended December 31, 2013, driven by increases across all product categories. Increased shipments in automotive rolled products contributed to a 14 million increase while price and mix had a limited negative effect of 1 million as the impact of a richer mix was offset by 6 million of increase in premiums not passed through to customers. Costs and inflation led to a 7 million decrease, mostly associated with labor inflation, while foreign exchange had a 4 million positive impact.
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A&T . Adjusted EBITDA at our A&T segment increased by 13%, or 12 million, for the year ended December 31, 2015 to 103 million, compared to 91 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the effect of foreign currency translation, Adjusted EBITDA increased by 4% or 4 million over the period and Adjusted EBITDA per ton increased by 8% from 380 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2014 to 411 per ton. Shipments slightly decreased year over year however our shipments to high-end defense and aerospace customers, which typically carry higher margins due to a higher level of aluminium conversion complexity, increased, contributing to an overall positive price and mix effect of 43 million. Increased spending over the period to enhance our quality performance and optimize cost productivity had an offsetting impact of 31 million on Adjusted EBITDA.
Adjusted EBITDA in our A&T segment decreased by 24%, or 29 million, for the year ended December 31, 2014 to 91 million, compared to 120 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Adjusted EBITDA in our A&T segment decreased to 380 per ton for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 491 per ton for the year ended December 31, 2013. This decrease reflected the lower shipments for 7 million and a negative price and mix effect for 28 million, including 8 million related to the increase in premiums throughout the year. The performance of our A&T segment for the year ended December 31, 2014, was also impacted by capacity constraints and operational issues, including significant unplanned equipment outages at our Ravenswood facility in the first and fourth quarters. This was partially offset by lower costs for 2 million and the positive impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar for 8 million.
AS&I . Adjusted EBITDA at our AS&I segment increased by 10%, or 7 million, in the year ended December 31, 2015 to 80 million, compared to 73 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the effect of foreign currency translation, Adjusted EBITDA increased by 7% or 5 million over the period and Adjusted EBITDA per ton increased by 5% from 351 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2014 to 368 per ton in the year ended December 31, 2015. In the year ended December 31, 2015, higher automotive volumes, mainly driven by growing demand from OEMs in the North American market, contributed to favorable pricing and mix effect. The combined impact of volumes, pricing, and mix had a 28 million positive impact on the year over year Adjusted EBITDA growth. The automotive favorability was partially offset by increased costs incurred during the year ended December 31, 2015 to support our expansion in to the automotive market and increased maintenance and research and development costs over the period to support enhanced future performance.
Adjusted EBITDA in our AS&I segment increased by 26%, or 15 million, for the year ended December 31, 2014 to 73 million, compared to 58 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Adjusted EBITDA per ton in our AS&I segment increased by 16% to 351 per ton for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 311 per ton for the year ended December 31, 2013, driven by positive contributions from all product lines. The 9% increase in shipments represented a further 24 million, partially offset by 13 million incremental costs and inflation, mainly related to labor inflation, a 1 million negative price and mix effect including 9 million impact of the increase in premiums which were not passed through to customers, and 1 million associated with the unfavorable change in foreign exchange.
Holdings and Corporate . Our Holdings and Corporate segment generated Adjusted EBITDA losses of 23 million, 7 million and 3 million in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. The increase in the loss from the year ended December 31, 2014 to the year ended December 31, 2015 is primarily attributable to the impact of non-recurring costs incurred in the current period and the reversal of an environmental provision in the year ended December 31, 2014, which, together, contributed approximately 7 million of the year over year change. Foreign currency transactional losses at our Swiss corporate entity driven by the strengthening of the Swiss franc against the Euro during the period along with increased employee benefit expense also contributed significantly to the remaining balance of the year over year change.
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The following table reconciles our net income or loss for each of the three years in the period ending December 31, 2015 to our Adjusted EBITDA for the years presented:
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
( in millions) | ||||||||||||
Net (loss) income |
(552 | ) | 54 | 100 | ||||||||
Net income from discontinued operations |
| | (4 | ) | ||||||||
Other expenses |
| | 27 | |||||||||
Finance costs, net |
155 | 58 | 50 | |||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense |
(32 | ) | 37 | 39 | ||||||||
Share of (gain) loss of joint ventures |
3 | 1 | (3 | ) | ||||||||
Metal price lag (a) |
34 | (27 | ) | 29 | ||||||||
Start-up and development costs (b) |
21 | 11 | 7 | |||||||||
Manufacturing system and process transformation costs (c) |
11 | 1 | | |||||||||
Wise acquisition and integration costs |
14 | 34 | | |||||||||
Wise one-time costs related to the acquisition (d) |
38 | | | |||||||||
Share Equity Plans |
7 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||
Losses / (Gains) on Ravenswood OPEB plan amendment |
5 | (9 | ) | (11 | ) | |||||||
Swiss pension plan settlements |
| (6 | ) | | ||||||||
Income tax contractual reimbursements |
| (8 | ) | | ||||||||
Apollo Management fees |
| | 2 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization (e) |
140 | 49 | 32 | |||||||||
Restructuring costs |
8 | 12 | 8 | |||||||||
Impairment(f) |
457 | | | |||||||||
Losses on disposals and assets classified as held for sale |
5 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||
Unrealized losses / (gains) on derivatives |
20 | 53 | (12 | ) | ||||||||
Unrealized exchange losses / (gains) from remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilitiesnet |
3 | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||
Other |
6 | 7 | 11 | |||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA |
343 | 275 | 280 | |||||||||
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(a) | Represents the financial impact of the timing difference between when aluminum prices included within Constellium revenues are established and when aluminum purchase prices included in Cost of sales are established. The Group accounts for inventory using a weighted average price basis and this adjustment is to remove the effect of volatility in LME prices. The calculation of the Group metal price lag adjustment is based on an internal standardized methodology calculated at each of Constellium manufacturing sites and is calculated as the average value of product recorded in inventory, which approximates the spot price in the market, less the average value transferred out of inventory, which is the weighted average of the metal element of cost of goods sold, multiplied by the quantity sold in the period. |
(b) | For the year ended December 31, 2015, start-up costs relating to new sites and business development initiatives amounted to 21 million of which 16 million related to Body in White growth projects both in Europe and the U.S and 5 million related to the expansion of the site in Van Buren, U.S. |
(c) | For the year ended December 31, 2015, manufacturing system and process transformation costs related to supply chain reorganization mainly in A&T operating segment. |
(d) | Wise one-time costs related to the acquisition include: |
| Wise Mid-West premium losses: Constellium seeks to achieve a full pass-through model for LME and premiums, primarily through contractual arrangements with metal suppliers and customers. At the acquisition date (January 5, 2015), not all Wise contracts had this pass-through mechanism. Constellium has renegotiated these contracts to bring them in line with its usual practice. In addition, the Mid West Premium market conditions were abnormal in the year ended December 31, 2015 with premium falling from $524/metric ton as at January 5, 2015 to $198/metric ton as at December 31, 2015. This resulted in an un-recovered metal premium of 22 million. |
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| Unwinding of Wise previous hedging policies: Constelliums policies are to hedge all known exposures. Losses of 4 million were incurred on the unwinding of the predecessors hedging policies for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
| Effects of purchase accounting adjustment: Represents the non-cash step-up in inventory costs on the acquisition of Wise entities (12 million). |
(e) | Includes 61 million of depreciation and amortization expenses from Muscle Shoals assets for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
(f) | Includes mainly for the year ended December 31, 2015, an impairment charge of 49 million related to Constellium Valais Property, plant and equipment and 400 million related to Muscle Shoals intangible assets and property, plant and equipment. |
Covenant Compliance
Our debt agreements contain no maintenance covenants and events of default but contain customary affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries, to incur indebtedness, sell assets, make investments, engage in acquisitions, mergers or consolidations and make dividends and other restricted payments.
The Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility was terminated on March 30, 2016 in connection with the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes. The Ravenswood ABL Facility described in Item 10. Additional InformationC. Material ContractsRavenswood ABL Facility, contains a financial maintenance covenant that requires Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC (Ravenswood) to maintain excess availability of the greater of (i) $10 million and (ii) 10% of the aggregate revolving loan commitments. Ravenswood is currently in compliance with this financial maintenance covenant. The Ravenswood ABL Facility also contains customary negative covenants on liens, investments and restricted payments related to Ravenswood.
The Wise ABL Facility requires the maintenance of a fixed charge coverage ratio if the excess availability falls below the greater of 10% of the aggregate revolving loan commitment and $20 million. Wises excess availability as of December 31, 2015 was above 10% of the aggregate borrowing base and was greater than $20 million and as such, the company was not required to comply with the ratio requirement.
We were in compliance with our covenants throughout 2015 and 2014 and as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of cash flow have historically been cash flows from operating activities and funding or borrowings from external parties and related parties.
As part of our cash flow management, we have improved our net working capital through procurement initiatives designed to leverage economies of scale and improve terms of payment to suppliers, as well as through collection initiatives designed to improve our billings and collections processes to reduce outstanding receivables. We define net working capital days, days of inventories, days of payables and days of sales outstanding as net trade working capital, inventories, trade payables and trade receivables divided by revenues for the last quarter, multiplied by 90, respectively. Net trade working capital is inventories plus trade receivables net, less trade payables. We believe this measure helps users of the financial statements compare our cash management from period to period and against our peers in respect to our efficiency of working capital employed and the ability to provide sufficient liquidity in the short and long term. Our net working capital as a percentage of annual revenue decreased from 6% in 2013 and 2014 to 3% in 2015. Excluding the impact of factoring 429 million of receivables at the end of 2015, 145 million of which was related to Wise, and the impact of factoring 94 million of receivables at the end of 2014, our net working capital as a percentage of annual revenue
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increased from 8% at December 31, 2014 to 11% at December 31, 2015, primarily driven by Wise. While inventory at Wise has significantly decreased during the year driven by improved inventory control and supply chain optimization, the net working capital as a percentage of annual revenue was 18%, excluding the impact of factoring. Excluding Wise and after adjusting for the impact of factoring, our net working capital as a percentage of annual revenues was 7% in the year ended December 31, 2015, representing a slight decrease from the year ended December 31, 2014.
Based on our current and anticipated levels of operations, and the condition in our markets and industry, we believe that our cash on hand, cash flows from operations, and availability under our revolving credit facilities will enable us to meet our working capital, capital expenditures, debt service and other funding requirements for the foreseeable future. However, our ability to fund working capital needs, debt payments and other obligations depends on our future operating performance and cash flows and many factors outside of our control, including the costs of raw materials, the state of the overall industry and financial and economic conditions and other factors, including those described under the following risk factors within Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk Factors.
| Our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity could be adversely affected if we are unable to execute on our hedging policy, if counterparties to our derivative instruments fail to honor their agreements or if we are unable to purchase derivative instruments; |
| A deterioration in our financial position or a downgrade of our ratings by a credit rating agency could increase our borrowing costs, lead to our inability to access liquidity facilities, and adversely affect our business relationships; and |
| Wise has substantial leverage and may be unable to obtain sufficient liquidity to operate its business and service its indebtedness. Constellium may elect to make capital contributions to Wise but is under no legal obligation to do so. |
| The terms of our indebtedness contain covenants that restrict our current and future operations, and a failure by us to comply with those covenants may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. |
It is our policy to hedge all highly probable or committed foreign currency operating cash flows. As we have significant third party future receivables denominated in U.S. dollars, we enter into combinations of forward contracts and currency options with financial institutions, selling forward U.S. dollars against euros. In addition, as discussed in Item 4. Information on the CompanyB. Business OverviewManaging our Metal Price Exposure, when we are unable to align the price and quantity of physical aluminium purchases with that of physical aluminium sales, we enter into derivative financial instruments to pass through the exposure to metal price fluctuations to financial institutions at the time the price is set. As the U.S. dollar appreciates versus the euro or the LME price for aluminium falls, the derivative contracts entered into with financial institution counterparties have a negative mark-to-market. Our financial institution counterparties may require margin calls should our negative mark-to-market exceed a pre-agreed contractual limit. In order to protect the Company from the potential margin calls for significant market movements, we hold a significant liquidity buffer in cash or in availability under our various borrowing facilities, we enter into derivatives with a large number of financial counterparties and we monitor margin requirements on a daily basis for adverse movements in the U.S. dollar versus the euro and in aluminium prices. No margins were posted at December 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014.
At December 31, 2015, we had 733 million of total liquidity, comprised of 472 million in cash and cash equivalents, 56 million of undrawn credit facilities under our ABL facilities, 50 million available under our factoring arrangements, 145 million of undrawn credit facilities under our Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility, and 10 million under a revolving credit facility. Our ability to borrow under the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility is subject to financial covenants with which we were compliant at December 31, 2015. The Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility was terminated on March 30, 2016 in connection with the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes.
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Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
( in millions) | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by/(used) in: |
||||||||||||
Operating activities |
511 | 212 | 184 | |||||||||
Investing activities |
(722 | ) | (216 | ) | (132 | ) | ||||||
Financing activities |
(308 | ) | 753 | 43 | ||||||||
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Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents, excluding the effect of exchange rate changes |
(519 | ) | 749 | 95 | ||||||||
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Net cash from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities increased by 299 million, from an inflow of 212 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, to an inflow of 511 million in the year ended December 31, 2015. The year over year increase in operating cash flows is primarily attributable to a 335 million increase in the amount of receivables factored at the end of the year and the liquidation of the acquired Wise receivables during the year. This inflow was partially offset by the impact of the timing of vendor payments made.
Net cash from operating activities increased by 28 million, from an inflow of 184 million in the year ended December 31, 2013, to an inflow of 212 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Net working capital days decreased by 5 days to 20 days for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 25 days for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in LME prices and foreign exchange drove all components of trade working capital up, especially inventories and in our A&T segment. Payables were also impacted by the expenses related to the Wise Acquisition, which were incurred in Q4 2014.
Net cash from investing activities
Cash flows used in investing activities increased by 506 million to 722 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 216 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, mainly driven by the net consideration paid in connection with the Wise Acquisition of 348 million, a 151 million increase in capital expenditures, 71 million of which was contributed by Wise. Cash flows used in investing activities also included 9 million related to an additional investment in joint ventures.
Cash flows used in investing activities increased by 84 million to 216 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 132 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, mainly driven by a 55 million increase in capital expenditures, to 199 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, from 144 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our capital expenditures for the year included 36 million related to the ramp up of our body-in-white projects in our PA&RP segment, a further 12 million spent on projects related to Airware and major maintenance in our A&T segment. Cash flows used in investing activities also included 19 million related to our investment in joint ventures, which was created during the fourth quarter of 2014.
For further details on capital expenditures projects, see the Financing ArrangementsHistorical Capital Expenditures section below.
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Net cash from financing activities
Net cash flows from financing activities was an outflow of 308 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to an inflow of 753 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Net cash provided by financing activities in the year ended December 31, 2014 reflected the net impact of 1,153 million in proceeds from the issuance of the Constellium N.V. Senior Notes in May and December and repayment of 331 million in outstanding principal under the Term Loan. In the year ended December 31, 2015, no new debt was issued and an additional 104 million in interest was paid, driven by interest paid of 70 million on the acquired Wise debt, and a full year of interest paid on the Constellium N.V. Senior Notes. The outflow in the year ended December 31, 2015 also included 211 million in repayments made on the Ravenswood ABL Facility and other loans.
Net cash provided by financing activities was an inflow of 753 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to an inflow of 43 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Net cash provided by financing activities in the year ended December 31, 2014 reflected 1,153 million in proceeds from the issuance of Senior Notes in May and December, which was partially used to repay 331 million outstanding under the New Term Loan. Net cash provided by financing activities also included 27 million cash outflows related to payment of deferred financing costs and 34 million of other financing activities.
Historical Capital Expenditures
The following table provides a breakdown of the historical capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment by segment for the periods indicated:
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
( in millions) | ||||||||||||
P&ARP |
169 | 74 | 37 | |||||||||
A&T |
113 | 71 | 53 | |||||||||
AS&I |
60 | 48 | 49 | |||||||||
Intersegment and Other |
8 | 6 | 5 | |||||||||
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Total from continuing operations |
350 | 199 | 144 | |||||||||
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The main projects undertaken during the year ended December 31, 2015 included the Body-in-White capacity extension and the conversion of the Muscle Shoals plant acquired in 2015 from a can-stock to automotive product production facility within the P&ARP segment, and projects related to the Airware casthouse and capital investments, mainly at our Issoire and Ravenswood, West Virginia facilities, to support improved production capacity and manufacturing efficiency within the A&T segment.
Capital expenditures increased by 151 million, or 76%, to 350 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 199 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, as a result of the continuation of existing projects and new projects, including 62 million spent on Body-in-White projects in Europe and the U.S. and 21 million spent on Airware-related projects which were in progress during 2014. Expenditures related to new projects included 33 million related to production capacity improvements at our A&T facilities and 39 million related to the Muscle Shoals plant conversion project.
As at December 31, 2015, we had 296 million of construction in progress which relates to our continued maintenance, modernization and expansion projects at our Muscle Shoals, Neuf Brisach, Issoire, Van Buren, Ravenswood, West Virginia and Singen facilities.
Our principal capital expenditures are expected to total approximately 1,480 million in the years ended December 31, 2016 to 2021, in the aggregate. After giving effect to the transaction contemplated with UACJ, investments in our BiW Expansion program are expected to be approximately 284 million in the years ended
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December 31, 2016 to 2021, in the aggregate. Investments in Muscle Shoals and in our Joint Venture with UACJ, after giving effect to the contemplated transaction (see Item 4. Information on the CompanyB. Business OverviewRecent DevelopmentsExpansion of Joint Venture with UACJ) including both maintenance and growth investments are expected to aggregate to approximately 345 million and 193 million respectively in the years ended December 31, 2016 to 2021. We currently expect all of our capital expenditures to be financed with cash on hand and external financing.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2015, we have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our estimated material contractual cash obligations and other commercial commitments at December 31, 2015:
Cash payments due by period | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
Less than
1 year |
1-3 years | 3-5 years |
After 5
years |
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(unaudited, in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings (1) |
2,139 | 122 | 597 | 145 | 1,275 | |||||||||||||||
Interest (2) |
799 | 140 | 294 | 169 | 196 | |||||||||||||||
Derivatives relating to currencies and metal (3) |
126 | 111 | 15 | | | |||||||||||||||
Operating lease obligations (4) |
60 | 14 | 19 | 6 | 21 | |||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures |
103 | 80 | 23 | | | |||||||||||||||
Finance leases (5) |
67 | 10 | 20 | 16 | 21 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total (6) |
3,294 | 477 | 968 | 336 | 1,513 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | Borrowings include our ABL Facilities which are considered short-term in nature and is included in the category Less than 1 year. |
(2) | Interest includes approximately 40 million of interest related to the Wise Senior Payment-in-Kind (PIK) Toggle Notes, the principal of which is due in 2019. We may elect to settle our interest obligation with non-cash consideration. Interests under the May 2014 Senior Notes accrue at a rate of 5.750% per annum on the U.S. Dollar Notes and 4.625% per annum on the Euro Notes. Interests under the December 2014 Senior Notes accrue at a rate of 8.00% per annum on the U.S. Dollar Notes and 7.00% on the Euro Notes. Interests under the Wise Metals Group LLC Senior Notes accrue at a rate of 8.750% per annum. Cash interests and paid-in-kind interests under the Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC Senior PIK Toggle Notes accrue at rates of 9.750% and 10.50% per annum, respectively. |
(3) | Foreign exchange options have not been included as they are not in the money. |
(4) | Operating leases relate to buildings, machinery and equipment. |
(5) | Finance leases primarily relates to a sale-leaseback transaction in the U.S. |
(6) | Retirement benefit obligations of 701 million are not presented above as the timing of the settlement of this obligation is uncertain. |
Environmental Contingencies
Our operations, like those of other basic industries, are subject to federal, state, local and international laws, regulations and ordinances. These laws and regulations (i) govern activities or operations that may have adverse environmental effects, such as discharges to air and water, as well as waste handling and disposal practices and (ii) impose liability for costs of cleaning up, and certain damages resulting from, spills, disposals or other releases or regulated materials. From time to time, our operations have resulted, or may result, in certain noncompliance with applicable requirements under such environmental laws. To date, any such noncompliance with such environmental laws has not had a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
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Pension Obligations
Constellium operates various pension plans for the benefit of its employees across a number of countries. Some of these plans are defined benefit plans and others are defined contribution plans. The largest of these plans are in the United States, Switzerland, Germany and France. Pension benefits are generally based on the employees service and highest average eligible compensation before retirement, and are periodically adjusted for cost of living increases, either by practice, collective agreement or statutory requirement.
We also provide health and life insurance benefits to retired employees and in some cases to their beneficiaries and covered dependents. These plans are predominantly in the United States.
United States pensions and healthcare plans
In the United States, we operate defined benefit plans, which, as of December 31, 2015, covered 1,159 active participants, 597 deferred participants and 1,981 retired employees.
There is a defined contribution (401(k)) savings plan and an unfunded post-employment benefit scheme.
Wise contributed 8 million in the Groups net defined benefit obligation.
Switzerland
As of December 31, 2015, there were 785 employees and 114 retired employees in the Swiss pension plan.
Germany
In Germany, there are a number of defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes, which, as of December 31, 2015, covered a total of 1,466 active participants, 469 deferred participants and 2,765 retired employees.
France
In France, there are unfunded defined benefit pension plans and a healthcare plan, which, as of December 31, 2015, covered 3,909 active participants and 563 retired employees.
Our pension liabilities and other post-retirement healthcare obligations are reviewed regularly by a firm of qualified external actuaries and are revalued taking into account changes in actuarial assumptions and experience. The assumptions include assumed discount rates on plan liabilities and expected rates of return on plan assets. Both of these require estimates and projections on a variety of factors and these can fluctuate from period to period.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the total expense recognized in the income statement in relation to all our pension and post-retirement benefits was 48 million (compared to 30 million for the year ended December 31, 2014). At December 31, 2015, the fair value of the plans assets was 362 million (compared to 330 million as of December 31, 2014), compared to a present value of our obligations of 1,063 million (compared to 987 million as of December 31, 2014), resulting in an aggregate plan deficit of 701 million (compared to 657 million as of December 31, 2014).
Contributions to pension plans totaled 32 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 (compared to 34 million for the year ended December 31, 2014). Contributions for other benefits totaled 18 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 (compared to 15 million for the year ended December 31, 2014).
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Our estimated funding for our funded pension plans and other post-retirement benefit plans is based on actuarial estimates using benefit assumptions for discount rates, rates of compensation increases, and health care cost trend rates. The deficit related to the funded pension plan and the present value of the unfunded obligations as of December 31, 2015 were 319 million and 382 million, respectively. The deficit related to funded pension plan and the present value of the unfunded obligations as of December 31, 2014 were 282 million and 375 million, respectively. Estimating when the obligations will require settlement is not practicable and therefore these have not been included in the Contractual Obligations table above.
Principal Accounting Policies, Critical Accounting Estimates and Key Judgments
Our principal accounting policies are set out in Note 2 to the audited consolidated financial statements, which appear elsewhere in this Annual Report. New standards and interpretations not yet adopted are also disclosed in Note 2.3 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
A. | Directors and Senior Management |
The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and the members of our board of directors as of the date of this Annual Report (ages are given as of April 18, 2016). The business address of each of our executive officers and directors listed below is c/o Constellium, Tupolevlaan 41-61, 1119 NW Schiphol-Rijk, the Netherlands.
Name |
Age | Position |
Date of
Appointment |
|||
Richard Evans |
68 | Chairman | January 5, 2011 | |||
Pierre Vareille |
58 | Director | March 1, 2012 | |||
Guy Maugis |
62 | Director | January 5, 2011 | |||
Philippe Guillemot |
56 | Director | May 21, 2013 | |||
Werner Paschke |
66 | Director | May 21, 2013 | |||
Michiel Brandjes |
61 | Director | June 11, 2014 | |||
Peter Hartman |
67 | Director | June 11, 2014 | |||
John Ormerod |
67 | Director | June 11, 2014 | |||
Lori Walker |
58 | Director | June 11, 2014 |
Pursuant to a shareholders agreement between the Company and Bpifrance, Mr. Maugis was selected to serve as a director by Bpifrance.
Richard B. Evans . Mr. Evans has served as our Chairman since December 2012. Mr. Evans is currently an independent director of Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation and an independent director of CGI, an IT consulting and outsourcing company. Mr. Evans retired in May 2013 as Non-Executive Chairman of Resolute Forest Products, a Forest Products company based in Montreal. He retired in April 2009 as an Executive Director of London-based Rio Tinto plc and Melbourne-based Rio Tinto Ltd., and as Chief Executive Officer of Rio Tinto Alcan Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto. Previously, Mr. Evans was President and Chief Executive Officer of Montreal based Alcan Inc. from March 2006 to October 2007, and led the negotiation of the acquisition of Alcan by Rio Tinto in October 2007. He was Alcans Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from September 2005 to March 2006. Prior to joining Alcan in 1997, he held various senior management positions with the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Company during his 27 years with that company. He is a past Chairman of the International Aluminum Institute (IAI) and is a past Chairman of the Washington, DC-based U.S. Aluminum Association. He previously served as Co-Chairman of the Environmental and Climate Change Committee of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and as a member of the Board of USCAP, a Washington, DC-based coalition concerned with climate change.
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Pierre Vareille . Mr. Vareille has been the Chief Executive Officer of Constellium since March 2012. Prior to joining Constellium, Mr. Vareille was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FCI, a world-leading manufacturer of connectors. Mr. Vareille is a graduate of the French engineering school Ecole Centrale de Paris and the Sorbonne University (economics and finance). He started his career in 1982 with Vallourec, holding various positions in manufacturing, controlling, sales and strategy before being appointed Chief Executive Officer of several subsidiaries. From 1995 to 2000 Mr. Vareille was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GFI Aerospace (now LISI Aerospace), after which he joined Faurecia as a member of the executive committee and Chief Executive Officer of the Exhaust Systems business. In 2002, he moved to Pechiney as a member of the executive committee in charge of the aluminium conversion sector and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rhenalu. He was then named in 2004 as Group Chief Executive of Wagon Automotive, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, where he served until 2008. Mr. Vareille has been a member of the Societe Bic board of directors since 2009. Mr. Vareille has also been a director of Verallia since 2015.
Guy Maugis . Mr. Maugis has been the President of Robert Bosch France SAS since January 2004. The French subsidiary covers all the activities of the Bosch Group, a leader in the domains of the Automotive Equipments, Industrial Techniques and Consumer Goods and Building Techniques. Mr. Maugis is a former graduate of Ecole Polytechnique, Engineer of Corps des Ponts et Chaussées and worked for several years at the Equipment Ministry. At Pechiney, he managed the flat rolled products factory of Rhenalu Neuf-Brisach. At PPG Industries, he became President of the European Flat Glass activities. With the purchase of PPG Glass Europe by ASAHI Glass, Mr. Maugis assumed the function of Vice-President in charge of the business development and European activities of the automotive branch of the Japanese group.
Philippe Guillemot . Mr. Guillemot is Chief Operating Officer of Alcatel-Lucent. He has nearly thirty years of experience in quality control and management, particularly with automotive components manufacturers and power distribution product manufacturers. From April 2010 to February 2012, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Europcar Group, the leading provider of car rental services in Europe with a presence in 150 countries. From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Guillemot served as a director and audit committee member of Visteon Corp. Mr. Guillemot served as Chairman and CEO of Areva T&D from 2004 to 2010, and previously served in management positions at Valeo and Faurecia. Mr. Guillemot began his career at Michelin, where he was initially responsible for production quality and plant quality at sites in Canada, France and Italy. He was a member of Booz Allen Hamiltons Automotive Practice from 1991 to 1993 before returning to Michelin to serve as an operations manager, director of Michelin Groups restructuring in 1995-1996, Group Quality Executive Vice-President, and Chief Information Officer. Mr. Guillemot received his undergraduate degree in 1982 from Ecole des Mines in Nancy and received his MBA from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA in 1991.
Werner P. Paschke . Mr. Paschke is an independent Director of several companies, currently at Braas Monier Building Group SA, where he chairs the Audit Committee, and at Schustermann & Borenstein GmbH. In previous years he served on the Supervisory Boards of Conergy Aktiengesellschaft and Coperion GmbH. Between 2003 and 2006, Mr. Paschke served as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of Demag Holding in Luxemburg, where he was responsible for actively enhancing the value of seven former Siemens and Mannesmann units. From 1992 to 2003 he worked for Continental AG, since 1994 as Generalbevollmächtigter for corporate controlling, plus later accounting. From 1989 to 1992 he served as Chief Financial Officer for General Tire Inc., in Akron, Ohio, USA. From 1973 to 1987 he held different positions at Continental AG in finance, distribution, marketing and controlling. Mr. Paschke studied economics at Universities Hannover, Hamburg and Munster/Westphalia and is a 1993 graduate of the International Senior Management Program at Harvard University.
Michiel Brandjes . Mr. Brandjes has served as director since June 2014. Mr. Brandjes serves as Company Secretary and General Counsel Corporate of Royal Dutch Shell plc since 2005. Mr. Brandjes formerly served as Company Secretary and General Counsel Corporate of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company. He served for 25 years on numerous legal and non-legal jobs in the Shell Group within the Netherlands and abroad, including as head of the legal department in Singapore and as head of the legal department for North East Asia based in Beijing and
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Hong Kong. Before he joined Shell, Mr. Brandjes worked at a law firm in Chicago after graduating from law school at the University of Rotterdam and at Berkeley, California. He has published a number of articles on legal and business topics, is a regular speaker on corporate legal and governance topics and serves in a number of advisory and non-executive director positions not related to Shell.
Peter F. Hartman . Mr. Hartman has served as a director since June 2014. Mr. Hartman serves as Vice Chairman of Air France KLM since July 2013. He also serves as member of the supervisory boards of Fokker Technologies Group B.V since 2013, Royal Ten Cate N.V. since 2013, Air France KLM S.A. since 2010 and Texel Airport N.V. since mid-2013. Mr. Hartman is also Chairman of ACARE (Advisory Council for Aviation Research and Innovation in Europe) and Chairman of Connekt. Mr. Hartman served as President and CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from 2007 to 2013, and as member of the supervisory boards of Kenya Airways from 2004 to 2013, Stork B.V. from 2008 to 2013, CAI Compagnia Aerea Italiana S.p.A. from 2009 to January 2014 and Delta Lloyd Group N.V. from 2010 to May 2014. Mr. Hartman received a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from HTS Amsterdam, Amsterdam and a Masters degree in Business Economics from Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
John Ormerod . Mr. Ormerod is a chartered accountant and has worked for over 30 years in public accounting firms. He served for 32 years at Arthur Andersen, serving in various client service and management positions, with last positions held from 2001 to 2002 serving as Regional Managing Partner UK and Ireland, and Managing Partner (UK). From 2002 to 2004, he was Practice Senior Partner for London at Deloitte (UK) and was member of the UK executives and Board. Mr. Ormerod is a graduate of Oxford University. Mr. Ormerod currently serves in the following director positions: since 2006, as Non-executive director and Chairman of the audit committee of Gemalto N.V., and as member of the compensation committee; since 2008, as Non-executive director of ITV plc and member of the remuneration and nominations committees, and as Chairman of the audit committee since 2010. Until December 31, 2015, Mr. Ormerod served as Non-executive director of Tribal Group plc., as a member of the audit, remuneration and nominations committees, and as Chairman of the board. Mr. Ormerod served as Non-executive director and Chairman of the audit committee of Computacenter plc and as member of the remuneration and nominations committees until April 1, 2015. Mr. Ormerod also served as senior independent director of Misys plc from 2006 to 2012, and as director and Chairman of the audit committee from 2005 until 2012.
Lori A. Walker . Ms. Walker has served as a director since June 2014. Ms. Walker currently serves as the Audit Committee Chair of Southwire since 2014, and as a member of the audit and compensation committees of Compass Minerals since 2015. Ms. Walker previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of The Valspar Corporation from 2008 to 2013, where she led the Finance, IT and Communications teams. Prior to that position, Ms. Walker served as Valspars Vice President, Controller and Treasurer from 2004 to 2008, and as Vice President and Controller from 2001 to 2004. Prior to joining Valspar, Ms. Walker held a number of roles with progressively increasing responsibility at Honeywell Inc. during a 20-year tenure, with her last position there serving as Director of Global Financial Risk Management. Ms. Walker holds a Bachelor of Science of Finance from Arizona State University and attended the Executive Institute Program and the Directors College at Stanford University.
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The following persons are our officers as of the date of this Annual Report (ages are given as of April 18, 2016):
Name |
Age |
Title |
||||
Pierre Vareille |
58 | Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Didier Fontaine |
54 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Paul Warton |
54 | President, Automotive Structures and Industry business unit | ||||
Marc Boone |
54 | Vice President, Human Resources | ||||
Jeremy Leach |
54 | Vice President and Group General Counsel | ||||
Nicolas Brun |
50 | Vice President, Communications | ||||
Yves Merel |
49 | Vice President, EHS & Lean Transformation | ||||
Simon Laddychuk |
49 | Vice President & Chief Technical Officer | ||||
Ingrid Joerg |
47 | President, Aerospace and Transportation business unit | ||||
Arnaud Jouron |
47 | President, Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products business unit | ||||
Peter Basten |
40 | Vice President, Strategy and Business Development |
The following paragraphs set forth biographical information regarding our officers:
Didier Fontaine . Mr. Fontaine has been the Chief Financial Officer of Constellium since September 2012. Prior to joining Constellium, Mr. Fontaine was from March 2009 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Information Technology Director of the Plastic Omnium, a world-leading automotive supplier present in 27 countries with over 20,000 employees, which is listed on Euronext Paris and is part of the CAC Mid 60. Mr. Fontaine was also a member of the executive committee during his time at Plastic Omnium and was instrumental in orchestrating the companys post-2008 recovery by generating a strong cash position and operating margin. In 2010, Plastic Omnium was recognized as the company with the highest share price improvement on Euronext Paris. Mr. Fontaine started his career in 1987 with Credit Lyonnais, holding various positions in Canada, France and Brazil in corporate and structured finance. From 1995 to 2001, he worked for the Schlumberger Group where he held various positions in the Treasury and Controller departments. In 2001, he joined Faurecia Exhaust System as Vice President of Finance and IT and managed the South American and South African operations up to 2004. In 2005, Mr. Fontaine joined Inergy Automotive System, a fuel tank business and a joint venture between Solvay Group and Plastic Omnium as the Chief Financial Officer and IT director (and was also a member of the companys executive committee). Mr. Fontaine is a graduate of LInstitut dEtudes Politiques of Paris Sciences Po (with a major in finance and tax) and has a masters degree in econometrics from Lyon University.
Paul Warton . Mr. Warton has served as our President, Automotive Structures & Industry since January 2011, and previously held the same role at Alcan Engineered Products since November 2009. Mr. Warton joined Alcan Engineered Aluminum Products in November 2009 following manufacturing, sales and general management positions in the automotive and construction industries. He has spent 22 years managing aluminium extrusion companies across Europe, North America and China. He has held Managing Director positions in Alcoa Europe followed by the positions of President Sapa Building Systems and President Sapa North Europe Extrusions during the integration process with Alcoa soft alloy extrusions. Mr. Warton served on the Building Board of the European Aluminum Association (EAA) and is now Chairman of the Extruders Division of European Aluminium (EA). He holds a First Class Honours degree in Production Engineering and an MBA from London Business School.
Marc Boone . Mr. Boone joined Constellium in June 2011 as Vice-President, Human Resources. From 2003 through 2010, Mr. Boone served as the Human Resources Director at Uniq plc, and prior to 2003 held human resources and change management positions in industrial and service companies such as Alcatel Mietec, Johnson Controls, MasterCard, General Electric and KPMG.
Jeremy Leach . Mr. Leach joined Constellium as Vice President and Group General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Constellium in January 2011 and previously was Vice President and General Counsel at Alcan Engineered Products. Mr. Leach joined Pechiney in 1991 from the international law firm Richards Butler (now
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Reed Smith). Prior to becoming General Counsel at Alcan Engineered Products, he was the General Counsel of Alcan Packaging and has held various senior legal positions in Rio Tinto, Alcan and Pechiney. He has been admitted in a number of jurisdictions, holds a law degree from Oxford University (MA Jurisprudence) and an MBA from the London Business School.
Nicolas Brun . Mr. Brun has served as our Vice President, Communications since January 2011, and previously held the same role at Alcan Engineered Products since June 2008. From 2005 through June 2008, Mr. Brun served in the roles of Vice President, Communications for Thales Alenia Space and also as Head of Communications for Thales Space division. Prior to 2005, Mr. Brun held senior global communications positions as Vice President External Communications with Alcatel, Vice President Communications Framatome ANP/AREVA, and with the Carlson Wagonlit Travel Group. Mr. Brun attended University of Paris-La Sorbonne and received a degree in economics and also has a masters degree in corporate communications from Ecole Française des Attachés de Presse and also a certificate in marketing management for distribution networks from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce in Paris .
Yves Mérel . Mr. Merel has served as our Vice President, EHS and Lean Transformation, since August 2012. Prior to that, Mr. Merel led several Lean Transformation programs with impressive improvement track records in the automotive and electronic industries. Mr. Merel discovered the Lean principles during his 10 years at Valeo, mostly as Plant Manager and has since implemented Lean within more than 21 countries and cultures. From May 2008 until he joined Constellium he served as Group Lean Director and then as Vice President Industrial Development at FCI. He also extends his Lean expertise to functions out of the usual EHS, Quality, Supply Chain and Production areas, such as to Engineering, Purchasing, Human Resource, Finance and Sales. Mr. Merel holds an Engineering degree from Compiegne University of Technology and a degree from Harvard Business Schools General Management Program.
Simon Laddychuk . A practiced leader with over 20 years of experience gained in the metals industry, Simon Laddychuk is the Vice President and Chief Technical Officer for Constellium. In this role he oversees the Research and Development, Technology and group Engineering activities. Prior to his current role he was the Vice President of Manufacturing for the Aerospace and Transportation Business Unit a global leader serving key aerospace customers with advanced aluminium solutions for current and future aircraft and other value-added market applications. Born in South Wales, United Kingdom, Simon graduated in the UK. He holds a number of Engineering qualifications, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Materials Science and an MBA. He is a member of the Institute of Materials. He joined Constellium (ex Alcan Engineered Products) in 1991, where he has held operational and corporate management positions in different sectors in packaging and aluminium conversion in Europe and North America. Throughout his career at Constellium, Simon has always shown his active personal involvement in health, safety and the environment, sustainability and climate issues between 2003 - 2007 personally leading the development and implementation of Alcans strategy for Sustainability and EHS.
Ingrid Joerg . Ingrid Joerg has been President of Constelliums Aerospace and Transportation business unit since June 2015. Previously, Ms. Joerg served as Chief Executive Officer of Aleris Rolled Products Europe. Prior to joining Aleris, Ingrid Joerg held leadership positions with Alcoa where she was President of its European and Latin American Mill Products business unit, and commercial positions with Amag Austria. Ingrid Joerg received a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Linz, Austria.
Arnaud Jouron . Arnaud Jouron has been President of Constelliums Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products business unit since December 2015. Before joining Constellium, he worked for ten years at ArcelorMittal serving as CEO of the Tubular Products Division and as CFO of Long Carbon Europe, and Stainless segments. Prior to ArcelorMittal, Mr. Jouron worked 12 years in various consulting firms, including McKinsey & Company, Arthur D. Little and Bossard Consultants. Mr. Jouron is a graduate of Frances Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées.
Peter Basten . Mr. Basten has been Vice President Strategy and Business Planning since July 2015. He was previously the Managing Director of Soft Alloys Europe at Constelliums Automotive Structures and Industry
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Business Unit. Prior to this position he was Constelliums Vice President Strategic Planning & Business Development. Mr. Basten joined Alcan in 2005 as the Director of Strategy and Business Planning at Alcan Specialty Sheet, and became Director of Sales and Marketing in 2008, responsible for the aluminium packaging applications markets. Prior to joining Alcan, Peter worked as a consultant at Monitor Group, a strategy consulting firm. His responsibilities ranged from developing marketing, corporate, pricing and competitive strategy to M&A and optimizing manufacturing operations. Mr. Basten holds degrees in Applied Physics (Delft University of Technology, Netherlands) and Economics & Corporate Management (ENSPM, France).
There are no family relationships between the executive officers and the members of our board of directors.
B. | Compensation |
Non-Executive Director Compensation
For 2015, each of our non- executive directors was paid an annual retainer of 60,000 and received 2,000 for each meeting of the board they attended in person and 1,000 for each meeting they attended by telephone. In addition, the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an annual retainer of 15,000, and the Chairman of each of the Remuneration and the Nominating and Governance Committees received an annual retainer of 8,000.
Mr. Evans, as Chairman of the Board, was paid an additional 60,000 per year for his services, a position to which he was appointed on December 6, 2012.
The following table sets forth the approximate remuneration paid or payable in respect of our 2015 fiscal year to our non-employee directors:
Name |
Annual
Director Fees |
Board/
Committee Attendance Fees |
Equity
Awards (1) |
Total | ||||||||||||
Richard B. Evans |
| 128,000 | | 32,000 | | 44,156 | | 204,156 | ||||||||
Guy Maugis |
| 68,000 | | 29,000 | | 35,327 | | 132,327 | ||||||||
Philippe Guillemot |
| 60,000 | | 20,000 | | 35,327 | | 115,327 | ||||||||
Werner P. Paschke |
| 75,000 | | 27,000 | | 35,327 | | 137,327 | ||||||||
Michiel Brandjes |
| 60,000 | | 14,000 | | 35,327 | | 109,327 | ||||||||
Lori A. Walker |
| 60,000 | | 31,000 | | 35,327 | | 126,327 | ||||||||
Peter F. Hartman |
| 60,000 | | 22,000 | | 35,327 | | 117,327 | ||||||||
John Ormerod |
| 60,000 | | 26,000 | | 35,327 | | 121,327 | ||||||||
Matthew H. Nord (2) |
| 68,000 | | 25,000 | | 35,327 | | 128,327 | ||||||||
TOTAL |
| 639,000 | | 226,000 | | 326,772 | | 1,191,772 |
(1) | The amount reported as Equity Awards represents the grant date fair value of the awards granted in 2015, computed in accordance with IFRS 2. In 2015, Richard B. Evans was granted 3,946 RSUs and all other non-executive directors were granted 3,157 RSUs each. These RSUs vest 50% on each anniversary date of the grant date (see Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements). |
(2) | Matthew H. Nord left the Board in November 2015. His RSUs were cancelled. |
Officer Compensation
The table below sets forth the approximate remuneration paid during our 2015 fiscal year to certain of our executive officers, including Pierre Vareille, our Chief Executive Officer, Didier Fontaine, our Chief Financial Officer, Paul Warton, our President, Automotive Structures & Industry, Ingrid Joerg, our President, Aerospace & Transportation since June 2015 and Arnaud Jouron, our President, Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products since December 2015. It also includes Laurent Musy, our former President of Aerospace and Transportation who resigned effective June 30, 2015. The remuneration information for our executive officers other than Mr. Vareille is presented on an aggregate basis in the row labeled Other Executive Officers in the table below.
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The Executive Performance Award Plan (the EPA) bonuses paid in March 2015 to certain of our executive officers were paid in respect of 2014 EPA awards granted to such officers. In addition, each such executive officer was granted a restricted stock unit award under the Constellium N.V. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan pursuant to a shareholding retention program implemented by our remuneration committee. See Shareholding Retention Program below.
Name |
Base
Salary Paid |
Bonus
EPA Paid |
Equity
Awards (1) |
Pension (2) |
Other
Compensation (3) |
Total (4) | ||||||||||||||||||
Pierre Vareille |
| 884,810 | | 525,575 | | 942,122 | | 156,840 | | 1,875 | | 2,511,222 | ||||||||||||
Other Executive Officers (Didier Fontaine, Laurent Musy, Paul Warton, Ingrid Joerg, Arnaud Jouron) |
| 1,459,845 | | 578,394 | | 1,042,125 | | 163,234 | | 618,661 | | 3,862,259 |
(1) | The amount reported as Equity Awards represents the grant date fair value of the awards granted in 2015, computed in accordance with IFRS 2. In 2015, Pierre Vareille was granted 25,000 RSUs and 50,000 performance-based RSUs. In 2015, our Other Executive Officers (Didier Fontaine, Paul Warton, Ingrid Joerg, Arnaud Jouron) were granted, in the aggregate, 50,000 RSUs, and 50,000 performance-based RSUs. The RSUs vest after a 2- or 3-year service period from grant date and the performance-based RSUs vest after a 3-year service period from grant date, subject to certain market-related performance conditions (see Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements). |
(2) | Pension represents amounts contributed by the Company during the 2015 fiscal year to the French and Swiss states as part of the employer overall pension requirements apportioned to the base salary of these individuals. |
(3) | Other compensation primarily represents the costs to the Company of providing a Company car, lunch allowance, sign on bonus and tax services during 2015 to Messrs. Fontaine, Musy, Warton, Jouron and Mrs. Joerg. |
(4) | Amounts reported in the total reflect proration for individuals who were not employed by the Company for all of 2015. |
The total remuneration paid to such executive officers, including Messrs. Vareille and Fontaine, during our 2015 fiscal year amounted to 4,069,160, consisting of (i) an aggregate base salary of 2,344,655, (ii) aggregate short-term incentive compensation of 1,103,969, and (iii) aggregate other compensation in an amount equal to 620,536. The total amount contributed to the value of the pensions for such executive officers, including Messrs. Vareille and Fontaine, during our 2015 fiscal year was 320,074.
The total remuneration paid to such executive officers, including Messrs. Vareille and Fontaine, during our 2014 fiscal year amounted to 4,077,836, consisting of (i) an aggregate base salary of 2,294,329, (ii) aggregate short-term incentive compensation of 1,335,124, and (iii) aggregate other compensation in an amount equal to 448,383. The total amount contributed to the value of the pensions for such executive officers, including Messrs. Vareille and Fontaine, during our 2014 fiscal year was 363,469.
Below is a brief description of the compensation and benefit plans in which our officers participate.
Executive Performance Award Plan
Each of our officers participates in the EPA. The EPA is an annual cash bonus plan intended to provide performance-related award opportunities to employees who contribute substantially to the success of Constellium. Under the EPA, participants are granted opportunities to earn cash bonuses (expressed as a percentage of base salary) based on the level of achievement of certain financial metrics established by our remuneration committee for the applicable annual performance period, environmental, health and safety (EHS) performance objectives approved by our remuneration committee and individual and team objectives established by the applicable participants supervisor. The level of attainment of awards granted under the EPA is generally
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determined to be 70% based on the level of attainment of the applicable financial metrics, 10% based on the level of attainment of EHS performance objectives and 20% based on the level of attainment of individual and team objectives. Awards are paid (generally subject to continued service through the end of the applicable annual performance period) in the year following the year for which such awards were granted.
Long Term Incentive Cash Plan
The Long Term Incentive Cash Plan is intended to motivate and retain certain key senior employees of Constellium who are not eligible to participate in our management equity plan described below. Approximately 60 of our senior employees were selected by our remuneration committee to receive grants of cash awards under the Long Term Incentive Cash Plan. Participants award opportunities are based on job grade, with the amount earned in respect of such awards based on the level of attainment of the applicable performance criteria for the applicable measurement years. Awards earned under the plan are generally paid in the third year following the applicable measurement year, with the awards generally vesting based on continued service through the end of the year preceding the year in which payment of the award is made. There was a payment made in 2015 and the Long Term Incentive Cash Plan has been terminated and no other payments will be made under this plan. In addition, there is no other cash plan currently in effect.
Constellium N.V. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
The Company adopted the Constellium N.V. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan). The principal purposes of this plan are to focus directors, officers and other employees and consultants on business performance that creates shareholder value, to encourage innovative approaches to the business of the Company and to encourage ownership of our ordinary shares by directors, officers and other employees and consultants.
The Constellium 2013 Equity Plan provides for a variety of awards, including incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code)) (ISOs), nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, other stock-based awards or any combination of those awards. The Constellium 2013 Equity Plan provides that awards may be made under the plan for ten years. We have reserved 7,292,291 ordinary shares for issuance under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances to prevent dilution or enlargement.
Administration
The Constellium 2013 Equity Plan is administered by our remuneration committee. The board of directors or the remuneration committee may delegate administration to one or more members of our board of directors. The remuneration committee has the power to interpret the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan and to adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan according to its terms. The remuneration committee determines the number of our ordinary shares that will be subject to each award granted under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan and may take into account the recommendations of our senior management in determining the award recipients and the terms and conditions of such awards. Subject to certain exceptions as may be required pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, if applicable, our board of directors may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the remuneration committee under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan.
Eligibility
Certain directors, officers, employees and consultants are eligible to be granted awards under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan. Our remuneration committee determines:
| which directors, officers, employees and consultants are to be granted awards; |
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| the type of award that is granted; |
| the number of our ordinary shares subject to the awards; and |
| the terms and conditions of such awards, consistent with the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan. |
Our remuneration committee has the discretion, subject to the limitations of the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan and applicable laws, to grant stock options, SARs and rights to acquire restricted stock (except that only our employees may be granted ISOs).
Stock Options
Subject to the terms and provisions of the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan, stock options to purchase our ordinary shares may be granted to eligible individuals at any time and from time to time as determined by our remuneration committee. Stock options may be granted as ISOs, which are intended to qualify for favorable treatment to the recipient under U.S. federal tax law, or as nonqualified stock options, which do not qualify for this favorable tax treatment. Subject to the limits provided in the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan, our remuneration committee has the authority to determine the number of stock options granted to each recipient. Each stock option grant is evidenced by a stock option agreement that specifies the stock option exercise price, whether the stock options are intended to be incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options, the duration of the stock options, the number of shares to which the stock options pertain and such additional limitations, terms and conditions as our remuneration committee may determine.
Our remuneration committee determines the exercise price for each stock option granted, except that the stock option exercise price may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of an ordinary share on the date of grant. All stock options granted under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan expire no later than ten years from the date of grant. Stock options are nontransferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, in the case of nonqualified stock options, as otherwise expressly permitted by our remuneration committee. The granting of a stock option does not accord the recipient the rights of a shareholder, and such rights accrue only after the exercise of a stock option and the registration of ordinary shares in the recipients name.
Stock Appreciation Rights
Our remuneration committee in its discretion may grant SARs under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan. SARs may be tandem SARs, which are granted in conjunction with a stock option, or free-standing SARs, which are not granted in conjunction with a stock option. A SAR entitles the holder to receive from us, upon exercise, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the aggregate fair market value of a specified number of our ordinary shares to which such SAR pertains over the aggregate exercise price for the underlying shares. The exercise price of a free-standing SAR may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of an ordinary share on the date of grant.
A tandem SAR may be granted at the grant date of the related stock option. A tandem SAR may be exercised only at such time or times and to the extent that the related stock option is exercisable and has the same exercise price as the related stock option. A tandem SAR terminates or is forfeited upon the exercise or forfeiture of the related stock option, and the related stock option terminates or is forfeited upon the exercise or forfeiture of the tandem SAR.
Each SAR is evidenced by an award agreement that specifies the exercise price, the number of ordinary shares to which the SAR pertains and such additional limitations, terms and conditions as our remuneration committee may determine. We may make payment of the amount to which the participant exercising the SARs is entitled by delivering ordinary shares, cash or a combination of stock and cash as set forth in the award agreement relating to the SARs. SARs are not transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, with respect to SARs that are not granted in tandem with a stock option, as expressly permitted by our remuneration committee.
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Restricted Stock
The Constellium 2013 Equity Plan provides for the award of ordinary shares that are subject to forfeiture and restrictions on transferability to the extent permitted by applicable law and as set forth in the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan, the applicable award agreement and as may be otherwise determined by our remuneration committee. Except for these restrictions and any others imposed by our remuneration committee to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon the grant of restricted stock, the recipient will have rights of a shareholder with respect to the restricted stock, including the right to vote the restricted stock and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the restricted stock on such terms as set forth in the applicable award agreement. During the restriction period set by our remuneration committee, the recipient is prohibited from selling, transferring, pledging, exchanging or otherwise encumbering the restricted stock to the extent permitted by applicable law.
Restricted Stock Units
The Constellium 2013 Equity Plan authorizes our remuneration committee to grant restricted stock units. Restricted stock units are not ordinary shares and do not entitle the recipient to the rights of a shareholder, although the award agreement may provide for rights with respect to dividend equivalents. The recipient may not sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber restricted stock units granted under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan prior to their vesting. Restricted stock units may be settled in cash, ordinary shares or a combination thereof as provided in the applicable award agreement, in an amount based on the fair market value of an ordinary share on the settlement date.
Performance Units
The Constellium 2013 Equity Plan provides for the award of performance units that are valued by reference to a designated amount of cash or to property other than ordinary shares. The payment of the value of a performance unit is conditioned upon the achievement of performance goals set by our remuneration committee in granting the performance unit and may be paid in cash, ordinary shares, other property or a combination thereof. Any terms relating to the termination of a participants employment will be set forth in the applicable award agreement.
Other Stock-Based Awards
The Constellium 2013 Equity Plan also provides for the award of ordinary shares and other awards that are valued by reference to our ordinary shares, including unrestricted stock, dividend equivalents and convertible debentures.
Performance Goals
The Constellium 2013 Equity Plan provides that performance goals may be established by our remuneration committee in connection with the grant of any award under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan.
Termination without Cause Following a Change in Control
Upon a termination of employment of a plan participant occurring upon or during the two years immediately following the date of a change in control (as defined in the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan) by the Company without cause (as defined in the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan), unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, (i) all awards held by such participant will vest in full (in the case of any awards that are subject to performance goals, at target) and be free of restrictions, and (ii) any option or SAR held by the participant as of the date of the change in control that remains outstanding as of the date of such termination of employment may thereafter be exercised until (A) in the case of ISOs, the last date on which such ISOs would otherwise be exercisable or (B) in the case of nonqualified options and SARs, the later of (x) the last date on which such nonqualified option or SAR would otherwise be exercisable and (y) the earlier of (I) the second anniversary of such change in control and (II) the expiration of the term of such nonqualified option or SAR.
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Amendments
Our board of directors or our remuneration committee may amend, alter or discontinue the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation will be made that would materially impair the rights of a participant with respect to a previously granted award without such participants consent, unless such an amendment is made to comply with applicable law, including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code, stock exchange rules or accounting rules. In addition, no such amendment will be made without the approval of the Companys shareholders to the extent such approval is required by applicable law or the listing standards of the applicable stock exchange.
Free Share Program
In connection with our IPO, our remuneration committee approved a free share program for all employees (other than short-term employees) situated in the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Under this program, each eligible employee received an award of 25 restricted stock units under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan in May 2013 that have vested and have been settled in ordinary shares on the second anniversary of our IPO, i.e., in May 2015 for those employees still employed by the Company or its subsidiaries through that date.
Shareholding Retention Program
In October 2013, our remuneration committee approved a shareholding retention program to encourage critical members of our senior management team to maintain a significant portion of their current investment under the Companys Management Equity Plan (the MEP) (which it has now been resolved, with effect as of November 10, 2015, to wind up; further described in Management Equity Plan). Pursuant to this program, certain members of our senior management team were awarded a one-time retention award under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan consisting of a grant of restricted stock units with a grant date value equal to a specified percentage of the recipients annual base salary. The restricted stock units will vest and be settled for our ordinary shares on the second anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the recipient remaining continuously employed with the Company through that date, and for any recipient who was an MEP participant, subject to his or her retaining, prior to the wind-up of the MEP, at least 75% of his or her interest in our ordinary shares under the MEP (including any interest in ordinary shares that becomes vested following the date of grant), and his or her compliance with the protocol to be established by the Company for the orderly liquidation of shares held in the MEP.
Co-investment Award Program
Also in October 2013, our remuneration committee approved a co-investment award program for certain critical members of our senior management team for 2014. Each participant in this program was given the opportunity to invest in our ordinary shares, between 30% and 50% of the gross annual bonus he or she earns under the EPA in respect of 2013. Participants who opted to invest under this program will be granted performance-based restricted stock units under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan (performance RSUs) in an amount equal to a specified multiple of the ordinary shares invested. The performance RSUs will vest and be settled for our ordinary shares on the second anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the achievement of certain performance goals based on total shareholder return, the participant remaining continuously employed with the Company through that date, his or her retaining at least 75% of his or her interest in our ordinary shares under the MEP (including any interest in ordinary shares that becomes vested following the date of grant), if applicable, and 100% of his or her investment under this program, and his or her compliance with the protocol to be established by the Company for the orderly liquidation of shares held in the MEP, if applicable.
Employment and Service Arrangements
We are party to employment or services agreements with each of our officers. We may terminate certain officers employment with or services to us for cause upon advance written notice, without compensation, for
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certain acts of the officer. Each officer may terminate his or her employment at any time upon advance written notice to us. In the event that the officers employment or service is terminated by us without cause or, in the case of certain executives, by him for good reason, the officer is entitled to certain payments as provided by applicable laws or collective bargaining agreements or as otherwise provided under the applicable employment or services agreements. Except for the foregoing, our officers are not entitled to any severance payments upon the termination of their employment or services for any reason.
Under such employment and services agreements, each of our officers has also agreed not to engage or participate in any business activities that compete with us or solicit our employees or customers for (depending on the officer) up to two years after the termination of his employment or services. They have further agreed not to use or disseminate any confidential information concerning us as a result of performing their duties or using our resources during their employment with or services to us.
C. | Board Practices |
Our board of directors (the Board) currently consists of nine directors, less than a majority of whom are citizens or residents of the United States.
We currently have a one-tier Board consisting of one Executive Director and eight Non-Executive Directors (each, a Director). Under Dutch law, the Board is responsible for our policy making and day-to-day management. The Non-Executive Directors supervise and provide guidance to the Executive director. Each Director owes a duty to us to properly perform the duties assigned to him and to act in our corporate interest. Under Dutch law, the corporate interest extends to the interests of all corporate stakeholders, such as shareholders, creditors, employees, customers and suppliers.
The Management and Supervision Act ( Wet bestuur en toezicht ), effective as of January 1, 2013, strives for a balanced composition of management and supervisory boards of large companies, such as Constellium, to the effect that at least 30% of the positions on the management and supervisory boards of such companies are held by women and at least 30% by men. There is no legal sanction if the composition of such companys board is not balanced in accordance with the Act. An appointment contrary to these rules will therefore not be null and void. However, in such case, the company must explain any noncompliance with the 30% criteria in its annual report. The explanation must include the reasons for noncompliance and the actions the company intends to take in order to comply in the future. These rules have expired on January 1, 2016. New rules with respect to this may be introduced in the near future.
Our Articles of Association provide that our shareholders acting at a general meeting (a General Meeting) appoint directors upon a binding nomination by the Board. The General Meeting may at all times overrule the binding nature of such nomination by a resolution adopted by a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast, provided that such majority represents more than 50% of our issued share capital. If the binding nomination is overruled, the Non-Executive Directors may then make a new nomination. If such a nomination has not been made or has not been made in time, this shall be stated in the notice and the General Meeting shall be free to appoint a director in its discretion. Such a resolution of the General Meeting must be adopted by at least two-thirds of the votes cast, provided that such majority represents more than 50% of our issued share capital.
The Directors may be suspended or dismissed at any time by the General Meeting. A resolution to suspend or dismiss a Director must be adopted by at least two-thirds of the votes cast, provided that such majority represents more than 50% of our issued share capital. If, however, the proposal to suspend or dismiss the Directors is made by the Board, the proposal must be adopted by simple majority of the votes cast at the General Meeting. The Executive Director can at all times be suspended by the Board.
Director Independence
As a foreign private issuer under the NYSE rules, we are not required to have independent Directors on our Board, except to the extent that our Audit Committee is required to consist of independent Directors. However,
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our Board has determined that, under current NYSE listing standards regarding independence (which we are not currently subject to), and taking into account any applicable committee standards, Messrs. Evans, Brandjes, Guillemot, Hartman, Maugis, Ormerod and Paschke and Ms. Walker are independent directors.
Committees
Audit Committee
As of December 31, 2015 our Audit Committee consisted of the following independent directors under the NYSE requirements: Werner Paschke (Chair), Philippe Guillemot, Guy Maugis, John Ormerod and Lori Walker. Our Board has determined that at least one member is an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC and also meets the additional criteria for independence of Audit Committee members set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act.
The principal duties and responsibilities of our Audit Committee are to oversee and monitor the following:
| our financial reporting process and internal control system; |
| the integrity of our consolidated financial statements; |
| the independence, qualifications and performance of our independent registered public accounting firm; |
| the performance of our internal audit function; |
| our related party transactions; and |
| our compliance with legal, ethical and regulatory matters. |
Remuneration Committee
As of December 31, 2015, our remuneration committee consisted of two directors: Peter Hartman (Chair) and Richard Evans. Until November 2015, the Committee consisted of three directors, including Matthew Nord (former Chair), who resigned in November 2015.
The principal duties of our Remuneration Committee are as follows:
| to review, evaluate and make recommendations to the full Board regarding our compensation policies and establish performance-based incentives that support our long-term goals, objectives and interests; |
| to review and approve the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, all employees who report directly to our Chief Executive Officer and other members of our senior management; |
| to review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to our incentive compensation plans and equity-based compensation plans; |
| to set and review the compensation of and reimbursement policies for members of the Board; |
| to provide oversight concerning selection of officers, management succession planning, expense accounts, indemnification and insurance matters, and separation packages; and |
| to provide regular reports to the Board and take such other actions as are necessary and consistent with our Articles of Association. |
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee
As of December 31, 2015, our Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee consisted of two Directors: Richard Evans (Chair) and Michiel Brandjes. Until November 2015, the Committee consisted of three directors, including Matthew Nord who resigned in November 2015.
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The principal duties and responsibilities of the nominating/corporate governance committee are as follows:
| to establish criteria for Board and Committee membership and recommend to our Board proposed nominees for election to the Board and for membership on Committees of our Board; and |
| to make recommendations to our Board regarding board governance matters and practices. |
D. | Employees |
As of December 31, 2015, we employed approximately 11,000 permanent employees of which approximately 85% were engaged in production and maintenance activities and approximately 15% were employed in support functions. Approximately 40% of our employees were employed in France, 17% in Germany, 26% in the United States, 8% in Switzerland, and 9% in Eastern Europe and other regions. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, we employed approximately 11,000 and 8,900 employees, respectively.
A vast majority of non-U.S. employees and approximately 49% of U.S. employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. These agreements are negotiated on site, regionally or on a national level and are of different durations. Except in connection with prior negotiations completed during the fourth quarter of 2011, around our plan to restructure our plant in Ham, France (which has since been disposed of), we have not experienced a prolonged labor stoppage in any of our production facilities in the past 10 years.
In addition to our employees, we employed 1,031, 600 and 1,500 temporary employees, respectively, as of December 31, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
E. | Share Ownership |
Information with respect to share ownership of members of our board of directors and our senior management is included in Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.
Management Equity Plan
Following the Acquisition, a management equity plan (the MEP) was established effective from February 4, 2011, to facilitate investments by our officers and other members of management in Constellium. In connection with the MEP, a German limited partnership, Omega Management GmbH & Co. KG (Management KG), was formed. The general partner of Management KG is Omega MEP GmbH (GP GmbH), a German limited liability company, which is wholly owned by Stichting Management Omega.
Management KG is a vehicle which has allowed current and former directors, officers and employees of Constellium who invested in the MEP (either directly or indirectly through one or more investment vehicles) (the MEP Participants) to hold a limited partnership interest in Management KG that corresponded to a portion of the shares in Constellium held by Management KG. Certain of our executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Vareille, and our Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Fontaine, each participated in the MEP. In connection with our IPO, the MEP was frozen and no other employees, officers or directors of Constellium were invited to become MEP Participants. Any future equity incentive awards were to be granted under the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan.
Following the advisory board resolution of GP GmbH dated November 6, 2015, it was resolved to wind-up the MEP, which is expected to be finalized in the course of 2016. In connection with the wind-up of the MEP, the respective shares held through the MEP were distributed to former MEP Participants in the amount of their corresponding investments and awards under the program. The shares distributed in connection with the previous investment of Mr. Vareille represented 972,080 Class A ordinary shares; and the shares distributed in connection with the previous MEP investment of Mr. Fontaine represented 131,985 Class A ordinary shares. In connection with the wind-up of the MEP and with effect as of November 10, 2015, 2,410,357 Class A ordinary shares were transferred to the 34 MEP Participants in accordance with their respective share allocations under the MEP.
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Management KG no longer holds any shares in Constellium and the limited partnership interests no longer represent an indirect economical interest in Constellium; it is therefore intended to terminate the Management KG (the Termination). Pursuant to an advisory board resolution of GP GmbH dated November 6, 2015, the Termination involves the following main steps: (a) the transfer by each of the remaining registered limited partners of their respective limited partnership interests to Stichting Management Omega and thereafter (b) the entry into a withdrawal agreement between GP GmbH and Stichting Management Omega, whereby GP GmbH shall withdraw from, and thus cease to be a partner in, Management KG, leaving Stichting Management Omega to assume all of Management KGs residual assets and liabilities by way of universal succession ( Gesamtrechtsnachfolge ) without liquidation by way of accretion ( Anwachsung ). Following the Termination, the processes for liquidating GP GmbH and Stichting Management Omega will be implemented.
Equity Incentive Plan
The Company adopted the Constellium 2013 Equity Plan under which certain of our directors, officers, employees, and consultants are eligible to receive equity awards. See Constellium N.V. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan above.
Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
A. | Major Shareholders |
The following table sets forth the principal shareholders of Constellium N.V. (each person or group of affiliated persons who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of ordinary shares) and the number and percentage of ordinary shares owned by each such shareholder, in each case as of April 18, 2016.
Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities as to which such person has voting or investment power.
The beneficial ownership percentages in this table have been calculated on the basis of the total number of Class A ordinary shares.
Name of beneficial owner |
Number of
Class A ordinary shares |
Beneficial
ownership percentage |
||||||
Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, Bpifrance Participations, BPI-Groupe (bpifrance), EPIC BPI-Groupe |
12,846,969 | (1) | 12.2 | % | ||||
Adage Capital Partners, L.P., Adage Capital Partners GP, L.L.C., Adage Capital Advisors, L.L.C., Robert Atchinson, Phillip Gross |
10,354,586 | (2) | 9.8 | % | ||||
North Run Capital, LP, North Run Advisors, LLC, Todd B. Hammer, Thomas B. Ellis |
8,124,132 | (3) | 7.7 | % | ||||
Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P., Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, Inc. |
7,455,765 | (4) | 7.1 | % | ||||
Steven A. Cohen. |
6,178,950 | (5) | 5.9 | % | ||||
Prudential Financial, Inc. |
5,987,030 | (6) | 5.7 | % | ||||
Jennison Associates LLC |
5,765,822 | (7) | 5.5 | % | ||||
BlackRock, Inc. |
5,763,656 | (8) | 5.5 | % |
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Name of beneficial owner |
Number of
Class A ordinary shares |
Beneficial
ownership percentage |
||||||
Directors and Senior Management |
||||||||
Richard B. Evans |
142,756 | (9) | * | |||||
Pierre Vareille |
1,325,001 | (10) | 1.3 | % | ||||
Guy Maugis |
1,579 | (11) | * | |||||
Philippe Guillemot |
5,987 | (12) | * | |||||
Werner P. Paschke |
50,987 | (13) | * | |||||
Michiel Brandjes |
7,691 | (14) | * | |||||
Peter F. Hartman |
3,804 | (15) | * | |||||
John Ormerod |
8,804 | (16) | * | |||||
Lori A. Walker |
3,804 | (17) | * | |||||
Didier Fontaine |
161,942 | (18) | * | |||||
Paul Warton |
239,408 | (19) | * | |||||
Ingrid Joerg |
10,000 | (20) | * | |||||
Arnaud Jouron |
| * |
* | Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent. |
(1) | This information is based on a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on July 25, 2013. Bpifrance Participations (Bpifrance) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BPI-Groupe (bpifrance), a French financial institution (BPI) jointly owned and controlled by the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, a French special public entity (établissement special) (CDC) and EPIC BPI-Groupe, a French public institution of industrial and commercial nature (EPIC). Bpifrance holds directly 12,846,969 ordinary shares and neither BPI, CDC nor EPIC holds any ordinary shares directly. BPI may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 12,846,969 ordinary shares, indirectly through its sole ownership of Bpifrance. CDC and EPIC may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of 12,846,969 ordinary shares, indirectly through their joint ownership and control of BPI. The principal address for CDC is 56, rue de Lille, 75007 Paris, France and for Bpifrance, BPI and EPIC is 27-31 avenue du Général Leclerc 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France. |
(2) | This information is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016 by (i) Adage Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (ACP), (ii) Adage Capital Partners GP, L.L.C., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (ACPGP), as general partner of ACP, (iii) Adage Capital Advisors, L.L.C., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (ACA), as managing member of ACPGP, general partner of ACP, (iv) Robert Atchinson (Mr. Atchinson), as managing member of ACA, managing member of ACPGP, general partner of ACP, (v) Phillip Gross (Mr. Gross), as managing member of ACA, managing member of ACPGP, general partner of ACP. The Schedule 13G/A reports that each of Adage Capital Partners, L.P., ACPGP, ACA, Mr. Atchinson and Mr. Gross may be deemed to have voting and sole dispositive power of 10,354,586 ordinary shares. ACP has the power to dispose of and the power to vote our ordinary shares beneficially owned by it, which power may be exercised by its general partner, ACPGP. ACA, as managing member of ACPGP, directs ACPGPs operations. Neither ACPGP nor ACA directly own any of our ordinary shares. ACPGP and ACA may be deemed to beneficially own our ordinary shares owned by ACP. Messrs. Atchinson and Gross, as managing members of ACA, have shared power to vote our ordinary shares beneficially owned by ACP. Neither Mr. Atchinson nor Mr. Gross directly own any of our ordinary shares. Each may be deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares beneficially owned by ACP. The address of the business office of each of ACP, ACPGP, ACA, Mr. Atchinson, and Mr. Gross is 200 Clarendon Street, 52nd floor, Boston, MA 02116. |
(3) |
This information is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 12, 2016 on behalf of North Run Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (North Run), North Run Capital, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Investment Manager), Todd B. Hammer and Thomas B. Ellis. Todd B. Hammer and Thomas B. Ellis are the principals and sole members of North Run. North Run is the general partner of the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager is the investment manager of certain private |
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pooled investment vehicles. North Run, the Investment Manager, Todd B. Hammer and Thomas B. Ellis may be deemed to have shared voting and share dispositive power over 8,124,132 of our ordinary shares. The address of the principal business office of North Run, Investment Manager, Mr. Hammer and Mr. Ellis is One International Place, Suite 2401, Boston, MA 02110. |
(4) | This information is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2016. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (Vaughan Nelson) and Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, Inc. (General Partner) each reports that it may be deemed to have sole voting power with respect to 6,512,625 ordinary shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 6,966,175 ordinary shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 489,590 ordinary shares. Both Vaughan Nelson and General Partner disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported shares. The principal address for Vaughan Nelson and the General Partner is 600 Travis Street, Suite 6300, Houston, Texas 77002. |
(5) | This information is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016 by (i) Point72 Asset Management, L.P. (Point72 Asset Management), (ii) Point72 Capital Advisors, Inc. (Point72 Capital Advisors Inc.), (iii) Cubist Systematic Strategies, LLC (Cubist Systematic Strategies), (iv) Rubric Capital Management, LLC (Rubric Capital Management) and (v) Steven A. Cohen. The Schedule 13G/A reports that Point72 Asset Management, Point72 Capital Advisors Inc., Cubist Systematic Strategies, Rubric Capital Management and Mr. Cohen own directly none of our ordinary shares. Pursuant to an investment management agreement, Point72 Asset Management maintains investment and voting power with respect to the securities held by certain investment funds it manages. Point72 Capital Advisors Inc. is the general partner of Point72 Asset Management. Pursuant to an investment management agreement, Cubist Systematic Strategies maintains investment and voting power with respect to the securities held by certain investment funds it manages. Pursuant to an investment management agreement, Rubric Capital Management maintains investment and voting power with respect to the securities held by certain investment funds it manages. Mr. Cohen controls each of Point72 Capital Advisors Inc., Cubist Systematic Strategies and Rubric Capital Management. As of December 31, 2015, each of (i) Point72 Asset Management, Point72 Capital Advisors Inc. and Mr. Cohen may be deemed to beneficially own 1,899,300 of our ordinary shares; (ii) Cubist Systematic Strategies and Mr. Cohen may be deemed to beneficially own 15,403 of our ordinary shares; and (iii) Rubric Capital Management and Mr. Cohen may be deemed to beneficially own 4,264,247 of our ordinary shares. Each of Point72 Asset Management, Point72 Capital Advisors Inc., Cubist Systematic Strategies, Rubric Capital Management and Mr. Cohen disclaims beneficial ownership of any of the securities covered by the Schedule 13G/A. The address of the principal business office of (i) Point72 Asset Management, Point72 Capital Advisors Inc., Rubric Capital Management and Mr. Cohen is 72 Cummings Point Road, Stamford, CT 06902 and (ii) Cubist Systematic Strategies is 330 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10173. |
(6) | This information is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 28, 2016. Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential) reports that it has sole voting and sole dispositive power over 458,729 ordinary shares, shared voting power over 4,808,301 ordinary shares, and shared dispositive power over 5,528,301 shares. Prudential is a parent holding company and the indirect parent of Jennison Associates LLC and Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, who are the beneficial owners of 5,765,822 ordinary shares and 221,208 ordinary shares, respectively. As a result, Prudential may have direct or indirect voting and/or investment discretion over 5,987,030 shares. The principal address for Prudential Financial, Inc. is 751 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-3777. |
(7) | This information is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 4, 2016. Jennison Associates LLC (Jennison) reports that it has sole voting power with respect to 5,045,822 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 5,765,822 ordinary shares. Jennison furnishes investment advice to several investment companies, insurance separate accounts, and institutional clients (Managed Portfolios). As a result of its role as investment adviser of the Managed Portfolios, Jennison may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of our ordinary shares held by such Managed Portfolios. Prudential indirectly owns 100% of equity interests of Jennison. As a result, Prudential may be deemed to have the power to exercise or to direct the exercise of such voting and/or dispositive power that Jennison may have with respect to our ordinary shares held by the Managed Portfolios. Jennison does not file jointly with Prudential, as such, our ordinary shares reported on Jennisons 13G/A may be included in the shares reported on the 13G/A filed by Prudential. The principal address for Jennison is 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017. |
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(8) | This information is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 26, 2016. BlackRock Inc. reports that it has sole voting power with respect to 5,763,656 ordinary shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 5,763,656 ordinary shares. The principal address for Blackrock Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. |
(9) | Consists of 140,783 Class A ordinary shares held indirectly by Mr. Evans through the Evans Family Inter Vivos Revocable Trust, and 1,973 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report) subject to Mr. Evanss continued service to Constellium through such date. Excludes 1,973 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2017, subject to Mr. Evanss continued service to Constellium through such date. |
(10) | Consists of 972,080 Class A ordinary shares transferred to Mr. Vareille in connection with the wind-up of the MEP, 12,500 Class A ordinary shares which Mr. Vareille purchased directly in 2014, 262,993 Class A ordinary shares purchased directly in 2015, 52,427 Class A ordinary shares underlying restricted stock units that vested on November 1, 2015, and due to Mr. Vareilles contemplated retirement, also includes, 8,334 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units which will vest on April 30, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report) and 16,667 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units which could vest on June 15, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report). Excludes 8,333 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on each of April 30, 2017 and April 30, 2018; 16,667 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 15, 2017; and 16,666 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 15, 2018. |
(11) | Consists of 1,579 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report) subject to Mr. Maugis continued service to Constellium through such date. Excludes 1,578 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2017, subject to Mr. Maugis continued service to Constellium through such date. |
(12) | Consists of 4,408 Class A ordinary shares held directly by Mr. Guillemot, and 1,579 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report), subject to Mr. Guillemots continued service to Constellium through such date. Excludes 1,578 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2017, subject to Mr. Guillemots continued service to Constellium through such date. |
(13) | Consists of 49,408 Class A ordinary shares held directly by Mr. Paschke, and 1,579 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report), subject to Mr. Paschkes continued service to Constellium through such date. Excludes 1,578 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2017, subject to Mr. Paschkes continued service to Constellium through such date. |
(14) | Consists of 5,000 shares held directly by Mr. Brandjes, 1,112 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report), subject to Mr. Brandjes continued service to Constellium through such date, and 1,579 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report) subject to Mr. Brandjes continued service to Constellium through such date. Excludes 1,578 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2017, subject to Mr. Brandjes continued service to Constellium through such date. |
(15) | Consists of 1,113 Class A ordinary shares held directly by Mr. Hartman, 1,112 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report), subject to Mr. Hartmans continued service to Constellium through such date, and 1,579 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report), subject to Mr. Hartmans continued service to Constellium through such date. Excludes 1,578 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2017, subject to Mr. Hartmans continued service to Constellium through such date. |
(16) |
Consists of 6,113 Class A ordinary shares held directly by Mr. Ormerod, 1,112 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report), subject to Mr. Ormerods continued service to Constellium through such date, and 1,579 Class A |
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ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report), subject to Mr. Ormerods continued service to Constellium through such date. Excludes 1,578 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2017, subject to Mr. Ormerods continued service to Constellium through such date. |
(17) | Consists of 1,113 Class A ordinary shares held directly by Ms. Walker, 1,112 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report), subject to Ms. Walkers continued service to Constellium through such date, and 1,579 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2016 (within 60 days of the filing of this report), subject to Ms. Walkers continued service to Constellium through such date. Excludes 1,578 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2017, subject to Ms. Walkers continued service to Constellium through such date. |
(18) | Consists of 131,985 Class A ordinary shares transferred to Mr. Fontaine in connection with the wind-up of the MEP, 4,500 Class A ordinary shares Mr. Fontaine purchased directly in 2014, 25 Class A ordinary shares underlying restricted stock units, which vested on May 23, 2015 and 25,432 Class A ordinary shares underlying restricted stock units, which vested on November 1, 2015. |
(19) | Consists of 221,212 Class A ordinary shares transferred to Mr. Warton in connection with the wind-up of the MEP, 3,275 Class A ordinary shares Mr. Warton purchased directly in 2014, 25 Class A ordinary shares underlying restricted stock units, which vested on May 23, 2015 and 14,896 Class A ordinary shares underlying restricted stock units, which vested on November 1, 2015. |
(20) | Consists of 10,000 Class A ordinary shares which Ms. Joerg purchased directly in 2015. Excludes 50,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying unvested restricted stock units that will vest on August 5, 2017, subject to Ms. Joergs continued service to Constellium through such date. |
None of our principal shareholders have voting rights different from those of our other shareholders.
Over the last three years, the only significant changes of which we have been notified in the percentage ownership of our shares by our major shareholders described above were that prior to the IPO, immediately following the completion of the purchase of the EAP Business: Apollo Funds held 51% of our Class A ordinary shares, Rio Tinto held 39% of our Class A ordinary shares, and Bpifrance (f/k/a FSI) held 10% of our Class A ordinary shares. As of the date of this Annual Report, Apollo Funds holds 0% of our Class A ordinary shares, Rio Tinto holds ten shares of our Class A ordinary shares and Bpifrance holds 12.2% of our class A ordinary shares, respectively. See Item 4. Information on the CompanyA. History and Development of the Company.
B. | Related Party Transactions |
Pre-IPO Shareholders Agreement
In connection with the Acquisition, Apollo Omega, Rio Tinto, Bpifrance and the other parties thereto entered into a pre-IPO Shareholders Agreement, dated as of January 4, 2011 (the Pre-IPO Shareholders Agreement). The Pre-IPO Shareholders Agreement provided for, among other items, certain restrictions on the transferability of equity ownership in Constellium as well as certain tag-along rights, drag-along rights, and piggy-back registration rights. We amended and restated the Pre-IPO Shareholders Agreement in connection with the IPO. See Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement below.
Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement
The Company, Apollo Omega, Rio Tinto and Bpifrance entered into an amended and restated shareholders agreement on May 29, 2013 (the Shareholders Agreement). The Shareholders Agreement terminated with respect to Apollo Omega and Rio Tinto in connection with certain of their respective sales of our ordinary shares described elsewhere in this Annual Report. The Shareholders Agreement provides for, among other things, piggyback registration rights and demand registration rights for Bpifrance for so long as Bpifrance owns any of our ordinary shares.
In addition, the Shareholders Agreement provides that, except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bpifrance will be entitled to designate for binding nomination one director to our board of directors so long as its percentage ownership interest is equal to or greater than 4% or it continues to hold all of the ordinary shares it
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subscribed for at the closing of the Acquisition (such share number adjusted for the pro rata share issuance). Our directors will be elected by our shareholders acting at a general meeting upon a binding nomination by the board of directors as described in Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and EmployeesA. Directors and Senior Management. A shareholders percentage ownership interest is derived by dividing (i) the total number of ordinary shares owned by such shareholder and its affiliates by (ii) the total number of outstanding ordinary shares.
The Company has agreed to share financial and other information with Bpifrance to the extent reasonably required to comply with its tax, investor or regulatory obligations and with a view to keeping Bpifrance properly informed about the financial and business affairs of the Company. The Shareholders Agreement contains provisions to the effect that Bpifrance is obliged to treat all information provided to it as confidential, and to comply with all applicable rules and regulations in relation to the use and disclosure of such information.
Management Equity Plan
Investments by our officers and directors in Constellium were facilitated by their participation in a management equity plan (the MEP), Management KG (a German limited partnership), which subscribed for Class A and Class B ordinary shares in Constellium. With effect as of November 6, 2015, it was resolved to wind up the MEP and terminate Management KG (further described in Management Equity Plan). With effect as of November 6, 2015, it has been resolved to wind up the MEP and terminate Management KG.
Stichting Reacquisition
Prior to our IPO, Rio Tinto, Apollo Omega, Bpifrance, Constellium and Stichting Management Omega had entered into an agreement (the Funding Agreement), effective as of July 1, 2011, that provided that limited partnership interests in Management KG held by Stichting Management Omega would be so held for the pro rata benefit and risk of Rio Tinto, Apollo Omega, and Bpifrance. In connection with the freezing of the MEP, our board of directors approved the reacquisition and our shareholders approved the cancellation of all Class A ordinary shares and Class B2 ordinary shares attributable to the Management KG interests held by Stichting Management Omega, and all such shares were reacquired by us prior to the completion of the IPO for an acquisition amount of approximately 900,000. As a result of this reacquisition, the Management KG interests held by Stichting Management Omega ceased to have economic value, and Stichting Management Omega ceased to be an indirect owner of our ordinary shares. In connection with the IPO, the Funding Agreement was amended to provide that any limited partnership interests in Management KG acquired by Stichting Management Omega following the completion of the IPO will be held for the benefit of Constellium. In connection with the winding up of the MEP, Management KG will be terminated and Stichting Management Omega, which does not own any shares in Constellium, liquidated (further described in Management Equity Plan).
Share Sales by Management KG
During November 2013, limited partners of Management KG (other than the limited partners who were former employees of Constellium or who were to imminently become former employees of Constellium) were offered the opportunity to participate in trading plans to be established by Management KG under Rule 10b5-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act (the MEP Trading Plans) for the orderly liquidation of shares held in the MEP. The first such plan was established on December 13, 2013 and a total of 30 limited partners elected to participate in such plan, which commenced trading on January 13, 2014. A second such trading plan was established on June 13, 2014 and a total of 33 limited partners elected to participate in such plan, which commenced trading on July 14, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, all Class A ordinary shares have been sold pursuant to the MEP Trading Plans.
C. | Interests of Experts and Counsel |
Not applicable.
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A. | Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information |
Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are included in this Annual Report at Item 18. Financial Statements.
Legal Proceedings
Legal proceedings are disclosed in Item 4. Information on the CompanyB. Business OverviewLitigation and Legal Proceedings.
Dividend Policy
Our board of directors periodically explores the potential adoption of a dividend program; however, no assurances can be made that any future dividends will be paid on the ordinary shares. Any declaration and payment of future dividends to holders of our ordinary shares will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, statutory future prospects and contractual restrictions applying to the payment of dividends and other considerations that our board of directors deems relevant. In general, any payment of dividends must be made in accordance with our Amended and Restated Articles of Association and the requirements of Dutch law. Under Dutch law, payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders may be made only if our shareholders equity exceeds the sum of our called up and paid-in share capital plus the reserves required to be maintained by law and by our Amended and Restated Articles of Association.
Generally, we rely on dividends paid to Constellium N.V., or funds otherwise distributed or advanced to Constellium N.V. by its subsidiaries to fund the payment of dividends, if any, to our shareholders. In addition, restrictions contained in the agreements governing our outstanding indebtedness limit our ability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares and limit the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us. Future indebtedness that we may incur may contain similar restrictions.
B. | Significant Changes |
On March 30, 2016, the Company completed a private offering of $425 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Notes pursuant to an indenture among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee and collateral agent. The Company invested 100 million of the net proceeds in Wise. We used the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including to put additional cash on our balance sheet. Interest on the Senior Secured Notes accrues at a rate of 7.875% per annum and is payable semi-annually beginning October 1, 2016. The Senior Secured Notes mature on April 1, 2021. See Item 10. Additional InformationC. Material ContractsMarch 2016 Senior Secured Notes.
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A. | Offer and Listing Details |
Price history of stock
The table below sets forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and low market prices of our shares on the NYSE (source: Bloomberg). Our ordinary shares are also listed on the professional segment of Euronext Paris; however, due to an insufficient volume of trading in our ordinary shares on Euronext Paris, information regarding high and low trading prices is not reported.
NYSE | ||||||||
Calendar period |
High | Low | ||||||
Monthly |
||||||||
April 2016 (through April 15) |
$ | 5.50 | $ | 4.85 | ||||
March 2016 |
$ | 6.88 | $ | 4.31 | ||||
February 2016 |
$ | 5.88 | $ | 4.03 | ||||
January 2016 |
$ | 8.22 | $ | 5.45 | ||||
2015 |
||||||||
First quarter |
$ | 20.51 | $ | 16.22 | ||||
Second quarter |
$ | 19.52 | $ | 11.65 | ||||
Third quarter |
$ | 11.75 | $ | 5.89 | ||||
Fourth quarter |
$ | 8.86 | $ | 3.66 | ||||
Full year |
$ | 20.51 | $ | 3.66 | ||||
2014 |
||||||||
First quarter |
$ | 29.42 | $ | 21.99 | ||||
Second quarter |
$ | 32.56 | $ | 26.64 | ||||
Third quarter |
$ | 32.61 | $ | 23.86 | ||||
Fourth quarter |
$ | 25.74 | $ | 15.25 | ||||
Full year |
$ | 32.61 | $ | 15.25 | ||||
2013 |
||||||||
Second quarter (beginning May 23, 2013) |
$ | 16.47 | $ | 13.26 | ||||
Third quarter |
$ | 20.67 | $ | 15.75 | ||||
Fourth quarter |
$ | 23.47 | $ | 16.60 | ||||
Full year |
$ | 23.47 | $ | 13.26 |
B. | Plan of Distribution |
Not applicable.
C. | Markets |
We began trading on the NYSE on May 23, 2013 and on the professional segment of Euronext Paris on May 27, 2013 through a public offering in the United States. Trading on the NYSE is under the symbol CSTM. For more information on our shares see Item 10. Additional InformationB. Memorandum and Articles of Association.
D. | Selling Shareholders |
Not applicable.
E. | Dilution |
Not applicable.
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F. | Expenses of the issue |
Not applicable.
Item 10. Additional Information
A. | Share Capital |
Not applicable.
B. | Memorandum and Articles of Association |
The information called for by this Item has been reported previously in our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-188556), filed with the SEC on May 22, 2013, as amended, under the heading Description of Capital Stock, and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
C. | Material Contracts |
The following is a summary of each material contract, other than material contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, to which we are a party, for the two years immediately preceding the date of this Annual Report:
| Employment agreements and benefit plans. See Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and EmployeesE. Share Ownership for a description of the material terms of our employment agreements and benefits plans. |
| Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement . See Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions for a description of material terms of this contract. |
| Term Loan, Notes, U.S. Revolving Credit Facility and the Factoring Agreements . As disclosed below. |
| Metal Supply Agreement . As disclosed below. |
May 2014 Notes
On May 7, 2014, the Company completed a private offering of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.750% Senior Notes due 2024 (the 2024 U.S. Dollar Notes) and 300 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021 (the 2021 Euro Notes, and together with the 2024 U.S. Dollar Notes, the May 2014 Notes) pursuant to indentures among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee. A portion of the net proceeds of the May 2014 Notes were used to repay amounts outstanding under our senior secured term loan B facility, including related transaction fees, expenses, and prepayment premium thereon. We used the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including to put additional cash on our balance sheet.
Interest on the 2024 U.S. Dollar Notes and 2021 Euro Notes accrues at rates of 5.750% and 4.625% per annum, respectively, and is payable semi-annually beginning November 15, 2014. The 2024 U.S. Dollar Notes mature on May 15, 2024, and the 2021 Euro Notes mature on May 15, 2021.
Prior to May 15, 2019, we may redeem some or all of the 2024 U.S. Dollar Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2024 U.S. Dollar Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date plus a make-whole premium. On or after May 15, 2019, we may redeem the 2024 U.S. Dollar Notes at redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) equal to 102.875% during the twelve-month period commencing on May 15, 2019, 101.917% during the twelve-month period commencing on May 15, 2020, 100.958% during the twelve-month period commencing on May 15, 2021, and par on or after May 15, 2022, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.
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Prior to May 15, 2017, we may redeem some or all of the 2021 Euro Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2021 Euro Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date plus a make-whole premium. On or after May 15, 2017, we may redeem the 2021 Euro Notes at redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) equal to 102.313% during the twelve-month period commencing on May 15, 2017, 101.156% during the twelve-month period commencing on May 15, 2018, and par on or after May 15, 2019, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.
In addition, at any time or from time to time prior to May 15, 2017, we may, within 90 days of a qualified equity offering, redeem May 2014 Notes of either series in an aggregate amount equal to up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the May 2014 Notes of the applicable series (after giving effect to any issuance of additional May 2014 Notes of such series) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus a premium (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) equal to 5.750% for the 2024 U.S. Dollar Notes and 4.625% for the 2021 Euro Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of such qualified equity offering, provided that at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of May 2014 Notes of the series being redeemed would remain outstanding immediately after giving effect to such redemption.
Within 30 days of the occurrence of specific kinds of changes of control, the Company is required to make an offer to purchase all outstanding May 2014 Notes at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the May 2014 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the purchase date.
The May 2014 Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Constellium and are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by each of its restricted subsidiaries that guarantees the Senior Secured Notes. Each of Constelliums existing or future restricted subsidiaries (other than receivables subsidiaries) that guarantees certain indebtedness of Constellium or certain indebtedness of any of the guarantors of the May 2014 Notes must also guarantee the May 2014 Notes. None of Wise or its direct or indirect subsidiaries currently guarantees our obligations under the May 2014 Notes, and none will to the extent that such action would violate the restrictive covenants in the agreements governing their existing indebtedness. If such covenant restrictions cease to apply, or if the provision of a guarantee would otherwise no longer violate such restrictive covenants, then Wise and its direct and indirect subsidiaries will provide a guarantee of the May 2014 Notes to the extent required by the indentures governing the May 2014 Notes.
The indentures governing the May 2014 Notes contain customary terms and conditions, including, among other things, negative covenants limiting our and our restricted subsidiaries ability to incur debt, grant liens, enter into sale and lease-back transactions, make investments, loans and advances, make acquisitions, sell assets, pay dividends and other restricted payments, prepay certain debt, merge, consolidate or amalgamate and engage in affiliate transactions.
The indentures governing the May 2014 Notes also contain customary events of default.
December 2014 Notes
On December 19, 2014, the Company completed a private offering of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.00% Senior Notes due 2023 (the 2023 U.S. Dollar Notes) and 240 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.00% Senior Notes due 2023 (the 2023 Euro Notes, and together with the 2023 U.S. Dollar Notes, the December 2014 Notes) pursuant to indentures among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee. A portion of the net proceeds of the December 2014 Notes were used to finance the Wise Acquisition, including related transaction fees and expenses. We used the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes.
Interest on the 2023 U.S. Dollar Notes and 2023 Euro Notes accrues at rates of 8.00% and 7.00% per annum, respectively, and is payable semi-annually beginning July 15, 2015. The 2023 U.S. Dollar Notes and 2023 Euro Notes mature on January 15, 2023.
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Prior to January 15, 2018, we may redeem some or all of the 2023 U.S. Dollar Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2023 U.S. Dollar Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date plus a make-whole premium. On or after January 15, 2018, we may redeem the 2023 U.S. Dollar Notes at redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) equal to 106.000% during the twelve-month period commencing on January 15, 2018, 104.000% during the twelve-month period commencing on January 15, 2019, 102.000% during the twelve-month period commencing on January 15, 2020, and par on or after January 15, 2021, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.
Prior to January 15, 2018, we may redeem some or all of the 2023 Euro Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2023 Euro Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date plus a make-whole premium. On or after January 15, 2018, we may redeem the 2023 Euro Notes at redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) equal to 105.250% during the twelve-month period commencing on January 15, 2018, 103.500% during the twelve-month period commencing on January 15, 2019, 101.750% during the twelve-month period commencing on January 15, 2020, and par on or after January 15, 2021, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.
In addition, at any time or from time to time prior to January 15, 2018, we may, within 90 days of a qualified equity offering, redeem December 2014 Notes of either series in an aggregate amount equal to up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the December 2014 Notes of the applicable series (after giving effect to any issuance of additional December 2014 Notes of such series) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus a premium (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) equal to 8.00% for the 2023 U.S. Dollar Notes and 7.00% for the 2023 Euro Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of such qualified equity offering, provided that at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of December 2014 Notes of the series being redeemed would remain outstanding immediately after giving effect to such redemption.
Within 30 days of the occurrence of specific kinds of changes of control, the Company is required to make an offer to purchase all outstanding December 2014 Notes at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the December 2014 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the purchase date.
The December 2014 Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Constellium and are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by each of its restricted subsidiaries that guarantees the Senior Secured Notes. Each of Constelliums existing or future restricted subsidiaries (other than receivables subsidiaries) that guarantees certain indebtedness of Constellium or certain indebtedness of any of the guarantors of the December 2014 Notes must also guarantee the December 2014 Notes. None of Wise or its direct or indirect subsidiaries currently guarantees our obligations under the December 2014 Notes, and none will to the extent that such action would violate the restrictive covenants in the agreements governing their existing indebtedness. If such covenant restrictions cease to apply, or if the provision of a guarantee would otherwise no longer violate such restrictive covenants, then Wise and its direct and indirect subsidiaries will provide a guarantee of the December 2014 Notes to the extent required by the indentures governing the December 2014 Notes. If Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries guarantees certain indebtedness of Constellium N.V. or any of the guarantors of the December 2014 Notes in an amount exceeding 50 million in the aggregate, then Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC and/or any such direct or indirect subsidiary will guarantee the December 2014 Notes.
The indentures governing the December 2014 Notes contain customary terms and conditions, including, among other things, negative covenants limiting our and our restricted subsidiaries ability to incur debt, grant liens, enter into sale and lease-back transactions, make investments, loans and advances, make acquisitions, sell assets, pay dividends and other restricted payments, prepay certain debt, merge, consolidate or amalgamate and engage in affiliate transactions.
The indentures governing the December 2014 Notes also contain customary events of default.
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March 2016 Senior Secured Notes
On March 30, 2016, the Company completed a private offering of $425 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Notes pursuant to an indenture among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee and collateral agent. The Company invested 100 million of the net proceeds in Wise. We used the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including to put additional cash on our balance sheet.
Interest on the Senior Secured Notes accrues at a rate of 7.875% per annum and is payable semi-annually beginning October 1, 2016.
The Senior Secured Notes mature on April 1, 2021. In addition, each holder of Senior Secured Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of that holders Senior Secured Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase, if on the 136 th day prior to May 15, 2021 (i.e. the final stated maturity of the 2021 Euro Notes) more than 30 million of the 2021 Euro Notes remain outstanding.
Prior to April 1, 2018, we may redeem some or all of the Senior Secured Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date plus a make-whole premium. On or after April 1, 2018, we may redeem the Senior Secured Notes at redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) equal to 103.938% during the twelve-month period commencing on April 1, 2018, 101.969% during the twelve-month period commencing on April 1, 2019, and par on or after April 1, 2020, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.
In addition, at any time or from time to time prior to April 1, 2018, we may, within 90 days of a qualified equity offering, redeem Senior Secured Notes in an aggregate amount equal to up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes (after giving effect to any issuance of additional Senior Secured Notes) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus a premium (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) equal to 107.875%, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of such qualified equity offering, provided that at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Notes would remain outstanding immediately after giving effect to such redemption.
Within 30 days of the occurrence of specific kinds of changes of control, the Company is required to make an offer to purchase all outstanding Senior Secured Notes at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the purchase date.
The Senior Secured Notes are senior secured obligations of Constellium and are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by Constellium Holdco II B.V., Constellium Holdco III B.V., Constellium France Holdco, Constellium Neuf Brisach, Constellium Issoire, Constellium Finance, Constellium Germany Holdco GmbH & Co. KG, Constellium Deutschland GmbH, Constellium Singen GmbH, Constellium Rolled Products Singen GmbH & Co. KG, Constellium Switzerland AG, Constellium US Holdings I, LLC, and Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC. In addition, the Company is required to cause (a) existing or future subsidiaries to guarantee the Senior Secured Notes from time to time so as to satisfy the Guarantor Coverage Test (as defined below), and (b) each existing or future subsidiary that directly or indirectly owns the capital stock of a guarantor of the Senior Secured Notes, or guarantees certain indebtedness of Constellium or certain indebtedness of any of the guarantors of the Senior Secured Notes, to guarantee the Senior Secured Notes. None of Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC or its direct or indirect subsidiaries currently guarantees our obligations under the Senior Secured Notes, and none will to the extent that such action would violate the restrictive covenants in the agreements governing their existing indebtedness. If such covenant restrictions cease to apply, or if the provision of a guarantee would otherwise no longer violate such restrictive covenants, then Wise and its direct and indirect
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subsidiaries will provide a guarantee of the Senior Secured Notes to the extent required by the indenture governing the Senior Secured Notes. If Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries guarantees certain indebtedness of Constellium N.V. or any of the guarantors of the Senior Secured Notes in an amount exceeding 10 million in the aggregate, then Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC and/or any such direct or indirect subsidiary will guarantee the Senior Secured Notes.
The Guarantor Coverage Test requires, on any one date between and including the date that the Companys annual financial statements are delivered and the date that is forty-five (45) days following such delivery, that (a) the EBITDA of the Company and the guarantors of the Senior Secured Notes, taken together, represent not less than 80% of the EBITDA of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries (excluding Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC and its direct and indirect subsidiaries until such time as the restrictive covenants in the agreements governing the indebtedness of Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC or such subsidiary cease to prohibit Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC or such subsidiary from guaranteeing the Senior Secured Notes), taken together, and (b) the consolidated total assets of the Company and the guarantors of the Senior Secured Notes, taken together, represent not less than 80% of the consolidated total assets of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries (excluding Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC and its direct and indirect subsidiaries until such time as the restrictive covenants in the agreements governing the indebtedness of Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC or such subsidiary cease to prohibit Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC or such subsidiary from guaranteeing the Senior Secured Notes), taken together.
The indenture governing the Senior Secured Notes provides for the obligations of the Company and the guarantors with respect to the Senior Secured Notes and the guarantees thereof to be secured by (i) a pledge by Constellium N.V. of its shares in Constellium Holdco II B.V., (ii) a pledge by Constellium Holdco II B.V. of its shares in certain of its subsidiaries, (iii) a pledge by certain other guarantors of their shares in certain of their subsidiaries, (iv) subject to certain exceptions, a pledge of intercompany indebtedness owed to the Company and the guarantors and bank accounts owned by the Company and the guarantors, and (v) subject to certain exceptions, substantially all the assets of each guarantor organized in the U.S. The liens on the collateral securing the Senior Secured Notes and the guarantees thereof are required to be first-priority, provided that (x) the liens on the Ravenswood ABL Priority Collateral (as defined below) securing the Senior Secured Notes and the guarantees thereof are required to be junior in priority to the liens on the Ravenswood ABL Priority Collateral securing the obligations under the Ravenswood ABL Facility, and (y) the liens on certain property of Ravenswood (the PBGC Priority Collateral) securing the Senior Secured Notes and the guarantees thereof are required to be junior in priority to the liens on such property securing certain obligations of Ravenswood to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the PBGC).The Ravenswood ABL Priority Collateral consists of the following property owned by Ravenswood: (i) accounts and payment intangibles, (ii) inventory, (iii) deposit accounts and any cash, financial assets or other assets in such accounts, (iv) cash and cash equivalents, (v) all general intangibles, chattel paper, instruments, investment property and books and records pertaining to any of the foregoing, and (vi) all proceeds of the foregoing, in each case subject to certain exceptions.
Certain of the security arrangements with respect to the Senior Secured Notes were not created, provided or perfected on the issue date, and the Company is required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to have all such security interests created and perfected within 75 days following the issue date, and thereafter to continue to use commercially reasonable efforts to have all such security interests created and perfected until such time, if any, as the Company determines that any further efforts would be futile. The liens on the PBGC Priority Collateral securing the Senior Secured Notes and the guarantees thereof will not be created unless and until the PBGC gives its reasonable consent and enters into an intercreditor agreement with the collateral agent for the Senior Secured Notes. To the extent that a lien and mortgage on the property, plant and equipment of our Ravenswood facility is not provided to secure the Senior Secured Notes with the priority required under the indenture and security documents governing the Senior Secured Notes (the Collateral Condition) on or prior to the date that is 90 days following the issue date, the Senior Secured Notes will accrue additional interest at a rate of 2.00% per annum from such 90 th day following the issue date until (i) if the Collateral Condition is satisfied on or prior to the date that is 360 days following the issue date, the date the Collateral Condition is satisfied, or (ii) if the Collateral Condition is not satisfied on or prior to the date that is 360 days following the issue date, the date interest on the Senior Secured Notes is no longer payable in accordance with the terms of the indenture.
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The indenture governing the Senior Secured Notes contains customary terms and conditions, including, among other things, negative covenants limiting our and our restricted subsidiaries ability to incur debt, grant liens, enter into sale and lease-back transactions, make investments (including investments in and guarantees of certain indebtedness of Wise), loans and advances, make acquisitions, sell assets, pay dividends and other restricted payments, prepay certain debt (including the May 2014 Notes and the December 2014 Notes), merge, consolidate or amalgamate and engage in affiliate transactions.
The indenture governing the Senior Secured Notes also contains customary events of default.
Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility
On May 7, 2014, the Company entered into a new senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility) pursuant to a credit agreement among the Company, as borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent. The Company amended the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility on December 5, 2014, February 5, 2015, September 30, 2015, and December 10, 2015 to, among other things, increase the total commitments and extend the maturity date thereunder, permit the consummation of the Wise Acquisition without Wise guaranteeing the obligations thereunder, permit the Wise ABL Facility to remain outstanding in an amount of up to $450 million following the consummation of the Wise Acquisition, and amend certain financial covenants thereunder. As amended, the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility provided for total commitments of up to 145 million, with a maturity date of January 5, 2018.
Interest under the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility was calculated based on the adjusted eurocurrency rate plus 2.50% per annum.
In addition to paying interest on outstanding loans under the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility, we were required to pay (a) commitment fees equal to 1.00% per annum times the undrawn portion of the commitments under the facility and (b) utilization fees equal to (i) if the daily average drawn portion of the commitments under the facility (the Drawn Amount) was less than 50.0% of the aggregate commitments, 0.25% per annum times the Drawn Amount or (ii) if the Drawn Amount was greater than or equal to 50.0% of the aggregate commitments, 0.50% per annum times the Drawn Amount.
Subject to customary breakage costs, borrowings under the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility were permitted to be repaid from time to time without premium or penalty.
Our obligations under the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility were guaranteed by Constellium Holdco II B.V., Constellium France Holdco S.A.S., Constellium Issoire S.A.S., Constellium Neuf Brisach S.A.S., Constellium Finance S.A.S., Constellium Germany Holdco GmbH & Co. KG, Constellium Deutschland GmbH, Constellium Singen GmbH, Constellium Switzerland AG, Constellium US Holdings I, LLC, and Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC. None of Wise or its direct or indirect subsidiaries guaranteed our obligations under the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility.
The Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility contained customary terms and conditions, including, among other things, negative covenants limiting our and our restricted subsidiaries ability to incur debt, grant liens, enter into sale and lease-back transactions, make investments, loans and advances, make acquisitions, sell assets, pay dividends and other restricted payments, prepay certain debt, merge, consolidate or amalgamate and engage in affiliate transactions.
In addition, at any time that loans were (a) borrowed, to the extent that immediately after giving effect to such borrowing, loans in excess of 30% of the total commitments under the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility would be outstanding, or (b) outstanding on the last day of our fiscal quarter, the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility required us to (x) maintain a consolidated total net leverage ratio of no more than (1) in the case of each
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of the first four fiscal quarters ending after October 1, 2015, 5.00 to 1.00, and (2) in the case of each other fiscal quarter, 4.50 to 1.00, (y) maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than (1) in the case of each of the first four fiscal quarters ending after October 1, 2015, 2.00 to 1.00, and (2) in the case of each other fiscal quarter, 2.20 to 1.00, and (z) ensure that, taken together, the Company and the guarantors of the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility had (i) assets representing not less than 60% of the consolidated total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and (ii) EBITDA representing not less than 75% of the consolidated EBITDA of the Company and its subsidiaries (the requirement in the foregoing clause (z), the Guarantor Coverage Test). Wise and its subsidiaries were excluded from the calculation of the Guarantor Coverage Test. The Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility also contained customary events of default.
On March 30, 2016, concurrently with the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes, the Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility was terminated.
Ravenswood ABL Facility
On May 25, 2012, Ravenswood entered into a $100 million asset-based revolving credit facility (the Ravenswood ABL Facility), with the lenders from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent (the Ravenswood ABL Administrative Agent) and collateral agent. Ravenswood amended the Ravenswood ABL Facility on October 1, 2013 to, among other things, extend the maturity to October 2018 and reduce pricing. As amended, the Ravenswood ABL Facility has sublimits of $25 million for letters of credit and 10% of the revolving credit facility commitments for swingline loans. The Ravenswood ABL Facility provides Ravenswood a working capital facility for its operations.
Ravenswoods ability to borrow under the Ravenswood ABL Facility is limited to a borrowing base equal to the sum of (a) 85% of eligible accounts receivable plus (b) up to the lesser of (i) 80% of the lesser of cost or market value of eligible inventory and (ii) 85% of the net orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory minus (c) applicable reserves, and is subject to other conditions, limitations and reserve requirements.
Interest under the Ravenswood ABL Facility is calculated, at Ravenswoods election, based on either the LIBOR or base rate (as calculated by the Ravenswood ABL Administrative Agent in accordance with the Ravenswood ABL Facility). LIBOR loans accrue interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 1.50-2.00% per annum (determined based on average quarterly excess availability). Base rate loans accrue interest at the base rate plus a margin of 0.50-1.00% per annum (determined based on average quarterly excess availability). Ravenswood is required to pay a commitment fee on the unused portion of the Ravenswood ABL Facility of 0.25% or 0.375% per annum (determined on a ratio of unutilized revolving credit commitments to available revolving credit commitments).
Subject to customary breakage costs with respect to LIBOR loans, borrowings under the Ravenswood ABL Facility may be repaid from time to time without premium or penalty.
Ravenswoods obligations under the Ravenswood ABL Facility are guaranteed by Constellium U.S. Holdings I, LLC and Constellium Holdco II B.V. (Holdco II). Ravenswoods obligations under the Ravenswood ABL Facility are not guaranteed by the Company, Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC or any of its subsidiaries or any of Holdco IIs subsidiaries organized outside of the United States. Ravenswoods obligations under the Ravenswood ABL Facility are, subject to certain permitted liens, secured on a first priority basis by substantially all assets of Ravenswood. Ravenswoods obligations under the Ravenswood ABL Facility are not secured by any assets of Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC or any of its subsidiaries or the Company or any of its subsidiaries organized outside of the United States. The guarantee by Holdco II of the Ravenswood ABL Facility is unsecured.
The Ravenswood ABL Facility contains customary terms and conditions, including, among other things, negative covenants limiting Ravenswoods ability to incur debt, grant liens, enter into sale and lease-back
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transactions, make investments, loans and advances (including to other Constellium group companies), make acquisitions, sell assets, pay dividends and other restricted payments, prepay certain debt, merge, consolidate or amalgamate and engage in affiliate transactions. The negative covenants contained in the Ravenswood ABL Facility do not apply to Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC or any of its subsidiaries or the Company or any of its subsidiaries organized outside of the United States.
The Ravenswood ABL Facility also contains a minimum availability covenant that requires Ravenswood to maintain excess availability under the Ravenswood ABL Facility of at least the greater of (a) $10 million and (b) 10% of the aggregate revolving loan commitments.
The Ravenswood ABL Facility also contains customary events of default.
European Factoring Agreements
On January 4, 2011, certain of our French subsidiaries (the French Sellers) entered into a factoring agreement with GE Factofrance S.A.S., as factor (the French Factor), which has been amended from time to time, and has been fully restated on December 3, 2015 (the French Factoring Agreement). On December 16, 2010, certain of our German and Swiss subsidiaries (the German/Swiss Sellers) entered into factoring agreements with GE Capital Bank AG, as factor (the German/Swiss Factor), which have been amended from time to time or replaced with a factoring agreement entered into on March 26, 2014 (the German/Swiss Factoring Agreements). On June 26, 2015, our Czech subsidiary (the Czech Seller, and together with the German/Swiss Sellers and the French Sellers, the European Factoring Sellers) entered into a factoring agreement with GE Capital Bank AG, as factor (the Czech Factor, and together with the German/Swiss Factor and the French Factor, the European Factors), as amended from time to time (the Czech Factoring Agreement, and together with the German/Swiss Factoring Agreements and the French Factoring Agreement, the European Factoring Agreements).
The European Factoring Agreements provide for the sale by the European Factoring Sellers to the European Factors of receivables originated by the European Factoring Sellers, subject to a maximum financing amount of 235 million available to the French Sellers under the French Factoring Agreement and 115 million available to the German/Swiss Sellers and the Czech Seller under the German/Swiss Factoring Agreements and the Czech Factoring Agreement, respectively. The German/ Swiss Factoring Agreements have a termination date of June 4, 2017. The French Factoring Agreement has a termination date of December 31, 2018. The funding made available to the European Factoring Sellers by the European Factors is used by the Sellers for general corporate purposes.
Generally speaking, receivables sold to the European Factors under the European Factoring Agreements are with no recourse to the European Factoring Sellers in the event of a payment default by the relevant customer. The European Factors are entitled to claim the repayment of any amount financed by them in respect of a receivable by withdrawing the financing provided against such assigned receivable or requiring the European Factoring Sellers to repurchase/unwind the purchase of such receivable under certain circumstances, including when (i) the non-payment of that receivable arises from a dispute between a European Factoring Seller and the relevant customer or (ii) the receivable proves not to have satisfied the eligibility criteria set forth in the European Factoring Agreements.
The German/Swiss Factoring Agreements and the Czech Factoring Agreement are without recourse to the German/Swiss Sellers and the Czech Seller, respectively, for any credit risk resulting from the inability of a debtor to meet its payment obligations under the receivables sold to the German/Swiss Factor, respectively the Czech Factor. Constellium Holdco II B.V. has provided a performance guaranty for the Sellers obligations under the European Factoring Agreements.
Subject to some exceptions, the European Factoring Sellers will collect the transferred receivables on behalf of the European Factors pursuant to a receivables collection mandate under the European Factoring Agreements.
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The receivables collection mandate may be terminated upon the occurrence of certain events. In the event that the receivables collection mandate is terminated, the European Factors will be entitled to notify the account debtors of the assignment of receivables and collect directly from the account debtors the assigned receivables.
The European Factoring Agreements contain customary fees, including (i) a financing fee on the outstanding amount financed in respect of the assigned receivables, (ii) a non-utilization fee on the portion of the facilities not utilized by the European Factors and (iii) a factoring fee on all assigned receivables in the case of the German/Swiss Factoring Agreements and sold receivables, which were approved by the French Factor in the case of the French Factoring Agreement. In addition, the European Factoring Sellers incur the cost of maintaining the necessary credit insurance (as stipulated in the European Factoring Agreements) on assigned receivables.
The European Factoring Agreements contain certain affirmative and negative covenants, including relating to the administration and collection of the assigned receivables, the terms of the invoices and the exchange of information, but do not contain restrictive financial covenants. As of and for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2015, the European Factoring Sellers were in compliance with all applicable covenants under the European Factoring Agreements.
Wise Senior Secured Notes
On December 11, 2013, Wise Metals Group LLC and Wise Alloys Finance Corporation issued $650 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (the Wise Senior Secured Notes). Wise used a portion of the proceeds from the offering of the Wise Senior Secured Notes to repay all outstanding indebtedness under a $400 million term loan and a $70 million delayed draw term loan owed to the Employees Retirement System of Alabama and the Teachers Retirement System of Alabama (collectively, the RSA) and to redeem all of the outstanding cumulative-convertible 10% paid-in-kind preferred membership interests in Wise Metals Group LLC held by the RSA.
Interest on the Wise Senior Secured Notes accrues at a rate of 8.75% per annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The Wise Senior Secured Notes mature on December 15, 2018.
The Wise Senior Secured Notes are guaranteed by certain of Wise Metals Group LLCs existing and future 100% owned domestic restricted subsidiaries. The Wise Senior Secured Notes are not guaranteed by the Company or any of its other subsidiaries. The Wise Senior Secured Notes and related guarantees are secured on a first-priority basis, subject to certain exceptions and permitted liens, by a lien on substantially all of the issuers and guarantors existing and after-acquired material domestic real estate, equipment, stock of subsidiaries, intellectual property and substantially all of the issuers and guarantors other assets that do not secure the Wise ABL Facility on a first-priority basis, other than the Specified Mill Assets Collateral (as defined below), which have been pledged to secure the Wise Senior Secured Notes and the related guarantees, as well as certain obligations to Rexam under the Rexam Advance Agreement, on a first-priority, equal and ratable basis. The Wise Senior Secured Notes and related guarantees are secured on a second-priority basis by a lien on all of the issuers and guarantors domestic assets that consist of Wise ABL Priority Collateral (as defined below).
Prior to June 15, 2016, the Wise Senior Secured Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Wise Senior Secured Notes redeemed plus an applicable make-whole premium and accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. Prior to June 15, 2016, up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Wise Senior Secured Notes outstanding may be redeemed with the net proceeds of specified equity offerings at 108.750% of the principal amount of the Wise Senior Secured Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.
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On or after June 15, 2016, the Wise Senior Secured Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) of 104.375% for the twelve-month period beginning on June 15, 2016, 102.188% for the twelve-month period beginning on June 15, 2017, and par on or after June 15, 2018, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.
In addition, upon certain events constituting a Change of Control (as defined in the indenture governing the Wise Senior Secured Notes), the issuers of the Wise Senior Secured Notes must make an offer (a Senior Secured Notes Offer to Purchase) to repurchase all outstanding Wise Senior Secured Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Wise Senior Secured Notes so repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase.
The Wise Senior Secured Notes contain customary covenants including, among other things, limitations and restrictions on Wises ability to: incur additional indebtedness; make dividend payments or other restricted payments; create liens; sell assets; sell securities of subsidiaries; agree to payment restrictions affecting Wises restricted subsidiaries; designate subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries; enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates; and enter into mergers, consolidations or certain asset sales.
On October 10, 2014, Constellium, on behalf of the issuers of the Wise Senior Secured Notes, solicited consents from the holders of the Wise Senior Secured Notes to certain amendments (the Proposed Amendments) to the indenture governing the Wise Senior Secured Notes. The Proposed Amendments provided that the Wise Acquisition would not constitute a Change of Control. On October 17, 2014, Constellium obtained the requisite consents to the Proposed Amendments and the issuers and guarantors of the Wise Senior Secured Notes and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, entered into a supplemental indenture to the indenture governing the Wise Senior Secured Notes. Pursuant to the terms of the supplemental indenture, the Proposed Amendments became operative immediately prior to the effective time of the Wise Acquisition. Accordingly, the issuers of the Wise Senior Secured Notes were not required to make a Senior Secured Notes Offer to Purchase in connection with the Wise Acquisition.
Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes
On April 16, 2014, Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC (Wise Holdco) and Wise Holdings Finance Corporation issued $150 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.75% / 10.50% Senior PIK Toggle Notes due 2019 (the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes, and together with the Wise Senior Secured Notes, the Wise Notes) pursuant to an indenture among Wise Holdco, Wise Holdings Finance Corporation, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee. Wise used a portion of the proceeds from the offering of the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes to fund payments to the holders of equity interests in its parent company, Wise Metals Holdings LLC, that elected (i) to have Wise Metals Holdings LLC repurchase their equity interests or (ii) to take a loan from Wise Metals Holdings LLC in proportion to such holders ownership in Wise Metals Holdings LLC. Wise used the remainder of such proceeds for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of $22.5 million of outstanding indebtedness under the Wise ABL Facility.
The Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes mature on June 15, 2019. Interest on the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The issuers must pay the first and last interest payments on the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes in cash. For each other interest period, the issuers are required to pay interest in cash unless certain conditions described in the indenture governing the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes are met, in which case the issuers may pay interest by increasing the principal amount of outstanding notes or by issuing new notes as payment-in-kind interest (PIK Interest). Cash interest on the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes accrues at a rate of 9.75% per annum, and PIK Interest accrues at a rate of 10.50% per annum. On November 5, 2015, Constellium announced that the issuers of the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes were electing to pay the June 2016 interest payment on the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes in kind.
The Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the issuers and are not guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including Wise).
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Prior to June 15, 2016, the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes redeemed plus a make-whole premium and accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. In addition, prior to June 15, 2016, up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes outstanding may be redeemed with the net proceeds of specified equity offerings at 109.750% of the principal amount of the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.
On or after June 15, 2016, the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) of 104.875% for the twelve-month period beginning on June 15, 2016, 102.438% for the twelve-month period beginning on June 15, 2017, and par on or after June 15, 2018, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.
In addition, upon certain events constituting a Change of Control (as defined in the indenture governing the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes), the issuers of the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes must offer to repurchase all outstanding Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes so repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase (such offer, a PIK Notes Change of Control Offer). On January 7, 2015, in connection with the Wise Acquisition, Constellium made a PIK Notes Change of Control Offer, which expired on February 6, 2015 with no Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes having been tendered for repurchase.
The Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes contain customary covenants including, among other things, limitations and restrictions on Wises ability to: Incur additional indebtedness; make dividend payments or other restricted payments; create liens; sell assets; sell securities of subsidiaries; agree to payment restrictions affecting certain subsidiaries; enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates; and enter into mergers, consolidations or certain asset sales.
On March 7, 2016, Wilmington Trust, National Association was replaced by Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as trustee under the indenture governing the Wise Senior PIK Toggles Notes.
Wise ABL Facility
On December 11, 2013, Wise Alloys LLC, as borrower, and Wise Metals Group LLC, Listerhill Total Maintenance Center, LLC (TMC), Wise Alloys Finance Corporation, and Alabama Electric Motor Services, LLC (AEM), as guarantors, entered into a $320 million asset-based revolving credit facility (as amended, the Wise ABL Facility) with the lenders from time to time party thereto and General Electric Capital Corporation as administrative agent (the Wise ABL Facility Agent). As described below, the Wise ABL Facility was amended in connection with the Wise Acquisition and in connection with the Wise RPA.
Wise Alloys LLC has the option to increase the commitments under the Wise ABL Facility from time to time by up to $100 million in the aggregate for all such increases. Any increase of the commitments under the Wise ABL Facility is subject to the commitment of one or more lenders to such increased amount and the satisfaction of certain customary conditions, including the absence of any default under the Wise ABL Facility and, to the extent otherwise required under the Wise ABL Facility at the time of the proposed increase, compliance with the financial covenant (as described below) on an as adjusted basis.
Wise Alloys LLCs ability to borrow under the Wise ABL Facility is limited to a borrowing base equal to the sum of (a) 85% of net book value of Wise Alloys LLCs, AEMs, and TMCs eligible accounts receivable (other than any accounts receivable from certain foreign account debtors (Eligible Foreign Account Debtors) and other ineligible account debtors (or 90% of the net book value of Wise Alloys LLCs, AEMs, and TMCs eligible accounts receivable from Coke), plus (b) the lesser of (i) 85% of the net book value of Wise Alloys LLCs, AEMs, and TMCs eligible accounts receivable from Eligible Foreign Account Debtors and (ii) $12.5
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million, plus (c) the lesser of (i) 75% of the value of Wise Alloys LLCs eligible raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods inventory and (ii) 85% of the net orderly liquidation value of Wise Alloys LLCs eligible raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods inventory, plus (d) the lesser of (i) 5% of the value of Wise Alloys LLCs eligible raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods inventory and (ii) 5% of the net orderly liquidation value of Wise Alloys LLCs eligible raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods inventory; provided that, in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii), such amount shall not exceed $10 million, minus (e) the excess, if any, of the aggregate amount of TMCs and AEMs eligible accounts receivable included in the borrowing base pursuant to the foregoing clause (a) over $1.5 million (which may, at the Wise ABL Facility Agents sole discretion after completion of a collateral audit, be increased to an amount not to exceed $5 million) minus (f) the aggregate amount of reserves, if any, established by the Wise ABL Facility Agent. Wise Alloys LLCs ability to borrow under the Wise ABL Facility is also subject to other conditions and limitations. As of December 31, 2015, there was $25 million available for borrowings under the Wise ABL Facility (as in effect as of that date).
Interest rates under the Wise ABL Facility are based, at Wise Alloys LLCs election, on either the LIBOR rate or a base rate, plus a spread that ranges from 1.75% to 2.25% for LIBOR loans and 0.75% to 1.25% for base rate loans. The spread is determined on the basis of a pricing grid that results in a higher spread as Wise Alloys LLCs average quarterly borrowing availability under the Wise ABL Facility declines, and, in each case, are based upon the borrowing base calculation delivered to the Wise ABL Facility Agent for the last calendar month (or, in certain instances, week) of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter.
Letters of credit under the Wise ABL Facility are subject to a fee payable to the lenders equal to the current margin applicable to LIBOR loans multiplied by the daily balance of the undrawn amount of all outstanding letters of credit, payable in cash monthly in arrears.
Unused commitments under the Wise ABL Facility are subject to an unused commitment fee equal to the aggregate amount of such unused commitments multiplied by a rate equal to 0.375% per annum, payable in cash monthly in arrears, of the average available but unused borrowing capacity under the Wise ABL Facility.
Subject to customary breakage costs with respect to LIBOR loans, borrowings under the Wise ABL Facility may be repaid from time to time without premium or penalty.
The obligations of Wise Alloys LLC under the Wise ABL Facility are secured by (i) a first priority (subject to certain specified permitted liens), perfected security interest in all of Wise Alloys LLC and the guarantors (other than Constellium Holdco II B.V.) present and future assets and properties consisting of Wise ABL Priority Collateral, (ii) a second priority (subordinate only to the security interest and liens under the Wise Senior Secured Notes and subject to certain specified permitted liens), perfected security interest in all of Wise Alloys LLC and the guarantors (other than Constellium Holdco II B.V.) present and future assets and properties, other than Wise ABL Priority Collateral and the Specified Mill Assets Collateral, and (iii) a second priority (subordinate only to the security interest under the Wise Senior Secured Notes and the Rexam Advance Agreement and subject to certain specified permitted liens), perfected security interest in all of Wise Alloys LLC and the guarantors present and future assets and properties consisting of Specified Mill Assets Collateral.
Wise ABL Priority Collateral consists of (i) accounts and payment intangibles, (ii) inventory, (iii) deposit accounts and securities accounts, including all monies, uncertificated securities and other funds held in or on deposit therein (including all cash, marketable securities and other funds held in or on deposit in either of the foregoing), (iv) all investment property, equipment, general intangibles, books and records pertaining to the Wise ABL Priority Collateral, documents, instruments, chattel paper, letter-of-credit rights, supporting obligations related to the foregoing, business interruption insurance, commercial tort claims, and (v) all proceeds of the foregoing, in each case subject to certain exceptions.
Specified Mill Assets Collateral consists of the equipment and fixtures of Wise Alloys LLC and the guarantors constituting the three-stand mill located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama which are being financed pursuant to the Rexam Advance Agreement and related assets.
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The Wise ABL Facility contains customary terms and conditions, including, among other things, negative covenants limiting Wise Alloys LLC, the guarantors, and their respective restricted subsidiaries ability to incur debt, grant liens, make investments, loans and advances, make acquisitions, sell assets, pay dividends and other restricted payments, prepay certain debt, merge, consolidate or amalgamate and engage in affiliate transactions.
The Wise ABL Facility provides that if borrowing availability thereunder drops below a threshold amount equal to the greater of (a) 10% of the aggregate commitments under the Wise ABL Facility and (b) $20 million, Wise Alloys LLC will be required to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0 to 1.0, calculated on a trailing twelve month basis until such time as borrowing availability has been at least equal to the greater of $20 million and 10% of the aggregate commitments under the Wise ABL Facility for thirty consecutive days.
The Wise ABL Facility also contains customary events of default, including an event of default triggered by certain changes of control. The Wise Acquisition constituted such a change of control.
In connection with the Wise Acquisition, we amended the Wise ABL Facility to, among other things, (i) provide that the consummation of the Wise Acquisition does not constitute an event of default, (ii) remove from the collateral securing the Wise ABL Facility the receivables of a single obligor that will be sold under the Wise RPA, (iii) permit transactions between Wise and its subsidiaries on the one hand and Constellium and its subsidiaries on the other, subject to certain conditions, and (iv) on the effective date of the Wise RPA, reduce the size of the facility to $200 million. As amended, the Wise ABL Facility also provides for Constellium Holdco II B.V. to guarantee the obligations thereunder.
On November 4, 2015, in connection with the Wise RPA Amendment (as defined below), we amended the Wise ABL Facility to increase the amount of certain receivables permitted to be sold pursuant to receivables factoring arrangements from $300 million to $400 million.
On March 1, 2016, General Electric Capital Corporation resigned as the Wise ABL Facility Agent and was replaced by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.
Wise Factoring Facilities
On March 23, 2015, Wise Alloys LLC entered into a Receivables Purchase Agreement (the Wise RPA) with Wise Alloys Funding LLC (the Wise RPA Seller) and HSBC Bank USA, National Association (the Wise RPA Purchaser), providing for the sale of certain receivables of Wise Alloys LLC to the Wise RPA Purchaser in an amount not to exceed $100 million in the aggregate outstanding at any time. Receivables under the agreement were sold at a discount based on a rate equal to LIBOR plus 0.80-3.50% (based on the credit rating of the account debtor) per annum. Wise Alloys Funding LLC was also required to pay the Wise RPA Purchaser a commitment fee on the unused portion of the commitments under the Wise RPA of 0.40-1.75% (based on the credit rating of the account debtor) per annum. Subject to certain customary exceptions, each purchase under the Wise RPA was made without recourse to the Wise RPA Seller. The Wise RPA Seller has no liability to the Wise RPA Purchaser, and the Wise RPA Purchaser is solely responsible for the account debtors failure to pay any purchased receivable when it is due and payable under the terms applicable thereto. Constellium Holdco II B.V. provided a guaranty for the Wise RPA Sellers performance obligations under the Wise RPA. The Wise RPA does not provide for further sales of receivables after March 23, 2016.
On March 16, 2016, Wise Alloys LLC (Wise Alloys) entered into a Receivables Purchase Agreement (the New Wise RPA) with Wise Alloys Funding II LLC (the New Wise RPA Seller), Hitachi Capital America Corp. (the New Wise RPA Purchaser), and Greensill Capital Inc., as purchaser agent, providing for the sale of certain receivables of Wise Alloys to the New Wise RPA Purchaser in an amount not to exceed $100 million in the aggregate outstanding at any time. Receivables under the New Wise RPA will be sold at a discount based on a rate equal to a LIBOR rate plus 2.00-2.50% (based on the credit rating of the account debtor) per annum.
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Subject to certain customary exceptions, each purchase under the New Wise RPA will be made without recourse to the New Wise RPA Seller. The New Wise RPA Seller has no liability to the New Wise RPA Purchaser, and the New Wise RPA Purchaser is solely responsible for the account debtors failure to pay any purchased receivable when it is due and payable under the terms applicable thereto. Constellium Holdco II B.V. has provided a guaranty for the New Wise RPA Sellers and Wise Alloys performance obligations under the New Wise RPA.
The New Wise RPA contains customary covenants. The New Wise RPA Purchasers obligation to purchase receivables under the New Wise RPA is subject to certain conditions, including without limitation that certain changes of control shall not have occurred, that there shall not have occurred a material adverse change in the business condition, operations or performance of the New Wise RPA Seller, Wise Alloys, or Constellium Holdco II B.V., and that Constelliums corporate credit rating shall not have been withdrawn by either Standard & Poors or Moodys or downgraded below B- by Standard & Poors and B3 by Moodys.
The New Wise RPA Purchasers obligation to purchase receivables under the New Wise RPA will terminate on March 15, 2017.
Metal Supply Agreements
In connection with the Acquisition, Constellium Switzerland, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Constellium N.V., entered into certain agreements dated as of January 4, 2011 with Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. (Rio Tinto Alcan), Aluminium Pechiney and Alcan Holdings Switzerland AG (AHS), each of which is an affiliate of Rio Tinto, which provide for, among other things, the supply of metal by Rio Tinto affiliates to Constellium Switzerland, the provision of certain technical assistance and other services relating to aluminium-lithium, a covenant by Rio Tinto Alcan to refrain from producing, supplying or selling aluminium-lithium alloys to third parties and certain cost reimbursement obligations of AHS. Constellium has provided a guarantee to Rio Tinto Alcan and Aluminium Pechiney in respect of Constellium Switzerlands obligations under the supply agreements. Constellium Switzerland and Rio Tinto Alcan have a multi-year supply agreement for the supply of sheet ingot. The agreement provides for certain representations and warranties, audit and inspection rights, on-time shipment requirements and other customary terms and conditions. Each party is required to pay certain penalty or reimbursement amounts in the event it fails or is unable to purchase or supply, as applicable, specified minimum annual quantities of metal.
D. | Exchange Controls |
There are no limits under the laws of the Netherlands or in our Amended and Restated Articles of Association on non-residents of the Netherlands holding or voting our ordinary shares. Currently, there are no exchange controls under the laws of the Netherlands on the conduct of our operations or affecting the remittance of dividends.
French exchange control regulations currently do not limit the amount of payments that we may remit to non-residents of France, subject to any restrictions that may be applicable by reason of embargos or similar measures in force with respect to certain countries and/or persons. Laws and regulations concerning foreign exchange controls do require, however, that all payments or transfers of funds made by a French resident to a non-resident be handled by an accredited intermediary.
E. | Taxation |
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to acquiring, owning and disposing of our ordinary shares by a U.S. Holder (as defined below) that holds the ordinary shares
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as capital assets (generally, property held for investment) under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). This discussion is based upon existing U.S. federal income tax law, including the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations thereunder, rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive effect. No ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) has been sought with respect to any U.S. federal income tax consequences described below, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position.
This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances, including investors subject to special tax rules (for example, financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, broker-dealers, traders in securities that elect mark-to-market treatment, partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes and their partners and investors, tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations), investors who are not U.S. Holders, U.S. Holders who own (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10% or more of our stock (by vote or value), U.S. Holders that acquire their ordinary shares pursuant to any employee share option or otherwise as compensation, U.S. Holders that hold their ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, wash sale, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes or U.S. Holders that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below). In addition, this discussion does not discuss any U.S. federal estate, gift or alternative minimum tax consequences, any tax consequences of the Medicare tax on certain investment income pursuant to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax considerations of an investment in our ordinary shares.
General
For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in, or organized under the law of, the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has otherwise validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person under the Code.
If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Partnerships holding our ordinary shares, and partners in such partnerships, are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding their investment in our ordinary shares.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Consequences
We believe that we will not be a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes (PFIC) for the current taxable year and that we have not been a PFIC for prior taxable years and we expect that we will not become a PFIC in the foreseeable future, although there can be no assurance in this regard. A foreign corporation will be a PFIC in any taxable year in which, after taking into account the income and assets of the corporation and certain subsidiaries pursuant to applicable look-through rules, either (i) at least 75% of its gross income is passive income, or (ii) at least 50% of its assets produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties and rents and certain other categories of income, subject to certain exceptions. The determination of whether we are a PFIC is a fact-intensive determination that includes ascertaining the fair market value (or, in
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certain circumstances, tax basis) of all of our assets on a quarterly basis and the character of each item of income we earn. This determination is made annually and cannot be completed until the close of a taxable year. It depends upon the portion of our assets (including goodwill) and income characterized as passive under the PFIC rules, as described above. Accordingly, it is possible that we may become a PFIC due to changes in our income or asset composition or a decline in the market value of our equity. Because PFIC status is a fact-intensive determination, no assurance can be given that we are not, have not been, or will not become, classified as a PFIC.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year, U.S. Holders generally will be subject to special tax rules that could result in materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. In such event, a U.S. Holder may be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the highest applicable ordinary income tax rates on (i) any excess distribution that we make to the U.S. Holder (which generally means any distribution paid during a taxable year to a U.S. Holder that is greater than 125% of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holders holding period for the ordinary shares), or (ii) any gain realized on the disposition of our ordinary shares. In addition, a U.S. Holder may be subject to an interest charge on such tax. Furthermore, the favorable dividend tax rates that may apply to certain U.S. Holders on our dividends will not apply if we are a PFIC during the taxable year in which such dividend was paid, or the preceding taxable year.
As an alternative to the foregoing rules, if we are a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder may make a mark-to-market election with respect to our ordinary shares, provided that the ordinary shares are regularly traded. Although no assurances may be given, we expect that our ordinary shares should qualify as being regularly traded. If a U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election, the U.S. Holder will generally (i) include as ordinary income for each taxable year that we are a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of our ordinary shares held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such ordinary shares and (ii) deduct as an ordinary loss the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the ordinary shares over the fair market value of such ordinary shares held at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. Holders tax basis in the ordinary shares would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss resulting from the mark-to-market election. Gain on the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares would be treated as ordinary income, and loss on the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares would be treated as an ordinary loss, but only to the extent of the amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election in respect of a corporation classified as a PFIC and such corporation ceases to be classified as a PFIC, the holder will not be required to take into account the gain or loss described above during any period that such corporation is not classified as a PFIC. Because a mark-to-market election cannot be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to such U.S. Holders indirect interest in any investment held by us that is treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Subject to certain limitations, a U.S. Holder may make a qualified electing fund election (QEF election), which serves as a further alternative to the foregoing rules, with respect to its investment in a PFIC. In order for a U.S. Holder to be able to make a QEF election, we must provide such U.S. Holders with certain information. Because we do not intend to provide U.S. Holders with the information needed to make such an election, prospective investors should assume that the QEF election will not be available.
Each U.S. Holder is advised to consult its tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning or disposing of our ordinary shares if we are or become classified as a PFIC, including the possibility of making a mark-to-market election.
The remainder of the discussion below assumes that we are not a PFIC, have not been a PFIC and will not become a PFIC in the future.
Distributions
The gross amount of distributions with respect to our ordinary shares (including the amount of any non-U.S. withholding taxes) will be taxable as dividends, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and
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profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Such distributions will be includable in a U.S. Holders gross income as ordinary dividend income on the day actually or constructively received by the U.S. Holder. Such dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations under the Code.
To the extent that the amount of the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits for a taxable year, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, the distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holders tax basis in our ordinary shares, and to the extent the amount of the distribution exceeds the U.S. Holders tax basis, the excess will be taxed as capital gain recognized on a sale or exchange of such ordinary shares. Because we do not expect to determine our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles, U.S. Holders should expect that a distribution will generally be reported as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes, even if that distribution would otherwise be treated as a tax-free return of capital or as capital gain under the rules described above.
With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, certain dividends received from a qualified foreign corporation may be subject to reduced rates of U.S. federal income taxation. A non-U.S. corporation is treated as a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends paid by that corporation on shares that are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. We believe our ordinary shares, which are listed on the NYSE, are considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, although there can be no assurance that this will continue to be the case in the future. Non-corporate U.S. Holders that do not meet a minimum holding period requirement during which they are not protected from the risk of loss, or that elect to treat the dividend income as investment income pursuant to Section 163(d)(4) of the Code, will not be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation regardless of our status as a qualified foreign corporation. In addition, even if the minimum holding period requirement has been met, the rate reduction will not apply to dividends if the recipient of a dividend is obligated to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding the application of these rules given your particular circumstances.
In the event that a U.S. Holder is subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes on dividends paid to such U.S. Holder with respect to our ordinary shares, such U.S. Holder may be eligible, subject to certain conditions and limitations, to claim a foreign tax credit for such non-U.S. withholding taxes against the U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability or alternatively deduct such non-U.S. withholding taxes in computing such U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability. Dividends paid to a U.S. Holder with respect to our ordinary shares are expected to generally constitute foreign source income and to generally be treated as passive category income, for purposes of the foreign tax credit, except that a portion of such dividends may be treated as income from U.S. sources if (i) United States persons own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of our ordinary shares (by vote or value) and (ii) we receive more than a de minimis amount of income from U.S. sources. The rules governing the foreign tax credit and ability to deduct such non-U.S. withholding taxes are complex and involve the application of rules that depend upon your particular circumstances. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit or deduction under your particular circumstances.
Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized for our ordinary shares and the U.S. Holders tax basis in such ordinary shares. Such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss. Capital gains of individuals derived with respect to capital assets held for more than one year generally are eligible for reduced rates of U.S. federal income taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder will generally be treated as U.S. source gain or loss. You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the tax consequences if a non-U.S. tax is imposed on a sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares, including the availability of the foreign tax credit or deduction under your particular circumstances.
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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
A U.S. Holder with interests in specified foreign financial assets (including, among other assets, our ordinary shares, unless such shares were held on such U.S. Holders behalf through a financial institution) may be required to file an information report with the IRS if the aggregate value of all such assets exceeds certain threshold amounts. You should consult your own tax advisor as to the possible obligation to file such information reports in light of your particular circumstances.
Moreover, information reporting generally will apply to dividends in respect of our ordinary shares and the proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares that are paid to a U.S. Holder within the United States (and in certain cases, outside the United States), unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28%) may also apply to such payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide an appropriate certification with such U.S. Holders taxpayer identification number or certification of exempt status. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules to your particular circumstances.
US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Provisions under the Code and Treasury regulations thereunder, commonly referred to as FATCA, may impose 30% withholding on certain payments made by a foreign financial institution (as defined in the Code) that has entered into an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service to perform certain diligence and reporting obligations with respect to the foreign financial institutions accounts (each such foreign financial institution, a Participating Foreign Financial Institution). If we were treated as a foreign financial institution and if we become a Participating Foreign Financial Institution, such withholding may be imposed on payments on our ordinary shares (to the extent such payments are considered foreign passthru payments) to any foreign financial institution (including an intermediary through which a holder may hold ordinary shares) that is not a Participating Foreign Financial Institution or any other investor who does not provide information sufficient to establish that the investor is not subject to withholding under FATCA, unless such foreign financial institution or investor is otherwise exempt from FATCA. The term foreign passthru payment is not yet defined and it is therefore not clear whether or to what extent payments on our ordinary shares would be considered foreign passthru payments. Under recent IRS guidance, withholding on foreign passthru payments would not be required with respect to payments made before the later of January 1, 2019 or the date of publication in the Federal Register of final regulations defining the term foreign passthru payment. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the potential impact of FATCA, or any intergovernmental agreement or non-US legislation implementing FATCA, on your investment in our ordinary shares. FATCA IS PARTICULARLY COMPLEX AND ITS APPLICATION TO US, OUR ORDINARY SHARES AND HOLDERS OF OUR SHARES IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. EACH HOLDER OF OUR SHARES SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR TO OBTAIN A MORE DETAILED EXPLANATION OF FATCA AND TO LEARN HOW FATCA MIGHT AFFECT EACH HOLDER IN ITS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE.
Material Dutch Tax Consequences
General
The information set out below is a summary of certain material Dutch tax consequences in connection with the acquisition, ownership and transfer of our ordinary shares. This summary does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the Dutch tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular holder of our ordinary shares. Such holders may be subject to special tax treatment under any applicable law and this summary is not intended to be applicable in respect of all categories of holders of our ordinary shares.
This summary is based on the tax laws of the Netherlands as in effect on January 1, 2016, as well as regulations, rulings and decisions of the Netherlands or of its taxing and other authorities available in printed
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form on or before such date and now in effect, and as applied and interpreted by Netherlands courts, without prejudice to any amendments introduced at a later date and implemented with or without retroactive effect. All of the foregoing is subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the continued validity of this summary.
For Dutch tax purposes, a holder of our ordinary shares may include an individual who, or an entity that, does not have the legal title to our ordinary shares, but to whom nevertheless our ordinary shares are attributed based either on such individual or entity holding a beneficial interest in our ordinary shares or based on specific statutory provisions, including statutory provisions pursuant to which our ordinary shares are attributed to an individual who is, or who has directly or indirectly inherited from a person who was, the settlor, grantor or similar originator of a trust, foundation or similar entity that holds our ordinary shares, such as the separated private assets ( afgezonderd particulier vermogen ) provisions of the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001 ( Wet inkomstenbelasting 2001 ) and the Dutch Gift and Inheritance Tax Act 1956 (S uccessiewet 1956 ).
Because it is a general summary, prospective holders of our ordinary shares should consult their own tax advisors as to the Dutch or other tax consequences of the acquisition, holding and transfer of the ordinary shares including, in particular, the application to their particular situations of the tax considerations discussed below, as well as the application of foreign or other tax laws.
This summary does not describe any tax consequences arising under the laws of any taxing jurisdiction other than the Netherlands in connection with the acquisition, ownership and transfer of our ordinary shares. The Netherlands means the part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands located in Europe.
Any reference hereafter made to a treaty for the avoidance of double taxation concluded by the Netherlands, includes the Tax Arrangement for the Kingdom of the Netherlands ( Belastingregeling voor het Koninkrijk ), the Tax Arrangement the Netherlands Curacao ( Belastingregeling Nederland Curaco ) and the Tax Arrangement for the country of the Netherlands ( Belastingregeling voor het land Nederland ).
Dividend Withholding Tax
General
Dividends paid on our ordinary shares to a holder of ordinary shares are generally subject to withholding tax of 15% imposed by the Netherlands. Generally, the dividend withholding tax will not be borne by us, but we will withhold from the gross dividends paid on our ordinary shares. The term dividends for this purpose includes, but is not limited to:
| distributions in cash or in kind, deemed and constructive distributions and repayments of paid-in capital not recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes; |
| liquidation proceeds, proceeds of redemption of shares or, generally, consideration for the repurchase of shares in excess of the average paid-in capital recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes; |
| the nominal value of shares issued to a shareholder or an increase of the nominal value of shares, as the case may be, to the extent that it does not appear that a contribution to the capital recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes was made or will be made; and |
| partial repayment of paid-in capital, recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes, if and to the extent that there are net profits ( zuivere winst ), within the meaning of the Dutch Dividend Withholding Tax Act 1965 ( Wet op de dividendbelasting 1965 ), unless the general meeting of shareholders has resolved in advance to make such a repayment and provided that the nominal value of the shares concerned has been reduced by a corresponding amount by way of an amendment of our Amended and Restated Articles of Association. |
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Holder of Our Ordinary Shares Resident in the Netherlands
A holder of our ordinary shares who is, or who is deemed to be, a resident of the Netherlands can generally credit the withholding tax against his Dutch income tax or Dutch corporate income tax liability and is generally entitled to a refund of dividend withholding taxes exceeding his aggregate Dutch income tax or Dutch corporate income tax liability, provided certain conditions are met, unless such holder of our ordinary shares is not considered to be the beneficial owner of the dividends.
A holder of our ordinary shares who is the recipient of dividends (the Recipient) will not be considered the beneficial owner of the dividends for this purpose if:
| as a consequence of a combination of transactions, a person other than the Recipient wholly or partly benefits from the dividends; |
| whereby such other person retains, directly or indirectly, an interest similar to that in the ordinary shares on which the dividends were paid; and |
| that other person is entitled to a credit, reduction or refund of dividend withholding tax that is less than that of the Recipient (Dividend Stripping). |
Holder of Our Ordinary Shares not Resident in the Netherlands
With respect to a holder of our ordinary shares, who is not and is not deemed to be a resident of the Netherlands for purposes of Dutch taxation and who is considered to be a resident of a country other than the Netherlands under the provisions of a double taxation convention the Netherlands has concluded with such country, the following may apply. Such holder of our ordinary shares may, depending on the terms of and subject to compliance with the procedures for claiming benefits under such double taxation convention, be eligible for a full or partial exemption from or a reduction or refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax.
In addition, an exemption from Dutch dividend withholding tax will generally apply to dividends distributed to certain qualifying entities, provided that the following tests are satisfied:
(i) | the entity is a resident of another EU member state or of a designated state that is a party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (currently Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein), according to the tax laws of such state; |
(ii) | the entity at the time of the distribution has an interest in us to which the participation exemption as meant in article 13 of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 (Wet op de vennootschapsbelasting 1969) or to which the participation credit as meant in article 13aa of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 would have been applicable, had such entity been a tax resident of the Netherlands; |
(iii) | the entity does not perform a similar function as an exempt investment institution ( vrijgestelde beleggingsinstelling ) or fiscal investment institution (fiscale beleggingsinstelling ), as defined in the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969; and |
(iv) | the entity is, in its state of residence, not considered to be resident outside the EU member states or the designated states that are party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area under the terms of a double taxation convention concluded with a third state. |
The exemption from Dutch dividend withholding tax is not available if pursuant to a provision for the prevention of fraud or abuse included in a double taxation treaty between the Netherlands and the country of residence of the non-resident holder of our ordinary shares, such holder would not be entitled to the reduction of tax on dividends provided for by such treaty. Furthermore, the exemption from Dutch dividend withholding tax will only be available to the beneficial owner of the dividend.
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Furthermore, certain entities that are resident in another EU member state or in a designated state that is a party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (currently Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) and that are not subject to taxation levied by reference to profits in their state of residence, may be entitled to a refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax, provided:
(i) | such entity, had it been a resident in the Netherlands, would not be subject to corporate income tax in the Netherlands; |
(ii) | such entity can be considered to be the beneficial owner of the dividends; |
(iii) | such entity does not perform a similar function to that of a fiscal investment institution ( fiscale beleggingsinstelling ) or an exempt investment institution ( vrijgestelde beleggingsinstelling ) as defined in the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969; and |
(iv) | certain administrative conditions are met. |
Dividend distributions to a U.S. holder of our ordinary shares (with an interest of less than 10% of the voting rights in us) are subject to 15% dividend withholding tax, which is equal to the rate such U.S. holder may be entitled to under the Convention Between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, executed in Washington on December 18, 1992, as amended from time to time (the Netherlands-U.S. Convention). As such, there is no need to claim a refund of the excess of the amount withheld over the tax treaty rate.
On the basis of article 35 of the Netherlands-U.S. Convention, qualifying U.S. pension trusts are under certain conditions entitled to a full exemption from Dutch dividend withholding tax. Such qualifying exempt U.S. pension trusts must provide us form IB 96 USA, along with a valid certificate, for the application of relief at source from dividend withholding tax. If we receive the required documentation prior to the relevant dividend payment date, then we may apply such relief at source. If a qualifying exempt U.S. pension trust fails to satisfy these requirements prior to the payment of a dividend, then such qualifying exempt pension trust may claim a refund of Dutch withholding tax by filing form IB 96 USA with the Dutch tax authorities. On the basis of article 36 of the Netherlands-U.S. Convention, qualifying exempt U.S. organizations are under certain conditions entitled to a full exemption from Dutch dividend withholding tax. Such qualifying exempt U.S. organizations are not entitled to claim relief at source, and instead must claim a refund of Dutch withholding tax by filing form IB 95 USA with the Dutch tax authorities.
The concept of Dividend Stripping, described above, may also be applied to determine whether a holder of our ordinary shares may be eligible for a full or partial exemption from, reduction or refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax, as described in the preceding paragraphs.
In general, we will be required to remit all amounts withheld as Dutch dividend withholding tax to the Dutch tax authorities. However, in connection with distributions received by us from our foreign subsidiaries, we are allowed, subject to certain conditions, to reduce the amount of Dutch dividend withholding tax to be remitted to Dutch tax authorities by the lesser of:
(i) | 3% of the portion of the distribution paid by us that is subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax; and |
(ii) | 3% of the dividends and profit distributions, before deduction of non-Dutch withholding taxes, received by us from qualifying foreign subsidiaries in the current calendar year (up to the date of the distribution by us) and the two preceding calendar years, insofar as such dividends and profit distributions have not yet been taken into account for purposes of establishing the above-mentioned deductions. |
For purposes of determining the 3% threshold under (i) above, a distribution by us is not taken into account in case the Dutch dividend withholding tax withheld in respect thereof may be fully refunded, unless the recipient of such distribution is a qualifying entity that is not subject to corporate income tax.
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Although this reduction reduces the amount of Dutch dividend withholding tax that we are required to pay to the Dutch tax authorities, it does not reduce the amount of tax that we are required to withhold from dividends.
Tax on Income and Capital Gains
General
The description of taxation set out in this section of this Annual Report is not intended for any holder of our ordinary shares, who:
(i) | is an individual and for whom the income or capital gains derived from the ordinary shares are attributable to employment activities the income from which is taxable in the Netherlands; |
(ii) | is an entity that is a resident or deemed to be a resident of the Netherlands and that is, in whole or in part, not subject to or exempt from Netherlands corporate income tax; |
(iii) | is an entity that has an interest in us to which the participation exemption ( deelnemingsvrijstelling ) or the participation credit ( deelnemingsverrekening ) is applicable as set out in the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969; |
(iv) | is a fiscal investment institution ( fiscale beleggingsinstelling ) or an exempt investment institution ( vrijgestelde beleggingsinstelling ) as defined in the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969; or |
(v) | has a substantial interest ( aanmerkelijk belang ) or a deemed substantial interest as defined in the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001 in us. |
Generally a holder of our ordinary shares will have a substantial interest in us in the meaning of paragraph (v) above if he holds, alone or together with his partner (statutorily defined term), whether directly or indirectly, the ownership of, or certain other rights over shares representing 5% or more of our total issued and outstanding capital (or the issued and outstanding capital of any class of our shares), or rights to acquire shares, whether or not already issued, which represent at any time 5% or more of our total issued and outstanding capital (or the issued and outstanding capital of any class of our shares) or the ownership of certain profit participating certificates that relate to 5% or more of the annual profit and/or to 5% or more of the liquidation proceeds of us. A holder of our ordinary shares will also have a substantial interest in us if one of certain relatives of that holder or of his partner (a statutory defined term) has a substantial interest in us.
If a holder of our ordinary shares does not have a substantial interest, a deemed substantial interest will be present if (part of) a substantial interest has been disposed of, or is deemed to have been disposed of, without recognizing taxable gain.
Residents of the Netherlands
Individuals
An individual who is resident or deemed to be resident in the Netherlands (a Dutch Resident Individual) and who holds our ordinary shares will be subject to Netherlands income tax on income and/or capital gains derived from our ordinary shares at the progressive rate (up to 52%; rate for 2014) if:
(i) | the holder derives profits from an enterprise or deemed enterprise, whether as an entrepreneur ( ondernemer ) or pursuant to a co-entitlement to the net worth of such enterprise (other than as an entrepreneur or a shareholder), to which enterprise the ordinary shares are attributable; or |
(ii) | the holder derives income or capital gains from the ordinary shares that are taxable as benefits from miscellaneous activities ( resultaat uit overige werkzaamheden , as defined in the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001), which include the performance of activities with respect to the ordinary shares that exceed regular, active portfolio management ( normaal, actief vermogensbeheer ) and also includes benefits resulting from a lucrative interest ( lucratief belang ). |
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If conditions (i) and (ii) above do not apply, any holder of our ordinary shares who is a Dutch Resident Individual will be subject to Netherlands income tax on a deemed return regardless of the actual income and/or capital gains derived from our ordinary shares. This deemed return has been fixed at a rate of 4% of the individuals yield basis ( rendementsgrondslag ) insofar as this exceeds a certain threshold ( heffingsvrijvermogen ). The individuals yield basis is determined as the fair market value of certain qualifying assets (including, as the case may be, the ordinary shares) held by the Dutch Resident Individual less the fair market value of certain qualifying liabilities, both determined on January 1 of the relevant year. The deemed return of 4% will be taxed at a rate of 30% (rate for 2016).
Entities
An entity that is resident or deemed to be resident in the Netherlands (a Dutch Resident Entity) will generally be subject to Netherlands corporate income tax with respect to income and capital gains derived from the ordinary shares. The Netherlands corporate income tax rate is 20% for the first 200,000 of the taxable amount, and 25% for the excess of the taxable amount over 200,000 (rates applicable for 2016).
Non-Residents of the Netherlands
A person who is neither a Dutch Resident Individual nor Dutch Resident Entity (a Non-Dutch Resident) and who holds our ordinary shares is generally not subject to Netherlands income tax or corporate income tax (other than dividend withholding tax described above) on income and capital gains derived from the ordinary shares, provided that:
(i) | such Non-Dutch Resident does not derive profits from an enterprise or deemed enterprise, whether as an entrepreneur ( ondernemer ) or pursuant to a co-entitlement to the net worth of such enterprise (other than as an entrepreneur or a shareholder) which enterprise is, in whole or in part, carried on through a permanent establishment or a permanent representative in the Netherlands and to which enterprise or part of an enterprise, as the case may be, the ordinary shares are attributable or deemed attributable; |
(ii) | in the case of a Non-Dutch Resident who is an individual, such individual does not derive income or capital gains from the Shares that are taxable as benefits from miscellaneous activities ( resultaat uit overige werkzaamheden , as defined in the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001) performed or deemed to be performed in the Netherlands, which include the performance of activities with respect to the ordinary shares that exceed regular, active portfolio management ( normaal , actief vermogensbeheer ) and also includes benefits resulting from a lucrative interest ( luctratief belang ); and |
(iii) | such Non-Dutch Resident is neither entitled to a share in the profits of an enterprise nor co-entitled to the net worth of such enterprise effectively managed in the Netherlands, other than by way of the holding of securities or, in the case of an individual, through an employment contract, to which enterprise the ordinary shares or payments in respect of the ordinary shares are attributable. |
A Non-Dutch Resident that nevertheless falls under any of the paragraphs (i) through (iii) mentioned above, may be subject to Netherlands income tax or corporate income tax on income and capital gains derived from our ordinary shares. In case such holder of our ordinary shares is considered to be a resident of a country other than the Netherlands under the provisions of a double taxation convention the Netherlands has concluded with such country, the following may apply. Such holder of ordinary shares may, depending on the terms of and subject to compliance with the procedures for claiming benefits under such double taxation convention, be eligible for a full or partial exemption from Netherlands taxes (if any) on (deemed) income or capital gains in respect of the ordinary shares, provided such holder is entitled to the benefits of such double taxation convention.
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Gift or Inheritance Tax
No Netherlands gift or inheritance taxes will be levied on the transfer of our ordinary shares by way of gift by or on the death of a holder of our ordinary shares, who is neither a resident nor deemed to be a resident of the Netherlands for the purpose of the relevant provisions, unless:
(i) | the transfer is construed as an inheritance or bequest or as a gift made by or on behalf of a person who, at the time of the gift or death, is or is deemed to be a resident of the Netherlands for the purpose of the relevant provisions; |
(ii) | such holder dies while being a resident or deemed resident of the Netherlands within 180 days after the date of a gift of the ordinary shares; or |
(iii) | the gift is made under a condition precedent and such holder is deemed to be resident of the Netherlands at the time the condition is fulfilled. |
For purposes of the Dutch Gift and Inheritance Tax Act 1956, an individual who is of Dutch nationality will be deemed to be a resident of the Netherlands if he has been a resident in the Netherlands at any time during the ten years preceding the date of the gift or his death.
For purposes of Netherlands gift tax, an individual will, irrespective of his nationality, be deemed to be resident of the Netherlands if he has been a resident in the Netherlands at any time during the 12-months preceding the date of the gift.
Applicable tax treaties may override such deemed residency.
Value Added Tax
No Netherlands value added tax will be payable by a holder of our ordinary shares in consideration for the offer of our ordinary shares (other than value added taxes on fees payable in respect of services not exempt from Netherlands value added tax).
Other Taxes or Duties
No Netherlands registration tax, custom duty, stamp duty or any other similar tax or duty, other than court fees, will be payable in the Netherlands by a holder of our ordinary shares in respect of or in connection with the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the ordinary shares.
F. | Dividends and Paying Agents |
Not applicable.
G. | Statement of Experts |
Not applicable.
H. | Documents on Display |
You may read and copy any reports or other information that we file at the SECs Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov.
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We also make available on our website, free of charge, our annual reports on Form 20-F and the text of our reports on Form 6-K, including any amendments to these reports, as well as certain other SEC filings, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Our website address is www.constellium.com. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference in this document.
I. | Subsidiary Information |
Not applicable.
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Refer to the information set forth under the Notes to the consolidated financial statements at Item 18. Financial Statements:
| Note 2Summary of Significant Accounting PoliciesFinancial Instruments; and |
| Note 23Financial Risk Management. |
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
Not applicable.
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
None.
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
A. | Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders |
On August 18, 2015, in connection with the wind up the MEP and termination of Management KG (further described in Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and EmployeesE. Share OwnershipManagement Equity Plan), our Articles of Association were amended to reflect the cancellation of our Class B Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, all references to Ordinary Shares Class B have been deleted from our Articles of Association.
B. | Use of Proceeds |
None.
Item 15. Controls and Procedures
A. | Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
Our Chief Executive Officer and principal financial officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Form 20-F, have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that material information relating to Constellium was timely made known to them by others within the Group.
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B. | Managements Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm |
The management of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting, as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Rule 13a-15(f).
The Companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and as endorsed by the European Union (EU).
The Companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, and that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Constelliums management has assessed the effectiveness of the Companys internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 based on the criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and, based on such criteria, Constelliums management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, the Company´s internal control over financial reporting is effective.
C. | Attestation report of the registered public accounting firm. |
The effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
D. | Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting |
During the period covered by this report, we have not made any change to our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Brandjes, Guillemot, Hartman, Maugis, Ormerod and Paschke and Ms. Walker satisfy the independence requirements set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Our board of directors has also determined that each of Messrs. Paschke and Ormerod and Ms. Walker is an audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 16A of Form 20-F under the Exchange Act.
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We have adopted a Worldwide Code of Employee and Business Conduct that applies to all our employees, officers and directors, including our principal executive, principal financial and principal accounting officers. Our Worldwide Code of Employee and Business Conduct addresses, among other things, competition and fair dealing, conflicts of interest, financial integrity, government relations, confidentiality and corporate opportunity requirements and the process for reporting violations of the Worldwide Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, employee misconduct, conflicts of interest or other violations. Our Worldwide Code of Employee and Business Conduct is intended to meet the definition of code of ethics under Item 16B of Form 20-F under the Exchange Act.
A copy of our Worldwide Code of Employee and Business Conduct is available on our website at www.constellium.com. Any amendments to the Worldwide Code of Employee and Business Conduct, or any waivers of its requirements, will be disclosed on our website.
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit has served as our independent registered public accounting firm for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015.
The following table sets out the aggregate fees for professional services and other services rendered to us by PricewaterhouseCoopers in the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and breaks down these amounts by category of service:
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
( in thousands) | ||||||||
Audit fees |
6,540 | 9,181 | ||||||
Audit-related fees |
305 | 682 | ||||||
Tax fees |
828 | 561 | ||||||
All other fees |
3 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
7,676 | 10,424 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees
Audit fees consist of fees related to the annual audit of our consolidated financial statements, the audit of the statutory financial statements of our subsidiaries, other audit or interim review services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-Related Fees
Audit-related fees consist of fees rendered for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the companys financial statements, or that are traditionally performed by the independent auditor, and include consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards; advice and assistance in connection with local statutory accounting requirements and due diligence related to acquisitions or disposals.
Tax Fees
Tax fees relate to tax compliance, including the preparation of tax returns, tax advice, including assistance with tax audits, and tax services regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments.
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Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The advance approval of the Audit Committee or members thereof, to whom approval authority has been delegated, is required for all audit and non-audit services provided by our auditors.
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
None.
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.
Item 16F. Change in Registrants Certifying Accountant
None.
Item 16G. Corporate Governance
Dutch Corporate Governance Code
Since we are a public company and list our Class A Ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and on the Euronext Paris, regulated markets, we are subject to comply with the Dutch Corporate Governance Code (the Dutch Code). The Dutch Code, as amended, became effective on January 1, 2009, and applies to all Dutch companies listed on a government-recognized stock exchange, whether in the Netherlands or elsewhere.
The Dutch Code is based on a comply or explain principle. Accordingly, companies are required to disclose in their annual report filed in the Netherlands whether or not they are complying with the various rules of the Dutch Code that are addressed to the board of directors or, if any, the supervisory board of the company and, if they do not apply those provisions, to give the reasons for such non-application. The Dutch Code contains principles and best practice provisions for managing boards, supervisory boards, shareholders and general meetings of shareholders, financial reporting, auditors, disclosure, compliance and enforcement standards.
We acknowledge the importance of good corporate governance. The board of directors agrees with the general approach and with the majority of the provisions of the Dutch Code. However, considering our interests and the interests of our stakeholders, at this stage, we do not apply a limited number of best practice provisions either because such provisions conflict with or are inconsistent with the corporate governance rules of the NYSE and U.S. securities laws that apply to us, or because such provisions do not reflect best practices of global companies listed on the NYSE.
The best practice provisions we do not apply include the following:
| An executive board member may not be a member of the supervisory board (or be a non-executive board member) of more than two Dutch listed companies. Nor may an executive board member be the chairman of the supervisory board (or a board) of a listed company. Membership of the supervisory board (or non-executive board positions) of other companies within the group to which the Company belongs does not count for this purpose. The acceptance by an executive board member of membership of the supervisory board or acceptance of a position as non-executive member of the board of a listed company requires the approval of the non-executive board members. Other important positions held by an executive board member shall be notified to the board (best practice provision II.1.8). |
Our board of directors intends to evaluate a policy with respect to the number of additional board memberships that a board member may have. We will comply with applicable NYSE and SEC rules and the relevant provisions of Dutch law.
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| Remuneration (Principles II.2, III.7 and associated best practice provisions). |
We believe that our remuneration policy helps to focus directors, officers and other employees and consultants on business performance that creates shareholder value, to encourage innovative approaches to the business of the Company and to encourage ownership of our shares by directors, officers and other employees and consultants. Aspects of our remuneration policy may deviate from the Dutch Code to comply with applicable NYSE and SEC rules.
| Conflicts of interest and related party transactions (Principles II.3, III.6 and associated best practice provisions). |
We have a policy on conflicts of interests and related party transactions. The policy provides that the determination of whether a conflict of interest exists will be made in accordance with Dutch law and on a case-by-case basis. We believe that it is not in the interest of the Company to provide for deemed conflicts of interests.
| Independence (Principle III.2 and associated best practice provisions). |
We may need to deviate from the Dutch Codes independence definition for board members either because such provisions conflict with or are inconsistent with the corporate governance rules of the NYSE and U.S. securities laws that apply to us, or because such provisions do not reflect best practices of global companies listed on the NYSE.
| The chairman of the board may not also be or have been an executive board member (best practice provisions III.4.2 and III.8.1). |
Mr. Evans has served as our Chairman since December 2012. Mr. Evans also served as our interim chief executive officer from December 2011 until the appointment of Mr. Pierre Vareille in March 2012. We believe the deviation from the Dutch Code is justified considering the short interim period during which Mr. Evans acted as executive board member.
| The vice-chairman of the board shall deputize for the chairman when the occasion arises. By way of addition to best practice provision III.1.7, the vice-chairman shall act as contact for individual board members concerning the functioning of the chairman of the board (best practice provision III.4.4). |
We intend to comply with certain corporate governance requirements of the NYSE in lieu of the Dutch Code. Under the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE, we are not required to appoint a vice-chairman. If the chairman of our board of directors is absent, the directors that are present will elect a non-executive board member to chair the meeting.
| The terms of reference of the board shall contain rules on dealing with conflicts of interest and potential conflicts of interest between board members and the external auditor on the one hand and the company on the other. The terms of reference shall also stipulate which transactions require the approval of the non-executive board members. The company shall draw up regulations governing ownership of and transactions in securities by board members, other than securities issued by their own company (best practice provision III.6.5). |
The Company believes that board members should not be further limited by internal regulations in addition to the rules and restrictions under applicable securities laws.
| The majority of the members of the board of directors shall be non-executive directors and are independent within the meaning of best practice provision III.2.2 (best practice provision III.8.4). |
Six non-executive members of our board are independent. It is our view that given the nature of our business and the practice in our industry and considering our shareholder structure, it is justified that only six non-executive directors are independent. We may need to deviate from the Dutch Codes independence definition for board members either because such provisions conflict with or are inconsistent with the corporate governance rules of the NYSE and U.S. securities laws that apply to us, or because such provisions do not reflect best practices of global companies listed on the NYSE. As an
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example, under NYSE rules, 8 of our current 9 directors are independent. We may need to further deviate from the Dutch Codes independence definition for board members when looking for the most suitable candidates. For example, a current board member or future board candidate may have particular knowledge of, or experience in, the downstream aluminium rolled and extruded products and related businesses, but may not meet the definition of independence in the Dutch Code. As such background is very important to the efficacy of our board of directors in managing a highly technical business, and because our industry has relatively few participants, our board may decide to nominate candidates for appointment who do not fully comply with the criteria as listed under best practice provision III.2.2 of the Dutch Code.
| The company shall formulate an outline policy on bilateral contacts, as described in the Dutch Code, with the shareholders and publish this policy on its website (best practice provision IV.3.13). |
We will not formulate an outline policy on bilateral contacts with the shareholders. We will comply with applicable NYSE and SEC rules and the relevant provisions of applicable law with respect to contacts with our shareholders. We believe that all contacts with our shareholders should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
| A person may be appointed as non-executive member of the board for a maximum of three 4-year terms (best practice provisions III.3.5). |
On June 11, 2015 Mr. Brandjes, Mr. Guillemot, Mr. Hartman, Mr. Ormerod and Ms. Walker were each re-appointed as Non-Executive Directors for a period of one year.
Mr. Maugis, Mr. Nord and Mr. Paschke were each re-appointed as Non-Executive Directors for a period of two years.
This deviation gives the shareholders the possibility to already vote on a possible reappointment after one or two years instead of four years. Since we are a relatively recent public company of only 3 years, the maximum term is not an issue at this point.
| Pursuant to best practice provision III.3.6. the non-executive board members shall draw up a retirement schedule in order to avoid, as far as possible, a situation in which many non-executive board members retire at the same time. The retirement schedule shall be made generally available and shall be posted on the companys website. |
As we are a relatively recent public company and (most) of our non-executive board members are (re)appointed for one year, we currently do not have a retirement schedule.
| Pursuant to best practice provision IV.1.1, a general meeting of shareholders is empowered to cancel binding nominations of candidates for the board, and to dismiss members of the board by a simple majority of votes of those in attendance, although the company may require a quorum of at least one-third of the voting rights outstanding. If such quorum is not represented, but a majority of those in attendance vote in favor of the proposal, a second meeting may be convened in the future and its vote will be binding, even without a one-third quorum. Our Amended and Restated Articles of Association currently provide that a general meeting of shareholders may at all times overrule a binding nomination by a resolution adopted by at least a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, if such majority represents more than half of the issued share capital. Although this constitutes a deviation from provision IV.1.1 of the Dutch Code, we hold the view that these provisions will enhance the continuity of our management and policies. |
| Best practice provision IV.3.1 recommends that we should enable the shareholders to follow in real time all meetings with analysts, investors and press conferences. We believe that enabling shareholders to follow in real time all the meetings with analysts, presentations to analysts, presentations to investors as referred to in best practice provision IV.3.1 of the Dutch Code would create an excessive burden on our resources. We will ensure that analyst presentations are posted on our website after meetings with analysts. In addition, we hold quarterly earnings calls where we report our financial results to which all our investors are invited to attend via web conference. |
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The NYSE requires that we disclose to investors any significant ways in which our corporate governance practices differ from those followed by U.S. domestic companies under NYSE requirements.
Among these differences, shareholder approval is required by the NYSE prior to the issuance of ordinary stock:
| to a director, officer or substantial security holder of the company (or their affiliates or entities in which they have a substantial interest) in excess of one percent of either the number of shares of ordinary stock or the voting power outstanding before the issuance, with certain exceptions; |
| that will have voting power equal to or in excess of 20 percent of either the voting power or the number of shares outstanding before the issuance, with certain exceptions; or |
| that will result in a change of control of the issuer. |
Under Dutch rules, shareholders can delegate this approval to the Board of Directors at the annual shareholders meeting. In the past, our shareholders have delegated this approval power to our Board at our annual meeting.
In some situations, NYSE rules are more stringent, and in others the Dutch rules are. Other significant differences include:
| NYSE rules require shareholder approval for changes to equity compensation plans, but under Dutch rules, shareholder approval is only required for changes to equity compensation plans for members of the Board of Directors; |
| Under Dutch corporate governance rules the audit and remuneration committees may not be chaired by the Chairman of the Board; |
| Under Dutch rules, auditors must be appointed by the general meeting of shareholders. NYSE rules require only that they be appointed by the audit committee; |
| Both NYSE and Dutch rules require that a majority of the Board of Directors be independent, but the definition of independence under each set of rules is not identical. For example, Dutch rules require a longer look-back period for former directors; and |
| The Dutch rules permit deviation from the rules if the deviations are explained in accordance with the rules. The NYSE rules do not allow such deviations. |
Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not applicable.
Schedule I - Parent Company Condensed Financial Information, is attached hereto starting on page F-76 of this Annual Report.
The audited consolidated financial statements as required under Item 18 are attached hereto starting on page F-1 of this Annual Report. The audit report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit, an independent registered public accounting firm, is included herein preceding the audited consolidated financial statements.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report:
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The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report:
3.1 | Amended and Restated Articles of Association of Constellium N.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Constellium N.V.s Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 21, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
3.2 | Deed of Conversion-Constellium N.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Constellium N.V.s Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 21, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
3.3 | Amendment to the Articles of Association of Constellium N.V.** | |
4.1 | Partnership Agreement of Omega Management GmbH & Co. KG as amended and restated as of May 21, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Constellium N.V.s Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 21, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
4.2 | Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2013, among Constellium Holdco B.V., as the Dutch Borrower, Constellium France S.A.S., as the French Borrower, the new Term Lenders party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as the Existing Administrative Agent, and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as the successor Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
4.3 |
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2013, among Constellium N.V., as the Dutch Borrower, Constellium France S.A.S., as the French Borrower, the lenders party thereto, and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch,
as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on October 23, 2013, File
No. 333-191863) |
|
4.4 | ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2012, among Constellium Holdco II B.V., Constellium U.S. Holdings I, LLC, Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC, as borrower, the lenders from time to time party hereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
4.5 | First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2013, among Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC, as borrower, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent and collateral agent** | |
4.6 | Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2013, among Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC, as borrower, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
4.7 | Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2013, among Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC, as borrower, the lenders party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on October 23, 2013, File No. 333-191863) | |
4.8 | Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated May 7, 2014, among Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC, as borrower, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders party thereto** | |
4.9 | Credit Agreement, dated as of May 7, 2014, among Constellium N.V., as Borrower, the lenders party thereto, and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) |
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4.10 | First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 5, 2014, among Constellium N.V., the lenders party thereto, and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
4.11 | Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated February 5, 2015, among Constellium N.V., the lenders party thereto, and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
4.12 | Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated September 30, 2015, among Constellium N.V., the lenders party thereto, and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Administrative Agent** | |
4.13 | Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 10, 2015, among Constellium N.V., the lenders party thereto, and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Administrative Agent** | |
4.14 | Indenture, dated as of May 7, 2014, between Constellium N.V., the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, providing for the issuance of the 5.750% Senior Notes due 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
4.15 | Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2015, among Constellium Neuf Brisach and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee** | |
4.16 | Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 30, 2016, among Constellium Holdco III B.V., Constellium Rolled Products Singen GmbH & Co. KG, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee** | |
4.17 | Indenture, dated as of May 7, 2014, between Constellium N.V., the guarantors party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as Principal Paying Agent, and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., as Registrar and Transfer Agent, providing for the issuance of the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
4.18 | Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2015, among Constellium Neuf Brisach, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as Principal Paying Agent, and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., as Registrar and Transfer Agent** | |
4.19 | Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 30, 2016, among Constellium Holdco III B.V., Constellium Rolled Products Singen GmbH & Co. KG, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as Principal Paying Agent, and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., as Registrar and Transfer Agent** | |
4.20 | Indenture, dated as of December 19, 2014, between Constellium N.V., the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, providing for the issuance of the 8.00% Senior Notes due 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
4.21 | Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2015, among Constellium Neuf Brisach, Constellium N.V., and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee** | |
4.22 | Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 30, 2016, among Constellium Holdco III B.V., Constellium Rolled Products Singen GmbH & Co. KG, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee** | |
4.23 | Indenture, dated as of December 19, 2014, between Constellium N.V., the guarantors party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as Principal Paying Agent, and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., as Registrar and Transfer Agent, providing for the issuance of the 7.00% Senior Notes due 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
4.24 | Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2015, among Constellium Neuf Brisach, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as Principal Paying Agent, and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., as Registrar and Transfer Agent** |
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4.25 | Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 30, 2016, among Constellium Holdco III B.V., Constellium Rolled Products Singen GmbH & Co. KG, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as Principal Paying Agent, and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., as Registrar and Transfer Agent** | |
4.26 | Indenture, dated as of March 30, 2016, among Constellium N.V., the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, providing for the issuance of the 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2021** | |
4.27 | Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2016, among Constellium N.V., the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee and Collateral Agent** | |
4.28 | Indenture, dated as of December 11, 2013, among Wise Metals Group LLC, Wise Alloys Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee and Collateral Agent, providing for the issuance of the 8 3/4% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
4.29 | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 16, 2014, among Wise Metals Group LLC, Wise Alloys Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee and Collateral Agent** | |
4.30 | Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2014, among WAC I, LLC, Wise Metals Group LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee and Collateral Agent** | |
4.31 | Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 17, 2014, among Wise Metals Group LLC, Wise Alloys Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee and Collateral Agent** | |
4.32 | Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013, among Wise Alloys LLC, as Borrower, the credit parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.15 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
4.33 | Waiver and Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2014, among Wise Alloys LLC, as Borrower, the credit parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent** | |
4.34 | Consent and Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2014, among Wise Alloys LLC, as Borrower, the credit parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent** | |
4.35 | Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 26, 2014, by and among Wise Alloys LLC, the other credit parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
4.36 | Consent and Amendment No. 4 to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2014, by and among Wise Alloys LLC, the other credit parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.17 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
4.37 | Amendment No. 5 to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2015, among Wise Alloys LLC, the credit parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent** | |
4.38 | Amendment No. 6 to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2015, by and among Wise Alloys LLC, as Borrower, the other credit parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent** |
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4.39 | Indenture, dated as of April 16, 2014, among Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC, Wise Holdings Finance Corporation, and Wilmington Trust National Association, as Trustee, providing for the issuance of the 9 3 ⁄ 4 % / 10 1 ⁄ 2 % Senior PIK Toggle Notes due 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
10.1 | Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement, dated May 29, 2013, among Constellium N.V. and the other signatories thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
10.2 | 2013 Executive Performance Award Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on April 22, 2014) | |
10.3 | 2012 Long-Term Incentive (Cash) Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
10.4 | Employment Letter by and between Constellium Switzerland AG and Pierre Vareille, dated August 30, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
10.5 | Employment Letter by and between Constellium France Holdco SAS and Didier Fontaine, dated May 11, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
10.6 | Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement between Alcan Rhenalu S.A.S. as French Seller, Alcan Aerospace S.A.S. as French Seller, Alcan Softal S.A.S. as French Seller, Alcan France Extrusions S.A.S. as French Seller, Alcan Aviatube S.A.S. as French Seller, Omega Holdco II B.V. as Parent Company, Engineered Products Switzerland A.G. as Sellers Agent and GE Factofrance S.N.C. as Factor, dated January 4, 2011, as amended as of November 8, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on December 10, 2013, File No. 333-192680) | |
10.7 | Amendment and Consent Letter No 10 between GE Factofrance S.A.S. as Factor and Constellium Switzerland AG, Constellium Holdco II B.V., Constellium France S.A.S., Constellium Extrusions France S.A.S. and Constellium Aviatube S.A.S. as French Sellers, dated February 3, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7.1 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on January 27, 2014, File No. 333-193583) | |
10.8 | Amendment and Restatement Agreement among Constellium Issoire, as Seller, Constellium Neuf Brisach, as Seller, Constellium Extrusions France, as Seller, Constellium Holdco II B.V., as Parent Company, Constellium Switzerland A.G., as Sellers agent, and GE Factofrance SAS, as Factor, dated December 3, 2015 ** | |
10.9 | Factoring Agreement between GE Capital Bank AG and Alcan Aluminium Valais S.A., dated December 16, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
10.10 | Country Specific Amendment Agreement (Switzerland) to the Factoring Agreement between GE Capital Bank AG and Alcan Aluminium Valais S.A., dated December 16, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
10.10.1 | Amendment Agreement to a Factoring Agreement between GE Capital Bank AG and Constellium Valais AG (formerly: Alcan Aluminium Valais AG), dated November 12, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9.1 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on December 10, 2013, File No. 333-192680) | |
10.11 | Factoring Agreement between GE Capital Bank AG and Alcan Aluminium-Presswerke GmbH, dated December 16, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) |
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10.11.1 | Amendment Agreement to a Factoring Agreement between GE Capital Bank AG and Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH (formerly Alcan Aluminium-Presswerke GmbH), dated November 12, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10.1 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on December 10, 2013, File No. 333-192680) | |
10.12 | Factoring Agreement between GE Capital Bank AG and Alcan Singen GmbH, dated December 16, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
10.12.1 | Amendment Agreement to a Factoring Agreement between GE Capital Bank AG and Constellium Singen GmbH (formerly: Alcan Singen GmbH), dated November 12, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10.1 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on December 10, 2013, File No. 333-192680) | |
10.13 | Factoring Agreement between GE Capital Bank AG and Constellium Singen GmbH, dated March 26, 2014** | |
10.14 | Factoring Agreement between GE Capital Bank AG and Constellium Extrusions Děčín S.R.O., dated June 26, 2015** | |
10.15 | Metal Supply Agreement between Engineered Products Switzerland AG and Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. for the supply of sheet ingot in Europe, dated January 4, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of Constellium N.V.s Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File No. 333-188556) | |
10.16 |
Constellium N.V. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on May 13, 2013, File
No. 333-188556) |
|
10.17 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Constellium N.V. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of Constellium N.V.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on January 27, 2014, File No. 333-193583) | |
10.18 | Unit Purchase Agreement between Constellium N.V., Wise Metals Holdings LLC and Silver Knot, LCC, dated October 3, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Constellium N.V.s Form 6-K furnished on October 3, 2014) | |
10.19 | Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2015, between Wise Alloys Funding LLC, as Seller, Wise Alloys LLC, as Servicer, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Purchaser (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of Constellium N.V.s Form 20-F furnished on April 24, 2015) | |
10.20 | First Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2015, between Wise Alloys Funding LLC, as Seller, Wise Alloys LLC, as Servicer, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Purchaser** | |
10.21 | Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated March 16, 2016, among Wise Alloys LLC, as Servicer, Wise Alloys Funding II LLC, as Seller, Hitachi Capital America Corp., as Purchaser, and Greensill Capital Inc., as purchaser agent** | |
12.1 | Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002** | |
12.2 | Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002** | |
13.1 | Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002** | |
13.2 | Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002** | |
15.1 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm** | |
21.1 | List of subsidiaries** |
** | Filed herein. |
+ | Confidential treatment granted as to certain portions, which portions have been provided separately to the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.
CONSTELLIUM N.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Pierre Vareille |
|
Name: Pierre Vareille Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Date: April 18, 2016
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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
Constellium N.V. Audited Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013
F-2 | ||||
F-3 | ||||
F-4 | ||||
F-5 | ||||
F-6 | ||||
F-7 | ||||
F-8 | ||||
Schedule I - Constellium N.V. Parent Company Condensed Financial Information as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 |
||||
F-76 |
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Constellium N.V.:
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income / (loss), changes in equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Constellium N.V. (the Company) and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Companys management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Managements Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Companys internal control over financial reporting based on our audits (which were integrated audits in 2015 and 2014). We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit
/s/ Olivier Lotz
Olivier Lotz
Partner
March 15, 2016
F-2
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
Revenue |
4, 5 | 5,153 | 3,666 | 3,495 | ||||||||||
Cost of sales |
6 | (4,703 | ) | (3,183 | ) | (3,024 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Gross profit |
450 | 483 | 471 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Selling and administrative expenses |
6 | (245 | ) | (200 | ) | (210 | ) | |||||||
Research and development expenses |
6 | (35 | ) | (38 | ) | (36 | ) | |||||||
Restructuring costs |
6 | (8 | ) | (12 | ) | (8 | ) | |||||||
Impairment |
4, 6, 14 | (457 | ) | | | |||||||||
Other gains/(losses)net |
6, 8 | (131 | ) | (83 | ) | (8 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
(Loss) / Income from operations |
(426 | ) | 150 | 209 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Other expenses |
| | (27 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Finance income |
10 | 71 | 30 | 17 | ||||||||||
Finance costs |
10 | (226 | ) | (88 | ) | (67 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Finance costsnet |
(155 | ) | (58 | ) | (50 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Share of (loss) / profit of joint-ventures |
25 | (3 | ) | (1 | ) | 3 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
(Loss) / Income before income tax |
(584 | ) | 91 | 135 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Income tax benefit / (expense) |
11 | 32 | (37 | ) | (39 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (Loss) / Income from continuing operations |
(552 | ) | 54 | 96 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net Income from discontinued operations |
| | 4 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (Loss) / Income for the period |
(552 | ) | 54 | 100 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (Loss) / Income attributable to: |
||||||||||||||
Equity holders of Constellium |
(554 | ) | 51 | 98 | ||||||||||
Non-controlling interests |
2 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (Loss) / Income |
(552 | ) | 54 | 100 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per share attributable to the equity holders of Constellium
(in Euros per share) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
From continuing and discontinued operations |
||||||||||||||
Basic |
12 | (5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 1.00 | |||||||||
Diluted |
12 | (5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 0.99 | |||||||||
From continuing operations |
||||||||||||||
Basic |
12 | (5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 0.96 | |||||||||
Diluted |
12 | (5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 0.95 | |||||||||
From discontinued operations |
||||||||||||||
Basic |
12 | | | 0.04 | ||||||||||
Diluted |
12 | | | 0.04 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME / (LOSS)
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
Net (Loss) / Income |
(552 | ) | 54 | 100 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Other Comprehensive Income / (loss) |
||||||||||||||
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to the consolidated income statement |
||||||||||||||
Remeasurement on post-employment benefit obligations |
21 | (7 | ) | (137 | ) | 72 | ||||||||
Deferred tax on remeasurement on post-employment benefit obligations |
26 | 20 | 14 | (9 | ) | |||||||||
Cash flow hedges |
24 | (9 | ) | 9 | | |||||||||
Deferred tax on cash flow hedges |
26 | 3 | (3 | ) | | |||||||||
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to the consolidated income statement |
||||||||||||||
Currency translation differences |
34 | (13 | ) | | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Other Comprehensive Income/ (Loss) |
41 | (130 | ) | 63 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Comprehensive (Loss) / Income |
(511 | ) | (76 | ) | 163 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Attributable to: |
||||||||||||||
Equity holders of Constellium |
(513 | ) | (80 | ) | 161 | |||||||||
Non-controlling interests |
2 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Comprehensive (Loss) / Income |
(511 | ) | (76 | ) | 163 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||||
Non-current assets |
||||||||||
Goodwill |
13 | 443 | 11 | |||||||
Intangible assets |
13 | 78 | 17 | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
14 | 1,255 | 633 | |||||||
Investments accounted for under equity method |
25 | 30 | 21 | |||||||
Deferred income tax assets |
26 | 270 | 192 | |||||||
Trade receivables and other |
16 | 53 | 48 | |||||||
Other financial assets |
24 | 37 | 33 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
2,166 | 955 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Current assets |
||||||||||
Inventories |
15 | 542 | 436 | |||||||
Trade receivables and other |
16 | 365 | 573 | |||||||
Other financial assets |
24 | 70 | 57 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
17 | 472 | 991 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
1,449 | 2,057 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Assets classified as held for sale |
32 | 13 | | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Assets |
3,628 | 3,012 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Equity |
||||||||||
Share capital |
18 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
Share premium |
18 | 162 | 162 | |||||||
Retained deficit and other reserves |
(715 | ) | (207 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Equity attributable to owners of Constellium |
(551 | ) | (43 | ) | ||||||
Non-controlling interests |
11 | 6 | ||||||||
Total Equity |
(540 | ) | (37 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||||
Non-current liabilities |
||||||||||
Borrowings |
19 | 2,064 | 1,205 | |||||||
Trade payables and other |
20 | 54 | 31 | |||||||
Deferred income tax liabilities |
26 | 10 | | |||||||
Pension and other post-employment benefits obligations |
21 | 701 | 657 | |||||||
Other financial liabilities |
24 | 14 | 40 | |||||||
Provisions |
22 | 119 | 61 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
2,962 | 1,994 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||||
Borrowings |
19 | 169 | 47 | |||||||
Trade payables and other |
20 | 867 | 877 | |||||||
Income taxes payable |
6 | 11 | ||||||||
Other financial liabilities |
24 | 107 | 71 | |||||||
Provisions |
22 | 44 | 49 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
1,193 | 1,055 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Liabilities classified as held for sale |
32 | 13 | | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Liabilities |
4,168 | 3,049 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Equity and Liabilities |
3,628 | 3,012 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(in millions of Euros) |
Share
capital |
Share
premium |
Re-
measurement |
Foreign
currency translation reserve |
Other
reserves |
Retained
losses |
Total
Equity holders of Constellium |
Non-
controlling interests |
Total
equity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At January 1, 2013 |
| 98 | (86 | ) | (14 | ) | 1 | (40 | ) | (41 | ) | 4 | (37 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | | | 98 | 98 | 2 | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| | 63 | | | | 63 | | 63 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income |
| | 63 | | | 98 | 161 | 2 | 163 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Transactions with the owners |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share premium distribution(A) |
| (98 | ) | | | | (5 | ) | (103 | ) | | (103 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
MEP shares changes |
| | | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share equity plan |
| | | | 1 | | 1 | | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prorata share issuance |
2 | | | | | (2 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interim dividend distribution(A) |
| | | | | (147 | ) | (147 | ) | | (147 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
IPO Primary offering |
| 154 | | | | | 154 | | 154 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IPO Over-allotment |
| 25 | | | | | 25 | | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IPO Fees |
| (17 | ) | | | | | (17 | ) | | (17 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Transactions with non-controlling interests |
| | | | | | | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2013 |
2 | 162 | (23 | ) | (14 | ) | 1 | (96 | ) | 32 | 4 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | On March 13, 2013, the Board of directors approved a distribution to the Companys shareholders. On March 28, 2013 a distribution was made of 103 million. On May 21, 2013, an interim dividend was paid for 147 million on preference shares. |
(in millions of Euros) |
Share
capital |
Share
premium |
Re-
measurement |
Cash
flow hedges |
Foreign
currency translation reserve |
Other
reserves |
Retained
losses |
Total
Equity holders of Constellium |
Non-
controlling interests |
Total
equity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At January 1, 2014 |
2 | 162 | (23 | ) | | (14 | ) | 1 | (96 | ) | 32 | 4 | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | | | | 51 | 51 | 3 | 54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss |
| | (123 | ) | 6 | (14 | ) | | | (131 | ) | 1 | (130 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive loss |
| | (123 | ) | 6 | (14 | ) | | 51 | (80 | ) | 4 | (76 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Transactions with Equity holders |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share equity plan |
| | | | | 4 | | 4 | | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MEP shares changes |
| | | | | 1 | | 1 | | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Transactions with non-controlling interests |
| | | | | | | | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2014 |
2 | 162 | (146 | ) | 6 | (28 | ) | 6 | (45 | ) | (43 | ) | 6 | (37 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions of Euros) |
Share
capital |
Share
premium |
Re-
measurement |
Cash
flow hedges |
Foreign
currency translation reserve |
Other
reserves |
Retained
losses |
Total
Equity holders of Constellium |
Non-
controlling interests |
Total
equity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At January 1, 2015 |
2 | 162 | (146 | ) | 6 | (28 | ) | 6 | (45 | ) | (43 | ) | 6 | (37 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Net (loss) / Income |
| | | | | | (554 | ) | (554 | ) | 2 | (552 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| | 13 | (6 | ) | 34 | | | 41 | | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income / (loss) |
| | 13 | (6 | ) | 34 | | (554 | ) | (513 | ) | 2 | (511 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Transactions with Equity holders |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share equity plan |
| | | | | 5 | | 5 | | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Transactions with non-controlling interests |
| | | | | | | | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2015 |
2 | 162 | (133 | ) | | 6 | 11 | (599 | ) | (551 | ) | 11 | (540 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
Cash flows from / (used in) operating activities |
||||||||||||||
Net (loss) / income from continuing operations |
(552 | ) | 54 | 96 | ||||||||||
Adjustments |
||||||||||||||
Income tax (benefit) / expense |
11 | (32 | ) | 37 | 39 | |||||||||
Finance costsnet |
10 | 155 | 58 | 50 | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
4 | 140 | 49 | 32 | ||||||||||
Restructuring costs and other provisions |
2 | 6 | (8 | ) | ||||||||||
Impairment |
457 | | | |||||||||||
Defined benefit pension costs |
21 | 48 | 29 | 29 | ||||||||||
Unrealized losses / (gains) on derivativesnet and from remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilitiesnet |
4, 8 | 23 | 52 | (14 | ) | |||||||||
Losses on disposal and assets classified as held for sale |
4, 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||
Share of loss /(profit) of joint-ventures |
25 | 3 | | (3 | ) | |||||||||
Other |
5 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||||
Changes in working capital: |
||||||||||||||
Inventories |
149 | (95 | ) | 41 | ||||||||||
Trade receivables |
16 | 343 | (48 | ) | 9 | |||||||||
Margin calls |
1 | 11 | 4 | |||||||||||
Trade payables |
(161 | ) | 170 | (1 | ) | |||||||||
Other working capital |
4 | (33 | ) | (9 | ) | |||||||||
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||||||||
Provisionspay out |
22 | (20 | ) | (12 | ) | (17 | ) | |||||||
Income tax paid |
(9 | ) | (27 | ) | (29 | ) | ||||||||
Pension liabilities and other post-employment benefit obligations payment |
21 | (50 | ) | (49 | ) | (43 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net cash flows from operating activities |
511 | 212 | 184 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Cash flows from / (used in) investing activities |
||||||||||||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |
(350 | ) | (199 | ) | (144 | ) | ||||||||
Acquisition of subsidiaries net of cash acquired |
3 | (348 | ) | | | |||||||||
Proceeds from disposals, including joint-venture |
4 | (2 | ) | 7 | ||||||||||
Issuance of shares of joint-ventures |
(9 | ) | (19 | ) | | |||||||||
Proceeds from finance leases |
6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||
Other investing activities |
(25 | ) | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net cash flows used in investing activities |
(722 | ) | (216 | ) | (132 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Cash flows from / (used in) financing activities |
||||||||||||||
Net proceeds received from issuance of shares |
| | 162 | |||||||||||
Interim dividend paid |
| | (147 | ) | ||||||||||
Distribution of share premium to owners of the Company |
| | (103 | ) | ||||||||||
Withholding tax reimbursed /(paid) |
| 20 | (20 | ) | ||||||||||
Interests paid |
(143 | ) | (39 | ) | (36 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds received from term loan and Senior Notes |
| 1,153 | 351 | |||||||||||
Repayment of term loan |
19 | | (331 | ) | (156 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds/ (Repayments) of U.S revolving Credit Facility and other loans |
19 | (211 | ) | 13 | 2 | |||||||||
Payment of deferred financing costs |
(2 | ) | (27 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||||||
Transactions with non-controlling interests |
3 | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||||
Other financing activities |
19 | 45 | (34 | ) | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net cash flows (used in) / from financing activities |
(308 | ) | 753 | 43 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(519 | ) | 749 | 95 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalentsbeginning of period |
17 | 991 | 236 | 142 | ||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
4 | 6 | (1 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Cash and cash equivalentsend of period |
476 | 991 | 236 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Less: Cash and cash equivalents classified as held for sale |
32 | (4 | ) | | | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents as reported in the Statement of Financial Position |
17 | 472 | 991 | 236 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Constellium is a global leader in the design and manufacture of a broad range of innovative specialty rolled and extruded aluminum products, serving primarily the aerospace, packaging and automotive end-markets. The Group has a strategic footprint of manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Europe and China, operates 22 production facilities, 9 administrative and commercial sites and one world-class technology center. It has approximately 11,000 employees.
Constellium is a public company with limited liability. The business address (head office) of Constellium N.V. is Tupolevlaan 41-61, 1119 NW Schiphol-Rijk, the Netherlands.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, when we refer to we, our, us, Constellium, the Group and the Company in this document, we are referring to Constellium N.V. and its subsidiaries.
Initial Public offering
On May 22, 2013, Constellium completed an initial public offering (the IPO) of Class A ordinary shares; the shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on May 23, 2013, and on the professional segment of Euronext Paris on May 27, 2013.
The total proceeds received by the Company from the IPO were 179 million. Fees related to the IPO amounted to 44 million, of which 17 million were accounted for as a deduction to share premium and 27 million expensed of which 24 million were recognized in Other expenses.
Note 2Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
2.1. Statement of compliance
The consolidated financial statements of Constellium N.V. and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and as endorsed by the European Union (EU). The Groups application of IFRS results in no difference between IFRS as issued by the IASB and IFRS as endorsed by the EU (http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/accounting/ias/index_en.htm).
The consolidated financial statements have been authorized for issue by the Board of Directors at its meeting held on March 13, 2016.
2.2. Application of new and revised International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and interpretations
Standards and Interpretations with an application date for the Group at January 1, 2015:
| Amendments to IAS 19, Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions. This amendment clarifies the requirements related to contributions from employees or third parties. The Group applied this amendment in 2013 and there is no impact on the Group financial statements. |
| Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2010-2012 Cycle and to IFRSs 2011-2013 Cycle. These Annual Improvements have no impact on the Group financial statements. |
F-8
2.3. New standards and interpretations not yet mandatorily applicable
The Group has not applied the following new, revised and amended standards and interpretations that have been issued but are not yet effective and which could affect the Groups future consolidated financial statements:
IFRS 9, Financial instruments, addresses the classification, measurement and recognition of financial assets and financial liabilities. It will replace the guidance in IAS 39, Financial instruments that relates to the classification and measurement of financial instruments.
Modifications introduced by IFRS 9 relate primarily to:
| classification and measurement of financial assets. The basis of classification depends on the entitys business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. |
| depreciation of receivables, now based on the expected credit losses model. |
| hedge accounting. |
The standard will be effective for accounting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018.
IFRS 15, Revenue from contracts with customers deals with revenue recognition and establishes principles for reporting information to users of financial statements about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entitys contracts with customers. Revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of a good or service and thus has the ability to direct the use and obtain the benefits from the good or service. The standard replaces IAS 18, Revenue and IAS 11, Construction contracts and related interpretations. The standard will be effective for accounting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018.
IFRS 16, Leases deals with principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosures of leases. The standard provides an accounting model, requiring lessee to recognize assets and liabilities for all leases unless the lease term is 12 months or less or the underlying asset has a low value. The lessor accounting approach remains unchanged. The standard will replace IAS 17, Lease and will be effective for accounting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019.
The impact of these standards on the Groups results and financial situation will be evaluated in 2016.
2.4. Basis of preparation
In accordance with IAS 1, Presentation of Financial Statements, the Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared on the assumption that Constellium is a going concern and will continue in operation for the foreseeable future.
The financial position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described in the financial statements respectively in NOTE 17Cash and Cash Equivalents, NOTE 19Borrowings and NOTE 23Financial Risk Management.
The Groups forecast and projections, taking account of reasonably possible changes in trading performance, including an assessment of the current macroeconomic environment, indicate that the Group should be able to operate within the level of its current facilities and related covenants.
Accordingly the Group continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management considers that this assumption is not invalidated by Constelliums
F-9
negative equity as at December 31, 2015. This assessment was confirmed by the Board of Directors at its meeting held on March 13, 2016.
2.5 Presentation of the operating performance of each operating segment and of the Group
In accordance with IFRS 8, Operating Segments, operating segments are based upon product lines, markets and industries served, and are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker (CODM). The CODM, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer.
Constelliums CODM measures the profitability and financial performance of its operating segments based on Adjusted EBITDA as it illustrates the underlying performance of continuing operations by excluding non-recurring and non-operating items. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income from continuing operations before income taxes, results from joint ventures, net finance costs, other expenses and depreciation and amortization as adjusted to exclude restructuring costs, impairment charges, unrealized gains or losses on derivatives and on foreign exchange differences, metal price lag, Share Equity Plan expense, effects of purchase accounting adjustments, start-up costs or acquisition, integration and separation costs, certain incremental costs and other exceptional, unusual or generally non-recurring items.
2.6. Principles governing the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements
Basis of consolidation
These consolidated financial statements include all the assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, expenses and cash flows of the entities and businesses controlled by Constellium. All intercompany transactions and balances between Group companies are eliminated.
Subsidiaries are entities over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group has power over the investee, is exposed to, or has rights to variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.
Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.
Investments over which the Group has significant influence or joint control are accounted under the equity method. The investments are initially recorded at cost. Subsequently they are increased or decreased by the Groups share in the profit or loss, or by other movements reflected directly in the equity of the entity.
Business combination
The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations.
The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair value of the assets transferred, the liabilities assumed and the equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The amount of non-controlling interest is determined for each business combination and is either based on the fair value (full goodwill method) or the present ownership instruments proportionate share in the
F-10
recognized amounts of the acquirees identifiable net assets, resulting in recognition of only the share of goodwill attributable to equity holders of the parent (partial goodwill method).
Goodwill is initially measured as the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred and the amount of non-controlling interest over the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If this consideration is lower than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognized as a gain in Other gains / (losses)net in the Consolidated Income Statement.
At the acquisition date, the Group recognizes the identifiable acquired assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities (identifiable net assets) of the subsidiaries on the basis of fair value at the acquisition date. Recognized assets and liabilities may be adjusted during a maximum of 12 months from the acquisition date, depending on new information obtained about the facts and circumstances existing at the acquisition date.
Significant assumptions used in determining allocation of fair value include the following valuation approaches: the cost approach, the income approach and the market approach which are determined based on cash flow projections and related discount rates, industry indices, market prices regarding replacement cost and comparable market transactions.
Acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred and included in Other gains / (losses)net in the Consolidated Income Statement.
Cash-generating units
The reporting units (which generally correspond to an industrial site), the lowest level of the Groups internal reporting, have been identified as its cash-generating units.
Goodwill
Goodwill arising on a business combination is carried at cost as established at the date of the business combination less accumulated impairment losses, if any.
Goodwill is allocated and monitored at the operating segments level which are the groups of cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. The operating segments represent the lowest level within the Group at which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes.
On disposal of the relevant cash-generating units, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the gain or loss on disposal.
Impairment of goodwill
A group of cash-generating units to which goodwill is allocated is tested for impairment annually, or more frequently when there is an indication that the group of units may be impaired.
The net carrying value of a group of cash-generating units is compared to its recoverable amount, which is the higher of the value in use and the fair value less cost of disposal.
Value in use calculations use cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by management and covering usually a 5-year period. Cash flows beyond this period are estimated using a perpetual long-term growth rate for the subsequent years.
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The value in use is the sum of discounted cash flows over the projected period and the terminal value. Discount rates are determined based on the weighted-average cost of capital of each operating segment.
The fair value is the price that would be received for the group of cash-generating units, in an orderly transaction, from a market participant. This value is estimated on the basis of available and relevant market data or a discounted cash flow model incorporating a market participants assumptions.
An impairment loss for goodwill is recognized for the amount by which the group of units carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.
Any impairment loss for goodwill is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the group of cash-generating units and then, to the other assets of the group of units pro rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the group of units.
Any impairment loss is recognized in the line Impairment in the Consolidated Income Statement. An impairment loss recognized for goodwill cannot be reversed in subsequent periods.
Non-current assets (and disposal groups) classified as held for sale & Discontinued operations
IFRS 5, Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations defines a discontinued operation as a component of an entity that (i) generates cash flows that are largely independent from cash flows generated by other components, (ii) is held for sale or has been sold, and (iii) represents a separate major line of business or geographic areas of operations.
Assets and liabilities are classified as held for sale when their carrying amount will be recovered principally through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use. This condition is regarded as met only when the sale is highly probable and the non-current asset (or disposal group) is available for immediate sale in its present condition.
Assets and liabilities are stated at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell if their carrying amount is to be recovered principally through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use.
Assets and liabilities held for sale are reflected in separate line items in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position of the period during which the decision to sell is made.
The results of discontinued operations are shown separately in the Consolidated Income Statement and Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Foreign currency transactions and foreign operations
Functional currency
Items included in the consolidated financial statements of each of the entities and businesses of Constellium are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which each of them operates (their functional currency).
Foreign currency transactions:
Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are converted to the functional currency at the exchange rate in effect at the date of the transaction. Foreign exchange
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gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized in the Consolidated Income Statement, except when deferred in other comprehensive income as qualifying cash flow hedges and qualifying net investment hedges.
Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to borrowings and cash and cash equivalents are presented within Finance costsnet.
Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to commercial transactions are presented in Cost of sales. All other foreign exchange gains and losses, including those that relate to foreign currency derivatives hedging commercial transactions, are presented within Other gains/ (losses)net.
Foreign operations: presentation currency and foreign currency translation
In the preparation of the consolidated financial statements, the year-end balances of assets, liabilities and components of equity of Constelliums entities and businesses are translated from their functional currencies into Euros, the presentation currency of the Group, at their respective year-end exchange rates; and the revenues, expenses and cash flows of Constelliums entities and businesses are translated from their functional currencies into Euros using average exchange rates for the period.
The net differences arising from exchange rate translation are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income / (Loss).
The following table summarizes the main exchange rates used for the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Group:
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
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Foreign exchange rate for 1 Euro |
Average
rate |
Closing
rate |
Average
rate |
Closing
rate |
Average
rate |
Closing
rate |
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U.S. Dollars |
USD | 1.1089 | 1.0887 | 1.3264 | 1.2141 | 1.3271 | 1.3791 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Swiss Francs |
CHF | 1.0669 | 1.0835 | 1.2146 | 1.2024 | 1.2308 | 1.2276 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Czech Koruna |
CZK | 27.2762 | 27.0226 | 27.5352 | 27.7348 | 25.9471 | 27.4273 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Revenue recognition
Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable.
Revenue from product sales, net of trade discounts, allowances and volume-based incentives, is recognized once delivery has occurred, provided that persuasive evidence exists that all of the following criteria are met:
| The significant risks and rewards of ownership of the product have been transferred to the buyer; |
| Neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership, nor effective control over the goods sold, has been retained by Constellium; |
| The amount of revenue can be measured reliably; |
| It is probable that the economic benefits associated with the sale will flow to Constellium; and |
| The costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the sale can be measured reliably. |
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The Group also enters into tolling agreements whereby clients loan the metal which the Group will then manufacture for them. In these circumstances, revenue is recognized when services are provided at the date of redelivery of the manufactured metal.
Amounts billed to customers in respect of shipping and handling are classified as revenue where the Group is responsible for carriage, insurance and freight. All shipping and handling costs incurred by the Group are recognized in Cost of sales.
Deferred tooling revenue and related costs
Certain automotive long term contracts include the design and manufacture of customized parts. To manufacture such parts, certain specialized or customized tooling is required. The Group accounts for the tooling revenue and related costs provided by third party manufacturers in accordance with the provisions of IAS 11, Construction Contracts, i.e. revenue and expenses are recognized on the basis of percentage of completion of the contract.
Research and development costs
Costs incurred on development projects are recognized as intangible assets when the following criteria are met:
| it is technically feasible to complete the intangible asset so that it will be available for use; |
| Management intends to complete and use the intangible asset; |
| There is an ability to use the intangible asset; |
| It can be demonstrated how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits; |
| Adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and use or sell the intangible asset are available; and |
| The expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development can be reliably measured. |
Where development expenditures do not meet these criteria, they are expensed as incurred. Development costs previously recognized as expenses are not recognized as an asset in a subsequent period.
Other gains / (losses)net
Other gains / (losses)net include realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives accounted for at fair value through profit or loss and unrealized exchange gains and losses from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities.
Other gains / (losses)net separately identifies other unusual, infrequent or non-recurring items. Such items are those that in managements judgment need to be disclosed by virtue of their size, nature or incidence. In determining whether an event or transaction is specific, management considers quantitative as well as qualitative factors such as the frequency or predictability of occurrence.
Interest income and expense
Interest income is recorded using the effective interest rate method on loans receivables and on the interest bearing components of cash and cash equivalents.
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Interest expense on short and long-term financing is recorded at the relevant rates on the various borrowing agreements.
Borrowing costs (including interests) incurred for the construction of any qualifying asset are capitalized during the period of time required to complete and prepare the asset for its intended use.
Share-based payment arrangements
Equity-settled share-based payments to employees and others providing similar services are measured at the fair value of the equity instruments at the grant date.
The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on Groups estimate of equity instruments that will eventually vest, with a corresponding increase in equity. At the end of each reporting year, the Group revises its estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest.
Property, plant and equipment
Recognition and measurement
Property, plant and equipment acquired by the Company are recorded at cost, which comprises the purchase price (including import duties and non-refundable purchase taxes), any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management and the estimated close down and restoration costs associated with the asset. Borrowing costs (including interests) directly attributable to the acquisition or construction of a Property, plant and equipment are included in the cost. Subsequent to the initial recognition, Property, plant and equipment are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment, if any. Costs are capitalized into construction work in progress until such projects are completed and the assets are available for use.
Subsequent costs
Enhancements and replacements are capitalized as additions to Property, plant and equipment only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with them will flow to the Company and the cost of the item can be measured with reliability. Ongoing regular maintenance costs related to Property, plant and equipment are expensed as incurred.
Depreciation
Land is not depreciated. Property, plant and equipment are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the related assets using the straight-line method as follows:
| Buildings 1050 years; |
| Machinery and equipment 340 years; and |
| Vehicles 58 years. |
Intangible assets
Recognition and measurement
Technology and Customer relationships acquired in a business combination are recognized at fair value at the acquisition date. Following initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at cost less any accumulated amortization and impairment losses. The useful lives of the Group intangible assets are assessed to be finite.
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Amortization
Intangible assets are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the related assets using the straight-line method as follows:
| Technology 20 years; |
| Customer relationships 25 years; and |
| Softwares 35 years. |
Impairment tests for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment if there is any indication that the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit to which it belongs) may not be recoverable. The recoverable amount is based on the higher of fair value less cost of disposal (market value) and value in use (determined using estimates of discounted future net cash flows of the asset or group of assets to which it belongs).
Any impairment loss is recognized in the line Impairment in the Consolidated Income Statement.
Financial instruments
(i) Financial assets
Financial assets are classified either: (a) at fair value through profit or loss, or as (b) loans and receivables. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of Constelliums financial assets at initial recognition.
(a) | At fair value through profit or loss: These are financial assets held for trading. A financial asset is classified in this category if it is acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the short term. Derivatives are also categorized as held for trading except when they are designated as hedging instruments in a hedging relationship that qualifies for hedge accounting in accordance with IAS 39, Financial instruments. Assets in this category are classified as current assets if expected to be settled within 12 months; otherwise, they are classified as non-current. Financial assets carried at fair value through profit or loss, are initially recognized at fair value and transaction costs are expensed in the Consolidated Income Statement. |
(b) | Loans and receivables: These are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They are classified as current or non-current assets based on their maturity date. Loans and receivables are comprised of trade receivables and other and non-current and current loans receivable in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Loans and receivables are carried at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method, less any impairment. |
(ii) Financial liabilities
Borrowings and other financial liabilities (excluding derivative liabilities) are recognized initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred and directly attributable to the issuance of the liability. These financial liabilities are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. Any difference between the amounts originally received (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognized in the Consolidated Income Statement using the effective interest rate method.
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(iii) Derivative financial instruments
Derivatives that are classified as held for trading are initially recognized at their fair value on the date at which the derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured to their fair value at the date of each Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, with the changes in fair value included in Other (losses) / gainsnet. The Group has no derivatives designated for hedge accounting treatment, except at December 31, 2014 for forward derivatives contracted to hedge the foreign currency risk on the estimated U.S. Dollar purchase price of the Wise entities (see NOTE 24Financial Instruments).
(iv) Fair value
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Where available, relevant market prices are used to determine fair values. The Group periodically estimates the impact of credit risk on its derivatives instruments aggregated by counterparties and takes it into account when estimating the fair value of its derivatives.
Credit Value Adjustments are calculated for asset derivatives based on Constellium counterparties credit risk. Debit Value Adjustments are calculated for credit derivatives based on Constellium own credit risk.
The fair value method used is based on historical probability of default, provided by leading rating agencies.
(v) Offsetting financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position when there is a legally enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Leases
Constellium as the lessee
Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Various buildings, machinery and equipment from third parties are leased under operating lease agreements. Under such operating lease agreements, the total lease payments are recognized as rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease agreement, and are included in Cost of sales or Selling and administrative expenses, depending on the nature of the leased assets.
Leases of property, plant and equipment where the Group has substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases. Various equipment from third parties are leased under finance lease agreements. Under such finance leases, the asset financed is recognized in Property, plant and equipment and the financing is recognized as a financial liability, in Borrowings.
Constellium as the lessor
Certain land, buildings, machinery and equipment are leased to third parties under finance lease agreements. During the period of lease inception, the net book value of the related assets is removed from Property, plant and equipment and a Finance lease receivable is recorded at the lower of the fair value and the aggregate future cash payments to be received from the lessee computed at an interest rate implicit in the lease. As the Finance lease receivable from the lessee is due, interest income is recognized.
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Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value, primarily on a weighted-average cost basis.
Weighted-average costs for raw materials, stores, work in progress and finished goods are calculated using the costs experienced in the current period based on normal operating capacity (and include the purchase price of materials, freight, duties and customs, the costs of production, which includes labor costs, materials and other expenses, which are directly attributable to the production process and production overheads).
Trade accounts receivable
Recognition and measurement
Trade accounts receivable are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment (if any).
Impairment
An impairment allowance of trade receivables is established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts due. Indicators of impairment would include financial difficulties of the debtor, likelihood of the debtors insolvency, late payments, default or a significant deterioration in creditworthiness. The amount of the provision is the difference between the assets carrying value and the present value of the estimated future cash flows, discounted at the original effective interest rate. The expense (income) related to the increase (decrease) of the impairment allowance is recognized in the Consolidated Income Statement. When a trade receivable is deemed uncollectible, it is written off against the impairment allowance account. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Income Statement
Factoring arrangements
In a non-recourse factoring arrangement, where the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the receivables, the receivables are derecognized from the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Where trade accounts receivable are sold with limited recourse, and substantially all the risks and rewards associated with these receivables are not transferred, receivables continue to be included in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Inflows and outflows from factoring agreements in which the Group does not derecognize receivables are presented on a net basis as cash flows from financing activities. Arrangements in which the Group derecognizes receivables result in changes in trade receivables which are reflected as cash flows from operating activities.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash in bank accounts and on hand, short-term deposits held on call with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and which are subject to insignificant risk of changes in value, less bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand, provided there is a right of offset.
Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new ordinary shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.
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Trade payables
Trade payables are initially recorded at fair value and classified as current liabilities if payment is due in one year or less.
Provisions
Provisions are recorded for the best estimate of expenditures required to settle liabilities of uncertain timing or amount when management determines that a legal or constructive obligation exists as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and such amounts can be reasonably estimated. Provisions are measured at the present value of the expected expenditures to be required to settle the obligation.
The ultimate cost to settle such liabilities is uncertain, and cost estimates can vary in response to many factors. The settlement of these liabilities could materially differ from recorded amounts. In addition, the expected timing of expenditure can also change. As a result, there could be significant adjustments to provisions, which could result in additional charges or recoveries affecting future financial results.
Types of liabilities for which the Group establishes provisions include:
Close down and restoration costs
Estimated close down and restoration costs are accounted for in the year when the legal or constructive obligation arising from the related disturbance occurs and it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation. These costs are based on the net present value of estimated future costs. Provisions for close down and restoration costs do not include any additional obligations which are expected to arise from future disturbance. The costs are estimated on the basis of a closure plan including feasibility and engineering studies, are updated annually during the life of the operation to reflect known developments (e.g. revisions to cost estimates and to the estimated lives of operations) and are subject to formal review at regular intervals each year.
The initial closure provision together with subsequent movements in the provisions for close down and restoration costs, including those resulting from new disturbance, updated cost estimates, changes to the estimated lives of operations and revisions to discount rates are capitalized within Property, plant and equipment. These costs are then depreciated over the remaining useful lives of the related assets. The amortization or unwinding of the discount applied in establishing the net present value of the provisions is charged to the Consolidated Income Statement as a financing cost in each accounting year.
Environmental remediation costs
Environmental remediation costs are accounted for based on the estimated present value of the costs of the Groups environmental clean-up obligations. Movements in the environmental clean-up provisions are presented as an operating cost within Cost of sales. Remediation procedures may commence soon after the time at which the disturbance, remediation process and estimated remediation costs become known, and can continue for many years depending on the nature of the disturbance and the technical remediation.
Restructuring costs
Provisions for restructuring are recorded when Constelliums management is demonstrably committed to the restructuring plan and where such liabilities can be reasonably estimated. The Group
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recognizes liabilities that primarily include one-time termination benefits, or severance, and contract termination costs, primarily related to equipment and facility lease obligations. These amounts are based on the remaining amounts due under various contractual agreements, and are periodically adjusted for any anticipated or unanticipated events or changes in circumstances that would reduce or increase these obligations.
Legal, tax and other potential claims
Provisions for legal claims are made when it is probable that liabilities will be incurred and when such liabilities can be reasonably estimated. For asserted claims and assessments, liabilities are recorded when an unfavorable outcome of a matter is deemed to be probable and the loss is reasonably estimable. Management determines the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome based on many factors such as the nature of the matter, available defenses and case strategy, progress of the matter, views and opinions of legal counsel and other advisors, applicability and success of appeals, process and outcomes of similar historical matters, amongst others. Once an unfavorable outcome is considered probable, management weights the probability of possible outcomes and the most reasonable loss is recorded. Legal matters are reviewed on a regular basis to determine if there have been changes in managements judgment regarding the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or the estimate of a potential loss. Depending on their nature, these costs may be charged to Cost of sales or Other gains/ (losses)net in the Consolidated Income Statement. Included in other potential claims are provisions for product warranties and guarantees to settle the net present value portion of any settlement costs for potential future legal actions, claims and other assertions that may be brought by Constelliums customers or the end-users of products. Provisions for product warranty and guarantees are charged to Cost of sales in the Consolidated Income Statement. In the accounting year when any legal action, claim or assertion related to product warranty or guarantee is settled, the net settlement amount incurred is charged against the provision established in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. The outstanding provision is reviewed periodically for adequacy and reasonableness by Constellium management.
Management establishes tax reserves and accrues interest thereon, if deemed appropriate; in expectation that certain tax return positions may be challenged and that the Group might not succeed in defending such positions, despite managements belief that the positions taken were fully supportable.
Pension, other post-employment healthcare plans and other long term employee benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit plans are recognized as an expense when employees have rendered service entitling them to the contributions. Constelliums contributions to defined contribution pension plans are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement in the year to which the contributions relate. This expense is included in Cost of sales, Selling and administrative expenses or Research and development expenses, depending on its nature.
For defined benefit plans, the retirement benefit obligation recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position represents the present value of the defined benefit as reduced by the fair value of plan assets. The effects of changes in actuarial assumptions and experience adjustments are charged or credited to Other comprehensive income / (loss).
The amount charged to the Consolidated Income Statement in respect of these plans (including the service costs and the effect of any curtailment or settlement, net of interest costs) is included within the Income / (loss) from operations.
The defined benefit obligations are assessed in accordance with the advice of qualified actuaries. The most significant assumption used in accounting for pension plans is the discount rate.
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Post-employment benefit plans relate to health and life insurance benefits to retired employees and in some cases to their beneficiaries and covered dependants. Eligibility for coverage is dependent upon certain age and service criteria. These benefit plans are unfunded and are accounted for as defined benefit obligations, as described above.
Other long term employee benefits include jubilees and other long-term disability benefits. For these plans, actuarial gains and losses arising in the year are recognized immediately in the Consolidated Income Statement.
Taxation
The current Income tax (expense) / benefit is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position date in the countries where the Company and its subsidiaries operate and generate taxable income.
The Group is subject to income taxes in the Netherlands, France, United States and numerous other jurisdictions. Certain of Constelliums businesses may be included in consolidated tax returns within the Company. In certain circumstances, these businesses may be jointly and severally liable with the entity filing the consolidated return, for additional taxes that may be assessed.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. This approach also requires the recognition of deferred income tax assets for operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards.
The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates and laws is recognized as tax income /(loss) in the year when the rate change is substantively enacted. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using tax rates that are expected to apply in the year when the asset is realized or the liability is settled, based on the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the date of the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Deferred income tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized.
Presentation of financial statements
The consolidated financial statements are presented in millions of Euros. Certain reclassifications may have been made to prior year amounts to conform to current year presentation or with IFRS requirements (see NOTE 32Disposals, Disposals Group classified as held for sale).
2.7. Judgments in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty
Many of the amounts included in the consolidated financial statements involve the use of judgment and/or estimation. These judgments and estimates are based on managements best knowledge of the relevant facts and circumstances, giving consideration to previous experience. However, actual results may differ from the amounts included in the consolidated financial statements. Key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year include the items presented below.
Purchase Accounting
Business combinations are recorded in accordance with IFRS 3, Business Combination using the acquisition method. Under this method, upon the initial consolidation of an entity over which the
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Group has acquired exclusive control, the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are recognized at their fair value at the acquisition date.
Therefore, through a number of different approaches and with the assistance of external independent valuation experts, the Group identified what it believes is the fair value of the assets and liabilities at the acquisition date. These valuations include a number of assumptions, estimations and judgments. Quantitative and qualitative information is further disclosed in NOTE 3Acquisition of Wise entities.
Significant assumptions which were used in determining allocation of fair value included the following valuation approaches: the cost approach, the income approach and the market approach which were determined based on cash flow projections and related discount rates, industry indices, market prices regarding replacement cost and comparable market transactions. While the Company believes that the estimates and assumptions underlying the valuation methodologies were reasonable, different assumptions could have resulted in different fair values.
Impairment tests for goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment.
The determination of fair value and value in use of cash generating units or groups of cash generating units depends on a number of assumptions, in particular market data, estimated future cash flows and the discount rate.
These assumptions are subject to risk and uncertainty. Any material changes in these assumptions could result in a significant change in a cash generating-units recoverable value or a goodwill impairment. Details of the key assumptions applied are set out in NOTE 13Intangible assets (including goodwill) and in NOTE 14Property, plant and equipment.
Pension, other post-employment benefits and other long-term employee benefits
The present value of the defined benefit obligations depends on a number of factors that are determined on an actuarial basis using a number of assumptions. The assumptions used in determining the defined benefit obligations and net pension costs include the discount rate and the rate of future compensation increases. In making these estimates and assumptions, management considers advices provided by external advisers, such as actuaries.
Any material changes in these assumptions could result in a significant change in employee benefits expense recognized in the Consolidated Income Statement, actuarial gains and losses recognized in equity and prepaid and accrued benefits. Details of the key assumptions applied are set out in NOTE 21Pensions and other post-employment benefit obligations.
Taxes
Significant judgment is sometimes required in determining the accrual for income taxes as there are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain during the ordinary course of business. The Group recognizes liabilities based on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due. Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were recorded, such differences will impact the current and deferred income tax provisions, results of operations and possibly cash flows in the year in which such determination is made.
Management judgment is required to determine the extent to which deferred tax assets can be recognized. In assessing the recognition of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be utilized. The deferred tax assets will be ultimately utilized to the extent that sufficient taxable profits will be available in the periods in which the
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temporary differences become deductible. This assessment is conducted through a detailed review of deferred tax assets by jurisdiction and takes into account the scheduled reversals of taxable and deductible temporary differences, past, current and expected future performance deriving from the budget, the business plan and tax planning strategies. Deferred tax assets are not recognized in the jurisdictions where it is less likely than not that sufficient taxable profits will be available against which the deductible temporary differences can be utilized.
Provisions
Provisions have been recorded for: (a) close-down and restoration costs; (b) environmental remediation and monitoring costs; (c) restructuring programs; (d) legal and other potential claims including provisions for product income tax risks, warranty and guarantees, at amounts which represent managements best estimates of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the date of the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Expectations are revised each year until the actual liability is settled, with any difference accounted for in the year in which the revision is made. Main assumptions used are described in NOTE 22Provisions.
Note 3Acquisition of Wise Entities
On January 5, 2015, Constellium acquired 100% of Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC (Wise or Muscle Shoals), a private aluminum sheet producer located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States of America. The total consideration, paid in cash, was 370 million. With the acquisition, Constellium has now access to 450,000 metric tons (kt) of hot mill capacity from the widest strip mill in North America, reinforcing its position on the can market and positioning Constellium to continue to grow in the North American Body in White (BiW) market.
In accordance with IFRS 3, Business Combination, Constellium has recognized the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, measured, with the assistance of an independent expert, at fair value at the acquisition date:
(in millions of Euros) | Notes | January 5, 2015 | ||||
Intangible assets |
13 | 130 | ||||
Property, plant and equipment |
14 | 657 | ||||
Trade receivables and other |
165 | |||||
Inventories |
227 | |||||
Other financial assets |
4 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
22 | |||||
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Total assets acquired |
1,205 | |||||
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Borrowings |
19 | (997 | ) | |||
Trade payables and other |
(155 | ) | ||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
26 | (15 | ) | |||
Pension and other post-employment benefit obligations |
21 | (8 | ) | |||
Other financial liabilities |
(2 | ) | ||||
Provisions and contingent liabilities |
22 | (53 | ) | |||
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Total liabilities assumed |
(1,230 | ) | ||||
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Net liabilities assumed |
(25 | ) | ||||
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Goodwill |
13 | 395 | ||||
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Total cash consideration |
370 | |||||
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|
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The valuation resulted in the recognition of intangible assets such as Customer relationships and Technology. Property, plant and equipment, Inventories, Provisions and Borrowings have been remeasured at fair value. The resulting 395 million goodwill is mainly supported by the growing automotive markets (Body in White) in North America. The resulting goodwill will be deductible for tax purposes.
Considering the industries served, its major customers and product lines, Muscle Shoals and its related assets and liabilities are included in Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products (P&ARP) operating segment.
The combined revenue and net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 assuming the business combination occurred on January 1, 2015 would not be materially different from the actual consolidated revenue (as the acquisition was completed on January 5, 2015).
Acquisition costs were recognized as expenses in Other gains/ (losses)-net of Groups Consolidated Income Statement ( 34 million in 2014 and 5 million in 2015).
Note 4Operating Segment Information
Management has defined Constelliums operating segments based upon product lines, markets and industries it serves, and prepares and reports operating segment information to the Constellium chief operating decision maker (CODM) (see NOTE 2Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) on that basis. Groups operating segments are described below:
Aerospace and Transportation (A&T)
A&T focuses on thick-gauge rolled high value-added products for customers in the aerospace, marine, automotive and mass-transportation markets and engineering industries. A&T operates six facilities in three countries.
Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products (P&ARP)
P&ARP produces and provides thin-gauge rolled products for customers in the beverage and closures, automotive, Body in White, customized industrial sheet solutions and high-quality bright surface product markets. P&ARP operates three facilities in three countries.
Automotive Structures and Industry (AS&I)
AS&I focuses on specialty products and supplies a variety of hard and soft alloy extruded products, including technically advanced products, to the automotive, industrial, energy, electrical and building industries, and to manufacturers of mass transport vehicles and shipbuilders. AS&I operates thirteen facilities in seven countries.
Holdings & Corporate
Holdings & Corporate include the net cost of Constelliums head office and corporate support functions.
Intersegment elimination
Intersegment trading is conducted on an arms length basis and reflects market prices.
F-24
The accounting principles used to prepare the Companys operating segment information are the same as those used to prepare Groups consolidated financial statements.
4.1 Segment Revenue
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Segment
revenue |
Inter-
segment elimination |
Revenue |
Segment
revenue |
Inter-
segment elimination |
Revenue |
Segment
revenue |
Inter-
segment elimination |
Revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A&T |
1,355 | (7 | ) | 1,348 | 1,197 | (5 | ) | 1,192 | 1,204 | (7 | ) | 1,197 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
P&ARP(A) |
2,748 | (6 | ) | 2,742 | 1,576 | (8 | ) | 1,568 | 1,480 | (8 | ) | 1,472 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
AS&I |
1,047 | (13 | ) | 1,034 | 921 | (46 | ) | 875 | 859 | (54 | ) | 805 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Holdings & Corporate(B) |
29 | | 29 | 31 | | 31 | 21 | | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total |
5,179 | (26 | ) | 5,153 | 3,725 | (59 | ) | 3,666 | 3,564 | (69 | ) | 3,495 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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|
(A) | Includes Muscle Shoals revenue of 1,198 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
(B) | Includes revenue from metal supply to plants in Ham and Saint Florentin which are considered as third parties since their disposal in the second quarter of 2013. |
4.2 Segment adjusted EBITDA and reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
A&T |
103 | 91 | 120 | |||||||||||
P&ARP(A) |
183 | 118 | 105 | |||||||||||
AS&I |
80 | 73 | 58 | |||||||||||
Holdings & Corporate |
(23 | ) | (7 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
343 | 275 | 280 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Metal price lag(B) |
(34 | ) | 27 | (29 | ) | |||||||||
Start-up and development costs(C) |
(21 | ) | (11 | ) | (7 | ) | ||||||||
Manufacturing system and process transformation
|
(11 | ) | (1 | ) | | |||||||||
Wise acquisition and integration costs |
3 | (14 | ) | (34 | ) | | ||||||||
Wise one-time costs related to the acquisition(E) |
(38 | ) | | | ||||||||||
Share Equity Plans |
31 | (7 | ) | (4 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||
(Losses) / Gains on Ravenswood OPEB plan amendment |
8 | (5 | ) | 9 | 11 | |||||||||
Swiss pension plan settlements |
8 | | 6 | | ||||||||||
Income tax contractual reimbursements |
8 | | 8 | | ||||||||||
Apollo Management fees |
| | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization(F) |
6 | (140 | ) | (49 | ) | (32 | ) | |||||||
Impairment(G) |
(457 | ) | | | ||||||||||
Restructuring costs |
(8 | ) | (12 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||||||
Losses on disposals and assets classified as held for sale |
8 | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | |||||||
Unrealized (losses) / gains on derivatives |
8 | (20 | ) | (53 | ) | 12 | ||||||||
Unrealized exchange (losses) / gains from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilitiesnet |
8 | (3 | ) | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
Other |
(6 | ) | (7 | ) | (11 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
(Loss) / Income from operations |
(426 | ) | 150 | 209 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-25
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
Other expenses |
| | (27 | ) | ||||||||||
Finance costsnet |
10 | (155 | ) | (58 | ) | (50 | ) | |||||||
Share of loss of joint-ventures |
25 | (3 | ) | (1 | ) | 3 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
(Loss) / Income before income tax |
(584 | ) | 91 | 135 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Income tax benefit / (expense) |
11 | 32 | (37 | ) | (39 | ) | ||||||||
|
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|
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|
|
|||||||||
Net (loss) / income from continuing operations |
(552 | ) | 54 | 96 | ||||||||||
Net (loss) / income from discontinued operations |
| | 4 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net (Loss) / Income |
(552 | ) | 54 | 100 | ||||||||||
|
|
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|
|
|
(A) | Includes 68 million of Adjusted EBITDA from Muscle Shoals for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
(B) | Represents the financial impact of the timing difference between when aluminum prices included within Constellium revenues are established and when aluminum purchase prices included in Cost of sales are established. The Group accounts for inventory using a weighted average price basis and this adjustment is to remove the effect of volatility in LME prices. The calculation of the Group metal price lag adjustment is based on an internal standardized methodology calculated at each of Constellium manufacturing sites and is calculated as the average value of product recorded in inventory, which approximates the spot price in the market, less the average value transferred out of inventory, which is the weighted average of the metal element of cost of goods sold, by the quantity sold in the period. |
(C) | For the year ended December 31, 2015, start-up costs relating to new sites and business development initiatives amounted to 21 million of which 16 million related to Body in White growth projects both in Europe and the U.S and 5 million related to the expansion of the site in Van Buren, U.S. |
(D) | For the year ended December 31, 2015, manufacturing system and process transformation costs related to supply chain reorganization mainly in our A&T operating segment. |
(E) | Wise one-time costs related to the acquisition include : |
| Wise Mid-West premium losses: Constellium seeks to achieve a full pass-through model for LME and premiums, primarily through contractual arrangements with metal suppliers and customers. At the acquisition date (January 5, 2015), not all Wise contracts had this pass-through mechanism. Constellium has renegotiated these contracts to bring them in line with its usual practice. In addition, the Mid West Premium market conditions were abnormal in the year ended December 31, 2015 with premium falling from $524/metric ton as at January 5, 2015 to $198/metric ton as at December 31, 2015. This resulted in an un-recovered metal premium of 22 million. |
| Unwinding of Wise previous hedging policies: Constelliums policies are to hedge all known exposures. Losses of 4 million were incurred on the unwinding of the predecessors hedging policies for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
| Effects of purchase accounting adjustment: Represents the non-cash step-up in inventory costs on the acquisition of Wise entities ( 12 million). |
(F) | Includes 61 million depreciation and amortization expenses from Muscle Shoals assets for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
(G) | Includes mainly for the year ended December 31, 2015, an impairment charge of 400 million related to Muscle Shoals intangible assets and Property, plant and equipment and 49 million related to Constellium Valais Property, plant and equipment. |
F-26
4.3 Entity-wide information about products and services
(in millions of Euros) |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
Aerospace rolled products |
861 | 667 | 655 | |||||||||
Transportation, Industry and other rolled products |
487 | 525 | 542 | |||||||||
Packaging rolled products |
2,205 | 1,160 | 1,138 | |||||||||
Automotive rolled products |
275 | 225 | 162 | |||||||||
Specialty and other thin-rolled products |
262 | 183 | 172 | |||||||||
Automotive extruded products |
544 | 413 | 334 | |||||||||
Other extruded products |
490 | 462 | 471 | |||||||||
Others |
29 | 31 | 21 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total revenue(A) |
5,153 | 3,666 | 3,495 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Includes Muscle Shoals revenue of 1,198 for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
4.4 Segment capital expenditure
(in millions of Euros) |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
A&T |
(112 | ) | (71 | ) | (53 | ) | ||||||
P&ARP(A) |
(170 | ) | (74 | ) | (37 | ) | ||||||
AS&I |
(60 | ) | (48 | ) | (49 | ) | ||||||
Holdings & Corporate |
(8 | ) | (6 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Capital expenditure |
(350 | ) | (199 | ) | (144 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Includes Muscle Shoals capital expenditure of 71 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
4.5 Segment assets
Segment assets are comprised of total assets of Constellium by segment, less investments accounted for under equity method, deferred income tax assets, other financial assets (including cash and cash equivalent) and assets classified as held for sale.
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
A&T |
706 | 707 | ||||||
P&ARP(A) |
1,505 | 390 | ||||||
AS&I |
315 | 333 | ||||||
Holdings & Corporate |
210 | 288 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Segment Assets |
2,736 | 1,718 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Unallocated: |
||||||||
Investments accounted for under equity method |
30 | 21 | ||||||
Deferred income tax assets |
270 | 192 | ||||||
Other financial assets |
579 | 1,081 | ||||||
Assets classified as held for sale |
13 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Assets |
3,628 | 3,012 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(A) | Includes Muscle Shoals assets of 691 million at December 31, 2015. |
F-27
4.6 Information about major customers
Included in revenue arising from the P&ARP segment for the year ended December 31, 2015, is revenue of 1,318 million which arose from sales to the Groups two largest customers. No other single customer contributed 10% or more to the Groups revenue for 2015.
Included in revenue arising from the P&ARP segment for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, is revenue of respectively 406 million and 378 million which arose from sales to the Groups largest customers. No other single customer contributed 10% or more to the Groups revenue for 2014 and 2013.
Note 5Information by Geographic Area
The Group reports information by geographic area as follows: revenues from third and related parties are based on destination of shipments and property, plant and equipment are based on the physical location of the assets.
(in millions of Euros) |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
Revenue from third and related parties |
||||||||||||
France |
564 | 533 | 535 | |||||||||
Germany |
1,112 | 1,035 | 961 | |||||||||
United Kingdom |
243 | 336 | 346 | |||||||||
Switzerland |
72 | 85 | 88 | |||||||||
Other Europe |
849 | 755 | 742 | |||||||||
United States |
1,677 | 524 | 448 | |||||||||
Canada |
91 | 51 | 53 | |||||||||
Asia and Other Pacific |
266 | 174 | 142 | |||||||||
Others |
279 | 173 | 180 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
5,153 | 3,666 | 3,495 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
||||||||
France |
433 | 291 | ||||||
Germany |
118 | 99 | ||||||
Switzerland |
1 | 34 | ||||||
Czech Republic |
32 | 21 | ||||||
Other Europe |
2 | 3 | ||||||
United States |
660 | 179 | ||||||
Others |
9 | 6 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
1,255 | 633 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-28
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
Raw materials and consumables used(A) |
(3,176 | ) | (2,087 | ) | (1,980 | ) | ||||||||
Employee benefit expenses |
7 | (887 | ) | (697 | ) | (667 | ) | |||||||
Energy costs |
(168 | ) | (152 | ) | (150 | ) | ||||||||
Sub-contractors |
(86 | ) | (104 | ) | (86 | ) | ||||||||
Freight out costs |
(130 | ) | (79 | ) | (75 | ) | ||||||||
Professional fees |
(75 | ) | (64 | ) | (74 | ) | ||||||||
Operating leases expenses |
(29 | ) | (25 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
(140 | ) | (49 | ) | (32 | ) | ||||||||
Impairment |
(457 | ) | | | ||||||||||
Other Operating expenses |
(300 | ) | (176 | ) | (194 | ) | ||||||||
Other gains/(losses)net |
8 | (131 | ) | (83 | ) | (8 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Operating expenses(B) |
(5,579 | ) | (3,516 | ) | (3,286 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | The Company manages fluctuations in raw materials prices in order to protect manufacturing margins through the purchase of derivative instruments (see NOTE 23Financial Risk Management and NOTE 24Financial Instruments). |
(B) | Includes Muscle Shoals operating expenses of 1,648 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
Note 7Employee Benefit Expenses
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
Wages and salaries |
(836 | ) | (650 | ) | (625 | ) | ||||||||
Pension costsdefined benefit plans |
21 | (31 | ) | (26 | ) | (28 | ) | |||||||
Other post-employment benefits |
21 | (15 | ) | (17 | ) | (12 | ) | |||||||
Share equity plan expenses |
31 | (5 | ) | (4 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total employee benefit expenses(A) |
(887 | ) | (697 | ) | (667 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Includes Muscle Shoals employee benefit expenses of 118 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
F-29
Note 8Other Gains/ (Losses)Net
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
Realized losses on derivatives |
(93 | ) | (13 | ) | (31 | ) | ||||||||
Unrealized (losses)/ gains on derivatives at fair value through Profit and Lossnet(A) |
23 | (20 | ) | (53 | ) | 12 | ||||||||
Unrealized exchange (losses) /gain from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilitiesnet |
(3 | ) | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||
Swiss pension plan settlements |
21 | | 6 | | ||||||||||
(Losses) / Gains on Ravenswood OPEB plan amendments |
21 | (5 | ) | 9 | 11 | |||||||||
Wise acquisition costs |
3 | (5 | ) | (34 | ) | | ||||||||
Income tax contractual reimbursements |
11 | | 8 | | ||||||||||
(Losses) on disposals and assets classified as held for sale(B) |
(5 | ) | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||||||
Othernet |
| (2 | ) | 3 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Other gains/ (losses)net |
(131 | ) | (83 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | The gains or losses are related to unrealized gains or losses on derivatives entered into with the purpose of mitigating exposure to volatility in foreign currency and LME price (refer to NOTE 23Financial Risk Management for a description of Groups risk management). |
(B) | Following the Groups decision to sell its plant in CarquefouFrance, included in the Aerospace and Transportation (A&T) operating segment, a 8 million charge was recorded in 2015. |
On October 27, 2014, the Group sold its plant in Tarascon sur Ariège, France and incurred a 7 million loss.
In 2013, the sale of Groups plants in Ham and Saint Florentin, France, was completed.
Note 9Currency Gains / (Losses)
Consolidated Income Statement
Currency gains and losses are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements as follows:
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
Included in Cost of sales |
13 | 11 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
Included in Other gains/(losses)net |
(50 | ) | (52 | ) | 23 | |||||||||
Included in Finance costsnet |
10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
(35 | ) | (39 | ) | 23 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Realized exchange losses on foreign currency derivativesnet |
(5 | ) | (12 | ) | | |||||||||
Unrealized exchange gains / (losses) on foreign currency derivativesnet |
8 | (12 | ) | 13 | ||||||||||
Exchanges (losses) / gains from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilitiesnet |
(38 | ) | (15 | ) | 10 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
(35 | ) | (39 | ) | 23 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-30
Foreign currency translation reserve
(in millions of Euros) |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
||||||
Foreign currency translation reserve at January 1 |
(28 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||
Effect of currency translation differencesnet |
34 | (14 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Foreign currency translation reserve at December 31 |
6 | (28 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
See NOTE 23Financial Risk Management and NOTE 24Financial Instruments for further information regarding the Companys foreign currency derivatives and hedging activities.
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year Ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year Ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year Ended
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||
Finance income |
||||||||||||||
Realized and unrealized gains on debt derivatives at fair value(A) |
9 | 50 | 29 | 4 | ||||||||||
Realized and unrealized exchange gains on financing activitiesnet(A) |
9 | 20 | | 11 | ||||||||||
Other finance income |
1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Finance income |
71 | 30 | 17 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Finance costs |
||||||||||||||
Interest expense on borrowings(B) |
19 | (149 | ) | (32 | ) | (22 | ) | |||||||
Expenses on factoring arrangements(C) |
16 | (11 | ) | (9 | ) | (10 | ) | |||||||
Exit fees and unamortized arrangement fees(D) |
19 | | (15 | ) | (21 | ) | ||||||||
Realized and unrealized losses on debt derivatives at fair value(A) |
9 | | | (13 | ) | |||||||||
Realized and unrealized exchange losses on financing activitiesnet(A) |
9 | (68 | ) | (27 | ) | | ||||||||
Other |
(6 | ) | (7 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
(234 | ) | (90 | ) | (68 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Capitalized borrowing costs(E) |
8 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Finance costs |
(226 | ) | (88 | ) | (67 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Finance costsnet |
(155 | ) | (58 | ) | (50 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | The Group hedges the dollar exposure relating to the principal of its Constellium N.V. U.S. Dollar Senior Notes. The principal is mainly hedged by using floating-floating cross currency basis swaps indexed on floating Euro and U.S. Dollar interest rates. Changes in the fair value of these hedging derivatives are recognized within Finance income / (costs) in the Consolidated Income Statement and offset the unrealized results related to Constellium N.V. U.S. Dollar Senior Notes revaluation. |
(B) | Includes for the year ended December 31, 2015: (i) 81 million of interests related to Constellium N.V. Senior Notes; (ii) 64 million of interests related to the Muscle Shoals Senior Notes and (iii) 4 million of interest expenses and fees related to Muscle Shoals and Ravenswood Revolving Credit Facilities (ABL). |
F-31
Includes for the year ended December 31, 2014: (i) 23 million of interests related to the Constellium N.V. 2014 Senior Notes; (ii) 7 million of interests related to the Constellium N.V. 2013 term loan and (iii) 2 million of interest expenses related to the Ravenswood Revolving Credit Facility.
Includes for the year ended December 31, 2013: (i) 17 million of interests related to the Constellium N.V. 2013 term loan; (ii) 3 million of interests related to the Constellium N.V. 2012 term loan and (iii) 2 million of interest expenses related to the Ravenswood Revolving Credit Facility.
(C) | Includes interests, fees and amortization of deferred financing costs related to trade accounts receivable factoring programs (see NOTE 16Trade Receivables and Other). |
(D) | During the second quarter of 2014, Constellium N.V. issued Senior Notes and repaid the 2013 term loan. Arrangement fees of the 2013 term loan which were not amortized under the effective rate method, and exit fees, were fully recognized as financial expenses during this period. For the year ended December 31, 2014, arrangement and exit fees amounted respectively to 9 million and 6 million. |
During the first quarter of 2013, Constellium N.V. issued the 2013 term loan facility and repaid the 2012 term loan. Arrangement fees of the 2012 term loan which were not amortized under the effective rate method, and exit fees, were fully recognized as financial expenses during this period. For the year ended December 31, 2013, arrangement and exit fees amounted respectively to 13 million and 8 million.
(E) | Represents capitalized borrowing costs directly attributable to the construction of assets. |
The current and deferred components of income tax are as follows:
(in millions of Euros) |
Year Ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year Ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year Ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
Current tax expense |
(21 | ) | (34 | ) | (29 | ) | ||||||
Deferred tax benefit / (expense) |
53 | (3 | ) | (10 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total Income tax benefit / (expense) |
32 | (37 | ) | (39 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Using a composite statutory income tax rate applicable by tax jurisdictions, the income tax can be reconciled as follows:
(in millions of Euros) |
Year Ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year Ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year Ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
(Loss)/ Income before income tax |
(584 | ) | 91 | 135 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Composite statutory income tax rate applicable by tax jurisdiction |
38.2 | % | 31.0 | % | 36.0 | % | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Income tax benefit / (expense) calculated at composite statutory tax rate applicable by tax jurisdictions |
223 | (28 | ) | (48 | ) | |||||||
Tax effect of: |
||||||||||||
Changes in recognized and unrecognized deferred tax assets(A) |
(177 | ) | (3 | ) | 1 | |||||||
Other(B) |
(14 | ) | (6 | ) | 8 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Income tax benefit/ (expense) |
32 | (37 | ) | (39 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Effective income tax rate |
5 | % | 41 | % | 29 | % | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-32
(A) | Including unrecognized deferred tax asset on impairment of long term assets of one of our main entities |
(B) | Including non-deductible items and certain contractual reimbursements in 2014 and 2013. |
Our composite statutory income tax rate of 38,2% in the year ended December 31, 2015, 31.0% in the year ended December 31, 2014 and of 36.0% in the year ended December 31, 2013 resulted from the statutory tax rates (i) in the United States of 40% in 2015, 43% in 2014 and 40% in 2013, (ii) in France of 38.0% in 2015, in 2014 and in 2013, (iii) in Germany of 29% in 2015, 2014 and 2013, (iv) in the Netherlands of 25% in 2015, 2014 and 2013 and (v) in Czech Republic of 19% in 2015, 2014 and 2013. The 7.2% increase in our composite tax rate from 2014 to 2015 and the 5.0% decrease in our composite tax rate from 2013 to 2014 resulted from the change in the weight of profits or losses in higher tax rate jurisdictions most notably France and in the United States combined with the change in the weight of profits in lower tax rate jurisdictions most notably in Czech Republic in 2014.
12.1 Earnings
(in millions of Euros) |
Year Ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year Ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year Ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
Earnings attributable to equity holders of the parent used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations |
(554 | ) | 51 | 94 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Earnings attributable to equity holders of the parent used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share from discontinued operation |
| | 4 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Earnings attributable to equity holders of the parent used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share |
(554 | ) | 51 | 98 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.2 Number of shares (see NOTE 18Share capital)
(number of shares) |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used to calculate basic earnings per share(A) |
105,097,442 | 104,639,342 | 98,219,458 | |||||||||
Effect of other dilutive potential ordinary shares(B) |
| 687,530 | 671,487 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share |
105,097,442 | 105,326,872 | 98,890,945 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Based on the total number of all classes of shares (former A, B1 and B2) until the IPO on May 22, 2013, and on the total number of Class A ordinary shares from the IPO (See NOTE 18Share Capital). Prior to the IPO, the Class B ordinary shares were included in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculation as the Class A and Class B ordinary shares had equal rights to profit allocation and dividends and Class B ordinary shares, once issued, could not be repurchased nor cancelled by the Company without the consent of the holder. In connection with our IPO, the Management Equity Plan (MEP) was frozen so that there could be no additional issuances or reallocations thereunder of Class B ordinary shares among MEP participants. In addition, from the date of the IPO, at the request of the MEP participants and in certain circumstances, the Company was committed to repurchase these shares, and may subsequently cancel them (including the related accumulated rights to profit). |
F-33
Accordingly, from the IPO date, Class B ordinary shares have been excluded from the calculation of the weighted average number of ordinary shares used to calculate the basic earnings per share. As Class B ordinary shares are ultimately converted into Class A ordinary shares when the Company does not have to repurchase them, they are included in the calculation of the weighted average number of ordinary shares used to calculate the diluted earnings per share.
All ordinary Class B shares were cancelled in August 2015.
(B) | For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, includes B shares as they give rights to profit allocation and dividends and potential new ordinary shares to be issued as part of the Co-investment plan, the Equity award plan, the Free Share and the Shareholding Retention Plan (See NOTE 31Share Equity Plan). All potential dilutive new ordinary shares were taken into account into the diluted earnings per share. There were no instrument excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect was antidilutive. |
For the year ended December 31, 2015, there were 510,721 potential ordinary shares that could have a dilutive impact but were considered antidilutive due to negative earnings.
Earnings per share attributable to the equity holders of the Company
(in Euros per share) |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
From continuing operations and discontinued operations |
||||||||||||
Basic |
(5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 1.00 | ||||||||
Diluted |
(5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 0.99 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
From continuing operations |
||||||||||||
Basic |
(5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 0.96 | ||||||||
Diluted |
(5.27 | ) | 0.48 | 0.95 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
From discontinued operations |
||||||||||||
Basic |
| | 0.04 | |||||||||
Diluted |
| | 0.04 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-34
Note 13Intangible Assets (Including Goodwill)
(in millions of Euros) | Notes | Goodwill | Technology |
Computer
Software |
Customer
relationships |
Work in
Progress |
Other |
Total
intangibles assets (excluding goodwill) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Net balance at January 1, 2015 |
11 | | 11 | | 4 | 2 | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Intangible assets acquired through business combination and resulting goodwill |
3 | 395 | 84 | 9 | 37 | | | 130 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Additions |
| | 1 | | 6 | | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization expense |
| (5 | ) | (6 | ) | (2 | ) | | | (13 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Impairment |
| (60 | ) | | (21 | ) | | | (81 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Transfer during the period |
| | 3 | | (3 | ) | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates |
37 | 9 | 5 | 4 | | | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net balance at December 31, 2015 |
443 | 28 | 23 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 78 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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At December 31, 2015 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost |
443 | 92 | 41 | 41 | 7 | 2 | 183 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less accumulated amortization and impairment |
| (64 | ) | (18 | ) | (23 | ) | | | (105 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
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|
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|
|||||||||||||||||
Net balance at December 31, 2015 |
443 | 28 | 23 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 78 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Impairment tests for goodwill
Goodwill in the amount of 443 million has been allocated to the Groups operating segment Aerospace and Transportation (A&T) 5 million, Automotive Structures and Industry (AS&I) 2 million and Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products (P&ARP) 436 million.
At December 31, 2015, the recoverable amount of the A&T and AS&I operating segments has been determined based on value-in-use calculations and significantly exceeded their carrying value. No reasonable change in the assumptions retained could lead to a potential impairment charge.
For the P&ARP operating segment, the recoverable value was estimated by applying a discounted cash flow model and market participants assumptions. The expected future cash flows are based on the 2016-2025 medium and long term business plan approved by the management and reviewed by the Board of Directors. They include the significant capital expenditures for the Body-in-White (up to 2020/2021) and the related returns. Considering the significant level of future capital expenditure needed to address the Body in White market with the related Body in White cash inflows ramping-up from 2018/2019 and reaching a normative level in 2023/2024, cash flows were projected over a 10 year period. The terminal value assumes a normative cash flow and a long term growth rate ranging from 0% to 2%. The discount rates applied to cash flows projections range between 11% and 12%. It was concluded that the carrying value did not exceed the recoverable value as at December 31, 2015. Accordingly, the impairment test carried out at the P&ARP operating segment level did not lead to a goodwill impairment.
F-35
Sensitivity analysis: the calculation of the recoverable value of the P&ARP operating segment is most sensitive to the following assumptions:
| Discount rate : an increase in the discount rate by 2% would result in the recoverable value equaling the carrying value; |
| Perpetual growth rate : a decrease in the perpetual growth rate by 5 % would result in the recoverable value equaling the carrying value; or |
| BiW shipments : 40% lower shipments in the BiW US business would result in the recoverable value equaling the carrying value. Considering the overall size and length of the Body in White project, management determined forecasted shipments and related revenues to be a key assumption. |
Note 14Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment balances and movements are comprised as follows:
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Land and
Property Rights |
Buildings |
Machinery
and Equipment |
Construction
Work in Progress |
Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Net balance at January 1, 2015 |
1 | 61 | 383 | 183 | 5 | 633 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment acquired through business combination |
3 | 22 | 129 | 438 | 65 | 3 | 657 | |||||||||||||||||||
Additions |
| 6 | 36 | 340 | 3 | 385 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Disposals |
| | (1 | ) | | | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation expense |
(4 | ) | (15 | ) | (103 | ) | | (5 | ) | (127 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Impairment |
4 | | (79 | ) | (276 | ) | (15 | ) | (1 | ) | (371 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Transfer during the period |
| 43 | 244 | (289 | ) | 2 | | |||||||||||||||||||
Reclassified as assets held for sale |
32 | | (1 | ) | (3 | ) | | | (4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates |
2 | 14 | 55 | 12 | 83 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Net balance at December 31, 2015 |
21 | 158 | 773 | 296 | 7 | 1,255 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2015 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost |
25 | 258 | 1,207 | 310 | 24 | 1,824 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation and impairment |
(4 | ) | (100 | ) | (434 | ) | (14 | ) | (17 | ) | (569 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Net balance at December 31, 2015 |
21 | 158 | 773 | 296 | 7 | 1,255 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-36
(in millions of Euros) |
Land and
Property Rights |
Buildings |
Machinery
and Equipment |
Construction
Work in Progress |
Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Net balance at January 1, 2014 |
1 | 28 | 252 | 119 | 8 | 408 | ||||||||||||||||||
Additions |
| 15 | 31 | 208 | | 254 | ||||||||||||||||||
Disposals |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation expense |
| (2 | ) | (42 | ) | | (2 | ) | (46 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Impairment |
| | | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Transfer during the year |
| 18 | 128 | (147 | ) | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates |
| 2 | 14 | 4 | | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net balance at December 31, 2014 |
1 | 61 | 383 | 183 | 5 | 633 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
At December 31, 2014 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost |
1 | 67 | 459 | 183 | 13 | 723 | ||||||||||||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation and impairment |
| (6 | ) | (76 | ) | | (8 | ) | (90 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net balance at December 31, 2014 |
1 | 61 | 383 | 183 | 5 | 633 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Building, machinery and equipment includes the following amounts where the Group is a lessee under a finance lease:
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) | Gross value |
Accumulated
depreciation |
Net | Gross value |
Accumulated
depreciation |
Net | ||||||||||||||||||
Buildings under finance lease |
28 | (2 | ) | 26 | 16 | | 16 | |||||||||||||||||
Machinery and equipment under finance lease |
34 | (13 | ) | 21 | 16 | (1 | ) | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
62 | (15 | ) | 47 | 32 | (1 | ) | 31 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable finance leases are as follows:
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Less than 1 year |
10 | 6 | ||||||
1 to 5 years |
36 | 19 | ||||||
More than 5 years |
21 | 15 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
67 | 40 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
The present value of future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable finance leases are as follows:
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Less than 1 year |
7 | 5 | ||||||
1 to 5 years |
31 | 18 | ||||||
More than 5 years |
15 | 8 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
53 | 31 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-37
Depreciation expense and impairment losses
Total depreciation expense and impairment losses relating to Property, plant and equipment and Intangible assets are included in the Consolidated Income Statement as follows:
(in millions of Euros) |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
Cost of sales |
(132 | ) | (42 | ) | (28 | ) | ||||||
Selling and administrative expenses |
(8 | ) | (7 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||||
Impairment |
(452 | ) | | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
(592 | ) | (49 | ) | (32 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
The amount of contractual commitments for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment is disclosed in NOTE 27Commitments.
Impairment tests for property, plant and equipment and intangibles assets
Muscle Shoals cash-generating unit : the following triggering events were identified as at December 31, 2015:
| Continuing under performance and actual 2015 Muscle Shoals results showing a much lower financial performance than the initial business plan prepared as part of the Wise acquisition, and |
| Revised budget and strategic plan for Muscle Shoals downgraded, notably after taking into account new sale agreements commercial conditions for the can/packaging business. |
In accordance with the accounting policies described in NOTE 2.6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Muscle Shoals cash-generating unit was tested for impairment as at December 31, 2015.
Its value-in-use was determined based on projected cash flows expected to be generated by the can/packaging business at Muscle Shoals. These cash flow forecasts were prepared by the Group Management and reviewed by the Board of Directors. The discount rate applied to cash flows projections was 11% and cash flows beyond the projection period have been extrapolated using a 0% growth rate. The value in use calculation led to a recoverable value being 400 million lower than the carrying value.
Management determined that the fair value less cost of disposal of Muscle Shoals cash-generating unit does not exceed the value in use.
Accordingly, an impairment charge of 400 million was recorded as at December 31, 2015, reducing the Muscle shoals cash- generating unit intangible assets and property, plant and equipment.
Sensitivity analysis: the calculation of the recoverable value of the Muscle Shoals cash-generating unit is most sensitive to the following assumptions:
| Discount rate : a increase / decrease of the discount rate by 1% would impact the recoverable value by 40 million and 48 million respectively |
| Perpetual growth rate : a increase / decrease of the perpetual growth rate by 1% would impact the recoverable value by 19 million and 16 million respectively. |
F-38
Constellium Valais cash-generating units: certain triggering events were identified in 2015 (cash-generating unit ValaisAS&I operating segment: operational reorganization and industrial restructuring and cash-generating unit ValaisA&T operating segment: expected adverse change in key sale agreements).
In accordance with the accounting policies described in NOTE 2.6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Valais cash- generating units were tested for impairment as at December 31, 2015.
Based on the recoverable value approached from both a value in use and a fair value models, the carrying value of the Property, plant and equipment was fully impaired as at December 31, 2015. The related impairment charge totaled 49 million.
Inventories are comprised of the following:
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Finished goods |
148 | 126 | ||||||
Work in progress |
265 | 205 | ||||||
Raw materials |
91 | 80 | ||||||
Stores and supplies |
59 | 41 | ||||||
Depreciation and impairment(A) |
(21 | ) | (16 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total inventories |
542 | 436 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(A) | Includes Net realizable value and slow moving adjustments. |
Constellium records inventories at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Any increase / (decrease) in the net realizable value adjustment on inventories is included in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Income Statement.
N ote 16Trade Receivables and Other
Trade receivables and other are comprised of the following:
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) | Non-current | Current | Non-current | Current | ||||||||||||
Trade receivablesgross |
| 267 | | 439 | ||||||||||||
Impairment allowance |
| (3 | ) | | (3 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Trade receivablesnet |
| 264 | | 436 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Finance lease receivables |
18 | 6 | 22 | 5 | ||||||||||||
Deferred financing costsnet of amounts amortized |
1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||
Deferred tooling related costs |
7 | | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||
Current income tax receivables |
| 39 | | 15 | ||||||||||||
Other taxes |
| 35 | | 50 | ||||||||||||
Restricted cash(A) |
11 | | 10 | | ||||||||||||
Other |
16 | 19 | 13 | 54 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Other receivables |
53 | 101 | 48 | 137 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Trade receivables and Other |
53 | 365 | 48 | 573 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-39
(A) | Relating to a pledge given to the State of West Virginia as a guarantee for certain workers compensation obligations for which the company is self-insured. |
16.1 Aging
The aging of total trade receivablesnet is as follows:
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
|||||||
(in millions of Euros) | ||||||||
Current |
243 | 420 | ||||||
130 days past due |
18 | 13 | ||||||
3160 days past due |
2 | 1 | ||||||
6190 days past due |
1 | 1 | ||||||
Greater than 91 days past due |
| 1 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total trade receivablesnet |
264 | 436 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Impairment allowance
The Group periodically reviews its customers account aging, credit worthiness, payment histories and balance trends in order to evaluate trade accounts receivable for impairment. Management also considers whether changes in general economic conditions and in the industries in which the Group operates in particular, are likely to impact the ability of the Groups customers to remain within agreed payment terms or to pay their account balances in full.
Revisions to the impairment allowance arising from changes in estimates are included as either additional allowance or recoveries, with the corresponding expense or income included in Selling and administrative expenses. An impairment allowance amounting to 0.5 million was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2015 ( 0.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2014).
None of the other amounts included in Other receivables was deemed to be impaired.
The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of receivable shown above. The Group does not hold any collateral from its customers or debtors as security.
16.2 Currency concentration
The composition of the carrying amounts of total Trade receivablesnet by currency is shown in Euro equivalents as follows:
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
|||||||
(in millions of Euros) | ||||||||
Euro |
83 | 212 | ||||||
U.S. Dollar |
162 | 199 | ||||||
Swiss franc |
6 | 11 | ||||||
Other currencies |
13 | 14 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total trade receivablesnet |
264 | 436 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
16.3 Factoring arrangements
The Group factored specific accounts receivables in Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic and France by entering into factoring agreements with third parties for a maximum capacity of 350 million, allocated as follows:
| 235 million for France |
F-40
| 115 million for Germany, Switzerland and Czech Republic |
During December 2015, the Group renegotiated the factoring arrangement for France, extending maturity to December 2018, reducing costs and changing the recourse nature of the arrangement.
In addition, new factoring agreements were signed in the United States during the year ended December 31, 2015:
| On March 23, 2015, Muscle Shoals entered into a Factoring Agreement which provides for the sale of specific accounts receivables. In October, the agreement was amended to provide a committed capacity of $100 million and an additional uncommitted capacity of $280 million. In December 2015, the Companys debt downgrade resulted in a termination of the commitment. As at December 31, 2015, the financial institution continued to purchase $100 million of accounts receivable on an uncommitted basis. |
| On December 15, 2015, Constellium Automotive USA entered into a Factoring agreement which provides for the sale of specific accounts receivables and for a maximum capacity of $25 million. |
Under the Groups factoring agreements, most of the accounts receivables are now sold without recourse. Where the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the receivables, the receivables are de-recognized from the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Some remaining receivables do not qualify for derecognition under IAS 39, Financial instruments: Recognition and Measurement, as the Group retains substantially all of the associated risks and rewards
Under the agreements, as at December 31, 2015, the total carrying amount of the original assets factored is 529 million (December 31, 2014: 323 million) of which:
| 429 million (December 31, 2014: 94 million) derecognized from the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as the Group transferred substantially all of the associated risks and rewards to the factor |
| 100 million (December 31, 2014: 229 million) recognized on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position |
At December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there was no amount due to the factor relating to trade accounts receivables sold.
Interest costs and other fees
During the year ended December 31, 2015, Constellium incurred 11 million in interest, other fees and amortized deferred financing costs ( 9 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 and 10 million during the year ended December 31, 2013) from these arrangements that are included in finance costs (see NOTE 10Finance CostsNet).
Under certain of the factoring agreements entered into in 2011, the Group paid a one-time, up-front arrangement fee of 2.25% of the initial aggregate maximum financing amount of 300 million (for both agreements), which totaled 7 million.
These arrangement fees plus an additional 7 million in legal and other fees related to the factoring agreements are being amortized as finance costs over a period of five years (see NOTE 10Finance CostsNet).
F-41
During the year ended December 31, 2015, 3 million of such costs were amortized as finance costs ( 2 million during the year ended December 31, 2014, and 3 million during the year December 31, 2013). At December 31, 2015, the Group had less than 1 million ( 3 million at December 31, 2014) of unamortized up-front and legal fees related to the factoring arrangements (included in deferred financing costs).
Covenants
At December 31, 2015, the factoring arrangements contain certain affirmative and negative covenants, including relating to the administration and collection of the assigned receivables, the terms of the invoices and the exchange of information, but do not contain restrictive financial covenants.
The Group was in compliance with all applicable covenants at December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Intercreditor agreement
On January 4, 2011, the Group entered into an Intercreditor Agreement between the French, German and Swiss sellers of the Groups receivables under the various accounts receivable factoring programs described above and the purchasers of those receivables.
The intercreditor agreement was terminated in December 2015 and all rights and obligations of the parties covered by the intercreditor agreement were terminated accordingly.
Deferred financing costs
The Group incurs certain financing costs with third parties associated with its factoring arrangements and U.S. Revolving Credit facility. Amortization of these deferred finance costs is included in Finance costsnet in the Consolidated Income Statement.
Costs incurred and amortization recognized throughout the periods presented are shown in the table below
Year ended December 31, 2015 | Year ended December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Factoring
Arrangements |
U.S.
Revolving Credit Facility |
Other | Total |
Factoring
Arrangements |
U.S.
Revolving Credit Facility |
Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financing costs incurred and deferred |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Up-front facility arrangement fees |
7 | 4 | | 11 | 7 | 3 | | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other direct expenses |
7 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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|
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|
|||||||||||||||||
Total incurred and deferred |
14 | 6 | 3 | 23 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Less: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulated amortized amounts |
(14 | ) | (5 | ) | (1 | ) | (20 | ) | (11 | ) | (5 | ) | (1 | ) | (17 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
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|
|||||||||||||||||
Deferred financing costs at December 31 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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F-42
16.4 Finance lease receivables
The Company is the lessor on certain finance leases with third parties for certain of its property, plant and equipment located in Sierre, Switzerland. The following table shows the reconciliation of the Groups gross investments in the leases to the net investment in the leases at December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Year ended December 31, 2015 | Year ended December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Gross
investment in the lease |
Unearned
interest income |
Net
investment in the lease |
Gross
investment in the lease |
Unearned
interest income |
Net
investment in the lease |
||||||||||||||||||
Less than 1 year |
7 | (1 | ) | 6 | 6 | (1 | ) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
Between 1 and 5 years |
19 | (1 | ) | 18 | 23 | (1 | ) | 22 | ||||||||||||||||
More than 5 years |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total Finance lease receivables |
26 | (2 | ) | 24 | 29 | (2 | ) | 27 | ||||||||||||||||
|
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|
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|
|
Note 17Cash and Cash Equivalents
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Cash in bank and on hand |
472 | 170 | ||||||
Deposits |
| 821 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Cash and cash equivalents |
472 | 991 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
At December 31, 2015, cash in bank and on hand includes a total of 12 million held by subsidiaries that operate in countries where capital control restrictions prevent the balances from being available for general use by the Group ( 8 million at December 31, 2014).
At December 31, 2014, deposits included proceeds drawn under Constellium N.V. Senior Notes issued in December 2014, to be used for the acquisition of Wise entities and for the Body in White growth projects.
At December 31, 2015, authorized share capital amounts to 8 million and is divided into 400,000,000 ordinary shares, each with a nominal value of 0.02. All shares attract one vote and none are subject to any vesting restrictions.
Number of shares | In millions of Euros | |||||||||||||||
A Shares | B Shares |
Share
capital |
Share
premium |
|||||||||||||
At January 1, 2015 |
104,918,946 | 108,109 | 2 | 162 | ||||||||||||
New shares issued(A) |
557,953 | | | | ||||||||||||
Shares cancelled(B) |
| (108,109 | ) | | | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
At December 31, 2015 |
105,476,899 | | 2 | 162 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Constellium N.V. issued and granted to its employees and certain Boards members 557,953 Class A ordinary shares in 2015 (See NOTE 31Share Equity Plans). |
(B) | During the shareholders annual general meeting held on June 11, 2015, the cancellation of the remaining 108,109 Class B ordinary shares was approved. All Class B ordinary shares were effectively cancelled in August 2015. |
F-43
At December 31, 2015 | Class A shares | % | ||||||
Free float |
92,629,930 | 87.82 | % | |||||
Bpifrance |
12,846,969 | 12.18 | % | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
105,476,899 | 100.00 | % | |||||
|
|
|
|
At December 31, 2014 | Class A and B shares | % | ||||||
Free float |
89,396,158 | 85.12 | % | |||||
Bpifrance |
12,846,969 | 12.23 | % | |||||
Other(A) |
2,783,928 | 2.65 | % | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
105,027,055 | 100.00 | % | |||||
|
|
|
|
(A) | Of which 108,109 held by Constellium N.V. |
19.1 Analysis by nature
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) | Amount |
Type of
rate |
Nominal
rate |
Effective
rate |
Amount |
Type of
rate |
Nominal
rate |
Effective
rate |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Notes |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Constellium N.V. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In U.S. Dollar (due 2024) (A) |
365 | Fixed | 5.75 | % | 6.26 | % | 326 | Fixed | 5.75 | % | 6.26 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Euro (due 2021) (A) |
297 | Fixed | 4.63 | % | 5.16 | % | 296 | Fixed | 4.63 | % | 5.16 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
In U.S. Dollar (due 2023) (B) |
375 | Fixed | 8.00 | % | 8.61 | % | 324 | Fixed | 8.00 | % | 8.61 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Euro (due 2023) (B) |
244 | Fixed | 7.00 | % | 7.54 | % | 236 | Fixed | 7.00 | % | 7.54 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Muscle Shoals (Wise Metals Group LLC) (due 2018)(C) |
622 | Fixed | 8.75 | % | 7.45 | % | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior PIK Toggle Notes (due 2019) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Muscle Shoals (Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC)(D) |
145 | Fixed | 9.75 | % | 8.40 | % | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Revolving Credit Facility (ABL) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC(E) |
23 | Floating | | 4.00 | % | 34 | Floating | | 2.54 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Muscle Shoals (Wise Alloys LLC)(F) |
99 | Floating | | 2.60 | % | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Unsecured Credit Facility (Constellium N.V.)(G) |
| | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Others (H) |
63 | | | | 36 | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total Borrowings |
2,233 | | | | 1,252 | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Of which non-current |
2,064 | 1,205 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Of which current |
169 | 47 |
(A) | Represents amounts drawn under May 2014 Senior Notes. On May 7, 2014, Constellium N.V. issued a $400 million Senior Notes due 2024 (the U.S. Dollar Notes equivalent to 368 million at the year-end exchange rate excluding arrangement fees and accrued interests) and a 300 million Senior Notes due 2021 (the Euro Notes) offering. |
At December 31, 2015, amounts under the Senior Notes are net of arrangement fees related to the issuance of the notes totaling 11 million ( 6 million relating to the U.S. Dollar Notes and 5 million relating to the Euro Notes) and include accrued interests for 5 million ( 3 million relating to the U.S. Dollar Notes and 2 million relating to the Euro Notes). |
(B) | Represents amounts drawn under December 2014 Senior Notes. On December 19, 2014, Constellium N.V. issued a $400 million Senior Notes due 2023 (the U.S. Dollar Notes equivalent to 368 million at the year-end exchange rate excluding arrangement fees and accrued interests) and a 240 million Senior Notes due 2023 (the Euro Notes) offering. |
At December 31, 2015, amounts under the Senior Notes are net of arrangement fees related to the issuance of the Notes totaling 10 million ( 6 million relating to the U.S. Dollar Notes and 4 million relating to the Euro Notes) and include accrued interests for 21 million ( 13 million relating to the U.S. Dollar Notes and 8 million relating to the Euro Notes). |
F-44
The whole of the Senior Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by certain of the subsidiaries. Senior Notes include negative covenants. |
(C) | Wise Metals Group LLC and Wise Alloys Finance Corporation as co-issuers issued on December 11, 2013 a $650 million Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (The Senior Secured Notes equivalent to 597 million at the year-end exchange rate excluding fair value adjustment). The Senior Secured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by certain Muscle Shoals subsidiaries. |
At December 31, 2015, amounts under the Senior Secured Notes include the amortized fair value adjustment (recognized at the acquisition date) for 23 million and accrued interests amount for 2 million. |
(D) | Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC and Wise Alloys Finance Corporation as co-issuers issued a $150 million Senior PIK Toggle Notes on April 16, 2014 due 2019 (the Senior PIK Toggle Notes equivalent to 138 million at the year-end exchange rate excluding fair value adjustment). The Senior PIK Toggle Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the issuers and are not guaranteed by Constellium N.V. or any of its subsidiaries. At December 31, 2015, amounts under the Senior PIK Toggles Notes include the amortized fair value adjustment (recognized at the acquisition date) for 6 million and accrued interests for 1 million. |
(E) | On May 25, 2012, Constellium Holdco II B.V., Constellium Holdings I, LLC and Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC subsidiaries of Constellium N.V. entered into a $100 million five-year secured asset-based variable rate revolving credit facility and letter of credit facility (the ABL Facility). |
At December 31, 2015 the net maximum Ravenswood ABL Facility balance amounts to $62 million (equivalent to 57 million at the year-end exchange rate). |
At December 31, 2015, the Group had $37 million (equivalent to 34 million at the year-end exchange rate) of unused borrowing availability. |
(F) | On March 2015, Muscle Shoals amended its five-year secured asset-based variable rate revolving credit facility and letter of credit facility to a borrowing capacity of $200 million with maturity September, 2018. |
At December 31, 2015 the net maximum Muscle Shoals ABL Facility Balance amounts to $136 million (equivalent to 125 million at the year-end exchange rate). |
At December 31, 2015, considering the $3 million letters of credit outstanding, the Group had $25 million (equivalent to 23 million at the year-end exchange rate) of unused borrowing availability. |
(G) | In 2014, Constellium N.V. entered into a 120 million unsecured revolving credit facility with maturity May 2017 which was increased to 145 million and maturity to January, 2018. |
(H) | Includes finance lease liabilities and other miscellaneous borrowings. |
19.2 Movements in borrowings
(in millions of Euros) | Note |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
|||||||
At January 1 |
1,252 | 348 | ||||||||
Borrowings assumed through business combination(A) |
3 | 997 | | |||||||
Proceeds received from term loan and senior notes(B) |
| 1,153 | ||||||||
Repayment of term loan(C) |
| (331 | ) | |||||||
Proceeds/ (Repayments) from U.S. Revolving Credit Facility and other loans(D) |
(211 | ) | 13 | |||||||
Deferred arrangement fees |
| (24 | ) | |||||||
Unamortized arrangement fees(E) |
| 9 | ||||||||
Movement in interests accrued |
20 | 6 | ||||||||
Movement in other financial debts(F) |
3 | 34 | ||||||||
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates |
172 | 44 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
At December 31 |
2,233 | 1,252 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
(A) | Represents the fair value of Muscle Shoals borrowings at January 5, 2015. |
(B) | Represents the value of the Constellium N.V. Senior Notes at transaction date exchange rate (U.S. Dollar Notes for $800 million equivalent to 613 million and Euro Notes for 540 million). |
(C) | Represents the repayment of the 2013 term loan ($356 million of the net U.S dollar principal, equivalent to 257 million at transaction date exchange rate and 74 million of the net Euro principal) at December 31, 2014. |
(D) | Mainly includes repayments on Muscle Shoals ABL Facility. |
F-45
(E) | Due to the early repayment of the 2013 term loan, 9 million of arrangement fees which were not amortized were fully recognized as financial expenses in 2014 (see NOTE 10Finance costsnet). |
(F) | Mainly includes the impact of new financial leases contracted less rent payments of the year. |
19.3 Currency concentration
The composition of the carrying amounts of total borrowings in Euro equivalents is denominated in the currencies shown below:
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
U.S. Dollar |
1,661 | 709 | ||||||
Euro |
568 | 539 | ||||||
Swiss Franc |
4 | 4 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total borrowings |
2,233 | 1,252 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
19.4 Main features of the Groups borrowings
Interest
Constellium N.V. Senior Notes
Interest under Senior Notes issued in May 2014 accrue at a rate of 5.75% per annum on the U.S. Dollar Notes and 4.625% per annum on the Euro Notes and are paid semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, starting on November 15, 2014.
Interest under Senior Notes issued in December 2014 accrue at a rate of 8.00% per annum on the U.S. Dollar Notes and 7.00% per annum on the Euro Notes and are paid semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, starting on July 15, 2015.
Muscle Shoals Secured Senior Notes
The Secured Senior Notes bear interest at 8.75% payable semiannually on June 15 and December 15 of each year.
Muscles Shoals Senior PIK Toggle Notes
Interest is payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 of each year. For each interest period, Wise Intermediate Holdings is required to pay interest of 9.75% in cash, or may elect if certain conditions are satisfied to pay PIK interest either by increasing the principal amount or issuing new notes. The PIK interest rate is equal to the cash interest rate plus 75 basis points, or 10.5%.
In December 2015, Muscle Shoals elected to pay the June 2016 coupon interests in kind.
U.S. Revolving Credit Facility
Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC
The Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood facility bears interest at rates ranging either 0.5% to 1% over the US prime interest rate (Base rate) or 1,5% to 2% over LIBOR rate. The margin is based on the prior quarters average excess availability divided by the borrowing base.
F-46
At December 31, 2015, the outstanding $25 million (equivalent to 23 million at the year-end exchange rate) amount drawn is at Base rate.
Muscle Shoals
The Muscle Shoals ABL Facility bears interest at rates ranging either from 0.75% to 1.25% over the U.S. prime interest rate or 1.75% to 2.25% over the LIBOR rate, in each case based on the quarterly average adjusted excess availability for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter. At December 2015, the rate on the ABL Facility based upon the prime interest rate and on LIBOR were 4.75% and 2.60%. The Company also incurs a fee of 0.375% of the average unused commitment amount under the ABL Facility.
At December 31, 2015, the outstanding $108 million (equivalent to 99 million at the year-end exchange rate) amount drawn is at LIBOR rate.
Unsecured Credit Facility
Borrowings under the Unsecured Credit Facility would bear interest at the Eurocurrency rate plus a margin of 2.50% per annum. Accrued interest on each borrowings shall be payable on demand and in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment.
Foreign exchange exposure
The notional of the Constellium N.V. U.S. Dollar Notes are hedged through cross currency swaps and rolling foreign exchange forwards. The notional of the cross currency basis swaps amounted to $720 million (equivalent to 661 million) at December 31, 2015. The remaining balance of the U.S. Dollar Notes is hedged by simple rolling foreign exchange forwards. Changes in the fair value of these hedging derivatives are recognized within Finance costs in the Consolidated Income Statement. The positive fair value of these hedging derivatives is 47 million at December 31, 2015.
The cross currency swaps associated with the 2013 term loan was settled in 2014 and paid for 26 million. In 2015, cross currency swaps and liquidity swaps were settled and received for 32 million. The impact are presented in Other financing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow.
The other U.S. Dollar Notes or facilities are not hedged as they are held by U.S Dollar functional currency entities.
Covenants
The Group was in compliance with all applicable debt covenants at and for the period ended December 31, 2015.
Constellium N.V. Senior Notes
The private offerings contain customary terms and conditions, including amongst other things, limitation on incurring or guaranteeing additional indebtness, on paying dividends, on making other restricted payments, on creating restriction on dividend and other payments to us from certain of our subsidiaries, on incurring certain liens, on selling assets and subsidiary stock, and on merging.
Constellium N.V. Unsecured Credit Facility
The Unsecured Credit Facility is available to the extent certain ratios are met.
F-47
Ravenswood ABL Facility
This facility contains a minimum availability covenant that requires Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC to maintain excess availability of at least the greater of (a) $10 million and (b) 10% of the aggregate revolving loan commitments. It also contains customary events of default.
Muscle Shoals ABL Facility
This facility contains a fixed charge coverage ratio covenant. Evaluation of compliance is only required if Muscle Shoals s excess availability falls below the greater of (a) $20 million and (b) 10% of the aggregate revolving loan commitment. It also contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, but no maintenance covenants. Substantially all the assets of Muscle Shoals are pledged as collateral for Muscle Shoals financials arrangements including factoring facility.
Note 20 Trade Payables and Other
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) | Non-current | Current | Non-current | Current | ||||||||||||
Trade payables |
| 657 | | 662 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Employees entitlements |
| 130 | 16 | 113 | ||||||||||||
Deferred revenue |
38 | 13 | 10 | 32 | ||||||||||||
Taxes payable other than income tax |
| 16 | | 19 | ||||||||||||
Other payables |
16 | 51 | 5 | 51 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total other |
54 | 210 | 31 | 215 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Trade payables and other |
54 | 867 | 31 | 877 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 21 Pensions and Other Post-Employment Benefit Obligations
The Group operates a number of pensions, other post-employment benefits and other long-term employee benefit plans. Some of these plans are defined contribution plans and some are defined benefit plans, with assets held in separate trustee-administered funds. Benefits paid through pension trusts are sufficiently funded to ensure the payment of benefits to retirees when they become due.
Actuarial valuation are carried out with the support of an independent expert and are reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements as described in NOTE 2.6Principles governing the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
21.1 Description of the plans
Pension plans
Constelliums pension obligations are in the U.S., Switzerland, Germany and France. Pension benefits are generally based on the employees service and highest average eligible compensation before retirement and are periodically adjusted for cost of living increases, either by company practice, collective agreement or statutory requirement.
Other post-employment benefits (OPEB)
The Group provides health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees and in some cases to their beneficiaries and covered dependents, mainly in the U.S Eligibility for coverage is dependent upon certain age and service criteria. These benefit plans are unfunded.
F-48
Other long-term employee benefits
Other long term employee benefits include jubilees in France, Germany and Switzerland and other long-term disability benefits in the U.S.
21.2 Description of risks
Our estimates of liabilities and expenses for pensions and other post-employment benefits incorporate a number of assumptions, including discount rate, longevity estimate and inflation rate. The defined benefit obligations expose the Group to a number of risks, including longevity, inflation, interest rate, medical cost inflation, investment performance, and change in law governing the employee benefit obligations. These risks are mitigated when possible by applying an investment strategy for the funded schemes which aims to minimize the long-term costs. This is achieved by investing in a diversified selection of asset classes, which aims to reduce the volatility of returns and also achieves a level of matching with the underlying liabilities.
Investment performance risk
Our pension plan assets consist primarily of funds invested in listed stocks and bonds (see NOTE 21.12-Fair value hierarchy).
The present value of funded defined benefit obligations is calculated using a discount rate determined by reference to high quality corporate bond yields. If the return on plan asset is below this rate, it will increase the plan deficit.
Interest rate risk
A decrease in the discount rate will increase the defined benefit obligation. At December 31, 2015, impacts of the change on the defined benefit obligation of a 0.50% increase / decrease in the discount rates are calculated by using a proxy based on the duration of each scheme, as follows:
(in millions of Euros) |
0.50% increase in
discount rates |
0.50% decrease in
discount rates |
||||||
France |
(8 | ) | 9 | |||||
Germany |
(8 | ) | 9 | |||||
Switzerland |
(21 | ) | 24 | |||||
United States |
(30 | ) | 34 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total sensitivity on Defined Benefit Obligations |
(67 | ) | 76 | |||||
|
|
|
|
Longevity risk
The present value of the defined benefit obligation is calculated by reference to the best estimate of the mortality of plan participants. An increase in the life expectancy of the plan participants will increase the plans liability.
21.3 Main events
In 2015, the acquisition of Wise resulted in an increase of 8 million in the Groups net pension liability.
In 2014, the Swiss pension plan was modified to reflect updated conversion factors with transitional rates until 2022. This amendment resulted in the immediate recognition of negative past service cost of 6 million.
F-49
In 2013, 2014, the Group implemented certain plan amendments that had the effect of reducing benefits for the participants in the Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood Retiree Medical and Life Insurance Plan. These amendments resulted in the immediate recognition of negative past service cost of 9 million in 2014 and 11 million in 2013.
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates
The appreciation of the U.S. Dollar and Swiss Francs against the Euro resulted in an increase of respectively 37 million and 6 million of the Group net defined benefit obligation for the year ended December 31, 2015.
21.4 Actuarial assumptions
Our estimates of liabilities and expenses for pensions and other post-employment benefits incorporate a number of assumptions, including discount rate, longevity estimate and inflation rate. The principal actuarial assumptions used as at the balance sheet closing date were as follows:
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rate of
increase in salaries |
Rate of
increase in pensions |
Discount
rate |
Inflation |
Rate of
increase in salaries |
Rate of
increase in pensions |
Discount
rate |
Inflation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Switzerland |
1.75 | % | | 0.80 | % | 1.25 | % | 1.75 | % | | 1.15 | % | 1.25 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. |
3.80 | % | | | | 3.80 | % | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hourly pension |
| | 4.55 | % | | | | 4.15 | % | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Salaried pension |
| | 4.70 | % | | | | 4.25 | % | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
OPEB(A) |
| | 4.35%-4.85 | % | | | | 4.05 | % | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other benefits |
| | 4.25%-4.45 | % | | | | 3.90%-4.05% | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
France |
1.75%-2.25% | 2.00 | % | | 2.00 | % | 1.75 | % | 2.00 | % | | 2.00 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Retirements |
| | 2.35 | % | | | | 1.90 | % | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other benefits |
| | 1.95 | % | | | | 1.55 | % | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Germany |
2.75 | % | 1.80 | % | 2.40 | % | 1.80 | % | 2.75 | % | 1.80 | % | 1.90 | % | 1.80 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Other main financial assumptions used for the OPEB (healthcare plans, which are predominantly in the U.S.), were: |
| Medical trend rate: pre 65: 7.00% starting in 2016 reducing to 4.50% by the year 2024 and post 65: 6.00% starting in 2016 grading down to 4.50% by 2024, and |
| Claims costs based on individual company experience. |
For both pension and healthcare plans, the post-employment mortality assumptions allow for future improvements in life expectancy.
F-50
21.5 Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Present value of funded obligation |
(681 | ) | | (681 | ) | (612 | ) | | (612 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Fair value of plan assets |
362 | | 362 | 330 | | 330 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Deficit of funded plans |
(319 | ) | | (319 | ) | (282 | ) | | (282 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Present value of unfunded obligation |
(121 | ) | (261 | ) | (382 | ) | (130 | ) | (245 | ) | (375 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net liability arising from defined benefit obligation |
(440 | ) | (261 | ) | (701 | ) | (412 | ) | (245 | ) | (657 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
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21.6 Movements in the present value of the Defined Benefits Obligations
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Defined Benefit Obligations at January 1 |
(742 | ) | (245 | ) | (987 | ) | (592 | ) | (195 | ) | (787 | ) | ||||||||||||
Defined Benefit Obligation assumed through business combination |
(27 | ) | (2 | ) | (29 | ) | | | | |||||||||||||||
Current service cost |
(19 | ) | (6 | ) | (25 | ) | (14 | ) | (4 | ) | (18 | ) | ||||||||||||
Interest cost |
(20 | ) | (10 | ) | (30 | ) | (21 | ) | (9 | ) | (30 | ) | ||||||||||||
Contributions by the employees |
(5 | ) | | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | | (5 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Past service costs |
| (2 | ) | (2 | ) | 6 | 7 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
Immediate recognition of gains / (losses) arising over the year |
| 1 | 1 | | (4 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Benefits paid |
34 | 18 | 52 | 29 | 15 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||
Remeasurement due to changes in demographic assumptions |
7 | 4 | 11 | (14 | ) | (12 | ) | (26 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Remeasurement due to changes in financial assumptions |
21 | 10 | 31 | (101 | ) | (16 | ) | (117 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Experience gains / (losses) |
2 | (2 | ) | | 3 | (1 | ) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates |
(55 | ) | (27 | ) | (82 | ) | (33 | ) | (26 | ) | (59 | ) | ||||||||||||
Defined Benefit Obligation reclassified as liability held for sale |
2 | | 2 | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
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Defined Benefit Obligations at December 31 |
(802 | ) | (261 | ) | (1,063 | ) | (742 | ) | (245 | ) | (987 | ) | ||||||||||||
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|||||||||||||
Of which Funded |
(681 | ) | | (681 | ) | (612 | ) | | (612 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Of which Unfunded |
(121 | ) | (261 | ) | (382 | ) | (130 | ) | (245 | ) | (375 | ) | ||||||||||||
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F-51
21.7 Movements in the fair value of plan assets
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Plan assets at January 1 |
330 | | 330 | 277 | | 277 | ||||||||||||||||||
Plan asset acquired through business combination |
21 | | 21 | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Remeasurement return on plan assets |
(39 | ) | | (39 | ) | 11 | | 11 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest income |
10 | | 10 | 10 | | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
Contributions by the Group |
32 | 18 | 50 | 34 | 15 | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||
Contributions by the employees |
5 | | 5 | 5 | | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Benefits paid |
(34 | ) | (18 | ) | (52 | ) | (29 | ) | (15 | ) | (44 | ) | ||||||||||||
Administration expenses |
(2 | ) | | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates |
39 | | 39 | 23 | | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Fair value of plan assets at December 31 |
362 | | 362 | 330 | | 330 | ||||||||||||||||||
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21.8 Variation of the net defined benefit obligation
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) | Note |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Net liability recognized at January 1 |
(412 | ) | (245 | ) | (657 | ) | (315 | ) | (195 | ) | (510 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net liability assumed through business combination |
3 | (6 | ) | (2 | ) | (8 | ) | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Total amounts recognized in the Consolidated Income Statement |
(31 | ) | (17 | ) | (48 | ) | (20 | ) | (10 | ) | (30 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Actuarial (losses) / gains recognized in the SoCI |
(9 | ) | 12 | 3 | (101 | ) | (29 | ) | (130 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Contributions by the Group |
32 | 18 | 50 | 34 | 15 | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates |
(16 | ) | (27 | ) | (43 | ) | (10 | ) | (26 | ) | (36 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net liability reclassified as held for sale |
2 | | 2 | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Net liability recognized at December 31 |
(440 | ) | (261 | ) | (701 | ) | (412 | ) | (245 | ) | (657 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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21.9 Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Income Statement
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Current service cost |
(19 | ) | (6 | ) | (25 | ) | (14 | ) | (4 | ) | (18 | ) | ||||||||||||
Past service cost |
| (2 | ) | (2 | ) | 6 | 7 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
Net interest |
(10 | ) | (10 | ) | (20 | ) | (11 | ) | (9 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||||||||||
Immediate recognition of gains / (losses) arising over the period |
| 1 | 1 | | (4 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Administration expenses |
(2 | ) | | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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Total costs recognized in the Consolidated Income Statement |
(31 | ) | (17 | ) | (48 | ) | (20 | ) | (10 | ) | (30 | ) | ||||||||||||
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The expenses shown in this table are included as employee costs in the Consolidated Income Statement within Employee benefit expense and in Other gains/ (losses)net (See NOTE 7Employee Benefit Expenses and NOTE 8Other gains/(losses) Net).
F-52
21.10 Analysis of amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income / Loss (SoCI)
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total |
Pension
Benefits |
Other
Benefits |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative amount of losses recognized in the SoCI at January 1 |
132 | 36 | 168 | 27 | 4 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||
Liability (gains) / losses due to changes in demographic assumptions |
(7 | ) | (4 | ) | (11 | ) | 14 | 11 | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Liability (gains) / losses due to changes in financial assumptions |
(21 | ) | (10 | ) | (31 | ) | 102 | 17 | 119 | |||||||||||||||
Liability experience (gains) / losses arising during the period |
(2 | ) | 2 | | (4 | ) | 1 | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Asset losses / (gains) arising during the period |
39 | | 39 | (11 | ) | | (11 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates |
6 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Total losses / (gains) recognized in SoCI |
15 | (8 | ) | 7 | 105 | 32 | 137 | |||||||||||||||||
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Cumulative amount of losses recognized in the SoCI at December 31 |
147 | 28 | 175 | 132 | 36 | 168 | ||||||||||||||||||
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21.11 Defined benefit obligations by country
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
France |
(132 | ) | (142 | ) | ||||
Germany |
(137 | ) | (148 | ) | ||||
Switzerland |
(265 | ) | (224 | ) | ||||
United States(A) |
(529 | ) | (473 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Defined benefit obligations |
(1,063 | ) | (987 | ) | ||||
|
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|
|
(A) | Includes Muscle Shoals defined benefits obligations of 30 million at December 31, 2015. |
21.12 Fair value hierarchy
The major categories of plan assets are as follows:
F-53
The following table shows the fair value of plans assets classified under the appropriate level of the fair value hierarchy as defined in NOTE 24.4Valuation hierarchy:
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
2 | 1 | | 3 | 2 | 1 | | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity |
86 | 58 | | 144 | 84 | 39 | | 123 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bonds |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Government bonds |
| 9 | | 9 | | 1 | | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds |
| 161 | | 161 | 3 | 141 | | 144 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other investments |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate |
5 | 34 | | 39 | 2 | 22 | | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodities |
4 | | | 4 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hedge fund |
| | | | 6 | | | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Insurance contracts |
| 2 | | 2 | | 4 | | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other |
| | | | 6 | | 19 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|||||||||||||||||
Total |
97 | 265 | | 362 | 103 | 208 | 19 | 330 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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21.13 Cash flows
Contributions to plans
Contributions to pension plans totaled 32 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 ( 34 million for the year ended December 31, 2014).
Contributions to other benefits totaled 18 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 ( 15 million for the year ended December 31, 2014).
Expected contributions to pension amount to 26 million and other post-employment benefits (healthcare obligation) amount to 19 million for the year ending December 31, 2016.
Benefit payments
Benefit payments expected to be paid to pension, other post-employment benefit plans participants and other benefits, over the next years, are as follows:
(in millions of Euros) |
Estimated benefits
payments |
|||
Year ended December 31, |
||||
2016 |
53 | |||
2017 |
54 | |||
2018 |
55 | |||
2019 |
59 | |||
2020 |
60 | |||
2021 to 2025 |
311 | |||
|
|
21.14 OPEB amendments
During the third quarter of 2012, the Group implemented certain plan amendments that had the effect of reducing benefits of the participants in the Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood Retiree Medical and Life Insurance Plan. In February 2013, five Constellium retirees and the United Steelworkers union filed a class action lawsuit against Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC in a federal district court in West Virginia, alleging that Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC improperly modified retiree health benefits.
F-54
The Group believes that these claims are unfounded, and that Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC had a legal and contractual right to make the applicable modification.
(in millions of Euros) | Note |
Close down and
environmental restoration costs |
Restructuring
costs |
Legal claims
and other costs |
Total | |||||||||||||
At January 1, 2015 |
47 | 10 | 53 | 110 | ||||||||||||||
Provisions assumed through business combination |
3 | 40 | | 13 | 53 | |||||||||||||
Additional provisions |
| 7 | 15 | 22 | ||||||||||||||
Amounts used |
(4 | ) | (8 | ) | (8 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||||||||
Unused amounts reversed |
(2 | ) | (1 | ) | (8 | ) | (11 | ) | ||||||||||
Unwinding of discounts |
2 | | | 2 | ||||||||||||||
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates |
5 | | 2 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
At December 31, 2015 |
88 | 8 | 67 | 163 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Current |
3 | 3 | 38 | 44 | ||||||||||||||
Non-Current |
85 | 5 | 29 | 119 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total provisions |
88 | 8 | 67 | 163 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions of Euros) |
Close down and
environmental restoration costs |
Restructuring
costs |
Legal claims
and other costs |
Total | ||||||||||||
At January 1, 2014 |
48 | 10 | 45 | 103 | ||||||||||||
Additional provisions |
1 | 8 | 15 | 24 | ||||||||||||
Amounts used |
(2 | ) | (7 | ) | (3 | ) | (12 | ) | ||||||||
Unused amounts reversed |
(4 | ) | (1 | ) | (4 | ) | (9 | ) | ||||||||
Unwinding of discounts |
4 | | | 4 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
At December 31, 2014 |
47 | 10 | 53 | 110 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Current |
3 | 8 | 38 | 49 | ||||||||||||
Non-Current |
44 | 2 | 15 | 61 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total provisions |
47 | 10 | 53 | 110 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
Close down, environmental and restoration costs
The Group records provisions for the estimated present value of the costs of its environmental clean-up obligations and close down and restoration efforts based on the net present value of estimated future costs of the dismantling and demolition of infrastructure and the removal of residual material of disturbed areas, using an average discount rate of 1.1%. A change in the discount rate of 0.5% would impact the provision by 3 million.
It is expected that these provisions will be settled over the next 40 years depending on the nature of the disturbance and the technical remediation plans.
F-55
Restructuring costs
The Group records provisions for restructuring costs when management has a detailed formal plan, is demonstrably committed to its execution and can reasonably estimate the associated liabilities. The related expenses are included in Restructuring costs in the Consolidated Income Statement.
Legal claims and other costs
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Maintenance of customer related provisions(A) |
10 | 14 | ||||||
Litigation(B) |
41 | 28 | ||||||
Disease claims(C) |
5 | 6 | ||||||
Other |
11 | 5 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total provisions for legal claims and other costs |
67 | 53 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(A) | These provisions include 4 million in 2015 ( 7 million in 2014) related to general equipment maintenance, mainly linked to the Group leases. These provisions also include 1 million in 2015 ( 1 million in 2014) related to product warranties and guarantees and 5 million in 2015 ( 6 million in 2014) related to late delivery penalties. These provisions are expected to be utilized over the next five years. |
(B) | The Group is involved in litigation and other proceedings, such as civil, commercial and tax proceedings, incidental to normal operations. It is not anticipated that the resolution of such litigation and proceedings will have a material effect on the future results, financial position, or cash flows of the Group. |
(C) | Since the early 1990s, certain activities of the Groups businesses have been subject to claims and lawsuits in France relating to occupational diseases resulting from alleged asbestos exposure, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. It is not uncommon for the investigation and resolution of such claims to go on over many years as the latency period for acquiring such diseases is typically between 25 and 40 years. For any such claim, it is up to the social security authorities in each jurisdiction to determine if a claim qualifies as an occupational illness claim. If so determined, the Group must settle the case or defend its position in court. At December 31, 2015, 15 cases in which gross negligence is alleged ( faute inexcusable ) remain outstanding (9 at December 31, 2014), the average amount per claim being less than 0.1 million. The average settlement amount per claim in 2014 and 2013 was separately 0.3 and 0.1 million. It is not anticipated that the resolution of such litigation and proceedings will have a material effect on the future results from continuing operations, financial condition, or cash flows of the Group. |
N ote 23 Financial Risk Management
The Groups financial risk management strategy focuses on minimizing the cash flow impacts of volatility in foreign currency exchange rates, metal prices and interest rates, while maintaining the financial flexibility the Group requires in order to successfully execute the Groups business strategies.
Due to Constelliums capital structure and the nature of its operations, the Group is exposed to the following financial risks: (i) market risk (including foreign exchange risk, commodity price risk and interest rate risk); (ii) credit risk and (iii) liquidity and capital management risk.
F-56
23.1 Market risk
(i) Foreign exchange risk
Net assets, earnings and cash flows are influenced by multiple currencies due to the geographic diversity of sales and the countries in which the Group operates. The Euro and the U.S. Dollar are the currencies in which the majority of sales are denominated. Operating costs are influenced by the currencies of those countries where Constelliums operating plants are located and also by those currencies in which the costs of imported equipment and services are determined. The Euro and U.S. Dollar are the most important currencies influencing operating costs.
The policy of the Group is to hedge committed and highly probable forecasted foreign currency operational transactions. The Group uses foreign exchange forwards for this purpose.
In June 2011, the Group entered into a five-year frame agreement with a major customer for the sale of fabricated metal products in U.S. Dollars. In line with its hedging policy, the Group entered into significant foreign exchange derivative transactions to forward sell U.S. Dollars versus the Euro following the signing of the multiple-year frame agreement to match these future sales.
At December 31, 2015, our largest commercial foreign exchange derivative transactions related to this contract.
The notional principal amounts of the outstanding commercial foreign exchange contracts at December 31, 2015with maturities ranging between 2016 and 2020were as follows:
currency |
Forward Exchange
contracts in currency millions |
Foreign Exchange
Swap contracts in currency millions |
||||||
CHF |
29 | 87 | ||||||
CZK |
575 | | ||||||
EUR |
223 | 30 | ||||||
GBP |
(6 | ) | | |||||
JPY |
(984 | ) | (478 | ) | ||||
SGD |
1 | 7 | ||||||
USD |
(327 | ) | (134 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
A negative balance represents a net currency sale, whereas a positive balance represents a net currency purchase.
Except for limited non-recurring transactions, hedge accounting is not applied and therefore the mark-to-market impact is recorded in Other gains/(losses)net or Finance costsnet.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the impact of these derivatives was an unrealized loss of 10 million as the U.S. dollar appreciated against the Euro in 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the impact of these derivatives was an unrealized loss of 41 million. The offsetting gain related to the forecasted sales are not visible due to the sales not yet being recorded in the books of the Group.
As the U.S. dollar appreciates against the Euro, the derivative contracts entered into with financial institutions have a negative mark-to-market. Our financial derivative counterparties require margin call should our mark-to-market exceed a pre-agreed contractual limit. In order to protect from the potential margin calls for significant market movements, the Group holds a significant liquidity buffer in cash or
F-57
in availability under its various borrowing facilities, enters into derivatives with a large number of financial counterparties and monitors margin requirements on a daily basis for adverse movements in the U.S. dollar versus the Euro.
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the margin requirement related to foreign exchange hedges was nil.
During 2012, the Group decided to limit the liquidity risk arising from potential margin calls on operational hedges by entering into a portfolio of foreign exchange zero cost collars (combinations of bought calls and sold puts). In 2015, the Company decided to realize the option portfolio for a 3 million gain. At December 2015, there were no foreign exchange zero cost collars outstanding.
Borrowings are principally in U.S. dollars and Euros (see NOTE 19Borrowings). It is the policy of the Group to hedge all non-functional currency debt and cash. The Group entered into cross currency basis swaps to hedge the foreign exchange inherent in our financing. At December 31, 2015, the notional outstanding on the cross currency basis swaps was $720 million ( 661 million). The unrealized gain related to these cross currency basis swaps amounted to 18 million during the year ended December 31, 2015.
Foreign exchange sensitivity: Risks associated with exposure to financial instruments
A 10% weakening in the December 31, 2015, closing Euro exchange rate against all applicable currencies on the value of financial instruments held by the Group at December 31, 2015, would have decreased earnings (before tax effect) as shown in the table below :
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 Sensitivity impact |
|||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash |
11 | |||
Trade receivables |
18 | |||
Trade payables |
(25 | ) | ||
Borrowings(B) |
(185 | ) | ||
Metal derivatives (net) |
(3 | ) | ||
Foreign exchange derivatives (net)(A) |
(47 | ) | ||
Cross currency swaps |
74 | |||
|
|
|||
Total |
(157 | ) | ||
|
|
(A) | The foreign exchange derivatives largely hedge items that are not already on the balance sheet (forecast U.S. Dollar sales in Euro functional currency entities) |
(B) | The US dollar indebtness located within US dollar functional currency entities and representing a total amount of equivalent 922 million at closing rate is not hedged. Consequently, the related increase in borrowings that would result from a 10% weakening of Euro exchange rate against Dollar is not offset by cross currency swaps changes in fair value. |
The amounts shown in the table above may not be indicative of future results since the balances of financial assets and liabilities may change.
The material portion of the impact are driven by the Euro exchange rate weakening against the U.S. Dollar.
F-58
(ii) Commodity price risk
The Group is subject to the effects of market fluctuations in the price of aluminum, which is the Groups primary metal input and a significant component of its output. The Group is also exposed to silver, copper and natural gas but in a less significant way.
The Group strategy is to protect the Groups margin on future conversion and fabrication activities by aligning the price and quantity of physical aluminum purchases with that of physical aluminum sales. When the Group is unable to do so, it enters into derivative financial instruments to pass through the exposure to metal price fluctuations to financial institutions at the time the price is set. Therefore, the Group purchases fixed price aluminum forwards to offset the exposure of LME volatility on its fixed price sales agreements for the supply of metal.
The Group does not apply hedge accounting and therefore any mark-to-market movements are recognized in Other gains / (losses)net.
At December 31, 2015, the notional principal amount of aluminum derivatives outstanding was 167,925 tons (approximately $282 million)133,875 tons at December 31, 2014, (approximately $269 million)with maturities ranging from 2016 to 2019, copper derivatives outstanding was 1,750 tons (approximately $14 million)3,000 tons at December 31, 2014 (approximately $24 million)with maturities in 2016, silver derivatives 619,981 ounces (approximately $9 million)270,027 ounces at December 31, 2014 (approximately $6 million)with maturities in 2016 and 7,200,000 MMBtu of natural gas futures (approximately $23 million)3,465,000 MMBtu at December 31, 2014 (approximately $13 million) with maturities in 2016.
The value of the contracts will fluctuate due to changes in market prices but is intended to help protect the Groups margin on future conversion and fabrication activities. At December 31, 2015, these contracts are directly with external counterparties.
For the year ending December 31, 2015, 7 million of unrealized losses were recorded in relation to LME Aluminum futures due to a decline in the LME price of aluminum, with the revaluation of the underlying transaction continuing partially off- balance sheet for the sales which had not yet been invoiced and recognized as revenue. Unrealized losses for other commodities amount to 2 million. For the year ending December 31, 2014, 7 million of unrealized losses were recorded in relation to LME futures.
As the LME price for aluminum falls, the derivative contracts entered into with financial institution counterparties have a negative mark-to-market. The Groups financial institution counterparties may require margin calls should the negative mark-to-market exceed a pre-agreed contractual limit. In order to protect from the potential margin calls for significant market movements, the Group enters into derivatives with a large number of financial counterparties and monitors margin requirements on a daily basis for adverse movements in aluminum prices.
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the margin requirement related to aluminum or any other commodity hedges was nil.
Commodity price sensitivity: risks associated with derivatives
The net impact on earnings and equity of a 10% increase or decrease in the market price of aluminum, based on the aluminum derivatives held by the Group at December 31, 2015 (before tax effect), with all other variables held constant was estimated to 23 million gains or losses ( 20 million at December 31, 2014). The balances of such financial instruments may change in future periods however, and therefore the amounts shown may not be indicative of future results.
F-59
(iii) Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk refers to the risk that the value of financial instruments held by the Group and that are subject to variable rates will fluctuate, or the cash flows associated with such instruments will be impacted due to changes in market interest rates. The Groups interest rate risk arises principally from borrowings. Borrowings issued at variable rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk which is partially offset by cash and cash equivalents deposits (including short-term investments) earning interest at variable interest rates. Borrowings issued at fixed rates expose the Group to fair value interest rate risk.
Interest rate sensitivity: risks associated with variable-rate financial instruments
The impact on Loss/Income before income tax for the period of a 50 basis point increase or decrease in the LIBOR or EURIBOR interest rates, based on the variable rate financial instruments held by the Group at December 31, 2015, with all other variables held constant, was estimated to be less than 1 million for the periods ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. However, the balances of such financial instruments may not remain constant in future periods, and therefore the amounts shown may not be indicative of future results. At December 2015, 92% of Groups borrowings were at fixed rate.
23.2 Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty will not meet its obligations under a financial instrument or customer contract, leading to a financial loss. The Group is exposed to credit risk with financial institutions and other parties as a result of cash-in-bank, cash deposits, mark-to-market on derivative transactions and customer trade receivables arising from Constelliums operating activities. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of financial asset as described in NOTE 24Financial Instruments. The Group does not generally hold any collateral as security.
Credit risk related to transactions with financial institutions
Credit risk with financial institutions is managed by the Groups Treasury department in accordance with a Board approved policy. Constellium management is not aware of any significant risks associated with financial institutions as a result of cash and cash equivalents deposits (including short-term investments) and financial derivative transactions.
The number of financial counterparties is tabulated below showing our exposure to the counterparty by rating type (Parent company ratings from Moodys Investor Services):
(A) | Financial Counterparties for which the Groups exposure is below 250 k have been excluded from the analysis. |
F-60
Credit risks related to customer trade receivables
The Group has a diverse customer base geographically and by industry. The responsibility for customer credit risk management rests with Constellium management. Payment terms vary and are set in accordance with practices in the different geographies and end-markets served. Credit limits are typically established based on internal or external rating criteria, which take into account such factors as the financial condition of the customers, their credit history and the risk associated with their industry segment. Trade receivables are actively monitored and managed, at the business unit or site level. Business units report credit exposure information to Constellium management on a regular basis. Over 80% of the Groups trade account receivables are insured by insurance companies rated A3 4 or better. In situations where collection risk is considered to be above acceptable levels, risk is mitigated through the use of advance payments, bank guarantees or letters of credit. Historically, we have a very low level of customer default as a result of long history of dealing with our customer base and an active credit monitoring function.
See NOTE 16Trade Receivables and other for the aging of trade receivables.
23.3 Liquidity and capital risk management
Groups capital structure includes shareholders equity, borrowings and various third-party financing arrangements (such as credit facilities and factoring arrangements). Constelliums total capital is defined as total equity plus net debt. Net debt includes borrowings due to third parties less cash and cash equivalents.
Constelliums overriding objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the business as a going concern, to maximize returns for its owners and to maintain an optimal capital structure in order to minimize the weighted cost of capital.
All activities around cash funding, borrowings and financial instruments are centralized within Constelliums Treasury department. Direct external funding or transactions with banks at the operating plant entity level are generally not permitted, and exceptions must be approved by Constelliums Treasury department.
The liquidity requirements of the overall Company are funded by drawing on available credit facilities, while the internal management of liquidity is optimized by means of cash pooling agreements and/or intercompany loans and deposits between the Companys operating entities and central Treasury.
The contractual agreements that the Group has with derivative financial counterparties require the posting of collateral once a certain threshold has been reached. In order to protect the Group from the potential margin calls for significant market movements, the Group holds a significant liquidity buffer in cash or availability under its various borrowing facilities, enters into derivatives with a large number of financial counterparties, entered into a series of zero cost collars (see NOTE 23.1 (i)) and monitors margin requirements on a daily basis for adverse movements in the U.S. dollar versus the Euro and in aluminum prices.
In excess of the cash in bank (See NOTE 17Cash and Cash equivalents), the Group has access to 261 million undrawn facilities (including the 145m Constellium N.V. unsecured credit facility) at December 31, 2015.
F-61
The table below shows undiscounted contractual values by relevant maturity groupings based on the remaining period from December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, to the contractual maturity date.
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Less
than 1 year |
Between 1
and 5 years |
Over
5 years |
Less
than 1 year |
Between 1
and 5 years |
Over
5 years |
||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets : |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cross currency basis swaps |
15 | 35 | | 7 | 23 | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Less
than 1 year |
Between 1
and 5 years |
Over
5 years |
Less
than 1 year |
Between 1
and 5 years |
Over
5 years |
||||||||||||||||||
Financial liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings(A) |
262 | 1,205 | 1,471 | 92 | 304 | 1,456 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cross currency basis swaps |
2 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Net cash flows from derivatives liabilities related to currencies and commodities |
109 | 15 | | 73 | 43 | | ||||||||||||||||||
Trade payables and other (excludes deferred revenue) |
854 | 16 | | 845 | 21 | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
1,234 | 1,229 | 1,471 | 1,010 | 368 | 1,456 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Borrowings include the U.S. Revolving Credit Facilities which are considered short-term in nature and are included in the category Less than 1 year and undiscounted forecasted interests. |
See NOTE 19Borrowings, for further details on borrowings and credit facilities.
See NOTE 16Trade receivables and other, for further details on factoring arrangements.
Derivative financial instruments
The Group enters into derivative contracts to manage operating exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency, aluminum, copper, silver and natural gas prices, and premium. The tables below show the undiscounted contractual values and terms of derivative instruments.
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) |
Less
than 1 year |
Between 1
and 5 years |
Total |
Less
than 1 year |
Between 1
and 5 years |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||
AssetsDerivative Contracts(A) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aluminum future contracts |
2 | | 2 | 2 | | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other future contracts |
| 1 | 1 | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Currency derivative contracts |
29 | 3 | 32 | 41 | 11 | 52 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cross currency basis swaps(B) |
15 | 35 | 50 | 7 | 23 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
46 | 39 | 85 | 50 | 34 | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
LiabilitiesDerivative Contracts(A) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aluminum future contracts |
20 | 5 | 25 | 16 | 2 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||
Copper future contracts |
6 | | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other future contracts |
5 | | 5 | 3 | | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Currency derivative contracts |
78 | 10 | 88 | 52 | 39 | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cross currency basis swaps(B) |
2 | | 2 | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
111 | 15 | 126 | 73 | 44 | 117 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-62
(A) | Foreign exchange options have not been included as they are not in the money. |
(B) | The principal of the U.S. Dollar Notes issued in 2014 is hedged by using floating-floating cross currency basis swaps indexed on floating Euro and U.S. Dollar interest rates. |
The tables below show the classification of financial assets and liabilities.
24.1 Financial assets and liabilities by categories
(A) | In November 2014, Constellium contracted forward derivatives to hedge the foreign currency risk on the estimated U.S. Dollar Wise acquisition price. These derivatives had been designated within a cash-flow hedge relationship that qualified for hedge accounting. As a result, the fair value of these instruments had been classified in Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) for 9 million at December 31, 2014. At acquisition date, the fair value of these instruments amounted to 14 million. |
At December 31, 2015 | At December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions of Euros) | Non-current | Current | Total | Non-current | Current | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Derivatives |
37 | 45 | 82 | 33 | 50 | 83 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other(B) |
| 25 | 25 | | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Other financial assets |
37 | 70 | 107 | 33 | 57 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Derivatives |
14 | 107 | 121 | 40 | 71 | 111 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Other financial liabilities |
14 | 107 | 121 | 40 | 71 | 111 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(B) | Corresponds to loans to Quiver Ventures LLC at December 31, 2015 and advance payments related to finances leases contracted for the expansion of the site in Van Buren, U.S at December 31, 2014. |
F-63
24.2 Fair values
All the derivatives are presented at fair value in the balance sheet.
The carrying value of the Groups borrowings is the redemption value at maturity.
The fair value of Constellium N.V. December 2014 and May 2014 Senior Notes account for respectively 80% and 72 % of the nominal value and amount respectively to 487 million and 482 million at December 31, 2015.
The fair value of Muscle Shoals Senior Secured Notes and Senior PIK Toggle Notes account for 67% of the nominal value and amount to 490 million at December 31, 2015.
The fair values of other financial assets and liabilities approximate their carrying values, as a result of their liquidity or short maturity.
24.3 Margin calls
Constellium Finance S.A.S and Constellium Switzerland A.G. entered into agreements with some financial institutions in order to define applicable rules with regards to the setting-up of derivative trading accounts. On a daily or weekly basis (depending on the arrangement with each financial institution), all open currency or metal derivative contracts are revalued to the current market price. When the change in fair value reaches a certain threshold (positive or negative), a margin call occurs resulting in the Group making or receiving back a cash payment to/from the financial institution.
The cash deposit related to margin calls made by the Group is nil at December 31, 2015 and 2014.
24.4 Valuation hierarchy
The following table provides an analysis of financial instruments measured at fair value, grouped into levels based on the degree to which the fair value is observable:
| Level 1 valuation is based on quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical financial instruments, it includes aluminum futures that are traded on the LME; |
| Level 2 valuation is based on inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly (i.e. prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices), it includes foreign exchange derivatives. |
| Level 3 valuation is based on inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs) |
F-64
Note 25 Investment Accounted for Under Equity Method
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
At January 1 |
21 | 1 | ||||||
Group share in loss |
(3 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||
Additions |
9 | 19 | ||||||
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates |
3 | 2 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
At December 31 |
30 | 21 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
The Group holds a 49.85% interest in a joint-venture named Rhenaroll S.A. (located in Biesheim, France), specialized in the chrome-plating, grinding and repairing of rolling mills rolls and rollers. At December 31, 2015, the revenue of Rhenaroll amounted to 3 million ( 3 million at December 31, 2014). The entitys net income was immaterial both in 2015 and 2014.
Quiver Ventures LLC, a joint-venture in which Constellium holds a 51% interest, was created during the fourth quarter of 2014. This joint-venture will supply Body-in-White aluminum sheet to the North American automotive industry through a facility located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The joint venture did not operate in 2014 and 2015, production being scheduled to start in the first half of 2016.
The tables below provide summarized financial information for those entities that are material to the Group. The information disclosed reflects the amounts presented in the financial statements of the relevant entities and not the Companys share of those amounts.
Quiver Ventures, LLC | ||||||||
(in millions of U.S. Dollars) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
147 | 35 | ||||||
Current assets |
4 | 20 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Assets |
151 | 55 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Equity |
62 | 48 | ||||||
BorrowingsNon-Current portion(A) |
15 | | ||||||
Borrowings Current portion(B) |
54 | | ||||||
Other Current liabilities |
20 | 7 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Equity and Liabilities |
151 | 55 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(A) | Finance lease liabilities. |
(B) | Borrowing from partners (of which $27 million from Constellium US Holdings, LLC), equivalent to 25 million at 2015 yearend exchange rate. |
These investments in joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method. Rhenaroll S.A. and Quiver Ventures, LLC are private companies and are no quoted market prices available for their shares.
Group share of joint
ventures net assets |
Group share of joint
ventures profit/ (loss) |
|||||||||||||||||||
(In millions of Euro) | % interest |
At
December 31, 2015 |
At
December 31, 2014 |
At
December 31, 2015 |
At
December 31, 2014 |
|||||||||||||||
Rhenaroll S.A. |
49.85 | % | 1 | 1 | | | ||||||||||||||
Quiver Ventures LLC |
51.00 | % | 29 | 20 | (3 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Investments in joint ventures |
30 | 21 | (3 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-65
(in millions of Euros) |
At
December 31, 2015 |
At
December 31, 2014 |
||||||
Deferred income tax assets |
270 | 192 | ||||||
Deferred income tax liabilities |
(10 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net deferred income tax assets |
260 | 192 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
The following table shows the changes in net deferred income tax assets (liabilities) for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
|||||||
Balance at January 1 |
3 | 192 | 178 | |||||||
Net deferred income tax assets acquired through business combination |
(15 | ) | | |||||||
Deferred income taxes recognized in the Consolidated Income Statement |
53 | (3 | ) | |||||||
Effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates |
8 | 3 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes recognized directly in other comprehensive income |
23 | 11 | ||||||||
Other |
(1 | ) | 3 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Balance at December 31 |
260 | 192 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
(in millions of Euros) |
At
January 1, 2015 |
Acquisitions
/Disposals |
Recognized in | FX | Other |
At
December 31, 2015 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Profit or loss | OCI | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax (liabilities)/assets in relation to: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term assets |
3 | | (25 | ) | | (4 | ) | (1 | ) | (27 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Inventories |
5 | (18 | ) | 18 | | (1 | ) | | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
Pensions |
96 | | 70 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 193 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative valuation |
21 | (1 | ) | 4 | 3 | | | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tax losses carried forward |
12 | | 27 | | 1 | | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other(A) |
55 | 4 | (41 | ) | | 6 | (1 | ) | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
192 | (15 | ) | 53 | 23 | 8 | (1 | ) | 260 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Mainly non-deductible provisions. |
F-66
(in millions of Euros) |
At
January 1, 2014 |
Acquisitions
/Disposals |
Recognized in | FX | Other |
At
December 31, 2014 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Profit or loss | OCI | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax (liabilities)/assets in relation to: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term assets |
29 | | (19 | ) | | (3 | ) | (4 | ) | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Inventories |
11 | | (7 | ) | | 1 | | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pensions |
75 | | 3 | 14 | 4 | | 96 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative valuation |
3 | | 21 | (3 | ) | | | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tax losses carried forward |
8 | | 2 | | 2 | | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other(A) |
52 | | (3 | ) | | (1 | ) | 7 | 55 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
178 | | (3 | ) | 11 | 3 | 3 | 192 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Mainly non-deductible provisions. |
(in millions of Euros) |
At
January 1, 2013 |
Acquisitions
/Disposals |
Recognized in | FX | Other |
At
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Profit or loss | OCI | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax (liabilities)/assets in relation to: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term assets |
75 | | (9 | ) | | | (37 | ) | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||
Inventories |
16 | | | | | (5 | ) | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pensions |
62 | | 22 | (9 | ) | (1 | ) | 1 | 75 | |||||||||||||||||||
Derivative valuation |
9 | | (6 | ) | | | | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tax losses carried forward |
6 | | 5 | | | (3 | ) | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other(A) |
26 | | (22 | ) | | | 48 | 52 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
194 | | (10 | ) | (9 | ) | (1 | ) | 4 | 178 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Mainly non-deductible provisions. |
Based on the expected taxable income of the entities, the Group believes that it is more likely than not that a total of 1,160 million ( 599 million at December 31, 2014) of unused tax losses and deductible temporary differences will not be used. Consequently, net deferred tax assets have not been recognized. The related tax impact of 369 million ( 193 million at December 31, 2014) is attributable to the following:
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Tax losses |
(120 | ) | (72 | ) | ||||
In 2015 to 2019 |
(6 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||
In 2020 and after limited |
(96 | ) | (51 | ) | ||||
Unlimited |
(18 | ) | (15 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Deductible temporary differences |
(249 | ) | (121 | ) | ||||
Long-term assets(A) |
(178 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||
Pensions |
(23 | ) | (112 | ) | ||||
Other |
(48 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
(369 | ) | (193 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
(A) | Of which 160 million relating to the 2015 impairment charge. See NOTE 14Property, plan and equipment. |
F-67
Substantially all of the tax losses not expected to be used reside in the Netherlands, the United States and in Switzerland.
The holding companies in the Netherlands have been generating tax losses over the past four years, and these holding companies are not expected to generate sufficient qualifying taxable profits in the foreseeable future to utilize these tax losses before they expire in the years from 2020 to 2023.
The tax losses not expected to be utilized in the United States relate to one of our main operating entities. Although this entity is expected to be profitable in the medium or long term, considering notably the anticipated development of the Body-in-White business, it bears significant non-cash depreciation and financial interests that will continue generating tax losses in the coming years. Accordingly, it is uncertain whether the entity will be able to use, at its level given the absence of an overall U.S. tax group, these tax losses before they expire. Consequently, the related deferred tax assets have not been recognized.
The tax losses not expected to be utilized in Switzerland relate to losses generated by one of our Swiss entities that will expire in the years from 2019 to 2022. In the context of the 2015 restructuring and impairment of assets, this Swiss entity is not expected to generate sufficient taxable profits over the next coming years to utilize these losses before they expire.
As at December 31, 2015, most of the unrecognized deferred tax assets on deductible temporary differences on long-term assets and other differences relate to the U.S. and Swiss entities discussed above. A joint assessment has been performed on the recoverability of the deferred tax assets on deductible temporary differences and tax losses for these two entities. In line with the assessments, the related deferred tax assets on long term assets and on other differences have not been recognized.
As at December 31, 2014, most of the unrecognized deferred tax assets on deductible temporary differences on pension related to another of our U.S. main operating entities. As at December 31, 2015 and to assess the recoverability of these deferred tax assets, we again carefully considered the available positive and negative evidence, and determined that positive evidences (such as recent, actual and future expected profits or stabilized industrial performance improving our long term visibility on future operating profits) over-weighted negative evidences (such as previous history of operating losses). Accordingly, the related long term deferred tax assets have been fully recognized.
Non-cancellable operating leases commitments
The Group leases various buildings, machinery, and equipment under operating lease agreements. Total rent expense was 29 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 ( 25 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 20 million for the year ended December 31, 2013).
The future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Less than 1 year |
14 | 14 | ||||||
1 to 5 years |
25 | 31 | ||||||
More than 5 years |
21 | 5 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total non-cancellable operating leases minimum payments |
60 | 50 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-68
Capital expenditures commitments
(in millions of Euros) |
At December 31,
2015 |
At December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Computer Software |
1 | | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
102 | 132 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total capital expenditure commitments |
103 | 132 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Note 28Related Party Transactions
Transactions with owners
Transactions with Rio Tinto and Apollo Omega are unrelated since December 12, 2013 and March 4, 2014 respectively.
(in millions of Euros) |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
Revenues(A) |
| | 2 | |||||||||
Metal supply(B) |
| | (473 | ) | ||||||||
Direct expenses related to acquisition, separation and IPO(C) |
| | (15 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Sale of products to certain subsidiaries and affiliates of Rio Tinto. |
(B) | Purchases of metal from certain subsidiaries and affiliates of Rio Tinto. |
(C) | Transaction costs, equity fees and other termination fees of the management agreement paid to the Owners. |
N ote 29Key Management Remuneration
The Groups key management comprises the Board members and the Executive committee members effectively present during 2015.
Key management personnel referred above as Executive committee members are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the entity, directly or indirectly including Vice-Presidents of key activities of the Group.
The costs reported below are the compensation and benefits incurred for the Key management:
| Short term benefits include their base salary plus bonus. |
| Directors fees include annual director fees and Board/Committee attendance fees. |
| Share- base payments include the portion of the IFRS 2 expense allocated to key management. |
| Post-employment benefits mainly include pension costs. |
| Termination benefits include departure costs paid during the year. |
F-69
As a result, the aggregate compensation for the Groups key management is comprised of the following
(in millions of Euros) |
Year ended
December 31, 2015 |
Year ended
December 31, 2014 |
Year ended
December 31, 2013 |
|||||||||
Short term employee benefits |
8 | 7 | 8 | |||||||||
Directors fees |
1 | 1 | | |||||||||
Share based payments |
2 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||
Post employments benefits |
1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
Termination benefits |
1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
Employer social contribution |
1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
14 | 14 | 13 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not e 30Subsidiaries and Operating Segments
The following is a list of the Groups principal subsidiaries. They are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Constellium and are legal entities for which all or a substantial portion of the operations, assets, liabilities, and cash flows are included in the continuing operations of the consolidated reporting Group at December 31, 2015.
Entity |
Country | Ownership | ||||
Cross Operating Segment |
||||||
Constellium Singen GmbH (AS&I and P&ARP) |
Germany | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Valais S.A. (AS&I and A&T) |
Switzerland | 100 | % | |||
AS&I |
||||||
Constellium Automotive USA, LLC |
U.S. | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Engley (Changchun) Automotive Structures Co Ltd. |
China | 54 | % | |||
Constellium Extrusions Decin S.r.o. |
Czech Republic | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH |
Germany | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Extrusions France S.A.S. |
France | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Extrusions Levice S.r.o. |
Slovakia | 100 | % | |||
Astrex Inc |
Canada | 50 | % | |||
A&T |
||||||
Constellium Issoire |
France | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Aviatube |
France | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Montreuil Juigné |
France | 100 | % | |||
Constellium China |
China | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Italy S.p.A |
Italy | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Japan KK |
Japan | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Property and Equipment Company, LLC |
U.S. | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC |
U.S. | 100 | % | |||
Constellium South East Asia |
Singapore | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Ussel S.A.S. |
France | 100 | % |
F-70
Entity |
Country | Ownership | ||||
P&ARP |
||||||
Constellium Deutschland GmbH |
Germany | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Neuf Brisach |
France | 100 | % | |||
Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC |
U.S. | 100 | % | |||
Wise Holdings Finance Corporation |
U.S. | 100 | % | |||
Wise Metals Group |
U.S. | 100 | % | |||
Wise Alloys, LLC |
U.S. | 100 | % | |||
Wise Alloys Finance Coporation |
U.S. | 100 | % | |||
Holdings & Corporate |
||||||
C-TEC Constellium Technology Center |
France | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Finance S.A.S. |
France | 100 | % | |||
Constellium France Holdco S.A.S. |
France | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Germany Holdco GmbH & Co. KG |
Germany | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Germany Holdco Verwaltungs GmbH |
Germany | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Holdco II B.V. |
Netherlands | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Holdco III B.V. |
Netherlands | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Paris S.A.S |
France | 100 | % | |||
Constellium UK Limited |
United Kingdom | 100 | % | |||
Constellium U.S. Holdings I, LLC |
U.S. | 100 | % | |||
Constellium U.S. Holdings II, LLC |
U.S. | 100 | % | |||
Constellium Switzerland AG |
Switzerland | 100 | % | |||
Constellium W S.A.S. |
France | 100 | % | |||
Engineered Products International S.A.S. |
France | 100 | % |
Share based payment
Management equity plan (MEP)
In 2011, the Company implemented a MEP for Constellium management in order to align their interests with the ones of the shareholders and to enable the selected managers to participate in the long-term growth of Constellium. In 2014, the accelerated vesting of the remaining non-vested portion of the Class B ordinary shares was approved and the fully vested Class B ordinary shares were converted into Class A ordinary shares.
Restricted stock unit (RSU) plans
Free share plan
In 2013, a free share plan was granted to all employees in the U.S., France, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Under this plan, each eligible employee was granted an award of 25 RSU that will vest and be settled in Class A ordinary shares on the second anniversary of our initial public offering, subject to the applicable employee remaining employed by the Company or its subsidiaries through that date.
The plan vested in May 2015 and accordingly 185,285 shares were issued and granted to our employees.
F-71
Shareholding Retention Plan
In 2013, a shareholding retention plan was implemented in order to encourage critical members of our senior management to maintain a significant portion of their current investment under the Companys MEP.
Beneficiaries of the MEP were awarded a one-time retention award consisting of a grant of RSU with a grant date value equal to a specified percentage of the recipients annual base salary. The RSU will be settled for our Class A ordinary shares on the second anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the recipient remaining continuously employed within the Group through that date and, for MEP participants, subject to the retention of at least 75% of interest in Class A ordinary shares for MEP participants.
The October 2013 plan vested in October 2015 and accordingly 363,842 shares were issued and granted to our employees.
Eleven employees were granted 84,000 and 50,000 RSU in 2014 and 2015 respectively. These RSU will vest 100% after a 2-year period if the employees are continuously employed from the grant date through the end of the 2-year period.
In April 2015, 33 employees were granted 195,500 RSU. These RSU will vest 100% after a 3-year period if the employees are continuously employed from the grant date through the end of the 3-year period.
Equity Awards Plan
In May 2013, two non-employee directors were granted an award of 8,816 RSU. The service vesting tranche vests 50% on each anniversary date of the equity award grant date.
In June 2014, four board members were granted an award of 8,820 RSU. The service vesting tranche vests 50% on each anniversary date of the equity award grant date.
In June 2015, nine board members were granted an award of 29,202 RSU. The service vesting tranche vests 50% on each anniversary date of the equity award grant date.
Co-investment Plan
In March 2014, the Company provided the opportunity to selected managers to invest part of their 2013 bonus paid in 2014 and to enter into a co-investment plan.
The selected managers who effectively decided to invest part of their bonus into ordinary shares, were granted performance based RSU in an amount equal to a specified multiple (the vesting multiplier) of ordinary shares (71,490) invested as part of this plan. These performance RSU will vest after a two year period from grant date if the three following conditions are simultaneously met:
| The performance condition is Total Shareholder Return (TSR) related as the vesting multiplier will be in a range from 0 to 7 depending on the TSR evolution over the 2-year vesting period; |
| The selected managers must be continuously employed by the Company through the end of the 2-year vesting period; and |
| The selected managers who have invested into this co-investment plan must continue to hold 100% of the shares they initially purchased through this plan until the end of the 2-year vesting period. |
F-72
In July 2015, the Company informed the participants that they are offered the opportunity to extend by one year (to May 2017) the reference period.
Performance share plan
In June 2015, ten employees were granted 194,000 performance based RSU and in November 2015, 385 employees were granted 829,000 performance-based RSU.
These performance based RSU will vest after a 3-year period from grant date if the two following conditions are simultaneously met:
| The performance condition is Total Shareholder Return (TSR) related as the vesting multiplier will be in a range from 0 to 3 depending on the TSR evolution over the 3-year vesting period; |
| The selected managers must be continuously employed by the Company through the end of the 3-year vesting period. |
Expense recognized during the year
In accordance with IFRS 2, an expense is recognized over the vesting period. The estimate of this expense is based upon the fair value of a Class A potential ordinary share at the grant date.
The total expense related to the potential ordinary shares for the year ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 amounted to 5 million, 4 million and 2 million respectively.
Movements in the number of potential shares
(number of potential shares) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
At January 1 |
775,338 | 659,942 | | |||||||||
Granted(A) |
1,297,702 | 164,310 | 683,206 | |||||||||
Forfeited |
(153,594 | ) | (48,914 | ) | (23,264 | ) | ||||||
Exercised(B) |
(557,953 | ) | | | ||||||||
Expired |
| | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
At December 31 |
1,361,493 | 775,338 | 659,942 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company awarded: |
(i) | 274,702 additional RSU, vesting after 2 or 3 years, to some employees and to Board members, |
(ii) | 1,023,000 rights to obtain RSU under a Performance-Based RSU agreement, vesting after 3 years. |
(B) | In the year ended December 31, 2015, 557,953 RSU were vested and issued to employees and Board members. |
F-73
Potential shares are summarized as follows
Grant date |
Plan |
Vesting
date |
Initial
number of shares |
Outstanding
number of shares December 31, 2013 |
Outstanding
number of shares December 31, 2014 |
Outstanding
number of shares December 31, 2015 |
Fair value
per share at grant date(A) |
|||||||||||||||||||
2013-05 |
Free Share
Plan |
2015-05 | 192,800 | 192,800 | 192,800 | 10.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2013-05 |
Equity Awards
Plan |
2015-05 | 8,816 | 8,816 | 8,816 | 11.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2013-10 |
Shareholding
Retention Plan |
2015-10 | 481,590 | 458,336 | 409,412 | 9- 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 |
683,206 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014-03 |
Shareholding
Retention Plan |
2016-03 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 21.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2014-03 |
Co-investment
Plan(B) |
2017-03 | 71,490 | 71,490 | 50,128 | 56.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2014-05 |
Shareholding
Retention Plan |
2016-05 | 35,000 | 35,000 | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2014-06 |
Equity Awards
Plan |
2016-06 | 8,820 | 8,820 | 8,820 | 22.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2014-09 |
Shareholding
Retention Plan |
2016-09 | 33,000 | 33,000 | 33,000 | 21.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 |
164,310 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015-04 |
Shareholding
Retention Plan |
2018-04 | 195,500 | 170,500 | 16.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2015-06 |
Equity Awards
Plan |
2017-06 | 29,202 | 26,045 | 11.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2015-06 |
Performance
Share Plan(C) |
2018-06 | 194,000 | 194,000 | 10.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2015-08 |
Shareholding
Retention Plan |
2017-08 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 10.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2015-11 |
Performance
Share Plan(C) |
2018-11 | 829,000 | 813,000 | 7.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 |
1,297,702 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL(C) |
659,942 | 775,338 | 1,361,493 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) | Fair Value is the quoted market price at grant date for plan with no market conditions. |
(B) | The Co-investment plan number of potential shares is presented using a vesting multiplier of 1. The related fair value has been valued using the Monte Carlo method. |
(C) | The performance share plan number of potential shares is presented using a vesting multiplier of 1. The related fair value has been valued using the Monte Carlo method. |
F-74
Note 32Disposals, Disposals Group Classified as Held for Sale
In the third quarter of 2015, the Group decided to withdraw its disposal plan for a company from the A&T operating segment classified as held for sale at the end of 2014. Accordingly, related assets and liabilities are not presented as held for sale at December 31, 2014 and 2015.
In the first quarter of 2015, the Group decided to dispose of its plant in Carquefou (France) which is part of its A&T operating segment. The sale was completed on February 1, 2016, the disposal gain is nil in 2016. The plant generated revenues of 11 million in 2015.
(in millions of Euros) | Notes |
At December 31,
2015 |
||||
Property, plant and equipment |
14 | 4 | ||||
Inventories |
1 | |||||
Trade receivables and other |
4 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
4 | |||||
|
|
|||||
Assets classified as held for sale |
13 | |||||
|
|
|||||
Pensions and other post-employment benefits obligations |
2 | |||||
Trade payables and other |
3 | |||||
Provisions |
8 | |||||
|
|
|||||
Liabilities classified as held for sale |
13 | |||||
|
|
On March 10, 2016 , Constellium N.V. announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its Japanese partner UACJ Corporation (UACJ) to expand their existing joint venture to produce automotive Body-in-White (BiW) sheet in the U.S. The final contract is subject to the board approval of each party.
F-75
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on
Financial Statement Schedule
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Constellium N.V.:
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements and of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting referred to in our report dated March 15, 2016 appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F also included an audit of the financial statement schedule included in Item 17 of this Form 20-F. In our opinion, this financial statement schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit
/s/ Olivier Lotz
Olivier Lotz
Partner
March 15, 2016
F-76
Schedule I
Statement of Financial Position
Constellium N.V. (Parent Company Only)
(In thousands of Euros) |
December 31,
2015 |
December 31,
2014 |
||||||
Non-current assets |
||||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
53 | 208 | ||||||
Financial assets |
1,274,824 | 1,198,928 | ||||||
Investments in subsidiaries |
105,596 | 100,065 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
1,380,473 | 1,299,201 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Current assets |
||||||||
Other financial assets |
28,573 | 7,173 | ||||||
Trade receivables and other |
48,019 | 92,398 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
7 | 28 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
76,599 | 99,599 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Assets |
1,457,072 | 1,398,800 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Equity |
||||||||
Share capital |
2,110 | 2,101 | ||||||
Share premium |
170,589 | 170,589 | ||||||
Accumulated retained earnings |
(11,034 | ) | 11,781 | |||||
Other reserves |
12,306 | 6,215 | ||||||
Net (loss) for the year |
(195 | ) | (22,246 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total equity |
173,776 | 168,440 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Non-current liabilities |
||||||||
Borrowings |
1,253,599 | 1,175,044 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
1,253,599 | 1,175,044 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||
Other financial liabilities |
25,772 | 6,964 | ||||||
Trade payables and other |
3,925 | 48,352 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
29,697 | 55,316 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
1,283,296 | 1,230,360 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total equity and liabilities |
1,457,072 | 1,398,800 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
F-77
Schedule I
Statement of Comprehensive Income / (Loss)
Constellium N.V. (Parent Company Only)
(in thousands of Euros) |
December 31,
2015 |
December 31,
2014 |
December 31,
2013 |
|||||||||
Revenue |
153 | 1,130 | 517 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Gross profit |
153 | 1,130 | 517 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Selling and administrative expense |
(7,153 | ) | (6,789 | ) | (3,866 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
(Loss) from recurring operations |
(7,000 | ) | (5,659 | ) | (3,349 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Other income |
528 | | 29 | |||||||||
Other expense |
(3,106 | ) | (18,333 | ) | (22,858 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
(Loss) from operations |
(9,578 | ) | (23,992 | ) | (26,178 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Finance income |
171,990 | 82,298 | 15,488 | |||||||||
Dividend received |
| | 194,300 | |||||||||
Finance expense |
(162,607 | ) | (80,552 | ) | (33,161 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Financial result net |
9,383 | 1,746 | 176,627 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
(Loss) / income before income tax |
(195 | ) | (22,246 | ) | 150,449 | |||||||
Income tax |
| | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net (loss) / income |
(195 | ) | (22,246 | ) | 150,449 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total comprehensive (loss) / income |
(195 | ) | (22,246 | ) | 150,449 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-78
Schedule I
Statement of Cash Flows
Constellium N.V. (Parent Company Only)
(In thousands of Euros) |
December 31,
2015 |
December 31,
2014 |
December 31,
2013 |
|||||||||
Cash flows (used in) / from operating activities |
||||||||||||
Net (loss) / income |
(195 | ) | (22,246 | ) | 150,449 | |||||||
Adjustments to determine cash flow used in operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Finance result |
(9,383 | ) | (7,511 | ) | 17,673 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
155 | 168 | (539 | ) | ||||||||
Dividend received |
| 19,300 | | |||||||||
Change in working capital: |
||||||||||||
Trade receivables and other |
26,347 | (23,283 | ) | (20,416 | ) | |||||||
Other financial liabilities |
(1,291 | ) | (2,024 | ) | | |||||||
Trade payables and other |
(44,427 | ) | 39,554 | 7,521 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash flows (used in) / from operating activities |
(28,794 | ) | 3,958 | 154,688 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Cash flows (used in) / from investing activities |
||||||||||||
Current account with subsidiary (for cash pooling) |
17,000 | 108,308 | (168,290 | ) | ||||||||
Loans granted to subsidiary and related parties |
| (1,152,962 | ) | (207,350 | ) | |||||||
Repayment of loans granted to subsidiary and related parties |
| 96,894 | 259,724 | |||||||||
Interest received |
74,530 | 26,982 | 8,772 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash flows from / (used in) investing activities |
91,530 | (920,778 | ) | (107,144 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Cash flows (used in) / from financing activities |
||||||||||||
Interests paid |
(60,998 | ) | (21,667 | ) | (13,029 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds received from term-loan |
| 1,141,062 | 207,603 | |||||||||
Repayment of term-loan |
| (205,118 | ) | (155,356 | ) | |||||||
Payment of deferred financing costs and debt fees |
(1,749 | ) | | (172 | ) | |||||||
Treasury stock purchase |
| (135 | ) | | ||||||||
Distribution of shares premium to owners of the Company |
| | (103,038 | ) | ||||||||
Net proceeds received from issuance of shares |
| | 162,759 | |||||||||
Contribution to share premium |
| | 8,143 | |||||||||
Interim dividend paid |
| | (146,961 | ) | ||||||||
Other |
3 | 500 | (5,654 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net cash flows (used in) / from financing activities |
(62,744 | ) | 914,642 | (45,705 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
(8 | ) | (2,178 | ) | 1,839 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalent - beginning of period |
28 | 2,174 | 335 | |||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
(13 | ) | 32 | | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalent - end of period |
7 | 28 | 2,174 |
F-79
Schedule I
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
Constellium N.V. (Parent Company Only)
1. | Basis of presentation |
Constellium N.V.s parent company only financial information has been derived from Constelliums consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with these consolidated financial statements which are included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. The condensed parent company only financial information of Constellium N.V. is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and as endorsed by the European Union. Accounting policies adopted in the preparation of this condensed parent company only financial information are the same as those adopted in the consolidated financial statements and described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, except that the cost method has been used to account for investments in subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2015, there were no material contingencies at Constellium N.V.
2. | Dividends |
Constellium N.V. received cash dividends from its subsidiary Constellium Holdco II B.V. in the amount of 175,000 thousand and 19,300 thousand in the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. The dividends received in cash in the year ended December 31, 2014 were declared in the year ended December 31, 2013 and, accordingly were recorded as income in the year ended December 31, 2013.
3. | Borrowings |
A description of Constellium N.V.s parent company only borrowings and related maturity dates is provided in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
4. | Other financial assets and liabilities |
Non-current financial assets represent loans to Constellium Holdco II B.V. and current other financial assets represent related interest receivables. Other financial liabilities represent interest payable on our borrowings.
F-80
Exhibit 3.3
AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION | ||
CONSTELLIUM N.V. | 18-08-2015 | |
(unofficial translation) |
Today, the eighteenth of August two thousand and fifteen,
appeared before me, Paul Hubertus Nicolaas Quist, civil-law notary in Amsterdam:
Silvia Rahel Catharina van Langelaar-Tegeler, care of Stibbe, Strawinskylaan 2001, 1077 ZZ Amsterdam, born in Bant on the sixteenth of December nineteen hundred and seventy.
The appearing person declared as follows:
| the articles of association of the public limited company ( naamloze vennootschap ) Constellium N.V. , having its seat in Amsterdam, its address at 1119 NW Schiphol-Rijk, Tupolevlaan 41-61, filed with the Trade Register under number 34393663 (the company ), were lastly amended by deed executed on the eighteenth of August two thousand and fourteen before P.H.N. Quist, civil-law notary in Amsterdam; |
| on the eleventh of June two thousand and fifteen the general meeting of the company resolved to integrally amend the articles of association of the company; |
| furthermore, it was decided to authorise the appearing person to effect such amendment to the articles of association; |
| it was also decided to cancel the issued Ordinary Shares Class B shares in the capital of the company under the condition precedent of this amendment to the articles of association; |
| on the eighteenth of August two thousand and fifteen the Court Registry of the Amsterdam Court issued a statement evidencing that no creditors of the company have filed any objections to the proposal to cancel the Ordinary Shares Class B; and |
| that these resolutions are evidenced by an extract of the minutes of the relevant meeting, to be attached to this deed. |
Subsequently, the appearing person declared to integrally amend the articles of association of the company, in pursuance of the referred resolutions, so that the articles of association read as follows:
1. | DEFINITIONS |
The following definitions shall apply in these articles of association:
Articles of Association : these articles of association.
Board : the board of directors of the Company.
Chairman : a member of the Board appointed as chairman.
Company : Constellium N.V.
Depositary receipt : depositary receipt for Shares.
Distributable Equity : means the part of the Companys equity which exceeds the aggregate of the paid up and called up part of the share capital and the reserves which must be maintained pursuant to the laws of the Netherlands.
Executive Director : a member of the Board appointed as executive director.
General Meeting : the body consisting of the Persons with meeting rights, as well as, the meeting thereof, as the case may be.
Group : has the meaning attributed thereto in section 2:24b of the Dutch Civil Code.
Group Company : a legal entity or company with which the Company is affiliated in a Group.
Non-Executive Director : a member of the Board appointed as non-executive director.
Ordinary Share Class A : means an ordinary share Class A in the capital of the Company.
Persons with meeting rights : (a) holders of Shares, (b) such persons with rights attributed by law to holders of depositary receipts issued with the Companys cooperation, and (c) such other persons referred to in article 26.2.
Regulated Stock Exchange : a regulated market or a multilateral trading facility as referred to in section 1:1 of the Financial Supervision Act or a system comparable to a regulated market or multilateral trading facility from a State which is not a Member State.
Share : means a share in the capital of the Company. Unless the contrary is apparent, this shall include each Ordinary Share Class A, as well as any Depositary receipts, if any.
Subsidiary : has the meaning attributed thereto in section 2:24a of the Dutch Civil Code.
2. | NAME AND SEAT |
2.1. | The name of the Company is: Constellium N.V. |
2.2. | The Company has its seat in Amsterdam. |
3. | OBJECTS |
The objects of the Company are:
| to incorporate, to participate in, to finance, to collaborate with, to manage, to supervise businesses, companies and other enterprises and provide advice and other services; |
| to acquire, use and/or assign industrial and intellectual property rights and real property; |
| to finance and/or acquire businesses and companies; |
| to borrow, to lend and to raise funds, including through the issue of bonds, debt instruments or other securities or evidence of indebtedness as well as to enter into agreements in connection with the aforementioned activities; |
| to invest funds; |
| to provide guarantees and security for debts of legal persons or of other companies with which the Company is affiliated in a Group or for the debts of third parties; |
| to undertake all that which is connected to the foregoing or in furtherance thereof, |
all in the widest sense of the words.
4. | CAPITAL AND SHARES |
4.1. | The Companys authorised capital amounts to eight million euro (EUR 8,000,000) and is divided into four hundred million (400,000,000) Ordinary Shares Class A, each with a nominal value of two euro cents (EUR 0.02). |
4.2. | The Shares shall be numbered in such a manner that they can be distinguished from each other at any time. |
4.3. | No share certificates shall be issued for the Shares. |
5. | REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS |
5.1. | All Shares shall be registered and shall be available in the form of an entry in the register of shareholders. |
5.2. | With due observance of the applicable statutory provisions in respect of the Shares, a register of shareholders shall be kept by or on behalf of the Company, which register shall be regularly updated and, at the discretion of the Board, may, in whole or in part, be kept in more than one copy and at one more than one address. Part of the register of shareholders may be kept abroad, including in order to comply with applicable foreign statutory provisions or rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Euronext Paris and any other stock exchange where Shares are listed. |
5.3. | The form and contents of the register of shareholders shall be determined by the Board with due observance of the provisions of articles 5.2 and 5.5. |
5.4. | All entries and notes in the register shall be signed by one or more persons authorised to represent the Company. |
5.5. | Each shareholders name, address and such further information as required by law or considered appropriate by the Board, shall be recorded in the register of shareholders. |
5.6. | Upon his request, a shareholder shall be provided free of charge with written evidence of the contents of the register of shareholders with regard to the shares registered in his name, and the statement so issued may be validly signed on behalf of the Company by a person to be designated for that purpose by the Board. In order to comply with applicable foreign statutory provisions or rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Euronext Paris and any other stock exchange where Shares are listed, the Company may allow inspection of the register of shareholders by, or provide information included in the register of shareholders to, any applicable supervisory authority. |
5.7. | The provisions of articles 5.5 and 5.6 shall equally apply to persons who hold a pledge on or usufruct in a Share. |
6. | ISSUE OF SHARES |
6.1. | Shares shall be issued pursuant to a resolution, containing the price and further terms of issue, of (i) the General Meeting, or (ii) the Board if designated thereto by the General Meeting for a period permitted by law. Such designation of the Board by the General Meeting must provide for the number of shares which may be issued. Unless the Board is designated to issue Shares, a resolution to issue Shares may only be adopted upon a proposal of the Board. |
The designation may be extended from time to time for a period permitted by law. Unless the designation provides otherwise, it cannot be revoked.
6.2. | Within eight (8) days after a resolution of the General Meeting to issue Shares or to designate the Board as the competent body to issue Shares, the full wording of the resolution shall be deposited at the office of the Dutch Trade Register. |
6.3. | Within eight (8) days after the end of each calendar quarter, an issue of Shares in such quarter shall be notified to the office of the Dutch Trade Register, stating the number of Shares issued. |
6.4. | The provisions of articles 6.1 up to and including 6.3 shall apply accordingly to granting rights to subscribe for Shares, but do not apply to the issue of Shares to persons exercising a previously acquired right to subscribe for Shares. |
7. | PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS |
7.1. | Without prejudice to the applicable legal provisions, upon the issue of Ordinary Shares Class A, or rights to subscribe for Ordinary Shares Class A, each holder of Ordinary Shares Class A shall have a pre-emptive right in proportion to the aggregate nominal value of his Ordinary Shares Class A, subject to the provisions of articles 7.2, 7.3 and 7.6. |
7.2. | Holders of Ordinary Shares Class A shall not have a pre-emptive right on (i) Ordinary Shares Class A which are issued against in-kind contributions, or (ii) Ordinary Shares Class A which are issued to employees of the Company or of a Group Company. |
7.3. | Prior to each issue of Ordinary Shares Class A, the pre-emptive rights may be limited or excluded by the General Meeting. The pre-emptive right may also be limited or excluded by the Board, if designated thereto by the General Meeting, for a period permitted by law. The designation may be extended, from time to time, for a period permitted by law. Unless the designation provides otherwise, it cannot be revoked. |
Unless the Board is designated to limit or to exclude the pre-emptive rights, a resolution to limit or exclude the pre-emptive right will be adopted at the proposal of the Board. If less than one-half of the Companys issued capital is present or represented at the meeting, a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast shall be required for a resolution of the General Meeting to limit or exclude such pre-emptive right or to make such designation.
7.4. | Within eight (8) days after each resolution of the General Meeting to designate the Board as the competent body to limit or exclude the pre-emptive right, the wording of the resolution involved shall be deposited at the office of the Dutch Trade Register. |
7.5. | The Company shall announce an issue with pre-emptive rights pursuant to article 7.1 and the time frame within which the pre-emptive rights may be exercised in the Government Gazette ( Staatscourant ) and in a nationally distributed newspaper, unless the announcement to all shareholders is made in writing and sent to their addresses, and furthermore in such other manner as may be required to comply with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Euronext Paris and any other stock exchange where Shares are listed. |
Pre-emptive rights pursuant to article 7.1 may be exercised at least two weeks from the day of the announcement in the Government Gazette or, if the announcement is made in writing, at least two weeks from the day of the mailing of the announcement.
7.6. | Holders of Ordinary Shares Class A shall not have a pre-emptive right in respect of Ordinary Shares Class A which are issued to a person exercising a previously acquired right to subscribe for Ordinary Shares Class A. |
8. | PAYMENT FOR SHARES |
8.1. | The full nominal value of each Ordinary Share Class A must be paid upon subscription, and, in addition, if the Ordinary Share Class A is issued at a higher amount, the difference between such amounts. |
8.2. | Payment for a Share must be made in cash insofar as no in-kind contribution has been agreed upon. Payment in a currency other than Euro may only be made with the consent of the Company and with due observance of the provisions of section 2:93a of the Dutch Civil Code. |
8.3. | Non-cash contributions on shares are subject to the provisions of section 2:94b of the Dutch Civil Code. |
9. | OWN SHARES, RIGHT OF PLEDGE ON OWN SHARES |
9.1. | When issuing shares, the Company may not subscribe for Shares. |
9.2. | Any acquisition by the Company of Shares that are not fully paid-up shall be null and void. |
9.3. | The Company may acquire fully paid-up Shares for no consideration, or if: |
(a) | the Distributable Equity is equal or greater than the purchase price; and |
(b) | the aggregate nominal value of the Shares to be acquired, and of the Shares already held, by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and of the Shares over which the Company has a right of pledge, does not exceed one-half of the Companys issued capital. |
9.4. | The calculation set out in article 9.3(a), shall be made on the basis of the amount of equity appearing from the last adopted balance sheet less (i) the aggregate acquisition price of the Shares, (ii) the loans granted in accordance with section 2:98c paragraph 2 of the Dutch Civil Code and (iii) any distributions of profits or at the expense of reserves to others which have become due by the Company and its Subsidiaries after the balance sheet date. |
An acquisition in accordance with article 9.3 shall not be permitted if more than six (6) months have lapsed since the end of a financial year without the annual accounts having been adopted.
9.5. | The Board shall require the authorisation of the General Meeting for an acquisition of Shares for a consideration. |
Any authorisation shall be valid for a maximum of eighteen months.
The General Meeting shall determine in the authorisation the number of Shares that may be acquired, how they may be acquired and the applicable price range.
The authorisation referred to in this article 9.5 is not required to the extent the Company acquires its Shares in order to transfer such Shares to employees of the Company or of a Group Company pursuant to an employee incentive scheme, provided that such Shares are quoted on the official list of any stock exchange.
9.6. | The Company may be a pledgee of its Shares in accordance with the limitations pursuant to applicable law. |
9.7. | No voting rights may be exercised in the General Meeting for any Share held by the Company or a Subsidiary. However, pledgees and usufructuaries of Shares owned by the Company or a Subsidiary are not excluded from exercising voting rights if the right of pledge or the usufruct was created before the Share was owned by the Company or such Subsidiary. The Company or a Subsidiary may not exercise voting rights for a Share pledged to it or for which it holds a right of usufruct. Shares on which, in accordance with applicable law no vote may be cast, shall not be taken into account in determining the extent to which the shareholders vote are present or represented, or the extent to which the share capital is provided or represented. |
9.8. | The acquisition of Shares by a Subsidiary shall be subject to the provisions of section 2:98d of the Dutch Civil Code. |
9.9. | The foregoing provisions of this article 9 shall not apply to Shares which the Company acquires by universal succession of title. |
10. | REDUCTION OF CAPITAL |
10.1. | Upon the proposal of the Board, the General Meeting may resolve to reduce the Companys issued capital in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements. Such resolution must designate the Shares to which the resolution pertains and must describe the implementation of the resolution. |
A partial repayment or waiver of the obligation to pay up the Shares must be effected on a pro-rata basis in respect of all Shares.
10.2. | A reduction of the Companys issued capital may be effected: |
(a) | by cancellation of Shares held by the Company or for which the Company holds the Depositary receipts; or |
(b) | by reducing the nominal value of Shares, to be effected by an amendment to the Articles of Association. |
10.3. | If less than one-half of the Companys issued capital is present or represented at the meeting, a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast shall be required for a resolution of the General Meeting to reduce the Companys issued capital. |
10.4. | A reduction of the nominal value of Shares without repayment must be effected in proportion to all Shares. This principle may be deviated from with the consent of all shareholders concerned. |
10.5. | The notice convening the General Meeting at which a proposal to reduce the Companys issued capital will be made, shall describe the purpose of the capital reduction and the manner in which it is to be achieved. |
10.6. | A reduction of the Companys issued capital shall furthermore be subject to the provisions of sections 2:99 and 2:100 of the Dutch Civil Code. |
11. | TRANSFER OF SHARES |
11.1. | For as long as Shares are admitted to the official listing on a Regulated Stock Exchange, the transfer of a Share (but not depository receipts issued therefor) and the creation or transfer of a limited right thereon shall require a private deed to that effect and, except in the event the Company is party to that legal act, an acknowledgement in writing by the Company of the transfer. The acknowledgement shall be given in the private deed, or by a dated statement embodying such acknowledgement on the private deed or on a copy or extract thereof duly authenticated by a civil-law notary or by the transferor. Serving of such private deed, copy or extract on the Company shall be deemed to be an acknowledgement. |
11.2. | If the Shares are no longer admitted to an official listing of a Regulated Stock Exchange, a transfer of a Share (but not depository receipts issued therefor) and the creation or transfer of a limited right shall, inter alia, require a notarial deed to that effect. |
11.3. | The acknowledgement of transfer by the Company shall be signed by one or more persons authorised to represent the Company. |
11.4. | The provisions of articles 11.1 and 11.2 shall apply correspondingly to the allotment of Shares in the event of partition of any community of property. |
12. | JOINT HOLDING OF SHARES |
If one or more Shares are jointly held by two or more persons, such persons may jointly exercise the rights attaching to those Shares, provided that these persons shall be represented for that purposes by one from their midst or by a third party authorised by them for that purpose by a written power of attorney. The Board may determine whether or not, subject to certain conditions, an exemption from the condition set forth in the previous sentence applies.
13. | PLEDGE OF SHARES AND USUFRUCT ON SHARES |
13.1. | The provisions of article 11 shall apply accordingly to the creation or transfer of a pledge or a usufruct on Shares. |
13.2. | Upon the creation of a right of pledge or usufruct on a Share, the voting rights attached to such Share may not be assigned to the pledgee or usufructuary. The pledgee or usufructuary shall not have the rights conferred by the laws of the Netherlands upon holders of Depositary Receipts issued with a Companys cooperation. |
14. | THE BOARD; APPOINTMENT, SUSPENSION AND DISMISSAL |
14.1. | The management of the Company shall be conducted by the Board. |
14.2. | The Board shall consist of, and its duties shall be allocated to, one or more Executive Directors and three or more Non-Executive Directors. |
Only natural persons can be Non-Executive Directors.
14.3. | The General Meeting appoints members of the Board from a binding nomination to be drawn up by the Board in accordance with section 2:133 of the Dutch Civil Code. The resolution of the General Meeting specifies whether a member of the Board is appointed as Executive Director or a Non-Executive Director. |
If the nomination has not been made or has not been made in due time, this shall be stated in the convocation and the General Meeting shall be free to appoint a member of the Board at its discretion.
For such resolution of the General Meeting appointing a member of the Board which is not pursuant to a binding nomination drawn up by the Board, a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast, representing at least half of the issued capital shall be required.
14.4. | Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Meeting may at all times overrule the binding nature of a nomination provided that such resolution of the General Meeting requires a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast, representing at least half of the issued capital. In that event the Board may draw up a new binding nomination to be submitted to a subsequent General Meeting. |
Should such second nomination also be deprived of its binding character in the manner provided for in this article 14.4, the General Meeting shall be free to appoint, provided that a resolution of the General Meeting to appoint shall require a majority of two thirds of the votes cast, representing at least half of the issued capital.
14.5. | At a General Meeting, votes in respect of the appointment of a member of the Board can only be cast for a candidate or candidates named in the agenda of the meeting or explanatory notes thereto. |
14.6. | Members of the Board may be suspended or dismissed by the General Meeting at any time. A resolution of the General Meeting to suspend or dismiss a member of the Board pursuant to a proposal by the Board shall be passed with an absolute majority of the votes cast. |
A resolution of the General Meeting to suspend or dismiss a member of the Board other than pursuant to a proposal by the Board shall require a majority of two thirds of the votes cast, representing at least half of the issued capital.
14.7. | Executive Directors may be suspended by the Board at any time. |
14.8. | The Company shall have a policy governing the remuneration of the Board. |
The policy will be adopted by the General Meeting upon the proposal of the Board.
14.9. | The remuneration of the Executive Directors will be determined by the Board with due observance of the policy referred to in article 14.8. Executive Directors shall not participate in the decision-making concerning the adoption of the remuneration of Executive Directors. |
The remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors will be determined by the General Meeting with due observance of the policy referred to in article 14.8.
Proposals concerning plans or arrangements in the form of Shares or rights to subscribe for Shares for members of the Board shall be submitted by the Board to the General Meeting for its approval. Such proposals must, at a minimum, state the number of shares or share options that may be granted to the Board and the criteria that apply to the granting of such Shares or rights to subscribe for Shares or the alteration of such arrangements.
15. | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, SECRETARY |
15.1. | The Board may appoint an Executive Director as Chief Executive Officer for such period as the Board may decide. In addition, the Board may grant other titles to an Executive Director. |
15.2. | The Board shall appoint a Non-Executive Director to be Chairman of the Board for such a period as the Board may decide. |
15.3. | The Board may appoint one or more of the Non-Executive Directors as vice-chairman of the Board for such a period as the Board may decide. If the Chairman is absent or unwilling to take the chair, a vice-chairman shall be entrusted with such duties of the Chairman entrusted to him by the Board. |
15.4. | The Board may appoint a Secretary from outside its members. The Secretary may be removed from office at any time by the Board. |
16. | POWERS; ALLOCATION OF DUTIES AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESS |
16.1. | With due observance of the limitations set out in the Articles of Association and subject to the allocation of duties referred to in article 16.5, the Board is charged with the management of the Company. |
16.2. | The Board shall adopt resolutions by an absolute majority of the total number of votes cast, unless article 16.4 second sentence applies. |
Blank votes shall be considered null and void.
16.3. | At meetings of the Board, each member of the Board shall be entitled to cast one vote. |
In the event of a tie of votes, the Chairman shall have the casting vote.
16.4. | In addition to the relevant provisions of the Articles of Association, the Board may adopt internal rules regulating its decision making process and working methods, including rules in the event of conflicts of interest. |
The internal rules can furthermore provide that one or more members of the Board are duly authorised to resolve on matters which belong to their respective range of duties.
16.5. | The Board may adopt an internal allocation of duties for each member of the Board individually, provided that (i) the day to day management of the Company shall be entrusted to the Executive Directors and (ii) the duty to supervise the performance of the Executive Directors cannot be taken away from the Non-Executive Directors. |
The internal allocation of duties can be implemented in the rules as referred to in article 16.4.
16.6. | Without prejudice to its own responsibility, the Board is authorised to appoint persons with authority to represent the Company and, by granting of a power of attorney, conferring such titles and powers as shall be determined by the Board. |
16.7. | The Board may establish such committees as it may deem necessary, which committees may consist of one or more members of the Board. The Board appoints the members of each committee, provided that (i) an Executive Director shall not be a member of the audit committee, the remuneration committee or the nomination and governance committee and (ii) a Non-Executive Director shall not be a member of the executive committee, if any. |
The Board determines the tasks of each committee, and may at any time change the task and composition of each committee.
16.8. | The Executive Directors shall timely provide the Non-Executive Directors with all information required for the exercise of their duties. |
16.9. | Without prejudice to the provisions above, decisions of the Board involving a major change in the Companys identity or character are subject to the approval of the General Meeting, including, but not limited to: |
(a) | the transfer of the enterprise or practically the whole enterprise to third parties; |
(b) | to enter or to terminate longstanding joint ventures of the Company or a Subsidiary with another legal entity or company or as fully liable partner in a limited partnership or a general partnership if this joint venture or termination of such a joint venture is of a major significance to the Company; |
(c) | to acquire or dispose of a participation in the capital of a company worth at least one third of the amount of the assets according to the balance sheet with explanatory notes thereto, or if the Company prepares a consolidated balance sheet according to such consolidated balance sheet with explanatory notes, according to the last adopted annual account of the Company, by the Company or a Subsidiary. |
16.10. | Failure to obtain the approval defined in article 16.9 shall not affect the authority of the Board or the members of the Board to represent the Company. |
17. | CONFLICT OF INTEREST |
17.1. | A member of the Board shall not participate in the discussions and decision-making of the Board on a subject or transaction in relation to which he/she has a direct or indirect personal conflict of interest within the meaning of statutory law of the Netherlands. |
17.2. | If it has been determined that a member of the Board has a direct or indirect personal conflict of interest within the meaning of statutory law of the Netherlands, such member is deemed to be prevented from acting as referred to in article 18. |
17.3. | Notwithstanding the provisions in article 18, if all members of the Board have a conflict of interest as referred to in article 17.2, such resolution shall be adopted by the Board. |
18. | VACANCY OR PREVENTED TO ACT |
18.1. | If a seat on the Board is vacant or one or more members of the Board are absent or prevented from acting as referred to in section 2:134 paragraph 4 of the Dutch Civil Code, the remaining members of the Board or the sole remaining member of the Board shall be entrusted with the management of the Company. |
18.2. | If a member of the Board is prevented from acting pursuant to article 17.2, and only if not all members of the Board have a conflict of interest, such member of the Board is authorised to temporarily designate an entrusted independent individual to replace him in the decision-making for the matter at hand. |
18.3. | Notwithstanding the provisions of article 17.3, if all the members of the Board are absent or prevented from acting, the management of the Company shall be temporarily entrusted to one or more persons designated for that purpose by the General Meeting. |
19. | REPRESENTATION |
19.1. | The Company shall be represented by the Board. |
In addition, the authority to represent the Company is vested in the Chief Executive Officer solely, as well as in two Executive Directors acting jointly.
19.2. | The Board is authorised to engage in legal transactions in which special obligations are imposed on the Company, relating to the subscription for Shares or legal transactions that concern contributions on Shares other than in cash as referred to in section 2:94 of the Dutch Civil Code, without the prior approval of the General Meeting. |
20. | INDEMNIFICATION MEMBERS OF THE BOARD |
20.1. | The members and former members of the Board shall be reimbursed by the Company for: |
(a) | reasonable cost of conducting a defence against claims, including claims by the Company, based on acts or failures to act in the exercise of their duties or any other duties currently or previously performed by them at the Companys request; and |
(b) | any damages payable by them as a result of an act or failure to act in the exercise of their duties or any other duties currently or previously performed by them at the Companys request. |
20.2. | There shall be no entitlement to indemnity as referred to in this article 20: |
(a) | if and to the extent the laws of the Netherlands would not permit such indemnification; |
(b) | if and to the extent a competent court has established in a final and conclusive decision that the act or failure to act of the current or former member of the Board may be characterized as wilful ( opzettelijk ), intentionally reckless ( bewust roekeloos ) or seriously culpable ( ernstig verwijtbaar ), unless the laws of the Netherlands provide otherwise or this would, in view of the circumstances of the case, be unacceptable according to standards of reasonableness and fairness; or |
(c) | if and to the extent the costs, damages or fines payable by the current or former member of the Board are covered by any liability insurance and the insurer has paid out the costs, damages or fines. |
20.3. | Except if the claim is instituted by the Company itself, the relevant current or former member of the Board shall follow the Companys instructions relating to the manner of his or her defence and consult with the Company in advance about the manner of such defence. The person concerned shall not: (i) acknowledge any personal liability, (ii) waive any defence, or (iii) agree on a settlement, without the Companys prior written consent. |
20.4. | The Company may take out liability insurance for the benefit of current or former members of the Board. |
20.5. | The Board may, by agreement or otherwise, give further implementation to the indemnity. |
21. | FINANCIAL YEAR, ANNUAL ACCOUNTS, ANNUAL REPORT |
21.1. | The Companys financial year shall be concurrent with the calendar year. |
21.2. | The Board shall prepare the annual accounts within the period set under or pursuant to the law. The Board shall also, within the period mentioned above, prepare an annual report. |
21.3. | The annual accounts shall consist of a balance sheet, a profit and loss account and explanatory notes. |
21.4. | The annual accounts shall be signed by all members of the Board or, if the signature of one or more of them is lacking, this fact and the reason therefore shall be indicated. |
21.5. | The General Meeting shall instruct a registered accountant or a firm of registered accountants, as defined in section 2:393 paragraph 1 of the Dutch Civil Code, to audit the annual accounts and the annual report by the Board, to report thereon, and to issue an auditors certificate with respect thereto. |
If the General Meeting fails to issue such instructions, the Board shall be authorised to do so.
The Company shall ensure that the annual accounts and, insofar as required, the annual report and the information to be added by virtue of the laws of the Netherlands are kept at its office as from the day on which notice of the annual General Meeting is given in which the annual accounts and the annual report shall be discussed and in which the adoption of the annual accounts shall be resolved upon. Persons with meeting rights may inspect the documents at that place and obtain a copy free of charge.
If these documents are amended, this obligation shall also extend to the amended documents.
21.6. | The annual accounts shall be adopted by the General Meeting. |
21.7. | At the General Meeting at which it is resolved to adopt the annual accounts, any proposals concerning release of the Directors from liability for the exercise of their duties, insofar as the exercise of their duties is reflected in the annual accounts or otherwise disclosed to the General Meeting prior to the adoption of the annual accounts, shall be brought up separately for discussion at such General Meeting or at a subsequent General Meeting. |
22. | ALLOCATIONS OF PROFIT |
22.1. | The Company may make distributions to the shareholders and other persons entitled to the distributable profits only to the extent of the Distributable Equity. |
22.2. | Distribution of profit may be effected after the adoption of the annual accounts which show that such distribution is permitted. |
22.3. | The Board shall determine which part of the profits shall be reserved. |
22.4. | With due observance of article 22.3, the allocation of profits shall be determined by the General Meeting. |
22.5. | The Board may make interim distributions to holders of Shares only to the extent that the requirements set forth in article 22.1 are satisfied as apparent from an (interim) financial statement drawn up in accordance with the law. |
22.6. | The Board may resolve to make a distribution at the expense of any reserve of the Company. |
22.7. | Distributions on Shares payable in cash shall be paid in Euro, unless the Board determines that payment shall be made in another currency. |
22.8. | Any distribution on Shares may be paid in kind instead of in cash, provided that this will at all times require the approval of the Board. |
22.9. | Dividend, interim dividend or distribution shall be paid within thirty days of adoption at the place and in the manner indicated by the Board. |
If a dividend, interim dividend or distribution is declared, the persons entitled thereto shall be those who are holders of Shares as at a record date to be determined by the Board for that purpose; this may not be a date which is before the date on which the dividend, interim dividend or other distribution was declared.
Any claim that a shareholder may have to a distribution shall lapse after five years, to be computed from the day on which such a distribution becomes payable.
22.10. | No distributions shall be made on Shares held by the Company, unless these Shares have been pledged or a usufruct has been created in these Shares and the authority to collect distributions or the right to receive distributions, respectively, accrues to the pledgee or the usufructuary, respectively. For the computation of distributions the Shares, on which no distributions shall be made pursuant to this article 22.10 shall not be taken into account. |
23. | GENERAL MEETINGS; ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS, EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS, CONVOCATION |
23.1. | Annually, a General Meeting shall be held within six months of the end of the financial year. |
23.2. | General meetings will be held in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague or Haarlemmermeer (Schiphol). |
23.3. | General Meetings shall be convened by the Board in accordance with applicable law. |
23.4. | Other General Meetings shall be held as often as the Board deems this necessary or upon the written request of those entitled to attend meetings, representing at least one-tenth of the issued capital, to the Board setting out in detail the matters to be considered. |
23.5. | An item proposed by one or more shareholders having the right thereto according to the next sentence, will be included in the convocation or announced in the same manner, provided the Company receives such substantiated request or a proposal for a resolution no later than the sixtieth day prior to the day of the meeting. |
Consideration may be requested by one or more holders of Shares representing jointly at least the percentage of the issued capital or the amount as prescribed in section 2:114a of the Dutch Civil Code.
The requirement of a written request is met if the request is electronically recorded.
24. | GENERAL MEETINGS; CHAIRMAN |
24.1. | The General Meetings will be presided over by the Chairman or, in his absence by the vice-chairman of the Board, if both are absent; the General Meeting shall appoint the chairman. Until that moment, a member of the Board appointed for that purpose by the Board shall act as chairman of the meeting. |
24.2. | The chairman of the meeting shall appoint a secretary for the meeting. |
24.3. | The chairman shall decide on all disputes with regard to voting, admitting people and, in general the procedure at the meeting, insofar as this is not provided for by law or the Articles of Association. |
25. | MINUTES; RECORDING OF SHAREHOLDERS RESOLUTIONS |
25.1. | The secretary of a General Meeting shall keep minutes of the proceedings at the meeting. The minutes shall be adopted by the chairman and the secretary of the meeting and shall be signed by them as evidence thereof. |
25.2. | The chairman of the meeting or those who convened the meeting may determine that a notarial record must be prepared of the proceedings at the meeting. The notarial record shall be co-signed by the chairman of the meeting. |
26. | GENERAL MEETINGS; ENTITLEMENT TO ATTEND GENERAL MEETINGS |
26.1. | Persons with meeting rights are entitled, in person or through an attorney authorised in writing for the specific meeting, to attend the General Meeting, to address the meeting and, in so far they have such right, to vote. |
26.2. | For the application of article 26.1, Persons with meeting rights are considered those persons who (i) on a date determined by the Board in accordance with applicable law (the record date ) have those rights, and (ii) are as such registered in (a) register(s) determined by the Board, irrespective of who is holder of the Shares at the time of the General Meeting. |
26.3. | The convocation notice for the meeting shall state the record date and the manner in which the persons entitled to attend the General Meeting may register and exercise their rights. |
26.4. | In order for a Person with meeting rights to be admitted to a General Meeting, that person must give prior written or electronic notice to the Company of his intention to attend that General Meeting in advance of such General Meeting, within a period determined by the Board. Also, at the request of or on behalf of the chairman of the General Meeting, each person who wishes to exercise the right to vote and to attend the General Meeting must sign the attendance list. |
26.5. | The members of the Board shall have the right to attend the General Meeting. |
In these meetings they shall have an advisory vote.
26.6. | The chairman of the meeting shall decide on the admittance of other persons to the meeting. |
26.7. | If so determined by the Board and announced at the time of convening the meeting, each holder of Shares has the right to attend the General Meeting by electronic means either in person or represented by a person holding a written proxy, to address that meeting and to exercise his voting right, provided that the use of the electronic means by this shareholder enables the identification of the shareholder and enables the shareholder to directly take note of the discussions at that General Meeting and participate in the deliberations of that General Meeting. The previous sentence shall also apply to others who are entitled to attend General Meeting pursuant to article 26.2. |
26.8. | For the application of article 26.7 the requirement to have a written proxy is met in case the proxy is laid down via electronic means. |
26.9. | If so determined by the Board and announced at the time that the General Meeting is convened, votes can be cast prior to the General Meeting by electronic means, but such votes cannot be cast prior to the record date. |
26.10. | The Board is authorised to adopt regulations regarding the use of electronic means. If the Board used its authority to adopt such regulations these shall be made available at the time the General Meeting is convened. |
27. | GENERAL MEETINGS; VOTING RIGHTS |
27.1. | Each Share shall confer the right to cast one vote. |
Insofar as the law or the Articles of Association do not provide otherwise, all resolutions of the General Meeting shall be adopted by a simple majority of the votes cast, without a quorum being required.
27.2. | The chairman of the meeting determines the method of voting, which includes oral, written or electronic voting. |
The chairman may determine that the voting will be done by acclamation in which case notes will be made of abstentions and negative votes if requested.
In the event of the election of persons, anyone entitled to vote may demand that voting shall take place by written ballot.
Voting by written ballot shall take place by means of sealed, unsigned ballot papers.
Votes cast by electronic means or letter preceding the General Meeting will be similarly disposed with votes cast during the General Meeting if the Board prescribes so and this is announced with the convocation.
27.3. | If there is a tie in voting the issue shall be decided by drawing lots, if it involves a proposal in an election of persons. If it concerns matters, the proposal shall be rejected in the event the votes tie. Blank votes shall be considered null and void. |
28. | AMENDMENTS OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION, MERGER, DEMERGER, DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION |
28.1. | Without prejudice to sections 2:331 and 2:334ff of the Dutch Civil Code, the General Meeting may only upon a proposal by the Board resolve to amend the Articles of Association, to conclude a legal merger ( juridische fusie ) or a demerger ( splitsing ), or to dissolve the Company. |
28.2. | The proposal shall be available at the offices of the Company from the day of the convocation to the General Meeting until the close of such General Meeting for inspection by Persons with meeting rights; copies of the proposal shall be made available free of charge to Persons with meeting rights, upon request. |
28.3. | Upon dissolution, the liquidation of the Company shall be effected by the Board, unless the General Meeting has designated one or more other liquidators. |
28.4. | The balance remaining after payment of the debts of the dissolved Company shall be transferred to the holders of Ordinary Shares Class A in proportion to the aggregate nominal value of the Ordinary Shares Class A held by each. |
28.5. | During the liquidation, the Articles of Association shall remain in force as much as possible. |
Transitional clause
The general meeting resolved to reduce the capital of the company by cancellation of all issued Ordinary Shares Class B held by the company, being one hundred and eight thousand one hundred and nine (108,109) shares, each with a each with a nominal value of two euro cents (EUR 0.02), numbered B-1 up to and including B-108,109.
This provisional clause will have ceased to be effective immediately after the current amendment to the articles of association has taken effect and shall not be part of these articles of association as per that moment.
Final statement
Finally the appearing person declared that upon the current amendment to the articles of association taking effect, the issued and paid-up capital amounts to two million one hundred and two thousand two hundred and sixty-one euros and fourteen cents (EUR 2,102,261.14).
Final clause
This deed was executed today in Amsterdam.
The substance of this deed was stated and explained to the appearing person.
The appearing person declared not to require a full reading of the deed, to have taken note of the contents of this deed and to consent to it.
Subsequently, this deed was read out in a limited form, and immediately thereafter signed by the appearing person and myself, civil-law notary, at twelve hours thirteen minutes post meridiem.
Exhibit 4.5
Execution Version
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
This FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this Amendment ), dated as of January 7, 2013, is entered into by and between CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS RAVENSWOOD, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Borrower ), and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacity and including any successors, the Administrative Agent ). All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings provided such terms in the Credit Agreement (as defined below).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS , the Borrower and the Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2012 by and among Constellium Holdco II B.V., Constellium US Holdings I, LLC, the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders from time to time party thereto (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time through, but not including, the date hereof, the Credit Agreement );
WHEREAS , clause (vii) of the definition of Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, required that the Collateral Agent receive, inter alia , counterparts of each Mortgage to be entered into with respect to each Mortgaged Property set forth on Schedule 1.01(b) ;
WHEREAS , the Borrower inadvertently included the properties located at 103 Gibbs Street, Ravenswood, WV, 808 Cherry Street, Ravenswood, WV and 727 Downalong Drive Ravenswood, WV (collectively, the Subject Properties ) on such Schedule 1.01(b) ;
WHEREAS , Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement permits the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to cure any ambiguity, omission, typographical error, mistake, defect or inconsistency if such amendment, modification or supplement does not adversely affect the rights of any Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer; and
WHEREAS , in accordance with such Section 10.01 , the Borrower and the Administrative Agent have agreed to amend the Credit Agreement to remove the Subject Properties from Schedule 1.01(b) ;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendment to the Credit Agreement . Schedule 1.01(b) to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read in entirety as follows:
Schedule 1.01(b)
Mortgaged Properties
Name of Borrower/Guarantor |
Address/City/State/Zip Code | County | ||
Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC |
859 Century Road
Ravenswood, WV
|
Jackson |
2. Conditions to Effectiveness . This Amendment shall become effective (the Effective Date ) upon the execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent of the Borrowers signature hereto.
3. Miscellaneous Provisions .
(a) This Amendment is limited as specified and shall not constitute a modification, acceptance or waiver of any other provisions of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(b) This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts when executed and delivered (including by facsimile or electronic transmission) shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A complete set of counterparts shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(c) THIS AMENDMENT AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
(d) From and after the Effective Date, all references in the Credit Agreement and in each of the other Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement as modified hereby. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for all purposes under the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents.
(e) This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties and each of their respective successors and assigns, and upon the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns.
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(f) Any provision of this Amendment that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
[ Signature pages follow ]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly authorized officers to execute and deliver this Amendment as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS RAVENSWOOD, LLC, as Borrower |
||||
By: | /s/ Derrick A. Doud | |||
Name: | Derrick A. Doud | |||
Title: | CFO |
[ Signature Page to Amendment ]
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Administrative Agent | ||||
By: | /s/ Marcus M. Tarkington | |||
Name: | Marcus M. Tarkington | |||
Title: |
Director |
|||
By: | /s/ Michael Getz | |||
Name: | Michael Getz | |||
Title: | Vice President |
[ Signature Page to Amendment ]
Exhibit 4.8
FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
This FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this Amendment ), dated as of May 7, 2014, is entered into by and among CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS RAVENSWOOD, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Borrower ), DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS ( DBTCA ), as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacity and including any successors, the Administrative Agent ) and the Lenders signatory hereto. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings provided such terms in the Credit Agreement (as defined below).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS , the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2012, by and among Constellium Holdco II B.V., Constellium US Holdings I, LLC, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from time to time party thereto (as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2013, as further amended by the Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 20, 2013, as further amended by the Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2013, and as further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time through, but not including, the date hereof, the Credit Agreement );
WHEREAS , the Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement as provided for herein; and
WHEREAS , on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are willing to agree to such amendments relating to the Credit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendments to the Credit Agreement .
(a) Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following definition in appropriate alphabetical order:
Fourth Amendment Effective Date means the Effective Date, as defined in the Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of May 7, 2014, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto.
(b) Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating clause (b) of such Section in its entirety to read as follows:
(b) (i) Indebtedness created hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness; (ii) Indebtedness of the Term Loan Parties under the Term Finance Documents and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; and (iii) Guarantees by the Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of Ultimate Parent, Holdco II B.V. or any Subsidiary thereof;
2. Conditions to Effectiveness . This Amendment shall become effective upon the date hereof only upon the satisfaction of all of the following conditions precedent (the date of satisfaction of such conditions being referred to herein as the Effective Date ):
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received either (i) a counterpart of this Amendment signed on behalf of the Borrower and the Required Lenders or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile or other electronic transmission of a signed counterpart of this Amendment) that the Borrower and the Required Lenders have signed a counterpart of this Amendment.
(b) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date before and after giving effect to the amendments contemplated hereunder, as though made on and as of the Effective Date; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date or period, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date or period; provided , further , that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Effective Date or as of such earlier date, as the case may be (after giving effect to such qualification).
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts previously agreed in writing by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to be due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least one Business Day prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of outside counsel) required to be so reimbursed or paid.
(d) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(e) The issuance and sale by Constellium N.V. of its 300 Million Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 and $400 Million Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 shall be consummated simultaneously with the effectiveness of this Amendment.
3. Miscellaneous Provisions .
(a) This Amendment is limited as specified and shall not constitute a modification, acceptance or waiver of any other provisions of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document. Except as specifically set forth above, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.
(b) This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts when executed and delivered (including by facsimile or electronic transmission) shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A complete set of counterparts shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
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(c) THIS AMENDMENT AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
(d) From and after the Effective Date, all references in the Credit Agreement and in each of the other Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement or the Loan Documents shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified hereby. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for all purposes under the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents.
(e) This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties and each of their respective successors and assigns, and upon the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns.
(f) Any provision of this Amendment that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
[ Signature pages follow ]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused their duly authorized officers to execute and deliver this Amendment as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS RAVENSWOOD, LLC, as Borrower |
||||
By: | /s/ Derek Scantlin | |||
Name: | Derek Scantlin | |||
Title: | CFO |
[ Signature Page to Fourth Amendment ]
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Administrative Agent |
||||
By: | /s/ Stephen R. Lapidus | |||
Name: | Stephen R. Lapidus | |||
Title: | Director | |||
By: | /s/ Frank Fazio | |||
Name: | Frank Fazio | |||
Title: | Managing Director |
[ Signature Page to Fourth Amendment ]
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Lender |
||||
By: | /s/ Stephen R. Lapidus | |||
Name: | Stephen R. Lapidus | |||
Title: | Director | |||
By: | /s/ Frank Fazio | |||
Name: | Frank Fazio | |||
Title: | Managing Director |
[ Signature Page to Fourth Amendment ]
BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Marguerite Sutton | |||
Name: | Marguerite Sutton | |||
Title: | Vice President |
[ Signature Page to Fourth Amendment ]
, | ||||||
as a Goldman Sachs Bank USA | ||||||
By: | /s/ Michelle Latzoni | |||||
Name: | Michelle Latzoni | |||||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[ Signature Page to Fourth Amendment ]
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender |
||||
By: | /s/ Peter S. Predun | |||
Name: | Peter S. Predun | |||
Title: | Executive Director |
[ Signature Page to Fourth Amendment ]
WEBSTER BUSINESS CREDIT CORP, as a Lender |
||||
By: | /s/ Kevin Coleman | |||
Name: | Kevin Coleman | |||
Title: | Vice President |
[ Signature Page to Fourth Amendment ]
Exhibit 4.12
EXECUTION VERSION
THIRD AMENDMENT dated as of September 30, 2015 (this Amendment ), to the CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 7, 2014 (as previously amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of December 5, 2014, and Amendment No. 2, dated as of February 5, 2015, the Credit Agreement ), among CONSTELLIUM N.V., a Dutch limited liability company registered under number 34393663, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Administrative Agent.
WHEREAS the Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
WHEREAS the Borrower has requested that the Credit Agreement be amended as set forth herein; and
WHEREAS the parties hereto, which include the Required Lenders, are willing to amend the Credit Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Defined Terms . Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein (including in the preamble and the recitals hereto) have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 2. Third Amendment Effective Date Amendments . Effective as of the Third Amendment Effective Date, the Credit Agreement shall be amended as follows:
(a) Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended by adding the following new defined terms in appropriate alphabetical order:
Third Amendment means the Third Amendment to this Agreement.
Third Amendment Effective Date has the meaning assigned to such term in the Third Amendment.
(b) Section 6.08 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated as follows:
Section 6.08 Consolidated Net Debt Ratio . The Borrower shall not permit the Consolidated Net Debt Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2014), solely to the extent Loans are outstanding on such date, to be greater than (x) in the case of each the first four fiscal quarters ending after the Third Amendment Effective Date, 5.00 to 1.00, and (y) in the case of each other fiscal quarter, 4.50 to 1.00.
(c) Section 6.09 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated as follows:
Section 6.09 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . The Borrower shall not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2014), solely to the extent Loans are outstanding on such date, to be less than (x) in the case of each the first four fiscal quarters ending after the Third Amendment Effective Date, 2.00 to 1.00 and (y) in the case of each other fiscal quarter, 2.20 to 1.00.
SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties . In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Amendment and to amend the Credit Agreement in the manner provided herein, on and as of the Third Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders for itself and the Loan Parties that are its Subsidiaries that:
(a) Each of the Loan Parties has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Amendment, the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment (the Amended Agreement ), and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by each of the Loan Parties party to this Amendment, the Amended Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (a) have been duly authorized by all corporate, public limited company or limited liability company or partnership action required to be obtained by such Loan Party and (b) will not (i) (A) violate any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the Organizational Documents of such Loan Party, (B) violate any applicable order of any court or any rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority or (C) violate, be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, give rise to a right of or result in any cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation (including any payment) or to a loss of a material benefit under any indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or any other instrument to which such Loan Party is a party or by which any of them or their property is or may be bound, where any such conflict, violation, breach or default referred to in this clause (i) could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by such Loan Party, other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents and Liens permitted by Section 6.06 of the Credit Agreement.
(c) No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority is or will be required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by each of the Loan Parties of this Amendment, the Amended Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, except for (a) such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect, and (b) such other actions, consents, approvals, registrations or filings with respect to which the failure to be obtained or made could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(d) When this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Loan Party that is a party hereto, this Amendment and the Amended Agreement shall constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower and each such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(e) Before and after giving effect to this Amendment, the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (in all respects in the case of representations and warranties qualified by materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar language in the text thereof) on and as of the Third Amendment Effective Date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case they were so true and correct as of such earlier date.
(f) As of the Third Amendment Effective Date, before and after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Amendment.
SECTION 4. Effectiveness . This Amendment shall become a binding agreement of the parties hereto and the Amendments set forth in Section 2 shall become effective as of the first date on or after October 1, 2015 (the Third Amendment Effective Date ) on which (i) the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received duly executed counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the authorized signatures of the Borrower and the Required Lenders, and (ii) the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a Reaffirmation Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, duly executed by each Subsidiary Loan Party, pursuant to which each Subsidiary Loan Party shall consent to the amendments effected by this Amendment and acknowledge that the Guarantee Agreement remains in full force and effect in accordance with its terms and constitutes a guarantee of the Loan Document Obligations as modified by this Amendment.
SECTION 5. Effect of this Amendment . (a) Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Agents or the Lenders under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. Nothing herein shall be deemed to entitle any Loan Party to any other consent to, or any other waiver, amendment, modification or other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document in similar or different circumstances.
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(b) On and after the Third Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the Credit Agreement to this Agreement, herein, hereunder, hereto, hereof and words of similar import shall, unless the context otherwise requires, refer to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, and each reference to the Credit Agreement in any other Loan Document shall be deemed to be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(c) This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties and each of their respective successors and assigns, and upon the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns.
SECTION 6. Applicable Law; Jurisdiction . (a) THIS AMENDMENT AND ALL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) THAT MAY BE BASED UPON, ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE IN ANY WAY TO THIS AMENDMENT, OR THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AMENDMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY PRINCIPLE OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THAT COULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER LAW.
(b) Section 9.10(b) of the Credit Agreement will apply with like effect to this Amendment and any dispute arising hereunder.
SECTION 7. Counterparts . This Amendment 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 instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
SECTION 8. Severability . Any provision of this Amendment that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9. Fees and Expenses . The Borrower agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Amendment, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Administrative Agent. All fees shall be payable in immediately available funds and shall not be refundable.
[ Signature Pages Follow ]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM N.V. | ||||
By: | /s/ Pierre Vareille | |||
Name: | Pierre Vareille | |||
Title: | CEO |
[ Third Amendment Signature Page ]
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Administrative Agent and Lender |
||||
By: | /s/ Marcus M. Tarkington | |||
Name: | Marcus M. Tarkington | |||
Title: | Director | |||
By: | /s/ Peter Cucchiara | |||
Name: | Peter Cucchiara | |||
Title: | Vice President |
[ Third Amendment Signature Page ]
CONSENT TO THIRD AMENDMENT | ||||
BNP PARIBAS, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Dominique de Narbonne | |||
Name: | Dominique de Narbonne | |||
Title: |
Managing Director COPENEA |
|||
By: | /s/ Antoine Joly | |||
Name: | Antoine Joly | |||
Title: | Senior Banker |
[ Third Amendment Signature Page ]
CONSENT TO THIRD AMENDMENT | ||||
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Alisdair Fraser | |||
Name: | Alisdair Fraser | |||
Title: | Authorised Signatory |
[ Third Amendment Signature Page ]
CONSENT TO THIRD AMENDMENT | ||||
HSBC FRANCE SA, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Philippe Abonneau | |||
Name: | Philippe Abonneau | |||
Title: |
Head of Transaction Management Unit |
|||
By: | /s/ Alexandre Girod | |||
Name: | Alexandre Girod | |||
Title: | Managing Director |
[ Third Amendment Signature Page ]
CONSENT TO THIRD AMENDMENT | ||||
MEDIOBANCA BANCA DI CREDITO FINANZIARIO S.p.A., as a Lender |
||||
By: | /s/ Carlos Domingues | |||
Name: | Carlos Domingues | |||
Title: | Authorised Attorney | |||
By: | /s/ Alessandro Sauro Montevecchi | |||
Name: | Alessandro Sauro Montevecchi | |||
Title: | Authorised Attorney |
[ Third Amendment Signature Page ]
CONSENT TO THIRD AMENDMENT | ||||
NATIXIS, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Régis Fargeat | |||
Name: | Régis Fargeat | |||
Title: | Relationship Manager | |||
By: | /s/ Michel Jabot | |||
Name: | Michel Jabot | |||
Title: | Senior Relationship Manager |
[ Third Amendment Signature Page ]
CONSENT TO THIRD AMENDMENT | ||||
SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE, as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Patrick Sandray | |||
Name: | Patrick Sandray | |||
Title: |
MD, Leveraged Finance Head of France, Italy and Switzerland |
[ Third Amendment Signature Page ]
Exhibit 4.13
Execution Version
FOURTH AMENDMENT dated as of December 10, 2015 (this Amendment ), to the CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 7, 2014 (as previously amended by the First Amendment, dated as of December 5, 2014, the Second Amendment, dated as of February 5, 2015, and the Third Amendment, dated as of September 30, 2015, the Credit Agreement ), among CONSTELLIUM N.V., a Dutch limited liability company registered under number 34393663, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Administrative Agent.
WHEREAS the Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
WHEREAS the Borrower has requested that the Credit Agreement be amended as set forth herein; and
WHEREAS the parties hereto, which include the Required Lenders, are willing to amend the Credit Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein (including in the preamble and the recitals hereto) have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 2. Fourth Amendment Effective Date Amendments. Effective as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, the Credit Agreement shall be amended as follows:
(a) Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended by adding the following new defined terms in appropriate alphabetical order:
Fourth Amendment means the Fourth Amendment to this Agreement.
Fourth Amendment Effective Date has the meaning assigned to such term in the Fourth Amendment.
FX Hedge Agreement means any agreement with respect to any swap (including, but not limited to, cross currency basis swaps) or forward involving, or settled by reference to, one or more currencies.
(b) Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended by amending and restating the defined term Consolidated Total Indebtedness to read as follows:
Consolidated Total Indebtedness means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of consolidated funded Indebtedness for borrowed money (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any Indebtedness under the Factoring Facilities or any Qualified Receivables Financing) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date; provided that to the extent that all or a portion of the principal amount of any such Indebtedness is subject to an FX Hedge Agreement with respect to the currency thereof, such Indebtedness (or portion thereof) shall be deemed to be the total amount (and in the currency) owed (or required to be delivered) by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, to the counterparty under the applicable FX Hedge Agreement (prior to giving effect to any netting).
SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties. In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Amendment and to amend the Credit Agreement in the manner provided herein, on and as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders for itself and the Loan Parties that are its Subsidiaries that:
(a) Each of the Loan Parties has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Amendment, the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment (the Amended Agreement ), and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by each of the Loan Parties party to this Amendment, the Amended Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (a) have been duly authorized by all corporate, public limited company or limited liability company or partnership action required to be obtained by such Loan Party and (b) will not (i) (A) violate any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the Organizational Documents of such Loan Party, (B) violate any applicable order of any court or any rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority or (C) violate, be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, give rise to a right of or result in any cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation (including any payment) or to a loss of a material benefit under any indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or any other instrument to which such Loan Party is a party or by which any of them or their property is or may be bound, where any such conflict, violation, breach or default referred to in this clause (i) could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by such Loan Party, other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents and Liens permitted by Section 6.06 of the Credit Agreement.
(c) No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority is or will be required in connection with the
2
execution, delivery and performance by each of the Loan Parties of this Amendment, the Amended Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, except for (a) such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect, and (b) such other actions, consents, approvals, registrations or filings with respect to which the failure to be obtained or made could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) When this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Loan Party that is a party hereto, this Amendment and the Amended Agreement shall constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower and each such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(e) Before and after giving effect to this Amendment, the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (in all respects in the case of representations and warranties qualified by materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar language in the text thereof) on and as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case they were so true and correct as of such earlier date.
(f) As of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, before and after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Amendment.
SECTION 4. Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become a binding agreement of the parties hereto and the Amendments set forth in Section 2 shall become effective as of the first date on or after December 16, 2015 (the Fourth Amendment Effective Date ) on which (i) the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received duly executed counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the authorized signatures of the Borrower and the Required Lenders, and (ii) the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a Reaffirmation Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, duly executed by each Subsidiary Loan Party, pursuant to which each Subsidiary Loan Party shall consent to the amendments effected by this Amendment and acknowledge that the Guarantee Agreement remains in full force and effect in accordance with its terms and constitutes a guarantee of the Loan Document Obligations as modified by this Amendment.
SECTION 5. Effect of this Amendment. (a) Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Agents or the Lenders under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. Nothing herein
3
shall be deemed to entitle any Loan Party to any other consent to, or any other waiver, amendment, modification or other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document in similar or different circumstances.
(b) On and after the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the Credit Agreement to this Agreement, herein, hereunder, hereto, hereof and words of similar import shall, unless the context otherwise requires, refer to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, and each reference to the Credit Agreement in any other Loan Document shall be deemed to be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(c) This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties and each of their respective successors and assigns, and upon the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns.
SECTION 6. Applicable Law; Jurisdiction. (a) THIS AMENDMENT AND ALL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) THAT MAY BE BASED UPON, ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE IN ANY WAY TO THIS AMENDMENT, OR THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AMENDMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY PRINCIPLE OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THAT COULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER LAW.
(b) Section 9.10(b) of the Credit Agreement will apply with like effect to this Amendment and any dispute arising hereunder.
SECTION 7. Counterparts. This Amendment 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 instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
SECTION 8. Severability . Any provision of this Amendment that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9. Fees and Expenses. The Borrower agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Amendment, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Administrative Agent. All fees shall be payable in immediately available funds and shall not be refundable.
4
[ Signature Pages Follow ]
5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM N.V. | ||
/s/ Pierre Vareille |
||
Name: Pierre Vareille |
||
Title: CEO |
[Fourth Amendment Signature Page]
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Administrative Agent and Lender |
/s/ Marcus M. Tarkington |
Name: Marcus M. Tarkington |
Title: Director |
/s/ Benjamin Souh |
Name: Benjamin Souh |
Title: Vice President |
[Fourth Amendment Signature Page]
CONSENT TO FOURTH AMENDMENT |
BNP PARIBAS, |
as a Lender |
/s/ Antoine Joly |
Name: Antoine Joly |
Title: Senior Banker |
[Fourth Amendment Signature Page]
CONSENT TO FOURTH AMENDMENT |
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, |
as a Lender |
/s/ George Kevin |
Name: George Kevin |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Fourth Amendment Signature Page]
CONSENT TO FOURTH AMENDMENT |
HSBC FRANCE SA, |
as a Lender |
/s/ Sophie Vaz |
Name: Sophie Vaz |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
/s/ Philippe Abonneau |
Name: Philippe Abonneau |
Title: Head of Transaction Management Unit |
[Fourth Amendment Signature Page]
CONSENT TO FOURTH AMENDMENT |
SOCIETE GENERALE, |
as a Lender |
/s/ Patrick Sandray |
Name: Patrick Sandray |
Title: Managing Director, Head of Leveraged Finance |
[Fourth Amendment Signature Page]
Exhibit 4.15
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture) dated as of March 31 2015, among CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH S.A.S. (the New Guarantor), a subsidiary of CONSTELLIUM N.V., (or its successor), a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands (the Issuer) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS the Issuer and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Indenture) dated as of May 7, 2014, providing initially for the issuance of $400,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 5.750% Senior Notes due 2024 (the Securities);
WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer are required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer and the existing Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term Holders in this Guarantee shall refer to the term Holders as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such Holders. The words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 11.03 of the Indenture.
4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and
1
all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH S.A.S. | ||
By: |
/s/ Jeremy Leach |
|
Name: | Jeremy Leach | |
Title: | Authorised Signatory | |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Debra A. Schwalb |
|
Name: | Debra A. Schwalb | |
Title: | Vice President | |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Chris Niesz |
|
Name: | Chris Niesz | |
Title: | Assistant Vice President |
3
Exhibit 4.16
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture) dated as of March 30, 2016, among CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO III B.V. and CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS SINGEN GMBH & CO. KG (together, the New Guarantors), each a subsidiary of CONSTELLIUM N.V., (or its successor), a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands (the Issuer) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS the Issuer and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Indenture) dated as of May 7, 2014, providing initially for the issuance of $400,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 5.750% Senior Notes due 2024 (the Securities);
WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer are required to cause the New Guarantors to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantors shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Issuer are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantors, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term Holders in this Guarantee shall refer to the term Holders as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such Holders. The words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantors hereby agree, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantors shall be given as provided in Section 11.03 of the Indenture.
1
4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO III B.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS SINGEN GMBH & CO. KG | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page Supplemental Indenture May 2014 Dollar Notes]
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Linda Reale |
|
Name: | Linda Reale | |
Title: | Vice President | |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Wanda Camacho |
|
Name: | Wanda Camacho | |
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature Page Supplemental Indenture May 2014 Dollar Notes]
Exhibit 4.18
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture) dated as of March 31, 2015, among CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH S.A.S. (the New Guarantor), a subsidiary of CONSTELLIUM N.V., (or its successor), a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands (the Issuer) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the Trustee), DEUTCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH, as Principal Paying Agent and DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A., as Registrar and Transfer Agent.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS the Issuer and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Indenture) dated as of May 7, 2014, providing initially for the issuance of 300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021 (the Securities);
WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer are required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer and the existing Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term Holders in this Guarantee shall refer to the term Holders as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such Holders. The words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 11.03 of the Indenture.
1
4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH S.A.S. | ||
By: |
/s/ Jeremy Leach |
|
Name: | Jeremy Leach | |
Title: | Authorised Signatory | |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Debra A. Schwalb |
|
Name: | Debra A. Schwalb | |
Title: | Vice President | |
By: |
/s/ Chris Niesz |
|
Name: | Chris Niesz | |
Title: | Assistant Vice President | |
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH | ||
By: |
/s/ Tim Dean |
|
Name: | Tim Dean | |
Title: | AVP | |
By: |
/s/ P. Yetton |
|
Name: | P. Yetton | |
Title: | AVP | |
DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A. | ||
By: |
/s/ F. Hopkinson |
|
Name: | F. Hopkinson | |
Title: | Attorney | |
By: |
/s/ P. Yetton |
|
Name: | P. Yetton | |
Title: | Attorney |
3
Exhibit 4.19
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture) dated as of March 30, 2016, among CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO III B.V. and CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS SINGEN GMBH & CO. KG (together, the New Guarantors), each a subsidiary of CONSTELLIUM N.V., (or its successor), a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands (the Issuer) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the Trustee), DEUTCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH, as Principal Paying Agent and DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A., as Registrar and Transfer Agent.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS the Issuer and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Indenture) dated as of May 7, 2014, providing initially for the issuance of 300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021 (the Securities);
WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer are required to cause the New Guarantors to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantors shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Issuer are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantors, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term Holders in this Guarantee shall refer to the term Holders as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such Holders. The words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantors hereby agree, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantors shall be given as provided in Section 11.03 of the Indenture.
1
4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO III B.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS SINGEN GMBH & CO. KG | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page Supplemental Indenture May 2014 Euro Notes]
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Linda Reale |
|
Name: | Linda Reale | |
Title: | Vice President | |
By: |
/s/ Wanda Camacho |
|
Name: | Wanda Camacho | |
Title: | Vice President | |
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH | ||
By: |
/s/ K. Odedra |
|
Name: | K. Odedra | |
Title: | VP | |
By: |
/s/ David Contino |
|
Name: | David Contino | |
Title: | Director | |
DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A. | ||
By: |
/s/ K. Odedra |
|
Name: | K. Odedra | |
Title: | Attorney | |
By: |
/s/ David Contino |
|
Name: | David Contino | |
Title: | Attorney |
[Signature Page Supplemental Indenture May 2014 Euro Notes]
Exhibit 4.21
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture) dated as of March 31, 2015, among CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH S.A.S. (the New Guarantor), a subsidiary of CONSTELLIUM N.V., (or its successor), a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands (the Issuer) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS the Issuer and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Indenture) dated as of December 19, 2014, providing initially for the issuance of $400,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 8.00% Senior Notes due 2023 (the Securities);
WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer are required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer and the existing Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term Holders in this Guarantee shall refer to the term Holders as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such Holders. The words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 11.03 of the Indenture.
4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and
1
all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH S.A.S. | ||
By: |
/s/ Jeremy Leach |
|
Name: | Jeremy Leach | |
Title: | Authorised Signatory | |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Debra A. Schwalb |
|
Name: | Debra A. Schwalb | |
Title: | Vice President | |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Chris Niesz |
|
Name: | Chris Niesz | |
Title: | Assistant Vice President |
3
Exhibit 4.22
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture) dated as of March 30, 2016, among CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO III B.V. and CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS SINGEN GMBH & CO. KG (together, the New Guarantors), each a subsidiary of CONSTELLIUM N.V., (or its successor), a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands (the Issuer) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS the Issuer and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Indenture) dated as of December 19, 2014, providing initially for the issuance of $400,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 8.00% Senior Notes due 2023 (the Securities);
WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer are required to cause the New Guarantors to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantors shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Issuer are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantors, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term Holders in this Guarantee shall refer to the term Holders as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such Holders. The words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantors hereby agree, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantors shall be given as provided in Section 11.03 of the Indenture.
1
4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO III B.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS SINGEN GMBH & CO. KG | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page Supplemental Indenture December 2014 Dollar Notes]
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Linda Reale |
|
Name: | Linda Reale | |
Title: | Vice President | |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Wanda Camacho |
|
Name: | Wanda Camacho | |
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature Page Supplemental Indenture May 2014 Euro Notes]
Exhibit 4.24
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture) dated as of March 31, 2015, among CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH S.A.S. (the New Guarantor), a subsidiary of CONSTELLIUM N.V., (or its successor), a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands (the Issuer) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the Trustee), DEUTCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH, as Principal Paying Agent and DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A., as Registrar and Transfer Agent.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS the Issuer and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Indenture) dated as of December 19, 2014, providing initially for the issuance of 240,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 7.00% Senior Notes due 2023 (the Securities);
WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer are required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer and the existing Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term Holders in this Guarantee shall refer to the term Holders as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such Holders. The words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 11.03 of the Indenture.
1
4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH S.A.S. | ||
By: |
/s/ Jeremy Leach |
|
Name: | Jeremy Leach | |
Title: | Authorised Signatory | |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Debra A. Schwalb |
|
Name: | Debra A. Schwalb | |
Title: | Vice President | |
By: |
/s/ Chris Niesz |
|
Name: | Chris Niesz | |
Title: | Assistant Vice President | |
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH | ||
By: |
/s/ Tim Dean |
|
Name: | Tim Dean | |
Title: | AVP | |
By: |
/s/ P. Yetton |
|
Name: | P. Yetton | |
Title: | AVP | |
DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A. | ||
By: |
/s/ F. Hopkinson |
|
Name: | F. Hopkinson | |
Title: | Attorney | |
By: |
/s/ P. Yetton |
|
Name: | P. Yetton | |
Title: | Attorney |
3
Exhibit 4.25
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture) dated as of March 30, 2016, among CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO III B.V. and CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS SINGEN GMBH & CO. KG (together, the New Guarantors), each a subsidiary of CONSTELLIUM N.V., (or its successor), a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands (the Issuer) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the Trustee), DEUTCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH, as Principal Paying Agent and DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A., as Registrar and Transfer Agent.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS the Issuer and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Indenture) dated as of December 19, 2014, providing initially for the issuance of 240,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 7.00% Senior Notes due 2023 (the Securities);
WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer are required to cause the New Guarantors to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantors shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trusteeand the Issuer are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantors, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term Holders in this Guarantee shall refer to the term Holders as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such Holders. The words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantors hereby agree, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantors shall be given as provided in Section 11.03 of the Indenture.
1
4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO III B.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS SINGEN GMBH & CO. KG | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page Supplemental Indenture December 2014 Euro Notes]
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
/s/ Linda Reale |
|
Name: | Linda Reale | |
Title: | Vice President | |
By: |
/s/ Wanda Camacho |
|
Name: | Wanda Camacho | |
Title: | Vice President | |
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH | ||
By: |
/s/ K. Odedra |
|
Name: | K. Odedra | |
Title: | VP | |
By: |
/s/ David Contino |
|
Name: | David Contino | |
Title: | Director | |
DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A. | ||
By: |
/s/ K. Odedra |
|
Name: | K. Odedra | |
Title: | Attorney | |
By: |
/s/ David Contino |
|
Name: | David Contino | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page Supplemental Indenture December 2014 Euro Notes]
Exhibit 4.26
CONSTELLIUM N.V.
and
certain Guarantors from time to time parties hereto
$425,000,000 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2021
INDENTURE
Dated as of March 30, 2016
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
as Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||||
SECTION 1.01 |
Definitions |
1 | ||||
SECTION 1.02 |
Other Definitions |
42 | ||||
SECTION 1.03 |
[Reserved] |
43 | ||||
SECTION 1.04 |
Rules of Construction |
43 | ||||
SECTION 1.05 |
Acts of Holders |
45 | ||||
ARTICLE 2 THE SECURITIES |
46 | |||||
SECTION 2.01 |
Amount of Securities |
46 | ||||
SECTION 2.02 |
Form and Dating |
47 | ||||
SECTION 2.03 |
Execution and Authentication |
47 | ||||
SECTION 2.04 |
Registrar and Paying Agent |
48 | ||||
SECTION 2.05 |
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust |
48 | ||||
SECTION 2.06 |
Holder Lists |
49 | ||||
SECTION 2.07 |
Transfer and Exchange |
49 | ||||
SECTION 2.08 |
Replacement Securities |
50 | ||||
SECTION 2.09 |
Outstanding Securities |
50 | ||||
SECTION 2.10 |
Temporary Securities |
51 | ||||
SECTION 2.11 |
Cancellation |
51 | ||||
SECTION 2.12 |
Defaulted Interest |
51 | ||||
SECTION 2.13 |
CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc. |
51 | ||||
SECTION 2.14 |
Calculation of Principal Amount of Securities |
51 | ||||
SECTION 2.15 |
Additional Amounts |
52 | ||||
ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION |
55 | |||||
SECTION 3.01 |
Redemption |
55 | ||||
SECTION 3.02 |
Applicability of Article |
55 | ||||
SECTION 3.03 |
Notices to Trustee |
55 | ||||
SECTION 3.04 |
Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed |
55 | ||||
SECTION 3.05 |
Notice of Optional Redemption |
56 | ||||
SECTION 3.06 |
Effect of Notice of Redemption |
56 | ||||
SECTION 3.07 |
Deposit of Redemption Price |
57 | ||||
SECTION 3.08 |
Securities Redeemed in Part |
57 | ||||
ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS |
57 | |||||
SECTION 4.01 |
Payment of Securities |
57 | ||||
SECTION 4.02 |
Reports and Other Information |
58 | ||||
SECTION 4.03 |
Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock |
59 | ||||
SECTION 4.04 |
Limitation on Restricted Payments | 67 |
i
SECTION 4.05 |
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries |
73 | ||||
SECTION 4.06 |
Asset Sales |
75 | ||||
SECTION 4.07 |
Transactions with Affiliates |
78 | ||||
SECTION 4.08 |
Change of Control |
82 | ||||
SECTION 4.09 |
Compliance Certificate |
84 | ||||
SECTION 4.10 |
Special Mandatory Offers to Purchase |
84 | ||||
SECTION 4.11 |
Future Guarantors |
85 | ||||
SECTION 4.12 |
Liens |
86 | ||||
SECTION 4.13 |
Maintenance of Office or Agency |
86 | ||||
SECTION 4.14 |
Termination and Suspension of Certain Covenants |
87 | ||||
ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSOR COMPANY |
88 | |||||
SECTION 5.01 |
When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets |
88 | ||||
ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
90 | |||||
SECTION 6.01 |
Events of Default |
90 | ||||
SECTION 6.02 |
Acceleration |
92 | ||||
SECTION 6.03 |
Other Remedies |
93 | ||||
SECTION 6.04 |
Waiver of Past Defaults |
93 | ||||
SECTION 6.05 |
Control by Majority |
94 | ||||
SECTION 6.06 |
Limitation on Suits |
94 | ||||
SECTION 6.07 |
Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment |
94 | ||||
SECTION 6.08 |
Collection Suit by Trustee |
95 | ||||
SECTION 6.09 |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
95 | ||||
SECTION 6.10 |
Priorities |
95 | ||||
SECTION 6.11 |
Undertaking for Costs |
95 | ||||
SECTION 6.12 |
Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws |
96 | ||||
ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE |
96 | |||||
SECTION 7.01 |
Duties of Trustee |
96 | ||||
SECTION 7.02 |
Rights of Trustee |
97 | ||||
SECTION 7.03 |
Individual Rights of Trustee |
99 | ||||
SECTION 7.04 |
Trustees Disclaimer |
100 | ||||
SECTION 7.05 |
Notice of Defaults |
100 | ||||
SECTION 7.06 |
Affiliate Subordination Agreement |
100 | ||||
SECTION 7.07 |
Compensation and Indemnity |
100 | ||||
SECTION 7.08 |
Replacement of Trustee |
101 | ||||
SECTION 7.09 |
Successor Trustee by Merger |
102 | ||||
SECTION 7.10 |
Certain Provisions |
102 | ||||
ARTICLE 8 DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE |
103 | |||||
SECTION 8.01 |
Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance | 103 |
ii
SECTION 8.02 |
Conditions to Defeasance |
104 | ||||
SECTION 8.03 |
Application of Trust Money |
105 | ||||
SECTION 8.04 |
Repayment to Issuer |
105 | ||||
SECTION 8.05 |
Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations |
105 | ||||
SECTION 8.06 |
Reinstatement |
106 | ||||
ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS |
106 | |||||
SECTION 9.01 |
Without Consent of the Holders |
106 | ||||
SECTION 9.02 |
With Consent of the Holders |
107 | ||||
SECTION 9.03 |
[Reserved] |
109 | ||||
SECTION 9.04 |
Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers |
109 | ||||
SECTION 9.05 |
Notation on or Exchange of Securities |
109 | ||||
SECTION 9.06 |
Trustee to Sign Amendments |
109 | ||||
SECTION 9.07 |
Payment for Consent |
110 | ||||
SECTION 9.08 |
Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount |
110 | ||||
ARTICLE 10 GUARANTEES |
110 | |||||
SECTION 10.01 |
Guarantees |
110 | ||||
SECTION 10.02 |
Limitation on Liability |
113 | ||||
SECTION 10.03 |
Automatic Termination of Guarantees |
118 | ||||
SECTION 10.04 |
Successors and Assigns |
118 | ||||
SECTION 10.05 |
No Waiver |
118 | ||||
SECTION 10.06 |
Modification |
119 | ||||
SECTION 10.07 |
Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors |
119 | ||||
SECTION 10.08 |
Non-Impairment |
119 | ||||
ARTICLE 11 COLLATERAL AND SECURITY |
119 | |||||
SECTION 11.01 |
Security |
119 | ||||
SECTION 11.02 |
Intercreditor Agreements |
121 | ||||
SECTION 11.03 |
Authorization of Actions to Be Taken by the Trustee Under the Security Documents |
122 | ||||
SECTION 11.04 |
Receipt of Funds by the Collateral Agent Under the Security Documents |
122 | ||||
SECTION 11.05 |
Collateral Releases and Termination of Security Interest |
122 | ||||
ARTICLE 12 MISCELLANEOUS |
123 | |||||
SECTION 12.01 |
Ranking |
123 | ||||
SECTION 12.02 |
[Reserved] |
123 | ||||
SECTION 12.03 |
Notices |
123 | ||||
SECTION 12.04 |
[Reserved] |
125 | ||||
SECTION 12.05 |
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent |
125 | ||||
SECTION 12.06 |
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion |
125 | ||||
SECTION 12.07 |
When Securities Disregarded | 125 |
iii
SECTION 12.08 |
Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar |
125 | ||||
SECTION 12.09 |
Legal Holidays |
125 | ||||
SECTION 12.10 |
GOVERNING LAW |
126 | ||||
SECTION 12.11 |
Consent to Jurisdiction and Service |
126 | ||||
SECTION 12.12 |
Currency Indemnity |
126 | ||||
SECTION 12.13 |
No Recourse Against Others |
127 | ||||
SECTION 12.14 |
Successors |
127 | ||||
SECTION 12.15 |
USA PATRIOT Act |
127 | ||||
SECTION 12.16 |
Multiple Originals |
127 | ||||
SECTION 12.17 |
Table of Contents; Headings |
127 | ||||
SECTION 12.18 |
Indenture Controls |
127 | ||||
SECTION 12.19 |
Severability |
127 |
Appendix A |
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Provisions Relating to Original Securities and Add-On Securities |
A - 1 | |||||
EXHIBIT INDEX |
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Exhibit A |
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Form of Original Security |
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Exhibit B |
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Form of Supplemental Indenture |
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Exhibit C |
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Form of Affiliate Subordination Agreement |
iv
INDENTURE dated as of March 30, 2016 among CONSTELLIUM N.V., a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands (the Issuer) with corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the GUARANTORS (as defined herein) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee (the Trustee).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of (a) $425,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 issued on the date hereof (the Original Securities) and (b) any additional Securities that may be issued after the date hereof in the form of Exhibit A (the Add-On Securities) (all such securities in clauses (a) and (b) being referred to collectively as the Securities). Subject to the conditions and compliance with the covenants set forth herein, the Issuer may issue an unlimited aggregate principal amount of Add-On Securities without the consent of Holders.
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Definitions .
2016 Transactions means the issuance of the Original Securities and the termination of certain credit facilities of the Issuer, and the payment of fees and expenses and premium in connection therewith.
2021 Senior Notes means the Issuers 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021 outstanding on the Issue Date.
ABL Lien means any Lien securing (a) Ravenswood ABL Lien Debt Obligations, (b) Indebtedness and other Obligations in respect of the Wise ABL Facility or (c) Indebtedness and other Obligations in respect of any other asset-based lending facility subject to a customary intercreditor agreement that was entered into in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
ABL Lien Debt means any Indebtedness that is secured by ABL Liens.
ABL Lien Debt Borrowing Base means, as of any date, an amount equal to:
(1) 85% of the face amount of accounts receivable owned by the ABL Lien Debt Obligors as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date; plus
(2) the lesser of (i) 80% of the lower of cost or market and (ii) 85% of net orderly liquidation value, in each case, of inventory owned by the ABL Lien Debt Obligors as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date.
ABL Lien Debt Obligations means ABL Lien Debt and other Obligations in respect thereof.
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ABL Lien Debt Obligors means the borrower or borrowers and guarantors under any asset-based lending pursuant to which ABL Lien Debt Obligations are incurred.
Acquired Indebtedness means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and
(2) Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.
Affiliate of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.
Affiliate Subordination Agreement means the Affiliate Subordination Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with its terms.
Applicable Premium means, with respect to any Security on any applicable redemption date, the greater of the following, as calculated by the Issuer:
(1) 1% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Security; and
(2) the excess of:
(a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Security, at April 1, 2018 (such redemption price being set forth in Paragraph 5 of the Security plus (ii) all required interest payments (without giving effect to any Special Interest, if applicable) due on the Security through April 1, 2018 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over
(b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Security.
Asset Sale means:
(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) outside the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (each referred to in this definition as a disposition) or
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(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),
in each case other than:
(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or damaged, obsolete or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business;
(b) transactions permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;
(c) any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.04;
(d) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, which assets or Equity Interests so disposed or issued have an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than 10.0 million;
(e) any disposition of property or assets, or the issuance of securities, by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the Issuer or by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;
(f) any exchange of assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) for assets related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Issuer;
(g) foreclosure or any similar action with respect to any property or any other assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(h) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(i) the lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;
(j) any sale of inventory or other assets in the ordinary course of business, or which are no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(k) any grant in the ordinary course of business of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how or any other intellectual property;
(l) an issuance of Capital Stock pursuant to an equity incentive or compensation plan approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer;
(m) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;
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(n) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including any Sale/Leaseback Transaction or asset securitization permitted by this Indenture;
(o) any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;
(p) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;
(q) a transfer of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of Receivables Financing (or a fractional undivided interest therein) by a Receivables Subsidiary or any Restricted Subsidiary (w) under the Factoring Facilities, (x) in a Qualified Receivables Financing, (y) under any other factoring on arms-length terms or (z) in the ordinary course of business;
(r) the sale of any property in a Sale/Leaseback Transaction within six months of the acquisition of such property; and
(s) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements.
Bank Credit Facilities means Credit Facilities providing for term loan or revolving credit indebtedness that constitutes Bank Indebtedness.
Bank Indebtedness means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of any Credit Facilities provided by bank or other institutional lenders (excluding Credit Facilities providing for publicly offered or privately placed capital markets indebtedness), as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Bank Credit Facilities), including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Issuer whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.
Board of Directors means, as to any Person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.
Business Day means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City, London or Amsterdam.
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Capital Stock means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
Capitalized Lease Obligation means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with IFRS.
Cash Equivalents means:
(1) All cash, including without limitation U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, Swiss franc, the national currency of any member state in the European Union or such other currencies held by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from time to time in the ordinary course of business;
(2) Securities and other readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any country that is a member of the European Union or Switzerland, or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case maturing not more than two years from the date of acquisition;
(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million;
(4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;
(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) rated at least A-2 or the equivalent thereof by Moodys or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;
(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having an Investment Grade Rating in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;
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(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons with a rating of A or higher from S&P or A-2 or higher from Moodys in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;
(8) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above;
(9) investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in mutual funds rated AA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moodys; and
(10) marketable short-term money market and similar highly liquid funds either (i) having assets in excess of $250.0 million or (ii) having a rating of at least A-2 or P-2 from either S&P or Moodys (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moodys shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized rating service).
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a Person; or
(2) the Issuer becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer; provided , however , that any entity (including the Issuer upon a sale of all or substantially all of its assets to a Subsidiary in a transaction permitted under this Indenture, if at such time the Issuer meets the requirements of this proviso) that conducts no material activities other than holding Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer and has no other material assets or liabilities other than such Equity Interests will not be considered a Person or group for purposes of this clause (2).
Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Collateral means:
(1) with respect to the U.S. Note Guarantors, any and all assets, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, of the U.S. Note Guarantors other than Excluded Assets; and
(2) with respect to the Issuer and the Non-U.S. Note Guarantors, the (i) Equity Interests in its Subsidiaries that are Intermediate Holding Companies and Material
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Guarantors, (ii) intercompany Indebtedness owed to such Non-U.S. Note Guarantor (including any security therefor) and (iii) bank accounts and (iv) products and proceeds of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii); provided that (x) intercompany Indebtedness and bank accounts (including receivables consisting of monies credited to such bank accounts as are owned by the bank with which such bank accounts are maintained) and securities accounts pledged or assigned in respect of Hedging Obligations and Qualified Receivables Financings shall be excluded for so long as such are pledged or assigned therefor and (y) any bank account maintained by any Non-U.S. Note Guarantor solely to secure the issuance of letters of credit or bank guarantees and pledged or assigned in support therefor that constitutes a Permitted Lien shall be excluded for so long as such are so pledged or assigned therefor.
Collateral Agent means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its capacity as collateral agent under the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity, as amended, supplemented, restated, replaced or otherwise modified.
Consolidated Interest Expense means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:
(1) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income (including amortization of original issue discount, noncash interest payments, the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations (but excluding unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses attributable to such Hedging Obligations, amortization of deferred financing fees and expensing of any bridge or other financing fees), and excluding interest expense attributable to the Factoring Facilities or any Qualified Receivables Financing or other factoring arrangements (to the extent accounted for as interest expense under IFRS), amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and expensing of any bridge commitment or other financing fees); plus
(2) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus
(3) Preferred Stock dividends paid in cash in respect of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer held by persons other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary; plus
(4) Commissions based on draws, discounts and yield (but excluding other fees and charges, including commitment fees) Incurred in connection with any Receivables Financing which are payable to Persons other than the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; minus
(5) interest income for such period.
For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with IFRS.
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Consolidated Net Income means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis; provided , however , that:
(1) any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses or income, expenses or charges (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), including, without limitation, any (i) severance, relocation or other restructuring expenses, any expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternate uses and fees, expenses or charges relating to new product lines, plant shutdown costs, curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefits plans, excess pension charges, acquisition integration costs, facilities opening costs, project start-up costs, business optimization costs, signing, retention or completion bonuses and (ii) any fees, expenses or charges related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, receivables financing, recapitalization or issuance, repayment, incurrence, refinancing, amendment or modification of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by this Indenture (in each case, whether or not successful), in each case, shall be excluded;
(2) any increase in amortization or depreciation or any non-cash charges, in each case resulting from purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition that is consummated after the Issue Date shall be excluded;
(3) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;
(4) any net after-tax income or loss from disposed, abandoned, transferred, closed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of disposed, abandoned, transferred, closed or discontinued operations shall be excluded;
(5) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) shall be excluded;
(6) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded;
(7) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;
(8) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (1) of the definition of Cumulative Credit, the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or
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indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person, to the extent not already included therein;
(9) any non-cash impairment charges or asset write-offs resulting from the application of IFRS and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to IFRS shall be excluded;
(10) any non-cash expense realized or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, grants and sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded;
(11) any (a) severance or relocation costs or expenses, (b) one-time non-cash compensation charges, (c) the costs and expenses related to employment of terminated employees, (d) costs or expenses realized in connection with, resulting from or in anticipation of the 2016 Transactions or (e) costs or expenses realized in connection with or resulting from stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights existing on the Issue Date of officers, directors and employees, in each case of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be excluded;
(12) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted in accordance with IFRS or changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies shall be excluded;
(13) (a)(i) the non-cash portion of straight-line rent expense shall be excluded and (ii) the cash portion of straight-line rent expense which exceeds the amount expensed in respect of such rent expense shall be included and (b) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting shall be excluded;
(14) unrealized gains and losses relating to hedging transactions and mark-to-market of Indebtedness denominated in foreign currencies shall be excluded;
(15) solely for the purpose of calculating Restricted Payments, the difference, if positive, of the Consolidated Taxes of the Issuer calculated in accordance with IFRS and the actual Consolidated Taxes paid in cash by the Issuer during any Reference Period shall be included;
(16) non-cash charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances shall be excluded;
(17) an adjustment (which may be a negative number) shall be made to the extent that Net Income was calculated on an average cost basis with respect to inventory, in order to reflect the additional Net Income (or the reduction to Net Income) which would have been recognized using an approximation of last in first out inventory accounting; and
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(18) any loss on sale of receivables and related assets in a Factoring Facility or other Qualified Receivables Financing shall be excluded.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.04 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under clauses (5) and (6) of the definition of Cumulative Credit.
Consolidated Non-cash Charges means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization, accretion and other non-cash expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with IFRS, but excluding any such charge which consists of or requires an accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges for any future period.
Consolidated Secured Indebtedness means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of consolidated funded Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Wise Entity that is not a Guarantor as of such date of measurement) outstanding on such date that is secured by a Lien (other than any Indebtedness under the Factoring Facilities, any Qualified Receivables Financing, the PBGC Obligations and any Capitalized Lease Obligations and any ABL Lien Debt (including any Indebtedness under the Ravenswood ABL Facility or the Wise ABL Facility)).
Consolidated Secured Net Debt Ratio means, with respect to any Person at any date, the ratio of (i) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Secured Indebtedness of such Person, less up to 150.0 million of any unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents stated on the balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of any Wise Entity that is not a Guarantor as of such date of measurement) as of such date to (ii) EBITDA of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Wise Entity that is not a Guarantor as of such date of measurement) for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date. The second sentence of the first paragraph of the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 thereof shall apply to the calculation of the Consolidated Secured Net Debt Ratio, and such calculation shall give pro forma effect to the application of the proceeds of any Indebtedness that is incurred on the calculation date (with any proceeds that are initially to be held as cash or Cash Equivalents being deemed to have been applied as of the calculation date).
Consolidated Taxes means provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise and similar taxes.
Contingent Obligations means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (primary obligations) of any other Person (the primary obligor) in any manner,
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whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:
(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,
(2) to advance or supply funds:
(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or
(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or
(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.
Credit Facilities means (i) Indebtedness Incurred and outstanding pursuant to clause (i) of Section 4.03(b) (it being understood that Indebtedness that is Incurred pursuant to such clause and subsequently reclassified as being Incurred pursuant to a different clause in accordance with this Indenture will not be deemed outstanding pursuant to such clause (a)); and (ii) whether or not the Credit Facilities referred to in clause (i) remain outstanding, if designated by the Issuer to be included in the definition of Credit Facilities, one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.
Cumulative Credit means the sum of (without duplication):
(1) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period, the Reference Period) from April 1, 2016 to the end of the Issuers most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus
(2) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of property other than cash, received by the Issuer after the Issue Date (other than net proceeds to the extent such net proceeds have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xx) from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer (excluding Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Excluded Contributions or Disqualified Stock), including Equity Interests issued upon conversion of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries), plus
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(3) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Issuer received in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of property other than cash after the Issue Date (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, contributions to the extent such contributions have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xx), plus
(4) 100% of the principal amount of any Indebtedness, or the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof issued after the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock issued to a Restricted Subsidiary) which has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests in the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer ( provided that, in the case of any parent, such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is retired or extinguished), plus
(5) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of property other than cash received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from:
(a) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances (including the release of any guarantee that constituted a Restricted Investment when made) that constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (vii) or (x) of Section 4.04(b)),
(b) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or
(c) a distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus
(6) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the Investment of the Issuer in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable), after taking into account any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or combined or any Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred or conveyed (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (vii) or (x) of Section 4.04(b) or constituted a Permitted Investment).
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Default means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
Designated Non-cash Consideration means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.
Designated Preferred Stock means Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers Certificate, on the issuance date thereof.
Disqualified Stock means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:
(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale; provided that the relevant asset sale or change of control provisions, taken as a whole, are not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Securities than is customary in comparable transactions (as determined in good faith by the Issuer)),
(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or
(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale; provided that the relevant asset sale or change of control provisions, taken as a whole, are not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Securities than is customary in comparable transactions (as determined in good faith by the Issuer)),
in each case prior to 91 days after (x) the maturity date of the Securities or (y) the date the Securities are no longer outstanding; provided , however , that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , however , that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employees termination, death or disability; provided , further , that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.
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EBITDA means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period plus, without duplication, to the extent the same was deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income:
(1) Consolidated Taxes; plus
(2) Consolidated Interest Expense; plus
(3) Consolidated Non-cash Charges; plus
(4) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the effect of inventory optimization programs, plant closures, facility consolidations, retention, severance, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, future lease commitments and excess pension charges); provided that the aggregate amount of business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges or expenses added pursuant to this clause (4) shall not exceed the greater of (i) 20.0 million and (ii) 10% of EBITDA for such period;
less, without duplication,
(5) non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in a prior period).
Equity Interests means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
Equity Offering means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable (other than Disqualified Stock), other than:
(1) public offerings with respect to the Issuers or such direct or indirect parents common stock registered on Form F-8 or F-4; and
(2) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.
Euros and each mean the single currency of the Member States of the European Union participating in the third stage of the economic and monetary union pursuant to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Rate means, as of any day, the rate at which the relevant currency may be exchanged into Euros or U.S. Dollars, as applicable, at approximately 11:00 a.m., New
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York City time, on such date on the Bloomberg Key Cross Currency Rates Page (or any successor page) for the relevant currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Bloomberg Key Cross Currency Rates Page (or any successor page), the Exchange Rate shall be determined by the Issuer in good faith.
Excluded Assets means, solely with respect to the U.S. Note Guarantors, each of the following:
(1) any fee-owned real property with a Fair Market Value of less than $5,000,000 and all leasehold interests of a U.S. Note Guarantor (as tenant, lessee, ground lessee, sublessor, subtenant or sublessee) in real property;
(2) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title or ownership;
(3) Letter of Credit Rights and Commercial Tort Claims (each as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) individually with a value of less than $5,000,000, provided that the aggregate value of all Letter of Credit Rights or Commercial Tort Claims excluded pursuant to this clause (3) shall not exceed $5,000,000;
(4) any asset if, to the extent and for so long as the grant of a Lien thereon to secure the Parity Lien Obligations is prohibited by any Requirements of Law (other than to the extent that any such prohibition would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable Requirements of Law);
(5) Equity Interests in any Person (other than any Wholly Owned Subsidiary) to the extent the pledge thereof to the Collateral Agent is not permitted by the terms of such Persons organizational or joint venture documents;
(6) any lease, license or other agreement with any Person if, to the extent and for so long as the grant of a Lien thereon to secure the Parity Lien Secured Obligations constitutes a breach of or a default under, or creates a right of termination in favor of any party (other than any U.S. Note Guarantor) to, such lease, license or other agreement (but only to the extent any of the foregoing is not rendered ineffective by, or is otherwise unenforceable under, the Uniform Commercial Code or any Requirements of Law);
(7) any asset subject to a Permitted Lien of the type permitted by clause (10) in the definition thereof, if, to the extent and for so long as the grant of a Lien thereon to secure the Parity Lien Secured Obligations constitutes a breach of or a default under, or creates a right of termination in favor of any party (other than any U.S. Note Guarantor) to, any agreement pursuant to which such Lien has been created (but only to the extent any of the foregoing is not rendered ineffective by, or is otherwise unenforceable under, the Uniform Commercial Code or any Requirements of Law);
(8) those assets as determined in good faith by the Issuer that the costs of obtaining or perfecting such a security interest are excessive in relation to the value of the security interest to be afforded thereby;
(9) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent security interests in such licenses, franchises, charters or
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authorizations are prohibited or restricted thereby (but only to the extent any of the foregoing prohibitions or restrictions is not rendered ineffective by, or is otherwise unenforceable under, the Uniform Commercial Code or any Requirements of Law);
(10) any intent-to-use trademark application filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office to the extent that an amendment to allege use or a verified statement of use with respect to such intent-to-use application has not been filed with and accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office;
(11) any asset sold pursuant to a Qualified Receivables Financing;
(12) any assets of Ravenswood subject to a Lien in favor of the PBGC on the Issue Date, unless and until the consent of the PBGC to the grant of a Lien over such assets as Collateral for the Parity Lien Obligations shall have been obtained and the PBGC Intercreditor Agreement shall have been entered into;
(13) (i) deposit accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of (A) withheld income taxes and federal, state or local employment taxes in such amounts as are required in the reasonable judgment of such accountholder to be paid to the Internal Revenue Service or state or local government agencies with respect to employees of any of the Issuer or any Guarantor, (B) amounts required to be paid over to an employee benefit plan pursuant to DOL Reg. Sec. 2510.3-102 on behalf of or for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or one or more Guarantors, (ii) all segregated deposit accounts constituting (and the balance of which consists solely of funds set aside in connection with) taxes accounts, payroll accounts, trust or similar accounts and (iii) other non-concentration accounts containing less than $1,000,000 individually and in the aggregate for all such other non-concentration accounts; and
(14) any assets explicitly excluded from the definition of Collateral pursuant to the U.S. Collateral Agreement;
except, in each case, to the extent that any such asset in the foregoing clauses (1) through (14) is pledged in respect of any Ravenswood ABL Lien Debt.
Excluded Contributions means the Cash Equivalents or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by the Issuer) received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from:
(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and
(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to any Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer,
in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officers Certificate executed by an Officer of the Issuer on or promptly after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Capital Stock is sold, as the case may be.
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Existing Constellium Note Guarantees means guarantees of any of the Existing Constellium Notes.
Existing Constellium Notes means those certain (i) 8.00% Senior Notes due 2023, issued pursuant to an indenture dated December 19, 2014 between Constellium N.V., as issuer, certain guarantors thereunder and Deutsche Bank Trustee Company Americas, as trustee, (ii) 7.00% Senior Notes due 2023, issued pursuant to an indenture dated December 19, 2014 between Constellium N.V., as issuer, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as principal paying agent and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., as registrar and transfer agent, collectively, (iii) the 2021 Senior Notes, and (iv) 5.750% Senior Notes due 2024 issued pursuant to an indenture dated May 7, 2014 between Constellium N.V., as issuer, certain guarantors thereunder and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, collectively, in each case that are outstanding on the Issue Date.
Existing Wise Note Guarantees means guarantees of any of the Existing Wise Notes.
Existing Wise Notes means the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes and the Wise Senior Secured Notes, collectively.
Factoring Facilities means the receivables purchase facilities granted to certain Subsidiaries of the Issuer pursuant to (a) the agreement dated as of December 3, 2015 between GE Factofrance S.A.S. as purchaser, Constellium Issoire S.A.S, Constellium Neuf Brisach S.A.S. and Constellium Extrusions France as sellers, Constellium Holdco II B.V. and Constellium Switzerland AG, (b) the agreement dated as of March 26, 2014 between GE Capital Bank AG as purchaser and Constellium Singen GmbH as seller, (c) the agreement dated as of December 16, 2010 between GE Capital Bank AG as purchaser and Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH as seller, (d) the agreement dated as of December 16, 2010 between GE Capital Bank AG as purchaser and Constellium Valais AG as seller and (e) the agreement dated as of June 26, 2015 between GE Capital Bank AG as purchaser and Constellium Extrusions Decin S.R.O. as seller, in each case, as such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original parties or otherwise), restructured, or otherwise modified from time to time.
Fair Market Value means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arms-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases, retires, extinguishes, defeases, discharges or redeems any Indebtedness (other than in the case of revolving credit borrowings or revolving advances under any receivables financing, in which case interest expense shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but on or prior to the event for which the calculation
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of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the Calculation Date), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase, retirement, extinguishment, defeasance, discharge or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.
For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with IFRS), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date (each, for purposes of this definition, a pro forma event) shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and operational changes (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.
For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any pro forma event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable pro forma event, and (2) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA as set forth in Summary Historical Financial Information in the Offering Circular to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.
If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with IFRS. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.
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Fixed Charges means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:
(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period, and
(2) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Flood Insurance Laws means, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.
Foreign Subsidiary means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Guarantee means any guarantee of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Securities by any Person in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
guarantee means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations. The amount of any guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined in good faith by the Issuer. The term guarantee as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
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Guarantor means any Person that Incurs a Guarantee; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor under this Indenture.
Hedging Obligations means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:
(1) currency exchange, interest rate or commodity Swap Agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements; and
(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.
Holder means the Person in whose name a Security is registered.
IFRS means International Financial Reporting Standards promulgated from time to time by the International Accounting Standards Board (or any successor board or agency, together the IASB) and as adopted by the European Union and statements and pronouncements of the IASB or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time (other than with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations), it being understood that, for purposes of this Indenture, all references to codified accounting standards specifically named in this Indenture shall be deemed to include any successor, replacement, amended or updated accounting standard under IFRS; provided that, at any time after adoption of GAAP by the Issuer (or the relevant reporting entity) for its financial statements and reports for all financial reporting purposes, the Issuer (or the relevant reporting entity) may irrevocably elect to apply GAAP for all purposes of this Indenture, and, upon any such election, references in this Indenture to IFRS shall be construed to mean GAAP as in effect on the date of such election and thereafter from time to time; provided that (1) all financial statements and reports required to be provided after such election pursuant to this Indenture shall be prepared on the basis of GAAP, (2) from and after such election, all ratios, computations, calculations and other determinations based on IFRS contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP (other than with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations) with retroactive effect being given thereto assuming that such election had been made on the Issue Date, (3) such election shall not have the effect of rendering invalid any payment or Investment made prior to the date of such election pursuant to Section 4.04 or any Incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens Incurred prior to the date of such election pursuant to Section 4.03 (or any other action conditioned on the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries having been able to Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness) or Section 4.12 if such payment, Investment, Incurrence or other action was valid under this Indenture on the date made, Incurred or taken, as the case may be and (4) all accounting terms and references in this Indenture to accounting standards shall be deemed to be references to the most comparable terms or standards under GAAP. The Issuer shall give written notice of any election to the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities within 15 days of such election. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) solely making an election (without any other action) referred to in this definition will not be treated as an Incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens, and (ii) nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or reporting entity from adopting or changing its functional or reporting currency in accordance with IFRS, or GAAP, as applicable; provided that such
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adoption or change shall not have the effect of rendering invalid any payment or Investment made prior to the date of such election pursuant to the covenant described under Section 4.04 or any Incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens Incurred prior to the date of such adoption or change pursuant to Section 4.03 or Section 4.12 (or any other action conditioned on the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries having been able to Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness) if such payment, Investment, Incurrence or other action was valid under this Indenture on the date made, Incurred or taken, as the case may be.
Immaterial Subsidiary means, as of any date of determination, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that has consolidated total assets with a value of less than 1% of Total Assets as of such date of determination.
Incur means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , however , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person (without duplication):
(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments (except any such obligation issued in the ordinary course of business with a maturity date of no more than six months in a transaction intended to extend payment terms of trade payables or similar obligations to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course of business) or letters of credit or bankers acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except (i) any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with IFRS and (iii) liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with IFRS;
(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the Indebtedness of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and
(3) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;
provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; or (4) obligations under or in respect of Factoring Facilities or Qualified Receivables Financings.
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Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of International Accounting Standards No. 39 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Indenture.
Indenture means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.
Independent Financial Advisor means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant, in each case of nationally recognized standing, that is, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.
Intercreditor Agreements means the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Ravenswood ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the PBGC Intercreditor Agreement, and any other customary intercreditor arrangements that are required pursuant to the terms of any Permitted Debt of the Issuer or any Guarantor secured by a Permitted Lien.
Intermediate Holding Company means any direct or indirect intermediate holding company Subsidiary of the Issuer or Holdco II that directly or indirectly owns the Capital Stock of a Material Guarantor.
Investment Grade Rating means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moodys and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.
Investment Grade Securities means:
(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),
(2) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moodys or BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries,
(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and
(4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.
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Investments means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by IFRS to be classified on the balance sheet of the Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary and Section 4.04:
(1) Investments shall include the portion (proportionate to the Issuers equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Issuer at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:
(a) the Issuers Investment in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less
(b) the portion (proportionate to the Issuers equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and
(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Issuer.
Issue Date means the date on which the Securities are originally issued.
Issuer means the party named as such in the Preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.
Junior Lien means a Lien that is junior in priority relative to the Parity Liens pursuant to customary intercreditor arrangements entered into in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction); provided that in no event shall an operating lease or an option or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.
Majority Holders means, at any time, holders having more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of Parity Lien Debt outstanding.
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Material Guarantor means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Guarantor and not an Immaterial Subsidiary.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
Net Income means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with IFRS and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.
Net Proceeds means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding the assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other consideration received in any other non-cash form), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses Incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related thereto), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required (other than pursuant to Section 4.06(b)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer as a reserve in accordance with IFRS against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.
New Deed of Trust has the meaning assigned to such term in the Settlement Agreement, dated January 26, 2001, between Ravenswood (f/k/a Pechiney Rolled Products, LLC) and the PBGC.
Non-U.S. Note Guarantor means any Guarantor other than a U.S. Note Guarantor.
Obligations means any principal, interest, Special Interest, if any, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Securities shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Trustee and other third parties other than the Holders of the Securities.
Offering Circular means the offering circular relating to the offering of the Original Securities dated March 23, 2016.
Officer means the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, president, any executive vice president, senior vice president or vice president, managing director ( bestuurder ), authorized signatory who has been granted a power of attorney ( gevolmachtigde ), the treasurer or the secretary of the Issuer or its Subsidiary, as applicable.
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Officers Certificate means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer or its Subsidiary (as applicable) by an Officer that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or any Subsidiary so long as such employee or counsel is admitted to practice in the State of New York.
Parity Lien Debt means the Original Securities and any other Indebtedness (including Add-On Securities) that is secured equally and ratably with the Original Securities by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Parity Lien Document.
Parity Lien Documents means this Indenture, the Securities, the Guarantees, the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any other indenture, credit agreement or other agreement pursuant to which any Parity Lien Debt is incurred and the Parity Lien Security Documents.
Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement means that certain Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement dated on or about the date hereof, by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors, the other grantors from time to time party thereto, the Trustee, the other authorized representatives from time to time party thereto, and the Collateral Agent, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with its terms.
Parity Lien Obligations means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.
Parity Lien Priority Collateral means (i) substantially all of the tangible and intangible assets of any Ravenswood ABL Obligor other than Ravenswood ABL Priority Collateral and Excluded Assets and (ii) all proceeds (including insurance proceeds) and products of the property and assets described in the foregoing clause (i).
Parity Lien Security Documents means all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency or trust agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Issuer or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of any of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
Parity Liens means any Lien granted, or purported to be granted, by a Security Document to the Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property of the Issuer or any Guarantor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
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PBGC Collateral Condition means the granting of a lien and mortgage on the property, plant and equipment of Ravenswood to secure the Securities with the priority required by the Security Documents and the delivery to the Trustee of an Officers Certificate stating that such lien and mortgage have been so granted.
PBGC Intercreditor Agreement means an intercreditor agreement setting out the intercreditor relationship between the PBGC under the PBGC Settlement Agreement and the Holders, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with its terms.
PBGC Obligations means all existing and future obligations, including all Obligations (as defined under the New Deed of Trust), secured under the New Deed of Trust; provided that the aggregate amount thereof shall not exceed $35,000,000.
PBGC Settlement Agreement means that certain Settlement Agreement, dated as of January 26, 2001, between the PBGC and Ravenswood, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with its terms.
Permitted Investments means:
(1) any Investment (a) in the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than until such time as Wise Opco becomes a Guarantor, Wise Opco or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof) or (b) by Wise Opco or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof in Wise Opco or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof;
(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;
(3) any Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;
(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.06 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;
(5) (a) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may only be increased as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date and (b) the Investment in Wise Opco or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof as described and in the amount set forth under Use of Proceeds in the Offering Circular;
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(6) advances to directors, officers or employees, taken together with all other advances made pursuant to this clause (6), not to exceed 15.0 million at any one time outstanding;
(7) any Investment acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable, (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default, or (c) as a result of the settlement, compromise or resolution of litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;
(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.03(b)(xi);
(9) additional Investments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) 65.0 million and (y) 1.75% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided , however , that if any Investment made pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above if permitted thereby, and shall, in such case, cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;
(10) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business or to fund such Persons purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer;
(11) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable; provided , however , that the issue of such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (2) of the definition of Cumulative Credit;
(12) any transaction (other than an Investment in any Wise Entity) to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (ii), (vi), and (viii)(B) of such Section);
(13) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;
(14) guarantees issued in accordance with Sections 4.03 and 4.11;
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(15) Investments consisting of or to finance purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials, services or equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(16) (i) any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness; provided , however , that any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary is in the form of a Purchase Money Note, contribution of additional receivables or an equity interest and (ii) any other Investment in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing or Factoring Facility;
(17) any Investment in an entity or purchase of a business or assets in each case owned (or previously owned) by a customer of a Restricted Subsidiary as a condition or in connection with such customer (or any member of such customers group) contracting with a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(18) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;
(19) any Investment in any Subsidiary (including any Unrestricted Subsidiary) or joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business;
(20) Investments in Quiver Ventures, LLC in an amount not to exceed 75.0 million at any time outstanding;
(21) guarantees by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of operating leases or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(22) Investments of up to 100.0 million at any one time outstanding in accounts receivable owing by non-Affiliates that have a due date of no more than six months from the date of such Investment; and
(23) additional Investments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value of up to 20.0 million in any calendar year (with (x) unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried forward into the next succeeding calendar year and (y) amounts allowed for the next succeeding calendar year being permitted to be carried back to the current fiscal year) (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment made pursuant to this clause (23) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted
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Subsidiary of the Issuer after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above if permitted thereby, and shall, in such case, cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (23) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary.
Permitted Liens means, with respect to any Person:
(1) Parity Liens securing (a) Indebtedness incurred and outstanding pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(ii) and (b) all related Obligations;
(2) ABL Liens securing (a) Indebtedness incurred and outstanding pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i) and (b) all related Obligations;
(3) Junior Liens on the Collateral securing any Indebtedness permitted hereunder and all related Obligations;
(4) [Reserved];
(5) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmens compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(6) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers, warehousemens and mechanics Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;
(7) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(8) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;
(9) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;
(10) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(v) ( provided that such Lien extends only to the property and/or Capital Stock, the purchase, lease, construction or improvement of which is financed thereby and any income or profits therefrom);
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(11) Liens existing on the Issue Date (or, with respect to the Original Securities, incurred subsequent to the Issue Date to the extent not granted on the Issue Date) (other than Liens securing the Ravenswood ABL Facility and the Wise ABL Facility), including Liens securing the Original Securities, the Wise Senior Secured Notes and the guarantees thereof;
(12) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person in existence at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further , however , that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;
(13) Liens on assets or property at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided , however , that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided further , however , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;
(14) Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03, other than Indebtedness owed to another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor;
(15) Liens securing Hedging Obligations not incurred in violation of this Indenture;
(16) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;
(17) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(18) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(19) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;
(20) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of Receivables Financing Incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing and Factoring Facilities;
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(21) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;
(22) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(23) grants of software and other technology licenses in the ordinary course of business;
(24) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness (including the Original Securities and the Guarantees thereof) secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (10), (11), (12) and (13); provided , however , that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (10), (11), (12) and (13) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;
(25) Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Issuers or such Restricted Subsidiarys client at which such equipment is located;
(26) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;
(27) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(28) Liens incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business;
(29) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions or under the general banking terms and conditions relating to bankers liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository or financial institution;
(30) any interest or title of a lessor under any Capitalized Lease Obligations;
(31) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;
(32) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;
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(33) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in respect of any Investment permitted hereunder;
(34) Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Cash Equivalents;
(35) Liens on equity interests of a joint venture securing Indebtedness of such joint venture;
(36) Liens securing obligations which obligations do not exceed, at the time of incurrence thereof, 50.0 million; and
(37) Liens securing obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, which letters of credit or bank guarantees do not secure debt for borrowed money.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
Preferred Stock means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.
Purchase Money Note means a promissory note of a Receivables Subsidiary evidencing a line of credit, which may be irrevocable, from the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer to a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, which note is intended to finance that portion of the purchase price that is not paid by cash or a contribution of equity.
Qualified Receivables Financing means (i) the Receivables Financing pursuant to the Factoring Facilities (including any increase in the amount thereof); and (ii) any Receivables Financing that meets the following conditions:
(1) the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Subsidiary in question;
(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets are made at Fair Market Value; and
(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and may include Standard Undertakings and provided that in the case of Receivables Financings under clause (ii), such Receivables Financings shall have no greater recourse in any material respect to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries than the recourse to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Factoring Facilities.
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Rating Agency means (1) each of Moodys and S&P and (2) if Moodys or S&P ceases to rate the Securities for reasons outside of the Issuers control, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act selected by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer as a replacement agency for Moodys or S&P, as the case may be.
Ravenswood means Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC.
Ravenswood ABL Collateral Agent means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Ravenswood ABL Facility, including its successors and assigns.
Ravenswood ABL Facility means the ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2012, among Constellium Holdco II B.V., Constellium U.S. Holdings I, LLC, Ravenswood, as borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent and collateral agent, as amended by the First Amendment dated as of January 7, 2013, the Second Amendment dated as of March 20, 2013, the Third Amendment dated as of October 1, 2013, and the Fourth Amendment dated as of May 7, 2014, and as may be further amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof.
Ravenswood ABL Intercreditor Agreement means that certain intercreditor agreement, by and among the Ravenswood ABL Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent, Constellium US Holdings I, LLC and Ravenswood, as amended, supplemented, restated, replaced or otherwise modified.
Ravenswood ABL Lien Debt means the Indebtedness outstanding under the Ravenswood ABL Facility.
Ravenswood ABL Lien Debt Obligations means Ravenswood ABL Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.
Ravenswood ABL Obligors means the borrower and the guarantors under the Ravenswood ABL Facility.
Ravenswood ABL Priority Collateral means
(1) Accounts (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) of the Ravenswood ABL Obligors;
(2) Inventory (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) of the Ravenswood ABL Obligors;
(3) to the extent evidencing, governing, secured or otherwise related to or constituting proceeds of Accounts of the Ravenswood ABL Obligors or Inventory of the
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Ravenswood ABL Obligors, all General Intangibles, Chattel Paper, Instruments, Investment Property, and books and records of the Ravenswood ABL Obligors (in each case, as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code);
(4) to the extent relating to Accounts of the Ravenswood ABL Obligors or Inventory of the Ravenswood ABL Obligors, Letter-of-Credit Rights, Supporting Obligations and Commercial Tort Claims of the Ravenswood ABL Obligors (in each case, as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code);
(5) Payment Intangibles (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) of the Ravenswood ABL Obligors, other than any Payment Intangibles that represent tax refunds in respect of or otherwise related to Parity Lien Priority Collateral;
(6) collection accounts and Deposit Accounts of the Ravenswood ABL Obligors and any cash, Financial Assets or other assets in such accounts (other than identifiable cash proceeds in respect of Parity Lien Priority Collateral and that are not identifiable proceeds of the Ravenswood ABL Priority Collateral or that do not constitute Ravenswood ABL Priority Collateral) (in each case, as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code);
(7) cash and cash equivalents of the Ravenswood ABL Obligor (other than cash and cash equivalents that are identifiable proceeds of Parity Lien Priority Collateral and that are not identifiable proceeds of the Ravenswood ABL Priority Collateral or that do not constitute Ravenswood ABL Priority Collateral);
(8) books and records pertaining to any of the foregoing;
(9) all collateral and other liens and guarantees given or granted, or purported to be granted, by any other Person to secure or support any of the property and assets described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (8); and
(10) accessions to, substitutions for and replacements, products and proceeds (including insurance proceeds) of the property and assets described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (8).
Ravenswood Borrowing Base means, as of any date, an amount equal to:
(1) 85% of the face amount of accounts receivable owned by the Ravenswood ABL Obligors as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date; plus
(2) the lesser of (i) 80% of the lower of cost or market and (ii) 85% of net orderly liquidation value, in each case, of inventory owned by the Ravenswood ABL Obligors as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date.
Receivables Fees means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interests issued or sold in connection with, and all other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Financing.
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Receivables Financing means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by any of the Issuers Subsidiaries pursuant to which such Subsidiary may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to any other Person, or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of such Subsidiary, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets, in each case, which are customarily transferred in or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions or factoring transactions involving accounts receivable.
Receivables Repurchase Obligation means any obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take any action by or any other event relating to the seller.
Receivables Subsidiary means a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Qualified Receivables Financing with the Issuer in which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer makes an Investment and to which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Issuer as a Receivables Subsidiary and:
(1) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer in any way other than pursuant to Standard Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Undertakings;
(2) with which neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary of the Issuer has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Issuer reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Issuer; and
(3) to which neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary of the Issuer has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entitys financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.
Representative means the trustee, agent or representative (if any) for an issue of Indebtedness; provided that if, and for so long as, such Indebtedness lacks such a Representative, then the Representative for such Indebtedness shall at all times constitute the holder or holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of obligations under such Indebtedness.
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Requirements of Law means, with respect to any Person, any statutes, laws, treaties, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, writs, injunctions or determinations of any arbitrator or court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
Responsible Officer of the Trustee means:
(1) any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Persons knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject; and
(2) who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
Restricted Investment means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
Restricted Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Indenture, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.
Sale/Leaseback Transaction means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Issuer and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Secured Indebtedness means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.
Securities has the meaning given such term in the Preamble to this Indenture.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Security Documents means the Affiliate Subordination Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreements and any other intercreditor agreement entered into in accordance with this Indenture, each joinder to the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any such intercreditor agreement, all security agreements, pledge agreements, control agreements, collateral
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assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust or other grants or transfers for security or agreements related thereto executed and delivered by the Issuer or any Guarantor creating or perfecting (or purporting to create or perfect) or perfecting a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent directly or indirectly for the benefit of the holders of the Securities to secure the Securities and the Guarantee, in each case, as amended, modified, restated, supplemented or replaced from time to time.
Significant Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
Similar Business means a business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from the activities of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date or any business or activity that is reasonably similar or complementary thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto.
Special Interest has the meaning given to such term in Exhibit A.
Standard Undertakings means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer that are determined by the Issuer in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing, including, without limitation, those relating to the servicing of assets of a Subsidiary, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Undertaking.
Stated Maturity means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).
Subordinated Indebtedness means (a) with respect to the Issuer, any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Securities, and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to its Guarantee.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, and (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.
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Swap Agreement means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.
Taxes means all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, duties, and withholdings and any similar governmental charges (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) by any government or taxing authority.
Total Assets means, as of any date of determination, the total consolidated assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Issuer, and determined as of the time of the occurrence of any event giving rise to the requirement to determine Total Assets and after giving pro forma effect to the occurrence of such event and all other acquisitions or dispositions of a Person, business or assets that have been completed or are subject to a definitive agreement from the date of such balance sheet to the date of such event giving rise to the requirement to determine Total Assets.
Treasury Rate means, as of any redemption date of the Securities, the yield to maturity as of the earlier of (a) such redemption date or (b) the date on which the Securities are defeased or satisfied and discharged, of the most recently issued U.S. Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Statistical Release) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such earlier date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to April 1, 2018; provided , however , that if the period from such redemption date to April 1, 2018 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded U. S. Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used. Any such Treasury Rate shall be obtained by the Issuer.
Triggering Event means the 136th day prior to May 15, 2021 (i.e., the final stated maturity of the 2021 Senior Notes), if on such date, more than 30 million of the 2021 Senior Notes shall remain outstanding.
Trustee means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.
Uniform Commercial Code means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.
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Unrestricted Subsidiary means:
(1) any Subsidiary of the Issuer that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below;
(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and
(3) Quiver Ventures, LLC and Constellium Engley (Changchun) Automotive Structures Co. Ltd.
The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Issuer) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided , however , that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , further , however, that either:
(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or
(b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04.
The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation:
(x) (1) the Issuer could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a) or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and
(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer giving effect to such designation and an Officers Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.
Unsecured Indebtedness means Indebtedness of the Issuer for borrowed money (or Indebtedness for borrowed money of another Person to the extent guaranteed by the Issuer), in each case other than Secured Indebtedness.
U.S. Collateral Agreement means the collateral agreement to be entered into by the Collateral Agent, Constellium Holdco III B.V. and the other Non-U.S. Note Guarantors party thereto from time to time, Constellium US Holdings I, LLC, Ravenswood, and the other U.S. Note Guarantors party thereto from time to time, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
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U.S. Dollars and $ each mean the lawful currency of the United States of America.
U.S. Government Obligations means securities that are:
(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or
(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.
U.S. Note Guarantors means any Guarantor organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
Voting Stock of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors qualifying shares or shares required to be held by Foreign Subsidiaries) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
Wise ABL Facility means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013, by and among Wise Alloys, LLC, the other credit parties party thereto, the Lenders party thereto from time to time and General Electric Capital Corporation, as agent, as amended,
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restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof.
Wise ABL Obligors means the borrower and the guarantors under the Wise ABL Facility.
Wise Borrowing Base means, as of any date, an amount equal to:
(1) the greater of
(a) (i) 85% of the face amount of accounts receivable owned by the Wise ABL Obligors as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date; plus (ii) the lesser of (A) 80% of the lower of cost or market and (B) 85% of net orderly liquidation value, in each case, of inventory owned by the Wise ABL Obligors as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date; and
(b) the borrowing base as calculated under the definition thereof in the Wise ABL Facility as of the Issue Date; minus
(2) any amount described in clause (1) that is included in the calculation of the then applicable Ravenswood Borrowing Base.
Wise Entities means Wise Holdco and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries.
Wise Existing Debt means the Wise Senior Secured Notes, the Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes and the Wise ABL Facility.
Wise Guarantee Restrictions means one or more covenants, provisions or terms in any of the Wise Existing Debt, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or noteholders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof, that would be contravened, violated or otherwise breached by a Wise Entity providing a Guarantee.
Wise Holdco means Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC and its successors (whether by merger, consolidation, transfer of all or substantially all assets, or otherwise).
Wise Opco means Wise Metals Group LLC and its successors (whether by merger, consolidation, transfer of all or substantially all assets, or otherwise).
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Wise Senior PIK Toggle Notes means those certain 9.75% / 10.50% Senior PIK Toggle Notes due 2019 issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of April 16, 2014, among Wise Holdco, Wise Holdings Finance Corporation and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, that are outstanding on the Issue Date.
Wise Senior Secured Notes means those certain 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of December 11, 2013, among Wise Metals Group LLC, Wise Alloys Finance Corporation, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, that are outstanding on the Issue Date.
SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions .
Term |
Defined
in Section |
|
Add-On Securities |
Preamble | |
Additional Amounts |
2.15(b) | |
Affiliate Transaction |
4.07(a) | |
Applicable Law |
12.15 | |
Asset Sale Offer |
4.06(b) | |
Auditors Determination |
10.02(b)(vi) | |
Bankruptcy Law |
6.01 | |
Change of Control Offer |
4.08(b) | |
covenant defeasance option |
8.01 | |
Covenant Suspension Event |
4.14(a) | |
Custodian |
6.01 | |
Definitive Security |
Appendix A | |
Depository |
Appendix A | |
Directive |
2.15(b)(5) | |
DPTA |
10.02(b)(ii) | |
Event of Default |
6.01 | |
Excess Proceeds |
4.06(b) | |
French Guarantor |
10.02(c)(i) | |
German Guarantor |
10.02(b)(i) | |
Global Securities |
Appendix A | |
Global Securities Legend |
Appendix A | |
GmbH |
10.02(b)(i) | |
GmbHG |
10.02(b)(iii) | |
GmbH & Co. KG |
10.02(b)(i) | |
Guaranteed Obligations |
10.01(a) | |
Guarantor Coverage Test |
4.11(a) | |
HGB |
10.02(b)(i) | |
IAI |
Appendix A | |
Indirect Issuance |
10.02(c)(i) | |
Initial Purchasers |
Appendix A | |
legal defeasance option |
8.01 | |
Management Determination |
10.02(b)(v) |
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Maximum Guaranteed Amount |
10.02(c)(i) | |
Note Register |
2.04(a) | |
Notice of Default |
6.01 | |
Offer Period |
4.06(d) | |
Original Securities |
Preamble | |
Payor |
2.15 | |
Permitted Debt |
4.03 | |
Principal Paying Agent |
2.04 | |
protected purchaser |
2.08 | |
QIB |
Appendix A | |
Refinancing Indebtedness |
4.03(b)(xv) | |
Refunding Capital Stock |
4.04(b)(ii) | |
Registrar |
2.04(a) | |
Regulation S |
Appendix A | |
Regulation S Securities |
Appendix A | |
Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction |
2.15(b) | |
Restricted Global Securities |
Appendix A | |
Restricted Payments |
4.04(a) | |
Restricted Period |
Appendix A | |
Restricted Securities Legend |
Appendix A | |
Retired Capital Stock |
4.04(b)(ii)(A) | |
Reversion Date |
4.14(b) | |
Rule 501 |
Appendix A | |
Rule 144A |
Appendix A | |
Rule 144A Securities |
Appendix A | |
Securities Custodian |
Appendix A | |
Special Interest |
4.01 | |
Successor Company |
5.01(a)(i) | |
Successor Guarantor |
5.01(b)(i) | |
Suspended Covenants |
4.14(a) | |
Suspension Period |
4.14(b) | |
Swiss Agreement |
2.15(b)(5) | |
Swiss Guarantor |
10.02(d)(i) | |
Transfer |
5.01 | |
Transfer Agent |
2.04 | |
Transfer Restricted Securities |
Appendix A | |
Triggering Event Repurchase Offer |
4.10(a) | |
Trustees Request |
10.02(b)(vi) | |
Withholding Tax |
10.02(d)(ii) | |
Written Order |
2.02 | |
Unrestricted Definitive Security |
Appendix A | |
Unrestricted Global Security |
Appendix A |
SECTION 1.03 [Reserved] .
SECTION 1.04 Rules of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
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(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with IFRS;
(c) or is not exclusive;
(d) including means including without limitation;
(e) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;
(f) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;
(g) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with IFRS;
(h) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater;
(i) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with IFRS;
(j) for purposes of determining compliance with any Euro-denominated restriction or basket limitation under Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.06 and 4.12 hereof (including any defined terms referenced and utilized in such sections), as of any time of determination, any such basket limitation shall be deemed to be the greater of (i) the applicable Euro-denominated amount set forth in this Indenture and (ii) the amount of Euro obtained by multiplying the applicable Euro-denominated amount set forth in this Indenture by 1.11 (which was the dollar-to-Euro Exchange Rate as of March 14, 2016) and then multiplying the result by a number equal to the amount of Euros into which 1 U.S. Dollar may be converted using the Exchange Rate in effect at the time of determination; and
(k) for purposes of determining compliance with Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.06 and 4.12 hereof, utilized amounts under any such covenant or basket shall be tracked in Euro irrespective of what currency is actually used to make the Incurrence. When an Incurrence is made in a currency other than Euro, the amount of Euro for purposes of the applicable covenant(s) shall be calculated based on the relevant currency Exchange Rate in effect on the date such Incurrence was made, provided that if Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a currency other than Euros, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Euro-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency Exchange Rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Euro-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.
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SECTION 1.05 Acts of Holders .
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.
(c) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Note Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee or the Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
(e) The Issuer may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuer prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.
(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.
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(g) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including DTC that is the Holder of a Global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and DTC that is the Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security through such depositarys standing instructions and customary practices.
(h) The Issuer may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security held by DTC entitled under the procedures of such depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.
ARTICLE 2
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01 Amount of Securities . The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $425,000,000.
In addition, the Issuer may from time to time after the Issue Date issue Add-On Securities under this Indenture in an unlimited principal amount, so long as (i) the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such Add-On Securities is at such time permitted by Section 4.03 and (ii) such Add-On Securities are issued in compliance with the other applicable provisions of this Indenture. With respect to any Add-On Securities issued after the Issue Date (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 2.10, 3.06, 4.08(c), 4.10(c) or the Appendix), there shall be (a) established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and (b) (i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officers Certificate or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such Add-On Securities:
(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Add-On Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture,
(2) the issue price and issuance date of such Add-On Securities, including the date from which interest and Special Interest, if any, on such Add-On Securities shall accrue; and
(3) if applicable, that such Add-On Securities shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective
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depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Securities in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.2 of Appendix A in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Add-On Securities registered, or any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.
If any of the terms of any Add-On Securities are established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers Certificate or the indenture supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of the Add-On Securities.
The Securities, including any Add-On Securities, shall be treated as a single series for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided that any Add-On Securities that are not fungible with the Securities offered hereunder for U.S. Federal income tax purposes shall have a separate CUSIP, ISIN or other identifying number from such Securities. Unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture, references to the Securities include any Add-On Securities actually issued.
SECTION 2.02 Form and Dating . Provisions relating to the Original Securities and the Add-On Securities are set forth in the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Original Securities and the Trustees certificate of authentication and (ii) any Add-On Securities (if issued as Transfer Restricted Securities) and the Trustees certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. Any Add-On Securities issued other than as Transfer Restricted Securities and the Trustees certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuer). Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Securities shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and in denominations of $250,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
SECTION 2.03 Execution and Authentication . The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Issuer (a Written Order) in the form of an Officers Certificate (a) Original Securities for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $425,000,000, consisting of $425,000,000 in initial aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 and (b) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Add-On Securities in an aggregate principal amount to be determined at the time of issuance and specified therein. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Appendix, any issuance of Securities after the Issue Date shall be in a principal amount of at least $250,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $250,000. One Officer shall sign the Securities for the Issuer by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature.
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If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.
A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Securities. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, paying agent or agent for service of notices and demands.
SECTION 2.04 Registrar and Paying Agent . (a) The Issuer shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the Registrar), (ii) a transfer agent (Transfer Agent), and (ii) an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (the Principal Paying Agent). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange (the Note Register). The Issuer may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term Registrar includes any co-registrars. The Principal Paying Agent will be a paying agent hereunder. The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Transfer Agent, Principal Paying Agent and the Securities Custodian with respect to the Global Securities.
(b) The Issuer may enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar, Transfer Agent, or paying agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar, Transfer Agent, or paying agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Issuer or any of its domestically organized Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as paying agent, Registrar, or Transfer Agent.
(c) The Issuer may remove any Registrar, Transfer Agent, or paying agent upon written notice to such Registrar, Transfer Agent, or paying agent and to the Trustee; provided , however , that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar, Transfer Agent, or paying agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar, Transfer Agent, or paying agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar, Transfer Agent, or paying agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee.
SECTION 2.05 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . On each due date of the principal of, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, any Security, the Issuer shall deposit
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with each paying agent (or if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is acting as paying agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal, interest and Special Interest, if any, when so becoming due. The Issuer shall require each paying agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a paying agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by a paying agent for the payment of principal of, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Securities, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. If the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as paying agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as paying agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Issuer at any time may require a paying agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such paying agent. Upon complying with this Section, a paying agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.
SECTION 2.06 Holder Lists . The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders.
SECTION 2.07 Transfer and Exchange . The Securities shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Security for registration of transfer and in compliance with the Appendix. When a Security is presented to the Registrar and Transfer Agent with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if its requirements therefor are met. When Securities are presented to the Registrar and Transfer Agent with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar and Transfer Agent shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Written Order, authenticate Securities at the Registrars request. The Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section. The Issuer shall not be required to make, and the Registrar and Transfer Agent need not register, transfers or exchanges of Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of Securities to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed.
Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the paying agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee, the paying agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the Holder of such Global Security (or its agent) or (b) any Holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.
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All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
SECTION 2.08 Replacement Securities . If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Issuer or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer or the Trustee prior to the Security being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a protected purchaser) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee or the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, a paying agent and the Registrar from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security (including without limitation, attorneys fees and disbursements in replacing such Security). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Security instead of issuing a new Security in replacement thereof.
Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Issuer.
The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Securities.
SECTION 2.09 Outstanding Securities . Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Subject to Section 12.07, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Security.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Security surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Security ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Security and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.
If a paying agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal, interest and Special Interest, if any, payable on that date with respect to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and no paying agent is prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest and Special Interest, if any, on them ceases to accrue.
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SECTION 2.10 Temporary Securities . In the event that Definitive Securities are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Securities but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Written Order, authenticate Definitive Securities and make them available for delivery in exchange for temporary Securities upon surrender of such temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Issuer, without charge to the Holder. Until such exchange, temporary Securities shall be entitled to the same rights, benefits and privileges as Definitive Securities.
SECTION 2.11 Cancellation . The Issuer at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the paying agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures. The Issuer may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Securities in place of canceled Securities other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.12 Defaulted Interest . If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Securities, the Issuer shall pay the defaulted interest or Special Interest, if any, then borne by the Securities (plus interest on such defaulted interest or Special Interest, if any, to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Issuer may pay the defaulted interest or Special Interest, if any, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date and shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each affected Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest or Special Interest, if any, to be paid.
SECTION 2.13 CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc. The Issuer in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and Common Code numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and Common Code numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall advise the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers, ISINs and Common Code numbers.
SECTION 2.14 Calculation of Principal Amount of Securities . The aggregate principal amount of the Securities, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Securities outstanding at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the Holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Securities, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of
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determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Securities, the Holders of which have so consented, by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Securities then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, Section 2.09 and Section 12.07 of this Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officers Certificate.
SECTION 2.15 Additional Amounts . All payments made by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any successor in interest to any of the foregoing (each, a Payor) on or with respect to the Securities or any Guarantee shall be made without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any Taxes unless such withholding or deduction is required by law. If any deduction or withholding for, or on account of, any Taxes imposed or levied by or on behalf of:
(a) any jurisdiction from or through which payment on the Securities or any Guarantee is made or any political subdivision or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax (including the jurisdiction of any paying agent); or
(b) any other jurisdiction in which a Payor that actually makes a payment on the Securities or its Guarantee is organized or otherwise considered to be engaged in business or resident for tax purposes, or any political subdivision or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax
(each of clause (a) and (b), a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction), shall at any time be required by law to be made from any payments made with respect to the Securities or any Guarantee, including payments of principal, redemption price, interest, Special Interest or premium, if any, the Payor shall pay (together with such payments) such additional amounts (the Additional Amounts) as may be necessary in order that the net amounts received in respect of such payments, after such withholding or deduction (including any such deduction or withholding from such Additional Amounts), shall not be less than the amounts that would have been received in respect of such payments on the Securities or the Guarantees in the absence of such withholding or deduction; provided, however, that no such Additional Amounts shall be payable for or on account of:
(1) any Taxes that would not have been so imposed or levied but for the existence of any present or former connection between the holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, partner, member or shareholder of, or possessor of power over, the holder, if such holder is an estate, nominee, trust, partnership, limited liability company or corporation) and the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (including being a citizen or resident or national of, or carrying on a business or maintaining a permanent establishment in, or being physically present in, the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction) but excluding, in each case, any connection arising solely from the acquisition, ownership or holding of such Securities or the receipt of any payment in respect thereof;
(2) any Taxes that would not have been so imposed or levied if the holder had complied with a reasonable request in writing of the Payor (such request being made at a time that would enable such holder acting reasonably to comply with that request) to make a declaration of nonresidence or any other claim or filing or satisfy any certification, information or reporting requirement for exemption from, or reduction in
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the rate of, withholding to which it is entitled (provided that such declaration of nonresidence or other claim, filing or requirement is required by the applicable law, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from the requirement to deduct or withhold all or a part of any such Taxes) but only to the extent such holder is legally entitled to provide such certification or documentation;
(3) any Taxes that are payable otherwise than by withholding or deduction from a payment on the Securities or any Guarantee;
(4) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, excise, transfer, personal property or similar Taxes;
(5) any Taxes that are imposed pursuant to or required to be deducted or withheld on a payment pursuant to the European Union Directive 2003/48/EC of 3 June 2003 regarding the taxation of savings income (the Directive) or the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation dated October 26, 2004 providing for measures equivalent to those laid down in the Directive (the Swiss Agreement) or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to the Directive or the Swiss Agreement;
(6) any Taxes imposed in connection with a Security presented for payment by or on behalf of a Holder who would have been able to avoid such Tax by presenting the relevant Security to another paying agent in a member state of the European Union;
(7) any Taxes payable under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of the Offering Circular (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements (including any intergovernmental agreements) entered into pursuant thereto;
(8) any Taxes if the holder is a fiduciary or partnership or Person other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment and the Taxes that would otherwise give rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed on such payment had the holder been the beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner, as the case may be, of such Security (but only if there is no material cost or expense associated with transferring such Security to such beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner and no restriction on such transfer that is outside the control of such beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner);
(9) any Taxes imposed on a payment in respect of the Securities required to be made pursuant to laws enacted by Switzerland providing for the taxation of payments according to principles similar to those laid down in the draft legislation of the Swiss Federal Council of 17 December 2014 altering the debtor-based Swiss federal withholding tax system to a paying-agent system where a Person other than the Issuer has to withhold tax on any interest payments or Special Interest payments, if any, or securing of interest payments or Special Interest payments, if any;
(10) any Taxes payable pursuant to an agreement between Switzerland and another country on final withholding taxes levied by Swiss paying agents in respect of Persons resident in the other country on income of such Person on Securities booked or deposited with a Swiss paying agent ( Abgeltungssteuer ); or
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(11) any combination of the above.
Such Additional Amounts shall also not be payable (x) if the payment could have been made without such deduction or withholding if the relevant Security had been presented for payment (where presentation is required) within 30 days after the relevant payment was first made available for payment to the holder or (y) to the extent where, had the beneficial owner of the relevant Security been the Holder of such Security, such beneficial owner would not have been entitled to payment of Additional Amounts by reason of any of clauses (1) to (11) inclusive above.
The Payor shall (i) make any required withholding or deduction and (ii) remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant taxing authority of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law. Upon request, the Payor shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain certified copies of tax receipts evidencing the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld from each relevant taxing authority of each Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes and shall provide such certified copies to the Trustee. If, notwithstanding the efforts of such Payor to obtain such receipts, the same are not obtainable, such Payor shall provide the Trustee with other reasonable evidence of payment. Such receipts or other evidence received by the Trustee shall be made available by the Trustee to Holders on request.
If any Payor shall be obligated to pay Additional Amounts under or with respect to any payment made on the Securities or any Guarantee, at least 30 days prior to the date of such payment, the Payor shall deliver to the Trustee and the paying agent an Officers Certificate stating the fact that Additional Amounts shall be payable and the amount so payable and such other information necessary to enable the paying agent to pay Additional Amounts on the relevant payment date (unless such obligation to pay Additional Amounts arises less than 45 days prior to the relevant payment date, in which case the Payor shall deliver such Officers Certificate and such other information as promptly as practicable thereafter).
Wherever in this Indenture, the Securities or any Guarantee there is mentioned, in any context:
(1) the payment of principal;
(2) redemption prices or purchase prices in connection with a redemption or purchase of Securities;
(3) interest or Special Interest, if any; or
(4) any other amount payable on or with respect to any of the Securities or any Guarantee;
such reference shall be deemed to include payment of Additional Amounts as described under this heading to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof.
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The Payor shall pay any present or future stamp, court or documentary Taxes, or any other excise, property or similar Taxes that arise in any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction from the execution, delivery, issuance, initial resale, registration or enforcement of any Securities, Guarantee, Indenture or any other document or instrument in relation thereto (other than a transfer of the Securities occurring after the initial resale). The foregoing obligations shall survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this Indenture and shall apply mutatis mutandis to any jurisdiction in which any successor to a Payor is organized or otherwise considered to be engaged in business or resident for Tax purposes, or any political subdivision or taxing authority or agency thereof or therein.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION
SECTION 3.01 Redemption . The Securities may be redeemed, in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Paragraphs 5 and 7 of the form of Securities set forth in Exhibit A hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the redemption date.
SECTION 3.02 Applicability of Article . Redemption of Securities at the election of the Issuer or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article.
SECTION 3.03 Notices to Trustee . If the Issuer elects to redeem Securities pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 or 7 of the Security, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of (i) the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Issuer shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Security, unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers Certificate and Opinion of Counsel from the Issuer to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein. If fewer than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Issuer and given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not fewer than 15 days after the date of notice to the Trustee. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.
SECTION 3.04 Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed . In the case of any redemption of less than all of the Securities, selection of Securities for redemption will be made by the Registrar pro rata, by lot or such other manner in the case of Global Securities, as may be required by the applicable procedures of DTC; provided that no Securities of $250,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. If any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. The Registrar shall make the selection from outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption. The Registrar may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than $250,000. Securities and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $250,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess
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thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Registrar shall notify the Issuer promptly of the Securities or portions of Securities to be redeemed.
SECTION 3.05 Notice of Optional Redemption . (a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date pursuant to Paragraph 5 or 7 of the Security, the Issuer shall mail or cause to be electronically delivered or mailed by first-class mail a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
Any such notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:
(i) the redemption date;
(ii) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest and Special Interest, if any, to the redemption date;
(iii) the name and address of the paying agent;
(iv) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the paying agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued interest and Special Interest, if any;
(v) if fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Securities to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be outstanding after such partial redemption;
(vi) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment or the paying agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest and Special Interest, if any, on Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(vii) the CUSIP number, ISIN and/or Common Code number, if any, printed on the Securities being redeemed; and
(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number or ISIN and/or Common Code number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.
(b) At the Issuers written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuers name and at the Issuers expense. In such event, the Issuer shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section at least five Business Days prior to the date such notice is to be provided to Holders and such notice may not be canceled.
SECTION 3.06 Effect of Notice of Redemption . Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.05, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice, except as
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provided in paragraph 5 of the Securities. Upon surrender to the paying agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest and Special Interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date; provided , however , that if the redemption date is after a regular record date and on or prior to the interest payment date, the accrued interest and Special Interest, if any, shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Securities registered on the relevant record date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.
SECTION 3.07 Deposit of Redemption Price . With respect to any Securities, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the paying agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is the paying agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest and Special Interest, if any, on all Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on that date other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption that have been delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee for cancellation. On and after the redemption date, interest and Special Interest, if any, shall cease to accrue on Securities or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has deposited with the paying agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Securities to be redeemed, unless the paying agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 3.08 Securities Redeemed in Part . Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Written Order, authenticate for the Holder (at the Issuers expense) a new Security equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01 Payment of Securities . The Issuer shall pay the principal of, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. An installment of principal, interest or Special Interest, if any, shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the paying agent holds as of 11:00 a.m. New York City time money sufficient to pay all principal, interest or Special Interest, if any, then due and the Trustee or the paying agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest and Special Interest, if any, at the same rate borne by the Securities to the extent lawful.
To the extent that the PBGC Collateral Condition is not met on or prior to the date that is 90 days following the Issue Date, the Issuer shall pay additional interest (Special Interest) on the Securities at a rate of 2.00% per annum from such 90 th day following the Issue Date until:
(a) if the PBGC Collateral Condition is satisfied on or prior to the date that is 360 days following the Issue Date, the date such PBGC Collateral Condition is satisfied; or
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(b) if the PBGC Collateral Condition is not satisfied on or prior to the date that is 360 days following the Issue Date, the date interest on the Securities is no longer payable in accordance with the terms hereof (whether as a result of repurchase, redemption, repayment at final maturity or otherwise).
SECTION 4.02 Reports and Other Information .
(a) So long as any Securities are outstanding and whether or not the Issuer is subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee: (i) within 65 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year, quarterly reports containing unaudited financial statements (including a balance sheet and statement of income, changes in stockholders equity and cash flow) for and as of the end of such fiscal quarter and year to date period (with comparable financial statements for the corresponding fiscal quarter and year to date period of the immediately preceding fiscal year); (ii) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report that includes all information that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 20-F (or any successor form); and (iii) at or prior to such times as would be required to be filed or furnished to the SEC as a foreign private issuer subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, all such other reports and information that the Issuer would have been required to file or furnish pursuant thereto; provided , however , that to the extent that the Issuer ceases to qualify as a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the Exchange Act, whether or not the Issuer is then subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall either file or furnish with the SEC (as a voluntary filer if the Issuer is not then subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act) or furnish to the Trustee, so long as any Securities are outstanding, within 30 days of the respective dates on which the Issuer would be required to file such documents with the SEC if it was required to file such documents under the Exchange Act, all reports and other information that would be required to be filed with (or furnished to) the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as, in the Issuers sole discretion, either a foreign private issuer or a U.S. domestic registrant.
(b) In addition, if required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Issuer shall electronically file or furnish, as the case may be, a copy of all such information and reports with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified above. In addition, for so long as any Securities remain outstanding, the Issuer shall furnish to the Holders and prospective investors identified by a Holder, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to in the first paragraph of this Section 4.02 to the Trustee and the Holders of Securities if the Issuer has filed or furnished such reports with the SEC and such reports are publicly available on the SECs website; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been so filed or furnished. Delivery of such
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reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this covenant is for informational purposes only and the Trustees receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers compliance with any of its covenants under this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers Certificates).
(d) So long as any Securities are outstanding, the Issuer shall also: (1) not later than 10 Business Days after furnishing to the Trustee the annual and quarterly reports required by clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 4.02(a), hold a publicly accessible conference call to discuss such reports and the results of operations for the relevant reporting period (including a question and answer portion of the call); and (2) issue a press release to an internationally recognized wire service no fewer than three Business Days prior to the date of the conference call required by the foregoing clause (1) of this paragraph, announcing the time and date of such conference call and either including all information necessary to access the call or directing Holders of the Securities, prospective investors, broker dealers and securities analysts to contact the appropriate person at the Issuer to obtain such information.
At any time that any of the Issuers Subsidiaries that are Significant Subsidiaries are Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by the first paragraph of this Section 4.02 shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto or in the Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer, provided that the Issuer will not be required to provide such separate information to the extent such Unrestricted Subsidiaries are the subject of a confidential filing of a registration statement with the SEC.
The Issuer shall either furnish or file with the SEC, or otherwise make publicly available as soon as is reasonably practicable, any quarterly or annual financial statements of any Wise Entity and related managements discussion and analysis that it provides to the holders of the Existing Wise Notes.
In the event that the rules and regulations of the SEC permit the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to report at such parent entitys level on a consolidated basis, the Issuer may satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.02 by furnishing financial information and reports relating to such parent; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such direct or indirect parent and any of its Subsidiaries other than the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer, the Guarantors and the other Subsidiaries of the Issuer on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand.
SECTION 4.03 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock . (a) (i) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and (ii) the Issuer shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Guarantor) to issue any shares of Preferred Stock;
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provided , however , that the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any Restricted Subsidiary may issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided , however , that Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock that may be incurred or issued, as applicable, by all Subsidiaries other than Guarantors pursuant to this paragraph may not , at the time Incurred, exceed the greater of (i) 50.0 million and (ii) 1.5% of Total Assets at such time.
(b) The limitations set forth in Section 4.03(a) shall not apply to any of the following (Permitted Debt):
(i) (A) at all times that the Wise Guarantee Restrictions are applicable with respect to any Wise Entity, the Incurrence by (1) Constellium Holdco II B.V. or any Guarantor organized under the laws of the United States of Indebtedness under the Ravenswood ABL Facility, in an aggregate principal amount that at the time of incurrence does not exceed the greater of (x) $100.0 million and (y) the then applicable Ravenswood Borrowing Base, plus the amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related in connection with any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement of Indebtedness under the Ravenswood ABL Facility and (2) Constellium Holdco II B.V. or any Wise Entity of Indebtedness under the Wise ABL Facility, in an aggregate principal amount that at the time of incurrence does not exceed the then applicable Wise Borrowing Base, plus the amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related in connection with any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement of Indebtedness under the Wise ABL Facility and (B) at all times during which the Wise Guarantee Restrictions shall cease to be applicable with respect to any Wise Entity, the Incurrence by Constellium Holdco II B.V. or any Guarantor organized under the laws of the United States of ABL Lien Debt, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the then applicable ABL Lien Debt Borrowing Base, plus the amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related in connection with any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement of any ABL Lien Debt;
(ii) the Incurrence by the Issuer or any Guarantor of (A) Indebtedness (other than ABL Lien Debt) under Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount that at the time of Incurrence, when taken together with the aggregate principal amount of all other Secured Indebtedness included in the calculation of the Consolidated Secured Net Debt Ratio (whether Incurred pursuant to this clause (ii) or otherwise), does not cause the Consolidated Secured Net Debt Ratio of the Issuer to exceed 1.75 to 1.00 as of the time of Incurrence ( provided that solely for the purpose of determining compliance with this covenant, any
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Indebtedness that is Incurred and outstanding or proposed to be Incurred pursuant to this clause (ii) (in the case of unsecured Indebtedness, to the extent such unsecured Indebtedness has not been reclassified as being Incurred pursuant to another clause of this covenant in accordance with this Indenture), will be deemed to be Secured Indebtedness for purposes of calculating the Consolidated Secured Net Debt Ratio) and (B) Indebtedness (other than ABL Lien Debt) under Credit Facilities incurred to refinance, refund, extend, renew or replace Indebtedness Incurred and outstanding pursuant to clause (ii)(A) of this Section 4.03(b); provided , however that (x) any such Indebtedness that is Incurred pursuant to this clause (B) satisfies the requirements of sub-clauses (1) through (4) of clause (xv) of this Section 4.03(b) and (y) if the Indebtedness being refinanced thereby is unsecured, such Indebtedness that is Incurred pursuant to this clause (B) is also unsecured;
(iii) the Incurrence by (A) the Issuer and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by (i) the Existing Constellium Notes and the Existing Constellium Note Guarantees and (ii) the Original Securities and the Guarantees and (B) the Wise Entities of Indebtedness represented by the Existing Wise Notes and the Existing Wise Note Guarantees;
(iv) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock existing and/or committed to on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 4.03(b));
(v) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the purchase, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of property (real or personal) (whether through the direct purchase of property or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such property); provided that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock Incurred pursuant to this clause (v) of this Section 4.03(b), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness (as defined below) Incurred with respect to such Indebtedness pursuant to clause (xv) of this Section 4.03(b), shall not exceed the greater of (A) 125.0 million and (B) 3.5% of Total Assets as of the date of any Incurrence pursuant to this clause (v);
(vi) Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, and letters of credit in connection with the maintenance of, or pursuant to the requirements of, environmental or other permits or licenses from governmental authorities, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers compensation claims;
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(vii) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with an acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;
(viii) Indebtedness (other than Secured Indebtedness) of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, except in respect of intercompany current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, any such Indebtedness owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor shall be subordinated in right of payment, pursuant to the Affiliate Subordination Agreement, to the obligations of the Issuer under the Securities; provided , further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;
(ix) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock;
(x) Indebtedness (other than Secured Indebtedness) of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, except in respect of intercompany current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, if a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor pursuant to the Affiliate Subordination Agreement; provided , further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;
(xi) Hedging Obligations that are not incurred for speculative purposes and are either: (A) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding; (B) for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk
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with respect to any currency exchanges; (C) for the purpose of fixing or hedging commodity price risk with respect to any commodity purchases or sales or (D) for any combination of the foregoing;
(xii) obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practice;
(xiii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Guarantor and Preferred Stock of any Guarantor not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xiii), does not exceed the greater of (A) 100.0 million and (B) 3.0% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xiii) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xiii) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which the Issuer, or the Guarantor, as the case may be, could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xiii));
(xiv) any guarantee by (x) the Issuer or a Guarantor of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (y) Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor of Indebtedness or other obligations of another Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, in each case so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Securities or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, any such guarantee of such Guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantors Guarantee with respect to the Securities substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Securities or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable;
(xv) the Incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness Incurred or committed or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section 4.03(a) and clauses (iii), (iv), (v), this clause (xv), (xvi), (xx), (xxiv) and (xxv) of this Section 4.03(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to so refund, refinance or defease such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), expenses, defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith (subject
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to the following proviso, Refinancing Indebtedness); provided , however , that such Refinancing Indebtedness:
(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded, refinanced or defeased and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock being refunded, refinanced or defeased that were due on or after the date that is one year following the maturity date of any Securities then outstanding were instead due on such date;
(2) has a Stated Maturity which is not earlier than the earlier of (x) the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced or defeased or (y) 91 days following the maturity date of the Securities;
(3) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness subordinated to the Securities or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Securities or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;
(4) is Incurred in an aggregate amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced plus premium, expenses, costs and fees Incurred in connection with such refinancing;
(5) shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(6) in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness outstanding under clause (v) of this Section 4.03(b), shall be deemed to have been Incurred and to be outstanding under such clause (v) of this Section 4.03(b), and not this clause (xv) for purposes of determining amounts outstanding under such clause (v) of this Section 4.03(b); and
(7) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases Indebtedness secured by Liens junior in priority to the Liens securing the Securities or any Guarantee, such Refinancing Indebtedness is secured by Liens junior in priority to the Liens securing the Securities or such Guarantee;
(xvi) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Issuer or any Guarantor Incurred to finance an acquisition or (y) Persons that are
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acquired by the Issuer or any Guarantor or merged or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided , however , that after giving effect to such acquisition, merger or amalgamation, either:
(1) (A) the Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of Section 4.03(a) or (B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would be equal to or greater than immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation; or
(2) such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock
(A) is unsecured Subordinated Indebtedness with subordination terms no more favorable to the Holders thereof than subordination terms that are customarily obtained in connection with high-yield senior subordinated note issuances at the time of Incurrence ( provided that, in the case of any such Subordinated Indebtedness incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary, such subordination terms will be customary for high-yield senior subordinated note issuances by issuers resident in the jurisdiction of formation or organization of such Foreign Subsidiary, including, without limitation, provisions for the automatic release of guarantees upon the release of the Guarantees);
(B) is not Incurred while a Default exists and no Default shall result therefrom; and
(C) does not mature (and is not mandatorily redeemable in the case of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock) and does not require any payment of principal prior to the final scheduled maturity of the Securities;
(xvii) Indebtedness Incurred under (A) the Factoring Facilities and (B) any other Qualified Receivables Financing;
(xviii) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business or other cash management services in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within ten Business Days of its Incurrence;
(xix) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to the Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit or bank guarantee;
(xx) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or
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liquidation preference, together with the aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference of any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred with respect to such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock pursuant to clause (xv) above, not exceeding at any time outstanding 100% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Issuer (which proceeds are contributed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer (in each case other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to, or contributions received from, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries), as determined in accordance with clauses (B) and (C) of the definition of Cumulative Credit, to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to Section 4.04(b) of this Indenture or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof);
(xxi) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (x) the financing of insurance premiums or (y) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(xxii) Indebtedness arising as a result of implementing composite accounting or other cash pooling arrangements involving solely the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries or solely among Restricted Subsidiaries and entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(xxiii) Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, or their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies to the extent permitted under Section 4.04(b)(iv);
(xxiv) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xxiv), when taken together with the aggregate principal amount of Refinancing Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to clause (xvi) that was Incurred to refinance Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xxiv), does not exceed the greater of (A) 50.0 million and (B) 1.5% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence;
(xxv) Indebtedness incurred on behalf of, or representing guarantees of Indebtedness of, joint ventures of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary not in excess (when taken together with the aggregate principal amount of Refinancing Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to clause (xvi) that was Incurred to refinance Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xxv)), at any one time outstanding, of the greater of (A) 50.0 million and (B) 1.5% of Total Assets at the time that such Indebtedness is incurred; and
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(xxvi) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation or stock-based compensation to employees of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly guarantee any Indebtedness of any Wise Entity that is not a Guarantor; provided that (A) Constellium Holdco II B.V. may guarantee Indebtedness of a Wise Entity that is not a Guarantor Incurred under the Wise ABL Facility pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i) and (B) any Wise Entity may guarantee Indebtedness of any other Wise Entity.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (i) through (xxvi) above or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a), the Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.03; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Ravenswood ABL Facility and the Wise ABL Facility on the Issue Date will be deemed to have been Incurred on such date in reliance on clause (i) of this Section 4.03(b) and the Issuer shall not be permitted to reclassify all or any portion of such Indebtedness. The Issuer will also be entitled to treat a portion of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as having been Incurred under Section 4.03(a) and thereafter the remainder of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as having been Incurred under this Section 4.03(b). Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies shall not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.03. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 4.03.
SECTION 4.04 Limitation on Restricted Payments . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Issuers or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Issuer (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted
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Subsidiary, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);
(ii) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer;
(iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Unsecured Indebtedness (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Indebtedness, in each case in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (viii) and (x) of Section 4.03(b)); or
(iv) make any Restricted Investment
(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as Restricted Payments), unless, as of the time of such Restricted Payment:
(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a); and
(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (and not returned or rescinded) (including Restricted Payments permitted by clause (i) of Section 4.04(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)), is less than an amount equal to the Cumulative Credit.
(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:
(i) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;
(ii) (A) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (Retired Capital Stock) of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer, any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any Unsecured Indebtedness, in each case in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale of, Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of
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the Issuer or contributions to the equity capital of the Issuer (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) (collectively, including any such contributions, Refunding Capital Stock); and
(B) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) of Refunding Capital Stock; and if immediately prior to the retirement of Retired Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under Section 4.04(b)(vi) and not made pursuant to this Section 4.04(b)(ii)(B), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Retired Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;
(iii) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any Unsecured Indebtedness, in each case made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (or as promptly as practicable after giving any requisite notice to the holders of such Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Indebtedness, as applicable) of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor which is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 so long as
(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired plus any tender premiums, defeasance costs or other fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith),
(B) (i) in the case of the redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness, such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Securities or the related Guarantee, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value and (ii) in the case of the redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Unsecured Indebtedness, such new Indebtedness is also Unsecured Indebtedness,
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(C) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired or (y) 91 days following the maturity date of the Securities, and
(D) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired that were due on or after the date one year following the maturity date of any Securities then outstanding were instead due on such date one year following the maturity date of such Securities;
(iv) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition (or dividends to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to finance any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition) for value of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided , however , that the aggregate amounts paid under this clause (iv) do not exceed 15.0 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over for the two succeeding calendar years); provided, further, however , that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:
(A) the cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (to the extent contributed to the Issuer) to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer that occurs after the Issue Date (provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend shall not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(3)); plus
(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (to the extent contributed to the Issuer) or the Issuers Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; less
(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(iv)(A) and Section 4.04(b)(iv)(B)
provided that the Issuer may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A) and (B) above in any calendar year;
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(v) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;
(vi) (a) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date, (b) a Restricted Payment to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer issued after the Issue Date and (c) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(ii); provided , however , that, (x) for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or Refunding Capital Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Issuer would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00 and (y) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to subclauses (a) and (b) of this clause (vi) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date;
(vii) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and joint ventures having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) 75.0 million and (b) 2.0% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided that the amount of Investments deemed to have been made pursuant to this clause (vii) at any time shall be reduced by the Fair Market Value of the proceeds received by the Issuer and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries from the subsequent sale, disposition or other transfer of such Investments without giving effect to subsequent changes in value;
(viii) the payment, repayment, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount pursuant to this clause (viii) not to exceed 10.0 million;
(ix) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;
(x) (a) Restricted Payments pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 4.04(a) hereof after the Issue Date and (b) Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (iv) of Section 4.04(a) hereof at any time outstanding in an aggregate amount pursuant to this clause (x) not to exceed 35.0 million;
(xi) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
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(xii) the payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer in amounts required for such parent to pay federal, state or local income taxes (or other applicable political subdivision, as the case may be) imposed directly on such parent to the extent such income taxes are attributable to the income of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, by virtue of such parent being the common parent of a consolidated or combined tax group of which the Issuer and/or its Subsidiaries are members);
(xiii) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;
(xiv) purchases of receivables pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing and the payment or distribution of Receivables Fees;
(xv) payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;
(xvi) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Sections 4.06 and 4.08; provided that all Securities tendered in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;
(xvii) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Article 5 of this Indenture; provided that as a result of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets, the Issuer shall have made a Change of Control Offer (if required by this Indenture) and that all Securities tendered in connection with such Change of Control Offer have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;
(xviii) [Reserved]; and
(xix) the payment of any Restricted Payment, if applicable:
(A) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, if applicable, (i) to pay fees and expenses (including franchise or similar taxes) required to maintain its corporate existence and its status as a public company, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, if applicable, and general corporate overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, if applicable, in each case to the extent such fees and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer, if applicable, and its Subsidiaries and (ii) to pay tax liabilities incurred as a result of transactions that occurred prior to the Issue Date;
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(B) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, if applicable, to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and that has been guaranteed by, or is otherwise considered Indebtedness of, the Issuer Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03; and
(C) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to pay fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Issuer, related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent.
provided , however , that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (vi), (vii), (x) and (xi) of this Section 4.04(b), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.
(c) The amount of any Restricted Payment (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.04 will be determined in good faith by the Issuer.
(d) As of the Issue Date, all of the Issuers Subsidiaries shall be Restricted Subsidiaries other than Quiver Ventures, LLC and Constellium Engley (Changchun) Automotive Structures Co Ltd. The Issuer shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary. For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of Investments. Such designation shall only be permitted if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
SECTION 4.05 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries . The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) on its Capital Stock, or (b) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(a) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Credit Facilities, the Ravenswood ABL Facility, the Constellium Existing Notes, the Wise ABL Facility and the Existing Wise Notes and the related documentation in effect on the Issue Date and in each case, any similar contractual encumbrances effected by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of such agreements or instruments;
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(b) this Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees (in each case, as in effect on the Issue Date);
(c) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;
(d) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person or its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person or its Subsidiaries, so acquired;
(e) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary;
(f) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 4.03 and 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;
(g) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(h) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(i) purchase money obligations and Capitalized Lease Obligations for property acquired or leased in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on the property so acquired or leased;
(j) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on the property subject to such lease;
(k) any encumbrance or restriction effected in connection with (A) a Factoring Facility (provided that such encumbrance or restriction (i) exists on the date hereof or (ii) is in the good faith determination of the Issuer (x) necessary or advisable to effect such Receivables Financing and applies only to the relevant Subsidiaries to which such Receivables Financing is made available or (y) not materially more burdensome than the encumbrances and restrictions under the Factoring Facilities in effect on the date hereof) or (B) a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided, however, that in the case of this clause (B), such encumbrances or restrictions (i) apply only to a Receivables Subsidiary or (ii) are in the good faith determination of the Issuer (x) necessary or advisable to effect such Qualified Receivables Financing and applicable only to the relevant Subsidiaries to which such Receivables Financing is made available or (y) not materially more burdensome than the encumbrances and restrictions under the Factoring Facilities in effect on the date hereof;
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(l) (A) other Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (B) Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case that is Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.03;
(m) any Restricted Investment not prohibited by Section 4.04 and any Permitted Investment;
(n) [Reserved]; or
(o) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (m) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, no more restrictive with respect to such encumbrances and other restrictions than those contained in the encumbrances or other restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.05, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.
SECTION 4.06 Asset Sales . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of, and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:
(i) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuers or such Restricted Subsidiarys most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Securities or any Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets,
(ii) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and
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(iii) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (iii) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed 25.0 million at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a).
(b) Within 365 days after the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuers receipt of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:
(i) with respect to any such Net Proceeds, to repay Indebtedness constituting Parity Lien Debt (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto); provided that if the Issuer or any Guarantor shall so repay any Parity Lien Debt, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders of the Securities to equally and ratably reduce a pro rata principal amount of the Securities through a repurchase offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) at a purchase price equal to or greater than (in the Issuers sole discretion) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any);
(ii) if such Net Proceeds are with respect to an Asset Sale of assets constituting (i) collateral for ABL Lien Debt that is secured by Liens ranking prior to the Parity Liens, to repay such Indebtedness constituting ABL Lien Debt (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto) or (ii) collateral for PBGC Obligations, to satisfy PBGC Obligations;
(iii) if such Net Proceeds are with respect to an Asset Sale of assets other than Collateral, to repay any Indebtedness that was secured by a Lien on such assets or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer,
(iv) to make an investment in any one or more businesses (provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer), assets, or property or capital expenditures, in each case used or useful in a Similar Business, provided that if such Net Proceeds are with respect to an Asset Sale of assets constituting Collateral, any such Person must become a Guarantor and any such assets, property or capital expenditures must become or be made with respect to Collateral; or
(v) to make an investment in any one or more businesses (provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary
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of the Issuer), properties or assets that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale; provided that if such Net Proceeds are with respect to an Asset Sale of assets constituting Collateral, any such Person must become a Guarantor and any such assets, property or capital expenditures must become or be made with respect to Collateral;
provided that the Issuer or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed to have complied with the provision described in clauses (iv) and (v) of this paragraph if and to the extent that, within 365 days after the consummation of the Asset Sale that generated the Net Proceeds, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary has entered into and not abandoned or rejected a binding agreement to apply such Net Proceeds in accordance with clause (iv) and/or clause (v), and such transaction is thereafter completed within 180 days after the end of such 365-day period.
Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the first sentence of this Section 4.06(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to purchase Securities, as described in clause (i) of this Section 4.06(b), shall be deemed to have been invested per Section 4.06(b), whether or not such offer is accepted) shall be deemed to constitute Excess Proceeds. When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds 15.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all Holders of Securities (and, at the option of the Issuer, to holders of any Parity Lien Debt) (an Asset Sale Offer) to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of Securities (and such other Parity Lien Debt, on a pro rata basis), that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such Parity Lien Debt was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any (or, in respect of such Parity Lien Debt, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Parity Lien Debt), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. The Issuer shall commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 10 Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceeds 15.0 million by electronically delivering or mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of Section 4.06(f), with a copy to the Trustee and paying agent. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Securities (and such Parity Lien Debt) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes. If the aggregate principal amount of Securities (and such Parity Lien Debt) surrendered by Holders of such Securities (and holders of such Parity Lien Debt) thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Registrar shall select the Securities to be purchased in the manner described in Section 4.06(e). Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
(c) To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.
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(d) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). On such date, the Issuer shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is acting as the paying agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Issuer, and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the Offer Period), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Securities or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Issuer. The Trustee (or the paying agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the Excess Proceeds delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee are greater than the purchase price of the Securities tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Issuer immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.
(e) Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered by the Holder for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased. If at the end of the Offer Period more Securities are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer than the Issuer is required to purchase, selection of such Securities for purchase shall be made by the Registrar pro rata, by lot or such other manner in the case of Global Securities, as may be required by the applicable procedures of DTC; provided that no Securities of $250,000 or less shall be purchased in part. Selection of such Securities shall be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities.
(f) Notices of an Asset Sale Offer shall be electronically delivered or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid by the Issuer, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each Holder of Securities at such Holders registered address. If any Security is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.
(g) The provisions under this Indenture relating to the Issuers obligation to make an Asset Sale Offer may be waived or modified with the written consent of Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities.
SECTION 4.07 Transactions with Affiliates . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any
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property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an Affiliate Transaction) involving aggregate consideration in excess of 10.0 million, unless:
(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person;
(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of 25.0 million (excluding any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions substantially limited to the sale of inventory), the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officers Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above;
(iii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of 50.0 million (excluding any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions substantially limited to the sale of inventory), the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officers Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above.
(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the following:
(i) transactions between or among the Issuer and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) and any merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Issuer and any direct parent of the Issuer; provided that at the time of such merger, consolidation or amalgamation such parent shall have no material liabilities and no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of the Issuer and such merger, consolidation or amalgamation is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture and effected for a bona fide business purpose;
(ii) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04 and Permitted Investments;
(iii) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursement of expenses paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer;
(iv) transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivered to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (i) of Section 4.07(a);
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(v) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to directors, officers, employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith;
(vi) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Securities in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by the Issuer;
(vii) the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any transaction, agreement or arrangement in effect on the Issue Date and described in the Offering Circular (or the documents incorporated by reference therein) and, in each case, any amendment thereto or similar transactions, agreements or arrangements which it may enter into thereafter; provided , however , that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing transaction, agreement or arrangement or under any similar transaction, agreement or arrangement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (vii) to the extent that the terms of any such existing transaction, agreement or arrangement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new transaction, agreement or arrangement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Securities in any material respect than the original transaction, agreement or arrangement as in effect on the Issue Date;
(viii) (A) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Issuer, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (B) transactions with joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(ix) any transaction effected as part of a Factoring Facility or a Qualified Receivables Financing;
(x) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any Person;
(xi) the issuances of securities or other payments, loans (or cancellation of loans), awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or
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similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, as appropriate, in good faith;
(xii) transactions permitted by, and complying with, Sections 4.06 and/or 5.01;
(xiii) transactions between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer or such direct or indirect parent, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;
(xiv) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(xv) the provision to Unrestricted Subsidiaries of cash management, accounting and other overhead services in the ordinary course of business undertaken in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth in this Indenture;
(xvi) any employment agreements entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, and any termination of employment agreements and payments in connection therewith at the net present value of future payments;
(xvii) intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth in this Indenture;
(xviii) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement providing for, and the making of, any payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)(xii);
(xix) (A) payments made to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by Quiver Ventures, LLC in connection with tax sharing arrangements and (B) any repayments or reimbursements by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to Quiver Ventures, LLC to the extent that amounts paid thereby pursuant to clause (A) are in excess of the ultimate tax liability attributable thereto, in each case consistent with past practice of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for other consolidated groups; and
(xx) any agreements or arrangements between a third party and an Affiliate of the Issuer that are acquired or assumed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition or merger of such third party (or assets of such third party) by or with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (A) such acquisition or merger is permitted under this Indenture and (B) such agreements or arrangements are not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition or merger or otherwise for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this section.
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SECTION 4.08 Change of Control . (a) Upon a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such Holders Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Special Interest, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in this Section 4.08; provided , however , that notwithstanding the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuer shall not be obligated to purchase any Securities pursuant to this Section 4.08 in the event that it has exercised its right to redeem such Securities in accordance with Article 3 of this Indenture.
(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuer has exercised its right to redeem the Securities in accordance with Article 3 of this Indenture, the Issuer shall electronically deliver or mail a notice (a Change of Control Offer) to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee and paying agent stating:
(i) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holders Securities at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the Holders of record on a record date to receive interest and Special Interest, if any, on the relevant interest payment date);
(ii) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is electronically delivered or mailed, except that such notice may provide that, if the Change of Control does not occur on the repurchase date so designated, then the repurchase date may be delayed until such time as the applicable Change of Control shall occur);
(iii) the instructions determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 4.08, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Securities purchased; and
(iv) if such notice is electronically delivered or mailed prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control pursuant to a definitive agreement for the Change of Control, that such offer is conditioned on the occurrence of such Change of Control.
(c) Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased. Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered.
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(d) On the purchase date, all Securities purchased by the Issuer under this Section 4.08 shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the Holders entitled thereto.
(e) For the avoidance of doubt, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and be conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place in respect of the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.08 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
(g) If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities validly tender and do not withdraw such Securities in a Change of Control Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer as described above, purchases all of the Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to repurchase all Securities that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to but excluding the date of repurchase.
(h) Securities repurchased by the Issuer pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Securities issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled at the option of the Issuer. Securities purchased by a third party pursuant to the preceding clause (f) will have the status of Securities issued and outstanding.
(i) At the time the Issuer delivers Securities to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Issuer shall also deliver an Officers Certificate stating that such Securities are to be accepted by the Issuer pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08. A Security shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.
(j) Prior to any Change of Control Offer, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that all conditions precedent contained herein to the right of the Issuer to make such offer have been complied with.
(k) To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.08 by virtue thereof.
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(l) The provisions under this Indenture relating to the Issuers obligation to make an offer to repurchase Securities as a result of a Change of Control may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities.
SECTION 4.09 Compliance Certificate . The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer, beginning with the fiscal year end on December 31, 2016, an Officers Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as Officers of the Issuer they would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
SECTION 4.10 Special Mandatory Offers to Purchase .
(a) If a Triggering Event occurs, each Holder of Securities will have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part (equal to $250,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $250,000) of that Holders Securities pursuant to an offer (Triggering Event Repurchase Offer) for an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.
(b) Within three Business Days following a Triggering Event, the Issuer shall electronically deliver or mail a notice to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee and the paying agent stating:
(i) that a Triggering Event has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holders Securities at a repurchase price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on a record date to receive interest and Special Interest, if any, on the relevant interest payment date);
(ii) the repurchase date (which shall be no later than 45 days from the date of the Triggering Event);
(iii) the instructions determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 4.10, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Securities purchased; and
(iv) if such notice is electronically delivered or mailed prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, that such Triggering Event Repurchase Offer is conditioned on the occurrence of such Triggering Event.
(c) Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date a facsimile
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transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased. Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered.
(d) On the purchase date, all Securities purchased by the Issuer under this Section 4.10 shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the Holders entitled thereto.
(e) For the avoidance of doubt, a Triggering Event Repurchase Offer may be made in advance of a Triggering Event, and be conditional upon such Triggering Event.
(f) Securities repurchased by the Issuer pursuant to a Triggering Event Repurchase Offer will have the status of Securities issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled at the option of the Issuer.
(g) To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.10, the Issuer will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.10 by virtue thereof.
(h) The provisions under this Indenture relating to the Issuers obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Securities as a result of a Triggering Event may be waived or modified with the written consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities.
SECTION 4.11 Future Guarantors .
(a) The Issuer shall, and shall cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to cause as of any one date between and including the date that financial statements are delivered pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 4.02(a) and the date that is forty-five (45) days following such date: (i) the EBITDA of the Issuer and the Guarantors, taken together, to represent not less than 80% of the EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any Wise Entity until such time that the Wise Guarantee Restrictions shall cease to be applicable with respect to such Wise Entity), taken together, for the most recently ended fiscal year and (ii) the consolidated total assets of the Issuer and the Guarantors, taken together, to represent not less than 80% of the consolidated total assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any Wise Entity until such time that the Wise Guarantee Restrictions shall cease to be applicable with respect to such Wise Entity), taken together (the Guarantor Coverage Test). The Issuer will cause Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors as of the Issue Date to become Guarantors from time to time after the Issue Date so as to satisfy the Guarantor Coverage Test, by executing and delivering to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will become a Guarantor, together with a joinder to the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement and all other Security Documents required to be delivered pursuant to the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement or this Indenture.
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(b) Additionally, the Issuer will cause each Subsidiary that (i) becomes an Intermediate Holding Company after the Issue Date; or (ii) guarantees (x) the Existing Constellium Notes or (y) any Credit Facilities of the Issuer or any Guarantor, to execute and deliver to the Trustee, within 45 days of the date thereof, a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will become a Guarantor, together with a joinder to the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement and all other Security Documents required to be delivered pursuant to the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement or this Indenture.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 4.11(a) and (b), none of Wise Holdco or its direct or indirect Subsidiaries shall be required to provide a Guarantee to the extent that such action would violate any Wise Guarantee Restriction. To the extent the provision of a Guarantee would otherwise no longer violate a Wise Guarantee Restriction, the Issuer will, subject to Section 4.11(a) and (b), cause Wise Holdco and its applicable direct and indirect Subsidiaries to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit B pursuant to which Wise Holdco and/or the applicable direct and indirect Subsidiaries will guarantee the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and this Indenture.
(d) None of the Wise Entities may guarantee any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors, in each case unless (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors guaranteed by one or more Wise Entities (excluding any such Indebtedness for which all of the Wise Entities that guarantee such Indebtedness are Guarantors) does not exceed 10 million or (b) each Wise Entity that guarantees Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors also provides a Guarantee in accordance with subsection 4.11(b) hereof.
SECTION 4.12 Liens . The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset or property of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness other than Permitted Liens.
SECTION 4.13 Maintenance of Office or Agency . (a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee as set forth in Section 12.03.
(b) The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
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(c) The Issuer hereby designates the corporate trust office of the Trustee or its Agent as such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.04.
SECTION 4.14 Termination and Suspension of Certain Covenants . (a) If on any date following the Issue Date (i) the Securities have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies, and the Issuer has delivered an Officers Certificate of such Investment Grade Ratings to the Trustee, and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a Covenant Suspension Event), then, beginning on such date, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to Section 4.03 hereof, Section 4.04 hereof, Section 4.05 hereof, Section 4.06 hereof, Section 4.07 hereof, Section 4.11 hereof, clause (iv) of Section 5.01(a) hereof, Section 5.01(b) hereof and the penultimate paragraph of Section 5.01 hereof (collectively, the Suspended Covenants).
(b) In the event that the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the Reversion Date) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Securities below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants with respect to future events. The period of time between the Covenant Suspension Event and the Reversion Date is referred to herein as the Suspension Period.
(c) Notwithstanding that the Suspended Covenants may be reinstated, no Default will be deemed to have occurred as a result of a failure to comply with the Suspended Covenants during the Suspension Period. During any Suspension Period, the Issuer may not designate any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless the Issuer would have been permitted to designate such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if a Suspension Period had not been in effect for any period, and such designation shall be deemed to have created a Restricted Payment pursuant to Section 4.04 following the Reversion Date.
(d) On the Reversion Date, all Indebtedness Incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or one of the clauses set forth in Section 4.03(b) (in each case, to the extent such Indebtedness would be permitted to be Incurred thereunder as of the Reversion Date and after giving effect to Indebtedness Incurred prior to the Suspension Period and outstanding on the Reversion Date). To the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would not be so permitted to be Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or Section 4.03(b), such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 4.03(b)(iv). For purposes of Section 4.11, all Indebtedness Incurred during the Suspension Period and outstanding on the Reversion Date by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor will be deemed to have been Incurred on the Reversion Date. Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04 will be made as though Section 4.04 had been in effect since the Issue Date and throughout the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension
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Period will reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a) and the items specified in clauses (1) through (6) of the definition of Cumulative Credit will increase the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under the first paragraph thereof. For purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.06 on the Reversion Date, the Net Proceeds from all Asset Sales not applied in accordance with the covenant will be deemed to be reset to zero.
ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSOR COMPANY
SECTION 5.01 When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets . (a) The Issuer shall not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:
(i) the Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or other Person existing under the laws of any country in the European Union, of Switzerland, or of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (the Issuer or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the Successor Company); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation or limited liability company (or equivalent of a corporation or limited liability company in any permitted jurisdiction listed in this clause (i)), a co-obligor of the Securities is a corporation;
(ii) the Successor Company (if other than the Issuer) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture, the Securities and the Security Documents pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;
(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either
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(A) the Successor Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or
(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;
(v) if the Successor Company is not the Issuer, each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Persons obligations under this Indenture and the Securities; and
(vi) the Successor Company (if other than the Issuer) shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.
The Successor Company (if other than the Issuer) shall succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture and the Securities, and in such event the Issuer will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (iii) and (iv) of this Section 5.01(a), (A) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or to another Restricted Subsidiary, and (B) the Issuer may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer in any country in the European Union, Switzerland, a state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby. This Article 5 will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 10.03 (which govern the release of a Guarantee upon the sale or disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Guarantor), no Guarantor shall, and the Issuer shall not permit any Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:
(i) either (A) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company or other Person organized or existing under the laws of any country in the European Union, of Switzerland, or of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the Successor Guarantor ) and the Successor Guarantor (if other than such
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Guarantor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Security, such Guarantors Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments, or (B) such sale or disposition or consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not in violation of Section 4.06; and
(ii) in the case of clause (i)(A) above, the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Guarantor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.
Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Guarantor) will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantors Guarantee, and such Guarantor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and such Guarantors Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Guarantor in any country in the European Union, Switzerland, the United States, or a state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Guarantor is not increased thereby and (2) a Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Guarantor or the Issuer.
In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets (collectively, a Transfer) to (x) the Issuer or any Guarantor or (y) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor; provided that at the time of each such Transfer pursuant to clause (y) the aggregate amount of all such Transfers since the Issue Date shall not exceed 5.0% of the consolidated assets of the Issuer and the Guarantors as shown on the most recent available balance sheet of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries after giving effect to each such Transfer and including all Transfers occurring from and after the Issue Date.
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01 Events of Default . An Event of Default with respect to the Securities occurs if:
(a) there is a default in any payment of interest or Special Interest, if any, (including any Additional Amounts) on any Security, when the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;
(b) there is a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Security, when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;
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(c) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary fails to comply with its obligations under Section 5.01;
(d) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary fails to comply with any of its agreements in the Securities or this Indenture (other than those referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c) above) and such failure continues for 60 days after the notice specified below;
(e) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary fails to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds 50.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent;
(f) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case;
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;
(g) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or
(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary;
or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;
(h) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary fails to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of 50.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days following the entry thereof;
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(i) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary with respect to the Securities ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or any Guarantee with respect to the Securities and such Default continues for 10 days; or
(j) so long as the Security Documents have not otherwise been terminated in accordance with their terms or the Collateral as a whole of the Issuer or any Guarantor has not otherwise been released from the Lien of the Security Documents in accordance with the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements, (i) default by the Issuer or any such Guarantor for 60 days after written notice given by the Trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities in the performance of the Security Documents which adversely affects the enforceability, validity, perfection or priority of the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations under this Indenture and the Securities or which adversely affects the condition or value of the Collateral, in each case, taken as a whole, in any material respect, (ii) repudiation or disaffirmation by the Issuer or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor, of its obligations under the Security Documents or (iii) the determination in a judicial proceeding that all or any material portion of the Security Documents, taken as a whole, are unenforceable or invalid, for any reason, against the Issuer or any Guarantor; provided, that, it will not be a Default under this clause (j) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Security Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Lien securing Parity Lien Debt (other than the Securities), ABL Lien Debt, or PBGC Obligations purported to be granted under such Security Documents on Collateral ceases to be enforceable and perfected.
The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.
The term Bankruptcy Law means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar federal or state law or similar applicable law of any jurisdiction for the relief of debtors. The term Custodian means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
A Default under clause (d) above shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities notify the Issuer of the Default and the Issuer does not cure such Default within the time specified in clause (d) above after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a Notice of Default. The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers Certificate of any event which is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
SECTION 6.02 Acceleration . If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Issuer) occurs with respect to the
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Securities and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of Securities, by notice to the Issuer may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on all the Securities to be due and payable; provided , however , that so long as any Bank Indebtedness remains outstanding, no such acceleration shall be effective until the earlier of (i) five (5) Business Days after the giving of written notice to the Issuer and the Representative under the Bank Credit Facilities and (ii) the day on which any Bank Indebtedness is accelerated. Upon such a declaration, such principal, interest, and Special Interest, if any, shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any on all the Securities shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice to the Trustee may rescind any such acceleration and its consequences.
In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e), such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Issuer delivers an Officers Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Securities as described above be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.
SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies . If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of, or interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. To the extent required by law, all available remedies are cumulative.
To the extent permitted by the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee may direct the Collateral Agent (subject to being directed and indemnified and/or secured to its satisfaction in accordance with this Indenture and the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement) to take enforcement action with respect to the Collateral if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults . Provided the Securities are not then due and payable by reason of a declaration of acceleration, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities by written notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences except (a) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest and Special Interest, if any, on a Security, (b) a Default arising from the
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failure to redeem or purchase any Security when required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or (c) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured and the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders will be restored to their former positions and rights under this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.
SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority . The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01, is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal or financial liability. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification and security satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
SECTION 6.06 Limitation on Suits . (a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest or Special Interest, if any, when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture, the Securities or the Security Documents unless:
(i) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice stating that an Event of Default is continuing;
(ii) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(iii) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee reasonable security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
(iv) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(v) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request during such 60-day period.
(b) A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.
SECTION 6.07 Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Securities, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
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SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing with respect to Securities, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest and Special Interest, if any, on overdue principal and (to the extent lawful) on any unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, at the rate provided for in such Securities) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.
SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation, expenses disbursements and advances of the Trustee (including counsel, accountants, experts or such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate)) and the Holders of the Securities then outstanding allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or any Guarantor, its creditors or its property, shall be entitled to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matters and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.
SECTION 6.10 Priorities . Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, if the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:
FIRST: to the Trustee (in all of its roles and capacities) for amounts due under Section 7.07;
SECOND: to the Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal, interest and Special Interest, if any, respectively; and
THIRD: to the Issuer.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the Holders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder and the Issuer a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.
SECTION 6.11 Undertaking for Costs . In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities.
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SECTION 6.12 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws . Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee . (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such persons own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee (it being agreed that the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty); and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the form required by this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;
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(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee unless it is proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and
(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur financial or personal liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.
(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee . (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact, calculation or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or gross negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided , however , that the Trustees conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
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(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuer and shall Incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses) and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its roles and capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person appointed or employed to act hereunder.
(i) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith at the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities as to the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee or the exercising of any power conferred by this Indenture.
(j) Any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon future Holders of Securities and upon Securities executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.
(k) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.
(l) The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge or deemed with notice of any Default of Event of Default with respect to the Securities unless either (A) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee assigned to the Corporate Trust department of the Trustee (or any successor division or department of the Trustee) shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (B) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office by the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities or by any Holder of the Securities, such notice specifically identifying this Indenture and the Securities. For purposes of determining the Trustees responsibility and liability hereunder, whenever reference is made in this Indenture to a Default or Event of Default, such reference shall be construed to refer only to such Default or Event of Default for which the Trustee is deemed to have notice pursuant to this Section 7.02(l).
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(m) The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an Officers Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(n) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.
(o) In respect of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information by electronic transmission is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission; and the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information. Each other party agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, notices, reports or other communications or information, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
(p) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(q) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to ensure compliance with the securities laws of any country or state except to request such certificates or other documents required to be obtained by the Trustee or any Registrar hereunder in connection with any exchange or transfer pursuant to the terms hereof.
(r) The Trustee shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Trustee (including but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, any act of terrorism, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility).
SECTION 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee . The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any paying agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights.
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SECTION 7.04 Trustees Disclaimer . The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, any Guarantee or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the Trustees certificate of authentication. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 6.01(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), or (i) or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof in accordance with Section 12.03 hereof from the Issuer, any Guarantor or any Holder. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee acts solely as Trustee for the Holders of the Securities and not in its individual capacity and all persons, including without limitation the Holders of Securities and the Issuer having any claim against the Trustee arising from this Indenture shall look only to the funds and accounts held by the Trustee hereunder for payment except as otherwise provided herein.
SECTION 7.05 Notice of Defaults . If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall electronically deliver or mail to each Holder of the Securities notice of the Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest or Special Interest, if any, on any Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities.
SECTION 7.06 Affiliate Subordination Agreement . By its acceptance of the Securities issued hereunder, each Holder hereby authorizes and directs the Trustee to, and upon the request of the Issuer the Trustee shall, enter into the Affiliate Subordination Agreement. Each Holder hereby further authorizes and directs the Trustee to enter, and upon the request of the Issuer the Trustee shall, enter into amendments, supplements and/or replacements of the Affiliate Subordination Agreement in connection with the incurrence by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries of applicable Indebtedness permitted hereunder.
SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity . The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The Trustees compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustees agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses) incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or Guarantee against the Issuer or a Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Guarantor, any Holder or any other Person). The obligation to indemnify and pay such amounts shall survive the payment in full or defeasance of the Securities or the removal or resignation of the Trustee. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer of any claim for which it may seek indemnity
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promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided , however , that any failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuers expense in the defense. Such indemnified parties may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided , however , that the Issuer shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes such indemnified parties defense and, in such indemnified parties reasonable judgment, there is no conflict of interest between the Issuer and such parties in connection with such defense. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by an indemnified party through such partys own willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable ruling.
To secure the Issuers payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest and Special Interest, if any, on particular Securities.
The Issuers payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.
No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity or security against such risk or liability is not assured to its satisfaction.
SECTION 7.08 Replacement of Trustee . (a) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Issuer shall remove the Trustee if:
(i) [reserved];
(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
(b) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Issuer or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.
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(c) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07.
(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 10% in principal amount of the Securities may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(e) [Reserved].
(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
SECTION 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger . If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
SECTION 7.10 Certain Provisions . Each Holder of Securities, by its acceptance thereof, authorizes and directs on his or her behalf the Trustee to enter into and to take such actions and to make such acknowledgments as are set forth in this Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreements or other documents entered into in connection therewith.
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ARTICLE 8
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.01 Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance . This Indenture, and the rights of the Trustee and the Holders under the Security Documents, shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Securities when:
(a) either (i) all the Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities pursuant to Section 2.08 which have been replaced or paid and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (ii) all of the Securities (A) have become due and payable, (B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or (C) if redeemable at the option of the Issuer, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee or its designee money, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient in the written opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor delivered to the Trustee (which opinion shall only be required if U.S. Government Obligations have been so deposited) to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Securities to the date of deposit together with irrevocable written instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
(b) the Issuer and/or the Guarantors have paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; and
(c) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Issuer at any time may terminate (i) all of its obligations under the Securities and this Indenture (with respect to such Securities) (legal defeasance option) or (ii) its obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.11 and 4.12 for the benefit of the Securities and the operation of Section 5.01 and Sections 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e), 6.01(f) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Issuer only), 6.01(g) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Issuer only), 6.01(h) and 6.01(i) (covenant defeasance option) for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities. The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. In the event that the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to the Securities, the obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee of such Securities shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of the obligations terminated pursuant to such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance.
If the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Securities so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Securities so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e), 6.01(f), 6.01(g), 6.01(h), 6.01(i) or 6.01(j) or because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with Section 5.01.
If the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option, the Security Documents and the rights of the Trustee and the Holders under the Intercreditor Agreements in effect at such time will terminate (other than with respect to the defeasance trust).
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If the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, the Collateral will be released and each Guarantor (if any) will be released from all its obligations under its Guarantee.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request and at the expense of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Issuer terminates.
(d) Notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii) above, the Issuers obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 7.07, 7.08 and in this Article 8 shall survive until the Securities have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuers obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.
SECTION 8.02 Conditions to Defeasance . (a) The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, in each case, with respect to the Securities only if:
(i) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee or its designee money, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, in the case any U.S. Government Obligations are deposited, in the opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor, for the payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Securities when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be, including interest and Special Interest, if any, thereon to maturity or such redemption date;
(ii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a certificate from an Independent Financial Advisor expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest and Special Interest, if any, when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, when due on all the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
(iii) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Issuer occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;
(iv) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Issuer;
(v) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable U.S. Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the beneficial owners will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
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(vi) such exercise does not impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on such Holders Securities on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holders Securities;
(vii) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred; and
(viii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Securities to be so defeased and discharged as contemplated by this Article 8 have been complied with.
(b) Before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Securities at a future date in accordance with Article 3.
SECTION 8.03 Application of Trust Money . The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article 8. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through each paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Securities so discharged or defeased.
SECTION 8.04 Repayment to Issuer . Each of the Trustee and each paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuer upon request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Article 8 which, in the written opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if U.S. Government Obligations have been so deposited), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article 8.
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each paying agent shall pay to the Issuer upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal, interest or Special Interest, if any, that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each paying agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.
SECTION 8.05 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations . The Issuer shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.
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SECTION 8.06 Reinstatement . If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuers obligations under this Indenture and the Securities so discharged or defeased shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8; provided , however , that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of or interest and Special Interest, if any, on, any such Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any paying agent.
ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of the Holders . The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Securities without notice to or consent of any Holder:
(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;
(ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture, the Securities and the Security Documents;
(iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Guarantor under this Indenture, the applicable Guarantee and applicable Security Documents;
(iv) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities ( provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code);
(v) to add a Guarantee with respect to the Securities;
(vi) to make any change that would provide additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights of any such Holder under this Indenture;
(vii) to make changes relating to the transfer and legending of the Securities;
(viii) to add additional assets as Collateral or to add any security for the Parity Lien Obligations;
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(ix) to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuer or any Guarantor;
(x) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect;
(xi) to effect any provision of this Indenture or any Security Documents;
(xii) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by this Indenture or any of the Security Documents or any release, termination or discharge of Collateral or any security that becomes effective as set forth in this Indenture or any of the Security Documents;
(xiii) to provide for the issuance of Add-On Securities, which shall have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Original Securities, and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding Original Securities, as a single issue of securities;
(xiv) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof;
(xv) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement and Security Documents of a successor Collateral Agent thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof;
(xvi) to confirm and evidence the release, termination and discharge of any Guarantee or Lien securing the Securities when such release, termination or discharge is permitted by this Indenture or the Security Documents; and
(xvii) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Securities or the Security Documents to any provision of the Description of the Notes contained in the Offering Circular to the extent such provision in the Description of the Notes contained in the Offering Circular was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Securities or such Security Documents.
After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Issuer shall deliver electronically or mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.
SECTION 9.02 With Consent of the Holders . The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Securities with respect to the Securities with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for
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the Securities). However, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Security affected, an amendment may not:
(i) reduce the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment,
(ii) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest or Special Interest, if any, on any Security,
(iii) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Security,
(iv) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Security or change the time at which any Security may be redeemed in accordance with Article 3,
(v) make any Security payable in money other than that stated in such Security,
(vi) expressly subordinate the Securities or any Guarantee to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor,
(vii) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on such Holders Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holders Securities,
(viii) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 or the second sentence or third paragraph of this Section 9.02, or
(ix) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary, or the Guarantee of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries that collectively would, at the time of such amendment, represent a Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the Holders.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, without the consent of the Holders of Securities of at least 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding, no amendment, supplement or waiver may release all or substantially all of the Collateral other than in accordance with this Indenture or the Security Documents.
After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer is required to deliver electronically or mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.
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For the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, or deletion of any of the covenants described in Article 4 (other than Section 4.01) or Article 5 shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of Holders of the Securities to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest or Special Interest, if any, on, the Securities.
The Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Officers Certificate and Opinion of Counsel in connection with the execution of any supplemental indenture whether with or without consent of the Holders.
SECTION 9.03 [Reserved] .
SECTION 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers . (a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holders Security, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holders Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers Certificate from the Issuer certifying that the requisite principal amount of Securities have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuer or the Trustee of consents by the Holders of the requisite principal amount of securities, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuer and the Trustee.
(b) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.
SECTION 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Securities . If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Issuer may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer so determines, the Issuer in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Written Order, authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
SECTION 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments . The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to
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receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (notwithstanding that no Opinion of Counsel is required in the case of the addition of a Guarantor) stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantors, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03).
SECTION 9.07 Payment for Consent . Neither the Issuer nor any Affiliate of the Issuer shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Securities unless such consideration is offered to be paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
SECTION 9.08 Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount . Except as otherwise set forth herein, all Securities issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent separately on all matters as to which any of such Securities may vote. Determinations as to whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article 9 and Section 2.14.
ARTICLE 10
GUARANTEES
SECTION 10.01 Guarantees . (a) Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees on a senior secured basis, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all Obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee) and the Securities, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any or interest or Special Interest, if any, on or in respect of the Securities and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Securities and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Securities (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the Guaranteed Obligations). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from each such Guarantor, and that each such Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article 10 notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.
(b) Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Securities or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuer or any other Person under
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this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or any Guarantor; (v) the failure of any Holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of such Guarantor, except as provided in Section 10.03.
(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its obligations hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such Guarantors obligations would be less than the full amount claimed. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Issuer first be used and depleted as payment of the Issuers or such Guarantors obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuer be sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.
(d) Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.
(e) The Guarantee of each Guarantor is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article 10, a senior secured obligation of the applicable Guarantor, senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of the applicable Guarantor, and made subject to such provisions of this Indenture.
(f) Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01, 10.02 and 10.06, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.
(g) Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee shall be a continuing guarantee and shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations, subject to the other terms of this Indenture. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest or Special Interest, if any, on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise.
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(h) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuer to pay the principal of or interest or Special Interest, if any, on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer to the Holders and the Trustee.
(i) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of any Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article 6, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for the purposes of this Section 10.01.
(j) Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.
(k) [Reserved].
(l) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law but subject to the limitations set out in Section 10.02 below, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Issuer or any other Guarantor or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Issuer or any other Guarantor, other than the payment in full in cash of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Subject to the limitations set out in Section 10.02 below, the Trustee (acting at the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 6.05) may, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Issuer or any Guarantor or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against the Issuer or any other Guarantor, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations have been paid in full in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against the Issuer or any other Guarantor, as the case may be.
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SECTION 10.02 Limitation on Liability . (a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by any Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without (i) rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or (ii) resulting in any breach of corporate benefit, financial assistance, fraudulent preference, thin capitalization laws, retention of title claims, capital maintenance rules, general statutory limitations, or the laws or regulations (or analogous restrictions) of any applicable jurisdiction or any similar principles which may limit the ability of any Foreign Subsidiary to provide a Guarantee or may require that the Guarantee be limited by an amount or scope or otherwise. Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Securities, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee.
(b) (i) To the extent that any Guarantee is granted by a German entity (a German Guarantor) incorporated as a limited liability company ( Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung ) (GmbH) or a limited partnership ( Kommanditgesellschaft ) (KG) with a limited liability company as sole general partner (GmbH & Co. KG) and that such Guarantee secures liabilities other than the own liabilities of the relevant German Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries, the enforcement of the Guarantee will be limited to such amount (I) as is required to ensure that the amount of the German Guarantors net assets (or the net assets of its general partner if the German Guarantor is a GmbH & Co. KG), calculated as the sum of the balance sheet positions shown under section 266 sub-section (2) (A), (B), (C) and (D) of the German Commercial Code ( Handelsgesetzbuch ) (HGB) less the sum of the amounts shown under balance sheet positions shown under section 266 (3) (B), (C), (D) and (E) HGB and any amounts not available for distribution to its shareholders in accordance with section 268 sub-section (8) HGB, does not fall below the amount of its registered share capital ( Stammkapital ); or (II) where the amount of the German Guarantors net assets (or the net assets of its general partner if the German Guarantor is a GmbH & Co. KG) already is below the amount of its registered share capital, as is required as to ensure that such amount is not further reduced.
(ii) The limits in clauses (I) and (II) of Section 10.02(b)(i) will not apply (A) to the extent that the Guarantees of the relevant German Guarantor relate to any amount of the proceeds of the Securities to the extent on-lent to the relevant German Guarantor plus any accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, costs and fees in respect of or attributable to that on-lending (and such amounts are not repaid); (B) if following the first date upon which the relevant German Guarantor is called upon to make payment in respect of its Guarantee, the relevant German Guarantor (or its general partner if the relevant German Guarantor is a limited partnership) does not provide financial statements
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in accordance with Section 10.02(b)(iv) and (v) below; (C) if the relevant German Guarantor (or, if the German Guarantor is a GmbH & Co. KG, its general partner) (as dominated entity) is party to a domination and/or profit and loss transfer agreement ( Beherrschungs- und/oder Gewinnabführungsvertrag ) (a DPTA), unless the Guarantors claim for absorption of losses pursuant to section 302 German Stock Corporation Act ( Aktiengesetz ) is or cannot be expected to be fully recoverable (unless a higher or supreme court has found by way of a final judgment that the requirement of a fully recoverable counterclaim is not applicable if a DPTA is in place); or (D) if and to the extent the German Guarantor holds on the date of enforcement of the Guarantee made herein a fully recoverable indemnity claim or claim for refund ( vollwertiger Gegenleistungs- oder Rückgewähranspruch ) against its shareholder.
(iii) If, following a legislative amendment of, or the rendering of a final judgment by the Federal High Court of Justice with respect to, section 30 et seq. German Limited Liability Companies Act ( Gesetz betreffend die Gesellschaften mit beschrankter Haftung ) (GmbHG) after the date of this Indenture, the German Guarantor submits reasonably satisfactory evidence that the exception referred to in clause (C) of Section 10.02(b)(ii) above is no longer required to protect the management of the German Guarantor from personal liability under sections 30 et seq. and 43 GmbHG, such clause (C) shall no longer apply.
(iv) For the purpose of the calculation of the net assets of a German Guarantor, the following balance sheet items shall be adjusted as follows: (A) the amount of any increase of the German Guarantors or its general partners registered share capital after the date of this Indenture, to the extent that it is not fully paid up, shall be deducted from the German Guarantors or its general partners registered share capital; (B) loans provided to the German Guarantor or its general partner by any member of the group shall be disregarded if and to the extent those loans are subordinated or are considered subordinated pursuant to section 39 para. 1 no. 5 and/or para. 2 of the German Insolvency Code ( Insolvenzordnung InsO ); and (C) loans or other liabilities incurred in violation of the provisions of the Parity Lien Documents shall be disregarded.
(v) For the purpose of the calculation of the net assets, the relevant German Guarantor will deliver (within 15 Business Days following the first date upon which the relevant German Guarantor is called upon to make payment in respect of its Guarantee) to the Trustee a notification stating to which extent the amount payable in respect of its Guarantee shall be limited in accordance with clauses (b)(i)(I) and (b)(i)(II) of this Section 10.02 above and taking into account the adjustments in clause (b)(iv) of this Section 10.02 above, such notification to be supported by interim financial statements ( Stichtagsbilanz ) showing the balance sheet positions mentioned in clause (b)(i)(I) above as of the relevant date (the Management Determination).
(vi) Following the Trustees receipt of the Management Determination, upon the Trustees request (acting at the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof) (the Trustees Request), the relevant German Guarantor (or
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its general partner if the relevant German Guarantor is a limited partnership) will deliver (within 25 Business Days following receipt of the Trustees Request) to the Trustee an up-to-date balance sheet drawn-up by a firm of auditors of international standing and repute together with a determination of the net assets. Such balance sheet and determination of net assets shall be prepared in accordance with accounting principles pursuant to the German Commercial Code and be based on the same principles that were applied when establishing the previous years balance sheet. The determination by the auditors (as set forth above, the Auditors Determination) pertaining to the relevant German Guarantor or, in the case of a GmbH & Co. KG, its general partner shall have been prepared as of the first date upon which the relevant German Guarantor is called upon to make payment in respect of its Guarantee.
(vii) The Trustee (acting at the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 6.05) shall be entitled to demand payment under the Guarantee in an amount which would, in accordance with the Management Determination or, if applicable and taking into account any previous enforcement in accordance with the Management Determination, the Auditors Determination, not cause the German Guarantors net assets (or if the German Guarantor is a limited partnership, its general partners net assets) to be reduced below zero or further reduced if already below zero. If and to the extent the net assets as determined by the Auditors Determination are lower than the amount enforced in accordance with the Management Determination, the Trustee shall release to the relevant German Guarantor (or if the German Guarantor is a limited partnership, to its general partner) such exceeding enforcement proceeds. The Trustee may (acting at the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 6.05) withhold any amount received pursuant to an enforcement of this Guarantee until final determination of the amount of the net assets pursuant to the Auditors Determination.
(viii) In a situation where the relevant German Guarantor does not have sufficient net assets to maintain its registered share capital the relevant German Guarantor shall within three months after a written request by the Trustee (acting at the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 6.05), to the extent commercially justifiable, dispose of all assets which are not necessary for its business ( nicht betriebsnotwendig ) on market terms where the relevant assets are shown in the balance sheet of the relevant German Guarantor with a book value which is significantly lower than the market value of such assets. After the expiry of such three-month period the German Guarantor shall, within three Business Days, notify the Trustee of the amount of the net proceeds from the sale and submit a statement with a new calculation of the amount of the net assets of the German Guarantor (or if the German Guarantor is a limited partnership, of its general partner) taking into account such proceeds. Such calculation shall, upon the Trustees request (acting at the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 6.05), be confirmed by one of the auditors of the German Guarantor within a period of 15 Business Days following the request.
(c) (i) Subject to clause (v) below and notwithstanding any contrary indication in this Indenture, in relation to a Guarantor organized under the laws of France (a French
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Guarantor), its Guarantee shall be limited to the payment obligations of the Issuer up to an amount equal to the aggregate of all outstanding amounts made available under the Securities and this Indenture to the Issuer to the extent (i) directly or indirectly on-lent to such French Guarantor and/or its Subsidiaries or (ii) used to refinance any indebtedness previously directly or indirectly on-lent to such French Guarantor and/or its Subsidiaries and in all cases to the extent of the amounts so on-lent remaining due by such French Guarantor and/or its Subsidiaries from time to time (the Maximum Guaranteed Amount); it being specified that any payment made by such French Guarantor under this Article 10 in respect of the obligations of the Issuer shall reduce pro tanto the outstanding amount of the intercompany loans (if any) due by such French Guarantor to the Issuer. For the avoidance of doubt, any payment made by a French Guarantor under this clause (B) shall reduce the Maximum Guaranteed Amount by the amount paid.
(ii) It is acknowledged that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Indenture, no French Guarantor is acting jointly and severally with the other Guarantors and no French Guarantor shall therefore be considered as co-débiteurs solidaires within the meaning of article 1216 of the French Code civil with the other Guarantors as to its Guarantee.
(iii) For the purpose of Section 10.02(c)(i) above Subsidiary means, in relation to any company, any other company which is controlled by it within the meaning of article L.233-3 of the French Code de commerce.
(iv) For the avoidance of doubt, the limitations set out in Section 10.02(c)(i) and Section 10.02(c)(ii) above with respect to the payment obligation of any French Guarantor under the Guarantee shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to any other indemnity, guarantee or any other undertaking of any French Guarantor contained in this Indenture having the same or a similar effect. Any payment made by a French Guarantor under any such indemnity, guarantee or undertaking shall reduce the Maximum Guaranteed Amount by the amount paid.
(v) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, no French Guarantor shall grant a Guarantee covering any Indebtedness which would result in such French Guarantor not complying with French financial assistance rules as set out in article L. 225-216 of the French Code de Commerce or any other law or regulations having the same effect, as interpreted by French courts and/or would constitute a misuse of corporate assets within the meaning of articles L. 241-3, L. 242-6 or L. 244-1 of the French Code de Commerce or any other law or regulations having the same effect, as interpreted by French courts.
(d) (i) Notwithstanding any contrary indication in this Indenture, in relation to a Guarantor organized under the laws of Switzerland (a Swiss Guarantor), its Guarantee and any other indemnity, security or other benefit, as well as any other undertaking contained in this Indenture having the same or a similar effect, such as, but not limited to, the waiver of set-off or subrogation rights or the subordination of intra-group claims, under this Indenture and the Securities for, or with respect to, obligations of any other obligor (other than the direct or indirect Subsidiaries of such Swiss Guarantor) shall not exceed at any time the amount of such Swiss Guarantors freely
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disposable equity in accordance with then applicable Swiss law, presently being the total shareholder equity less the total of (A) the aggregate share capital, (B) statutory reserves (including reserves for own shares and revaluations as well as agio) and (C) any freely disposable equity that has to be blocked for any loans granted by such Swiss Guarantor to a direct or indirect parent company of such Swiss Guarantor or a direct or indirect subsidiary of any parent company of such Swiss Guarantor, other than a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Swiss Guarantor. The amount of equity freely disposable shall be determined on the basis of an audited annual or interim balance sheet of the relevant Swiss Guarantor. This limitation shall only apply to the extent it is a requirement under applicable law at the time the respective Swiss Guarantor is required to perform. Such limitation shall not free the respective Swiss Guarantor from its obligations in excess of the freely disposable equity, but merely postpone the performance date therefor until such times as performance is again permitted notwithstanding such limitation.
(ii) If so required under applicable law (including double tax treaties) at the time it is required to make a payment under this Indenture, each Swiss Guarantor: (A) may deduct the withholding tax due under the Swiss Federal Act on the Withholding Tax (the Withholding Tax) at the rate of 35 per cent (or such other rate as is in force at that time) from any payment deemed to be a constructive dividend; (B) may pay the Withholding Tax to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration; and (C) shall notify and provide evidence to the Trustee that the Withholding Tax has been paid to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration. The respective Swiss Guarantor shall as soon as possible after the deduction of the Withholding Tax ensure that any Person which is, as a result of a payment under this Indenture, entitled to a full or partial refund of the Withholding Tax, is in a position to apply for such refund under any applicable law (including double tax treaties) and, in case it has received any refund of the Withholding Tax, pay such refund to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders upon receipt thereof.
(iii) Each Swiss Guarantor shall, and any shareholder of such Swiss Guarantor being a party hereto shall procure that such Swiss Guarantor will, take and cause to be taken all and any other action, including without limitation, (A) preparation of an up-to-date audited balance sheet of such Swiss Guarantor, (B) the passing of any shareholders resolutions to approve any payment or other performance under this Indenture or the Securities and (C) the obtaining of any confirmations (including confirmations by the respective Swiss Guarantors auditors) which may be required as a matter of Swiss mandatory law in force at the time the respective Swiss Guarantor is required to make a payment or perform other obligations under this Indenture or the Securities in order to allow a prompt payment as well as the performance of other obligations under this Indenture or the Securities with a minimum of limitations.
(iv) If the enforcement of obligations of a Swiss Guarantor would be limited due to the effects referred to in this clause, the Swiss Guarantor affected shall further, to the extent permitted by applicable law and Swiss accounting standards, write up any of its assets that are shown in its balance sheet with a book value that is significantly lower than the market value of the assets.
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SECTION 10.03 Automatic Termination of Guarantees . A Guarantee as to any Guarantor shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect and such Guarantor shall automatically be deemed to be released from all obligations under this Article 10 upon:
(i) (A) the sale, disposition or other transfer (including through merger or consolidation) of (x) the Capital Stock of the applicable Guarantor to a Person who is not (either before or after giving effect to the transaction) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, following which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (y) all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor, in each case, if such sale, disposition or other transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture,
(B) the Issuer designating such Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions set forth under Section 4.04 and the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary,
(C) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that after the Issue Date is required to guarantee the Securities pursuant to Section 4.11(b)(ii), the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary of the Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, as the case may be, or the repayment of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, in each case, which resulted in the obligation to guarantee the Securities, or
(D) the Issuers exercise of its defeasance option under Article 8, or if the Issuers obligations under this Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
In connection with the termination of any Guarantee pursuant to this Section 10.03, the Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Issuer and any Guarantor, at the Issuer or such Guarantors expense, all documents that the Issuer or such Guarantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination; provided, however, that the Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel regarding such release before executing and delivering such documents.
SECTION 10.04 Successors and Assigns . This Article 10 shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Securities shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.
SECTION 10.05 No Waiver . Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article 10 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 10 at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.
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SECTION 10.06 Modification . No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article 10, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee (acting in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Indenture), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.
SECTION 10.07 Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors . Each Subsidiary and other Person which is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 4.11 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit B hereto pursuant to which such Subsidiary or other Person shall become a Guarantor under this Article 10 and shall guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary or other Person and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Guarantee of such Guarantor is a valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 10.08 Non-Impairment . The failure to endorse a Guarantee on any Security shall not affect or impair the validity thereof.
ARTICLE 11
COLLATERAL AND SECURITY
SECTION 11.01 Security .
(a) The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest, Special Interest, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, on, the Securities when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, interest, Special Interest, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities and performance of all other obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors to the Holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under this Indenture and the Securities (including, without limitation, the Guarantees), according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, shall be secured as provided in the Security Documents.
(b) Each of the Issuer and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Security Agreements, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance therewith. Each Holder of Securities, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the Intercreditor Agreements and the provisions of the Security Documents providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral and authorizing the Collateral Agent to enter into any Security Document or additional intercreditor arrangements, or, in each case, amendments in accordance herewith or
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therewith, on its behalf) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, or may be entered after the date hereof, and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.
(c) The Issuer and each of the Guarantors will use commercially reasonable efforts to do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Agent from time to time may reasonably request acting as directed by the Majority Holders, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Agent holds, for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Debt, duly created and enforceable and perfected Parity Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets that are acquired or otherwise become, or are required by any Security Document to become, Collateral after the Securities are issued, whether as a result of the acquisition of assets, a Subsidiary becoming a Guarantor or otherwise) and, in the case of owned real property of a U.S. Note Guarantor acquired after the Issue Date, will use commercially reasonable efforts to execute and/or deliver to the Collateral Agent related title insurance, flood certificates, evidence of flood insurance, if required, and surveys, in each case, as and if contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Security Documents. The Issuer and each of the Guarantors will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Security Documents, instruments, certificates, notices, registrations, filings, and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request acting as directed by the Majority Holders, to create, perfect, protect, continue, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Security Documents for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Debt.
(d) The Issuer and the Guarantors will use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) keep their insurable properties insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers in such amounts as shall be customary for similar businesses, (ii) maintain such other reasonable insurance (including, to the extent reasonably deemed prudent, self-insurance), of such types, to such extent and against such risks, as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses, and (iii) maintain such other insurance as (x) may be required by law or (y) any Security Document.
(e) The U.S. Note Guarantors will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all property insurance policies of such U.S. Note Guarantors required by Section 11.01(d) (except for the insurance described in Section 11.01(d)(iii)(x)) will, no later than 75 days after the Issue Date:
(i) name the Collateral Agent as loss payee/mortgagee (or to the extent not otherwise provided therein, to be endorsed or otherwise amended to include appropriate loss payable endorsements, including, with respect to any mortgaged properties);
(ii) deliver a certificate of insurance to the Collateral Agent; and
(iii) provide that no cancellation or termination of such insurance shall be effective until 30 days (or 10 days in the case of any failure to pay any premium due thereunder) after written notice is given by the insurers to the
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Collateral Agent of such cancellation or termination and deliver to the Collateral Agent, prior to the cancellation, lapse (including for nonrenewal) or termination of any such policy of insurance, a copy of a renewal or replacement policy (or other evidence of renewal of a policy previously delivered to the Collateral Agent), or insurance certificate with respect thereto.
(f) If any improvements located on any mortgaged property are at any time located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a Special Flood Hazard Area with respect to which flood insurance has been made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (as now or hereafter in effect or successor act thereto), then the Issuer shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) maintain, or cause to be maintained, with a financially sound and reputable insurer, flood insurance in an amount and otherwise sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws and (ii) deliver to the Collateral Agent evidence of such compliance.
(g) The Issuer and the Guarantors will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all liability insurance policies required by Section 11.01(d) with respect to the Issuer and the Guarantors (except for the insurance described in 11.01(d)(iii)(x)) will, no later than 75 days after the Issue Date, name the Collateral Agent as additional insured.
(h) To the extent any security interest in the Collateral is not created or perfected, or related security documents are not provided, on or prior to the Issue Date, the Issuer and each Guarantor will use commercially reasonable efforts to have all such security interests created or perfected, and to have such related documents provided, in each case to the extent required by this Indenture or by the Security Documents, within 75 days following the Issue Date and to continue to use commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions to the extent such security interest has not been created or perfected and such related documents have not been provided within 75 days following the Issue Date (until such time, if any, as the Issuer determines that any further efforts to take any such action would be commercially futile, as evidenced by an Officers Certificate to that effect delivered to the Trustee and the Holders).
(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the Issuer and the Guarantors are unable to create or perfect security interests or grant a lien and mortgage on the property, plant and equipment of assets of Ravenswood for the benefit of the Securities, or provide related security documents, after using commercially reasonable efforts until further efforts would be commercially futile, such failure shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder.
SECTION 11.02 Intercreditor Agreements . This Article 11 and the provisions of each other Parity Lien Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements. Each of the Issuer and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance therewith. Each Holder of Securities, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and to have authorized the Collateral
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Agent to enter into any such Security Document or Intercreditor Agreement, or, in each case, any amendment in accordance therewith. The claims of Holders will be subject to the Intercreditor Agreements. Subject to Section 4.12, the Issuer is permitted to pledge the Collateral in connection with future issuances of its Indebtedness or Indebtedness of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, permitted under this Indenture and other Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 11.03 Authorization of Actions to Be Taken by the Trustee Under the Security Documents .
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and 7.02 hereof and the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents, the Trustee may direct, on behalf of the Holders of Securities, the Collateral Agent to, take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:
(i) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents; and
(ii) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors hereunder.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and 7.02 hereof and the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Security Documents ,the Trustee , at the direction of holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities, will have power to institute and maintain, or to direct the Collateral Agent to institute or maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders of Securities in the Collateral created under the Security Documents (including power to institute and maintain, or direct the Collateral Agent to institute or maintain, suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the Lien on the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent or be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders of Securities or of the Trustee).
SECTION 11.04 Receipt of Funds by the Collateral Agent Under the Security Documents . Subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, the Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders of Securities distributed under the Security Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders of Securities according to the provisions of this Indenture.
SECTION 11.05 Collateral Releases and Termination of Security Interest . The Collateral Agents Liens upon the Collateral will be subject to release as provided in Section 4.1 of the Parity Lien Intecreditor Agreement. In addition, upon the full and final payment and performance of all Obligations of the Issuer and Guarantors under this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Securities or upon legal defeasance, covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 12 hereof, the Trustee shall, at the request of the Issuer, deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent stating that such Obligations have been
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paid in full, and the Liens securing the Obligations pursuant to this Indenture and the Security Documents shall automatically be released in accordance with and to the extent provided by the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
ARTICLE 12
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 12.01 Ranking . The indebtedness evidenced by the Securities will be senior secured Indebtedness of the Issuer, senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer. The indebtedness evidenced by the Guarantees will be senior secured Indebtedness of the applicable Guarantor, senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor.
SECTION 12.02 [Reserved] .
SECTION 12.03 Notices . (a) Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and in English and delivered in person, via facsimile or mailed by first-class mail or electronic mail with portable document format attached, addressed as follows:
if to the Issuer or a Guarantor:
Constellium N.V.
Tupolevlaan 41-61
1119 NW Schiphol-Rijk
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attn: Mark Kirkland
Fax: +31 20 654 97 96
Email: mark.kirkland@constellium.com
With a copy to
Constellium
Washington Plaza 40/44, rue Washington
75008 Paris, France
Attn: Jeremy Leach
Tel: +33 1 73 01 46 51
Email: jeremy.leach@constellium.com
Constellium Switzerland AG
Max Högger-Strasse 6
8048 Zürich, Switzerland
Attn: Mark Kirkland, Group Treasurer
Tel: +41 44 438 6642
Email: mark.kirkland@constellium.com
And
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Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52 nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Attn: Josh A. Feltman
Tel: (212) 403-1109
Fax: (212) 403-2109
Email: jafeltman@wlrk.com
if to the Trustee:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust & Agency Services
60 Wall Street, 16th Floor
Mail Stop: NYC60-1630
New York, New York 10005
Attn: Corporates Team Deal Manager Constellium N.V.
Fax: 732-578-4635
With a copy to:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
c/o Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
Trust & Agency Services
100 Plaza One, Mailstop JCY03-0699
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
Attn: Corporates Team Deal Manager Constellium N.V.
Fax: 732-578-4635
The Issuer or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
(b) Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed, first class mail, to the Holder at the Holders address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.
(c) Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee are effective only if received.
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SECTION 12.04 [Reserved] .
SECTION 12.05 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent . Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a request pursuant to Section 7.06 ), the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee:
(a) an Officers Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
SECTION 12.06 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion . Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.09) shall include:
(a) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided , however , that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers Certificate or certificates of public officials.
SECTION 12.07 When Securities Disregarded . In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Issuer, any Guarantor or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any Guarantor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.
SECTION 12.08 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar . The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the Holders. The Registrar and a paying agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.
SECTION 12.09 Legal Holidays . If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest or Special Interest, if any, shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.
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SECTION 12.10 GOVERNING LAW . THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
SECTION 12.11 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service . In relation to any legal action or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees, the Trustee (in the case of clauses (a) and (b) below only), the Issuer and each Guarantor that is organized under laws other than the United States or a state thereof (a) irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in the City, County and State of New York, United States, (b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agree not to plead or claim the same, (c) designates and appoints Constellium U.S. Holdings I, LLC, 830 Third Avenue, 9th floor, New York, NY 10022 as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any such action or proceeding that may be instituted in any such court and (d) agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail addressed to such agent for service of process, with written notice of said service to such Person at the address of the agent for service of process set forth in clause (c) of this Section 12.11 shall be effective service of process for any such action or proceeding brought in any such court. Each of the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee, paying agent, Registrar, and Transfer Agent hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 12.12 Currency Indemnity . The U.S. Dollar is the sole currency of account and payment for all sums payable by the Issuer or any Guarantor under or in connection with the Securities, including damages. Any amount with respect to the Securities or the Guarantees thereof received or recovered in a currency other than U.S. Dollars, whether as a result of, or the enforcement of, a judgment or order of a court of any jurisdiction, in the winding-up or dissolution of the Issuer or any Guarantor or otherwise by any Holder or by the Trustee, in respect of any sum expressed to be due to it from the Issuer or any Guarantor will only constitute a discharge to the Issuer or any Guarantor to the extent of the U.S. Dollar amount that the recipient is able to purchase with the amount so received or recovered in such other currency on the date of such receipt or recovery (or, if it is not practicable to make such purchase on such date, on the first date on which it is practicable to do so).
If that U.S. Dollar amount is less than the U.S. Dollar amount expressed to be due to the recipient or the Trustee under the Securities, the Issuer and each Guarantor will indemnify such recipient and/or the Trustee against any loss sustained by it as a result. In any event, the Issuer and each Guarantor will indemnify the recipient against the cost of making any such purchase. For the purposes of this Section 12.12, it shall be prima facie evidence of the matter stated therein, for the Holder of a Security or the Trustee to certify in a manner satisfactory to the Issuer (indicating the sources of information used) the loss it incurred in making any such purchase. These indemnities constitute a separate and independent obligation from the Issuers and each Guarantors other obligations, shall give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, shall apply irrespective of any waiver granted by any Holder of a Security or the Trustee (other than a waiver of the indemnities set out herein) and will continue in full force and effect despite any
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other judgment, order, claim or proof for a liquidated amount in respect of any sum due under any Security or to the Trustee. For the purposes of this Section 12.12, it shall be sufficient for the Trustee or the Holder, as applicable, to certify (indicating the sources of information used) that it would have suffered a loss had the actual purchase of U.S. Dollars been made with the amount so received in that other currency on the date of receipt or recovery (or, if a purchase of U.S. Dollars on such date had not been practicable due to current market conditions generally, on the first date on which it would have been practicable, it being required that the need for a change of date be certified in the manner mentioned above).
SECTION 12.13 No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, manager or incorporator of, or holder of any Equity Interests in, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities.
SECTION 12.14 Successors . All agreements of the Issuer and each Guarantor in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
SECTION 12.15 USA PATRIOT Act . In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including, without limitation, those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (Applicable Law), the Trustee and agents are required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee and agents. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee and agents, upon their request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee and agents to comply with Applicable Law.
SECTION 12.16 Multiple Originals . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.
SECTION 12.17 Table of Contents; Headings . The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 12.18 Indenture Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of the Securities limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.
SECTION 12.19 Severability . In case any provision in this Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
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provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.
[ Signature Pages Follow ]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
CONSTELLIUM N.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Group Treasurer and Authorized Signatory | ||
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO II B.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO III B.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[U.S. D OLLAR N OTES I NDENTURE ]
CONSTELLIUM US HOLDINGS I, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Rina E. Teran |
|
Name: Rina E. Teran | ||
Title: Vice President and Secretary | ||
CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS RAVENSWOOD, LLC |
||
By: |
/s/ Rina E. Teran |
|
Name: Rina E. Teran | ||
Title: Vice President and Secretary |
[U.S. D OLLAR N OTES I NDENTURE ]
CONSTELLIUM FRANCE HOLDCO S.A.S. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
CONSTELLIUM ISSOIRE S.A.S. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
CONSTELLIUM FINANCE S.A.S. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH S.A.S. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|
Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[U.S. D OLLAR N OTES I NDENTURE ]
CONSTELLIUM GERMANY HOLDCO GMBH & CO. KG |
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By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
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Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
CONSTELLIUM DEUTSCHLAND GMBH | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
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Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
CONSTELLIUM SINGEN GMBH | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
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Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS SINGEN GMBH & CO. KG |
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By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
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Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[U.S. D OLLAR N OTES I NDENTURE ]
CONSTELLIUM SWITZERLAND AG | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
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Name: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[U.S. D OLLAR N OTES I NDENTURE ]
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee | ||
By: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ Linda Reale |
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Name: Linda Reale | ||
Title: Vice President | ||
By: |
/s/ Wanda Camacho |
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Name: Wanda Camacho | ||
Title: Vice President |
[U.S. D OLLAR N OTES I NDENTURE ]
APPENDIX A
PROVISIONS RELATING TO ORIGINAL SECURITIES AND ADD-ON SECURITIES
1. | Definitions . |
1.1. Definitions .
For the purposes of this Appendix A the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
Definitive Security means a certificated Security (bearing the Restricted Securities Legend if the transfer of such Security is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Securities Legend.
Depository means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.
Global Securities Legend means the legend set forth under that caption in the applicable Exhibit to this Indenture.
IAI means an institutional accredited investor as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.
Initial Purchasers means Goldman, Sachs & Co., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., BNP Paribas, Société Générale and such other initial purchasers listed on Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement entered into in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.
QIB means a qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A.
Regulation S means Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Regulation S Securities means all Securities offered and sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S.
Restricted Period, with respect to any Securities, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Securities are first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Issuer to the Trustee, and (b) the Issue Date, and with respect to any Add-On Securities that are Transfer Restricted Securities, it means the comparable period of 40 consecutive days.
Restricted Securities Legend means the legend set forth in Section 2.2(f)(i) herein.
Rule 501 means Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.
Rule 144A means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
Appendix A - 1
Rule 144A Securities means all Securities offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.
Securities Custodian means the custodian with respect to a Global Security (as appointed by the Depository) or any successor person thereto, who shall initially be the Trustee.
Transfer Restricted Securities means Definitive Securities and any other Securities that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Securities Legend.
Unrestricted Definitive Security means Definitive Securities and any other Securities that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Securities Legend.
Unrestricted Global Security means a Global Security which is not a Restricted Global Security.
1.2. Other Definitions .
Term: |
Defined in Section: |
|
Global Securities | 2.1(b) | |
Regulation S Global Securities | 2.1(b) | |
Rule 144A Global Securities | 2.1(b)(i) |
2. The Securities .
2.1. Form and Dating; Global Securities .
(a) The Original Securities issued on the date hereof will be (i) offered and sold by the Issuer pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) resold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (2) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S. Such Original Securities may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S and, except as set forth below, IAIs in accordance with Rule 501. Add-On Securities offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Issuer from time to time pursuant to one or more purchase agreements in accordance with applicable law.
(b) Global Securities . (i) Rule 144A Securities initially shall be represented by one or more Securities in definitive, fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the Rule 144A Global Securities).
Regulation S Securities initially shall be represented by one or more Securities in fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the Regulation S Global Securities), which shall be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of the Depository for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear System or Clearstream Banking S.A.
The provisions of the Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System and Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking and Customer Handbook of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Securities that are held by participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.
Appendix A - 2
The term Global Securities means the Rule 144A Global Securities and the Regulation S Global Securities. The Global Securities shall bear the Global Security Legend. The Global Securities initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of such Depository, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (iii) bear the Restricted Securities Legend.
Members of, or direct or indirect participants in, the Depository shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depository, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Securities. The Depository may be treated by the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Securities for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository, or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security.
(ii) Transfers of Global Securities shall be limited to transfer in whole, but not in part, to the Depository, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Securities may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Securities only in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository and the provisions of Section 2.2. In addition, a Global Security shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities if (x) the Depository (1) notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for such Global Security and the Issuer thereupon fails to appoint a successor depository or (2) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act or (y) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Global Securities be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Securities prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act. In all cases, Definitive Securities delivered in exchange for any Global Security or beneficial interests therein shall be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depository in accordance with its customary procedures.
(iii) In connection with the transfer of a Global Security as an entirety to beneficial owners pursuant to subsection (i) of this Section 2.1(b), such Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depository in writing in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities of authorized denominations.
Appendix A - 3
(iv) Any Transfer Restricted Security delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Security pursuant to Section 2.2 shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2, bear the Restricted Securities Legend.
(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, through the Restricted Period, a beneficial interest in such Regulation S Global Security may be held only through Euroclear or Clearstream unless delivery is made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 2.2.
(vi) The Holder of any Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.
2.2. Transfer and Exchange .
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities . A Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except as set forth in Section 2.1(b). Global Securities will not be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Securities except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). Global Securities also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.08 and 2.10 of this Indenture. Beneficial interests in a Global Security may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.2(b) or 2.2(g).
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Securities shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. Beneficial interests in Transfer Restricted Securities which are Global Securities (Restricted Global Securities) shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Beneficial interests in Global Securities shall be transferred or exchanged only for beneficial interests in Global Securities. Transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in the Global Securities also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Security . Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Security in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Restricted Securities Legend; provided , however , that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Security may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). A beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.2(b)(i).
(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities . In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in any Global Security that is not subject to Section 2.2(b)(i), the transferor of such beneficial
Appendix A - 4
interest must deliver to the Registrar (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depository in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository directing the Depository to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Security in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository containing information regarding the Agent Member account to be credited with such increase. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Securities contained in this Indenture and the Securities or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Security pursuant to Section 2.2(g).
(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Security . A beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Security if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Security, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security; and
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Security, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security.
(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Security for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Security . A beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Security; or
(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Security,
and, in each such case, if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the
Appendix A - 5
Restricted Securities Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers Certificate in accordance with Section 2.01, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Written Order, authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iv).
(v) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Security for Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Security . Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Security cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security.
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities for Definitive Securities . A beneficial interest in a Global Security may not be exchanged for a Definitive Security except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). A beneficial interest in a Global Security may not be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Security except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). In any case, beneficial interests in Global Securities shall be transferred or exchanged only for Definitive Securities.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities for Beneficial Interests in Global Securities . Transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in the Global Securities also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i), (ii) or (ii) below, as applicable:
(i) Transfer Restricted Securities to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Securities . If any Holder of a Transfer Restricted Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security or to transfer such Transfer Restricted Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;
(B) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to a Qualified Institutional Buyer in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;
(C) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to a Non U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;
Appendix A - 6
(D) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;
(E) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel, if applicable; or
(F) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;
the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Security, and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the appropriate Restricted Global Security.
(ii) Transfer Restricted Securities to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Securities . A Holder of a Transfer Restricted Security that is a Definitive Security may exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transfer such Transfer Restricted Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security only if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security; or
(B) if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Securities proposes to transfer such Transfer Restricted Security to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security,
and, in each such case, if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Securities Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon satisfaction of the conditions of this subparagraph (ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Securities and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Security. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (ii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of a Written Order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (ii).
Appendix A - 7
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Securities to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Securities . A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Security may exchange such Unrestricted Definitive Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Security and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Securities. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of a Written Order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Unrestricted Definitive Securities transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iii).
(iv) Unrestricted Definitive Securities to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Securities . An Unrestricted Definitive Security cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security.
(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities for Definitive Securities . Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Securities and such Holders compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.2(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Securities. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Securities duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.2(e).
(i) Transfer Restricted Securities to Transfer Restricted Securities . A Transfer Restricted Security may be transferred to and registered in the name of a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Transfer Restricted Security if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security;
(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security;
(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security;
Appendix A - 8
(D) if the transfer will be made to an IAI in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (A) through (D) above, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security; and
(E) if such transfer will be made to the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security.
(ii) Transfer Restricted Securities to Unrestricted Definitive Securities . Any Transfer Restricted Security may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Security or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Security if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for an Unrestricted Definitive Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security; or
(B) if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Security proposes to transfer such Securities to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security,
and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Securities Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Securities to Unrestricted Definitive Securities . A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Security may transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Securities to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Security at any time. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Securities pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.
Unrestricted Definitive Securities to Transfer Restricted Securities . An Unrestricted Definitive Security cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a Transfer Restricted Security.
At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Security have been exchanged for Definitive Securities or a particular Global Security has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Security shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 of this Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security or for Definitive Securities, the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security, such other Global Security shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
Appendix A - 9
(f) Legend .
(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraph (ii), (iii) or (iv), each Security certificate evidencing the Global Securities and the Definitive Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only):
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (SUBJECT TO THE DELIVERY OF SUCH EVIDENCE, IF ANY, REQUIRED UNDER THE INDENTURE PURSUANT TO WHICH THIS NOTE IS ISSUED) AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER OR ANOTHER EXEMPTION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (1)(a) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A FOREIGN PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUER SO REQUESTS), SUBJECT TO THE RECEIPT BY THE REGISTRAR OF A CERTIFICATION OF THE TRANSFEROR AND AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) TO THE ISSUER OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTION SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE.
Appendix A - 10
Each Definitive Security shall bear the following additional legends:
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH REGISTRAR MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security that is a Definitive Security, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a Definitive Security that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security).
(iii) Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Restricted Period of any Security acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Security bear the Restricted Securities Legend shall cease to apply and the requirements requiring any such Security be issued in global form shall continue to apply.
(iv) Any Add-On Securities sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Securities Legend.
(g) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Security . At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Security have been exchanged for Definitive Securities or a particular Global Security has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Security shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 of this Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security or for Definitive Securities, the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security, such other Global Security shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
Appendix A - 11
(h) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Securities .
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, Definitive Securities and Global Securities at the Registrars request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.06, 4.08 and 9.05 of this Indenture).
(iii) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Issuer, the Trustee, a paying agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest and Special Interest, if any, on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Trustee, the paying agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(iv) All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(i) No Obligation of the Trustee .
(i) None of the Trustee, Registrar or paying agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to the Holders under the Securities shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee, Registrar or paying agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
(ii) None of the Trustee, Registrar or paying agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Appendix A - 12
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF ORIGINAL OR ADD-ON SECURITY]
[Global Securities Legend]
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (DTC), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSORS NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
[Restricted Securities Legend]
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (SUBJECT TO THE DELIVERY OF SUCH EVIDENCE, IF ANY, REQUIRED UNDER THE INDENTURE PURSUANT TO WHICH THIS NOTE IS ISSUED) AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER OR ANOTHER EXEMPTION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (1)(a) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A FOREIGN PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE
Exhibit A - 1
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUER SO REQUESTS), SUBJECT TO THE RECEIPT BY THE REGISTRAR OF A CERTIFICATION OF THE TRANSFEROR AND AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) TO THE ISSUER OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTION SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE.
Each Definitive Security shall bear the following additional legends:
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH REGISTRAR MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
Exhibit A - 2
[FORM OF ORIGINAL SECURITY]
No. | $ |
7.875% Senior Secured Note due 2021
CUSIP No.
ISIN No.
Constellium N.V., a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, with its corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, promises to pay to , or registered assigns, the principal sum [of Dollars] [listed on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto] 1 on April 1, 2021.
Interest Payment Dates: April 1 and October 1
Record Dates: March 15 and September 15
Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.
1 | Use the Schedule of Increases and Decreases language if Security is in Global Form. |
Exhibit A - 3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.
CONSTELLIUM N.V. | ||
By: |
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated:
Exhibit A - 4
TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION |
||
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the Indenture. |
||
By: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company | ||
By: |
|
|
Authorized Signatory |
* / | If the Security is to be issued in global form, add the Global Securities Legend and the attachment from Exhibit A captioned TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY. |
Exhibit A - 5
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF ORIGINAL SECURITY]
7.875% Senior Secured Note due 2021
1. | Interest |
CONSTELLIUM N.V., a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands and with its corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (together with its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to as the Issuer), promises to pay interest (and Special Interest, if any) on the principal amount of this Security semiannually in arrears on each April 1 and October 1 commencing on October 1, 2016. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the Issue Date or the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for until the principal hereof is due. Special Interest, if any, on the Securities will accrue from the date provided in the Indenture or the most recent date to which Special Interest has been paid or provided for until the date provided in the Indenture. Interest and Special Interest, if any, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Interest on the Securities will accrue at a rate of 7.875% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears.
To the extent that the lien and mortgage on the property, plant and equipment of assets of Ravenswood is not provided to secure the Securities with the priority required by the Security Documents (the PBGC Collateral Condition) on or prior to the date that is 90 days following the Issue Date, the Issuer will pay additional interest (Special Interest) on the Securities at a rate of 2.00% per annum from such 90th day following the Issue Date until: (i) if the PBGC Collateral Condition is satisfied on or prior to the date that is 360 days following the Issue Date, the date such PBGC Collateral Condition is satisfied; or (ii) if the PBGC Collateral Condition is not satisfied on or prior to the date that is 360 days following the Issue Date, the date interest on the Securities is no longer payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture (whether as a result of repurchase, redemption, repayment at final maturity or otherwise). Accrued Special Interest will be payable on the same dates and in the same manner as interest is generally paid on the Securities.
Issue Date means the date on which the Securities are originally issued.
2. | Method of Payment |
The Issuer shall pay interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on the March 15 or September 15 immediately preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date (whether or not a Business Day). Holders must surrender Securities to the paying agent to collect principal payments. The Issuer shall pay principal, premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any) shall be made by wire
Exhibit A - 6
transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company or any successor depositary. The Issuer shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any), at the office of the paying agent, except that, at the option of the Issuer, payment of interest and Special Interest, if any, may be made by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on the Securities may also be made, in the case of a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or paying agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).
3. | Paying Agent and Registrar |
Initially, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the Trustee), will act as Principal Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may appoint and change any paying agent or Registrar without notice. The Issuer or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as paying agent or Registrar.
4. | Indenture |
The Issuer issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of March 30, 2016 (the Indenture), among the Issuer, the Guarantors party thereto (the Guarantors) and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture. Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms and provisions.
The Securities are senior secured obligations of the Issuer. This Security is one of the Original Securities referred to in the Indenture. The Securities include the Original Securities and any issued Add-On Securities. The Original Securities and any Add-On Securities are treated as a single series of securities under the Indenture. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain Investments and other Restricted Payments, pay dividends and other distributions, incur Indebtedness, enter into consensual restrictions upon the payment of certain dividends and distributions by such Restricted Subsidiaries, issue or sell shares of Capital Stock of the Issuer and such Restricted Subsidiaries, enter into or permit certain transactions with Affiliates, create or incur Liens and make Asset Sales. The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Issuer and each Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property. The Securities are secured by Liens on the Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents referred to in the Indenture.
To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal, interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Securities and all other amounts payable by the Issuer under the Indenture and the Securities when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, the Guarantors have, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed the Guaranteed Obligations on a senior secured basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.
Exhibit A - 7
5. | Optional Redemption |
Except as set forth in the following two paragraphs, the Securities shall not be redeemable at the option of the Issuer prior to April 1, 2018. On or after April 1, 2018, the Securities shall be redeemable at the option of the Issuer, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice delivered electronically or by first-class mail to each Holders registered address, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Special Interest, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the periods set forth below:
Year |
Redemption Price | |
April 1, 2018 - March 31, 2019 |
103.938% | |
April 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020 |
101.969% | |
April 1, 2020 and thereafter |
100.000% |
In addition, prior to April 1, 2018, the Issuer may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice electronically delivered or mailed by first-class mail to each Holders registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Special Interest, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time prior to April 1, 2018, the Issuer may redeem Securities in an aggregate amount equal to up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Securities (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Add-On Securities), with an amount equal to the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Issuer, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) of 107.875%, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Special Interest, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date); provided , however , that at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Securities (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Add-On Securities) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; and provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice electronically delivered or mailed to each Holder of Securities being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. Any redemption or notice of any redemption may, at the Issuers discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering, other debt or equity financing, acquisition or other corporate transaction or event, and, at the Issuers discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all of such conditions have been satisfied. In addition, the Issuer may provide in any notice of redemption that payment of the redemption price and the performance of its obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another person; provided , however , that the Issuer will remain obligated to pay the redemption price and perform its obligations with respect to such
Exhibit A - 8
redemption in the event such other person fails to do so and all conditions to such redemption, if any, are satisfied. Notice of any redemption in respect of an Equity Offering may be given prior to completion thereof.
If an optional redemption date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, the accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name the Security is registered at the close of business on such record date.
6. | Special Mandatory Offers to Purchase . |
If a Triggering Event occurs, each Holder shall have the right to require, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of that Holders Securities for an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase, as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.
7. | Redemption for Taxation Reasons . |
The Issuer may redeem the Securities, at its option, in whole, but not in part, at any time upon giving not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice to Holders (which notice shall be irrevocable) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to (but not including) the date fixed for redemption of such series (a Tax Redemption Date) (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Special Interest, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date) and all Additional Amounts (as defined in Section 2.15 of the Indenture), if any, then due or that will become due on the Tax Redemption Date as a result of the redemption or otherwise, if the Issuer determines in good faith that, as a result of:
(a) any change in, or amendment to, the law or treaties (or any regulations, protocols or rulings promulgated thereunder) of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (as defined in Section 2.15 of the Indenture) affecting taxation; or
(b) any change in official position regarding the application, administration or interpretation of such laws, treaties, regulations, protocols or rulings (including a holding, judgment or order by a government agency or court of competent jurisdiction)
(each of the foregoing in clauses (a) and (b), a Change in Tax Law), any Payor (as defined in Section 2.15 of the Indenture), with respect to the Securities or a Guarantee is, or on the next date on which any amount would be payable in respect of the Securities would be, required to pay any Additional Amounts, and such obligation cannot be avoided by taking reasonable measures available to such Payor (including the appointment of a new paying agent or, where such payment would be reasonable, the payment through another Payor); provided that no Payor shall be required to take any measures that in the Issuers good faith determination would result in the imposition on such person of any legal or regulatory burden (other than any such burden that is de minimis to the Issuer) or the incurrence by such person of additional costs (other than any such costs that are de minimis to the Issuer) or would otherwise result in any adverse consequences to such person (other than any such adverse consequences that are de minimis).
Exhibit A - 9
In the case of any Payor, the Change in Tax Law must be announced and become effective on or after the date of the Offering Circular (or if the applicable Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction on a date after the date of the Offering Circular, then such later date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such notice of redemption will be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Payor would be obligated to make such payment of Additional Amounts. Prior to the publication, mailing or delivery of any notice of redemption of the Securities pursuant to the foregoing, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee and the paying agent (a) an Officers Certificate stating that it is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to its right so to redeem have been satisfied and (b) an opinion of an independent tax counsel of recognized standing to the effect that the Payor would be obligated to pay Additional Amounts as a result of a Change in Tax Law. The Trustee will accept such Officers Certificate and opinion as sufficient evidence of the satisfaction of the conditions precedent described above, in which event it will be conclusive and binding on the Holders of the Securities.
The foregoing provisions will apply mutatis mutandis to any successor to a Payor. The foregoing provisions will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of the Indenture.
8. | Sinking Fund |
The Securities are not subject to any sinking fund.
9. | Notice of Redemption |
Notice of redemption will be electronically delivered or mailed by first-class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at his, her or its registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $250,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on all Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with a paying agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest and Special Interest, if any, ceases to accrue on such Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.
10. | Repurchase of Securities at the Option of the Holders upon Change of Control and Asset Sales |
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such Holders Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Special Interest, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.
In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Issuer will be required to offer to purchase Securities upon the occurrence of certain events.
Exhibit A - 10
11. | Ranking |
The Securities and the Guarantees are senior secured obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors and will be of equal ranking with all present and future senior secured indebtedness.
12. | Denominations; Transfer; Exchange |
The Securities are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $250,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder shall register the transfer of or exchange of Securities in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any registration of transfer or exchange, the Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or to transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days prior to a selection of Securities to be redeemed.
13. | Persons Deemed Owners |
The registered Holder of this Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
14. | Unclaimed Money |
If money for the payment of principal, interest or Special Interest, if any, remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and a paying agent shall pay the money back to the Issuer at their written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, the Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors and the Trustee and a paying agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.
15. | Discharge and Defeasance |
Subject to certain conditions, the Issuer at any time may terminate some of or all of its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the Issuer deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal, interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.
16. | Amendment; Waiver |
Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture, the Security Documents or the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities and (ii) any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend the Indenture, the Security Documents or the Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency; (ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture, the Securities and the Security Documents; (iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the
Exhibit A - 11
obligations of a Guarantor under the Indenture and its Guarantee; (iv) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities (provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code); (v) to add additional Guarantees with respect to the Securities; (vi) to make any change that would provide additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights of the Holders; (vii) to make changes relating to the transfer and legending of the Securities; (viii) to add additional assets as Collateral or to add any security for the Parity Lien Obligations; (ix) to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuer or any Guarantor; (x) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect; (xi) to effect any provision of the Indenture or any Security Documents; (xii) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral or any security permitted or required by the Indenture or any of the Security Documents or any release, termination or discharge of Collateral or any security that becomes effective as set forth in the Indenture or any of the Security Documents; (xiii) to provide for the issuance of the Add-On Securities, as defined in the Indenture; (xiv) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof; (xv) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement and Security Documents of a successor Collateral Agent thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof; (xvi) to confirm and evidence the release, termination and discharge of any Guarantee or Lien securing the Securities when such release, termination or discharge is permitted by the Indenture or the Security Documents; or (xvii) to conform the text of the Indenture, Guarantees, Security Documents or Securities to any provision of the section entitled Description of the Notes in the Offering Circular to the extent such provision in the Description of the Notes contained in the Offering Circular was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Guarantees, the Securities or such Security Documents.
17. | Defaults and Remedies |
If an Event of Default occurs (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer) and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities, in each case, by notice to the Issuer, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on all the Securities to be due and payable provided , however , that so long as any Bank Indebtedness remains outstanding, no such acceleration shall be effective until the earlier of (1) five Business Days after the giving of written notice to the Issuer and the Representative under the Credit Facilities and (2) the day on which any Bank Indebtedness is accelerated. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest and Special Interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on all the Securities shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. Under certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Securities and its consequences.
Exhibit A - 12
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense and certain other conditions are complied with. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest or Special Interest, if any, when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Securities unless (i) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy, (iii) such Holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity and (v) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. Subject to certain restrictions, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal or financial liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture at the instruction of Holders in respect of an Event of Default, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification or security satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
18. | Trustee Dealings with the Issuer |
The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuer or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.
19. | No Recourse Against Others |
No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests (as defined in the Indenture) in the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Securities, the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability.
20. | Authentication |
This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.
21. | Abbreviations |
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
Exhibit A - 13
22. | Governing Law |
THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
23. | CUSIP Numbers; ISINs |
The Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to the Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Issuer will furnish to any Holder of Securities upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Security and the Security Documents.
Exhibit A - 14
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Security, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Security to:
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(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code) |
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(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.) |
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and irrevocably appoint agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him. | ||||||||
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Date: |
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Your Signature: |
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Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security. | ||||||||
Signature Guarantee: | ||||||||
Date: |
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Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee | Signature of Signature Guarantee |
Exhibit A - 15
CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES
This certificate relates to $ principal amount of Securities held in (check applicable space) book-entry or definitive form by the undersigned.
The undersigned (check one box below):
¨ | has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Security held by the Depository a Security or Securities in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Security (or the portion thereof indicated above); |
¨ | has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Security or Securities. |
In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act, the undersigned confirms that such Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
(1) ¨ to the Issuer; or
(2) ¨ to the Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or
(3) ¨ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(4) ¨ inside the United States to a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(5) ¨ outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933 and such Security shall be held immediately after the transfer through Euroclear or Clearstream until the expiration of the Restricted Period (as defined in the Indenture); or
(6) ¨ to an institutional accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements; or
(7) ¨ pursuant to another available exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.
Exhibit A - 16
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided , however , that if box (5), (6) or (7) is checked, the Issuer or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuer or the Trustee have reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.
Date: |
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Your Signature: |
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Signature Guarantee: | ||||||||
Date: |
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Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee | Signature of Signature Guarantee |
Exhibit A - 17
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigneds foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Dated: |
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NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer |
Exhibit A - 18
[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY
The initial principal amount of this Global Security is $ . The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:
Date of Exchange |
Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Principal amount of this
Global Security following such decrease or increase |
Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or Securities Custodian |
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Exhibit A - 19
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale), 4.08 (Change of Control), or 4.10 (Special Mandatory Offers to Purchase) of the Indenture, check the box:
Asset Sale ¨ |
Change of Control ¨ | |
Special Mandatory Offer to Purchase ¨ |
If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale), 4.08 (Change of Control), or 4.10 (Special Mandatory Offers to Purchase) of the Indenture, state the amount ($250,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof):
$
Date: |
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Your Signature: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security) | ||||||||
Signature Guarantee: | ||||||||
Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee |
Exhibit A - 20
[FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE]
For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated as of March 30, 2016 (the Indenture) among CONSTELLIUM N.V., a public company with limited liability (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands (the Issuer), the Guarantors party thereto and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee (the Trustee), (a) (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all Obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee) and the Securities, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any or interest or Special Interest on or in respect of the Securities and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Securities and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Securities and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Securities or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.02) and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
Exhibit A - 21
EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE]
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture) dated as of [ ], among [GUARANTOR] (the New Guarantor), a subsidiary of CONSTELLIUM N.V., (or its successor), a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands and with its corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (the Issuer) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS the Issuer and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Indenture) dated as of March 30, 2016, providing initially for the issuance of $425,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the Securities);
WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer are required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer and the existing Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term Holders in this Guarantee shall refer to the term Holders as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such Holders. The words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers Obligations under the Securities and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 12.03 of the Indenture.
Exhibit B - 1
4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture by manual, facsimile, pdf or other electronically transmitted signature. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.
Exhibit B - 2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
[NEW GUARANTOR] | ||
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: | ||
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | ||
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit B - 3
EXHIBIT C
[To Come]
Exhibit 4.27
Execution Version
PARITY LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
dated as of March 30, 2016
among
CONSTELLIUM N.V.,
the other Grantors from time to time party hereto,
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
as Trustee under the Indenture
and
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
as Collateral Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION |
1 | |||||
SECTION 1.1 |
Defined Terms |
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SECTION 1.2 |
Other Definition Provisions |
13 | ||||
ARTICLE 2. THE TRUST ESTATE |
14 | |||||
SECTION 2.1 |
Declaration of Trust |
14 | ||||
SECTION 2.2 |
Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably |
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ARTICLE 3. OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL AGENT |
15 | |||||
SECTION 3.1 |
Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Agent |
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SECTION 3.2 |
Release or Subordination of Liens |
17 | ||||
SECTION 3.3 |
Enforcement of Liens |
17 | ||||
SECTION 3.4 |
Application of Proceeds |
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SECTION 3.5 |
Powers of the Collateral Agent |
19 | ||||
SECTION 3.6 |
Documents and Communications |
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SECTION 3.7 |
For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of the Secured Parties |
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SECTION 3.8 |
Additional Parity Lien Obligations |
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ARTICLE 4. OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE ISSUER AND THE OTHER GRANTORS |
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SECTION 4.1 |
Release of Liens on Collateral |
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SECTION 4.2 |
Delivery of Copies to Authorized Representatives |
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SECTION 4.3 |
Collateral Agent not Required to Serve, File or Record |
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SECTION 4.4 |
Release of Liens in Respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt |
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ARTICLE 5. IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT |
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SECTION 5.1 |
No Implied Duty |
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SECTION 5.2 |
Appointment of Agents and Advisors |
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SECTION 5.3 |
Other Agreements |
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SECTION 5.4 |
Solicitation of Instructions |
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SECTION 5.5 |
Limitation of Liability |
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SECTION 5.6 |
Documents in Satisfactory Form |
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SECTION 5.7 |
Entitled to Rely |
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SECTION 5.8 |
Parity Lien Debt Default |
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SECTION 5.9 |
Actions by Collateral Agent |
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SECTION 5.10 |
Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Agent |
26 | ||||
SECTION 5.11 |
Rights of the Collateral Agent |
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SECTION 5.12 |
Limitations on Duty of Collateral Agent in Respect of Collateral |
26 | ||||
SECTION 5.13 |
Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties |
27 | ||||
SECTION 5.14 |
No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials |
27 | ||||
SECTION 5.15 |
Parallel Debt |
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ARTICLE 6. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT |
30 | |||||
SECTION 6.1 |
Resignation or Removal of Collateral Agent |
30 | ||||
SECTION 6.2 |
Appointment of Successor Collateral Agent |
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SECTION 6.3 |
Succession |
30 |
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SECTION 6.4 |
Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Agent |
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ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
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SECTION 7.1 |
Amendment |
31 | ||||
SECTION 7.2 |
Voting |
33 | ||||
SECTION 7.3 |
Further Assurances; Insurance |
33 | ||||
SECTION 7.4 |
Successors and Assigns |
34 | ||||
SECTION 7.5 |
Delay and Waiver |
34 | ||||
SECTION 7.6 |
Notices |
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SECTION 7.7 |
Notice Following Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations |
36 | ||||
SECTION 7.8 |
Entire Agreement |
36 | ||||
SECTION 7.9 |
Compensation; Expenses |
36 | ||||
SECTION 7.10 |
Indemnity |
37 | ||||
SECTION 7.11 |
Limitations Applicable to French Grantors |
38 | ||||
SECTION 7.12 |
Severability |
38 | ||||
SECTION 7.13 |
Section Headings |
38 | ||||
SECTION 7.14 |
Obligations Secured |
38 | ||||
SECTION 7.15 |
Governing Law |
38 | ||||
SECTION 7.16 |
Consent to Jurisdiction |
38 | ||||
SECTION 7.17 |
Waiver of Jury Trial |
39 | ||||
SECTION 7.18 |
Counterparts |
39 | ||||
SECTION 7.19 |
Grantors and Additional Grantors |
39 | ||||
SECTION 7.20 |
Continuing Nature of this Agreement |
39 | ||||
SECTION 7.21 |
Insolvency |
40 | ||||
SECTION 7.22 |
Rights and Immunities of Authorized Representatives |
40 | ||||
SECTION 7.23 |
Intercreditor Agreements |
40 | ||||
SECTION 7.24 |
Force Majeure |
40 | ||||
SECTION 7.25 |
U.S.A. Patriot Act |
40 |
EXHIBIT A Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation
EXHIBIT B Form of Intercreditor Joinder Additional Parity Lien Obligations
EXHIBIT C Form of Intercreditor Joinder Additional Grantor
ii
PARITY LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof, this Agreement ) dated as of March 30, 2016 among Constellium N.V., a Dutch naamloze vennootschap registered under number 34393663, with its statutory seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (the Issuer ), the other Grantors from time to time party hereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (as defined below), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Agent (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the Collateral Agent ).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Issuer has issued 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the Notes ) in an aggregate principal amount of $425,000,000 pursuant to an Indenture dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the Indenture ) among the Issuer, the other Grantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the Trustee ).
WHEREAS, the Issuer and the other Grantors intend to secure the Obligations under the Indenture, any future Parity Lien Debt (as defined below) and any other Parity Lien Obligations (as defined below) on a first-priority basis with Liens on all present and future Collateral to the extent that such Liens have been provided for in the applicable Security Documents and subject to certain exceptions and Permitted Prior Liens.
WHEREAS, this Agreement sets forth the terms on which each Secured Party has appointed the Collateral Agent to act as the Collateral Agent for the present and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to receive, hold, maintain, administer and distribute the Collateral at any time delivered to the Collateral Agent or the subject of the Security Documents, and to enforce the Security Documents and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Agent with respect thereto or thereunder and the proceeds thereof. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to them above or in Article 1 below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION
SECTION 1.1 Defined Terms . The following terms will have the following meanings:
ABL Agent means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, including its successors and assigns.
ABL Credit Agreement means the ABL Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2012, among Constellium Holdco II B.V., Constellium US Holdings I, LLC, Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC, the lenders from time to time party thereto and the ABL Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof.
ABL Intercreditor Agreement means the Intercreditor Agreement, to be entered on or after the Issue Date, among Constellium US Holdings I, LLC, Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC, the ABL Agent and the Collateral Agent, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.
Act of Required Secured Parties means, as to any matter at any time, a direction in writing delivered to the Collateral Agent by or with the written consent of the holders of (or the Authorized Representatives representing the holders of) more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Parity Lien Debt (including the face amount of outstanding letters of credit whether or not then available or drawn).
For purposes of this definition, (a) Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer will be deemed not to be outstanding and neither the Issuer nor any Affiliate of the Issuer will be entitled to vote such Parity Lien Debt and (b) votes will be determined in accordance with Section 7.2.
Additional Notes has the meaning assigned to the term Add-On Securities as set forth in the Indenture.
Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation means a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit A .
Additional Parity Lien Obligations has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b)(1).
Affiliate of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.
Affiliate Subordination Agreement means the Affiliate Subordination Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit C to the Indenture, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with its terms.
Agreement shall mean this Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.
Authorized Representative means (1) in the case of the Notes or any Additional Notes, the Trustee and (2) in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Parity Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Parity Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and who has executed an Intercreditor Joinder.
Bankruptcy Code means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled Bankruptcy, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.
Business Day means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City or London or Amsterdam.
2
Capitalized Lease Obligation means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with IFRS.
Capital Stock means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
Collateral means, in the case of each Series of Parity Lien Debt, all properties and assets of the Issuer and the other Grantors now owned or hereafter acquired in which Liens have been granted, or purported to be granted, or required to be granted, to the Collateral Agent to secure any or all of the Parity Lien Obligations, and shall exclude any properties and assets in which the Collateral Agent is required to release its Liens pursuant to Section 3.2; provided , that, if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition of any properties or assets of the Issuer or any other Grantor, such assets or properties will cease to be excluded from the Collateral if the Issuer or any other Grantor thereafter acquires or reacquires such assets or properties.
Collateral Agent has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Collateral Agent Obligations has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).
Contingent Obligations means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness ( primary obligations ) of any other Person (the primary obligor ) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:
(i) | to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, |
(ii) | to advance or supply funds: |
(a) | for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or |
(b) | to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or |
(iii) | to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof. |
Controlling Representative means the Authorized Representative that represents the Series of Parity Lien Debt with the then largest outstanding principal amount.
3
Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations means the occurrence of all of the following:
(1) with respect to each Series of Parity Lien Debt, either (x) payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Parity Lien Debt of such Series or (y) there has been a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents for such Series of Parity Lien Debt; and
(2) payment in full in cash of all other Parity Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Parity Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (or the cash collateralization of any such Obligations on terms satisfactory to the applicable holder thereof) (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at such time);
provided, however , that if, at any time after the Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations has occurred, the Issuer thereafter enters into any Parity Lien Document evidencing a Parity Lien Debt the incurrence of which is not prohibited by any applicable Parity Lien Document, then such Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Parity Lien Debt (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which the Issuer designates such Indebtedness as Parity Lien Debt in accordance with Section 3.8, the Obligations under such Parity Lien Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Parity Lien Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth herein.
Equity Interests means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
Factoring Facilities means the receivables purchase facilities granted to certain Subsidiaries of the Issuer pursuant to (a) the agreement dated as of December 3, 2015 between GE Factofrance S.A.S. as purchaser, Constellium Issoire S.A.S, Constellium Neuf Brisach S.A.S. and Constellium Extrusions France as sellers, Constellium Holdco II B.V. and Constellium Switzerland AG, (b) the agreement dated as of March 26, 2014 between GE Capital Bank AG as purchaser and Constellium Singen GmbH as seller, (c) the agreement dated as of December 16, 2010 between GE Capital Bank AG as purchaser and Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH as seller, (d) the agreement dated as of December 16, 2010 between GE Capital Bank AG as purchaser and Constellium Valais AG as seller and (e) the agreement dated as of June 26, 2015 between GE Capital Bank AG as purchaser and Constellium Extrusions Decin S.R.O. as seller, in each case, as such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original parties or otherwise), restructured, or otherwise modified from time to time.
Fair Market Value means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arms-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.
Foreign Subsidiary means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession.
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Grantor means each Person that at any time provides collateral security for any Parity Lien Obligations.
Guarantee means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, and pursuant to Section 5.15 ( Parallel Debt )), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations. The amount of any guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined in good faith by the Issuer. The term guarantee as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
Guarantee Limitations means, in respect of any Note Obligor and any payments it is required to make in its capacity as a guarantor or as the provider of an indemnity under this Agreement, the Indenture, the Parity Lien Documents or any other Security Documents, the limitations applicable to the obligations of such entity as set out in this Agreement, the Indenture, the Parity Lien Documents or any other Security Document (as applicable).
Hedging Obligations means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:
(i) | currency exchange, interest rate or commodity Swap Agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements; and |
(ii) | other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices. |
IFRS means International Financial Reporting Standards promulgated from time to time by the International Accounting Standards Board (or any successor board or agency, together the IASB ) and as adopted by the European Union and statements and pronouncements of the IASB or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time (other than with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations), it being understood that, for purposes of the Indenture, all references to codified accounting standards specifically named in the Indenture shall be deemed to include any successor, replacement, amended or updated accounting standard under IFRS; provided that, at any time after adoption of GAAP by the Issuer (or the relevant reporting entity) for its financial statements and reports for all financial reporting purposes, the Issuer (or the relevant reporting entity) may irrevocably elect to apply GAAP for all purposes of this Agreement, and, upon any such election, references in this Agreement to IFRS shall be construed to mean GAAP as in effect on the date of such election and thereafter from time to time; provided that (1) all financial statements and reports required to be provided after such election pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared on the basis of GAAP, (2) from and after such election, all ratios, computations, calculations and other determinations based on IFRS contained in this Agreement shall be computed in conformity with GAAP (other than with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations) with retroactive effect being given thereto assuming that such election had been made on the Issue Date and (3) all accounting terms and references in this Agreement to accounting standards shall be deemed to be references to the most comparable terms or standards under GAAP. The Issuer shall give written notice of any election to the Collateral Agent within 15 days of such election. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, any Grantor or reporting entity from adopting or changing its functional or reporting currency in accordance with IFRS, or GAAP, as applicable.
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Incur means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person (without duplication):
(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments (except any such obligation issued in the ordinary course of business with a maturity date of no more than six months in a transaction intended to extend payment terms of trade payables or similar obligations to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course of business) or letters of credit or bankers acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except (i) any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with IFRS and (iii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with IFRS;
(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the Indebtedness of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and
(3) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; or (4) obligations under or in respect of Factoring Facilities or Qualified Receivables Financings.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of International Accounting Standards No. 39 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under either Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under such Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness.
Indemnified Liabilities means any and all liabilities (including all environmental liabilities), obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, taxes, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, performance, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents, including any of the foregoing
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relating to the use of proceeds of any Parity Lien Debt or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any law (including environmental laws) applicable to or enforceable against the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Grantor or any of the Collateral and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee) incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with any claim, action, investigation or proceeding in any respect relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not suit is brought.
Indemnitee has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10(a).
Indenture has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding means:
(1) any voluntary or involuntary case commenced by or against the Issuer or any other Grantor under Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization, receivership, liquidation or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Issuer or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Issuer or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Issuer or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;
(2) any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Issuer or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency;
(3) any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Issuer or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims, or
(4) with respect to the Note Obligors organized under the laws of the Netherlands, any bankruptcy ( faillissement ), suspension of payments ( surseance van betaling ), provisional suspension of payments ( voorlopige surseance van betaling ), administration ( onderbewindstelling ), and dissolution ( ontbinding ).
Intercreditor Agreements means the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the PBGC Intercreditor Agreement and/or any other intercreditor agreement that is entered into in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
Intercreditor Joinder means (1) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to any Parity Lien Obligations, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B and (2) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to the addition of additional Grantors, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C .
Issue Date means the date on which the Notes are originally issued.
Issuer has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Investments means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of
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business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by IFRS to be classified on the balance sheet of the Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction); provided that in no event shall an operating lease or an option or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.
Modification has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(d)(1).
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
Mortgage has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(d)(1).
Mortgaged Property has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(d)(1).
Netherlands Deeds of Pledge of Shares means (i) the deed of pledge of shares in the capital of Constellium Holdco II B.V. between Constellium N.V. as pledgor and Collateral Agent as pledgee and (ii) the deed of pledge of shares in the capital of Constellium Holdco III B.V. between Constellium Holdco II B.V. as pledgor and Collateral Agent as pledgee.
Netherlands Pledge Agreements means (i) the Netherlands pledge agreement between the Issuer as pledgor and Collateral Agent as pledgee in respect of the pledgors bank account receivables and intra-group receivables and (ii) the Netherlands pledge agreement between Constellium Holdco II B.V. and Constellium Holdco III B.V. as pledgors and Collateral Agent as pledgee in respect of the pledgors bank account receivables and intra-group receivables.
Notes has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Note Obligor means each of the Issuer, each Grantor and any Person who becomes a party as a Grantor in accordance with the terms of Section 7.19.
Note Guarantee means any guarantee of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes by any Person in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
Note Guarantor means any Person that Incurs a Note Guarantee; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Note Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Note Guarantor under the Indenture.
Obligations means, all obligations (whether in existence on the date hereof or arising afterwards, absolute or contingent, direct or indirect) for or in respect of principal (when due, upon acceleration, upon redemption, upon mandatory repayment or repurchase pursuant to a mandatory offer to purchase, or otherwise), premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnification, reimbursement and other amounts payable and liabilities under any applicable Parity Lien Document, including all interest accrued or accruing after the commencement of any bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or similar case or proceeding at the contract rate (including, without limitation, any contract rate applicable upon default) specified in the relevant documentation, whether or not the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in such case or proceeding.
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Offering Memorandum means the offering memorandum relating to the offering of the Notes dated March 30, 2016.
Officers Certificate means a certificate with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Agreement, signed on behalf of the Issuer by two officers of the Issuer, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer, the secretary or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, including:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and
(c) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Parallel Debt has the meaning given to that term in clause (a) of Section 5.15.
Parity Lien Debt means:
(1) the Notes issued on the date of the Indenture;
(2) any other Indebtedness of the Issuer (including Additional Notes), that is secured equally and ratably with the Notes by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Parity Lien Document; provided , that:
(a) on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Issuer, such Indebtedness is designated by the Issuer as Parity Lien Debt for the purposes of the Indenture and this Agreement in an Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation executed and delivered in accordance with Section 3.8(a);
(b) unless such Indebtedness is issued under an existing Parity Lien Document for any Series of Parity Lien Debt whose Authorized Representative is already party to this Agreement, the Authorized Representative for such Indebtedness executes and delivers a Intercreditor Joinder in accordance with Section 3.8(b); and
(c) all other requirements set forth in Section 3.8 have been complied with.
Parity Lien Debt Default means any event or condition that, under the terms of any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing any Series of Parity Lien Debt causes, or permits holders of Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder (with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, and whether or not notice has been given or time has lapsed) to cause, the Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder to become immediately due and payable.
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Parity Lien Documents means, collectively, the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees and any other indenture, credit agreement or other agreement pursuant to which any Parity Lien Debt is incurred and the Security Documents.
Parity Lien means a Lien granted, or purported to be granted, by a Security Document to the Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property of the Issuer or any other Grantor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.
Parity Lien Obligations means the Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect of Parity Lien Debt, including without limitation any Post-Petition Interest whether or not allowable, and all guarantees and parallel debt of any of the foregoing. In addition to the foregoing, all Collateral Agent Obligations shall be deemed to constitute Parity Lien Obligations.
PBGC Intercreditor Agreement means the Intercreditor Agreement, to be entered into after the Issue Date, among the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the ABL Agent and the Collateral Agent, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.
Permitted Prior Lien means any Lien that has priority over the Lien of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties which Lien was permitted under each Parity Lien Document.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
Post-Petition Interest means interest, fees, expenses and other charges that pursuant to the Parity Lien Documents continue to accrue after the commencement of any Insolvency of Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not such interest, fees, expenses and other charges are allowed or allowable under the Bankruptcy Code or in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.
Qualified Receivables Financing means (i) the Receivables Financing pursuant to the Factoring Facilities (including any increase in the amount thereof); and (ii) any Receivables Financing that meets the following conditions: (a) the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer or, as the case may be, the Subsidiary in question; (b) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets are made at Fair Market Value; and (c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and may include Standard Undertakings and provided that in the case of Receivables Financings under clause (ii), such Receivables Financings shall have no greater recourse in any material respect to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries than the recourse to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Factoring Facilities.
Reaffirmation Agreement means an agreement reaffirming the security interests granted to the Collateral Agent in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement
Receivables Financing means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by any of the Issuers Subsidiaries pursuant to which such Subsidiary may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to any other Person, or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of such Subsidiary, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets, in each case, which are customarily transferred in or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions or factoring transactions involving accounts receivable.
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Receivables Repurchase Obligation means any obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take any action by or any other event relating to the seller.
Receivables Subsidiary means a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Qualified Receivables Financing with the Issuer in which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer makes an Investment and to which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Issuer as a Receivables Subsidiary and:
(A) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer in any way other than pursuant to Standard Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Undertakings;
(B) with which neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary of the Issuer has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Issuer reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Issuer; and
(C) to which neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary of the Issuer has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entitys financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.
Restricted Subsidiary has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
Secured Parties means the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, each Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent.
Security Documents means this Agreement, the US Collateral Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreements, the Affiliate Subordination Agreement, the Mortgages, each Intercreditor Joinder, each Netherlands Deed of Pledge of Shares, each Netherlands Pledge Agreement and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, security trust agreements, pledge agreements, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, joinders
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or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Issuer or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent as trustee and/or as creditor under a parallel debt structure, for the benefit of any of the Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section 7.1.
Series of Parity Lien Debt means, severally, the Notes and each other issue or series of Parity Lien Debt. For the avoidance of doubt, all reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit issued pursuant to a Parity Lien Document shall be part of the same Series of Parity Lien Debt as all other Parity Lien Debt incurred pursuant to such Parity Lien Document.
Standard Undertakings means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer that are determined by the Issuer in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing, including, without limitation, those relating to the servicing of assets of a Subsidiary, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Undertaking.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, and (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.
Swap Agreements means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.
Swiss Security Documents has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(i).
Title Datedown Product has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(d)(3).
Trustee has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Trust Estate has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided, however , that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, priority or remedies.
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Unrestricted Subsidiary has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
US Collateral Agreement means the US Collateral Agreement, to be entered into on or after the Issue Date, among Constellium Holdco III B.V., Constellium US Holdings I, LLC, Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC, each of its subsidiaries party thereto from time to time and the Collateral Agent, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplement or otherwise modified from time to time.
US Grantors means (i) Constellium US Holdings I, LLC, (ii) Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC and (iii) any other Grantor organized under the laws of a state in the United States party to the US Collateral Agreement and/or ABL Security Agreement from time to time.
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors qualifying shares or shares required to be held by Foreign Subsidiaries) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
SECTION 1.2 Other Definition Provisions .
(a) The words hereof, herein, hereto and hereunder and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, Schedule, Exhibit and Annex references, are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. References to any Schedule, Exhibit or Annex shall mean such Schedule, Exhibit or Annex as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
(b) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.
(c) The expressions payment in full, paid in full and any other similar terms or phrases when used herein shall mean payment in cash in immediately available funds.
(d) The use herein of the word include or including, when following any general statement, term or matter, shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as without limitation or but not limited to or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.
(e) All references herein to provisions of the UCC shall include all successor provisions under any subsequent version or amendment to any Article of the UCC.
(f) All terms used in this Agreement that are defined in Article 9 of the UCC and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in Article 9 of the UCC.
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(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any references contained herein to any section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision of the Indenture (including any definition contained therein) shall be deemed to be a reference to such section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided , that any reference to any such section, clause, paragraph or other provision shall refer to such section, clause, paragraph or other provision of the Indenture (including any definition contained therein) as amended or modified from time to time if such amendment or modification has been (1) made in accordance with the Indenture and (2) approved in a writing delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent by, or on behalf of, the requisite Secured Parties as are needed (if any) under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents to approve such amendment or modification. Unless otherwise set forth herein, references to principal amount shall include, without duplication, any reimbursement obligations with respect to a letter of credit and the face amount thereof (whether or not such amount is, at the time of determination, drawn or available to be drawn).
(h) This Agreement and the other Security Documents will be construed without regard to the identity of the party who drafted it and as though the parties participated equally in drafting it. Consequently, each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting party will not be applicable either to this Agreement or the other Security Documents.
(i) In the event of any conflict between any terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement and those set forth in any other Security Document (other than the Intercreditor Agreements), the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall supersede and control the terms and provisions of such other Security Document (other than the Intercreditor Agreements). Solely with respect to Collateral subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, in the event of any conflict between any terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement and those set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the terms and provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement shall supersede and control the terms and provisions of this Agreement with respect to such Collateral. Solely with respect to Collateral subject to the PBGC Intercreditor Agreement, in the event of any conflict between any terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement and those set forth in the PBGC Intercreditor Agreement, the terms and provisions of the PBGC Intercreditor Agreement shall supersede and control the terms and provisions of this Agreement with respect to such Collateral.
ARTICLE 2.
THE TRUST ESTATE
SECTION 2.1 Declaration of Trust . To secure the payment of the Parity Lien Obligations and in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements set forth in this Agreement, each of the Grantors hereby confirms the grant to the Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, and the Collateral Agent hereby accepts and agrees to hold, in trust as trustee (or, in the case of any jurisdiction in which effective Liens cannot be granted in favor of the Collateral Agent as trustee for the Secured Parties, under a parallel debt structure as set forth under Section 5.15) under this Agreement for the benefit of all current and future Secured Parties, all of such Grantors right, title and interest in, to and under all Collateral, now or hereafter granted to the Collateral Agent under any Security Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, together with all of the Collateral Agents right, title and interest in, to and under the Security Documents, and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Agent thereunder or in respect thereof and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof (collectively, the Trust Estate ).
The Collateral Agent and its successors and assigns under this Agreement will hold the Trust Estate in trust for the benefit solely and exclusively of all current and future Secured Parties as security for the payment of all present and future Parity Lien Obligations.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time:
(1) all Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations have been released as provided in Section 4.1;
(2) the Collateral Agent holds no other property in trust as part of the Trust Estate;
(3) no monetary obligation (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations not then due and payable) is outstanding and payable under this Agreement to the Collateral Agent or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity); and
(4) the Issuer delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officers Certificate stating that all Parity Liens of the Collateral Agent have been released in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Parity Lien Documents and that the Grantors are not required by any Parity Lien Document to grant any Parity Lien upon any property,
then the trust arising hereunder will terminate (subject to any reinstatement pursuant to 7.20 hereof), except that all provisions set forth in Sections 7.9 and 7.10 that are enforceable by the Collateral Agent or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity) will remain enforceable in accordance with their terms.
The parties further declare and covenant that the Trust Estate will be held and distributed by the Collateral Agent subject to the further agreements herein.
SECTION 2.2 Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably . The parties to this Agreement agree that the payment and satisfaction of all of the Parity Lien Obligations will be secured equally and ratably by the Liens established in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, notwithstanding the time of incurrence of any Parity Lien Obligations or the date, time, method or order of grant, attachment or perfection of any Liens securing such Parity Lien Obligations and notwithstanding any provision of the UCC, the time of incurrence of any Series of Parity Lien Debt or the time of incurrence of any other Parity Lien Obligation, or any other applicable law or any defect or deficiencies in, or failure to perfect or lapse in perfection of, or avoidance as a fraudulent conveyance or otherwise of, the Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations, the subordination of such Liens to any other Liens, or any other circumstance whatsoever, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced against the Issuer or any other Grantor, it is the intent of the parties that, and the parties hereto agree for themselves and the Secured Parties represented by them that, all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Issuer or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of all Secured Parties equally and ratably; provided, however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision will not be violated with respect to any particular Collateral and any particular Series of Parity Lien Debt if the Parity Lien Documents in respect thereof prohibit the applicable Authorized Representative from accepting the benefit of a Lien on any particular asset or property or such Authorized Representative otherwise expressly declines in writing to accept the benefit of a Lien on such asset or property;
ARTICLE 3.
OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL AGENT
SECTION 3.1 Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Agent .
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(a) Each Secured Party acting through its respective Authorized Representative and/or by its acceptance of the benefits of the Security Documents hereby appoints the Collateral Agent to serve as Collateral Agent hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Subject to, and in accordance with, this Agreement, the Collateral Agent will, as Collateral Agent, for the benefit solely and exclusively of the present and future Secured Parties (or under any Parallel Debt, in its own name as set forth under Section 5.15), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement:
(1) accept, enter into, hold, maintain, administer and enforce all Security Documents, including all Collateral subject thereto, and all Liens created thereunder, perform its obligations hereunder and under the Security Documents and protect, exercise and enforce the interests, rights, powers and remedies granted or available to it under, pursuant to or in connection with the Security Documents;
(2) take all lawful and commercially reasonable actions permitted under the Security Documents that it may deem necessary or advisable to protect or preserve its interest in the Collateral subject thereto and such interests, rights, powers and remedies;
(3) deliver and receive notices pursuant to this Agreement and the Security Documents;
(4) sell, assign, collect, assemble, foreclose on, institute legal proceedings with respect to, or otherwise exercise or enforce the rights and remedies of a secured party (including a mortgagee, trust deed beneficiary and insurance beneficiary or loss payee) with respect to the Collateral, or otherwise realize on the Collateral, under and, in each case, subject to, the Security Documents and its other interests, rights, powers and remedies;
(5) remit as provided in Section 3.4 all cash proceeds received by the Collateral Agent from the collection, foreclosure or enforcement of its interest in the Collateral under the Security Documents or any of its other interests, rights, powers or remedies;
(6) execute and deliver (i) amendments and supplements to the Security Documents as from time to time authorized pursuant to Section 7.1 (but only upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of an Officers Certificate to the effect that the amendment or supplement was permitted under Section 7.1) and (ii) acknowledgements of Intercreditor Joinders delivered pursuant to Section 3.8 or 7.19 hereof;
(7) release any Lien granted to it by any Security Document upon any Collateral if and as required by Section 3.2 or Article 4; and
(8) enter into and perform its obligations and protect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Intercreditor Agreements.
(b) Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and consents to the undertaking of the Collateral Agent set forth in Section 3.1(a) and agrees to each of the other provisions of this Agreement applicable to the Collateral Agent.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Collateral Agent will not commence any exercise of remedies or any foreclosure actions or otherwise take any action or proceeding against any of the Collateral (other than actions as necessary to prove, protect or preserve the Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations) unless and until it shall have been directed in writing by an Act of Required Secured Parties and then only in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
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(d) Act or decline to act in connection with any enforcement of Liens as provided in Section 3.3.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the Issuer nor any of its Affiliates may serve as Collateral Agent.
SECTION 3.2 Release or Subordination of Liens . The Collateral Agent will not release or subordinate any Lien of the Collateral Agent or consent to the release or subordination of any Lien of the Collateral Agent, except:
(a) as directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties (but only upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of an Officers Certificate to the effect that the release or subordination was permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document);
(b) as required by the Intercreditor Agreements;
(c) as required by Article 4; or
(d) as ordered pursuant to applicable law under a final and nonappealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 3.3 Enforcement of Liens . If the Collateral Agent at any time receives written notice that any event of default shall have occurred and be continuing under the Indenture or any other Parity Lien Document entitling the Collateral Agent to foreclose upon, collect or otherwise enforce its Liens under the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent will promptly deliver written notice thereof to each Authorized Representative. Thereafter, the Collateral Agent shall await direction by an Act of Required Secured Parties and will act, or decline to act, as directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties, in the exercise and enforcement of the Collateral Agents interests, rights, powers and remedies in respect of the Collateral or under the Security Documents or applicable law and, following the initiation of such exercise of remedies, the Collateral Agent will act, or decline to act, with respect to the manner of such exercise of remedies as directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties, subject in all cases to the limitations set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements. Unless it has been directed to the contrary by an Act of Required Secured Parties, the Collateral Agent in any event may (but will not be obligated to) take or refrain from taking such action with respect to any default under any Parity Lien Document as it may deem advisable and in the best interest of the Secured Parties, subject in all cases to the limitations set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements.
SECTION 3.4 Application of Proceeds .
(a) Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements, upon the exercise and enforcement of the Collateral Agents interests, rights, powers and remedies in respect of the Collateral or under the Security Documents or applicable law, the Collateral Agent will apply the proceeds of any collection, sale by the Collateral Agent, foreclosure or other realization by the Collateral Agent upon, or exercise of any right or remedy with respect to, any Collateral and the proceeds thereof, and the proceeds of any title insurance or other insurance policy required under any Parity Lien Document or otherwise covering the Collateral in the following order of application:
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FIRST, to the payment of all amounts payable under this Agreement on account of the Collateral Agents fees and any reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Collateral Agent or any co-trustee or agent of the Collateral Agent in connection with any Security Document (including, but not limited to, indemnification obligations that are then due and payable) (collectively, the Collateral Agent Obligations );
SECOND, to the repayment of obligations, other than the Parity Lien Obligations, secured by a Permitted Prior Lien on the Collateral sold or realized upon to the extent that such other Lien has priority over the Parity Liens (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or in any other judicial or similar proceeding) but only if such obligation is discharged (in whole or in part) in connection with such sale (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or in any other judicial or similar proceeding);
THIRD, to the respective Authorized Representatives, on a pro rata basis for each Series of Parity Lien Debt, for application to the payment of all such outstanding Parity Lien Debt and any such other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable and so secured (for application in such order as may be provided in the Parity Lien Documents applicable to the respective Parity Lien Obligations) in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable (including all interest and fees accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Parity Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding, and including the discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Parity Lien Debt);
FOURTH, any surplus remaining after the payment in full in cash of amounts described in the preceding clauses will be paid to the Issuer or the applicable Grantor, as the case may be, its successors or assigns, or to such other Persons as may be entitled to such amounts under applicable law or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Series of Parity Lien Debt has released its Lien on any Collateral as described below in Section 4.4, then such Series of Parity Lien Debt and any related Parity Lien Obligations of that Series thereafter shall not be entitled to share in the proceeds of any Collateral so released by that Series.
(b) This Section 3.4 is intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each present and future Authorized Representative and the Collateral Agent as holder of Parity Liens. The Authorized Representative of each future Series of Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver a Intercreditor Joinder including a lien sharing and priority confirmation as provided in Section 3.8 at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.
(c) In connection with the application of proceeds pursuant to Section 3.4(a), as directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties, the Collateral Agent may sell any non-cash proceeds for cash prior to the application of the proceeds thereof.
(d) In making the determinations and allocations in accordance with Section 3.4(a), the Collateral Agent may conclusively rely upon information supplied by the relevant Authorized Representative, as to the amounts of unpaid principal and interest and other amounts outstanding with respect to its respective Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations.
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SECTION 3.5 Powers of the Collateral Agent .
(a) The Collateral Agent is irrevocably authorized and empowered to enter into and perform its obligations and protect, perfect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Security Documents and applicable law and in equity and to act as set forth in this Article 3 or, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, as requested in any lawful directions given to it from time to time in respect of any matter by an Act of Required Secured Parties.
(b) No Authorized Representative or Secured Party (other than the Collateral Agent) will have any liability whatsoever for any act or omission of the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 3.6 Documents and Communications . The Collateral Agent will permit each Authorized Representative and each Secured Party upon reasonable written notice from time to time to inspect and copy, at the cost and expense of the party requesting such copies, any and all Security Documents and other documents, notices, certificates, instructions or communications received by the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such.
SECTION 3.7 For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of the Secured Parties . The Collateral Agent will accept, hold, administer and enforce all Liens on the Collateral at any time transferred or delivered to it and all other interests, rights, powers and remedies at any time granted to or enforceable by the Collateral Agent and all other property of the Trust Estates solely and exclusively for the benefit of the present and future holders of present and future Parity Lien Obligations, and will distribute all proceeds received by it in realization thereon or from enforcement thereof solely and exclusively pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.4.
SECTION 3.8 Additional Parity Lien Obligations .
(a) The Collateral Agent will, as Collateral Agent hereunder, perform its undertakings set forth in this Agreement with respect to any Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred after the date hereof if:
(1) such Parity Lien Debt is identified as Parity Lien Debt in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.8(b); and
(2) unless such Indebtedness is issued under an existing Parity Lien Document for any Series of Parity Lien Debt whose Authorized Representative is already party to this Agreement, the designated Authorized Representative identified pursuant to Section 3.8(b) signs a Intercreditor Joinder and delivers the same to the Collateral Agent.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the incurrence of revolving credit obligations under commitments that have previously been designated as Parity Lien Debt and (y) the issuance of letters of credit and incurrence of reimbursement obligations in respect thereof under commitments that have previously been designated as Parity Lien Debt, shall automatically constitute Parity Lien Debt and shall not require compliance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.8(b).
(b) The Issuer will be permitted to designate as Parity Lien Debt hereunder any Indebtedness that is incurred by the Issuer or any other Grantor after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents. The Issuer may only effect such designation by delivering to the Collateral Agent an Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation that:
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(1) states that the Issuer or such other Grantor intends to incur, or has incurred, additional Parity Lien Debt ( Additional Parity Lien Obligations ) which will be (as specified in such Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation) Parity Lien Debt, not prohibited by any Parity Lien Document to be incurred and secured by a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all other Parity Lien Debt;
(2) specifies the name and address of the Authorized Representative for such Parity Lien Obligations for purposes of this Agreement including Section 7.6;
(3) states that the Issuer and each other Grantor party thereto has duly authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded (or caused to be recorded) in each appropriate governmental office all relevant filings and recordations to ensure that the Additional Parity Lien Obligations are secured by the Collateral in accordance with the Parity Lien Documents;
(4) attaches as Exhibit 1 to such Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation a Reaffirmation Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement, which Reaffirmation Agreement has been duly executed by the Issuer and each other Grantor; and
(5) states that the Issuer has caused a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation and the related Intercreditor Joinder to be delivered to each then existing Authorized Representative.
Although the Issuer shall be required to deliver a copy of each Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation and each Intercreditor Joinder to each then existing Authorized Representative, the failure to so deliver a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation and/or Intercreditor Joinder to any then-existing Authorized Representative shall not affect the status of such debt as Additional Parity Lien Obligations if the other requirements of this Section 3.8 are complied with. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow the Issuer or any other Grantor to incur additional Indebtedness or Liens if prohibited by the terms of any Parity Lien Documents.
(c) With respect to any Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred after the date hereof, Issuer and each of the other Grantors agrees to take such actions (if any) as may from time to time reasonably be requested by the Collateral Agent, any Authorized Representative or any Act of Required Secured Parties, and enter into such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements to the then existing Guarantees and Security Documents (or execute and deliver such additional Security Documents) as may from time to time be reasonably requested by such Persons (including as contemplated by clause (d) below), to ensure that the Additional Parity Lien Obligations are secured by, and entitled to the benefits of, the relevant Security Documents, and each Secured Party (by its acceptance of the benefits hereof) hereby agrees to, and authorizes the Collateral Agent to enter into, any such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements (and additional Security Documents). Issuer and each Grantor hereby further agree that, if there are any recording, filing or other similar fees payable in connection with any of the actions to be taken pursuant to this Section 3.8(c) or Section 3.8(d), all such amounts shall be paid by, and shall be for the account of, Issuer and the respective Grantors, on a joint and several basis (subject to Section 7.11).
(d) Without limitation of the foregoing, Issuer and each of the other Grantors agrees to take the following actions with respect to any real property Collateral located in the United States securing all
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Additional Parity Lien Obligations within 75 days of the later of the delivery of the Additional Parity Lien Obligations Designation and the acquisition of such real property Collateral located in the United States (provided, that, to the extent the following actions are not completed within such 75 day period the Issuer and each other Grantor agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions until such time, if any, as the Issuer determines that any further efforts to take any such action would be commercially futile, as evidenced by an Officers Certificate to that effect delivered to the Collateral Agent):
(1) Issuer and the other applicable Grantors shall enter into, and deliver to the Collateral Agent a mortgage modification (each such modification, a Modification ) or new mortgage or deed of trust with regard to each real property subject to a mortgage or deed of trust (each such mortgage or deed of trust a Mortgage , and each such property a Mortgaged Property ), with such changes as may be required to account for local law matters, at the time of such incurrence, in proper form for recording in all applicable jurisdictions, in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Controlling Representative and the Issuer and such other Grantors are jointly and severally liable (subject to Section 7.11) to pay all filing and recording fees and taxes, documentary stamp taxes and other taxes, charges and fees, if any, necessary for filing or recording in the recording office of each jurisdiction where such real property to be encumbered thereby is situated;
(2) Issuer or the applicable Grantor will cause to be delivered a local counsel opinion with respect to each such Mortgaged Property in form and substance, and issued by law firms, in each case, reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Controlling Representative;
(3) Issuer or the applicable Grantor will cause a title company reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent and the Controlling Representative to have delivered to the Collateral Agent a title insurance policy, date down(s), title endorsement or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Controlling Representative (which may include a new title insurance policy) (each such delivery, a Title Datedown Product ), in each case insuring that (i) the validity, enforceability and priority of the Liens of the applicable Mortgage(s) as security for the Parity Lien Obligations (after including such Additional Parity Lien Obligations) has not changed and, if a new Mortgage is entered into, that the Lien of such new Mortgage securing the Parity Lien Debt then being incurred shall be enforceable and have the same priority as any existing Mortgage securing then existing Parity Lien Obligations, (ii) confirming and/or insuring that since the later of the original date of such title insurance product and the date of the Title Datedown Product delivered most recently prior to (and not in connection with) such Additional Parity Lien Obligations, there has been no change in the condition of title and (iii) there are no intervening liens or encumbrances which may then or thereafter take priority over the Lien of the applicable Mortgage(s), in the case of each of the foregoing subclauses (i), (ii), and (iii), other than with respect to Liens permitted by each Parity Lien Document (without adding any additional exclusions or exceptions to coverage, other than Liens permitted under the Parity Lien Documents)); and
(4) the applicable Grantor shall deliver to the approved title company, the Collateral Agent and/or all other relevant third parties all other items reasonably necessary to record each such Mortgage and Modification, to issue a Title Datedown Product and to create, perfect or preserve the validity, enforceability and priority of the Lien of the mortgage(s) as set forth above and contemplated hereby and by the Parity Lien Documents.
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ARTICLE 4.
OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE ISSUER
AND THE OTHER GRANTORS
SECTION 4.1 Release of Liens on Collateral .
(a) The Collateral Agents Liens upon the Collateral will be released in any of the following circumstances:
(1) in whole, upon (A) payment in full and discharge of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable at the time all of the Parity Lien Debt is paid in full and discharged and (B) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit under all Parity Lien Documents and the cancellation or termination, cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) of all outstanding letters of credit issued pursuant to any Parity Lien Documents or, solely to the extent if any agreed to by the issuer of any outstanding letter of credit issued pursuant to any Parity Lien Document, the issuance of a back to back letter of credit in favor of the issuer of any such outstanding letter of credit in an amount equal to such outstanding letter of credit and issued by a financial institution acceptable to such issuer;
(2) as to any Collateral that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Issuer or any other Grantor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Issuer or another Note Obligor in a transaction or other circumstance that is permitted by Section 4.06 of the Indenture, if any, and is permitted by all of the other Parity Lien Documents, at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided , that the Collateral Agents Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or disposition is to a Person who succeeds to, and is substituted for, the Issuer or any other Note Obligor under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to the provisions in the Indenture governing Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets;
(3) as to a release of less than all or substantially all of the Collateral (other than pursuant to clause (2) above), if directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties (but only upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of an Officers Certificate to the effect that the release was permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Debt Document); provided, that this clause (3) shall not apply to (i) Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations upon payment in full thereof or (ii) sales or dispositions to a Person or a Subsidiary of a Person who succeeds to, and is substituted for, the Issuer or any other Note Obligor under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to the provisions in the Indenture governing Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets;
(4) as to a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral (other than pursuant to clause (1) above), if (A) consent to release of that Collateral has been given by the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Documents and (B) the Issuer has delivered an Officers Certificate to the Collateral Agent certifying that any such necessary consents have been obtained;
(5) if any Grantor (i) ceases to be a Note Guarantor (including as a result of being designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or ceasing to be a Subsidiary) (ii) is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of to a Person that is not the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) is released from its obligations under each of the Security Documents, then the Liens on such Collateral and the obligations of such Grantor under its Guarantee of the Parity Lien Obligations, shall be automatically, unconditionally and simultaneously released; and
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(6) if and to the extent required under the Intercreditor Agreements.
(b) The Collateral Agent agrees for the benefit of the Issuer and the other Grantors that if the Collateral Agent at any time receives an Officers Certificate stating that (A) the signing officer has read Article 4 of this Agreement and understands the provisions and the definitions relating hereto, (B) such officer has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent in this Agreement and all other Parity Lien Documents, if any, relating to the release of the Collateral have been complied with and (C) in the opinion of such officer, such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, then the Collateral Agent will execute (with such acknowledgements and/or notarizations as are required) and deliver such release to the Issuer or other applicable Grantor on or before the later of (x) the date specified in such request for such release and (y) the fifth Business Day after the date of receipt of the items required by this Section 4.1(b) by the Collateral Agent.
(c) The Collateral Agent hereby agrees that:
(1) in the case of any release pursuant to clause (2) of Section 4.1(a), if the terms of any such sale, transfer or other disposition require the payment of the purchase price to be contemporaneous with the delivery of the applicable release, then, at the written request of and at the expense of the Issuer or other applicable Grantor, the Collateral Agent will either (A) be present at and deliver the release at the closing of such transaction or (B) deliver the release under customary escrow arrangements that permit such contemporaneous payment and delivery of the release; and
(2) at any time when a Parity Lien Debt Default under a Series of Parity Lien Debt has occurred and is continuing, within one Business Day of the receipt by it of any Act of Required Secured Parties pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(3), the Collateral Agent will deliver a copy of such Act of Required Secured Parties to each Authorized Representative.
(d) Each Authorized Representative hereby agrees that within one Business Day of the receipt by it of any notice from the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 4.1(c)(2), such Authorized Representative will deliver a copy of such notice to each registered holder of the Series of Parity Lien Debt for which it acts as Authorized Representative.
SECTION 4.2 Delivery of Copies to Authorized Representatives . The Issuer will deliver to each Authorized Representative a copy of each Officers Certificate delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 4.1(b), together with copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Agent with such Officers Certificate. The Authorized Representatives will not be obligated to take notice thereof or to act thereon, subject to Section 4.1(d).
SECTION 4.3 Collateral Agent not Required to Serve, File or Record . The Collateral Agent is not required to serve, file, register or record any instrument releasing or subordinating its Liens on any Collateral; provided, however , that if the Issuer or any other Grantor shall make a written demand for a termination statement under Section 9-513(c) of the UCC, the Collateral Agent shall comply with the written request of such Issuer or Grantor to comply with the requirements of such UCC provision; provided , further, that the Collateral Agent must first confirm with the Authorized Representatives that the requirements of such UCC provisions have been satisfied.
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SECTION 4.4 Release of Liens in Respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt .
(a) Release of Liens in Respect of the Notes. In addition to any release pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof, the Collateral Agents Liens will no longer secure the Notes outstanding under the Indenture or any other Obligations under the Indenture, and the right of the holders of the Notes and such Obligations to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Agents Lien on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged:
(1) upon satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture as set forth under Article 8 of the Indenture;
(2) upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance (each as defined under the Indenture) of the Notes as set forth under Article 8 of the Indenture;
(3) upon payment in full and discharge of all Notes outstanding under the Indenture and all Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under the Indenture at the time the Notes are paid in full and discharged; or
(4) in whole or in part, with the consent of the holders of the requisite percentage of Notes in accordance with Section 9.02 of the Indenture.
(b) Release of Liens in Respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes. In addition to any release pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof, as to any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes, the Collateral Agents Lien will no longer secure such Series of Parity Lien Debt if the requirements of a Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations are satisfied with respect to such Series of Parity Lien Debt and all Parity Lien Obligations related thereto that are outstanding and unpaid at the time such Series of Parity Lien Debt is paid are also paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at such time) and the Collateral Agent receives an Officers Certificate to that effect.
ARTICLE 5.
IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT
SECTION 5.1 No Implied Duty . The Collateral Agent will not have any fiduciary duties nor will it have responsibilities or obligations other than those expressly assumed by it in this Agreement and the other Security Documents. The Collateral Agent will not be required to take any action that is contrary to applicable law or any provision of this Agreement or the other Security Documents.
SECTION 5.2 Appointment of Agents and Advisors . The Collateral Agent may execute any of the powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys, accountants, appraisers or other experts or advisors selected by it in good faith as it may reasonably require and will not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any of them.
SECTION 5.3 Other Agreements . The Collateral Agent has accepted its appointment as Collateral Agent hereunder and is bound by the Security Documents executed by the Collateral Agent as of the date of this Agreement and, as directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties or otherwise provided in the Indenture or this Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall execute additional Security Documents delivered to it after the date of this Agreement; provided, however , that such additional Security Documents do not adversely affect the rights, privileges, benefits and immunities of the
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Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent will not otherwise be bound by, or be held obligated by, the provisions of any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing Parity Lien Debt (other than this Agreement and the other Security Documents to which it is a party).
SECTION 5.4 Solicitation of Instructions .
(a) The Collateral Agent may at any time solicit written confirmatory instructions, in the form of an Act of Required Secured Parties, an Officers Certificate or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, as to any action that it may be requested or required to take, or that it may propose to take, in the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Security Documents and may refrain from taking action until such instruction or court order are received by it.
(b) No written direction given to the Collateral Agent by an Act of Required Secured Parties that in the sole judgment of the Collateral Agent imposes, purports to impose or might reasonably be expected to impose upon the Collateral Agent any obligation or liability not set forth in or arising under this Agreement and the other Security Documents will be binding upon the Collateral Agent unless the Collateral Agent elects, at its sole option, to accept such direction.
SECTION 5.5 Limitation of Liability . The Collateral Agent will not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other Security Document, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 5.6 Documents in Satisfactory Form . The Collateral Agent will be entitled to require that all agreements, certificates, opinions, instruments and other documents at any time submitted to it, including those expressly provided for in this Agreement, be delivered to it in a form and with substantive provisions reasonably satisfactory to it.
SECTION 5.7 Entitled to Rely . The Collateral Agent may seek and conclusively rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any judicial order or judgment, upon any advice, opinion or statement of legal counsel, independent consultants and other experts selected by it in good faith and upon any certification, instruction, notice or other writing delivered to it by the Issuer or any other Grantor in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement or delivered to it by any Authorized Representative as to the Secured Parties for whom it acts, without being required to determine the authenticity thereof or the correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity of service thereof. The Collateral Agent may act in reliance upon any instrument comporting with the provisions of this Agreement or any signature reasonably believed by it to be genuine and may assume that any Person purporting to give notice or receipt or advice or make any statement or execute any document in connection with the provisions hereof or the other Security Documents has been duly authorized to do so. To the extent an Officers Certificate or opinion of counsel is required or permitted under this Agreement to be delivered to the Collateral Agent in respect of any matter, the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on such Officers Certificate or opinion of counsel as to such matter and such Officers Certificate or opinion of counsel shall be full warranty and protection to the Collateral Agent for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Security Documents.
SECTION 5.8 Parity Lien Debt Default . The Collateral Agent will not be required to inquire as to the occurrence or absence of any Parity Lien Debt Default and will not be affected by or required to act upon any notice or knowledge as to the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default unless and until it is directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties.
SECTION 5.9 Actions by Collateral Agent . As to any matter not expressly provided for by this Agreement or the other Security Documents, the Collateral Agent will act or refrain from acting as directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties and will be fully protected if it does so, and any action taken, suffered or omitted pursuant to hereto or thereto shall be binding on the Secured Parties.
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SECTION 5.10 Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Agent . The Collateral Agent will not be required to advance or expend any funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers or rights hereunder unless it has been provided with security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any and all liability or expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take such action.
SECTION 5.11 Rights of the Collateral Agent . In the event of any conflict between any terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement and those set forth in any other Security Document, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall supersede and control the terms and provisions of such other Security Document. In the event there is any bona fide, good faith disagreement between the other parties to this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents resulting in adverse claims being made in connection with Collateral held by the Collateral Agent and the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents do not unambiguously mandate the action the Collateral Agent is to take or not to take in connection therewith under the circumstances then existing, or the Collateral Agent is in doubt as to what action it is required to take or not to take hereunder or under the other Security Documents, it will be entitled to refrain from taking any action (and will incur no liability for doing so) until directed otherwise in writing by a request signed jointly by the parties hereto entitled to give such direction or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 5.12 Limitations on Duty of Collateral Agent in Respect of Collateral .
(a) Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of Collateral in its possession, the Collateral Agent will have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Collateral Agent will not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any Liens on the Collateral; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Agent will execute, file or record, UCC-3 continuation statements and other documents and instruments to preserve, protect or perfect the security interests granted to the Collateral Agent (subject to the priorities set forth herein) if it shall receive a specific written request to execute, file or record the particular continuation statement or other specific document or instrument by any Authorized Representative. The Collateral Agent shall deliver to each other Authorized Representative a copy of any such written request. The Collateral Agent will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and the Collateral Agent will not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph 5.12(a), the Collateral Agent will not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, except to the extent such action or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Collateral Agent, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of any Grantor to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral. The Collateral Agent hereby disclaims any representation or warranty to the current and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations concerning the perfection of the security interests granted to it or in the value of any Collateral.
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SECTION 5.13 Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein:
(1) each of the parties thereto will remain liable under each of the Security Documents (other than this Agreement) to the extent set forth therein to perform all of their respective duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not be executed;
(2) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights, remedies or powers hereunder will not release such parties from any of their respective duties or obligations under the other Security Documents; and
(3) the Collateral Agent will not be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of any of the parties to the Security Documents other than the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 5.14 No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials . In the event that the Collateral Agent is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Agents sole discretion may cause the Collateral Agent to be considered an owner or operator under any environmental laws or otherwise cause the Collateral Agent to incur, or be exposed to, any environmental liability or any liability under any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Agent reserves the right, instead of taking such action, either to resign as Collateral Agent or to arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court appointed receiver. The Collateral Agent will not be liable to any Person for any environmental liability or any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Agents actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to any kind of discharge or release or threatened discharge or release of any hazardous materials into the environment.
SECTION 5.15 Parallel Debt .
(a) Subject to the Guarantee Limitations, notwithstanding any other provision of any other Security Document, each Note Obligor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes (where applicable, by way of an abstract acknowledgement of debt (abstraktes Schuldanerkenntnis)) to pay to the Collateral Agent amounts equal to any amounts due in respect of all Parity Lien Obligations of such Note Obligor under the Notes (including Additional Notes), the Indenture and any other Security Document, other than its Parallel Debts (as defined below) (the Corresponding Debt ) as they may exist from time to time. The payment undertakings of each Note Obligor under this Section 5.15 (Parallel Debt) are each to be referred to as a Parallel Debt . For the avoidance of any doubt, the Collateral Agents role is purely administrative and subject to the provisions of the Parity Lien Document to which it is a party.
(b) Each Note Obligor and the Collateral Agent acknowledge that (i) each Parallel Debt constitutes an undertaking, obligation and liability to the Collateral Agent which is separate and independent from, and without prejudice to, the Corresponding Debt of the relevant Note Obligor and shall not in any way limit or affect, the Corresponding Debt of that Note Obligor to any Secured Party under the Indenture or any Security Document(ii) each Parallel Debt represents the Collateral Agents own separate and independent claim to receive payment of the Parallel Debt from the relevant Note Obligor, it being understood, in each case, that: (i) the Parallel Debt of each Note Obligor shall be decreased to the extent that its Corresponding Debt has been irrevocably paid or (in the case of guarantee
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obligations) discharged; and (ii) the Corresponding Debt of each Note Obligor shall be decreased to the extent that its Parallel Debt has been irrevocably paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged; and (iii) the amounts which may be payable by each Note Obligor as Parallel Debt shall at all times be equal to the amount of its Corresponding Debt and (iv) the amounts which may be payable by each Note Obligor as Parallel Debt at any time shall never exceed the total of the amounts which are payable under or in connection with the Corresponding Debt at that time.
(c) For the purpose of this Section 5.15, the Collateral Agent will act in its own name, as Collateral Agent hereunder, referencing such capacity as applicable, and its claims in respect of the Parallel Debts shall not be held by it as trustee. The Liens granted under the Security Documents to the Collateral Agent to secure the Parallel Debts are granted to the Collateral Agent in its capacity as creditor of the Parallel Debts and shall not be held in trust.
(d) All moneys received or recovered by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 5.15, and all amounts received or recovered by the Collateral Agent from or by the enforcement of any Liens granted to secure the Parallel Debts, shall be applied in accordance with Section 3.4.
(e) Without limiting or affecting the Collateral Agents rights against the Note Obligors (whether under this Section 5.15 or under any other provision of the Security Documents), each Note Obligor acknowledges that nothing in this Section 5.15 shall impose any obligation on the Collateral Agent to advance any sum to any Note Obligor or otherwise under any Security Document.
(f) For the avoidance of doubt, the Parallel Debt will become due and payable ( opeisbaar ) at the same time the Corresponding Debt becomes due and payable. An event of default in respect of the Corresponding Debt shall constitute a default ( verzuim ) within the meaning of section 3:248 of the Netherlands Civil Code with respect to the Parallel Debts without any notice being required.
(g) The obligations of each Note Obligor under this Section shall be subject to, and limited to the extent set out in, the Guarantee Limitations mutatis mutandis (if any) applicable to such Note Obligor.
(h) For the purpose of any Security Document governed by German law, each party to this Agreement agrees that the Collateral Agent shall together with the other Secured Parties be the joint and several creditors ( Gesamtgläubiger ) of each and every obligation of the relevant Note Obligor under the relevant Security Document governed by German law, and that accordingly the Collateral Agent will have its own and independent right to demand performance by the relevant Note Obligor of its obligations ( Gesamtgläubigerschaft ) in full.
(i) For the purpose of any Security Document governed by Swiss law (the Swiss Security Documents ):
(1) the Collateral Agent holds:
(A) any Lien created or evidenced or expressed to be created or evidenced under or pursuant to a Swiss Security Document by way of a security assignment ( Sicherungsabtretung ) or transfer for security purposes ( Sicherungsübereignung ) or any other non-accessory ( nicht akzessorische ) security;
(B) the benefit of this Section 5.15; and
(C) any proceeds and other benefits of such Lien
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as indirect representative ( indirekter Stellvertreter ) in its own name, but for the account of all relevant Secured Parties which have the benefit of such security in accordance with this Agreement and the respective Swiss Security Document;
(2) each present and future Secured Party hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent:
(A) to (a) accept and execute as its direct representative ( direkter Stellvertreter ) any Swiss law pledge or any other Swiss law accessory ( akzessorische ) security created or evidenced or expressed to be created or evidenced under or pursuant to a Swiss Security Document for the benefit of such Secured Party and (a) hold, administer and, if necessary, enforce any such Lien on behalf of each relevant Secured Party which has the benefit of such Security;
(B) to agree as its direct representative ( direkter Stellvertreter ) to amendments and alterations to any Swiss Security Document which creates or evidences or expressed to create or evidence a pledge or any other Swiss law accessory ( akzessorische ) Lien;
(C) to effect as its direct representative ( direkter Stellvertreter ) any release of a Security created or evidenced or expressed to be created or evidenced under a Swiss Security Document in accordance with this Agreement; and
(D) to exercise as its direct representative ( direkter Stellvertreter ) such other rights granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder or under the relevant Swiss Security Document;
(3) each present and future Secured Party hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent, when acting in its capacity as creditor of the Parallel Debt, to hold:
(A) any Swiss law pledge or any other Swiss law accessory ( akzessorische ) Lien;
(B) any proceeds of such Lien; and
(C) the benefit of this paragraph and of the Parallel Debt,
as creditor in its own right but for the benefit of such Secured Parties in accordance with this Agreement.
(j) This Section 5.15 (i) is included in this Agreement solely for the purpose of ensuring the validity and effect of certain security rights governed by the laws of France, Germany, Netherlands and/or Switzerland, granted pursuant to the applicable Security Documents and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, shall not limit the rights and remedies provided to the Secured Parties by the other provisions hereof and of the other Parity Lien Documents. Moreover, notwithstanding any provisions of any Parity Lien Document or any present or future law to the contrary, the Collateral Agent has no rights and responsibilities under this Agreement or any Parity Lien Document other than in its capacity as Collateral Agent, as expressly provided herein or in such Parity Lien Document.
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ARTICLE 6.
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT
SECTION 6.1 Resignation or Removal of Collateral Agent . Subject to the appointment of a successor Collateral Agent as provided in Section 6.2 and the acceptance of such appointment by the successor Collateral Agent:
(a) the Collateral Agent may resign at any time by giving not less than 30 days notice of resignation to each Authorized Representative and the Issuer; and
(b) the Collateral Agent may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by an Act of Required Secured Parties.
SECTION 6.2 Appointment of Successor Collateral Agent . Upon any such resignation or removal, a successor Collateral Agent may be appointed by an Act of Required Secured Parties. If no successor Collateral Agent has been so appointed and accepted such appointment within 60 days after the predecessor Collateral Agent gave notice of resignation or was removed, the retiring Collateral Agent may (at the expense of the Issuer), at its option, appoint a successor Collateral Agent, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor Collateral Agent, which must be a bank or trust company:
(1) duly authorized to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Documents;
(2) having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000;
(3) maintaining an office in New York, New York; and
(4) that is not the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer.
The Collateral Agent will fulfill its obligations hereunder until a successor Collateral Agent meeting the requirements of this Section 6.2 has accepted its appointment as Collateral Agent and the provisions of Section 6.3 have been satisfied.
SECTION 6.3 Succession . When the Person so appointed as successor Collateral Agent accepts such appointment:
(1) such Person will succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the predecessor Collateral Agent (including the benefit of the Parallel Debt), and the predecessor Collateral Agent will be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder; and
(2) (2) the predecessor Collateral Agent will (at the expense of the Issuer) promptly transfer all Liens, collateral security, its rights and obligations under the Parallel Debts and other property of the Trust Estates within its possession or control to the possession or control of the successor Collateral Agent and will execute instruments and assignments as may be necessary or desirable or reasonably requested by the successor Collateral Agent to transfer to the successor Collateral Agent all Liens, interests, rights, powers and remedies, including the rights and obligations under the Parallel Debts of the predecessor Collateral Agent in respect of the Security Documents or the Trust Estates.
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Thereafter the predecessor Collateral Agent will remain entitled to enforce the immunities granted to it in Article 5 and the provisions of Sections 7.9 and 7.10.
For the purposes of any Security Documents governed by French law, the predecessor Collateral Agent expressly reserves and maintains its rights under this Agreement (including for the avoidance of doubt, the benefit of the Parallel Debts), the Indenture and the Notes in accordance with the provisions of article 1278 of the French Code civil so that any Lien created under any Security Document governed by French law and the obligations of each Grantor incorporated in France under the Indenture, the Security Documents and the Notes (including any Additional Notes) will continue in full force for the benefit of the successor Collateral Agent following the succession and appointment of the successor Collateral Agent in accordance with Sections 6.2 and 6.3 and/or any transfer of rights in accordance with this Agreement (whether by way of novation or not). Any novation under Sections 6.2 and 6.3 is a novation ( novation ) within the meaning of articles 1271 et seq. of the French Code civil .
SECTION 6.4 Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Agent . Any Person into which the Collateral Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Collateral Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the business of the Collateral Agent shall be the successor of the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 6.3; provided , that (i) without the execution or filing of any paper with any party hereto or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, except where an instrument of transfer or assignment is required by law to effect such succession, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, such Person satisfies the eligibility requirements specified in clauses (1) through (4) of Section 6.2 and (ii) prior to any such merger, conversion or consolidation, the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Issuer and each Authorized Representative thereof in writing.
ARTICLE 7.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 7.1 Amendment .
(a) No amendment or supplement to the provisions of any Security Documents will be effective without the approval of the Collateral Agent acting as directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties, except that:
(1) any amendment or supplement that has the effect solely of:
(A) adding or maintaining Collateral, securing additional Parity Lien Obligations that are otherwise not prohibited by the terms of any Parity Lien Document to be secured by the Collateral or preserving, perfecting or establishing the Liens thereon or the rights of the Collateral Agent therein;
(B) providing for the assumption of any Grantors obligations under any Parity Lien Document in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of such Grantor to the extent not prohibited by the terms of the Indenture or any other Parity Lien Documents, as applicable;
(C) making any change that would provide additional rights or benefits to the Collateral Agent or Secured Parties or that does not adversely affect the legal rights of the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party under this Agreement;
(D) effecting any provision of this Agreement;
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(E) evidencing and providing for the acceptance and appointment under this Agreement of a successor Collateral Agent pursuant to the requirements hereof;
(F) to conform the text of this Agreement to any provision of the Description of the Notes contained in the Offering Memorandum to the extent such provision in the Description of Notes contained in the Offering Memorandum was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Agreement;
(G) curing any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;
will become effective when executed and delivered by the Issuer or any other applicable Grantor party thereto and the Collateral Agent; provided , that, unless required by applicable law or to become effective (in each case, as determined by the Issuer), a supplement to the Security Documents adding Collateral shall not be required to be executed and delivered by the Collateral Agent;
(2) no amendment or supplement that reduces, impairs or adversely affects the right of any Secured Party:
(A) to vote its outstanding Parity Lien Debt as to any matter described as subject to an Act of Required Secured Parties (or amends the provisions of this Section 7.1(a) (2) or the definitions of Act of Required Secured Parties or Controlling Representative );
(B) to share in the order of application described in Section 3.4 in the proceeds of enforcement of or realization on any Collateral that has not been released in accordance with the provisions described in Section 4.1 or 4.4;
(C) to require that Liens securing Parity Lien Obligations be released only as set forth in the provisions described in Section 4.1 or 4.4; or
(D) under this Section 7.1,
will become effective without the consent of the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt so affected under the applicable Parity Lien Documents;
(3) no amendment or supplement that imposes any obligation upon the Collateral Agent or any Authorized Representative or adversely affects the rights of the Collateral Agent or any Authorized Representative, respectively, in its capacity as such will become effective without the consent of the Collateral Agent or such Authorized Representative, respectively; and
(4) if the Issuer or any Grantor incurs any Indebtedness secured by a second or junior Lien and such Indebtedness shall otherwise be permitted by each Parity Lien Document, then this Agreement may be amended, without the approval of the Collateral Agent acting as directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties, to provide for a second or subordinated Lien on the Collateral and the related intercreditor requirements in connection therewith; provided that such amendment provides for customary market terms for such second or subordinated Lien (as determined in good faith by the Issuer).
(b) The Collateral Agent will not enter into any amendment or supplement described in this Section 7.1 unless it has received an Officers Certificate to the effect that such amendment or supplement will not result in a breach of any provision or covenant contained in any of the Parity Lien Documents. Prior to executing any amendment or supplement pursuant to this Section 7.1, the Collateral Agent will be entitled to receive an opinion of counsel of the Issuer to the effect that the execution of such document is authorized or permitted hereunder.
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SECTION 7.2 Voting . In connection with any matter under this Agreement requiring a vote of holders of Parity Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt will cast its votes in accordance with the Parity Lien Documents governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt. The amount of Parity Lien Debt to be voted by a Series of Parity Lien Debt will equal (1) the aggregate principal amount of Parity Lien Debt held by such Series of Parity Lien Debt (including outstanding letters of credit whether or not then available or drawn), plus (2) other than in connection with an exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments (if any) to extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Indebtedness of such Series of Parity Lien Debt. Following and in accordance with the outcome of the applicable vote under its Parity Lien Documents, the Authorized Representative of each Series of Parity Lien Debt will cast all of its votes under that Series of Parity Lien Debt as a block in respect of any vote under this Agreement.
SECTION 7.3 Further Assurances; Insurance .
(a) The Issuer and each of the Grantors will take such further actions with respect to the Collateral, and execute and/or deliver to the Collateral Agent and file such additional mortgages, financing statements, amendments, assignments, agreements, supplements, powers and instruments, as may reasonably be required from time to time in order to:
(1) create, perfect, preserve and protect the security interest in the Collateral and the rights and interests of the Collateral Agent under the Security Documents;
(2) carry into effect the purposes of the Security Documents or better to assure and confirm the validity, enforceability and priority of the Collateral Agents security interest in the Collateral;
(3) permit the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights, powers and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral, including the filing of financing statements, continuation statements and other documents under the UCC (or other similar laws) in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interest created in the Collateral and the execution and delivery of control agreements; and
(4) perfect, continue and maintain the validity, enforceability and priority of the security interest in the Collateral as provided herein and to preserve the other rights and interests granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder, as against third parties, with respect to the Collateral.
(b) Upon the request of the Collateral Agent or any Authorized Representative at any time and from time to time, the Issuer and each of the other Grantors will promptly execute, acknowledge, deliver and/or file such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as may be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
(c) The Issuer and the other Grantors will (1) keep their insurable properties insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers in such amounts as shall be customary for similar businesses, (2) maintain such other reasonable insurance (including, to the extent reasonably deemed prudent, self-insurance), of such types, to such extent and against such risks, as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses and maintain such other insurance, and (3) maintain such other insurance as (x) may be required by law or (y) any other Security Document.
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(d) Upon the request of the Collateral Agent, the Issuer and the other Grantors will furnish to the Collateral Agent full information as to their property and liability insurance carriers.
(e) Upon the request of the Collateral Agent, the Issuer and the other Grantors will permit the Collateral Agent or any of its agents or representatives, at reasonable times and intervals upon reasonable prior notice, to visit their offices and sites and inspect any of the Collateral and to discuss matters relating to the Collateral with their respective officers. The Issuer and the other Grantors shall, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice, permit the Collateral Agent or any of its agents or representatives to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of the Issuer and the other Grantors and their Subsidiaries, all at the Issuers expense.
SECTION 7.4 Successors and Assigns .
(a) Except as provided in Section 5.2, the Collateral Agent may not, in its capacity as such, delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Collateral Agent hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, (i) the Issuer and the other Grantors, (ii) each Authorized Representative, (iii) each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations (each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof), and (iv) all of respective successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.
(b) Neither the Issuer nor any other Grantor may delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Issuer and the other Grantors hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, the (i) Collateral Agent, (ii) each Authorized Representative, (iii) each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as third-party beneficiary hereof (provided that any such enforcement shall be subject, (x) in the case of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations under the Indenture, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Indenture and (y) in the case of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations under another Parity Lien Document, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and such Parity Lien Document), and (iv) all of their respective successors and assigns.
SECTION 7.5 Delay and Waiver . No failure to exercise, no course of dealing with respect to the exercise of, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy arising under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents will impair any such right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy will preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
SECTION 7.6 Notices . Any communications, including notices and instructions, between the parties hereto or notices provided herein to be given may be given to the following addresses:
If to the Collateral Agent:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust & Agency Services
60 Wall Street, 16th Floor
Mail Stop: NYC60-1630
34
New York, New York 10005
Attn: Corporates Team Deal Manager Constellium N.V.
Fax: 732-578-4635
With a copy to:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
c/o Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
Trust & Agency Services
100 Plaza One, Mailstop JCY03-0699
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
Attn: Corporates Team Deal Manager Constellium N.V.
Fax: 732-578-4635
If to the Issuer or any other Grantor:
Constellium
Washington Plaza 40/44, rue Washington
75008 Paris, France
Attn: Jeremy Leach
Tel: +33 1 73 01 46 51
Email: jeremy.leach@constellium.com
Constellium Switzerland A.G.
Max Högger-Strasse 6
8048 Zürich, Switzerland
Attn: Mark Kirkland, Group Treasurer
Tel: +41 44 438 6642
Email: mark.kirkland@constellium.com
And
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52 nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Attn: Josh A. Feltman
Tel:(212) 403-1109
Fax:(212) 403-2109
Email: jafeltman@wlrk.com
If to the Trustee:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust & Agency Services
60 Wall Street, 16th Floor
Mail Stop: NYC60-1630
New York, New York 10005
Attn: Corporates Team Deal Manager Constellium N.V.
Fax: 732-578-4635
With a copy to:
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Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
c/o Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
Trust & Agency Services
100 Plaza One, Mailstop JCY03-0699
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
Attn: Corporates Team Deal Manager Constellium N.V.
Fax: 732-578-4635
and if to any other Authorized Representative, to such address as it may specify by written notice to the parties named above.
All notices and communications will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, or by electronic mail with portable document format attached, to the relevant address set forth above or, as to holders of Parity Lien Debt, its address shown on the register kept by the office or agency where the relevant Parity Lien Debt may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a holder of Parity Lien Debt or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders of Parity Lien Debt.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
SECTION 7.7 Notice Following Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations . Promptly following the Discharge of Parity Lien Obligations with respect to one or more Series of Parity Lien Debt, each Authorized Representative with respect to each applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt that is so discharged will provide written notice of such discharge to the Collateral Agent and to each other Authorized Representative.
SECTION 7.8 Entire Agreement . This Agreement states the complete agreement of the parties relating to the undertaking of the Collateral Agent set forth herein and supersedes all oral negotiations and prior writings in respect of such undertaking.
SECTION 7.9 Compensation; Expenses . The Grantors jointly and severally agree (subject to Section 7.11) to pay, promptly upon demand:
(1) such compensation to the Collateral Agent and its agents as the Issuer and the Collateral Agent may agree in writing from time to time;
(2) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent and its agents in the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, recordation, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any other Security Document or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto;
(3) all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel and any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers or other professional advisors and agents engaged by the Collateral Agent or any Authorized Representative incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, closing, administration, performance or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Security Documents or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto and any other document or matter requested by the Issuer or any other Grantor;
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(4) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent and its agents in creating, perfecting, preserving, releasing or enforcing the Collateral Agents Liens on the Collateral, including filing and recording fees, expenses and taxes, stamp or documentary taxes, search fees, and title insurance premiums;
(5) all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent and its agents in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Security Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby or the exercise of rights or performance of obligations by the Collateral Agent thereunder; and
(6) after the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default, all costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent, its agents and any Authorized Representative in connection with the preservation, collection, foreclosure or enforcement of the Collateral subject to the Security Documents or any interest, right, power or remedy of the Collateral Agent or in connection with the collection or enforcement of any of the Parity Lien Obligations or the proof, protection, administration or resolution of any claim based upon the Parity Lien Obligations in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, including all fees and disbursements of attorneys, accountants, auditors, consultants, appraisers and other professionals engaged by the Collateral Agent, its agents or the Authorized Representatives.
The agreements in this Section 7.9 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations, the termination or assignment of this Agreement, the invalidity or unenforceability of any terms or provisions of this Agreement and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 7.10 Indemnity .
(a) The Grantors jointly and severally agree (subject to Section 7.11) to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless the Collateral Agent, each Authorized Representative, each Secured Party and each of their respective Affiliates and each and all of the directors, officers, partners, trustees, employees, attorneys and agents, and (in each case) their respective heirs, representatives, successors and assigns (each of the foregoing, an Indemnitee ) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided , no Indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liability to the extent such Indemnified Liability is found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.
(b) All amounts due under this Section 7.10 will be payable upon demand.
(c) To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in Section 7.10(a) may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they violate any law or public policy, each of the Grantors will contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.
(d) No Grantor will ever assert any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for any lost profits or special, indirect or consequential damages or (to the fullest extent a claim for punitive damages may lawfully be waived) any punitive damages arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Document or any agreement or instrument or transaction contemplated hereby or relating in any respect to any Indemnified Liability, and each of the Grantors hereby forever waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any claim for any such lost profits or special, indirect, consequential or (to the fullest extent lawful) punitive damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.
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(e) The agreements in this Section 7.10 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations, the termination or assignment of this Agreement, the invalidity or unenforceability of any terms or provisions of this Agreement and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 7.11 Limitations Applicable to French Grantors . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) any expenses or indemnities to be paid by any Grantor incorporated under the laws of France ( French Grantor ) under this Agreement shall be limited to the expenses or indemnities incidental to the performance of its obligations and the obligations of its subsidiaries under this Agreement and (ii) any representations and warranties made by any French Grantor shall be strictly limited to matters related to such French Grantor and its subsidiaries.
SECTION 7.12 Severability . Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
SECTION 7.13 Section Headings . The section headings and Table of Contents used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.
SECTION 7.14 Obligations Secured . All obligations of the Grantors set forth in or arising under this Agreement will be Parity Lien Obligations and are secured by all Liens granted by the Security Documents.
SECTION 7.15 Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT (WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF A DIFFERENT GOVERNING LAW (OTHER THAN ANY MANDATORY PROVISIONS OF THE UCC RELATING TO THE LAW GOVERNING PERFECTION AND THE EFFECT OF PERFECTION OR PRIORITY OF THE SECURITY INTERESTS).
SECTION 7.16 Consent to Jurisdiction . All judicial proceedings brought against any party hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State, County and City of New York. By executing and delivering this Agreement, each Grantor, for itself and in connection with its properties, irrevocably:
(1) accepts generally and unconditionally the nonexclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts;
(2) waives any defense of forum non conveniens;
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(3) agrees that service of all process in any such proceeding in any such court may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to such party at its address provided in accordance with Section 7.6;
(4) agrees that service as provided in clause (3) above is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such party in any such proceeding in any such court and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service in every respect; and
(5) agrees that each party hereto retains the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to bring proceedings against any party in the courts of any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 7.17 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER SECURITY DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, BREACH OF DUTY, COMMON LAW, STATUTE OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
SECTION 7.18 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic imaging means), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission (e.g. pdf or tif format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
SECTION 7.19 Grantors and Additional Grantors . The Issuer represents and warrants that each Person who is a Grantor on the date hereof has duly executed this Agreement. The Issuer will cause each Person that hereafter becomes a Grantor or is required by any Parity Lien Document to become a party to this Agreement to become a party to this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, no later than the date on which such Person provides a Lien over Collateral pursuant to Article 11 of the Indenture, by causing such Person to execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent a Intercreditor Joinder, whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date hereof. The Issuer shall promptly provide each Authorized Representative with a copy of each Intercreditor Joinder executed and delivered pursuant to this Section 7.19; provided , however, that the failure to so deliver a copy of the Intercreditor Joinder to any then existing Authorized Representative shall not affect the inclusion of such Person as a Grantor if the other requirements of this Section 7.19 are complied with.
SECTION 7.20 Continuing Nature of this Agreement . This Agreement will be reinstated if at any time any payment or distribution in respect of any of the Parity Lien Obligations is rescinded or
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must otherwise be returned in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise by any Secured Party or Authorized Representative or any representative of any such party (whether by demand, settlement, litigation or otherwise). In the event that all or any part of a payment or distribution made with respect to the Parity Lien Obligations is recovered from any Secured Party or any Authorized Representative in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, such payment or distribution received by any Secured Party or Authorized Representative with respect to the Parity Lien Obligations from the proceeds of any Collateral or any title insurance policy required by any real property mortgage at any time after the date of the payment or distribution that is so recovered, whether pursuant to a right of subrogation or otherwise, that Authorized Representative or that Secured Party, as the case may be, will forthwith deliver the same to the Collateral Agent, for the account of the Secured Parties to be applied in accordance with Section 3.4.
SECTION 7.21 Insolvency . This Agreement will be applicable both before and after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against any Grantor. The relative rights, as provided for in this Agreement, will continue after the commencement of any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding on the same basis as prior to the date of the commencement of any such case, as provided in this Agreement.
SECTION 7.22 Rights and Immunities of Authorized Representatives . The Trustee will be entitled to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Indenture and any future Authorized Representative will be entitled to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing the applicable Parity Lien Debt with respect to which such Person will act as representative, in each case as if specifically set forth herein. In no event will any Authorized Representative be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Grantors or the Collateral Agent hereunder.
SECTION 7.23 Intercreditor Agreements . Each Authorized Representative party hereto, by accepting the benefits hereof, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties it represents, (i) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and (ii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) the Collateral Agent on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreements.
SECTION 7.24 Force Majeure . In no event shall the Collateral Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Collateral Agent shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
SECTION 7.25 U.S.A. Patriot Act . The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Collateral Agent, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Collateral Agent. The parties to this Agreement agree that they will provide the Collateral Agent with such information as it may reasonably request in order for the Collateral Agent to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
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[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of the day and year first above written.
CONSTELLIUM N.V., as Issuer |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Group Treasurer and Authorized Signatory |
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO II B.V., as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO III B.V., as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Constellium Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement Signature Page]
CONSTELLIUM US HOLDINGS I, LLC, as Grantor |
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By: |
/s/ Rina E. Teran |
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Name: | Rina E. Teran | |||
Title: | Vice President and Secretary |
CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS RAVENSWOOD, LLC, as Grantor |
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By: |
/s/ Rina E. Teran |
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Name: | Rina E. Teran | |||
Title: | Vice President and Secretary |
[Constellium Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement Signature Page]
CONSTELLIUM FRANCE HOLDCO S.A.S., as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
CONSTELLIUM FINANCES S.A.S., as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
CONSTELLIUM ISSOIRE S.A.S., as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH S.A.S., as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Constellium Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement Signature Page]
CONSTELLIUM GERMANY HOLDCO GMBH & CO. KG, as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
CONSTELLIUM DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
CONSTELLIUM SINGEN GMBH, as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
CONSTELLIUM ROLLED PRODUCTS SINGEN GMBH & CO. KG, as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Constellium Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement Signature Page]
CONSTELLIUM SWITZERLAND AG, as Grantor |
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By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Constellium Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement Signature Page]
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee under the Indenture By: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY |
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By: | /s/ Wanda Camacho |
Name: | Wanda Camacho | |||
Title: | Vice President |
By: | /s/ Annie Jaghatspanyan |
Name: | Annie Jaghatspanyan | |||
Title: | Vice President |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Agent By: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY |
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By: | /s/ Wanda Camacho |
Name: | Wanda Camacho | |||
Title: | Vice President |
By: | /s/ Annie Jaghatspanyan |
Name: | Annie Jaghatspanyan | |||
Title: | Vice President |
[Constellium Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement Signature Page]
[EXHIBIT A to Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement]
[FORM OF]
ADDITIONAL PARITY LIEN DEBT DESIGNATION
Reference is made to the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 30, 2016 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement ) among CONSTELLIUM N.V. (the Issuer ), the other Grantors from time to time party thereto, [ insert name of Indenture Trustee ], as Trustee under the Indenture (as defined therein) and [ insert name of Collateral Agent ], as Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement. This Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation is being executed and delivered in order to designate additional Parity Lien Debt as Parity Lien Debt entitled to the benefit of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
The undersigned, the duly appointed [ specify title ] of the Issuer hereby certifies on behalf of the [Issuer] that:
(A) [ insert name of the Issuer or other Grantor ] intends to incur, or has incurred, additional Parity Lien Debt ( Additional Parity Lien Obligations ) not prohibited by any Parity Lien Document to be incurred and secured by a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt;
(B) the name and address of the Authorized Representative for the Additional Parity Lien Obligations for purposes of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement (including Section 7.6) is:
[___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________]
Telephone: __________________________
Fax: _______________________________
(C) Each of the Issuer and each other Grantor party thereto has duly authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded (or caused to be recorded) in each appropriate governmental office all relevant filings and recordations to ensure that the Additional Parity Lien Obligations are secured by the Collateral in accordance with the Security Documents;
(D) Attached as Exhibit 1 hereto is a Reaffirmation Agreement duly executed by the Issuer and each other Grantor; and
(E) the Issuer has caused a copy of this Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation and the related Intercreditor Joinder to be delivered to each existing Authorized Representative.
Exhibit A
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation to be duly executed by the undersigned officer as of , 20 .
CONSTELLIUM N.V. | ||||
By: |
Name: | ||||
Title: |
Acknowledgement of Receipt
The undersigned, the duly appointed Collateral Agent under the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement, hereby acknowledges receipt of an executed copy of this Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation.
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Agent By: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY |
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By: |
Name: | ||||
Title: |
By: |
Name: | ||||
Title: |
EXHIBIT 1 TO ADDITIONAL
PARITY LIEN DEBT DESIGNATION
[FORM OF]
REAFFIRMATION AGREEMENT
Reference is made to the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 30, 2016 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement ) among CONSTELLIUM N.V. (the Issuer ), the other Grantors from time to time party thereto, [ insert name of Indenture Trustee ], as Trustee under the Indenture (as defined therein), and [ insert name of Collateral Agent ], as Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement. This Reaffirmation Agreement is being executed and delivered as of , 20 in connection with an Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation of even date herewith which Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation has designated such additional Parity Lien Debt as Parity Lien Debt entitled to the benefit of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
Each of the undersigned hereby consents to the designation of additional Parity Lien Debt as Parity Lien Debt as set forth in the Additional Parity Lien Debt Designation of even date herewith and hereby confirms its respective guarantees, pledges, grants of security interests and other obligations, as applicable, under and subject to the terms of each of the Parity Lien Documents to which it is party, and agrees that, notwithstanding the designation of such additional indebtedness or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, such guarantees, pledges, grants of security interests and other obligations, and the terms of each Parity Lien Document to which it is a party, are not impaired or adversely affected in any manner whatsoever and shall continue to be in full force and effect and such additional Parity Lien Debt shall be entitled to all of the benefits of such Parity Lien Documents.
Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions . The provisions of Article 7 of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Reaffirmation Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Reaffirmation Agreement to be duly executed as of the date written above.
[Names of Grantors] | ||||
By: |
Name: | ||||
Title: |
[EXHIBIT B to Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement]
[FORM OF]
INTERCREDITOR JOINDER ADDITIONAL PARITY LIEN OBLIGATIONS
Reference is made to the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 30, 2016 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement ) among CONSTELLIUM N.V. (the Issuer ), the other Grantors from time to time party thereto, [ insert name of Indenture Trustee ], as Trustee under the Indenture (as defined therein) and [ insert name of Collateral Agent ], as Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement. This Intercreditor Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 3.8 of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as agent being entitled to the benefits of being additional Parity Lien Debt under the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
1. | Joinder . The undersigned, , a , (the New Representative ) as [trustee, administrative agent] under that certain [ describe applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the additional Parity Lien Debt ] hereby agrees to become party as an Authorized Representative under the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof. |
2. | Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation . The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Parity Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as Authorized Representative hereby agrees, for the enforceable benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Parity Lien Debt, each other existing and future Authorized Representative and each current and future Secured Party and as a condition to being treated as Parity Lien Debt under the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement that: |
(a) | as provided by Section 2.[2] of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement, all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Issuer or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of all Secured Parties equally and ratably; provided, however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision will not be violated with respect to any particular Collateral and any particular Series of Parity Lien Debt if the Security Documents in respect thereof prohibit the applicable Authorized Representative from accepting the benefit of a Lien on any particular asset or property or such Authorized Representative otherwise expressly declines in writing to accept the benefit of a Lien on such asset; and |
(b) | the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Parity Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as Authorized Representative are bound by the provisions of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and |
(c) | the Collateral Agent shall perform its obligations under the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the other Security Documents. |
3. | Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions . The provisions of Article 7 of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Intercreditor Joinder. |
[Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Intercreditor Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of , 2016.
[insert name of the new representative] | ||||
By: |
Name: | ||||
Title: |
The Collateral Agent hereby acknowledges receipt of this Intercreditor Joinder and agrees to act as Collateral Agent for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby:
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Agent By: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY |
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By: |
Name: | ||||
Title: |
By: |
Name: | ||||
Title: |
[EXHIBIT C to Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement]
[FORM OF]
INTERCREDITOR JOINDER ADDITIONAL GRANTOR
Reference is made to the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 30, 2016 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement ) among CONSTELLIUM N.V. (the Issuer ), the other Grantors from time to time party thereto, [ insert name of Indenture Trustee ], as Trustee under the Indenture (as defined therein) and [ insert name of Collateral Agent ], as Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement. This Intercreditor Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 7.19 of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
1. Joinder . The undersigned, , a , hereby agrees to become party as a Grantor under the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof.
2. Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions . The provisions of Article 7 of the Parity Lien Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Intercreditor Joinder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Intercreditor Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of , 20 .
[ ] | ||||
By: |
Name: | ||||
Title: |
The Collateral Agent hereby acknowledges receipt of this Intercreditor Joinder and agrees to act as Collateral Agent with respect to the Collateral pledged by the new Grantor:
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Agent By: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY |
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By: |
Name: | ||||
Title: |
By: |
Name: | ||||
Title: |
Exhibit 4.29
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture ), dated as of April 16, 2014, among Wise Metals Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company ), Wise Alloys Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation ( Wise Finance and, together with the Company, the Issuers ), the Guarantors party hereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee (the Trustee ), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as Collateral Agent (the Collateral Agent ).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Issuers and the Guarantors have previously executed and delivered to the Trustee the Indenture, dated as of December 11, 2013 (the Indenture ), pursuant to which the Issuers have issued $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of their 8 3 ⁄ 4 % Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (the Notes );
WHEREAS, Section 9.01(a) of the Indenture provides that the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement the Indenture without the consent of any Holder to cure any ambiguity, defect, mistake or inconsistency in the Indenture and Section 9.01(e) of the Indenture provides that the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement the Indenture without the consent of any Holder to make any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture if each such provision shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders;
WHEREAS, the Issuers and the Guarantors have requested that the Trustee and Collateral Agent execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of amending the Indenture as permitted by Sections 9.01(a) and 9.01(e) of the Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel relating to this Supplemental Indenture as contemplated by Sections 9.06, 15.04 and 15.05 of the Indenture; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:
SECTION 1. Capitalized Terms . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
SECTION 2. Amendment to the Indenture . Clause (24) of the definition of Permitted Liens in Section 1.01 of the Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
(24) Liens created for the benefit of (or to secure) the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantees of the Notes, in each case, issued on the Closing Date;
SECTION 3. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. Every reference in the Indenture to the Indenture shall hereby be deemed to mean the Indenture as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby. The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
SECTION 5. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile, email or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture.
SECTION 6. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 7. The Trustee . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Issuers and the Guarantors.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
WISE METALS GROUP LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | |||
WISE ALLOYS FINANCE CORPORATION | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | |||
WISE ALLOYS LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | |||
LISTERHILL TOTAL MAINTENANCE CENTER LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | |||
ALABAMA ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICES, LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
[Signature Page to Wise Metals First Supplemental Indenture]
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||
By: |
/s/ Stefan Victory |
|||
Name: | Stefan Victory | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent | ||||
By: |
/s/ Stefan Victory |
|||
Name: | Stefan Victory | |||
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature Page to Wise Metals First Supplemental Indenture]
Exhibit 4.30
SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Second Supplemental Indenture (this Supplemental Indenture ), dated as of June 4, 2014, among WAC I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Guaranteeing Subsidiary ) and a subsidiary of Wise Metals Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company ), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee (the Trustee ), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as Collateral Agent (the Collateral Agent ).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company and Wise Alloys Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation ( Wise Finance and, together with the Company, the Issuers ) and the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to below) have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee the Indenture, dated as of December 11, 2013, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 16, 2014 (as so supplemented, the Indenture ), pursuant to which the Issuers have issued $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of their 8 3 ⁄ 4 % Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (the Notes );
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally Guarantee all of the Issuers Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the Subsidiary Guarantee); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01(g) of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:
(1) Capitalized Terms . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
(2) Agreement to be Bound . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Guarantor and as such will have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
(3) Guarantee . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees, on a joint and several basis with all the existing Guarantors, to Guarantee to each Holder of the Notes and the Trustee the Indenture Obligations pursuant to Article 13 of the Indenture.
(4) No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, the Indenture
or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees.
(5) Notices . Unless otherwise provided by notice to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, all notices and other communications to the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be given as provided in the Indenture to the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, at the address of the Issuers as provided in the Indenture for notices to the Issuers.
(6) Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(7) Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. Every reference in the Indenture to the Indenture shall hereby be deemed to mean the Indenture as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby. The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
(8) Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile, email or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture.
(9) Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
(10) The Trustee . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary.
(11) Benefits Acknowledged . The Guaranteeing Subsidiarys Subsidiary Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to this Subsidiary Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
(12) Successors . All agreements of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
WAC I, LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Monte Schaefer |
|||
Name: | Monte Schaefer | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||
By: |
|
|||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent | ||||
By: |
|
|||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
WAC I, LLC | ||||
By: |
|
|||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||
By: |
/s/ Stefan Victory |
|||
Name: | Stephan Victory | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent | ||||
By: |
/s/ Stefan Victory |
|||
Name: | Stephan Victory | |||
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture]
Exhibit 4.31
THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Third Supplemental Indenture (this Third Supplemental Indenture ), dated as of October 17, 2014, among Wise Metals Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company ), Wise Alloys Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation ( Wise Finance , and together with the Company, the Issuers ), the Guarantors party hereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (as defined in the Indenture) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Collateral Agent (as defined in the Indenture).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Issuers have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture, dated as of December 11, 2013, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 16, 2014, and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2014 (as so supplemented, the Indenture ), providing for the issuance of the Issuers 8 3 ⁄ 4 % Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (the Notes );
WHEREAS, Section 9.02 of the Indenture provides that the Issuers, any Guarantor, any other obligor under the Notes and the Trustee or Collateral Agent may amend any provision of the Indenture (other than certain provisions enumerated in Section 9.02 of the Indenture, none of which provisions are implicated hereby) with the written consent of the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and execute a supplemental indenture;
WHEREAS, on October 3, 2014, Constellium N.V., ( Constellium ) a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands, entered into a Unit Purchase Agreement (the Unit Purchase Agreement ) among Constellium, Wise Metals Holdings LLC ( Seller ), and Silver Knot, LLC, pursuant to which Constellium (or one of its wholly-owned direct or indirect subsidiaries) will purchase from Seller all right, title and interest of Seller in all of the issued and outstanding units of membership interest of Wise Intermediate Holdings, subject to the terms and conditions of the Unit Purchase Agreement (the Transaction );
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, Constellium solicited on the Issuers behalf, and has received, consents upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Consent Solicitation Statement dated October 10, 2014 (the Consent Solicitation Statement ), from Holders representing at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Issuers outstanding Notes to the amendments contemplated hereby;
WHEREAS, it is provided in Section 9.04 of the Indenture that a supplemental indenture becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder;
WHEREAS the Issuers desire to execute this Third Supplemental Indenture embodying the modifications of the Indenture made and approved as aforesaid and have requested the Trustee and Collateral Agent to execute this Third Supplemental Indenture pursuant to Section 9.06 of the Indenture;
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WHEREAS the sole member of the Company has authorized the Issuers to enter into this Third Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of embodying the modification of the Indenture made and approved as aforesaid; and
WHEREAS the Issuers represent that all acts and things necessary have happened, been done, and been performed, to make this Third Supplemental Indenture a valid and binding instrument, in accordance with its terms.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
(2) Amendments . Subject to Section 3 below, Section 1.01 of the Indenture is amended as follows:
(a) The following paragraph is added at the end of the definition of Change of Control in Section 1.01 of the Indenture:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Unit Purchase Agreement, including the acquisition by Constellium or any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of all right, title and interest of Wise Metals Holdings in all of the issued and outstanding units of membership interest of Wise Intermediate Holdings, shall not constitute a Change of Control hereunder.
(b) The following definitions shall be added to Section 1.01 of the Indenture and placed in the appropriate alphabetical order:
Constellium means Constellium N.V., a public company with limited liability existing under the laws of the Netherlands.
Silver Knot means Silver Knot, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company acting as Wise Metal Holdings representative.
Unit Purchase Agreement means that Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2014, among Constellium, Wise Metals Holdings and Silver Knot, as amended, modified or waived from time to time.
Wise Metals Holdings means Wise Metals Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Wise Intermediate Holdings means Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
A-2
(3) Effective Date. This Third Supplemental Indenture shall become effective on the date hereof, provided that the amendments to the Indenture set forth in Section 2 hereof shall not become operative until immediately prior to the effective time of the Transaction, at which time they will become automatically effective without any further action; provided, further, the amendments to the Indenture set forth in Section 2 hereof shall not become operative if the Consent Conditions are not fulfilled at or prior to July 3, 2015.
(4) Reversal. If Constellium (or one of its subsidiaries), on behalf of and as agent for the Issuers, does not pay the Consent Fee (as defined in the Consent Solicitation Statement) to the Paying Agent (as defined in the Consent Solicitation Statement) for the benefit of the Holders promptly (and in any event within 3 Business Days) after the effective time of the Transaction, the amendments set forth in Section 2 hereof shall cease to be operative, and the definition of Change of Control in the Indenture shall revert to the definition in effect prior to the execution of this Third Supplemental Indenture and the other amendments contemplated by Section 2 hereof shall be of no further effect. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing if the Consent Conditions are not fulfilled at or prior to July 3, 2015.
(5) Governing Law. This Third Supplemental Indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(6) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Third Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
(7) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
(8) The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Third Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Issuers.
(9) Ratification of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Third Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
(10) Severability. In case any provision in this Third Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
(11) Successors. All agreements of the Issuers and Guarantors in this Third Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee and Collateral Agent in this Third Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
SIGNATURES | ||||||||
Dated as of October 17, 2014 | ||||||||
WISE METALS GROUP LLC | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Robert Ericson | |||||||
|
||||||||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||||||
Title: | Executive Vice President Chief Legal Officer | |||||||
WISE ALLOYS FINANCE CORPORATION | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Robert Ericson | |||||||
|
||||||||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||||||
Title: | Vice President and Secretary | |||||||
WISE ALLOYS LLC | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Robert Ericson | |||||||
|
||||||||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||||||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Secretary | |||||||
LISTERHILL TOTAL MAINTENANCE CENTER LLC | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Robert Ericson | |||||||
|
||||||||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||||||
Title: | Vice President and Secretary | |||||||
ALABAMA ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICES, LLC | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Robert Ericson | |||||||
|
||||||||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||||||
Title: | Vice President and Secretary |
[Third Supplemental Indenture]
WAC I, LLC | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Robert Ericson | |||||||
|
||||||||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||||||
Title: | Manager |
[Third Supplemental Indenture]
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||||
not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee | ||||
By: |
/s/ STEFAN VICTORY |
|||
Name: | STEFAN VICTORY | |||
Title: | VICE PRESIDENT | |||
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||||
not in its individual capacity, but solely as Collateral Agent | ||||
By: |
/s/ STEFAN VICTORY |
|||
Name: | STEFAN VICTORY | |||
Title: | VICE PRESIDENT |
[Third Supplemental Indenture}
Exhibit 4.33
WAIVER AND AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
This WAIVER AND AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this Amendment ), dated as of March 4, 2014, by and among Wise Alloys LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Borrower ), the other Credit Parties signatory hereto, General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent ( Agent ), and the Lenders signatory hereto, amends that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013 (the Credit Agreement ), by and among the Borrower, the other Credit Parties party thereto, Agent, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
WHEREAS, Defaults and Events of Default (collectively, the Specified Defaults ) have occurred under Sections 6.1(c) and 6.1(d) of the Credit Agreement due to the Borrowers failure to deliver to Agent and each Lender (i) monthly financial statements in respect of the November 2013 fiscal month within thirty (30) days after the end of the November 2013 fiscal month, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.1(c) of the Credit Agreement (such monthly financial statements, the November 2013 Financials ), (ii) a report in respect of the November 2013 Financials setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding figures from the most recent projections delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and discussing the reasons for any significant variations, which report is required to be delivered with the November 2013 Financials pursuant to Section 4.2(a) of the Credit Agreement, (iii) quarterly financial statements in respect of the last Fiscal Quarter of the 2013 Fiscal Year within forty-five (45) days after the end of such Fiscal Quarter, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.1(b) of the Credit Agreement (such quarterly financial statements, the Quarterly Financials ), (iv) a report in respect of the Quarterly Financials setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding figures from the most recent projections delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and discussing the reasons for any significant variations, which report is required to be delivered with the Quarterly Financials pursuant to Section 4.2(a) of the Credit Agreement, (v) Compliance Certificates which are required to be delivered concurrently with the delivery of the November 2013 Financials and the Quarterly Financials pursuant to Section 4.2(b) of the Credit Agreement, (vi) reconciliations described in Section 4.2(i) of the Credit Agreement, which are required to be delivered at the time of delivery of the November 2013 Financials, and (vii) a Borrowing Base Certificate setting forth the Borrowing Base as at the end of the December 2013 calendar month within twenty (20) days after the end of the December 2013 calendar month, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.2(d) of the Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that Agent and Lenders agree to waive the Specified Defaults and to make certain amendments to the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Lenders party hereto and Agent have agreed to waive the Specified Defaults and make such amendments, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree to enter into this Amendment.
1. Waiver . Subject to the satisfaction of the condition precedent set forth in Paragraph 3 of this Amendment, Agent and the Lenders hereby waive the Specified Defaults.
2. Amendment to Credit Agreement . Subject to the satisfaction of the condition precedent set forth in Paragraph 3 of this Amendment, Section 4.2(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
(a) together with each delivery of financial statements pursuant to Sections 4.1(a) and 4.1(b) , a report setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding figures from the most recent projections for the current Fiscal Year delivered pursuant to Section 4.2(l) and discussing the reasons for any significant variations;
3. Effectiveness of this Amendment; Condition Precedent . The provisions of this Amendment shall be deemed to have become effective as of the date of this Amendment, but such effectiveness shall be expressly conditioned upon Agents receipt of a counterpart of this Amendment executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Borrower, each other Credit Party, the Required Lenders and Agent.
4. Miscellaneous .
(a) Headings . The various headings of this Amendment are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Amendment or any provisions hereof.
(b) Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.
(c) Interpretation . No provision of this Amendment shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of such partys having or being deemed to have structured, drafted or dictated such provision.
(d) Representations and Warranties . Each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants that, as of the date hereof:
(i) this Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability;
(ii) its execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and its performance of the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary action, and do not and will not: (1) contravene the terms of its Organizational Documents, (2) conflict with or result in any material breach or contravention of, or result in the creation of any Lien under, any document evidencing any material Contractual Obligation to which it is a party or any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which it or its Property is subject, or (3) violate any Requirement of Law in any material respect; and
(iii) after giving effect to this Amendment, (1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) each representation and warranty of such Credit Party contained in the Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document to which it is a party is true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein), except to the extent that such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date (in which event such representation or warranty is true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein) as of such earlier date).
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(e) Governing Law . THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN ALL MATTERS ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR RELATING TO, THIS AMENDMENT.
(f) Effect . Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Credit Agreement to this Agreement, hereunder, hereof or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement, thereunder, thereof, or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby. Except as expressly provided in this Amendment, all of the terms, conditions and provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain the same. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for purposes of the Credit Agreement.
(g) No Other Waiver . Except as specifically set forth in this Amendment, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not (a) limit, impair, constitute a waiver by, or otherwise affect any right, power or remedy of, Agent or any Lender under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) constitute a waiver of any provision in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or of any Default or Event of Default that may have occurred and be continuing or (c) alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect.
(h) Agents Expenses . The Borrower hereby agrees to promptly reimburse Agent for all of the reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys and paralegals fees, it has heretofore or hereafter incurred or incurs in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.
WISE ALLOYS LLC , as the Borrower | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer | |||
WISE METALS GROUP LLC , as a Credit Party | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer | |||
WISE ALLOYS FINANCE CORPORATION , as a Credit Party | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer | |||
WISE ALLOYS FINANCE CORPORATION , as a Credit Party | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer | |||
ALABAMA ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICES, LLC , as a Credit Party | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer |
Signature Page to
Waiver and Amendment No. 1
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION , as Agent, Swingline Lender and a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Thomas G. Sullivan |
|||
Name: | Thomas G. Sullivan | |||
Title: | Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to
Waiver and Amendment No. 1
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GE CAPITAL BANK , as a Lender | ||||
By: |
/s/ Woodrow Broaders Jr. |
|||
Name: | Woodrow Broaders Jr. | |||
Title: | Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to
Waiver and Amendment No. 1
(Wise Alloys LLC)
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A . , as a Lender | ||||
By: |
/s/ Kenneth B. Butler |
|||
Name: | Kenneth B. Butler | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to
Waiver and Amendment No. 1
(Wise Alloys LLC)
Exhibit 4.34
CONSENT AND AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CONSENT AND AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this Amendment ), dated as of June 30, 2014, by and among Wise Alloys LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Borrower ), the other Credit Parties signatory hereto, General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent ( Agent ), and the Lenders signatory hereto, amends that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the Credit Agreement ), by and among the Borrower, the other Credit Parties party thereto, Agent, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Borrower has informed Agent and the Lenders that Holdings is expected, on the date hereof, to distribute (the Specified Distribution ) all of the Stock of Wise Recycling, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company ( Wise Recycling ), owned by Holdings to the sole member of Holdings, Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( Wise Intermediate ), and, immediately following such Specified Distribution, Wise Intermediate shall distribute all of such Stock of Wise Recycling to the sole member of Wise Intermediate, Wise Metals Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company;
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Consent Memorandum, dated April 8, 2014 (the April 2014 Consent Memorandum ), by and among Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the Credit Parties, the Credit Parties agreed that the Credit Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries would not make any further Restricted Payments during the 2014 Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 5.10(g) of the Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that Agent and the Lenders (i) consent to the Specified Distribution and agree that Holdings may make certain additional Restricted Payments during the 2014 Fiscal Year, notwithstanding the limitations contained in Section 5.2 or 5.10 of the Credit Agreement or the April 2014 Consent Memorandum and (ii) agree to make certain amendments to the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Lenders party hereto and Agent have so agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree to enter into this Amendment.
1. Consent . Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Paragraph 3 of this Amendment, Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that, notwithstanding the limitations contained in Section 5.2 or 5.10 of the Credit Agreement or the April 2014 Consent Memorandum, (a) Holdings may make the Specified Distribution on the date hereof and (b) the Credit Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries may make further Restricted Payments during the 2014 Fiscal Year pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 5.10(g) of the Credit Agreement
so long as the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of Investments made by the Credit Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries in Wise Recycling and its Subsidiaries on and after the date hereof plus (ii) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made on and after the date hereof during the 2014 Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 5.10(g) of the Credit Agreement does not exceed $2,000,000.
2. Amendment to Credit Agreement . Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Paragraph 3 of this Amendment, the reference to the figure $15,000,000 in Section 5.4(h) of the Credit Agreement is hereby replaced with the figure $2,000,000.
3. Effectiveness of this Amendment; Conditions Precedent . The provisions of this Amendment shall be deemed to have become effective as of the date of this Amendment, but such effectiveness shall be expressly conditioned upon Agents receipt of (a) a counterpart of this Amendment executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Borrower, each other Credit Party, the Required Lenders and Agent and (b) evidence reasonably satisfactory to Agent that the credit facility evidenced by that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013, by and among Wise Recycling, as the Borrower, the other Credit Parties party thereto, GE Capital, as Agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended, has been terminated and cancelled, all indebtedness thereunder has been fully repaid and all liens thereunder have been terminated.
4. Miscellaneous .
(a) Headings . The various headings of this Amendment are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Amendment or any provisions hereof.
(b) Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.
(c) Interpretation . No provision of this Amendment shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of such partys having or being deemed to have structured, drafted or dictated such provision.
(d) Representations and Warranties . Each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants that, as of the date hereof:
(i) this Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability;
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(ii) its execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and its performance of the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary action, and do not and will not: (1) contravene the terms of its Organizational Documents, (2) conflict with or result in any material breach or contravention of, or result in the creation of any Lien under, any document evidencing any material Contractual Obligation to which it is a party or any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which it or its Property is subject, or (3) violate any Requirement of Law in any material respect; and
(iii) after giving effect to this Amendment, (1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) each representation and warranty of such Credit Party contained in the Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document to which it is a party is true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein), except to the extent that such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date (in which event such representation or warranty is true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein) as of such earlier date).
(e) Governing Law . THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN ALL MATTERS ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR RELATING TO, THIS AMENDMENT.
(f) Effect . Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Credit Agreement to this Agreement, hereunder, hereof or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement, thereunder, thereof, or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby. Except as expressly provided in this Amendment, all of the terms, conditions and provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain the same. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for purposes of the Credit Agreement.
(g) No Other Waiver . Except as specifically set forth in this Amendment, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not (a) limit, impair, constitute a waiver by, or otherwise affect any right, power or remedy of, Agent or any Lender under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) constitute a waiver of any provision in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or of any Default or Event of Default that may have occurred and be continuing or (c) alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect.
(h) Agents Expenses . The Borrower hereby agrees to promptly reimburse Agent for all of the reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys and paralegals fees, it has heretofore or hereafter incurred or incurs in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.
WISE ALLOYS LLC , as the Borrower | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Secretary | |||
WISE METALS GROUP LLC , as a Credit Party | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Secretary | |||
WISE ALLOYS FINANCE CORPORATION , as a Credit Party LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Secretary | |||
WISE ALLOYS FINANCE CORPORATION , as a Credit Party LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Secretary | |||
ALABAMA ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICES , LLC , as a Credit Party | ||||
By: |
/s/ Robert Ericson |
|||
Name: | Robert Ericson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Secretary |
Signature Page to
Consent and Amendment No. 2
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION , as Agent, Swingline Lender and a Lender | ||||
By: |
/s/ Matthew N. McAlpine |
|||
Name: | Matthew N. McAlpine | |||
Title: | Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to
Consent and Amendment No. 2
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GE CAPITAL BANK , as a Lender | ||||
By: |
/s/ Woodrow Broaders Jr. |
|||
Name: | Woodrow Broaders Jr. | |||
Title: | Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to
Consent and Amendment No. 2
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GE ASSET BASED MASTER NOTE , as a Lender | ||||
By: |
/s/ Matthew N. McAlpine |
|||
Name: | Matthew N. McAlpine | |||
Title: | Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to
Consent and Amendment No. 2
(Wise Alloys LLC)
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. , as a Lender | ||||
By: |
/s/ Kenneth B. Butler |
|||
Name: | Kenneth B. Butler | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to
Consent and Amendment No. 2
(Wise Alloys LLC)
REGIONS BANK , as a Lender | ||||
By: |
/s/ Debra L. Coheley |
|||
Name: | Debra L. Coheley | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to
Consent and Amendment No. 2
(Wise Alloys LLC)
HVB CAPITAL CREDIT LLC , as a Lender | ||||
By: |
/s/ Mark Fagnoni |
|||
Name: | Mark Fagnoni | |||
Title: | First Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to
Consent and Amendment No. 2
(Wise Alloys LLC)
Exhibit 4.37
EXECUTION COPY
AMENDMENT NO. 5
TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
This AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this Amendment ), dated as of March 23, 2015, by and among Wise Alloys LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Borrower ), the other Credit Parties signatory hereto, General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent ( Agent ), and the Lenders signatory hereto, amends that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the Credit Agreement ), by and among the Borrower, the other Credit Parties party thereto, Agent, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
WHEREAS, certain Defaults and Events of Default (collectively, the Specified Defaults ) specified on Exhibit A hereto have occurred and are continuing;
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that Agent and the Lenders (i) waive the Specified Defaults and (ii) agree to make certain amendments to the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Lenders party hereto and Agent have so agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree to enter into this Amendment.
1. | Waiver . Subject to the satisfaction of the condition precedent set forth in Section 3 of this Amendment, Agent and the Lenders hereby waive the Specified Defaults. |
2. | Amendments to Credit Agreement . Subject to the satisfaction of the condition precedent set forth in Section 3 of this Amendment, the parties hereto agree that the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows: |
(a) | The definition of AB Receivables Financing Effective Date set forth in Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to add the phrase that are (i) not scheduled to be paid within ten (10) days following the invoice date therefor and (ii) immediately following the phrase all existing AB Receivables of the Credit Parties. |
(b) | The definition of AB Qualified Receivables Financing set forth in Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows: |
AB Qualified Receivables Financing means any AB Receivables Financing that meets the following conditions: (a) the Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such AB Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower or, as the case may be, the Subsidiary in question; (b) all sales of AB Receivables are made at fair market value; (c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and may include AB Standard Undertakings, (d) if requested by Agent, the lender or purchaser in connection with such AB Qualified Receivables Financing shall have entered into an intercreditor agreement with Agent, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent, relating to payments received in respect of AB Receivables and (e) payments received in respect of AB Receivables that constitute Collateral shall be deposited in accounts and otherwise handled in a manner reasonably acceptable to Agent.
(c) | The definition of AB Receivables set forth in Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to add the following proviso at the end thereof: |
; provided that, solely for purposes of Sections 5.1(r) , 5.2(f) and 5.3 , AB Receivables shall include related assets that are customarily transferred in or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions or factoring transactions involving accounts receivable.
3. | Effectiveness of this Amendment; Condition Precedent . This Amendment shall be deemed to have become effective as of the date hereof, but such effectiveness shall be expressly conditioned upon Agents receipt of a counterpart of this Amendment executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Borrower, each other Credit Party, the Required Lenders and Agent. |
4. | Authorization of Agent . Without limiting the generality of the provisions set forth in Article VII of the Credit Agreement, each Lender hereby consents to and authorizes the Agents execution and delivery of (a) an intercreditor agreement, substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit B hereto and (b) a security interest release letter, substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit C hereto, in each case, relating to the initial proposed AB Qualified Receivables Financing. |
5. | Miscellaneous . |
(a) | Headings . The various headings of this Amendment are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Amendment or any provisions hereof. |
(b) |
Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and |
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all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof. |
(c) | Interpretation . No provision of this Amendment shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of such partys having or being deemed to have structured, drafted or dictated such provision. |
(d) | Representations and Warranties . Each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants that, as of the date hereof: |
(i) | this Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability; |
(ii) | its execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and its performance of the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary action, and do not and will not: (1) contravene the terms of its Organizational Documents, (2) conflict with or result in any material breach or contravention of, or result in the creation of any Lien under, any document evidencing any material Contractual Obligation to which it is a party or any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which it or its Property is subject, or (3) violate any Requirement of Law in any material respect; and |
(iii) | after giving effect to this Amendment, (1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) each representation and warranty of such Credit Party contained in the Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document to which it is a party is true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein), except to the extent that such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date (in which event such representation or warranty is true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein) as of such earlier date). |
(e) |
Ratification . Each Credit Party hereby (i) ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under each of the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, (ii) ratifies and reaffirms the grant of liens or security interests over |
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its property pursuant to the Loan Documents and confirms that such liens and security interests continue to secure the Obligations, (iii) agrees that such ratification and reaffirmation is not a condition to the continued effectiveness of the Loan Documents, and (iv) agrees that neither such ratification and reaffirmation, nor Agents nor any Lenders solicitation of such ratification and reaffirmation, constitutes a course of dealing giving rise to any obligation or condition requiring a similar or any other ratification or reaffirmation from each party to the Credit Agreement with respect to any amendment, consent or waiver with respect to the Credit Agreement or other Loan Documents. |
(f) | Governing Law . THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN ALL MATTERS ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR RELATING TO, THIS AMENDMENT . |
(g) | Effect . Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Credit Agreement to this Agreement, hereunder, hereof or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement, thereunder, thereof, or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby. Except as expressly provided in this Amendment, all of the terms, conditions and provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain the same. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for purposes of the Credit Agreement. |
(h) | No Other Waiver . Except as specifically set forth in this Amendment, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not (a) limit, impair, constitute a waiver by, or otherwise affect any right, power or remedy of, Agent or any Lender under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) constitute a waiver of any provision in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or of any Default or Event of Default that may have occurred and be continuing or (c) alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. |
(i) | Agents Expenses . The Borrower hereby agrees to promptly reimburse Agent for all of the reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys and paralegals fees, it has heretofore or hereafter incurred or incurs in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment. |
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.
WISE ALLOYS LLC , as the Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Rina Teran | |
Name: Rina Teran | ||
Title: Vice President and Secretary |
WISE METALS GROUP LLC , as a Credit Party | ||
By: | /s/ Rina Teran | |
Name: Rina Teran | ||
Title: Vice President and Secretary |
WISE ALLOYS FINANCE CORPORATION , as a Credit Party | ||
By: | /s/ Rina Teran | |
Name: Rina Teran | ||
Title: Vice President and Secretary |
LISTERHILL TOTAL MAINTENANCE CENTER LLC , as a Credit Party | ||
By: | /s/ Rina Teran | |
Name: Rina Teran | ||
Title: Vice President and Secretary |
ALABAMA ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICES, LLC , as a Credit Party | ||
By: | /s/ Rina Teran | |
Name: Rina Teran | ||
Title: Vice President and Secretary |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 5
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION , as Agent, Swingline Lender and a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Matthew N. McAlpine | |
Name: Matthew N. McAlpine | ||
Title: Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 5
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GE CAPITAL BANK , as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Woodrow Broader Jr. | |
Name: Woodrow Broader Jr. | ||
Title: Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 5
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GE ASSET BASED MASTER NOTE , as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Matthew N. McAlpine | |
Name: Matthew N. McAlpine | ||
Title: Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 5
(Wise Alloys LLC)
REGIONS BANK , as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Elizabeth L. Waller | |
Name: Elizabeth L. Waller | ||
Title: Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 5
(Wise Alloys LLC)
HVB CAPITAL CREDIT LLC , as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Christopher J. Norrito | |
Name: Christopher J. Norrito | ||
Title: Vice President |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 5
(Wise Alloys LLC)
Exhibit A
Specified Defaults
1. | Event of Default arising under Section 6.1(c) of the Credit Agreement as a result of the Borrowers failure to deliver to Agent and each Lender a Borrowing Base Certificate within twenty (20) days after the end of the January 2015 calendar month, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.2(d) of the Credit Agreement. |
2. | Default arising under Section 6.1(d) of the Credit Agreement as a result of the Borrowers failure to deliver to Agent and each Lender a summary of Inventory by location and type with a supporting perpetual Inventory report within twenty (20) days after the end of the January 2015 calendar month, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.2(e) of the Credit Agreement. |
3. | Default arising under Section 6.1(d) of the Credit Agreement as a result of the Borrowers failure to deliver to Agent and each Lender a detailed aging of Accounts within twenty (20) days after the end of the January 2015 calendar month, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.2(f) of the Credit Agreement. |
4. | Default arising under Section 6.1(d) of the Credit Agreement as a result of the Borrowers failure to deliver to Agent and each Lender, concurrently with the delivery of the Borrowing Base referenced in paragraph 1 above, collateral reports, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.2(h) of the Credit Agreement. |
5. | Event of Default arising under Section 6.1(c) of the Credit Agreement as a result of the Borrowers failure to deliver to Agent and each Lender, not later than thirty (30) days after the end of the January 2015 fiscal month, a copy of the unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of Holdings and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income, shareholders equity and cash flows as of the end of such fiscal month and for the portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.1(c) of the Credit Agreement. |
6. | Event of Default arising under Section 6.1(c) of the Credit Agreement as a result of the Borrowers failure to deliver to Agent and each Lender, concurrently with delivery of the financial statements referenced in paragraph 5 above, a Compliance Certificate, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.2(b) of the Credit Agreement. |
7. | Default arising under Section 6.1(d) of the Credit Agreement as a result of the Borrowers failure to deliver to Agent and each Lender, concurrently with delivery of the financial statements referenced in paragraph 5 above, a reconciliation of certain specified items, as further described in Section 4.2(i) of the Credit Agreement. |
8. | Event of Default arising pursuant to Section 6.1(d) of the Credit Agreement as a result of the Borrowers failure to deliver to Agent and each Lender, on or prior to February 27, 2015, projections of the Credit Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries consolidated and consolidating financial performance for the 2016 through the 2018 Fiscal Years on a year-by-year basis, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.2(k) of the Credit Agreement and Section 3 of that certain Consent and Amendment No. 4 to this Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2014. |
9. | Event of Default arising pursuant to Section 6.1(c) of the Credit Agreement as a result of the Borrowers failure to notify promptly Agent and each Lender of the foregoing Defaults and Events of Default, as currently required pursuant to Section 4.3(a) of the Credit Agreement. |
Exhibit B
Form of Intercreditor Agreement
[Attached]
EXECUTION COPY
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
This INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of March 23, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this Agreement ), is by and among GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, in its capacity as agent under the ABL Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined) (the ABL Agent ), HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its capacity as purchaser under the Receivables Purchase Agreement (as hereinafter defined) (the Receivables Purchaser ), WISE ALLOYS LLC, as Originator, Servicer and Borrower, and Wise Alloys Funding LLC, as Receivables Seller (the Receivables Seller ).
R E C I T A L S:
A. Wise Alloys LLC, in its capacity as the Originator (the Originator ), has agreed to sell to the Receivables Seller all of the Originators right, title and interest in, and the Receivables Seller has agreed to purchase from the Originator, all of the Originators right, title and interest in, certain Receivables pursuant to a Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Sale Agreement ), by and between the Originator and the Receivables Seller.
B. The Receivables Seller, Wise Alloys LLC, as Servicer (in such capacity, the Servicer ), and the Receivables Purchaser are parties to a Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Receivables Purchase Agreement ), pursuant to which the Receivables Purchaser has agreed, among other things, to purchase from the Receivables Seller from time to time Receivables and the Related Rights thereto purchased by the Receivables Seller pursuant to the Sale Agreement.
C. Wise Alloys LLC is party to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the ABL Credit Agreement ), by and among Wise Alloys LLC, as the Borrower (in such capacity, the Borrower ), the other Credit Parties (the Credit Parties ) signatory thereto, the ABL Agent, and the Lenders (the Lenders ) signatory thereto.
D. To secure, inter alia , the Borrowers and the other Credit Parties obligations under the Loan Documents, the Borrower and the other Credit Parties have granted to the ABL Agent for the benefit of the ABL Agent and the other Secured Parties, a lien over, substantially all of their assets, including the Receivables, and all proceeds of the foregoing.
E. The parties hereto wish to set forth certain agreements with respect to the Receivables Assets (as hereinafter defined) and with respect to the ABL Collateral (as hereinafter defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, it is hereby agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS.
1.1. Certain Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
ABL Claim mean all Obligations as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, all Bank Product Obligations and obligations arising under Secured Rate Contracts (each as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement)).
ABL Collateral means all property and interests in property, now owned or hereafter acquired or created, of any of the Credit Parties in or upon which an ABL Interest is granted or purported to be granted pursuant to the Loan Documents by such Credit Party to the ABL Agent on behalf of the ABL Secured Parties, other than the Receivables Assets.
ABL Enforcement Period means the period of time commencing upon the ABL Agents delivery of an Enforcement Notice to the Receivables Purchaser and the Borrower until the earlier of the following: (1) the Receivables Claim has been satisfied in full, the Receivables Purchaser has no further obligations under the Receivables Documents and the Receivables Documents have been terminated and (2) the ABL Claim has been satisfied in full (or, with respect to outstanding letters of credit issued under the ABL Credit Agreement, such letters of credit shall have been cash collateralized or supported with one or more back-up letters of credit, in amounts and in a manner reasonably acceptable to the ABL Agent and the applicable issuers thereof), the Lenders have no further obligations under the Loan Documents and the Loan Documents have been terminated.
ABL Event of Default has the meaning ascribed to the term Event of Default in the Credit Agreement.
ABL Interest means, with respect to any property or interest in property, now owned or hereafter acquired or created, of any of the Credit Parties, any lien, claim, encumbrance, security interest or other interest of the ABL Agent or any of the other ABL Secured Parties in such property or interests in property.
ABL Secured Parties has the meaning ascribed to the term Secured Parties in the ABL Credit Agreement.
Business Day means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banks are required or authorized to close in New York City.
Claim means the ABL Claim or the Receivables Claim, as applicable.
Collection Account means the account maintained in the name of the Receivables Seller at HSBC Bank USA, National Association with account number 000253936.
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Collections means, with respect to any Receivable, all cash collections and other proceeds of such Receivable (including late charges, fees and interest arising thereon, and all recoveries with respect to Receivables that have been written off as uncollectible) but excluding, however, such collections and proceeds received by the Originator with respect to and as consideration for the sale of the Purchased Receivables by the Originator to the Receivables Seller.
Contracts means, with respect to any Receivable, the contracts and other agreements related to such Receivable.
Enforcement Notice means a written notice that shall (i) if delivered by the Receivables Purchaser, state that a Termination Event has occurred, specify the nature of the Termination Event, and state that an HSBC Enforcement Period has commenced and (ii) if delivered by the ABL Agent, state that an ABL Event of Default has occurred and that the payment in full of the ABL Claim has been demanded or the indebtedness of the Credit Parties to the Lenders has been accelerated, specify the nature of the ABL Event of Default that caused such demand and acceleration, and state that an ABL Enforcement Period has commenced.
HSBC Enforcement Period means the period of time commencing upon the Receivables Purchasers delivery of an Enforcement Notice to the ABL Agent and the Borrower until the earlier of the following: (1) the Receivables Claim has been satisfied in full, the Receivables Purchaser has no further obligations under the Receivables Documents and the Receivables Documents have been terminated and (2) the ABL Claim has been satisfied in full (or, with respect to outstanding letters of credit issued under the ABL Credit Agreement, such letters of credit shall have been cash collateralized or supported with one or more back-up letters of credit, in amounts and in a manner reasonably acceptable to the ABL Agent and the applicable issuers thereof), the Lenders have no further obligations under the Loan Documents and the Loan Documents have been terminated.
Loan Documents has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Credit Agreement.
Obligor means Anheuser-Busch, LLC.
Person means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture, institution, public benefit corporation, governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.
Purchased Receivables means Receivables sold, transferred or contributed by the Originator to the Receivables Seller under the Sale Agreement prior to the Purchase Termination Date; provided that, Purchased Receivables shall not include any previous Purchased Receivables that have subsequently been repurchased or otherwise reacquired by the Originator or any Credit Party.
Purchase Termination Date has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Receivables Purchase Agreement.
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Receivable means an account receivable of the Originator for which the related account debtor is the Obligor.
Related Rights means, with respect to any Receivable:
(a) all of the Receivable Sellers and the Originators interest in any documents of title evidencing the shipment or storage of any goods that give rise to such Receivable, and all goods (including returned goods) relating to such Receivable;
(b) all instruments, chattel paper or other documents or contracts, to the extent evidencing such Receivable;
(c) all other security interests or liens and property subject thereto from time to time, to the extent purporting to secure payment of such Receivable, whether pursuant to the Contracts related to such Receivable or otherwise, together with all UCC financing statements or similar filings relating thereto;
(d) all of the Receivable Sellers and the Originators rights, interests and claims under the Contracts and all guaranties, indemnities, insurance and other agreements or arrangements of whatever character from time to time, to the extent supporting or securing payment of such Receivable or otherwise relating to such Receivable, whether pursuant to the Contracts related to such Receivable or otherwise;
(e) all of the Receivable Sellers right and remedies as against the Originator under the Sale Agreement and/or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Receivables Purchase Agreement as of the date hereof); and
(f) all Collections and proceeds of any of the foregoing.
Receivables Assets means, collectively, the Purchased Receivables and the Related Rights with respect to such Purchased Receivables.
Receivables Claim means all obligations and other liabilities of the Originator to the Receivables Seller and of the Originator and the Receivables Seller to the Receivables Purchaser now or hereafter arising under, or in connection with, the Receivables Documents.
Receivables Documents means the Transaction Documents (as defined in the Receivables Purchase Agreement).
Receivables Interest means, with respect to any property or interests in property, now owned or hereafter acquired or created, of the Originator, any lien, claim, encumbrance, security interest or other interest of the Receivables Seller and/or the Receivables Purchaser in such property or interests in property.
Termination Event has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Receivables Purchase Agreement.
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UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the applicable jurisdiction.
Unsold Receivables means any Receivables other than Purchased Receivables.
Wise Alloys Account means the account maintained in the name of Wise Alloys LLC at Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, with account number 2000013956783 (or such other account designated in a notice delivered by Wise Alloys LLC and countersigned by the ABL Agent to the Receivables Purchase).
1.2. Rules of Construction . 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. 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, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns, (c) 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, (d) 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 (e) 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.
1.3. References to Terms Defined in the Receivables Documents and the Loan Documents . Whenever in Section 1.1 a term is defined by reference to the meaning ascribed to such term in any of the Receivables Documents or in any of the Loan Documents, then, unless otherwise specified herein, such term shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Receivables Documents or Loan Documents, respectively, as in existence on the date hereof, without giving effect to any subsequent amendments of such term (or any subsequent amendment of terms used in such term) as may hereafter be agreed to by the parties to such documents, unless such subsequent amendments have been consented to in writing by all of the parties hereto.
ARTICLE 2. INTERCREDITOR PROVISIONS.
2.1. Deposit of Collections in Collection Account . The Receivables Seller has established the Collection Account to receive amounts owing under the Receivables. The Servicer shall direct the Obligor to deposit all Collections directly to the Collection Account and none of the Servicer, the Receivables Seller, the Originator, the Borrower or any of the other Credit Parties shall direct the Obligor to deposit Collections directly to any other account.
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2.2. Reconciliation Report . The Servicer shall identify, match and reconcile any Collections deposited in the Collection Account with the Receivables associated with such Collections and, no less frequently than weekly (or at such other times as may be reasonably requested by the ABL Agent or the Receivables Purchaser), deposit (or cause to be deposited) all Collections in respect of the Unsold Receivables directly to the Wise Alloys Account and cause all Collections in respect of the Purchased Receivables to be retained in the Collection Account. The Servicer shall deliver a reconciliation report, substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit A hereto, to the ABL Agent and the Receivables Purchaser concurrently with the transfer of any Collections from the Collection Account to the Wise Alloys Account or the retention of any Collections in the Collection Account.
2.3. Unidentifiable Collections . Subject to Section 2.5 hereof, if Collections are received but not identified by the Obligor as relating to a particular Receivable and cannot otherwise be reasonably identifiable as relating to a particular Receivable within fifteen (15) Business Days following receipt thereof, such Collections shall be applied to the outstanding Receivables (whether constituting Purchased Receivables or Unsold Receivables) with the oldest scheduled payment date that are not subject to any dispute with the Obligor.
2.4. Enforcement Rights .
(a) Subject to any applicable restrictions in the Receivables Documents, the Receivables Purchaser may at its option and without the prior consent of the other parties hereto, take any action to liquidate the Receivables Assets or to foreclose or realize upon or enforce any of its rights with respect to the Receivables Assets; provided that, the Receivables Purchaser shall give the ABL Agent prior written notice before directing the Obligor to make payments in respect of the Purchased Receivables to any account other than the Collection Account (but failure to do so shall not impair or otherwise adversely affect any rights or remedies the Receivables Purchaser may have with respect to the Receivables Assets under the Receivables Documents).
(b) Subject to any applicable restrictions in the Loan Documents, the ABL Secured Parties may, at their option and without the prior consent of the other parties hereto, take any action to accelerate payment of the ABL Claim or any other obligation or liability arising under any of the Loan Documents and to foreclose or realize upon or enforce any of their rights with respect to the ABL Collateral or other collateral security; provided that, the ABL Agent shall give the Receivables Purchaser prior written notice before directing the Obligor to make payments in respect of the Unsold Receivables to any account other than the Collection Account (but failure to do so shall not impair or otherwise adversely affect any rights or remedies the ABL Agent may have with respect to the ABL Collateral under the Loan Documents).
2.5. Turnover Provisions .
(a) In the event that any Credit Party, the Receivables Seller or the Receivables Purchaser now or hereafter obtains possession of any ABL Collateral, it shall reasonably promptly deliver to the ABL Agent (or its designees) such ABL Collateral in the same form as received (and until delivered to the ABL Agent (or its designees), such ABL Collateral shall be held in trust for the benefit of the ABL Secured Parties); provided that, (i) if
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such ABL Collateral constitutes Collections, so long as no ABL Enforcement Period has commenced, such Credit Party, the Receivables Seller or the Receivables Purchaser, as applicable, shall cause such Collections to be deposited into the Collection Account reasonably promptly following receipt thereof and (ii) subject to clause (i) of this proviso, so long as no ABL Enforcement Period has commenced, such Credit Party, the Receivables Seller or the Receivables Purchaser, as applicable, shall cause such ABL Collateral to be delivered to the Borrower (or its designees) in the same form as received (and until delivered to the ABL Agent (or its designees), such ABL Collateral shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Borrower and the ABL Secured Parties).
(b) In the event that any Credit Party or the ABL Agent now or hereafter obtains possession of any Receivables Assets, it shall reasonably promptly deliver to the Receivables Purchaser (or its designees) such Receivables Assets (and until delivered to the Receivables Purchaser (or its designees), such Receivables Assets shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Receivables Purchaser in the same form as received); provided that, if such Receivables Assets constitute Collections, so long as no HSBC Enforcement Period has commenced, such Credit Party or the ABL Agent, as applicable, shall cause such Collections to be deposited into the Collection Account reasonably promptly following receipt thereof.
2.6. Agency for Perfection . The Receivables Purchaser and the ABL Agent hereby appoint each other as agent solely for purposes of perfecting by possession their respective security interests and ownership interests and liens, if any, on the ABL Collateral and Receivables Assets described hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Receivables Purchaser shall not have any fiduciary duty to the ABL Agent, and the ABL Agent hereby waives and releases the Receivables Purchaser from any and all claims and liabilities (including, without limitation, for failure to perfect, or maintain the perfection of, the ABL Agents security interest, if any, in the ABL Collateral) arising pursuant to the Receivables Purchasers role under this Section 2.6 , as agent with respect to the ABL Collateral and (ii) the ABL Agent shall not have any fiduciary duty to the Receivables Purchaser, and the Receivables Purchaser hereby waives and releases the ABL Agent from any and all claims and liabilities (including, without limitation, for failure to perfect, or maintain the perfection of, the Receivables Purchasers security interest, if any, in the Receivables Assets) arising pursuant to the ABL Agents role under this Section 2.6 , as agent with respect to the Receivables Assets.
2.7. Independent Credit Investigations . Neither the Receivables Purchaser, the ABL Agent nor any of the other ABL Secured Parties nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible to the other or to any other Person for the solvency, financial condition or ability of the Originator, the Servicer, the Receivables Seller or any Credit Party to perform the Receivables Claim or repay the ABL Claim, or for the worth of the Receivables Assets or the ABL Collateral, or for statements of the Originator, the Receivables Seller or the Credit Parties, oral or written, or for the validity, sufficiency or enforceability of the Receivables Claim, the ABL Claim, the Receivables Documents, the Loan Documents, the Receivables Purchasers interest in the Receivables Assets or the ABL Agents or any other ABL Secured Partys interest in the ABL Collateral. The ABL Secured Parties and the Receivables Purchaser have entered into their respective agreements with the Originator, the Servicer, the Receivables Seller or the Credit Parties, as applicable, based upon their own independent investigations. None of the ABL Secured Parties or the Receivables Purchaser makes any warranty or representation to the other nor does it rely upon any representation of the other with respect to matters identified or referred to in this Section 2.7 .
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2.8. Marshalling of Assets . Nothing in this Agreement will be deemed to require either the Receivables Purchaser or any of the ABL Secured Parties (i) to proceed against certain property securing the ABL Claim (or any other obligation or liability under the ABL Credit Agreement or other Loan Documents) or the Receivables Claim (or any other obligation or liability under the Receivables Documents), as applicable, prior to proceeding against other property securing such Claim or obligations or liabilities or against certain Persons guaranteeing any such obligations or (ii) to marshall the ABL Collateral (or any other collateral) or the Receivables Assets (as applicable) upon the enforcement of the ABL Agents or the Receivables Purchasers rights and remedies under the Loan Documents or Receivables Documents, as applicable.
2.9. Effect Upon Loan Documents and Receivables Documents . Each Credit Party acknowledges that the provisions of this Agreement shall not give such Credit Party any substantive rights as against the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party and that nothing in this Agreement shall amend, modify, change or supersede the terms of the Loan Documents as between the Credit Parties, the ABL Agent and the other ABL Secured Parties. Each of the Originator, the Servicer, and the Receivables Seller acknowledges that the provisions of this Agreement shall not give it any substantive rights as against the Receivables Purchaser and that nothing in this Agreement shall amend, modify, change or supersede the terms of the Receivables Documents as among the Receivables Seller or the Receivables Purchaser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the Receivables Purchaser and the ABL Agent agrees, that, as between themselves, to the extent the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents or the Receivables Documents are inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall control.
2.10. Deposit of Payments in Wise Alloys Account . Each of the Borrower, the Originator, the Servicer and the Receivables Seller acknowledges and agrees that all collections and cash proceeds received by the Originator with respect to and as consideration for the sale of the Purchased Receivables shall be deposited directly by the Originator to the Wise Alloys Account.
2.11. Further Assurances . Each of the parties agrees to take such actions as may be reasonably requested by any other party, whether before, during or after an ABL Enforcement Period or an HSBC Enforcement Period, in order to effect the rules of distribution and allocation set forth above in this Article 2 and to otherwise effectuate the agreements made in this Article. The ABL Agent acknowledges and agrees that there is no ABL Interest in the Receivables Assets, and the Receivables Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that there is no Receivables Interest in the ABL Collateral.
ARTICLE 3. MISCELLANEOUS.
3.1. Notices . All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall, unless otherwise stated herein, be in writing and mailed, transmitted or delivered, as to each party hereto, at its address set forth under its name on the signature pages hereof or at such other
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address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and communications shall be effective upon receipt, or, in the case of notice by mail, three (3) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or in the case of notice by facsimile copy or other electronic transmission, upon senders receipt of confirmation of proper transmission.
3.2. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
3.3. Amendments; Waivers . (a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder 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 parties hereto 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 any party 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. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or otherwise modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the ABL Agent and the Receivables Purchaser; provided that, no such agreement shall by its terms amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or obligations of any of the Originator, the Servicer, the Receivables Seller, the Borrower or any other Credit Party without its prior written consent.
3.4. Continuing Nature of Provisions . This Agreement shall continue to be effective until either of the following have occurred: (a) the Receivables Claim has been satisfied in full, the Receivables Purchaser has no further obligations under the Receivables Documents and the Receivables Documents have been terminated and (b) the ABL Claim has been satisfied in full (or, with respect to outstanding letters of credit issued under the ABL Credit Agreement, such letters of credit shall have been cash collateralized or supported with one or more back-up letters of credit, in amounts and in a manner reasonably acceptable to the ABL Agent and the applicable issuers thereof), the Lenders have no further obligations under the Loan Documents and the Loan Documents have been terminated.
3.5. Supplements . At the request of the ABL Agent or the Receivables Purchaser, the Borrower shall cause any additional affiliate that becomes a Credit Party after the date hereof to execute a joinder hereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the ABL Agent, at which time such new Credit Party shall be a party to this Agreement and shall be bound by the provisions hereof to the same extent as the Borrower is so bound.
3.6. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PROVISIONS).
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3.7. Submission to Jurisdiction . Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the courts of the State of New York located in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, or of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives any objection, including any objection to the laying of venue or based on the grounds of forum non conveniens, that such party may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such action or proceeding in such jurisdictions.
3.8. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO, THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OTHER TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. THIS WAIVER APPLIES TO ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE.
3.9. Section Titles . The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are and shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
3.10. Severability . Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
3.11. Execution in Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as ABL Agent | ||
By: | ||
Name: Matthew N. McAlpine | ||
Title: Duly Authorized Signatory |
Address: | 500 West Monroe Street | |
Chicago, Illinois 60661 | ||
Attention: | Wise Alloys Account Officer | |
with a copy to: | ||
Address: | General Electric Capital Corporation | |
Corporate Finance | ||
500 West Monroe Street | ||
Chicago, Illinois 60661 | ||
Attention: | Mark OLeary | |
Facsimile: | (312) 441-6876 |
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Receivables Purchaser | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Address: | 452 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor | |
New York, New York 10018 | ||
Attention: | Regional Head, Global Trade and Receivables Finance | |
with a copy to: | ||
Address: | HSBC Bank USA, National Association | |
452 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor | ||
New York, New York 10018 | ||
Attention: | Legal, Global Trade and Receivables Finance |
Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement
WISE ALLOYS LLC, as Originator, as Servicer and as Borrower | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Address: | ||
Attention: | ||
Telecopy: | ( ) - |
WISE ALLOYS FUNDING LLC, as Receivables Seller By: | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Address: | ||
Attention: | ||
Telecopy: | ( ) - |
Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement
Each of the undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees to the foregoing terms and provisions.
[OTHER CREDIT PARTIES], as a Credit Party By: | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit A
Form of Reconciliation Report
Account |
Sold to
Name (Customer) |
Address |
Document
No. (Invoice No.) |
Amount |
Invoice
Date |
Invoice
Due Date |
Term
Date |
Payment
Date |
Payment
Amount |
Offsets | Outstanding | |||||||||||
Exhibit C
Form of Security Interest Release Letter
[Attached]
EXECUTION COPY
March 23, 2015
Wise Alloys LLC
4805 Second Street
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
Attn: Alex Godwin or Treasury Department
Re: Release of Security Interest in Certain Receivables
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of March 4, 2014, Amendment No. 2 dated as of June 30, 2014, Amendment No. 3 dated as of November 26, 2014, Amendment No. 4 dated as of December 23, 2014 and Amendment No. 5 dated as of March 23, 2015, and as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time after the date hereof, the Credit Agreement ), among Wise Alloys LLC ( Wise Alloys ) as the Borrower (in such capacity, the Borrower ), the other Credit Parties thereto, General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent (in such capacity, the Agent ), and the Lenders from time to time party thereto.
Capitalized terms used in this letter agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Credit Agreement.
The Borrower has advised the Agent that it is entering into a Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of March 23, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Receivables Sale Agreement ) between Wise Alloys, as Seller, and Wise Alloys Funding LLC ( WAF ), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wise Alloys, as Purchaser, providing for the sale by Wise Alloys to WAF of AB Receivables, and that WAF, as seller, Wise Alloys, as Servicer and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Purchaser, are entering into a Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of March 23, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Receivables Purchase Agreement ) providing for the sale of AB Receivables sold by Wise Alloys to WAF pursuant to the Receivables Sale Agreement be sold by WAF to HSBC Bank USA, National Association.
The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Agent that the transactions contemplated by the Receivables Sale Agreement and the Receivables Purchase Agreement together constitute an AB Qualified Receivables Financing under the Credit Agreement and therefore, in connection therewith and as provided in Section 7.10 of the Credit Agreement, requests that the Agent release any Lien held by the Agent in the AB Receivables and the Related Rights (as defined below) with respect thereto to be transferred from time to time by the Borrower to WAF under the Receivables Sale Agreement (such transferred AB Receivables, the Purchased Receivables and, with all Related Rights (as defined in that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Agent, HSBC Bank USA, National Association, Wise Alloys and WAF) with respect thereto, collectively, the Released Assets ).
In consideration of the foregoing, the Agent (on behalf of the Secured Parties), hereby acknowledges and agrees that, upon any transfer of any Released Assets by Wise Alloys to WAF pursuant to the Receivables Sale Agreement, any Lien held by the Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in such Released Assets shall be terminated and released and shall be of no further force and effect without the need for any further action (it being understood that no other Liens held by the Agent under or in connection with the Collateral Documents are being terminated or released).
By their respective signatures attached hereto, each Person signatory hereto acknowledges and agrees that the releases of liens, security interests and other rights described above are limited solely to the Released Assets, and all other Liens granted to Agent under the Loan Documents are entirely unmodified by the release set forth above. The Agent waives, and agrees that it shall have no right to make, any claim against the Borrower in respect of the Released Assets, including without limitation by reason of any security interest granted by the Borrower in such Released Assets; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the agreements herein, including without limitation the releases of Liens of the Agent, shall not be construed to release, extinguish or terminate any Lien of the Agent in or to any proceeds received by any Credit Party from any transfer of Released Assets to WAF pursuant to the Receivables Sale Agreement.
THIS LETTER AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
This letter agreement may be executed in counterparts and by separate parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart to this letter agreement by facsimile, .pdf file or similar electronic means shall constitute, and shall be effective as, delivery of a manually signed counterpart hereto.
[Signature pages follow]
Very truly yours, | ||
GENERAL ELECTRIC CREDIT CORPORATION , as Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED: | ||
WISE ALLOYS LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 4.38
EXECUTION COPY
AMENDMENT NO. 6
TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
This AMENDMENT NO. 6 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this Amendment ), dated as of November 4, 2015, by and among Wise Alloys LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Borrower ), the other Credit Parties signatory hereto, General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent ( Agent ), and the Lenders signatory hereto, amends that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the Credit Agreement ), by and among the Borrower, the other Credit Parties party thereto, Agent, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that Agent and the Lenders agree to make certain amendments to the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Lenders party hereto and Agent have so agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree to enter into this Amendment.
1. Amendment to Credit Agreement . Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2 of this Amendment, the parties hereto agree that the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to replace the reference to $300,000,000 contained in clause (j) of Section 5.5 of the Credit Agreement with $400,000,000.
2. Effectiveness of this Amendment; Conditions Precedent . This Amendment shall be deemed to have become effective as of the date hereof, but such effectiveness shall be expressly conditioned upon Agents receipt of (i) a counterpart of this Amendment executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Borrower, each other Credit Party, the Required Lenders and Agent and (ii) the consent and reaffirmation agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, executed and delivered by Constellium Holdco II, B.V.
3. Miscellaneous .
(a) Headings . The various headings of this Amendment are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Amendment or any provisions hereof.
(b) Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.
(c) Interpretation . No provision of this Amendment shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of such partys having or being deemed to have structured, drafted or dictated such provision.
(d) Representations and Warranties . Each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants that, as of the date hereof:
(i) this Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability;
(ii) its execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and its performance of the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary action, and do not and will not: (1) contravene the terms of its Organizational Documents, (2) conflict with or result in any material breach or contravention of, or result in the creation of any Lien under, any document evidencing any material Contractual Obligation to which it is a party or any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which it or its Property is subject, or (3) violate any Requirement of Law in any material respect; and
(iii) after giving effect to this Amendment, (1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) each representation and warranty of such Credit Party contained in the Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document to which it is a party is true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein), except to the extent that such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date (in which event such representation or warranty is true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein) as of such earlier date).
(e) Ratification . Each Credit Party hereby (i) ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under each of the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, (ii) ratifies and reaffirms the grant of liens or security interests over its property pursuant to the Loan Documents and confirms that such liens and security interests continue to secure the Obligations, (iii) agrees that such ratification and reaffirmation is not a condition to the continued effectiveness of the Loan Documents, and (iv) agrees that neither such ratification and reaffirmation, nor Agents nor any Lenders solicitation of such ratification and reaffirmation, constitutes a course of dealing giving rise to any obligation or condition requiring a similar or any other ratification or reaffirmation from each party to the Credit Agreement with respect to any amendment, consent or waiver with respect to the Credit Agreement or other Loan Documents.
(f) Governing Law . THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN ALL MATTERS ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR RELATING TO, THIS AMENDMENT.
(g) Effect . Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Credit Agreement to this Agreement, hereunder, hereof or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement, thereunder, thereof, or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby. Except as expressly provided in this Amendment, all of the terms, conditions and provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain the same. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for purposes of the Credit Agreement.
(h) No Other Waiver . Except as specifically set forth in this Amendment, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not (a) limit, impair, constitute a waiver by, or otherwise affect any right, power or remedy of, Agent or any Lender under the Credit Agreement
2
or any other Loan Document, (b) constitute a waiver of any provision in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or of any Default or Event of Default that may have occurred and be continuing or (c) alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect.
(i) Agents Expenses . The Borrower hereby agrees to promptly reimburse Agent for all of the reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys and paralegals fees, it has heretofore or hereafter incurred or incurs in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.
WISE ALLOYS LLC , as the Borrower | ||||
By: | /s/ Yves Monette |
Name: | Yves Monette | |||
Title: | CFO |
WISE METALS GROUP LLC , as a Credit Party | ||||
By: | /s/ Yves Monette |
Name: | Yves Monette | |||
Title: | CFO |
WISE ALLOYS FINANCE CORPORATION , as a Credit Party | ||||
By: | /s/ Yves Monette |
Name: | Yves Monette | |||
Title: | CFO |
LISTERHILL TOTAL MAINTENANCE CENTER LLC , as a Credit Party | ||||
By: | /s/ Yves Monette |
Name: | Yves Monette | |||
Title: | CPO |
ALABAMA ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICES, LLC , as a Credit Party | ||||
By: | /s/ Yves Monette |
Name: | Yves Monette | |||
Title: | CFO |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 6
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION , as Agent, Swingline Lender and a Lender |
||||
By: | /s/ Matthew N. McAlpine | |||
Name: Matthew N. McAlpine | ||||
Title: Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 6
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GE CAPITAL BANK , as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Heather-Leigh Glade |
Name: | Heather-Leigh Glade | |||
Title: Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 6
(Wise Alloys LLC)
GE ASSET BASED MASTER NOTE , as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Matthew N. McAlpine |
Name: | Matthew N. McAlpine | |||
Title: | Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 6
(Wise Alloys LLC)
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. , as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Kenneth B. Butler |
Name: | Kenneth B. Butler | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 6
(Wise Alloys LLC)
REGIONS BANK , as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Elizabeth L. Waller |
Name: | Elizabeth L. Waller | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 6
(Wise Alloys LLC)
EVERBANK , as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Timothy King | |||
Name: Timothy King | ||||
Title: Loan Officer |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 6
(Wise Alloys LLC)
EXHIBIT A
Consent and Reaffirmation
Constellium HoldCo II B.V. (the Guarantor ) hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the foregoing Amendment No. 6 dated as of the date hereof (the Amendment ) by and among Wise Alloys LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Borrower ), the other Credit Parties signatory thereto, General Electric Capital Corporation, as Agent ( Agent ), and the Lenders signatory thereto, amending that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the Credit Agreement ), by and among the Borrower, the other Credit Parties party thereto, Agent, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement. The Guarantor hereby (1) ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under that certain Guaranty, dated as of January 5, 2015 (the Guaranty ) by the Guarantor in favor of the Agent, (2) agrees that neither such ratification and reaffirmation, nor the Agents or any Lenders solicitation of such ratification and reaffirmation, constitutes a course of dealing giving rise to any obligation or condition requiring a similar or any other ratification or reaffirmation from the Guarantor with respect to any subsequent modifications to the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (3) agrees that none of the terms and conditions of the Amendment shall limit or diminish its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Guaranty and (4) agrees that the Guaranty remains in full force and effect and is hereby reaffirmed, ratified and confirmed. All references to the Credit Agreement contained in the Guaranty shall be a reference to the Credit Agreement as so modified by the Amendment and as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified or restated.
Dated: November 4, 2015
[Signature Page Follows]
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO II, B.V. , as Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 10.8
3 December 2015
(1) THE COMPANIES LISTED IN SCHEDULE 1, AS SELLERS
(2) CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO II B.V., as Parent Company
(3) CONSTELLIUM SWITZERLAND AG, as Sellers Agent
(4) GE FACTOFRANCE SAS, as Factor
AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT
Dentons Europe
Association dAvocats à Responsabilité Professionnelle Individuelle
5 boulevard Malesherbes, 75008 Paris, France
CONTENTS
Clause | Page | |||
1. Definitions and interpretation |
3 | |||
2. Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Factoring Agreement |
4 | |||
3. Representations |
4 | |||
4. Miscellaneous |
4 | |||
5. Effective Global Rate |
5 | |||
6. Governing law and jurisdiction |
6 | |||
SCHEDULE 1. The Sellers |
7 | |||
SCHEDULE 2. Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement |
8 |
THIS AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT is made on 3 December 2015:
BETWEEN:
(i) | Each of the ENTITIES LISTED IN SCHEDULE 1 ( The Sellers ) (each of them being referred to as a Seller and collectively the Sellers ); |
(ii) | CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO II B.V. , a company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands as a besloten vennootschap, whose registered office is at Tupolevlaan 41-61, 1119 NW Schipol-Rijk, The Netherlands, registered with the trade and companies registry of the Netherlands under number 34393946 0000, in its capacity as parent company (the Parent Company ); |
(iii) | CONSTELLIUM SWITZERLAND AG, a company incorporated under the laws of Switzerland as an Aktiengesellschaft, whose registered office is at Max Högger-Strasse 6 8048 Zürich, Switzerland, registered with the trade and companies registry of Zurich under number CH17030058406, in its capacity as sellers agent (the Sellers Agent ); |
AND
(iv) | GE FACTOFRANCE S.A.S. , a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée and licensed as a credit institution (établissement de crédit), whose registered office is located at Tour Facto, 18, rue Hoche, 92988 Paris-La Défense Cedex, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Nanterre under number 063 802 466 (the Factor ) |
(the Sellers, the Parent Company, the Sellers Agent and the Factor hereinafter collectively referred to as the Parties and individually, as a Party ).
WHEREAS:
(A) | The Parties have entered into on 4 January 2011 a factoring agreement as amended from time to time pursuant to which the Factor has made available a factoring facility to the Sellers (the Existing Factoring Agreement ). |
(B) | The Parties have decided to enter into this amendment and restatement agreement in order to amend and restate the Existing Factoring Agreement (the Amendment and Restatement Agreement ). |
IT HAS BEEN AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
1.1.1 | In this Amendment and Restatement Agreement: |
Amendment Effective Date means:
(i) | 15 December 2015, subject to the Factor being satisfied that the conditions precedent set out in Schedule 3 ( Conditions Precedent ) of the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement are met; or |
(ii) | if on 15 December 2015, the Factor is not satisfied that the conditions precedent set out in Schedule 3 ( Conditions Precedent ) of the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement are met, the date on which the Factor becomes satisfied that such conditions precedent are met. |
Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement means the Existing Factoring Agreement as amended and restated in accordance with this Amendment and Restatement Agreement in the form set out in SCHEDULE 2 ( Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement ) .
Signing Date means the date hereof.
1.1.2 | Save as otherwise provided herein, terms used in the above recitals and in this Amendment and Restatement Agreement shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement. |
1.2 | General Interpretation |
The rules of construction set forth in clause 1 of the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement shall be applicable to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement.
2. | AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE EXISTING FACTORING AGREEMENT |
2.1 | With effect from the Amendment Effective Date, the Existing Factoring Agreement is amended and restated so as to be in the form set out in SCHEDULE 2 ( Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement ) hereto. |
2.2 | The provisions of the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement shall be substituted to the provisions of the Existing Factoring Agreement, provided that: |
2.2.1 | such substitution shall not be construed as a novation ( novation ) of the respective obligations of the parties under the Existing Factoring Agreement as prior to the date hereof; and |
2.2.2 | any provision of the Existing Factoring Agreement which is not modified pursuant to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement remains unchanged. |
2.3 | In any of the Factoring Facility Documents, any reference to the Existing Factoring Agreement shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be read and construed as a reference to the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement. |
3. | REPRESENTATIONS |
3.1 | On the Amendment Effective Date, each Seller and, as the case may be, the Sellers Agent and the Parent Company, make to the Factor, the representations set out in Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement . |
4. | MISCELLANEOUS |
4.1 | This Amendment and Restatement Agreement is a Factoring Facility Document. |
4.2 | With effect from the Amendment Effective Date, each Seller confirms that the security interests created under the Collection Account Guarantee Agreement to which such Seller is a party continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms and extend to its liabilities and obligations under the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement and under the other Factoring Facility Documents as amended on the Amendment Effective Date, as the case may be. |
4.3 |
With effect from the Amendment Effective Date, the Parent Company irrevocably and unconditionally confirms that its obligations under the Parent Performance Guarantee continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the amendments to the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement as provided for |
under this Amendment and Restatement Agreement and extend to the liabilities and obligations of each Seller under the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement, under the terms and conditions of the Parent Performance Guarantee.
4.4 | For the avoidance of doubt, it is specified that the entering into of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement will not give rise to any additional amounts payable to the Factor other than those specifically set out in the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement or expressly agreed with any member of the Group; and in particular, the Factor expressly agrees that no amount will be payable to it under clause 9.1.2 (Establishment) of the Existing Factoring Agreement. |
5. | EFFECTIVE GLOBAL RATE |
5.1 | For the application of the provisions of Article R.313-1-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, each Party acknowledges that, taking into account the specificity of the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement as provided for under this Amendment and Restatement Agreement (in particular the variable nature of the SFC rate), the taux effectif global (the Effective Global Rate ) cannot be calculated on the Signing Date but an indicative calculation of such rate shall be provided in this clause 5 ( Effective Global Rate ) . |
5.2 | In application of Article R.313-1-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, the indicative calculation of the Effective Global Rate applicable to this Agreement for Financing in Euros, on the basis of an arithmetic average of the daily EURIBOR rates for the month of December being set at 0%, is 1,62% per year as of the Signing Date. |
5.3 | In application of Article R.313-1-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, the indicative calculation of the Effective Global Rate applicable to this Agreement for Financing in USD, on the basis of an arithmetic average of the daily LIBOR rates for the month of December being set at 0,37%, is 2,00% per year as of the Signing Date. |
5.4 | This rate is calculated, as an indication only, on the basis of a 365 day year (366 days for leap years) during the term of the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement, pursuant to the terms and conditions that normally apply, namely the following assumptions: |
(a) | a level of Financing under this Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement equal to the Maximum Total Financing Amount; |
(b) | average delay in payments by the Debtors of : |
(i) | fifty-nine (59) calendar days for Constellium Issoire; |
(ii) | forty-five (45) calendar days for Constellium Neuf Brisach; and |
(iii) | sixty-five (65) calendar days for Constellium Extrusions France. |
(c) | a Special Financing Commission as specified in Clause 9.2 (Special Financing Commission ( SFC )) of the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement; |
(d) | the Dilution Reserve as specified in Clause 8.5 ( Dilutions Reserve ) of the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement; and |
(e) | the Non-Utilization Fee as specified in clause 9.4 ( Non-Utilization Fee) of the Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement. |
5.5 | Even if the reference rate of the Special Financing Commission does not vary, the Effective Global Rate may increase or decrease during the term of this Amended and Restated Factoring Agreement depending on changes to the various assumptions set out above and/or contractual parameters. |
6. | GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION |
6.1 | Subject to Clause 6.2 below, the provisions of this Amendment and Restatement Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and shall be governed by French law. |
6.2 | Each of the Parties to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement agrees that any and all disputes arising out of or in connection with this Amendment and Restatement Agreement and in particular with its validity, interpretation, performance or non-performance, shall be exclusively referred to the competent courts of the Paris Court of Appeals |
6.3 | Each Party to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement irrevocably waives any objection which it might now or hereafter have to the courts referred to in Clause 6.2 being nominated as the forum to hear and determine any suit, action or proceedings, and to settle any disputes, which may arise out of or in connection with this Amendment and Restatement Agreement and agrees not to claim that any such court is not a convenient or appropriate forum. |
SCHEDULE 1. T HE S ELLERS
Name |
Registered Office |
Registration
Number |
Jurisdiction | |||
Constellium Issoire | rue Yves Lamourdedieu ZI les Listes 63500 Issoire, France |
672 014 081 RCS
Clermont-Ferrand |
France | |||
Constellium Neuf Brisach | ZIP Rhénane Nord, RD 52, 68600 Biesheim | 807 641 360 RCS Colmar | France | |||
Constellium Extrusions France | 1 Passage Eiffel, CS 40046, 21702 Nuits-Saint-Georges | 662 032 374 RCS Dijon | France |
SCHEDULE 2.
A MENDED AND R ESTATED F ACTORING A GREEMENT
3 December 2015
(5) THE COMPANIES LISTED IN SCHEDULE 1, AS SELLERS
(6) CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO II B.V., as Parent Company
(7) CONSTELLIUM SWITZERLAND A.G., as Sellers Agent
(8) GE FACTOFRANCE SAS, as Factor
AMENDED AND RESTATED FACTORING AGREEMENT
Dentons Europe
Association dAvocats à Responsabilité Professionnelle Individuelle
5 boulevard Malesherbes, 75008 Paris, France
3
CONTENTS
1. Definitions and Interpretation |
6 | |||
2. Assignment of Receivables |
8 | |||
3. Financing of Financeable Amounts |
10 | |||
4. Non-Recourse Factoring Facility |
12 | |||
5. Definancing and Transfer-Back of Receivables |
15 | |||
6. Credit Insurance Policy |
17 | |||
7. Servicing of the Transferred Receivables |
19 | |||
8. Factoring Accounts |
29 | |||
9. Remuneration of the Factor |
36 | |||
10. Taxes |
39 | |||
11. Representations, Warranties and Undertakings |
42 | |||
12. Term and Early Termination |
42 | |||
13. Access to Web Services |
48 | |||
14. Costs and Expenses |
49 | |||
15. ConfidentialityUtilisation of Information collected by the FactorSubstitution |
50 | |||
16. Miscellaneous provisions |
52 | |||
17. Appointment of Sellers Agent |
54 | |||
18. Change to the Parties |
55 | |||
19. Applicable LawJurisdiction |
57 | |||
SCHEDULE 1. Definitions |
58 | |||
SCHEDULE 2. The Sellers |
76 | |||
SCHEDULE 3. Conditions Precedent |
77 | |||
SCHEDULE 4. Representation, Warranties and Undertakings |
79 | |||
SCHEDULE 5. Value Dates |
86 | |||
SCHEDULE 6. Credit And Collection Procedures |
88 | |||
SCHEDULE 7. Computer Relationship Guide |
96 | |||
SCHEDULE 8. Transferred Receivables Ledgers |
121 | |||
SCHEDULE 9. Form Of Consent Letter |
122 | |||
SCHEDULE 10. Collection Accounts |
123 | |||
SCHEDULE 11. Location Of Records |
124 | |||
SCHEDULE 12. Current Accounts |
125 | |||
SCHEDULE 13. Financing Requests GE Adressees |
126 | |||
SCHEDULE 14. Jurisdiction Matrix* |
128 |
4
SCHEDULE 15. Accession Form |
132 | |||
SCHEDULE 16. Schedule Specific to the Sellers |
133 | |||
SCHEDULE 17. List of Audited Items |
144 | |||
SCHEDULE 18. List of Airbus Companies |
145 | |||
SCHEDULE 19. Form of Rexam First Demand Guarantee |
147 | |||
SCHEDULE 20. Form of Letter of Waiver and Consent |
4 |
5
FACTORING AGREEMENT originally dated 4 January 2011, as amended and restated on 3 December 2015:
BETWEEN:
(v) | Each of the ENTITIES LISTED IN SCHEDULE 1 ( The Sellers ) (each of them being referred to as a Seller and collectively the Sellers ); |
(vi) | CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO II B.V. , a company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands as a besloten vennootschap, whose registered office is at Tupolevlaan 41-61, 1119 NW Schipol-Rijk, The Netherlands, registered with the trade and companies registry of the Netherlands under number 34393946 0000, in its capacity as parent company (the Parent Company ); |
(vii) | CONSTELLIUM SWITZERLAND A.G., a company incorporated under the laws of Switzerland as an Aktiengesellschaft, whose registered office is at Max Högger-Strasse 6 8048 Zürich, Switzerland, registered with the trade and companies registry of Zurich under number CH17030058406, in its capacity as sellers agent (the Sellers Agent ); |
AND
(viii) | GE FACTOFRANCE S.A.S. , a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée and licensed as a credit institution (établissement de crédit), whose registered office is located at Tour Facto, 18, rue Hoche, 92988 Paris-La Défense Cedex, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Nanterre under number 063 802 466 (the Factor ) |
(the Sellers, the Parent Company, the Sellers Agent and the Factor hereinafter collectively referred to as the Parties and individually, as a Party ).
WHEREAS:
(C) | The Parties have entered into on 4 January 2011 a factoring agreement as amended from time to time (the Existing Factoring Agreement ) pursuant to which the Factor has made available a factoring facility to the Sellers. |
(D) | The Parties have decided to enter into this agreement (the Agreement ) in order to amend and restate the Existing Factoring Agreement. |
IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
7. | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
7.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement, terms and expressions used with a capital letter shall, except where the context otherwise requires, have the meaning given to them in SCHEDULE 3 (Definitions).
7.2 | Interpretation |
(a) | The Agreement sets forth all the rights and obligations of the Parties. It replaces and substitutes any and all prior letters, proposals, offers and agreements between the Parties. |
6
(b) | In this Agreement, unless the contrary intention appears, any reference to: |
(i) | this Agreement includes a reference to its recitals and its Schedules; |
(ii) | a Clause, a Paragraph or a Schedule is a reference to a clause, a paragraph or a schedule of this Agreement; |
(iii) | the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa; and |
(iv) | time in this Agreement refers to local time in Paris (France), unless expressly provided to the contrary. |
(c) | Words appearing therein in French shall have the meaning ascribed to them under French law and such meaning shall prevail over their translation into English, if any. |
(d) | Where an obligation is expressed in a Factoring Facility Document to be performed on a date which is not a Business Day, such date shall be postponed to the first following day that is a Business Day unless that day falls in the following calendar month in which case that date will be the first preceding day that is a Business Day. |
(e) | Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Factoring Facility Document, any reference in a Factoring Facility Document to: |
(v) | any agreement or other deed, arrangement or document shall be construed as a reference to the relevant agreement, deed, arrangement or document as the same may have been, or may from time to time be, replaced, extended, amended, restated, varied, supplemented or superseded; |
(vi) | any statutory provision or legislative enactment shall be deemed also to refer to any re-enactment, modification or replacement and any statutory instrument, order or regulation made thereunder or under any such re-enactment; and |
(vii) | any party to a Factoring Facility Document shall include references to its successors, permitted assigns and any person deriving title under or through it; references to the address of any person shall, where relevant, be deemed to be a reference to the location of its then registered office or equivalent as current from time to time. |
(f) | Unless expressly provided to the contrary, all references made in this Agreement to a day are references to a calendar day. |
(g) | Unless expressly provided to the contrary, all references made in this Agreement to the term control shall have the meaning given to it in Article L. 233-3 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce). |
(h) | A Default or an Event of Default is continuing if it has not been remedied (within the applicable grace period, if any) or waived. |
(i) | gross negligence means faute lourde . |
(j) | A guarantee includes any cautionnement , aval and any garantie which is independent from the debt to which it relates. |
7
(k) | A merger includes any fusion implemented in accordance with articles L.236-1 to L.236-24 of the French Commercial Code. |
(l) | A person includes any person, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality). |
(m) | wilful misconduct means dol . |
(n) | set-off shall be construed so as to include analogous and/or corresponding rights in any applicable jurisdiction. |
8. | ASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES |
8.1 | Assignment of Eligible Receivables |
8.1.1 | Conditions Precedent |
(a) | No Seller shall be entitled to offer to Assign any Eligible Receivable to the Factor and the Factor shall not be obliged to accept any offer to Assign any Eligible Receivable: |
(i) | until all of the conditions precedent set forth in SCHEDULE 5 ( Conditions Precedent ) have been fulfilled in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Factor or have been waived by the Factor; |
(ii) | if a Stop Purchase Event is outstanding; |
(iii) | if on the relevant Assignment Date, the sum of (x) the Insurance Indemnifications received under the Credit Insurance Policy and (y) the insurance claims filed but not yet indemnified by the Credit Insurer under the Credit Insurer Policy exceeds 80% of the Maximum Insurance Liability; |
(iv) | if on the relevant Assignment Date, the Maximum Total Financing Amount would be reached (if the Sellers require financing in relation to such Eligible Receivables); and |
(v) | If such Receivable is not an Eligible Receivable as at its Assignment Date, or if as at such date, an automatic cancellation of coverage ( Stop Automatique de la Couverture ) or any similar concepts under the Credit Insurance Policy has occurred, (otherwise the provisions of Clause 11.2.1 will apply 1 ); |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties acknowledge that the conditions precedent set forth in SCHEDULE 5 ( Conditions Precedent ) Part 1 shall be satisfied or waived at the latest on the Signing Date. The Factor undertakes to promptly notify the Sellers Agent if any condition precedent is not fulfilled in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it on the date on which such condition precedent is due to be fulfilled.
8.1.2 | Offer to Assign Eligible Receivables |
1 | Subject to CCs discussion with Atradius |
8
(a) | Subject to the provisions of Clause 8.1.1 ( Conditions Precedent ), each Seller shall be entitled to offer to Assign Eligible Receivables to the Factor no more than twice a week (or any other frequency agreed upon by the Parties) but at least twice a month. |
(b) | Each Seller may offer to Assign Eligible Receivables, by: |
(i) | transmitting by tele-transmission to the Factor a 101 electronic file complying with the Computer Relationship Guide (together with the relevant Seller Codes) and identifying the Eligible Receivables purported to be Assigned by setting out, for each Receivable, its Debtors name, its amount, the reference of the invoice out of which it arises, its location and payment date and the currency in which it is denominated; and |
(ii) | providing the Factor with a Transfer Document duly signed by a duly empowered signatory specifying the reference of the relevant 101 electronic file (and the related upload date). |
8.1.3 | Payment by the Factor |
(a) | Subject to the provisions of Clause 8.1.1 ( Conditions Precedent ), upon receipt of an offer to Assign Eligible Receivables from a Seller in accordance with Clause 8.1.2 ( Offer to Assign Eligible Receivables ) and provided that the relevant Transfer Document has been exchanged or, as appropriate, delivered (manually or electronically) in accordance with the Transfer Mode, the Factor shall, on the Business Day following the receipt of such offer (such date being an Assignment Date with respect to such Seller), date such Transfer Document in accordance with the Transfer Mode. |
(b) | Upon completion of the procedure and formalities of the relevant Transfer Mode, each Transfer Document dated by the Factor shall transfer to the Factor absolute title on and full ownership (or, as applicable, the beneficial interest therein) of the Eligible Receivables set out therein. |
(c) | Subject to the provisions of Clause 8.1.1 ( Conditions Precedent ), the Factor shall: |
(i) | if the relevant Transfer Document is received on an Assignment Date not later than 12.00 noon Paris time on any Business Day, on the Business Day immediately following such receipt; or |
(ii) | if the relevant Transfer Document on an Assignment Date is received after 12.00 noon Paris time on any Business Day, on the second Business Day following such receipt, |
pay the purchase price for the Transferred Receivables set out in such Transfer Document by crediting the Current Account of the relevant Seller with an amount equal to the Face Value of such Transferred Receivables.
8.1.4 | Selection of Debtors |
(a) |
As consideration for the services provided by the Factor, each of the Sellers undertakes to transfer title to the Transferred Receivables exclusively to the Factor. Consequently, the Sellers undertake not to enter into any agreement |
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which would grant rights to third parties over such Transferred Receivables which would negatively affect the rights granted to the Factor hereunder over those Transferred Receivables. For the avoidance of doubt, this Clause 8.1.4 ( Selection of Debtors ) does not affect the right for a Seller to grant Reductions or Cancellations Items in respect of a Transferred Receivable. |
(b) | In addition, once a Transferred Receivable has been assigned to the Factor in relation to a Debtor, the Sellers undertake to subsequently offer to transfer to the Factor all the Eligible Receivables related to such Debtor. |
(c) | Any Seller may request the Factor in writing to no longer transfer Receivables over any given Debtor by sending a ten (10) Business Days prior notice to the Factor, provided that: |
(i) | the aggregate amount of Financeable Receivable in respect of Transferred Receivables over such Debtor represent less than fifty per cent (50%) of the total amount of Transferred Receivables over that Debtor, unless such Seller transfers to the Factor Eligible Receivables over one or more new Debtors, the amount of which compensate the loss of the portfolio of Receivables over the existing Debtor; or |
(ii) | the relevant Seller provides the Factor with reasonable commercial explanations justifying such request (such as for example, the requirement from the relevant Debtor to enter into a reverse factoring program), and to the extent that such withdrawal does not significantly affect (taking into account previous withdrawals of Debtors pursuant to this Clause 8.1.4(c)) the Financeable Amount . |
9. | FINANCING OF FINANCEABLE AMOUNTS |
9.1 | Financing |
9.1.1 | Upon request from the relevant Seller (or the Sellers Agent acting on its behalf) sent to the addressees specified in SCHEDULE 15 ( Financing Requests GE Adressees ) by e-mail (a Financing Request ) specifying (i) the Financeable Amount in respect of which such Seller is requesting a Financing (the Requested Amount ) and (ii) identifying the Financeable Receivables to be Financed in the relevant currency from the Factor and setting out for each of such Financeable Receivable, the Expected Financing Period per Receivable (the Requested Financed Receivables ), and provided that: |
(a) | each Requested Financed Receivable shall be fully Financed, and therefore, the sum of the Face Value of each Requested Financed Receivables shall be equal to the Requested Amount; and |
(b) | the Requested Amount does not exceed the Financeable Amount for the Seller on the date of the relevant request, |
the Factor shall, until the Transaction Settlement Date, make available to the relevant Seller the Requested Amount by debiting such amounts from the available balance of the relevant Current Account (after, as the case may be, having transferred all or part of this amount from the Available Financing Account of the relevant Seller) and paying them to the relevant Seller by way of wire transfer (virement) to the Bank Account or to
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such other account as the relevant Seller may from time to time specify, provided that if a Financing Request is sent by the relevant Seller (or the Sellers Agent acting on its behalf) to the Factor (i) before 10 a.m. on a given Business Day, Financing will be made available by the Factor to such Seller on the same Business Day, or (ii) after 10 a.m. on a given Business Day, Financing will be made available by the Factor to such Seller on the following Business Day.
9.1.2 | On any day on which a Seller transfers Financeable Receivables to the Factor, if such Seller (or the Sellers Agent acting on its behalf) does not make a Financing Request or if the Financing Request it makes is for a Requested Amount lower to the Financeable Amount credited on the Current Account of such Seller on such date, the Factor will transfer the Financeable Amount credited on such Current Account to the Available Financing Account of such Seller in accordance with in Clause 14.2 (Available Financing Account). |
9.1.3 | On any Assignment Date, should the sum of (x) the Insurance Indemnifications received under the Credit Insurance Policy and (y) the insurance claims filed but not yet indemnified by the Credit Insurer under the Credit Insurer Policy exceed 80% of the Maximum Insurance Liability, the Seller shall be entitled to cease to offer to Assign Eligible Receivables and the Parties agree to discuss the consequences of this event. If sixty (60) days after such Assignment Date, the Parties have not agreed to continue the Factoring Facility, the Commitment Period shall terminate. |
9.2 | Financeable Amounts |
The amounts which are, at any time (until the Transaction Settlement Date), financeable to each Seller by the Factor (the Financeable Amounts ) shall correspond to the credit balance at such time on the Current Account of such Seller (including, on any Assignment Date, the Face Value of the Financeable Receivables Assigned by such Seller on such Assignment Date, less (i) the sum of the credit balance of the Reserve Accounts of such Seller and the amounts of the Dilution Reserve and (ii) as the case may be, any outstanding debit position of the relevant Current Account as at such date).
9.3 | Maximum Total Financing Amount |
9.3.1 | The Financeable Amount for all Sellers on any date cannot exceed the Maximum Total Financing Amount less the aggregate Financed Amounts for all Sellers as at such date and the Financed Amounts for all Sellers shall never exceed the Maximum Total Financing Amount. |
9.3.2 | Should the aggregate Financeable Amounts for all Sellers potentially exceed the Maximum Total Financing Amount less the aggregate Financed Amounts for all Sellers, the maximum Financeable Amount shall be reduced pro rata up to the Maximum Total Financing Amount less the aggregate Financed Amounts for all Sellers. |
9.3.3 | As from the date falling 12 months after the Signing Date, or at any time after the occurrence of a Factor Change of Control, the Parent Company shall be entitled to request in writing to the Factor that the Maximum Total Financing Amount be reduced in all or in part. Such reduction shall enter into force ten (10) Business Days after the receipt by the Factor of the aforementioned request. |
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9.3.4 | Should the Factor identify on any date that the aggregate amount of Financeable Receivables to be purchased by the Factor on the following Assignment Date is likely to cause the Maximum Total Financing Amount to be exceeded, the Factor will notify the Sellers Agent and the Parties undertake to discuss in good faith about a potential increase in the Maximum Total Financing Amount to avoid causing the Maximum Total Financing Amount to be exceeded. |
9.4 | Transfer of Non-Financeable Amounts to a Deferred Availability Account |
The Factor shall debit the relevant Non-Financeable Amounts from the Current Account applicable to the relevant Seller and credit them to the applicable Deferred Availability Account.
9.5 | Request for transfer of collections relating to Non-Financeable Receivables and Definanced Receivables. |
9.5.1 | For each Seller, collections received under Non-Financeable Receivables will be credited by the Factor to the available balance of such Sellers Current Account. The payment of such collections to each relevant Seller shall be made by the Factor as soon as practicable after receipt of such collections and in any case within two (2) Business Days. |
9.5.2 | Any payment made under this Clause shall be made available by the Factor to the relevant Seller by debiting such amounts from the available balance of the relevant Current Account and paying them to such Seller by way of wire transfer (virement) to the Bank Account or to such other account as the Seller may from time to time specify. |
10. | NON-RECOURSE FACTORING FACILITY |
10.1 | Non Recourse Factoring Facility |
10.1.1 | The Factoring Facility made available to the Sellers in respect of Approved Receivables under this Agreement is a non-recourse facility. As a result the Factor shall not be entitled to exercise any recourse against the Sellers by reason of a payment default by a Debtor under an Approved Receivable, provided that: |
(a) | such Receivable is a Financeable Receivable; |
(b) | the Seller of such Receivable has complied with its obligations under Clause 12 ( Credit Insurance Policy ) in respect of such Receivable, has complied with its obligations under the Credit Insurance Policy and has filed all relevant claims in a timely manner and in form acceptable by the Credit Insurer, otherwise the provisions of Clause 11.1.1 will apply; |
(c) | the non-payment of such Receivable does not result from such Receivable being a Disputed Receivable, otherwise the provisions of Clause 11.1.1 will apply; |
(d) | there is no credit notes not disclosed to the Factor that affect the value of a Transferred Receivable, otherwise the Factor will debit the Current Account of the relevant Seller from the corresponding unpaid amount in accordance with Clause 14.1.3(b); |
(e) | there is no adjustment items accounted for by the Seller which are not transferred to the Factor and which affect the value of a transferred receivable, otherwise the Factor will debit the Current Account of the relevant Seller from the corresponding unpaid amount in accordance with Clause 14.1.3(b); and |
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(f) | the non-payment of such Receivable does not result from the occurrence of an exclusion event set out in the Credit Insurance Policy allowing the Credit Insurer to refuse to indemnify such Receivable, otherwise the Factor will debit the Current Account of the relevant Seller from the corresponding unpaid amount in accordance with Clause 14.1.3(b). |
10.1.2 | Subject to Clause 10.1.1, the Factor hereby expressly waives: |
(a) | any Sellers guarantee pursuant to article L.313-24 of the French Code monétaire et financier in respect of any Approved Receivable Assigned by a Seller; |
(b) | any right of recourse (including any recours cambiaire under, inter alia , articles L 511-6, L 511-7, L 511-10, L 511-21, L 511-44, L 512-3 and L 512-4 of the French Code de commerce ) it may have against any Seller under any bills of exchange, negotiable instrument, promissory note related to any Approved Receivable that has been endorsed to its benefit by such Seller and the Factor further undertakes to obtain a similar waiver not to exercise any of the rights of recourse referred to in this paragraph (b) from any third party transferee of any Approved Receivable; |
(c) | and more generally any and all rights of recourse it may have against the Seller with respect to unpaid Approved Receivables (including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the non-insured portion (quotité non-assurée) relating to such Receivables) and in particular shall not be entitled to debit the Current Account in an amount corresponding in full or in part to the non-payment of such Approved Receivables (other than expressly contemplated in Clause 4.1.1 above) or to request the payment of such amount (or any indemnity resulting from the relevant Debtors failure) from the relevant Seller). |
10.1.3 | The Factor hereby undertakes: |
(a) | not to claim any payment pursuant to a guarantee ( aval ) granted by the relevant Seller or any third party under a negotiable instrument (including, without limitation, promissory note ( billet à ordre ) and bill of exchange ( lettre de change )) related to any Approved Receivable that has been endorsed to its benefit by a Seller; and |
(b) | without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 13.10.2(b) ( Power of Attorney ) , not to endorse any negotiable instrument (including, without limitation, promissory note ( billet à ordre ) and bill of exchange ( lettre de change )) related to any Approved Receivable that has been endorsed to its benefit by a Seller. |
10.1.4 | On the Indemnification Maximum Payment Date applicable to such Approved Receivable, the Factor will automatically credit the Current Account of the relevant Seller with the Outstanding Amount of any Approved Receivable which is not a Financed Receivable and which is a Defaulted Receivable. Upon receipt from the Credit Insurer of the Insurance Indemnification relating to such Approved Receivable, the Factor will reduce the amount of the Asset Account of the relevant Seller with the Outstanding Amount of such Approved Receivable. |
10.2 | Approval of Transferred Receivables Assigned by the Seller |
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10.2.1 | Approval by the Factor |
(a) | Subject solely to the provisions of Clause 10.1.1 above, the Factor agrees to bear the credit risk under all Approved Receivables (VAT included) assigned by the Seller up to an amount in respect of each Debtor of the Seller (the Factor Approval Limit ). |
(b) | Subject to paragraph (d) below, with respect to each Debtor the Factor Approval Limit (including VAT) on any Assignment Date shall be equivalent to the Credit Insurer Approval Limit (including VAT) applied at such relevant time under the Credit Insurance Policy in respect of that Debtor. |
(c) | Any reduction or cancellation of approval being made by the Credit Insurer shall result in an automatic and pro tanto reduction or cancellation of the Factor Approval Limit in respect of any Debtor as from the date on which such reduction or cancellation of approval takes effect, it being agreed that such automatic and pro tanto reduction or cancellation of the Factor Approval Limit shall not affect the Receivables held against such Debtor that had already given rise to the issue of an invoice and that were falling within the Factor Approval Limit as at such date. |
(d) | Notwithstanding paragraph (b) above, the Factor may, at any time, in its discretion, reduce or set the Factor Approval Limit with respect to any Debtor below the corresponding Credit Insurer Approval Limit: |
(i) | without prior notice, with respect to the Approval Limit applicable to a new Debtor which was not a Debtor on the Signing Date; |
(ii) | without prior notice, upon the increase by the Credit Insurer of the Credit Insurer Approval Limit of any Debtor, with respect to the Approval Limit applicable to such Debtor provided that the Factor Approval Limit following such increase of the Credit Insurer Approval Limit shall not be lower than the Factor Approval Limit immediately before such increase; and |
(iii) | otherwise, subject to a fifteen-day prior notice to the relevant Seller, |
provided that such reduction shall not affect Receivables held against such Debtor that had already given rise to the issue of an invoice.
(e) | The Parties further acknowledge and agree to convene and discuss in good faith the way the Factor Approval Limit is determined under the Agreement should regulatory requirements currently, directly or indirectly, applicable to the Factor be lifted at any time during the continuation of the Agreement. |
(f) | The Factor will provide through the Web Services to each Seller the Factor Approval Limit applicable to each Debtor |
10.2.2 | Approved Receivables |
(a) |
When (i) a payment is made to the Factor under or in connection with an Approved Receivable (including any payment by the relevant Seller of any Dilution, Indirect Payment or any indemnity paid by the Seller as discharge for any non-payment by the relevant Debtor of any Approved Receivable) or (ii) the Credit Insurer and the Factor increases the Approval Limit in relation to a Debtor, |
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the available amount under the Approval Limit in respect of such Debtor will automatically increase, as the case may be (x) from the amount paid under or in connection with such Approved Receivable or (y) from the amount by which the Approval Limit has been increased by the Credit Insurer and the Factor, and such additional available amount will be automatically applied to Transferred Receivables which are not Approved Receivables as that time (if any). |
(b) | For the avoidance of any doubt, any Approved Receivable referred to in this Clause 10.2.2 shall immediately benefit from a full transfer of risks to the Factor in accordance and subject to Clause 10.1.1 as if such Approved Receivable had fallen within the Factor Approval Limit on the relevant Assignment Date. |
11. | DEFINANCING AND TRANSFER-BACK OF RECEIVABLES |
11.1 | Disputed Receivables and Defaulted Receivables |
11.1.1 | The Factor will be entitled to: |
(a) | Definance any Financed Receivable or to recharacterize any Financeable Receivable into Non-Financeable Receivable if such Receivables: |
(i) | becomes a Defaulted Receivable (a) in respect of which no claim has been filed with the Credit Insurer within the filing period set out in the Credit Insurance Policy or (b) which does not give rise to any indemnification by the Credit Insurer after the maximum indemnification period ( délai dindemnisation) under the Credit Insurance Policy, to the extent, in both cases, that such non-payment by the Credit Insurer is the direct consequence of a failure by the Seller to perform its obligations or exercise its rights under the Credit Insurance Policy (in which case the definancing or recharacterization shall be in an amount equal to the claim unpaid by the Credit Insurer), provided that if such non-payment by the Credit Insurer results in or from a dispute between the relevant Seller and the Credit Insurer and such dispute is definitively resolved in favour of the Seller before the Transaction Settlement Date and the Credit Insurer has to pay such claim, the relevant Receivable shall be Financed (or Financeable) again by the Factor by debiting from the relevant Deferred Availability Account and crediting the relevant Current Account with an amount equal to the Outstanding Amount of such Receivable, together with interests equal to the product of the Outstanding Amount of such Receivable by the sum of the Euribor and the Margin as at such date and the number of days elapsed between the Definancing of such Receivable and the new Financing of such Receivable divided by 360; or |
(ii) |
has been a Disputed Receivable for more than forty-five (45) Business Days as (i) from the issuance of a notice of Dispute by the relevant Seller to the Factor or (ii) from the date on which the Factor identifies a Dispute, based on the elements provided to it pursuant to Clause 13.5.4, provided that if such Dispute proves further to a definitive and binding court decision before the Transaction Settlement Date to be unfounded, or is determined in favour of the Seller or gives right to a settlement before the Transaction Settlement Date, the relevant Financed Receivable or Financeable Receivable shall be Financed again by the Factor by debiting from the |
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relevant Deferred Availability Account and crediting the relevant Current Account with an amount equal to the Outstanding Amount of such Receivable, together with interests equal to the product of the Outstanding Amount of such Receivable by the sum of the Euribor and the Margin as at such date and the number of days elapsed between the Definancing of such Receivable and the new Financing of such Receivable divided by 360. |
11.1.2 | If a Dispute affecting a Financeable Receivable is about the existence of the Transferred Receivable or if the Transferred Receivable is subject to a court proceeding in relation to a Dispute, such Transferred Receivable may be immediately Definanced (or recharacterized as a Non-Financeable Receivable) by the Factor; provided that, in case of a Definancing of an Approved Receivable (or recharacterization as a Non-Financeable Receivable), if the legal action referred to above proves to be unfounded, is determined in favour of the Seller further to a definitive and binding court jurisdiction before the Transaction Settlement Date or gives right to a settlement the relevant Approved Receivables shall be Financed (or, as the case may be, recharacterized as Financeable Receivable) again by the Factor by debiting such amount from the relevant Deferred Availability Account and by crediting the relevant Current Account by an amount equal to the Outstanding Amount thereof, together with interests equal to the product of the Outstanding Amount of such Receivable by the sum of Euribor and the Margin as at such date and the number of days elapsed between the Definancing of such Receivable and the new Financing of such Receivable divided by 360. |
11.2 | Transfer-Back |
11.2.1 | Any Transferred Receivable which was not an Eligible Receivable at the time of its Assignment may be Transferred-Back at any time by the Factor or at the request of the relevant Seller (or the Sellers Agent acting on its behalf). |
11.2.2 | At any time, the Factor shall be entitled to request any Seller to repurchase any Transferred Receivable which is owed by a Debtor which is subject to a Debtor Insolvency, to the extent that such Receivable is irrecoverable and the ownership by such Seller of such Transferred Receivable is required in order to obtain a reclaim or refund of VAT or any other taxes billed by such Seller in relation to such Transferred Receivable which may be refundable from the relevant authorities or levying body. |
11.2.3 | At any time, any Seller shall be entitled to request in writing the retransfer of any Definanced Receivable or any Non-Financeable Receivable, provided that upon request from the Credit Insurer, any Defaulted Receivable shall be, in accordance with the Credit Insurers instructions either: |
(a) | Transferred-Back to the relevant Seller in order for such Seller to transfer such Receivable to the Credit Insurer; or |
(b) | directly transferred from the Factor to the Credit Insurer, in accordance with the Credit Insurance Policy. |
11.3 | Procedure for the Transfer-Back of Transferred ReceivablesRetransfer Modes |
11.3.1 | The Parties agree that: |
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(a) | the Transfer-Back of any relevant outstanding Transferred Receivables originated by the relevant Seller which have been assigned to the Factor and that are to be Transferred-Back to it pursuant to this Agreement (the Affected Receivables ); and |
(b) | the payment of the relevant purchase price for the Transfer-Back of such Affected Receivables which shall be equal to, subject to Clause 11.3.4 below, (i) the amount of any payment made by the Factor to the relevant Seller in respect of such Affected Receivables less (ii) the collections, the Reduction or Cancellation Items and any Insurance Indemnification relating thereto (the Transfer-Back Price ), |
shall take place in accordance with and pursuant to the Retransfer Mode being applicable to the relevant Seller, provided that (i) the credit balance of the relevant Current Account shall be at least equal to such Transfer-Back Price on the date of the Transfer-Back, and (ii) if such purchase price is due pursuant to a Transfer-Back made in accordance with Clause 11.2.2, the payment of such purchase price shall be made in accordance with Clause 11.3.4.
11.3.2 | Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, immediately before debiting the Transfer-Back Price of any Affected Receivable which is a Definanced Receivable, the Factor will credit the Current Account of the relevant Seller with the Outstanding Amount of such Affected Receivable. |
11.3.3 | Upon completion of the applicable Retransfer Mode and full payment of the agreed Transfer-Back Price, the relevant Seller shall be the owner of the relevant Affected Receivables which have been Transferred-Back. |
11.3.4 | In case of a Transfer-Back made pursuant to Clause 11.2.2: |
(a) | the relevant Seller undertakes to promptly fulfill all relevant formalities in order to obtain from the relevant tax administration the repayment of the VAT amount previously paid in relation to the relevant Transferred-Back Receivable and shall immediately inform the Factor upon such VAT amount being paid or set-off by the relevant tax administration; and |
(b) | the Transfer-Back Price of such Transferred-Back Receivable shall be equal to the amount of VAT that the relevant Seller actually recovers (including by way of set-off) from the relevant tax authorities in relation to such Transferred-Back Receivable (provided that such Transfer-Back Price will be payable promptly upon receipt by the Seller of the relevant recovery). |
12. | CREDIT INSURANCE POLICY |
12.1 | Management of the Credit Insurance Policy |
12.1.1 | Each Seller shall be responsible for managing the Credit Insurance Policy and its obligations thereunder. In particular, each Seller will seek to obtain the Credit Insurer Approval Limits by providing the Credit Insurer with a list of Debtors. All costs, fees, commissions or expenses in respect of the Credit Insurance Policy shall be borne by the Sellers. |
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12.1.2 | Each Seller undertakes not to amend the Credit Insurance Policy without obtaining the prior written approval of the Factor unless such amendment relates to minor changes which do not adversely affect the Factors rights and obligations under the Credit Insurance Policy, provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the Sellers Agent or the Parent Company shall be entitled to request the exclusion of any country or any Debtor from the scope of the coverage of the Credit Insurance Policy, to the extent that such exclusion would not significantly affect the Financeable Amounts under the Factoring Facility. For the avoidance of doubt, any such exclusion will be subject to (i) the terms of Clause 8.1.4(c) in the case of a Debtor, and (ii) to updating the list of the Relevant Country in the case of a country. |
12.1.3 | Each Seller undertakes to provide the Factor, promptly upon first request, with (i) a copy of its turnover statements (déclarations de chiffre daffaires), (ii) evidence of payment of any premium or any another amount owed to the Credit Insurer under the Credit Insurance Policy, (iii) evidence of filings of insurance claims (déclarations de sinistre) with the Credit Insurer, (iv) evidence of any Credit Insurer Approval Limit applicable to a Debtor or (iv) more generally, any other correspondence between the Credit Insurer and such Seller relating to the Credit Insurance Policy generally. |
12.1.4 | To the extent that the Seller is deficient in doing so, the Factor shall be entitled following a five (5) Business Days prior written notice to the relevant Seller (or the Sellers Agent acting on its behalf), to step in and act in the name and on behalf of the relevant Seller under the Credit Insurance Policy in order to: |
(a) | produce and manage statements of factored turnover; |
(b) | send notifications relating to litigation and extensions of payment due date; |
(c) | send any claim for indemnification to the Credit Insurer; and |
(d) | pay the premium, if: |
(i) | such payment is then strictly necessary to ensure that: |
(1) | the Credit Insurance Policy is not terminated or otherwise expires or is cancelled; or |
(2) | no event qualified as a déchéance de garantie under the Credit Insurance Policy will occur as a result of the failure by the Seller to pay the premium; and |
(ii) | the Factor has given the Seller a five (5)-Business-Day notice of such intention to pay and the relevant premium remains unpaid at the end of such period. |
12.1.5 | Notwithstanding Clause 21 ( Confidentiality - Utilisation of Information collected by the Factor - Substitution ) , each Seller expressly authorises the Factor to provide the Credit Insurer with any information relating to the portfolio of Transferred Receivables. |
12.1.6 | In case claims ( déclarations dintervention contentieuse ) are filed with the Credit Insurer in respect of Transferred Receivables, any Insurance Indemnification amounts received from the Credit Insurer in respect of such Transferred Receivables shall be applied as follows: |
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(i) | first, in accordance with the terms of the Credit Insurance Policy; |
(ii) | absent any specific allocation rule in the Credit Insurance Policy, to the Receivable(s) indicated in writing by the Credit Insurer; or |
(iii) | absent any valid indication from the Credit Insurer, in chronological order by allocating such amounts starting with the Receivables having the oldest maturity, |
provided that any amount (if any) to be repaid by the Factor to the relevant Seller shall be repaid by the Factor to the relevant Seller as soon as possible and in any event within seven (7) Business Days from receipt thereof by the Factor. Similarly, if any insurance proceeds in respect of a Receivable not purchased by the Factor are paid directly to the Factor, the Factor shall as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within seven (7) Business Days from receipt thereof transfer such moneys to the relevant Seller.
12.1.7 | In accordance with the terms of the Credit Insurance Policy, any recovery whatsoever received by the Factor with respect to a Transferred Receivable which has been subject to an indemnification under the Credit Insurance Policy shall be distributed between the Factor, the Credit Insurer and the relevant Seller pro rata the loss supported by each of them vis-à-vis the Debtor such recovery relates to. Any such amount due to any Seller shall be paid by the Factor to the relevant Seller by way of credit to the Current Account within five (5) Business Days upon receipt of such amount. |
12.1.8 | The Factor hereby undertakes to: |
(a) | transfer to the Credit Insurer any Transferred Receivable that the Credit Insurer has requested to transfer in accordance with the terms of the Credit Insurance Policy; |
(b) | pay to the Credit Insurer such portion of any recovery received by, or paid to, the Factor which are payable to the Credit Insurer pursuant to the terms of the Credit Insurance Policy; and |
(c) | inform the Seller and the Credit Insurer within five (5) Business Days upon receipt by the Factor of any such recovery. |
13. | SERVICING OF THE TRANSFERRED RECEIVABLES |
13.1 | Servicing Mandate |
13.1.1 | The Factor hereby appoints each Seller as its agent ( mandataire ) for the servicing and collection of the Transferred Receivables Assigned by such Seller. The terms and conditions of such appointment (hereinafter, the Servicing Mandates ) are set out in this Clause 13 ( Servicing of the Transferred Receivables ). |
13.1.2 | As long as a Seller remains appointed by the Factor to service, administer and collect Transferred Receivables in accordance with this Clause 13, the Factor shall refrain from taking any step with a view to collecting such Transferred Receivable. |
13.1.3 | The Seller may sub-contract or delegate any part of the servicing, administration and collection services to be provided by it under this Agreement to any third party with the prior approval, not be unreasonably withheld, of the Factor (unless such third party is an Affiliate of such Seller) (the Agent ) provided that: |
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(iv) | the appointment of such Agent by the Seller shall not release or discharge the Seller from liability under this Agreement; and |
(v) | the Factor shall have no liability to the Agent in relation to any fees, costs, or expenses suffered or incurred by such Agent. |
13.1.4 | Notwithstanding paragraph 13.1.3 above, the Servicer may sub-contract or delegate any part of the servicing, administration and collection services to the Credit Insurer (or any Affiliate of the Credit Insurer) in accordance with the terms of the Credit Insurance Policy. |
13.1.5 | Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, a Seller shall not be required to do or cause to be done anything which it is prevented from doing by any regulatory direction, requirement of law or contractual undertaking and no legal, financial or technical advisor appointed by the Servicer shall be considered as an Agent for the purpose of this Clause. |
13.2 | Common interest |
Each Servicing Mandate is stipulated in the joint interest (intérêt commun) of both Parties. Consequently, the Parties agree that each Servicing Mandate is not without consideration, since each Seller has an essential commercial interest in keeping control of the servicing and collection from its Debtors and the terms and conditions of each Servicing Mandate has been considered by the Parties in the context of the global economy of this Agreement. In particular, the remuneration to be paid by the Sellers to the Factor takes into account the fact that there is no collection fee to be paid by the Factor to the Sellers in consideration for the collection of the Transferred Receivables.
13.3 | Collection of the Transferred Receivables |
13.3.1 | Collection Accounts |
(a) | Each Seller shall instruct the Debtors of Transferred Receivables to pay the amount they owe under any Transferred Receivable to the credit of a Collection Account. Each Seller shall as part of its Servicing Mandate transfer or ensure that all collections received on its Collection Accounts regarding Transferred Receivable be transferred on a daily basis to an account of the Factor as notified in writing by the Factor to each Seller. |
(b) | Each Collection Account opened under the name of a Seller shall be subject to a Collection Account Guarantee Agreement in a form and substance satisfactory to the Factor. |
(c) |
The Factor shall be entitled to require any Seller to open a new Collection Account with a new Bank if (i) the Bank in the books of which the existing Collection Account is opened does not fulfil its material obligations (if any) under the relevant Collection Account Guarantee Agreement (to the extent such breach is not remedied within 30 days from the notification of the relevant Bank and the Sellers Agent) or (ii) the credit rating assigned to the short term unguaranteed and unsubordinated obligations of such Bank falls below A1 (for Standard & |
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Poors or Fitch Ratings) and P1 (for Moodys). In accordance with Clause 13.3.1(b) the new Collection Account will have to be subject to a Collection Account Guarantee Agreement before receiving any collection under any Transferred Receivable. |
(d) | If a Debtor continues to pay amounts owed under Transferred Receivables on another bank account than a Collection Account for more than four (4) months from its receipt of the initial written request by the relevant Seller to pay on a Collection Account, the Seller may be requested by the Factor to send to the relevant Debtors monthly reminders of such new payment instructions, provided that, if further to the sending of two of such monthly reminders such request remains without effect, the Factor shall also be entitled to : |
(i) | exclude the relevant Debtor from the Factoring Facility until such time as such Debtor effectively pays the proceeds of the Transferred Receivables into the relevant Collection Account: or |
(ii) | with the prior consent of the relevant Seller, disclose the purchase and assignment of the Transferred Receivables to the relevant Debtor by sending a notice of assignment to the relevant Debtor. |
13.3.2 | Notification to Debtors |
The Assignments of Transferred Receivables shall remain confidential, and shall therefore remain un-notified to the relevant Debtors, provided that if the appointment of the Servicer is terminated in accordance with:
(a) | Clause 13.9.1 ( Debtor Termination Event ), notifications may be made by the Factor to the relevant Debtor(s) only; and |
(b) | Clause 13.9.2 (Servicer Termination Event), notifications may be made by the Factor to all Debtor(s) of the affected Seller. |
13.4 | Diligence and general obligations of each Seller as agent of the Factor |
13.4.1 | Each Seller undertakes to identify and individualise the Transferred Receivables outstanding, both in its computer systems and accounting ledgers, as from the entry into force of this Agreement. Each Seller will forward the Transferred Receivables Ledgers to the Factor at the latest ten (10) Business Days after the end of each quarter, for the purposes of the reconciliation of the relevant Asset Account with the Transferred Receivables Ledgers. |
13.4.2 | Each Seller undertakes to exercise its duties under the Servicing Mandate in a wise and prudent manner as if it were managing its own Receivables and if it were handling the servicing and collection of its own Receivables, the preservation of its rights related thereof and, more generally, to perform its obligations under the Servicing Mandate in the manner of a careful, diligent and informed agent (mandataire). Furthermore, each Seller undertakes to comply with its Credit and Collection Procedures. |
13.4.3 | Each of the Sellers will promptly inform the Factor of any change made or to be made in the Credit and Collection Procedures which is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
13.5 | Report on the performance of the Servicing Mandate |
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Each Seller undertakes to:
13.5.1 | report on the performance of the Servicing Mandate to the Factor by providing to the Factor (i) on a monthly basis, the relevant extracts of the aged debtors balance (balance clients agée) in respect of, for each Debtor, the details on the Transferred Receivables and the other Receivables (to the extent not already provided during annual audits), (ii) on a monthly basis, detailed statements setting out the year-end rebates and commercial discounts granted to the Debtors in relation to Transferred Receivables and (iii) on a weekly basis, to the extent such information has not already been transmitted to the Factor as part of the Assignments of Eligible Receivables made during that week, with the 102, 103 and 104 files and, in case the relevant Seller is technically unable to provide the above files to the Factor within the requested delay, any information relating to the management of the Transferred Receivables that may be reasonably requested by the Factor; |
13.5.2 | as soon as reasonably practicable, after becoming aware of them, notify the Factor, by any written means or any other support approved by the Parties, of the occurrence of any demand for extension on payment terms (to the extent that such extension is due to financial difficulties of the relevant Debtor), litigation relating to the Transferred Receivables or Debtor Insolvency in relation to any Debtor (such notice to include reasonable details on the event described therein); |
13.5.3 | inform the Factor of any change affecting the terms and conditions governing its contractual relations with its Debtors, to the extent such change may have a Material Adverse Effect; |
13.5.4 | provide the Factor promptly upon request with a file setting out all Transferred Receivables which are Defaulted Receivables on the date of the request; and |
13.5.5 | provide the Factor, in relation to a Defaulted Debtor who is one of the thirty (30) largest Debtors of all Sellers (based at any time on the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Transferred Receivables at such time), promptly upon request: (i) information as to the proceedings implemented by the Seller to recover such Receivables, and (ii) if requested by the Factor, the correspondence between the Seller and such Debtor. |
13.6 | Direct payments, Credit Notes |
13.6.1 | Payment to the Sellers |
When any Indirect Payment is made in the hands of any Seller, such Seller may only receive such Indirect Payment as agent of the Factor, and an equivalent amount shall be paid by such Seller to the Collection Account or to such other account as the Factor may designate in advance in writing. Failing such repayment being made within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such Indirect Payment (to the extent that the Seller has received on such date all information allowing the identification ( lettrage ) of such collections), the Factor shall be entitled to debit the corresponding amount from the Current Account, without prejudice to any other recourse.
13.6.2 | Compliant Credit Notes |
Each Seller agrees not to change the scope of the rights attached to a Transferred Receivable in a manner that would negatively affect the Factors rights thereunder, without the Factors approval to do so. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Factor shall
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be deemed to have accepted such change if it is (i) a Credit Note or adjusted invoice issued in the normal course of business and in accordance with normal trade practices or (ii) an extension on payment terms within the limit set forth under the Credit Insurance Policy or subject to the Factors approval. In any event, the Sellers agree to deliver to the Factor all information on Credit Notes or extensions on payment terms related to Transferred Receivables by no later than five (5) Business Days (or any longer period agreed upon between the Parties) after their issuance or granting.
13.6.3 | Non-compliance of Credit Notes |
Credit Notes that are not issued by the Sellers in accordance with usual business practices or issued in fraud of the Factors rights shall be deemed unenforceable against the Factor even if they have been recorded as credit to the Asset Account, and in such case the Factor shall be entitled to exercise a recourse as set out in Clause 10.1.1(b).
13.7 | Factors controls and audits |
13.7.1 | The Factor shall be entitled to carry audits or financial reviews on any of the Sellers or any party to which a Seller has subcontracted or delegated all or part of its Servicing Mandate, by itself or through a third party appointed by the Factor in consultation with the relevant Seller. In that respect, each Seller shall permit the Factor and its agents or representatives, upon reasonable written notice, to visit its operational offices for field audits during normal office hours (and which shall not unreasonably interfere with its usual daily operating needs): |
(a) | until the occurrence of an Event of Default, twice a year; and |
(b) | upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, one additional audit as required by the Factor, completed as necessary by complementary audits to be carried out in order to investigate issues identified during such additional audit; |
13.7.2 | in order (A) to carry out a specific review of financial, accounting or other relevant items as set out in SCHEDULE 19 ( List of Audited Items ) relating to potential liabilities of any Seller in the course of its business which may have an adverse impact on the rights of the Factor under the Factoring Facility and/or a review of the portfolio of Transferred Receivables, the Debtors and related items (such as bank statements), (B) to examine, make and take away copies to examine of the Records that are in its possession or under its control including any Contracts related to the Transferred Receivables, and to discuss matters relating to the Transferred Receivables or its performance under the Factoring Facility Documents or the Credit Insurance Policy with any of the officers or employees designated by it as having knowledge of such matters, (provided that if the delivery of any document is not possible or may, in such Sellers reasonable opinion, affect the best commercial interests of the relevant Seller, then the Sellers undertake to make available any such document for inspection by the Factor or its agents in every instance (provided that each Seller is entitled not to disclose the parts of the documents that it in good faith considers as (a) commercially sensitive information and (b) not necessary for the purpose of the Factor preserving or exercising its rights under the Transferred Receivables and the Factoring Facility Document)). |
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13.7.3 | The cost of each such audit (except the financial review, which shall be free of charge) shall be borne by each Seller and is established at a maximum of three thousand Euros (EUR 3,000) per audit and per Seller, excluding VAT and reasonable and justified out-of-pocket expenses and travel disbursements, provided that the cost of all the audits or specific reviews on any Seller shall not exceed six thousand Euros (EUR 6,000) per year. |
13.7.4 | Each Seller undertakes to fully cooperate with the Factor for the implementation of these audits and controls including by allowing the Factor, without contacting any Debtor, to make random selected checks and audits of the amounts owed by the Debtor under the Transferred Receivables. |
13.7.5 | Upon request of the Factor, the relevant Seller or the Parent Company shall provide the Factor with a copy of the letters sent by its auditor to any Debtor in relation with, inter alia , the amounts owed by such Debtor under the Transferred Receivable and the answers of the Debtors to such letters (as redacted by Constellium if necessary with respect to any information not relating to the outstanding amount of the Receivables against such Debtors). |
13.7.6 | Each Seller undertakes to maintain all IT and accounting records in respect of the Transferred Receivables accurate in all material respects and, for the purposes of the audits, to maintain all back-up systems relating to the Transferred Receivables accessible (upon reasonable request and subject to any constraints imposed by external lT services providers) to the Factor. |
13.8 | Undue amounts |
13.8.1 | Any amount received or recovered by the Factor (including any Insurance Indemnification) relating to (i) Receivables that have been Definanced or Transferred-Back by the Factor in accordance with this Agreement or (ii) Receivables which have not been Assigned to the Factor or (iii) any amounts unrelated to the Factoring Facility (an Undue Amount) will be turned over to the relevant Seller, following reconciliation of the relevant Sellers debtor files with the Factors debtor files, such reconciliation to be initiated by the relevant Seller. |
13.8.2 | Such Undue Amounts, shall be paid by the Factor to the relevant Seller (i) to such bank account opened in the name of any Seller, as the relevant Seller (or the Sellers Agent acting on its behalf) may designate in writing to the addressees specified in SCHEDULE 15 ( Financing Requests GE Adressees ) and (ii) within five (5) Business Days following the sending by the relevant Seller of the relevant Sellers debtor file. |
13.9 | Termination of Servicing Mandate |
13.9.1 | Debtor Termination Event |
(a) | Each of the following events constitutes a Debtor Termination Event (each, a Debtor Termination Event ): |
(i) | a Financeable Receivable Assigned by such Seller over such Debtor is overdue by more than ninety (90) calendar days; |
(ii) |
the percentage of Financeable Receivables Assigned by such Seller over such Debtor overdue by more than thirty (30) calendar days (and for which the Seller has not provided the Factor with information as to the proceedings implemented by the Seller to recover such Receivables within |
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five (5) Business Days from a request to that effect from the Factor) exceeds ten per cent (10%) of the total aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Transferred Receivables Assigned by such Seller; |
(iii) | provided that, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above: |
(1) | the relevant Seller and the Factor shall discuss in good faith during five (5) calendar days (the Discussion Period ) a proposed course of action to recover the relevant Transferred Receivables owed by such Debtor. Absent any agreement on such course of action, the Factor (acting reasonably) shall be entitled at the expiry of the above discussion period to request the relevant Seller to take additional servicing measures with respect to such Transferred Receivables; |
(2) | if the relevant Seller agrees with the Factor on any course of action or to follow the requested servicing measures, then the Servicing Mandate shall continue as if no Debtor Termination Event had occurred and the relevant Seller shall fulfill the agreed course of action or servicing measures; |
(3) | if however: |
(A) the relevant Seller refuses to fulfill the servicing instructions given by the Factor at the expiry of the Discussion Period; or
(B) ten (10) calendar days after the expiry of the Discussion Period the relevant Seller has failed to take any necessary step (i) to implement any agreed course of action or (ii) to fulfill the servicing instructions it has accepted to fulfill,
then a Debtor Termination Event shall occur and the provisions of paragraph (b) below shall apply;
(iv) | a Receivable against such Debtor is a Defaulted Receivable and the relevant Seller has not provided relevant information to the Factor in accordance with Clause 13.5.4; or |
(v) | the event referred to in Clause 13.3.1(d)(ii) occurs. |
(b) | Upon the occurrence of a Debtor Termination Event in relation to a Debtor, the Factor shall be entitled to, with a two (2) Business Days prior notice to the relevant Seller: |
(i) | notify the relevant Debtor of the Assignment of the Transferred Receivables Assigned by the relevant Seller and owed by such Debtor by sending it the applicable Form of Notification and instruct it to stop paying such Seller in respect of the Transferred Receivables Assigned by such Seller; and/or |
(ii) |
request the relevant Seller to make available to it such Records, originals, second original if applicable or copies of the invoices relating to the Transferred Receivables Assigned by such Seller and owed by the relevant |
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Debtor as the Factor will need in order to allow the Factor to enforce in accordance with any applicable law its rights under such Assigned Receivables against the relevant Debtor; and/or |
(iii) | cease to Finance any Receivable owed by such Debtor and which has been Assigned by the relevant Seller after the occurrence of such Debtor Termination Event (provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that as from such date, the relevant Seller shall also cease to be obliged to assign any new Receivable against such Debtor to the Factor), |
and the provisions of Clause 13.10.2 (Management of the Debtors positions) will apply in respect of the Transferred Receivables Assigned by the relevant Seller against such Debtor.
(c) | Notwithstanding the foregoing should the Credit Insurer (or any Affiliate of the Credit Insurer) be appointed to service, administer and collect any Transferred Receivable in accordance with the terms of the Credit Insurance Policy, to the extent it has not been terminated before pursuant to Clause 13.9.1 or 13.9.2, the appointment of the Seller hereunder shall be automatically terminated in respect of such Transferred Receivables in relation to all servicing duties to be carried out by the Credit Insurer (or its Affiliate); and |
(d) | The Factor shall not be entitled to terminate the appointment of the relevant Seller in relation to receivables that are not Financeable Receivables or are Definanced Receivables if the relevant Seller purchases back such Non-Financeable Receivable and Definanced Receivable. |
13.9.2 | Servicer Termination Event |
Each of the following events constitutes a Servicer Termination Event (each, a Servicer Termination Event ):
(a) | any of the events referred to in Paragraphs (i) to (ii) below, being calculated monthly by the Factor for each Seller in respect of each Test Period on the Test Date being applicable thereto (together, the Seller Receivables Performance Triggers ): |
(i) | during three (3) consecutive Test Periods, the percentage of Transferred Receivables Assigned by such Seller overdue by more than thirty (30) calendar days exceeds ten per cent (10%) of the total aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Transferred Receivables Assigned by such Seller; or |
(ii) | during three (3) consecutive Test Periods, the Dilution Rate (excluding rebate and re-invoicing on a given Debtor) exceeds ten per cent (10%); |
(b) | the occurrence of any Event of Default which is continuing (subject to appropriate grace periods, notice periods, qualifications applicable thereto) in relation to the relevant Seller, provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the occurrence of a Stop Purchase Event shall not constitute a Servicer Termination Event; |
(c) | any failure by the relevant Seller to comply with any material aspect of the Credit and Collection Procedures having a Material Adverse Effect on the Transferred Receivables or to request the payments of Transferred Receivables in the relevant Collection Account in accordance with Clause 13.3.1(a); |
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(d) | any material change in the Credit and Collection Procedures which has not been approved by the Factor, unless such change results from a change in law or a request from the Credit Insurer; |
(e) | the repeated occurrence of seizures or attachments from creditors of the relevant Seller (such as inter alia avis à tiers détenteurs or saisies of all types or any similar or analogous event, but excluding any conservatory measure) for an aggregate amount in excess of five million Euros (EUR 5,000,000) unless such seizure or attachment is finally dismissed or discharged within forty-five (45) days; |
(f) | the event referred to in Clause 18.2(d) occurs; or |
(g) | the statutory auditor of any Seller requests that a general meeting of the shareholders of the relevant Seller, or as the case may be, the Parent Company, be convened in accordance to article L. 234-2 et seq. of the French Code de commerce , or any similar applicable law, unless the Factor and the Parent Company have agreed, within 10 Business Days of the relevant convening notice, on the implementation of satisfactory measures to remedy such situation (including, for instance, on the withdrawal of the relevant Seller from the Factoring Facility), |
provided that, in any case, the Factor reasonably believes, that the occurrence of such event materially and adversely affects the ability of the Seller to service and collect the Transferred Receivables in the manner provided for under this Agreement.
13.10 | Consequences of the revocation of the Servicing Mandates |
13.10.1 | Information of the Debtors, collection by the Factor |
(a) | Upon the occurrence of a Servicer Termination Event, the Factor shall be entitled to terminate the Servicing Mandate of the relevant Seller with ten (10) Business Days prior notice to such relevant Seller and the Parent Company and the Factor shall be entitled thereafter, with notice to such relevant Seller and the Parent Company to: |
(i) | notify the Debtors of the Assignment of the Transferred Receivables Assigned by any Seller whose Servicing Mandate has been terminated by sending them the applicable Form of Notification and instruct them to stop paying such Seller; and/or |
(ii) | charge an additional fee of five thousand Euros (EUR 5,000) per Seller whose Servicing Mandate has been terminated, by debit of the relevant Current Account; and/or |
(iii) |
As soon as the revocation of the Servicing Mandate becomes effective, in relation to any new Receivable which is purported to be Assigned by any Seller to the Factor in accordance with this Agreement, each relevant Seller shall include the following wording in the invoices relating to those Receivables: La créance relative à la présente facture a été cédée à GE |
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FACTOFRANCE dans le cadre des articles L. 313-23 à L. 313- 35 du Code monétaire et financier. Le paiement doit être effectué directement à lordre de GE FACTOFRANCE, Tour FACTO18 nie HocheCedex 8892988 LA DEFENSE CEDEX TEL: 01.46. 35.70.00par virement du compte GE FACTOFRANCE (IBAN FR76 3000 3049 7000 0010 7920 058SWIFT BIC : SOGEFRPP pour les paiements en EURO ; IBAN FR76 3007 6023 5210 3841 0020 062SWIFT BIC : NORDFRPP pour les paiements en autre devise ou tout autre IBAN indiqué par le Factor). |
(b) | Notwithstanding the above, the Factor shall not be entitled to terminate the Servicing Mandate of any Seller in relation to receivables that are not Financeable Receivables or are Definanced Receivables if the relevant Seller purchases back such Non-Financeable Receivable and Definanced Receivable. |
(c) | Upon the termination of the Servicing Mandate in accordance with this Agreement and if the Purchaser exercises its step in right under the Credit Insurance Policy, the Purchaser agrees to exercise its rights under the Credit Insurance Policy in good faith in accordance with the terms of the Credit Insurance Policy in order to avoid the suspension or early termination of the Credit Insurance Policy by the Credit Insurer. |
13.10.2 | Management of the Debtors positions |
(a) | Ordinary Collection |
(i) | As from the termination of any Servicing Mandate and as long as it remains the owner of the Transferred Receivables, the Factor (or its agent, as the case may be) shall have the exclusive right to manage the collection and recovery thereof. The Factor shall manage the relevant accounts, grant or refuse any postponements, extensions or arrangements, with or without discounts, as may be requested by the Debtors. Subject to actual collection, the Factor (or its agent, as the case may be) shall record payments as credit to the relevant Asset Account. |
(ii) | Each Seller agrees to provide its reasonable assistance to the Factor and to provide in particular any and all documents, correspondence and special powers of attorney that may be reasonably requested in writing by the Factor for the purpose of collecting the Transferred Receivables (subject to confidentiality undertaking). For the Non-Financeable Receivables which are also Disputed Receivables, the Factor shall not bear any collection fee or expense incurred after their maturity date. If the Factor prepays any such fee and expense, it shall be entitled to debit the relevant amounts from the relevant Current Account. |
(b) | Power of Attorney |
As from the termination of any Servicing Mandate and as long as it remains the owner of the Transferred Receivables, in order to enable the Factor to cash without delay any payment instrument or negotiable instrument relating to a Transferred Receivable, each Seller hereby appoint the Factor as its attorney ( mandataire ) in order to affix any indication or signature necessary onto such instrument. If any payment made to the Factor is not related to any Transferred
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Receivable, the Factor shall be deemed to have cashed the same in its capacity as an agent, even after the termination of this Agreement. Amounts so cashed shall be credited to the Current Account of the relevant Seller and the provisions of Clause 13.8 ( Undue amounts ) shall apply. The powers of attorney mentioned in this Clause are stipulated in the joint interest of both relevant Parties.
(c) | Where a special proxy or a power of attorney is necessary for the performance by a Seller of any duties under this Agreement (in particular, in connection with any legal or court proceedings or actions, any other action before any official or administrative authority or any action under the Credit Insurance Policy), the Factor may, at its discretion and upon request of the Seller, grant the same forthwith. |
(d) | Penalties and late payment interest |
Each Seller shall remain entitled to waive its rights to any penalties and late payment interests payable by the Debtors in relation to the Transferred Receivables and to make corresponding adjustments to its books.
14. | FACTORING ACCOUNTS |
The Factor shall open and manage a Current Account for each Seller (as well as all related Sub-Accounts detailed below) in order to record the amounts paid or payable by the Factor to each Seller pursuant to this Agreement and those which are due for any reason whatsoever by each Seller to the Factor.
14.1 | Current Account |
14.1.1 | Single Account |
(a) | The purchase price of the Transferred Receivables and the liabilities of each Seller towards the Factor (and vice-versa) shall be reflected as respective credit and debit items under the Current Account and shall therefore be subject to set-off when due for payment. |
(b) | On the Signing Date, the Current Account of each Seller as well as the related Sub-Accounts for the relevant Transferred Receivables, denominated in their respective Approved Currency, are listed in SCHEDULE 14 ( Current Accounts ). |
(c) | Each Current Account and the related Sub-Accounts shall form an indivisible whole and single account between the relevant Seller and the Factor and the overall balance thereof after set-off of credits and debits shall be considered at all times, and, in particular, after the termination of the factoring transactions arising hereunder on the Transaction Settlement Date, as the final balance ( solde définitif ) of such Current Account. |
(d) | Subject to Clause 14.5.3 ( Utilisation ) , at any time, if any of the Sub-Accounts (denominated in different currencies) relating to the Current Account of a Seller has a debit balance, the Factor shall be entitled to: |
(i) | request the relevant Seller to transfer to its Current Account within five (5) Business Days an amount sufficient to compensate such debit balance; and |
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(ii) | if the relevant Seller does not comply with such request in the above time frame, to set-off the credit and debit balances of all Sub-Accounts (denominated in different currencies) relating to the Current Account of such Seller. |
(e) | In no event shall the Factor be entitled to use the credit balance of any Current Account opened with a Seller to discharge the debit balance of any Current Account opened with another Seller. |
14.1.2 | Overdraft |
No Current Account shall have a debit balance at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time a Current Account has a debit balance, the Factor shall be entitled to request the relevant Seller to transfer to the Factor an amount sufficient to allow such Current Account to no longer have a debit balance. Upon receipt of such a request, the relevant Seller shall make the requested cash payment within five (5) Business Days. ln any case, any debit balance of a Current Account shall bear interest at the rate of the Special Financing Commission until full reimbursement.
14.1.3 | Transactions |
(a) | The Current Account shall be credited by the Factor: |
(i) | with the Face Value of the relevant Transferred Receivables on the relevant Assignment Date; |
(ii) | with amounts due to the relevant Seller in accordance with Clause 13.8 ( Undue amounts ) and Clause 13.10.2(b) (Power of Attorney); |
(iii) | with collections, insurance proceeds and other amounts received under Non-Financeable Receivables in accordance with Clause 9.5.1 or under any Definanced Receivable; |
(iv) | with the aggregate amount of all collections, insurance proceeds and other amounts received by the Factor in relation to Receivables not transferred to the Factor (if any) (such amount to be credited immediately, and at the latest, within 3 Business Days of receipt) |
(v) | with amounts payable by the Factor in accordance with Clauses 11.1.1 and 11.1.2; |
(vi) | with any amount due to the Seller in accordance with Clause 10.1.4; |
(vii) | with recoveries due to the relevant Seller in accordance with Clause 12.1.7; |
(viii) | with debits from the Sub-Accounts; and |
(ix) | with the amount of any downward adjustment of the Dilution Reserve. |
(b) | The Current Account shall be debited by the Factor: |
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(i) | with the amounts corresponding to the Financing made available by the Factor to the relevant Seller in accordance with Clause 9 ( Financing of Financeable Amounts ); |
(ii) | with any Transfer-Back Price due by the relevant Seller; |
(iii) | with the amounts transferred to the credit of the Sub-Accounts; |
(iv) | with collections received under Non-Financeable Receivables in accordance with Clause 9.5.1; |
(v) | unless billed separately to the relevant Seller or the Sellers Agent with any fees and costs due by the relevant Seller to the Factor in accordance with Clause 13.9.1(a)(ii), Clause 13.9.2(a)(ii), Clause 15 ( Remuneration of the Factor ) and Clause 20 ( Costs and Expenses ); |
(vi) | with premiums due under the Credit Insurance Policy actually paid by the Factor in accordance with Clause 6.1.4; |
(vii) | with the amounts due by the relevant Seller to the Factor under Clause 10.1.1(f) and Clause 13.6.1 ( Payment to the Sellers ); |
(viii) | with the amount of any Indirect Payments which are not repaid by the relevant Seller to the Factor within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such Indirect Payment; |
(ix) | with the amount of any Dilution |
(x) | with the amount of any credit notes not disclosed to the Factor that affect the value of a Transferred Receivable; |
(xi) | with the amount of any adjustment items accounted for by the Seller which are not transferred to the Factor and which affect the value of a Transferred Receivable; |
(xii) | upon closing of the Current Account in accordance with Clause 14.1.6 ( Closing ); and |
(xiii) | with the amount of any upward adjustment of the Dilution Reserve. |
14.1.4 | Payment of credit balance |
Provided that no Assignment is made by a Seller to the Factor during any calendar week, such Seller shall be entitled to request at any time during such week the payment in cash of any credit balance of its Current Account (until the Transaction Settlement Date). The Factor shall:
(a) | if the relevant request is received not later than 12.00 noon Paris time on any Business Day, on the Business Day immediately following such receipt; or |
(b) | if the relevant request is received after 12.00 noon Paris time on any Business Day, on the second Business Day following such receipt, |
pay the relevant amount to the relevant Seller by wire transfer to its bank account.
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14.1.5 | Statements |
The Factor shall promptly, upon written request of any Seller or the Parent Company, deliver to the latter any information or justification relating to any credit or debit entry.
14.1.6 | Closing |
After the termination of this Agreement and the occurrence of the Transaction Settlement Date, the Current Accounts in respect of all Sellers shall be closed and the remaining credit balances (if any) shall be refunded to each relevant Seller at the latest ten (10) Business Days following such date. The Parties agree that this Clause 14.1.6 ( Closing ) shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
14.2 | Available Financing Account |
14.2.1 | The available financing account (the Available Financing Account ) is a Sub-Account of each Sellers Current Account on which the Financeable Amount for the relevant Seller which has not been subject to a Financing will be credited. |
14.2.2 | On any date on which the Current Account of any Seller is credited with a Financeable Amount, if the relevant Seller does not send a Financing Request regarding this Financeable Amount or if it sends a Financing Request for an amount lower than this Financeable Amount, the Factor will transfer from the Current Account of such Seller to its Available Financing Account the Financeable Amount or, as the case may be, the portion of the Financeable Amount which was not subject to the Financing Request. |
14.2.3 | Any amount credited to the Available Financing Account of a Seller shall be part of the Financeable Amount for such Seller and may therefore be subject to a Financing Request at any time in accordance with Clause 9 ( Financing of Financeable Amounts ). |
14.2.4 | On any day on which a Seller makes a Financing Request for an amount exceeding the Financeable Amount credited on its Current Account on such day, the Factor will transfer from the Available Financing Account of such Seller to its Current Account the amount required in order to answer to the relevant Financing Request up to the credit balance of the Available Financing Account and subject to the Maximum Total Financing Amount. |
14.3 | Asset Account |
14.3.1 | Outstanding Amounts of Transferred Receivables shall be recorded by the Factor as debit items under the Asset Account. Any payments related to Transferred Receivables are recorded as credit items under the Asset Account. For the avoidance of doubt, the Asset Account is not a Sub-Account. |
14.3.2 | Each Sellers Asset Account statement will be updated on a daily basis and may be consulted by the relevant Seller through Web Services. |
14.4 | Offset and Adjustment AccountOAA |
14.4.1 | In order to enable an accounting follow-up of the performance of the Servicing Mandate of each Seller, the following operations will be recorded in a Sub-Account of such Seller designated as the Offset and Adjustment Account or OAA: |
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(a) | the collections received under the Transferred Receivables will be recorded as credit on the OAA, |
(b) | information on transfers ( images de règlement ), cheques for cashing and bills due as itemised in the settlements situation files forwarded by such Seller will be recorded as debit from the OAA in accordance with the technical methods approved by the Parties. |
14.4.2 | In principle, the balance of the Offset and Adjustment Account should be zero. In practice, this will not be the case due to the time difference of operations. If there are credit balances relating to payments of amounts which are not related to Transferred Receivables or which are related to Non-Financeable Receivables, such balances will thus be reimbursed to the Current Account, after reconciliation of the relevant Sellers debtor files with the Factors debtor files in accordance with Clause 13.8 ( Undue amounts ) or in accordance with Clause 9.5.1. In case of a debit balance of the Offset and Adjustment Account, such balance may be applied to a Deferred Availability Account. |
14.4.3 | The OAA of each Seller will be closed upon the termination of the Servicing Mandate of such Seller. |
14.5 | Dilution Reserve |
14.5.1 | Purpose |
The dilution reserve (the Dilution Reserve ) is a Sub-Account of each Sellers Current Account the purpose of which is to protect the Factor against Dilution risks relating to the Financeable Receivables transferred by such Seller.
14.5.2 | Constitution |
(a) | The Dilution Reserve Required Amount shall be: |
(i) | until the occurrence of a Stop Purchase Event or the sending of a Termination Notice, an amount equal for each Seller to the product of (A) the higher of (aa) the sum of the Dilution Rate applicable to such Seller and three (3) percent and (bb) five (5) percent and (B) the Outstanding Amount at that time of all Financeable Receivables Assigned by such Seller (including VAT); and |
(ii) | upon the sending of a Termination Notice or the occurrence of a Stop Purchase Event, an amount equal for each Seller to the higher of the product of (A) the higher of (aa) the sum of the Dilution Rate applicable to such Seller and three (3) percent and (bb) ten (10) percent, and (B) the Outstanding Amount at that time of all Financeable Receivables Assigned by such Seller (including VAT) and the Minimum Dilution for such Seller, |
and shall be funded by way of direct debit of the Current Accounts. On each Assignment Date or at least once per calendar week, downward or upward adjustments to the Dilution Reserve shall be calculated by the Factor and shall be made by the Factor by crediting (or debiting, respectively) the Current Account at that date each in an amount necessary to maintain the Dilution Reserve at a level equal to the Dilution Reserve Required Amount.
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(b) | Any event taken into account in determining the amount of the Dilution Reserve shall be taken into account only once and only in respect of such reserve. |
14.5.3 | Utilisation |
(a) | The Factor may draw from the Dilution Reserve of a Seller the sums necessary to cover a debit balance of such Sellers Current Account to the extent that such debit position results from a Dilution relating to Financeable Receivables. |
(b) | Following the Transaction Settlement Date, each Seller shall ensure that its Current Account has a credit balance. Should this be the case, upon transfer from the Dilution Reserve to the Current Account of any remaining amount in excess of the Dilution Reserve Required Amount, the Factor will transfer in cash by wire transfer the amount of such excess to each relevant Seller. |
(c) | As from the Transaction Settlement Date, the remaining balance (if positive) of the Dilution Reserve of such Seller shall be returned to the relevant Seller at the latest ten (10) Business Days following such date. This Clause 14.5.3 ( Utilisation ) shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
14.6 | Deferred Availability Account |
14.6.1 | The deferred availability account (the Deferred Availability Account ) is a Sub-Account of each Sellers Current Account opened to facilitate the monitoring of Reserves which shall consist in (i) Non-Financeable Amounts, (ii) Disputed Receivables which have been Definanced in accordance with Clause 11.1 ( Disputed Receivables and Defaulted Receivables ), (iii) Defaulted Receivables which have been Definanced in accordance with Clause 11.1 ( Disputed Receivables and Defaulted Receivables ) and (iv) the debit balance of the Offset and Adjustment Accounts. |
14.6.2 | The relevant Deferred Availability Account of any Seller will be credited with the amount of any Reserve (such amount being transferred from such Sellers Current Account) and will be debited with the amount of any such Reserve upon the event having justified the constitution of Reserves having ceased to exist (and the amount so debited shall be transferred to the credit of such Sellers Current Account). |
14.7 | Set-Off Reserve |
14.7.1 | The set-off reserve (the Set-Off Reserve ) is a Sub-Account of each Sellers Current Account the purpose of which is to cover the risk of: |
(a) | set-off arising from Tolling or Pseudo Tolling in respect of the Financeable Receivables transferred by the relevant Seller unless non set-off agreements satisfactory to the Factor are entered into between the Sellers and their relevant Debtors (for the avoidance of doubt, such agreements shall be fully enforceable by the Factor against the relevant Debtors); |
(b) | set-off arising from any sale of goods or provision of services by any Debtor to the relevant Seller in respect of which such Seller owes to such Debtor any payment, prepayment, contribution or similar arrangement (other than the Airbus Advance), unless the relevant Debtor has written to the relevant Seller and the Factor in terms satisfactory to the Factor agreeing that it will not set-off any such payment, prepayment, contribution or similar arrangement due to it from the Seller against monies payable by it in respect of that Receivable to the Factor; and |
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(c) | as from the occurrence of the Airbus Reserve Trigger only, set-off between Transferred Receivables owed by Airbus and the Airbus Advance, until the earlier of receipt by the Factor of evidence: |
(i) | of a waiver satisfactory to the Factor from the relevant Airbus entities of their right to set-off any amount owed under the Airbus Advance; or |
(ii) | that any Airbus Advance has been repaid to the relevant Airbus entity or allocated to any project between Airbus and any entity of the Group and is therefore no longer due to the relevant Airbus entity, in which case the restitution shall be made up to the amount so repaid or allocated. |
14.7.2 | Upon the occurrence of any set-off arising pursuant to paragraphs 14.7.1(a), 14.7.1(b) or 14.7.1(c) and affecting a Financeable Receivable, the Factor shall be entitled to debit the Set-Off Reserve with the amount of such set-off. For the avoidance of doubt, any risk and event taken into account in the Set-Off Reserve shall be taken into account only once and only with respect to such reserve (to the exclusion of the Dilution Reserve). |
14.7.3 | The amounts of each Set-Off Reserve will be adjusted upward or downward on a monthly basis according to the evolution of data regarding (i) Tolling, Pseudo Tolling or (ii) the sales of goods and provisions of services mentioned in paragraph 14.7.1(b) and (iii) the amount of the Airbus Advance, provided by each Seller to the Factor and shall be paid by debit or credit of the Current Account of the relevant Seller on the relevant Assignment Date. The Factor will notify in writing the relevant Seller of any such adjustment. |
14.8 | Devaluation Reserve |
14.8.1 | As from the date on which the relevant Seller transfers to the Factor Receivables held against Airbus arising from any commercial contract other than an airware contract (the Airbus Receivables ), a devaluation reserve (the Devaluation Reserve ) shall be constituted by the Factor in respect of such Airbus Receivables in order to cover the Factor against additional set-off risk if, with respect to any calendar month during which Airbus Receivables have been transferred to the Factor, the Metal Floating Price is below the Metal Invoicing Price (the positive difference between the Metal Floating Price and the Metal Invoicing Price being referred to herein as the Metal Price Devaluation ). |
14.8.2 |
Within five (5) Business Days (the Devaluation Reserve Calculation Date ) following the last Business Day of each calendar month during which the Devaluation Reserve is required to be constituted pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) above (the Devaluation Reserve Reference Month ), the relevant Seller shall communicate to the Factor (i) the Metal Floating Price and (ii) the turnover (chiffres daffaires) and related metal tonnage carried out by the relevant Seller with Airbus (excluding those corresponding to supplies under the airware contracts) during the Devaluation Reserve Reference Month, as well as the Metal Invoicing Price on the basis of which such turnover has been invoiced to Airbus. To the extent a Metal Price Devaluation appears on the Devaluation Reserve Calculation Date, the Factor shall constitute the Devaluation Reserve on such date by |
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way of debit from the relevant Current Account by an amount equal to the Metal Price Devaluation, as applied to the metal tonnage communicated by the relevant Seller for the relevant Devaluation Reserve Reference Month. |
14.8.3 | The Devaluation Reserve shall be restituted to the relevant Seller by way of credit from the relevant Current Account on the immediately following Devaluation Reserve Calculation Date (at which date the Devaluation Reserve (if any) for the following Devaluation Reserve Reference Month shall be calculated and constituted in accordance with the foregoing). |
14.8.4 | Any event taken into account in any Reserve constituted pursuant to this Clause 14.8 shall be taken into account only once, and only in respect of such reserve (to the exclusion of the Dilution Reserve or the Specific Reserve (as the case may be)). |
15. | REMUNERATION OF THE FACTOR |
15.1 | Factoring Commission |
15.1.1 | Purpose |
Each Seller shall pay to the Factor, with respect to any Approved Receivables originated by it a factoring commission (the Factoring Commission ) in consideration of the services provided by the Factor under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Factoring Commission does not include any costs, fees, commissions or expenses in respect of the Credit Insurance Policy, which shall be borne by each Seller.
15.1.2 | Amount and calculation |
The rate of the Factoring Commission is set at zero point ten per cent. (0.10%) of the aggregate Face Value of each Approved Receivable (VAT included).
15.2 | Special Financing Commission ( SFC ) |
15.2.1 | Principle |
(a) | Each Seller shall pay to the Factor a special financing commission equal to the sum of Financing Commissions per Receivables for all Financeable Receivables included in the relevant Financing Request (the Special Financing Commission ) in respect of the amounts Financed by the Factor to such Seller on any Assignment Date by way of debit of the Current Account of each Seller on such date. |
(b) | The Financing Commission per Receivable is calculated upfront for the relevant next following Adjusted Expected Financing Period per Receivable on a Receivable-by-Receivable basis by applying the SFC Rate to the Financing Commission Assessment Base per Receivable. The Financing Commission Rate is calculated as follows: |
FCPR = FCABR x SFC Rate x (AEPR /360)
Where:
FCPR is the Financing Commission per Receivable,
FCABR is the Financing Commission Assessment Base per Receivable; and
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AEPR is the Adjusted Expected Financing Period per Receivable.
And where :
Actual Average Financing Period is calculated for each batch of Financeable Receivables contained in any Financing Request as the weighted average of all Actual Financing Periods per Receivable of all Receivables contained in the previous Financing Request addressed to the Factor.
Actual Financing Period per Receivable is the actual number of calendar days from (and including) the Financing Date to (and excluding) the day communicated by the Seller (to be tested and confirmed from time to time by way of samples taken by the Factor) of actual repayment of each Financeable Receivable set out in any Financing Request.
Adjustment means the positive difference (if any) between the Actual Average Financing Period and the Average Expected Financing Period for a batch of Financeable Receivables contained in a Financing Request.
Adjusted Expected Financing Period per Receivable for the first Financing under this contract is the Expected Financing Period per Receivable. For subsequent Financing the Adjusted Expected Financing Period per Receivable is equal to the Expected Financing Period per Receivable plus the Adjustment calculated for the relevant previous batch of Financeable Receivables Financed, provided that the Adjusted Expected Financing Period per Receivable shall, for the purposes of the calculation of the Financing Commission per Receivable, never be less than 10 calendar days.
Average Expected Financing Period is the weighted average of Expected Financing Periods per Receivable for all Financeable Receivables set out in any Financing Request.
Expected Financing Period per Receivable means, with respect to any Financeable Receivable the expected number of calendar days from (and including) the relevant Financing Date to (and excluding) the relevant maturity date.
Financing Commission Assessment Base per Receivable means at any time an amount equal to the Financed Amount originated by the relevant Seller divided by the number of outstanding Financed Receivables.
Financing Date means, with respect to any Financeable Receivable, the date on which such Financeable Receivable becomes a Financed Receivable.
15.2.2 | Value Dates |
Any credit and debit made from or to the Current Account, or recorded on the Asset Account, shall be made for value in accordance with the provisions of SCHEDULE 7 ( Value Dates ).
15.3 | Arrangement Fee |
The Sellers shall pay on the Signing Date to the Factor an arrangement fee (the Arrangement Fee ) equal to EUR 150,000, calculated pro rata of the allocation of the average Outstanding Amount of Transferred Receivable over the last 12 months preceding the Signing Date between the Sellers.
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15.4 | Non-Utilization Fee |
So long as the Commitment Period is outstanding, the Sellers shall pay the Non-Utilization Fee on a yearly basis on each anniversary date of the Signing Date, calculated pro rata of the allocation of the average Outstanding Amount of Transferred Receivable over the preceding last 12 months between the Sellers.
15.5 | VAT |
The Factoring Commission, the Special Financing Commission, the Arrangement Fee and the Non-Utilization Fee are expressed VAT excluded.
15.6 | Specific pricing and collection or transfer charges |
15.6.1 | All additional services of the Factor other than those set out in Clauses 8 ( Assignment of Receivables ) and 9 ( Financing of Financeable Amounts ) shall be subject to a specific price determination detailed in the Client Guide or, otherwise, in a quotation submitted to the Sellers Agent for their approval. |
15.6.2 | The Current Accounts shall be debited by the amount of specific collection or transfer charges relating to those additional services, all of which shall be entirely borne by the Sellers. |
15.7 | Effective Global Rate |
15.7.1 | For the application of the provisions of Article R.313-1-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, each Party acknowledges that, taking into account the specificity of this Agreement (in particular the variable nature of the SFC rate), the taux effectif global (the Effective Global Rate ) cannot be calculated on the Signing Date but an indicative calculation of such rate shall be provided in this Clause 5 ( Effective Global Rate ). |
15.7.2 | In application of Article R.313-1-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, the indicative calculation of the Effective Global Rate applicable to this Agreement for Financing in Euros, on the basis of an arithmetic average of the daily EURIBOR rates for the month of December being set at 0%, is 1,62% per year as of the Signing Date. |
15.7.3 | In application of Article R.313-1-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, the indicative calculation of the Effective Global Rate applicable to this Agreement for Financing in USD, on the basis of an arithmetic average of the daily LIBOR rates for the month of December being set at 0,37%, is 2,00% per year as of the Signing Date. |
15.7.4 | This rate is calculated, as an indication only, on the basis of a 365 day year (366 days for leap years) during the term of this Agreement, pursuant to the terms and conditions that normally apply, namely the following assumptions: |
(a) | a level of Financing under this Agreement equal to the Maximum Total Financing Amount; |
(b) | an average delay in payments by the Debtors of : |
(i) | fifty-nine (59) calendar days for Constellium Issoire; |
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(ii) | forty-five (45) calendar days for Constellium Neuf Brisach; and |
sixty-five (65) calendar days for Constellium Extrusions France.
(c) | a Special Financing Commission as specified in Clause 15.2 ( Special Financing Commission (SFC ) ); |
(d) | the Dilution Reserve as specified in Clause 14.5 ( Dilution Reserve ); and |
(e) | the Non-Utilization Fee as specified in clause 15.4 (Non-Utilization Fee). |
15.7.5 | Even if the reference rate of the Special Financing Commission does not vary, the Effective Global Rate may increase or decrease during the term of this Agreement depending on changes to the various assumptions set out above and/or contractual parameters. |
16. | TAXES |
16.1 | All duties, taxes and similar levies (except those already covered in other provisions of this Agreement) which are due in connection with the transfer of Receivables contemplated in this Agreement and any Transfer Documents shall be borne by the relevant Seller. |
16.2 | Tax gross-up |
All payments to be made by each Seller under this Agreement shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for or on account of all duties, taxes and levies (a Tax ) unless a payment is subject to the deduction or withholding of Tax pursuant to an applicable law, in which case the sum payable by the relevant Seller in respect of which such deduction or withholding is required to be made shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of the required deduction or withholding, such party receives and retains (free from any liability in respect of any such deduction or withholding) a net sum equal to the sum which it would have received and so retained had no such deduction or withholding been made or required to be made.
16.3 | Tax indemnity |
16.3.1 | Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 16.2 ( Tax gross-up ) if the Factor is required to make any payment of or on account of Tax to any taxing authority on or in relation to any sum received or receivable by the Factor under a Factoring Facility Document (including, without limitation, any sum received or receivable under this Clause 16 ( Taxes ), each Seller shall, upon demand of the Factor, indemnify the Factor against such payment or liability, together with any interest, penalties and expenses payable or incurred in connection therewith. |
16.3.2 | If all or part of a Tax which caused a Seller to pay a Tax indemnity pursuant to Clause 16.3.1 was not correctly or legally imposed or asserted and is, as a result, subsequently refunded to the Factor by the relevant Tax authority, the Factor will repay to the relevant Seller such Tax indemnity up to the amount of such refund, but after deducting therefrom the after-tax amount of any non tax-related loss or expense suffered thereon in the hands of the Factor, to the extent that such loss or expense has not been refunded to the Factor pursuant to Clause 20 ( Costs and Expenses ) of this Agreement. |
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16.4 | Claims by the Factor |
If the Factor intends to make a claim pursuant to Clause 16.3 ( Tax indemnity ) it shall, promptly upon becoming aware of such Tax being imposed, notify the relevant Seller of the event by reason of which it is entitled to do so, (which notice shall include reasonable details of the amount claimed and the basis of calculation of such amount) provided that nothing herein shall require the Factor to disclose any confidential information relating to the organization of its affairs.
16.5 | Exclusions to Tax gross-up and Tax indemnities |
The provisions of Clause 16.2 ( Tax gross-up ) and Clause 16.3 ( Tax indemnity ) shall not apply:
16.5.1 | with respect to any Tax assessed or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by the Factor under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Factor is incorporated; |
16.5.2 | with respect to any Tax assessed as a direct result of the breach by the Factor of its express obligations hereunder or under any other Factoring Facility Document, or the wilful misconduct or gross negligence of the Factor; |
16.5.3 | with respect to any Tax that would not have arisen but for: |
(a) | the failure by the Factor to file any relevant Tax return, Tax computation or other statement or document which the Factor was obliged to file by any law of its jurisdiction of incorporation; or |
(b) | any failure by the Factor to provide in due time to any Seller any document necessary for the application of any relevant or applicable double taxation treaty, including certification of tax residence of the Factor issued by the tax administration competent for the Factor which any Seller may reasonably have requested the Factor in writing to provide (to the extent any such request being made in a timely manner and containing all necessary details to enable the Factor to comply with the terms thereof), |
except:
(i) | where any such failure was directly or indirectly caused by the relevant Seller (including, without limitation, failure to provide the Factor with any necessary information) or by any event or circumstance outside the reasonable control of the Factor, or |
(ii) | where it would be illegal or contrary to any applicable law for the Factor to do so. |
16.5.4 | with respect to any Tax assessed as a result of a payment being made to a bank account opened in a financial institution located in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction or to a beneficiary that is incorporated, domiciled, or acting through an office located, in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction; and |
16.5.5 | to any assignee of the rights and obligations of the Factor under the Agreement in accordance with Clause 24 Change to the Parties ) , to the extent that such gross-up payment or indemnities referred to in Clause 16.2 ( Tax gross-up ) or 16.3 ( Tax indemnity ) would not have been due by the relevant Seller if the Factor had not assigned or transferred its right or obligations to the relevant third party. |
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16.6 | Tax receipts |
16.6.1 | Notification of requirement to deduct Tax |
If, at any time, a Seller is required to make any deduction or withholding from any sum payable by it hereunder (or if thereafter there is any change in the rates at which or the manner in which such deductions or withholdings are calculated), such Seller shall promptly notify the Factor of the same.
16.6.2 | Evidence of payment of Tax |
If a Seller makes any payment hereunder in respect of which it is required to make any deduction or withholding, it shall pay the full amount required to be deducted or withheld (being the minimum amount which it is legally required to pay) to the relevant taxation or other authority within the time allowed for such payment under applicable law and shall deliver to the Factor within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof, an original receipt (or a certified copy thereof) issued by such authority (if any such receipt is issued) evidencing the payment to such authority of all amounts so required to be deducted or withheld in respect of such payment.
16.6.3 | Tax and other affairs |
No provision of this Agreement shall interfere with the right of the Factor to arrange its Tax or any other affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit, oblige the Factor to claim any other credit, relief, remission or repayment in respect of any payment under Clause 16 ( Taxes ) in priority to any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it nor oblige the Factor to disclose any information relating to its Tax or other affairs or any computations in respect thereof
16.6.4 | Tax credit payment |
If an additional payment is made under Clause 16 ( Taxes ) by a Seller for the benefit of the Factor, the Factor shall use reasonable efforts to recover or obtain any credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of, any Tax, that it may be entitled to on account of such withholding or deduction, then, if obtained, the Factor shall, to the extent that it can do so without prejudice to the retention of the amount of such credit, relief, remission or repayment, notify the relevant Seller of such determination and pay to the relevant Seller such amount up to the amount which will leave the Factor (after such payment) in no worse after-Tax position than it would have been in had the additional payment in question not been required to be made by the relevant Seller. The Factor agrees that in determining (in its sole opinion) whether any such credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of, any Tax is in respect of or calculated with reference to the additional payment made pursuant to Clause 16 ( Taxes ) (as aforesaid) it shall not discriminate against the relevant Seller as compared with entities which the Factor considers (in its sole and absolute discretion) are comparable as at the relevant time to the relevant Seller in the context of determining the availability and application of realised tax credits, reliefs, remissions or repayments of Taxes unless required to do so by any applicable law, regulation or policy.
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16.6.5 | Tax credit claw back |
If a Seller makes any payment to the Factor pursuant to Clause 16 ( Taxes ) and the Factor subsequently determines that the credit, relief, remission or repayment in respect of which such payment was made was not available or has been withdrawn or that it was unable to use such credit, relief, remission or repayment in full, such Seller shall reimburse the Factor the amount necessary to place it in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in if such credit, relief, remission of repayment had been obtained and fully used and retained by the Factor.
16.6.6 | Mitigation |
(a) | Each Party shall, in consultation with each other, agree to discuss in good faith any reasonable steps that could be taken in order to mitigate any circumstances which may arise and which would result in any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to Clause 16 ( Taxes ). |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of any Seller under this Agreement. |
(c) | The relevant Seller shall promptly indemnify the Factor for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Factor as a result of steps taken by it under this Clause 16.6.6 ( Mitigation ). |
(d) | The Factor is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 16.6.6 ( Mitigation ) if, in the opinion of the Factor (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it. |
(e) | The affected Seller shall be entitled to stop assigning the relevant Receivable(s) as from the date on which it is required to make a gross-up or indemnity payment |
17. | REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND UNDERTAKINGS |
17.1 | Representations and warranties of the Sellers, the Sellers Agent and the Parent Company |
Each Sellers, and as applicable the Sellers Agent and the Parent Company make the representations, warranties set out in sections 1.1 ( Representations and warranties relating to the Sellers ) and 1.2 ( Representations and warranties relating to the Receivables ) of SCHEDULE 6 ( Representation, Warranties ).
17.2 | Undertakings of the Sellers and the Parent Company |
Each Sellers, and as applicable the Sellers Agent and the Parent Company undertakes as set out in section 2 ( Undertakings ) of SCHEDULE 6 ( Representation, Warranties )
18. | TERM AND EARLY TERMINATION |
18.1 | Term |
18.1.1 | During the Commitment Period, and subject to the application of Clauses 18.3 and 18.4, the Factor and each of the Sellers agree not to terminate the Agreement. |
18.1.2 | As from the end of the Commitment Period, this Agreement will be deemed to be of indeterminate duration, with each of the Factor and the Sellers having the right to terminate the Agreement at any time, subject to a three (3) month prior notice, by sending a registered mail, return receipt requested. Upon the expiry of such three (3) month prior notice period, the Factor shall no longer purchase Eligible Receivable under this Agreement. |
18.1.3 | This Agreement shall terminate on the Transaction Settlement Date. |
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18.2 | Stop Purchase Event |
Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, the Factor shall be entitled to refuse to purchase any Receivable in relation to the relevant affected Seller(s) (each, a Stop Purchase Event ):
(a) | a change of control occurs in respect of the Parent Company, pursuant to which any person or group of persons acting in concert (a) holds directly or indirectly more than 10% of the share capital or the voting rights of the Parent Company or (b) owns the right to determine the composition of the majority of the board of directors (or equivalent) of the Parent Company (a Parent Change of Control ), unless the new shareholder of the Parent is subject to, or affected by, Sanctions in which case an Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred; |
(b) | a change of control occurs in respect of any Seller, pursuant to which any person or group of persons acting in concert (other than the Parent Company and, the Sellers Agent) (a) holds directly or indirectly more than 50% of the share capital or the voting rights of such Seller or (b) owns the right to determine the composition of the majority of the board of directors (or equivalent) of such Seller (a Seller Change of Control ) unless the new shareholder of the Seller is subject to, or affected by, Sanctions in which case an Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred; |
(c) | the non-renewal or termination of a Credit Insurance Policy or any other circumstance that may result in the Factor no longer benefitting from the Insurance Indemnification under the Credit Insurance, that is not promptly notified to the Factor, resulting in the Factor being not informed in due time by the Sellers, provided that if within sixty (60) Business Days of such non-renewal or termination, another Credit Insurance Policy approved by the Factor is entered into, such Stop Purchase Event shall be deemed to be cured and the Factor will resume purchasing Eligible Receivable unless such delay in informing the Factor was caused by the wilful misconduct of the relevant Seller; |
(d) | any Seller repeatedly fails to comply with the material terms and conditions of the Credit Insurance Policy, to the extent such failure adversely affects the rights of the Factor under the Credit Insurance Policy; |
(e) | the non-renewal or termination of a Credit Insurance Policy, with effect as of such termination date or non-renewal date and such terminated Credit Insurance Policy having not been replaced, as of such termination date, by another Credit Insurance Policy approved by the Factor, provided that if within sixty (60) Business Days of such non-renewal or termination, another Credit Insurance Policy approved by the Factor is entered into, such Stop Purchase Event shall be deemed to be cured and the Factor will resume purchasing Eligible Receivable; |
(f) | the Credit Insurer no longer qualifies as an Acceptable Credit Insurer and within sixty (60) Business Days of the Factor notifying the relevant Seller of the downgrading, the relevant Seller (or the Sellers Agent acting on its behalf), does not find a successor Acceptable Credit Insurer, it being understood that, during that sixty (60) Business Days, the Factor may Finance new Receivables from the relevant Sellers at its entire discretion; |
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(g) | any Party becomes aware that any of the Collection Account Guarantee Agreements ceases to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable ( opposable ) in its entirety, unless within fifteen (15) Business Days from the sending of a Cure Notice, the relevant Seller instructs all its Debtors to pay the amounts they owe under any Receivable to the credit of an account opened under the name of the Factor; |
(h) | any Party becomes aware that any Transfer Document ceases to be legal, valid, binding or would prove to be unenforceable under French law after appropriate notification is made to the Debtor, unless within ten (10) Business Days from the sending of a Cure Notice, such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability is cured; or |
(i) | the statutory auditor of any Seller requests that a general meeting of the shareholders of the relevant Seller, or as the case may be, the Parent Company, be convened in accordance to article L. 234-2 et seq. of the French Code de commerce , or any similar applicable law, unless the Factor and the Parent Company have agreed, within 10 Business Days of the relevant convening notice, on the implementation of satisfactory measures to remedy such situation (including, for instance, on the withdrawal of the relevant Seller from the Factoring Facility), |
Further to the occurrence of a Stop Purchase Event with respect to any Seller, the Maximum Total Financing Amount may be reduced by the Factor up to the Financed Amount in relation to such Seller, at the date on which such Stop Purchase Event occurred.
18.3 | Default |
To the best of its knowledge, upon the relevant Seller or the Parent Company becoming aware of the occurrence of an event occurring under this Clause 18.3 and constituting a Default, it shall promptly notify the Factor of the occurrence of such Default by sending a default notice to the Factor (the Default Notice ).
18.3.1 | Occurrence of a Default regarding all Sellers and the Parent Company |
(a) | Upon receiving a Default Notice from the relevant Seller or the Parent Company in respect of a Default referred to in this Clause 18.3.1, or upon becoming aware of a Default referred to in this Clause 18.3.1, the Factor may send a cure notice to the Sellers and the Parent Company (a Cure Notice ) setting forth the relevant Default(s) and the applicable grace period(s) (if any). |
(b) | If the relevant Default(s) referred to in the Cure Notice is(are) not cured or waived within applicable grace period (if any), the Factor may, after due consideration of the impact of such event on the situation of the Sellers (taken as a whole), upon the expiry of a three (3) Business Day prior notice sent to the Sellers and the Parent Company (a Termination Notice ): |
(i) | if such event occurs before the end of the Commitment Period, terminate the Commitment Period and the Factor will continue to purchase Eligible Receivables for an undetermined length provided that any Party shall be entitled to stop the purchasing of Receivables under this Agreement subject to a three (3) month prior notice (sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt) to the other Party; and/or |
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(ii) | stop purchasing any new Receivables, provided however that the provisions of this Agreement in relation to Transferred Receivables Assigned prior to the occurrence of such event will remain in full force and effect; and/or |
(iii) | terminate the Servicing Mandate and take immediately any of the actions set out in Clauses 13.10.1(a)(i) to 13.10.1(a)(iii) in relation to the Sellers; and/or |
(iv) | exercise any or all of its rights, remedies, powers or discretions under the Factoring Facility Documents (including under the Collection Account Guarantee Agreements) with respect to all the Sellers. |
(c) | Each of the following events constitutes an Event of Default in respect of the Sellers and the Parent Company, whether or not the occurrence of the relevant event is outside the control of any entity of the Group or any other person: |
(i) | the Parent Company (i) becomes insolvent for the purposes of any insolvency law; or (ii) by reason of its actual or anticipated financial difficulties, suspends making payments on all or a substantial part of its debts; |
(ii) | steps have been taken by the Parent Company or, so far as the Parent Company is aware, by any other person, that would constitute, or already constitutes, an Insolvency Proceeding in respect of the Parent Company (or any other equivalent proceeding under any applicable law) unless, in relation to such steps or procedures effectively taken or started, such steps or procedures are (i) promptly contested by the Parent Company and (ii) are finally dismissed within twenty (20) days from the sending of the Cure Notice; |
(iii) | the occurrence of a Cross-Acceleration; |
(iv) | the occurrence of an Event of Default referred to in Clause 18.3.2(c) below with respect to all Sellers; |
(v) | the occurrence of the Event of Default referred to in Clause 18.2(a) or Clause 18.2(b); or |
(vi) | (A) any party to the Agreement, (other than the Factor) challenges the validity or enforceability ( opposabilité ) of any material right or obligation thereunder or under the Parent Performance Guarantee; (B) the Agreement or the Parent Performance Guarantee, ceases to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable ( opposable ) in its entirety (including the provisions relating to Servicing Mandate). |
18.3.2 | Occurrence of a Default regarding any Seller |
(a) | Upon receiving a Default Notice from the relevant Seller in respect of a Default referred to in this Clause 18.3.2, or upon becoming aware of a Default referred to in this Clause 18.3.2, the Factor may send a Cure Notice to the relevant Seller setting forth the relevant Default(s) and the applicable grace period(s) (if any). |
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(b) | If the relevant Default(s) referred to in the Cure Notice is(are) not cured or waived within applicable grace period (if any), the Factor may, after due consideration of the impact of such event on the situation of the Sellers (taken as a whole): |
(i) | if such event occurs before the end of the Commitment Period, terminate the Commitment Period with respect to the affected Seller (only) and the Factor will continue to purchase Eligible Receivables from such Seller for an undetermined length provided that any Party shall be entitled to stop the purchasing of such Receivables from such Seller under this Agreement subject to a three (3) month prior notice (sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt) to the other Party; and/or |
(ii) | stop purchasing any new Receivables originated by the affected Seller(s), provided however that the provisions of this Agreement in relation to Transferred Receivables Assigned prior to the occurrence of such event will remain in full force and effect; and/or |
(iii) | take any of the actions set out in Clause 13.10 ( Consequences of the revocation of the Servicing Mandates ) in relation to the relevant Seller; and/or |
(iv) | exercise any or all of its rights, remedies, powers or discretions under the Factoring Facility Documents (including under the Collection Account Guarantee Agreements) with respect to the affected Seller(s) (only). |
(c) | Each of the following events constitutes an Event of Default in respect of the relevant Seller, whether or not the occurrence of the relevant event is outside the control of any entity of the Group or any other person: |
(i) | steps have been taken by such Seller or, so far as such Seller is aware, by any other person, that would constitute, or already constitutes any in respect of such Seller, any proceeding (other than an Insolvency Proceeding) under Livre VI of the French Commercial Code, as amended from time to time (or equivalent proceeding under any applicable law) unless, in relation to such steps or procedures effectively taken or started, such steps or procedures are (i) promptly contested by such Seller and (ii) are finally dismissed within twenty (20) days from the sending of the Cure Notice to the relevant Seller; |
(ii) | such Seller fails to comply with its obligations under the Factoring Facility Documents (other than resulting from Clause 17 ( Representations, Warranties and Undertakings )) to the extent such failure has a Material Adverse Effect and, if capable of remedy, continues unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days from the sending of the Cure Notice to such Seller; |
(iii) | such Seller is in breach of any of the representations, warranties and undertakings given in Clause 17 ( Representations, Warranties and Undertakings ) to the extent such failure has a Material Adverse Effect, and, if capable of remedy, continues unremedied for a period of: |
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(1) | five (5) Business Days, for the events referred to in SCHEDULE 6, Clauses 1.1(e), 1.2(t), 1.2(o), 2(t), to 2(v), 2(x), 2(z) to 2(ff), and 2(gg) to 2(jj); or |
(2) | seven (7) Business Days, for the events referred to in SCHEDULE 6, Clauses 1.1(a) and 1.1(d); or |
(3) | ten (10) Business Days, for the events referred to in SCHEDULE 6, Clauses 1.1(b), 1.1(c), 1.1(f) to 1.1(i), 1.1(k), 1.1(l), 2(w), and 2(y); or |
(4) | fifteen (15) Business Days, for the event referred to in SCHEDULE 6, Clause 1.1(j); or |
(5) | up to the next Assignment date, for the undertaking set out in Clause 8.1.4(b); |
from the sending of the Cure Notice to such Seller;
(iv) | the occurrence of any of the following events: (A) the auditor of any Seller and of the Parent Company raises reservations as to the accounts of such Seller or the Parent Company to the extent such reservation reflects serious deficiencies in accounting (which excludes any observation in the auditors report in connexion with the implementation of new accounting standards or with major accounting estimates that would trigger going concern issues (as defined in the relevant Accounting Principles)); or (B) significant delays or any aggravation of delays for payment in respect of suppliers and unsecured or secured creditors (such as inter alia the French Trésor Public , Urssaf , caisses de retraite etc.) of such Seller (other than resulting from the normal course of such Sellers business) which, individually or collectively, would have a Material Adverse Effect; |
(v) | such Seller challenges the validity or enforceability ( opposabilité ) of any material right or obligation under any Factoring Facility Document (other than the Agreement or the Parent Performance Guarantee); or |
(vi) | such Seller has knowingly omitted or concealed material information or has knowingly made false statements to the Factor regarding any material information to be provided by such Seller upon the signature of any of the Factoring Facility Documents or during the course of the performance thereof. |
18.4 | Voluntary Withdrawal |
18.4.1 | As from the date falling 12 months after the Signing Date, the Parent Company shall be entitled to request the Factor by sending it a thirty (30) day prior notice, that any Seller withdraw from the Agreement . |
18.4.2 | Upon the withdrawal of any Seller pursuant to paragraph 18.4.1 above the Factor shall be entitled to reduce the Maximum Total Financing Amount provided that: |
(a) | the amount of such reduction shall not exceed an amount corresponding to the product of (a) the Maximum Total Financing Amount, and (b) the average share over the last 12 months of the aggregate outstanding Transferred Receivables which were transferred by the withdrawing Seller in the aggregate outstanding Transferred Receivable; |
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(b) | The Factor shall send a ten (10) Business Days prior notice of such reduction (including the amount by which it reduces the Maximum Total Financing Amount) to the Parent Company; and |
(c) | If as a result of a request from the Parent Company pursuant to Clause 9.3.3 all the Sellers are to withdraw from the Agreement, the Maximum Total Financing Amount shall be reduced to zero. |
18.5 | Preservation of parameters |
Upon the sending of a Termination Notice with respect to a Seller arising under Clause 18.3.2 or the withdrawal of a Seller arising under Clause 18.4, the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith on any amendment to the Agreement or the Factoring Facility Documents which would be required or desirable to ensure the economic and financial parameters of the Transaction, as originally set out on the date of signature of the Agreement, are preserved.
19. | ACCESS TO WEB SERVICES |
19.1 | General |
19.1.1 | In order to enable the Sellers to access all management information in connection with this Agreement, the Factor has created Web Services (FACTONET) the content and mode of operation whereof are described in the Client Guide. Web Services provide detailed online information regarding the Sellers factoring accounts and those of its Debtors, which the Sellers may download onto its micro-computer. The Sellers shall bear all related costs, including the costs of telecommunications. Access to the Web Services is only possible through confidential codes, an identification code and a password, which shall be communicated to each Seller upon the signature of this Agreement. |
19.1.2 | Web Services as a whole will be free of charge for the Sellers. Any additional information services, namely documentation in paper form, will be subject to the specific pricing outlined in the Client Guide or, failing this, in a quotation submitted to the Sellers Agents approval. Such remuneration will be drawn on the Current Account. |
19.2 | Intellectual property rightsGranting of a license |
19.2.1 | All intellectual property rights and copyright concerning the Web Services, their presentation, contents (software, visual, sound functionalities, Clauses and generally all information contained in relation to such services) are works protected by the French Intellectual Property Code and international agreements concerning copyright, that exclusively belong to the Factor, in their former, current and future versions. Any complete or partial reproduction or broadcast by whatever means, is strictly forbidden without the prior written agreement of the Factor. |
19.2.2 | The Factor grants to each Seller a non-exclusive license to use the specific software referred to in Clause 19.1 ( General ), exclusively for its own use and for the sole purpose of carrying out, in connection with the performance of this Agreement, the transactions which are described in the Client Guide. Each Seller shall comply with the conditions of the license contract which shall be given to it with the software. It agrees to return the said software to the Factor promptly upon the Transaction Settlement Date and to destroy all copies thereof which it may have made. |
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19.3 | Liabilities |
The Parties shall not be liable for the malfunction of the telephone lines and equipment necessary for using the Web Services, for the use which is made thereof or for the results obtained. Moreover, subject to reasonable prior information, the Factor may interrupt or update at any time the operation of the Web Services, in particular in order to maintain the quality, reliability, safety and/or performance thereof. In no event shall the Parties be liable for the consequences, in particular, loss of data, operational losses or any other financial loss which may result from any of the events above.
19.4 | ConfidentialityLiability |
The Factor has taken all necessary measures in order to protect the confidentiality of access to information. Each Seller agrees that the access codes shall remain secret. It shall be solely responsible for such codes, including their conservation, confidentiality and use. The Factor shall in no event be liable in the event of abusive or fraudulent use thereof, due to a voluntary or involuntary disclosure of the confidential codes by each Seller to any person whatsoever. Each Seller guarantees that it will at all times comply with all laws and regulations applicable to the use of Web Services. Each Seller undertakes that its employees shall comply with the provisions of this Clause.
20. | COSTS AND EXPENSES |
20.1 | Subject to Clause 20.2, each Seller and the Parent Company shall bear all reasonable external costs and expenses reasonably incurred and duly documented by the Factor, if any (including external counsels cost and other third parties costs), in connection with (i) the due diligences carried out in relation to the Factoring Facility Documents (including the audits referred to in Clause 13.7 ( Factors controls and audits ) up to the amounts referred to under Clause 13.7.3), (ii) the preparation, negotiation, execution, completion and implementation of the Factoring Facility Documents (including in connection with the issuance of any legal opinion), in each case to the extent accepted in advance by the Parent Company on the basis of a detailed fee proposal. |
20.2 | Each Seller and the Parent Company shall bear all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred and duly documented by the Factor in connection with: |
20.2.1 | the formalities required to be carried out for the enforceability or to enforce the transfer of Receivables transferred to the Factor pursuant to the Factoring Facility; or |
20.2.2 | any amendment, waiver or consent relating to any of the Factoring Facility Documents requested by the Parent Company; |
20.2.3 | the protection or enforcement of any provision, security or guarantee benefitting to the Factor under the Factoring Facility Documents; or |
20.2.4 | any translation into English of any Factoring Facility Document drafted in a local language and vice versa. |
20.3 |
To the extent amounts (i) are due by a Seller and/or the Parent Company under any Factoring Facility Document in respect of services provided by the Factor to them and are substantiated by an invoice, and (ii) remain unpaid on the relevant due date indicated therein, (a) a late |
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penalty interest equal to the rate of the Special Financing Commission shall accrue, to the fullest extent permitted by law, on the amounts due under such invoice from the date following the due date up to the date of actual payment and (b) a fixed fee for collection charges (indemnité forfaitaire pour frais de recouvrement) of forty Euro (40) may be charged by the Factor to the relevant Seller and/or the Parent Company (as applicable). |
20.4 | All fees and other amounts payable hereunder are exclusive of any value added tax. |
21. | CONFIDENTIALITYUTILISATION OF INFORMATION COLLECTED BY THE FACTORSUBSTITUTION |
21.1 | Confidentiality |
21.1.1 | Each Party agrees that both prior to the end of the Commitment Period and thereafter until the expiry of a twenty four (24) month period therefrom (the Confidentiality Period ) it will (i) keep confidential and not divulge or disclose to any individual, person or entity whatsoever, in whole or in part, neither orally nor in writing nor in whatever other form, any information of whatever nature obtained in the context of the Factoring Facility relating to the Sellers, the Sellers Agent, the Debtors, the Receivables and the Factor or any other matters communicated by a Party to another in the context of the Factoring Facility or of which it may otherwise have come in possession in the context of the Factoring Facility (including the Factoring Facility Documents and any information concerning the identity of any Debtors) (the Confidential Information ) and (ii) take all the steps necessary to avoid any such disclosure or use so as to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information and not use, in whole or in part, any Confidential Information for any purpose other than the purpose for which it is disclosed. |
21.1.2 | At any time until the end of the Confidentiality Period, upon request of a Party, the recipient shall promptly return to such Party, or confirm in writing to such Party, the intervened destruction of any documents containing Confidential Information, with the exception of copies (i) that have become a part of the recipients corporate records and which shall be required for audit, legal, regulatory or internal compliance purposes as set out below or (ii) that the relevant Party reasonably needs for the protection or enforcement of any of its rights under this Agreement, insofar as such disclosure is expressly permitted by the provisions of the Factoring Facility Documents or strictly necessary for the purpose of discharging its obligations under or in connection with the Factoring Facility Documents. Such return, or confirmation of destruction, shall be not only of all such documents, but also of any copies thereof made by the recipient and any other documents in the possession of the recipient incorporating Confidential Information, |
21.1.3 | The relevant recipient will be responsible for making its own evaluation of, and enquiries in respect of, the Confidential Information, A Party does not make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the Confidential Information and shall have no liability as a result or use of, or reliance on, any information delivered to the recipient in accordance with this Agreement. |
21.1.4 | The provisions of this Clause 21.1 ( Confidentiality ) shall not prevent the Sellers or the Parent Company from: |
(a) | disclosing the Factoring Facility Documents on a strict need-to-know and confidential basis for the purposes of: |
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(i) | any financing or refinancing transaction occurring at the level of the Obligors; or |
(ii) | any acquisition, merger or corporate reorganization (or any transaction having a similar effect) affecting directly or indirectly the Sellers, the Parent Company or the Sellers Agent. |
(b) | disclosing the existence of the Factoring Facility and its main characteristic in any prospectus or other offering document relating to any securities issued or applied by any member of the Group, provided that the commercial and financial terms (such as the pricing of the Factoring Facility) shall not be disclosed. |
21.1.5 | Any Party may, subject (where applicable) to Article L. 511-33 of the French Monetary and Financial Code disclose the Confidential Information: |
(a) | to its employees, direct or indirect shareholders, officers or, subject to prior notice thereof provided by the Factor to the Parent Company pursuant to this Agreement, any permitted assignee of the Factor under any Factoring Facility Document (provided that such persons undertake to keep Confidential Information confidential); |
(b) | in connection with any proceedings arising out of or in connection with any Factoring Facility Document or the preservation or maintenance of its rights thereunder; |
(c) | if required to disclose Confidential Information by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction whether in pursuance of any procedure for discovering documents or otherwise, provided that the person to whom Confidential Information is given is informed of its confidential nature unless, in the opinion of that Party, it is not practicable to do so; |
(d) | pursuant to any law or regulation or requirement of any governmental agency in accordance with which that party is required or accustomed to act (including for the purpose of filing the Form 20-F of the US Securities and Exchange Commission or as required by the rules of any stock exchange where any Seller, the Parent Company or any of their Affiliates is listed); |
(e) | to any governmental, regulatory, banking or taxation authority having jurisdiction over that party, provided that the person to whom Confidential Information is given is informed of its confidential nature unless, in the opinion of that Party, it is not practicable to do so. |
(f) | to its auditors or legal or other professional advisers on a need-to-know basis only (provided that such third party owe a duty of confidentiality to that party); or |
(g) | to any sub-contractor assisting the Factor in the collection of the Receivables, subject to a confidentiality undertaking. |
21.2 | Utilisation of information collected by the Factor |
21.2.1 | For the purpose of internal control, the Factor is expressly authorised by the Sellers and the Parent Company to provide the information referred to in Article L.511-34 al. 1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, to its shareholders. |
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21.2.2 | Any information to which the Factor may have access to in the context of the performance of this Agreement may be provided to: |
(a) | any majority-owned entity of the Factor Group, for statistical, commercial or risk purposes, subject to a confidentiality undertaking; |
(b) | the Banque de France or any regulatory or banking authority, for statistical purposes only; or |
(c) | agents (mandataires) of the Factor for the performance of this Agreement, subject to a confidentiality undertaking. |
21.3 | Collection of personal data |
21.3.1 | In compliance with the provisions of French Data Protection Law No. 78-17 of 6 January 1978 (as amended), the Factor automatically processes personal information relating to the corporate officers of the Sellers, the Parent Company and the Sellers Agent and some of their employees, including the Factors contact persons or the representatives who sign the Factoring Facility Documents, the Transfer Documents and any related document. |
21.3.2 | Personal data is processed and kept strictly to provide the services hereunder. However, the Factor may need to provide such data to other companies of the group to which it belongs, in particular, in the United States of America, in accordance with applicable law or regulations. In this regard, each of the Sellers, the Parent Company and the Sellers Agent acknowledge and agree that its corporate officers and employees have agreed that the information referred to in this Clause may be transferred. |
21.3.3 | Such individuals may have access to their personal data and request that any errors relating to them be rectified or deleted by contacting the Factors sales department at the address mentioned in Clause 22.1 ( Notices between the Parties ). |
22. | MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
22.1 | Notices between the Parties |
22.1.1 | Notices shall be deemed to have been given on the date of the receipt of a registered letter, or on the date of the document attesting the receipt of an e-mail by the duly authorised representative of the other Party. In the event that contractual provisions provide for notification without specifying the form thereof, the said notification may be made by electronic mail, normal letter mailed or hand delivered, registered letter or registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. |
22.1.2 | The address (and the department or officer, if any, to whose attention the communication is addressed) of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with this Agreement is, in the case of each Party that identified with its name below, or any substitute address or department or officer as the Party may notify to the other Party by not less than five (5) Business Days notice: |
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Party |
Name |
Details |
||||
Parent Company |
Constellium Holdco II B.V. | Address: |
(c/o Constellium Paris) 40-44, rue Washington, 75008 Paris, France |
|||
Attention: | Laurent Schmitt | |||||
e-mail: | laurent.schmitt@constellium.com | |||||
Copy: | Jeremy Leach, VP and General Counsel Constellium | |||||
e-mail: | Jeremy.leach@constellium.com | |||||
Sellers Agent |
Constellium Switzerland AG | Address: | Max-Högger-Strasse 68048 Zurich | |||
Attention: | Mr. Mark Kirkland, Director Treasury & Enterprise Risk Management | |||||
e-mail: | Mark.Kirkland@constellium.com | |||||
Seller |
Constellium Issoire | Address: | ZI des Listes63502 Issoire | |||
Attention: | Marc Monaco | |||||
e-mail: | marc.monaco@constellium.com | |||||
Seller |
Constellium Neuf Brisach | Address: |
ZIP Rhenane Nord-RD 52 68600 Bisheim |
|||
Attention: | Attention: Thierry Malraison | |||||
e-mail: | thierry.malraison@constellium.com | |||||
Seller |
Constellium Extrusions France | Address: | Site de Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1 pas Eiffel, BP 46 Nuits-Saint-Georges, 21702 Nuits-Saint-Georges Cedex | |||
Attention: | Matthieu Tardi | |||||
e-mail: | Matthieu.Tardi@constellium.com | |||||
Factor |
GE Factofrance | Address: |
GE Factofrance Tour Facto, 18, rue Hoche 92988 Paris La Défense France |
|||
Attention: | Christine Vadon | |||||
e-mail: | Christine.Vadon@ge.com | |||||
Fax: | + 33 (0)1 46 35 17 04 |
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22.2 | Rights of the Parties |
No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Party, any right or remedy under this Agreement 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.
22.3 | Amendments |
Any amendment of the terms of this Agreement shall be made in writing by all the Parties.
22.4 | Partial invalidity |
If, at any time, any provision of this Agreement 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.
22.5 | No joint obligations |
The obligations of each Seller under the Factoring Facility Documents are several ( conjointes et non solidaires ). No Seller is responsible for, or in any manner guarantor of, the obligations of any other Seller under the Factoring Facility Documents.
23. | APPOINTMENT OF SELLERS AGENT |
23.1 | Each Seller hereby appoints the Sellers Agent as its lawful agent ( mandataire ) in order to do all such things that may be specifically delegated to it under this Agreement for and on behalf of such Seller. |
23.2 | The Sellers Agent hereby accepts its appointment to act as lawful agent ( mandataire ) of each Seller in respect of the foregoing tasks. |
23.3 | Subject to sub-paragraph (f) below, the appointment, duties and authority of the Sellers Agent shall be valid and effective as from the date of its appointment and remain in full force and effect until the Transaction Settlement Date. |
23.4 | The Sellers Agent shall have such rights, powers and authorities and discretions as are conferred on it by this Agreement, together with such rights, powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto. |
23.5 | The performance of its obligations by the Sellers Agent shall release and discharge the relevant Seller with respect to, and to the extent of, the obligations, duties and liabilities so performed by the Sellers Agent. |
23.6 | The Sellers Agent may be replaced by another member of the Group (a Substitute Sellers Agent ) upon written request sent by all Sellers to the Factor subject to 30 days prior written notice and provided that such Substitute Sellers Agent has accepted in writing to perform all obligations of the Sellers Agent hereunder. |
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23.7 | The Sellers Agent shall not be liable to any person for any breach by any Seller of this Agreement (or any other document) or be liable to any Seller for any breach by any other person of this Agreement or any other document. |
23.8 | The Sellers Agent shall not be remunerated. |
24. | CHANGE TO THE PARTIES |
24.1 | Assignment and transfers by the Sellers |
No Seller shall be entitled to assign or transfer any of its rights and/or obligation under any Factoring Facility Document without the Factors prior written consent.
24.2 | Assignment and transfer by the Factor |
24.2.1 | The Factor may assign or transfer its rights and obligations in full under any Factoring Facility Document if such assignment or transfer: |
(a) | is to an Affiliate of the Factor; |
(b) | is made at a time when an Event of Default is continuing; or |
(c) | otherwise, has received the previous written consent of the Parent Company, |
provided that such assignment or transfer:
(d) | shall not cause the Parent Company or any of the Sellers to incur any additional costs; |
(e) | shall not affect the rights of the Parent Company or of any of the Sellers under any Factoring Facility Documents; and |
(f) | shall not affect the validity of the Jurisdiction Matrix set out in SCHEDULE 16 ( Jurisdiction Matrix) |
24.2.2 | Notwithstanding the provision of Clause 24.2.1 above, the Factor shall be entitled, to assign, transfer or pledge any Transferred Receivable, if the following conditions are met: |
(a) | the aggregate amount of Receivables transferred directly or indirectly to a transferee shall not exceed at any time fifty per cent (50%) of the aggregate amount of all Transferred Receivable; |
(b) | the Parent Company shall be previously informed in writing of such transfer and be provided with reasonable details about the identity of the relevant transferee; |
(c) | the relevant transferee shall not be a competitor of the Parent Company (or any of its Affiliate); |
(d) | the relevant transferee shall have undertaken to the benefit of the Seller (in terms reasonably satisfactory to the relevant Seller), (i) not to disclose any information relating to the Parent Company, the Group, the Seller, this Agreement or any terms of any Receivable, (ii) not to assign or transfer by any means such right or receivable, in each case without the prior consent of the relevant Seller (not to be unreasonably withheld) and (iii) not to disclose the relevant assignment unless expressly permitted in the Agreement; |
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(e) | the transfer to the relevant transferee shall not have any effect on the rights (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the right of the Seller to buy-back certain Receivables as and when provided for in this Agreement) and/or obligations of any Seller and will not cause any Seller to bear any additional taxes, costs or expenses; and |
(f) | the relevant transferee is not a person (i) whose business includes arms, weapons, weapon components or military equipment or any goods or services the supply or receipt of which is contrary to applicable law (including without limitation applicable national and international export control, trade sanction and embargo laws, regulations, treaties and conventions) or (ii) otherwise subject to any Sanction. |
24.3 | Substitution |
Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 13.1 ( Servicing Mandate ) and Clause 23.6, unless agreed in writing by the Factor, any Seller, the Sellers Agent, and the Parent Company shall not in any way whatsoever be substituted by another party for the performance of its rights and obligations under any Factoring Facility Document.
24.4 | Accession of Additional Sellers |
24.4.1 | The Parties agree that, from time to time and subject to Clauses 24.4.2 and 24.4.3, the Parent Company may request that any of its subsidiaries located in France accede to this Agreement as additional seller (an Additional Seller ). |
24.4.2 | Promptly upon receipt of that request, subject to compliance with Clause 24.4.3, the Parties shall determine and agree in good faith the timing for the accession of such Additional Seller. |
24.4.3 | The accession of such Additional Seller shall be subject to: |
(a) | execution and delivery by the Additional Seller of an Accession Form to the Factor; |
(b) | the prior approval of the credit committee of the Factor; |
(c) | the conduct of appropriate audits and due diligence (on the Additional Seller, its Receivables, the agreements pursuant to which its Receivables are originated, its Credit and Collection Procedures, and its IT systems), the results and conclusions of which are confirmed by the Factor as being reasonably satisfactory; |
(d) | the satisfaction of conditions precedent for the accession being substantially similar to the conditions precedent applicable to the Sellers as set out in SCHEDULE 5 ( Conditions Precedent ) (to the extent such conditions are applicable) but without prejudice to the right for the Factor to subject its internal approval process to the delivery of satisfactory analysis or advice on potential conflicts of laws issues; and |
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(e) | the Additional Seller, the Parent Company, the Sellers or the Sellers Agent agreeing to bear all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred and duly documented by the Factor in connection with (i) any audits/due diligence required for the purposes of the accession of such Additional Seller and (ii) the negotiation and drafting of any amendment to a Factoring Facility Document or credit insurance policy required for the purposes of such accession, including, inter alia, any agreed increase of the Maximum Total Financing Amount. |
25. | APPLICABLE LAWJURISDICTION |
25.1 | Subject to Clause 6.2 above, the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and shall be governed by French law. |
25.2 | Each of the Parties to this Agreement agrees that any and all disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and in particular with its validity, interpretation, performance or non-performance, shall be exclusively referred to the competent courts of the Paris Court of Appeals |
25.3 | Each Party to this Agreement irrevocably waives any objection which it might now or hereafter have to the courts referred to in Clause 6.2 being nominated as the forum to hear and determine any suit, action or proceedings, and to settle any disputes, which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and agrees not to claim that any such court is not a convenient or appropriate forum. |
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SCHEDULE 3.
D EFINITIONS
In this Agreement, the following expressions used with a capital letter shall, except where the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:
Acceptable Credit Insurer means a credit insurer:
(i) | which is a credit insurer being incorporated in a country of the OECD; |
(ii) | whose long term obligation are rated at least BBB- by Standard & Poors or Fitch Ratings or Baa3 by Moodys; |
(iii) | which is capable of, and agrees to, enter into credit insurance policies governed by French law (or any other law approved by the Parties); and |
(iv) | which is capable of making electronic data transfers in a manner satisfactory to the Factor, |
provided that should a credit insurer not comply with one or more of the above criteria, such other credit insurer shall be approved by the Factor (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld).
Accession Form means an accession form substantially in the form of SCHEDULE 17 ( Accession Form ).
Accounting Group means Constellium N.V.and its Affiliates.
Accounting Principles means in relation to the Parent Company and any Seller, generally accepted accounting principles in its jurisdiction of incorporation, and used in the financial statements or accounts to be remitted by the Parent Company and the Sellers to the Factor pursuant to this Agreement.
Additional Seller has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 24.4 ( Accession of Additional Sellers ) .
Affected Receivables has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 11.3.1.
Affiliate means as to a specified entity, an entity that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the entity specified.
Agreement means this factoring agreement.
Airbus means the companies listed in SCHEDULE 20 ( List of Airbus Companies ).
Airbus Advance means (i) the eight millions euros (EUR 8.000.000) advance currently made by Airbus to Constellium Issoire, or (ii) any other advance made at any time by Airbus to any Seller.
Airbus Receivable has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 14.8.1
Airbus Reserve Trigger means any of the following events:
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(v) | on 1 st July 2016, the Factor has not received a waiver satisfactory to it from any relevant Airbus entity of its right to set-off any amount owed under the Airbus Advance; and |
the creditor of the Airbus Advance is a Debtor of any Transferred Receivable, unless the relevant Airbus entities have provided a waiver, satisfactory to the Factor, of their right to set-off any amount owed under the Airbus Advance.
Approval Limit means in relation to any Debtor the lesser of (i) the Credit Insurer Approval Limit applicable to such Debtor and (ii) the Factor Approval Limit applicable to such Debtor.
Approved Currency means Euros (EUR) and US Dollars (USD) or any other currency on which the Factor has given its prior approval from time to time.
Approved Debtor means a Debtor in respect of which the Credit Insurer has agreed under the Credit Insurance Policy, to cover the non-payment of all or part of the Receivables owed by such Debtor to any Seller.
Approved Receivable means in respect of any Seller on any Assignment Date, any Transferred Receivable (i) the sum of the Face Value of which, together with the Face Value of all outstanding Financeable Receivables held against the same Debtor on such date, does not exceed the Approval Limit applicable to such Debtor, and (ii) which is indemnifiable under the Credit Insurance Policy (quotité assurée) for at least ninety per cent (90%) of its Outstanding Amount.
Arrangement Fee has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 15.3 ( Arrangement Fee ).
Asset Account means the account of each Seller recording the relevant Outstanding Amounts of the Transferred Receivables.
Assignment means any assignment, sale or transfer of receivables made by each Seller to the Factor in accordance with the Transfer Mode and this Agreement and to Assign means the making of an Assignment pursuant to this Agreement and the applicable Transfer Mode.
Assignment Date shall have the meaning given to that term in Clause 8.1.3(a).
Available Financing Account has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 14.2 ( Available Financing Account ).
Average Dilution Rates means, at any time, in relation to any Seller, as observed over the last three (3) calendar months, the average rate of the Dilutions calculated by the Factor on a monthly basis as a percentage of the aggregate amount of all Transferred Receivables relating to that Seller.
Ban on Assignment means, with respect to any Receivable, any ban or restriction on assignment, sale, transfer or requirement of any prior consent from the relevant Debtor or from any third parties which would validly prevent the legal transfer of such Receivable or any Related Security or the enforceability of such transfer towards the relevant Debtor if such consent is not obtained.
Bank means the credit institutions in the books of which the Collection Accounts identified in SCHEDULE 12 ( Collection Accounts ) are opened, that is, BNP Paribas, HSBC and Deutsche Bank, together with any other credit institution that may be agreed from time to time between the Factor and the relevant Seller.
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Bank Account(s) means in relation to any Seller, the bank account(s) of such Seller the details of which will be notified to the Factor at the latest on the First Assignment Date and on which Financings will be made available to it, or such other bank account opened in the name of any Seller as such Seller (or the Sellers Agent acting on its behalf) may from time to time specify in writing to the Factor.
Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are generally open for normal business in Paris, New York and Amsterdam.
Change of Control means, as the case may be, a Parent Change of Control and/or a Seller Change of Control.
Client Guide means the guide which has been given by the Factor to the Sellers and which is also accessible through Web Services.
Collection Accounts means:
(vi) | the bank account(s) listed in SCHEDULE 12 ( Collection Accounts ) (as amended from time to time) opened in the name of each Seller in the books of the Bank(s) ; or |
(vii) | any other bank account that may be opened after the date hereof, at the request of the relevant Seller, for the purposes of receiving the settlements under the Transferred Receivables, as agreed from time to time between the relevant Seller and the Factor (provided, in each case, that a Collection Account Guarantee Agreement shall have been entered into and shall be in force in respect thereof). |
Collection Account Guarantee Agreements means (i) the agreements entered into between a Seller, the Factor and, as the case may be, the relevant Bank and which provide, as the case may be, for the pledge or security trust for the benefit of the Factor over such account or its credit balance, or for the assignment by way of security for the benefit of the Factor of the receivable constituted by the positive balance of the Collection Accounts and, (ii) as the case may be, the acknowledgement letters by the relevant Bank in respect of such pledge or security trust for the benefit of the Factor and fulfilling the requirement of Clause 13.3 ( Collection of the Transferred Receivables ).
Commitment Period means, subject to the provisions of Clause 18 ( Term and Early Termination ) a period starting on the Signing Date and ending on the earlier of:
(viii) | the last Business Day of the thirty-sixth (36 th ) calendar month from the Signing Date (as such date may be postponed from time to time by the Parties); |
(ix) | if the Maximum Total Financing Amount is reduced to zero in accordance with Clause 9.3 (Maximum Total Financing Amount) before the end of this 36 month period, the date on which the Maximum Total Financing Amount is reduced to zero in accordance with Clause 9.3 ( Maximum Total Financing Amount ) ; |
(x) | in relation to any Seller, the date on which a Termination Notice is sent in relation to such Seller in accordance with Clause 18.3 ( Default ) or such Seller is effectively withdrawn from the Factoring Facility in accordance with Clause 18.4 ( Voluntary Withdrawal ) (as applicable); and |
(xi) | in relation to any Seller, the date on which a Stop Purchase Event occurs in relation to such Seller. |
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Computer Relationship Guide means the procedures and outlines set out in SCHEDULE 9 SCHEDULE 9 ( Computer Relationship Guide ) .
Concentration Limit means, on any Assignment Date, with respect to any Debtor and its Affiliates, the maximum amount of Transferred Receivables (including VAT) owed by such Debtor and its Affiliates that the Factor may Finance and which may not exceed at any time forty per cent (40%) of the Outstanding Amount of Transferred Receivables assigned by all Sellers.
Confidential Information has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 21.1.1.
Constellium Issoire means a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée, whose registered office is located at rue Yves Lamourdedieu, Zone Industrielle Les Listes, 63500 Issoire, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Clermont-Ferrand under number 672 014 081; and
Contract means in relation to any Receivable, any and all contracts, instruments, agreements, invoices (including, as the case may be, any purchase order, certificate of transport (bon du transporteur or equivalent documents), expedition certificate (bon dexpédition or equivalent documents), delivery certificate (bon de livraison or similar document) or similar document) pursuant to or under which a Debtor becomes or is obligated to make payments on or in respect of such Receivable.
Credit and Collection Procedures means the Sellers own credit collection procedures and processes, as amended from time to time, provided that the initial Credit and Collection Procedures are set out SCHEDULE 8 ( Credit And Collection Procedures ).
Credit Insurance Policy means each of:
(xii) | the credit insurance policy entered into on or about the Signing Date pursuant to which the Transferred Receivables denominated in Euro to be transferred by the Sellers to the Factor; and |
(xiii) | the credit insurance policy entered into on or about the Signing Date pursuant to which the Transferred Receivables denominated in USD to be transferred by the Sellers to the Factor, |
are credit insured for an aggregate amount equal at least to the Maximum Insurance Liability, or any other credit insurance policy entered into from time to time by the Sellers and the Factor with any Acceptable Credit Insurer.
Credit Insurer means:
(o) | Atradius Credit Insurance NV, a company located 44 avenue George Pompidou, 92596 Levallois Perret cedex, France, registered under number 417 498 755 with the Registre du commerce et des sociétés of Nanterre, branch of Atradius Credit Insurance NV headquartered at David Ricardostraat 1 1066 JS Amsterdam (NL), Trade Register 33024388; or |
(p) | any other credit insurer which is an Acceptable Credit Insurer. |
Credit Insurer Approval Limit means in relation to any Debtor, the amount up to which the Credit Insurer has accepted to insure Receivables owed by such Debtor at the request of the relevant Seller, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time by the Credit Insurer in accordance with the Credit Insurance Policy, provided that any such adjustment will apply only to Eligible Receivables to be originated after such adjustment.
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Credit Note means any credit note issued by a Seller to a Debtor in respect of a Transferred Receivable.
Cross-Acceleration means, in respect of any Financial Indebtedness (other than any financial indebtedness owed to another member of the Group) of the Parent Company, any Seller, the aggregate outstanding amount of which exceeds fifty million Euros (EUR 50,000,000), any event of default (however described):
(i) | with respect to any Financial Indebtedness other than the ones referred to in paragraph (lvii) of the definition of Financial Indebtedness, which has led the relevant lenders or financing parties to notify, as applicable, the Parent Company, or the relevant Seller of the acceleration of such relevant Financial Indebtedness; or |
(ii) | with respect to any Financial Indebtedness referred to in paragraph (lvii) of the definition of Financial Indebtedness, which has led any counterparty to early terminate such Financial Indebtedness further to a breach of the Parent Company or the relevant Seller of its obligations thereunder. |
Cure Notice has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 18.3.1(a).
Current Account means, in relation to any Seller, the current account ( compte courant ) opened in the Factors books in the name of such Seller in accordance with Clause 14.1. ( Current Account ) As at the Signing Date, the Current Accounts of the Sellers are listed in SCHEDULE 14 (Current Accounts).
Debtor means, in respect of each Transferred Receivable, any legal entity being primarily obliged to pay any amount due thereunder, as clearly identified at any time in the Records of each Seller.
Debtor Insolvency means,
(q) | in respect of any Debtor incorporated in France, the opening of any of the proceedings specified in Book VI of the French Commercial Code, as amended from time to time, including (i) a safeguard (sauvegarde), (ii) accelerated safeguard ( sauvegarde accélérée ) (iii) express financial safeguard (sauvegarde financière accélérée), (iv) judicial restructuring (redressement judiciaire), or (v) judicial liquidation (liquidation judiciaire) proceeding; |
(r) | with respect to any other Debtor, any analogous proceedings in any other relevant jurisdictions; and |
(s) | with respect to any Debtor, any of the events set out in the Credit Insurance Policy under the definition of Insolvency (Insolvabilité) as set out in the section entitled Stop Automatique de la Couverture of each Credit Insurance Policy . |
Default means any event or circumstance set out in Clause 18.3 ( Default ), which would, with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination or combination of the foregoing, constitute an Event of Default.
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Default Notice has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 18.3 ( Default ) .
Defaulted Debtor means the Debtor of a Defaulted Receivable.
Defaulted Receivable means any Transferred Receivable remaining unpaid in whole or in part by a Debtor for more than sixty (60) calendar days after its due date and which is not a Disputed Receivable.
Deferred Availability Account has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 14.6 ( Deferred Availability Account ) .
Definance means with respect to any Financed Receivable or Financeable Receivable the fact of debiting, from the relevant Current Account the Outstanding Amount of that Transferred Receivable and of crediting such amount to the relevant Deferred Availability Account.
Definanced Receivables means any Transferred Receivable which has been Definanced.
Devaluation Reserve has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 14.8.1.
Devaluation Reserve Calculation Date has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 14.8.2.
Devaluation Reserve Reference Month has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 14.8.2.
Dilution means, in respect of the Transferred Receivables originated by any Seller, the amount of any Reduction or Cancellation Item, other than any set-off relating to
(xiv) | Tolling, Pseudo Tolling; |
(xv) | to the sales of goods and provisions of services mentioned in paragraph 14.7.1(b); or |
(xvi) | as applicable, any set-off between Transferred Receivables owed by Airbus and the Airbus Advance. |
Dilution Rate means, at any time, in relation to any Seller, the rate of the Dilutions which arose during the previous calendar month, calculated by the Factor as a percentage of the aggregate amount of all Transferred Receivables Assigned by that Seller during such month.
Dilution Reserve has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 14.5.1 ( Purpose ).
Dilution Reserve Required Amount means at any time the amount which has to be credited on the Dilution Reserve on such time.
Discussion Period has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 13.9.1(a).
Disposal has the meaning ascribed to such term in SCHEDULE 6 ( Representation, Warranties ) .
Dispute means, in relation to any Receivable,
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(xvii) | the refusal by the relevant Debtor to pay all or part of the Outstanding Amount of such Receivable to the relevant Seller on the grounds that (for a reason other than it being subject to a Debtor Insolvency, and excluding any stalling tactic) it is not liable to make the relevant payment (including by refusing to pay in the designated currency), such refusal to be evidenced by mail or email from such Debtor to the relevant Seller, or, after the termination of the Servicing Mandate of such Seller, the Factor, provided that the termination of the Dispute will be evidenced through a written statement from the relevant Debtor or a definite decision of justice recognising the existence of the Receivable and all amounts due in respect thereof; or |
(xviii) | in the context of a Debtor Insolvency against the Debtor of such Receivable, any decision rendered by the relevant competent insolvency officer or judge rejecting the existence or the amount of such Receivable, unless such rejection is caused by an improper filing of any relevant claim by the Factor, and provided that if the event which constitutes a Dispute affects only a part of the a Transferred Receivable, only that part shall be deemed to be a Disputed Receivable. |
Disputed Receivable means any Receivable which is subject to a Dispute.
Effective Global Rate has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 5 ( Effective Global Rate ).
Eligible Receivable means any Receivable which fulfils on the relevant Assignment Date the following criteria:
(xix) | it is fully owned by the relevant Seller ; |
(xx) | it results from the firm sale of products (or the related provision of services) by the relevant Seller in the ordinary course of its business; |
(xxi) | it has been originated and monitored pursuant to the Credit and Collection Procedures; |
(xxii) | it is either (a) governed by French law and is owed by an Approved Debtor located or incorporated in a Relevant Country or (b) the combination of the jurisdiction of its Debtor and of its governing law is set out in the Jurisdiction Matrix; |
(xxiii) | it is denominated in an Approved Currency; |
(xxiv) | it is not an Excluded Receivable; |
(xxv) | it does not arise out of an invoice issued by a Seller in respect of a Debtor which is a member of the Group; |
(xxvi) | it exists and constitutes legal, valid, binding and enforceable payment obligations of the relevant Debtor; |
(xxvii) | it is fully capable of transfer and it shall not be subject to any Ban on Assignment, unless prior written consent to the Assignment from its Debtor has been obtained in a form and substance substantially similar to the consent letter set out in SCHEDULE 11 ( Form Of Consent Letter ); |
(xxviii) | it is not subject to legal or contractual restrictions on confidentiality affecting the validity of its Assignment; |
(xxix) | it is not in the public knowledge that its Debtor, at the time of the Assignment, is subject to any Debtor Insolvency; |
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(xxx) | its Debtor is not a Public Entity or an individual; |
(xxxi) | it does not arise from a public procurement contract; |
(xxxii) | it is free from any security interest, rights of third parties or adverse claims , and has not been previously discounted (escomptée) or assigned, transferred or pledged to third parties or as the case may be, such security interest, rights of third parties or adverse claims have been waived to the satisfaction of the Factor prior to the Assignment of the Eligible Receivable; |
(xxxiii) | under the contract pursuant to which it arises, it is not payable by means of cash ( en espèces) or credit card; |
(xxxiv) | it does not arise under a contract which is a regulated agreement under the French Consumer Code (Code de la consommation) ; |
(xxxv) | it is not owed by a Debtor in respect of which the Factor is prohibited to purchase receivables pursuant to applicable regulation as notified twenty (20) Business Days in advance by the Factor to the relevant Seller; |
(xxxvi) | its maturity date falls after the date of the contemplated Assignment to the Factor; |
(xxxvii) | it has a maximum maturity date equal to the lesser of (A) the maximum maturity permitted by any applicable law (or by any applicable business agreement ( accord de branche ) duly endorsed by way of ordinance ( décret )), (B) the maximum maturity provided under the Credit Insurance Policy and (C) one hundred and fifty (150) days (including any extension request); |
(xxxviii) | unless such Transferred Receivable is a Transferred Receivable on a Debtor offered for the first time to the Factor, the invoice relating to such Transferred Receivable has been issued less than thirty (30) days before it was Assigned to the Factor; |
(xxxix) | with respect to Rexam Egypt Receivable only, it fulfills the Rexam Egypt Eligibility Criteria. |
EURIBOR means, on any day:
(xl) | the euro interbank offered rate administered by the Banking Federation of the European Money Markets Institute (or any person which takes over the administration of that rate) for Euros on such day and for a three month term, as displayed on the page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate (it being specified that if the relevant page or service is replaced or ceases to be available, the Factor, in consultation with the Parent Company or the Sellers Agent, may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate); or |
(xli) | (if no such rate is available) the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Factor at its request quoted by HSBC France, Crédit Agricole and Crédit Mutuel (or any other credit institution selected by the Factor in consultation with the Parent Company or the Sellers Agent) to leading banks in the European interbank market; |
at such time as is customary for fixing the rate applicable to such term for the offering of deposits in Euro for a period comparable to that term provided that, if any such rate is below zero, EURIBOR will be deemed to be zero.
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Euro or EUR means the single currency of the member states of the European Union that adopt or have adopted the Euro as their lawful currency in accordance with the legislation of the European Community relating to Economic and Monetary Union.
Event(s) of Default means any event referred to in Clause 18.3.1(c) and 18.3.2(c).
Excluded Receivables means any Receivable which fulfils on the relevant Assignment Date any of the following criteria:
(xlii) | it is arising from a contract the performance of which has been wholly or partly subcontracted, including pursuant to French law n°75-1334 of 31 December 1975 or any similar applicable law or regulation granting to the subcontractor a direct claim against the relevant Debtor for the payment owed to such subcontractor by the relevant Seller under the subcontract (save if, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Factor, bank guarantees (to guarantee payments to the relevant subcontractors) or other relevant arrangements have been implemented in advance in accordance with the above laws and regulations so as to avert the exercise of any such direct claim); |
(xliii) | its payment remains subject on the date on which such Receivable is purported to be Assigned to (A) the verification of the performance of an obligation of the relevant Seller, by the relevant Debtor or any third party or (B) the completion of additional services, deliveries or other milestones; |
(xliv) | it is owed by a Debtor (or a Debtors Affiliate) that is at the same time a supplier (or a member of the same group as the supplier) of the relevant Seller or that is an Affiliate of the Seller, unless if it arises in connection with a Tolling relationship; |
(xlv) | it solely corresponds to penalties or late payment interest; |
(xlvi) | it is a Disputed Receivable in all or in part; or |
(xlvii) | it is owed by a Debtor which is mentioned on any official list which is binding on the Factor as being subject to Sanctions. |
Face Value means, in respect of any Receivable, the nominal amount of such Receivable as at the date of its Assignment to the Factor, including any VAT applicable thereto.
Factor Approval Limit shall have the meaning given to that term in Clause 10.2.1 (Approval by the Factor).
Factor Change of Control means a change of control pursuant to which any person or group of persons acting in concert or as of their affiliates (a) holds directly or indirectly more than 50% of the share capital or the voting rights of the Factor or (b) owns the right to determine the composition of the majority of the board of directors (or equivalent) of the Factor.
Factor Group means the Factor and any entity which is an Affiliate of the Factor.
Factoring Commission has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 15.1.1 ( Purpose ).
Factoring Facility means the undisclosed non-recourse factoring facility made available by the Factor to the Sellers under the Factoring Facility Documents.
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Factoring Facility Documents means (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Collection Account Guarantee Agreements, (iii) the Parent Performance Guarantee, (iv) any document, instrument or agreement entered into between the Parties for the purposes of a Transfer Mode or Retransfer Mode, (v) any Accession Form, (vi) the Transferred Receivables Ledgers, (vii) the reports or certificates transmitted by the Parent Company or the Sellers to the Factor pursuant to SCHEDULE 6 ( Representation, Warranties ) , or (viii) any document, instrument or certificate designated as such by the Parties.
Finance Lease means the leases, financial leases (locations avec option dachat) or hire-purchase contracts which would, in accordance with the relevant Accounting Principles, be treated as a finance or capital leases.
Finance/Financed means the fact, for the Factor, of making a Financing available to the Sellers pursuant to the terms of Clause 9 ( Financing of Financeable Amounts ) of this Agreement.
Financeable Amounts has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 9.2 ( Financeable Amounts ).
Financeable Receivable means an Approved Receivable which fulfils all the following criteria:
(xlviii) | it is not a Disputed Receivable in all or in part; |
(xlix) | the Financing of such Transferred Receivable will not trigger a breach of the applicable Concentration Limit (for the avoidance of doubt, the Factor will monitor compliance with the Concentration Limit); and |
(l) | it is not yet a Financed Receivable. |
Financed Amounts means, in relation to any Seller, amounts debited from the Current Account of such Seller and paid in cash by the Factor to such Seller in accordance with Clause 9.1 ( Financing ) .
Financed Receivable means any Financeable Receivable which has been Financed in accordance with Clause 9 ( Financing of Financeable Amounts ) .
Financial Indebtedness means, without double-counting, any indebtedness for or in respect of:
(li) | monies borrowed and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions; |
(lii) | any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility or dematerialised equivalent; |
(liii) | any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds (other than Trade Instruments) notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument; |
(liv) | the amount of any liability in respect of any Finance Lease; |
(lv) | receivables sold or discounted (except off balance sheet transfers of receivables); |
(lvi) | any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) of a type not referred to in any other paragraph of this definition having the financial effect of a borrowing; |
(lvii) | any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the value of any derivative transaction, only the marked to market value (or, if any actual amount is due as a result of the termination or close-out of that derivative transaction, that amount) shall be taken into account); |
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(lviii) | 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; |
(lix) | any amount raised by the issue of redeemable shares which are redeemable (other than at the option of the issuer) before the Transaction Settlement Date or are otherwise classified as borrowings under the Accounting Principles; |
(lx) | in respect of the Sellers only, the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee for any of the items referred to in Paragraphs (li) to (lix) above, and in respect of the Parent Company the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee for any of the items referred to in Paragraphs (li) to (lix) above, to the extent the payment of any such liability would jeopardize the Parent Companys ability to face its other Financial Indebtedness. |
First Assignment Date means, with respect to any Seller, the first Assignment Date regarding such Seller on or following the Signing Date.
Form of Notification means any notice of assignment to Debtors of Transferred Receivables transferred by any Seller substantially in the form of SCHEDULE 18, Part 3.
Financing means the amounts made available by the Factor to the Sellers out of Financeable Amounts pursuant to the terms of Clause 9 ( Financing of Financeable Amounts ) of this Agreement (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Financing shall not constitute a loan to be repaid by the Sellers to the Factor).
Financing Request has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 9.1.1.
Group means Constellium N.V., the Parent Company, and the Sellers.
Indemnification Maximum Payment Date means, in relation to any Transferred Receivable which is an Approved Receivable, the date immediately falling one hundred and eighty (180) days after the initial maturity date of the relevant Transferred Receivable (or any other date as may be agreed upon among the relevant Seller, the Factor and the Credit Insurer).
Indirect Payment means any payment by a Debtor in respect of a Transferred Receivable which is not remitted to a Collection Account.
Insolvency Proceeding means in respect of the Parent Company and the Sellers, any of the following events:
(viii) | any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, dissolution, the opening of proceedings for sauvegarde (including sauvegarde financière accélérée or sauvegarde accélérée ), redressement judiciaire or liquidation judiciaire or reorganisation of such entity other than a solvent liquidation or reorganisation of such entity; |
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(ix) | it commences proceedings for the appointment of a mandataire ad hoc (on the grounds of financial difficulties) or for a conciliation in accordance with articles L.611-3 to L.611-15 of the French Code de commerce other than with the Factor; |
(x) | a judgement for sauvegarde (including sauvegarde financière accélérée or sauvegarde accélérée ), redressement judiciaire or liquidation judiciaire or for cession totale ou partielle de lentreprise is rendered in relation to such entity under articles L.620-1 to L.670-8 of the French Code de commerce ; and |
(xi) | it is in a state of cessation des paiements within the meaning of article L.631-1 of the French Code de commerce. |
Insolvency Regulations has the meaning ascribed to such term in SCHEDULE 6 ( Representation, Warranties ).
Insurance Indemnification means any indemnification under the Credit Insurance Policy.
Jurisdiction Matrix means the list of combinations of Relevant Laws and Relevant Countries set out in SCHEDULE 16 (Jurisdiction Matrix) as such list may be amended at any time by the Parties.
Legal Reservations means any legal reservations that are inserted in the legal opinions delivered in relation to this Agreement.
Letter of Waiver and Consent means an original copy of a letter substantially in the form set out in SCHEDULE 22 ( Form of Letter of Waiver and Consent ).
Margin means 1,20 % per annum.
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on: (i) the ability of the Parent Company or the Sellers to perform their payment or other material obligations (including with respect to their obligations pursuant to the Servicing Mandates) under the Factoring Facility Documents; or (ii) the collectability of the Transferred Receivables (taken as a whole), on a Seller by Seller basis; or (iii) the validity or the enforceability of any of the Factoring Facility Documents.
Maximum Insurance Liability means the global limit of the Credit Insurers yearly maximum liability (limite maximum de décaissement) under the Credit Insurance Policy, applicable only to Receivables assigned by the Sellers, set out on the Signing Date at one hundred and ninety-five million euros (EUR 195,000,000), as such limit may be adjusted downward following the occurrence of one or several indemnification events throughout the year.
Maximum Total Financing Amount means two hundred and thirty five million Euros (EUR 235,000,000) available collectively to the Sellers, as this amount may be decreased pursuant to Clauses 9.3 ( Maximum Total Financing Amount ) 18.2 and 18.4 or increased pursuant to Clause 24.4.3(e).
Metal Floating Price means, in respect of any Devaluation Reserve Reference Month, the amount expressed in US Dollars equal to the relevant LME (London Metal Exchange) average price of metal three (3) months prior to such Devaluation Reserve Reference Month, as calculated in accordance with the terms of the contract entered into between the relevant Seller and Airbus.
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Metal Invoicing Price means, in respect of any Devaluation Reserve Reference Month, the price per ton of metal expressed in US Dollars actually invoiced, to Airbus by the relevant Seller during such Devaluation Reserve Reference Month.
Metal Price Devaluation has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 14.8.1.
Minimum Dilution means, at any time after the sending of a Termination Notice or the occurrence of a Stop Purchase Event, but before the Transaction Settlement Date, with respect to any Seller the lower of (i) the aggregate Outstanding Amount at that time of Financeable Receivable transferred by such Seller to the Factor, (ii) the amount of the Dilution Reserve of such Seller on the termination date of the Agreement or on the date of occurrence of a Stop Purchase Event, and (iii);
(t) |
With respect to Constellium Neuf Brisach, | EUR 4,500,000 | ||
(u) |
With respect to Constellium Issoire, | EUR 1,500,000; and | ||
(v) |
With respect to Constellium Extrusions France, | EUR 500,000 |
Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction means a non-cooperative state or territory (Etat ou territoire non coopératif), as set out in the list referred to in Article 238-0 A of the French Tax Code (Code Général des Impôts), as such list may be amended from time to time.
Non-Financeable Amounts means, at any time, the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of the Non-Financeable Receivables as at such time and (ii) the difference between the Face Value of the Financeable Receivables as at such time and the Financeable Amounts.
Non-Financeable Receivable means any Transferred Receivable which is not a Financeable Receivable.
Non-Utilization Fee means on any anniversary date of the Signing Date comprised during the Commitment Period a fee equal to zero point forty per cent (0.40%) of the difference between (i) the Maximum Total Financing Amount and (ii) the average Financed Amounts during the previous year.
Obligors means the Parent Company, the Sellers and the Sellers Agent, from time to time.
Offset and Adjustment Account or OAA means in relation to any Seller a Sub-Account of its Current Account the characteristics of which are set out in Clause 14.4 ( Offset and Adjustment Account - OAA ).
Outstanding Amount means on any date with respect to any Receivable, the outstanding amount owed by the relevant Debtor under such Receivable being equal to the difference (if any) between the Face Value of such Receivable, any Reduction or Cancellation Items affecting such Receivable and any payment made by the relevant Debtor or any other party (including any agreements or credit insurances) to discharge such Receivable, provided that the Outstanding Amount shall be equal to zero in respect of any Receivable which has been written off.
Parent Change of Control has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 18.2(a).
Parent Performance Guarantee means the performance guarantee agreement ( acte de cautionnement solidaire ) entered into on 4 January 2011 between the Parent Company and the Factor.
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Pseudo Tolling means any repurchase by the relevant Seller of inventory from any Debtor
Public Entity means any State ( État ), any local authorities ( collectivités locales ) or similar foreign law entities or any public-law entity whether in France or abroad.
Quarter Date means 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December of each calendar year respectively.
Receivable means any receivable payable by a Debtor to a Seller as a result of sales of goods or performance of services by such Seller in the ordinary course of such Sellers business and any VAT amount invoiced by such Seller in relation to such receivable, together with:
(lxi) | to the extent applicable and permitted under applicable law, all Records related to such Receivable ; |
(lxii) | any Related Security; |
(lxiii) | the right to demand payment of principal, interest (except late payment interest) and any other sum howsoever due in respect of such Receivable and all proceeds at any time howsoever arising out of the resale, redemption or other disposal of (net of collection costs) such Receivable; and |
(lxiv) | to the extent applicable and permitted under French law, such Sellers rights to refunds from the relevant tax authorities on account of, if applicable, value added tax in respect of any goods sold or services rendered to a Debtor. |
Records means with respect to any Receivable, all Contracts, credit files and other agreements, documents, books, records (including records relating to billing and collection matters) and other media for the storage of information (including tapes, disks, punch cards, computer software and databases) related to such Receivable, the Related Security or the related Debtors.
Reduction or Cancellation Items means, with respect to the Transferred Receivables, all reductions or cancellations materialized by Credit Notes or materialized in the relevant Sellers account as miscellaneous entry (opérations diverses), granted by a Seller or by valid and enforceable offset resulting inter alia from invoicing error, volume rebates, bonuses, premiums or monthly discounts.
Related Security means with respect to any Receivable, all of the Sellers right, title and interest in, to and under any guarantee, mortgage, retention of title, pledge, lien or any other security interest purporting to secure the payment of such Receivable.
Relevant Country means any country set out in the Relevant Country column of the Jurisdiction Matrix, as such list may be amended at any time by the Factor subject to a ten (10) Business Days prior notice to the Sellers, on the basis of a change on the legal, economic or political situation of the listed countries.
Relevant Law means the law of any jurisdiction set out in the Relevant Law column of the Jurisdiction Matrix as such list may be amended at any time by the Factor on the basis of a legal analysis demonstrating that, as a result of a change in law (including a change in the interpretation of the law), the legal analysis carried out initially for the purpose of the Jurisdiction Matrix has become inaccurate and consequently the assignment of the receivables governed by such Relevant Law cannot be effected and perfected in the manner contemplated hereunder.
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Requested Amount has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 9.1.1.
Requested Financed Receivables has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 9.1.1.
Reserves means the sums standing to the credit of the relevant Reserve Account.
Reserve Accounts means the Deferred Availability Account, the Set-Off Reserve, and the Devaluation Reserve.
Retransfer Mode means the Transfer-Back procedure set out in SCHEDULE 18.
Rexam UK means Rexam Beverage Can Europe Ltd, a company incorporated under the laws of England as a limited liability company, whose registered office is located at 100 Capability Green, Luton, LU1 3LG Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, registered with the Companies House under number 02554348.
Rexam Egypt means Rexam Beverage Can Egypt S.A.E a joint stock company incorporated under the laws of Egypt, whose registered office is located at 3rd Industrial Zone, 6th October City, Cairo, Egypt, registered in the Commercial Register under number 101693
Rexam Egypt Receivable means any Receivable owed over Rexam Egypt.
Rexam Egypt Eligibility Criteria means with respect to any Rexam Egypt Receivable the following criteria:
(lxv) | the Factor has received a Letter of Waiver and Consent with respect of such Rexam Egypt Receivable; and |
(lxvi) | the sum of the Face Value of such Receivable and of the Outstanding Amount of all Transferred Receivables owed by Rexam Egypt and transferred during the same Rexam First Demand Guarantee Period does not exceed the amount of the Rexam First Demand Guarantee issued during such Rexam First Demand Guarantee Period; and |
(lxvii) | the Factor has received a legal opinion from an external counsel of Rexam UK issued in a form satisfactory to the Factor as to the capacity of Rexam UK to issue the Rexam First Demand Guarantee guaranteeing the payment of such Rexam Egypt Receivable; and |
(lxviii) | on the relevant Assignment Date, the purchase of such Rexam Egypt Receivable does not cause the aggregate amount of the outstanding Rexam Egypt Receivables which are Financed Receivables to exceed ten millions euros (EUR 10.000.000). |
Rexam First Demand Guarantee means any first demand guarantee ( garantie autonome) governed by French law to be issued from time to time by Rexam UK for a duration of nine (9) months, substantially in the form set out in SCHEDULE 21 ( Form of Rexam First Demand Guarantee ).
Rexam First Demand Guarantee Period means with respect to any Rexam First Demand Guarantee, the period during which such Rexam First Demand Guarantee is valid.
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Sanctions means any sanctions, embargoes, freezing provisions, prohibitions or other restrictions relating to trading, doing business, investment, exporting, financing or making assets available (or other activities similar to or connected with any of the foregoing):
(a) | enacted, administered, enforced or imposed by law or regulation of the United Kingdom, the Council or the Commission of the European Union, the United Nations or its Security Council, the United States of America, France or the respective governmental institutions and agencies of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury, the United States Department of State, Her Majestys Treasury and the French Treasury; or |
(b) | imposed by the United States Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010; or |
(c) | otherwise imposed by any law or regulation applicable to the Factor (to the extent disclosed in writing by the Factor to the Sellers Agent). |
Seller Change of Control has the meaning ascribed to such term in 18.2(b).
Seller Codes means the seller codes (codes vendeur) to be used by each Seller to record the invoices relating to the relevant Transferred Receivables appearing in SCHEDULE 14( Current Accounts), or any other code communicated by the Factor to the relevant Seller.
Seller Receivables Performance Triggers has the meaning ascribed to such term in 13.9.2(a).
Servicer Termination Event means any event referred to in Clause 13.9.2.
Servicing Mandate has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 13.1 ( Servicing Mandate ).
Set-Off Reserve has the meaning given to that term in Clause 14.7 ( Set-Off Reserve ) .
SFC Rate means the sum of (i) the arithmetic average of the daily EURIBOR rates of the preceding two months (or zero if such average is negative) and (ii) the Margin.
Signing Date means the date hereof.
Special Financing Commission or SFC has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 15.2 ( Special Financing Commission ( SFC ) ).
Stop Purchase Event has the meaning given to that term in Clause 18.1 ( Term )
Sub-Account(s) means any sub-account(s) opened by the Factor under each of the Current Accounts.
Subsidiary means, in relation to any company, another company which is controlled by it within the meaning of article L. 233-3 of the French Code de commerce .
Substitute Sellers Agent has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 23.6.
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).
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Tax Deduction means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under any Factoring Facility Document.
Termination Notice has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 18.3.1(b).
Test Date means, in respect of any Test Period, the tenth (10 th ) Business Day following the end of such Test Period.
Test Period means any calendar month.
Three Month Dilution Percentage means, at any time, with respect to any Seller, the ratio of (i) the aggregate amount of all Dilutions regarding such Seller for the three preceding months, by (ii) the aggregate amount of all Transferred Receivables Assigned by such Seller for the three preceding months.
Tolling means any provision of services by the relevant Seller to any Debtor out of inventory owned by such Debtor.
Trade Instruments means any performance bonds or advance payment bonds issued in respect of the obligations of any member of the Group arising in the ordinary course of trading of that member of the Group.
Transaction Settlement Date means the date of definitive settlement of all transactions in respect of the Factoring Facility, occurring on the later of (i) the Indemnification Maximum Payment Date of the Transferred Receivable having the latest due date or (ii) the date on which all amounts or liabilities due (or owed) by all Obligors towards the Factor and by the Factor to all Obligors, pursuant to the Factoring Facility Documents have been fully paid (or irrevocably extinguished).
Transfer Document means any deed of transfer (acte de cession de créances professionnelles) of Eligible Receivables to be Assigned by each Seller to the Factor pursuant to the provisions of Article L. 313-23 et seq of the French Monetary and Financial Code, in the form described in SCHEDULE 18, Part 1.
Transfer Mode means the procedure and mechanics of transfer (including the relevant Transfer Document) set out in SCHEDULE 18, Part 1.
Transfer-Back means any retransfer or, as the case may be, rescission of any Transferred Receivable by the Factor to the relevant Seller in accordance with the procedure set forth in Clause 11.3 ( Procedure for the Transfer-Back of Transferred Receivables - Retransfer Modes ) and the relevant Retransfer Mode and to Transfer-Back means the action of making a Transfer-Back.
Transfer-Back Price has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 11.3.1.
Transferred Receivables Ledgers means a report substantially in the form of SCHEDULE 10 ( Transferred Receivables Ledgers ).
Transferred Receivable means any Eligible Receivable transferred to the Factor pursuant to this Agreement and which has not been Transferred-Back.
VAT means
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(lxix) | any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112); and |
(lxx) | any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in Paragraph (i) above, or imposed elsewhere. |
Web Services has the meaning ascribed to such term in Clause 19 ( Access to Web Services ).
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SCHEDULE 4.
T HE S ELLERS
Name |
Registered Office |
Registration
Number |
Jurisdiction | |||
Constellium Issoire |
rue Yves Lamourdedieu ZI les Listes 63500 Issoire, France |
672 014 081 RCS
Clermont-Ferrand |
France | |||
Constellium Neuf Brisach |
ZIP Rhénane Nord, RD 52, 68600 Biesheim | 807 641 360 RCS Colmar | France | |||
Constellium Extrusions France |
1 Passage Eiffel, CS 40046, 21702 Nuits-Saint-Georges | 662 032 374 RCS Dijon | France |
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SCHEDULE 5.
C ONDITIONS P RECEDENT
Part 1
Conditions Precedent to the Signing Date
1. | The following documents must be delivered by each Obligor on the Signing Date : |
(w) | An original copy or a certified copy of the up-to-date constitutional documents ( statuts) ; |
(x) | An original copy or a certified copy of the certificate of incorporation ( Extrait K-bis or, in respect of the Parent Company oprichtingsakte) ; |
(y) | To the extent required by any applicable law or by its constitutional documents, original copies or certified copies of the resolutions of the competent corporate bodies, approving the terms of, the transactions contemplated by, and the execution, delivery and performance of the Factoring Facility Documents, including, with respect to the Parent Company, confirmation that the Parent Performance Guarantee complies with the corporate benefit principle applicable to it; |
(z) | An original copy or a certified copy of the power(s) of attorney of the person(s) signing the Factoring Facility Documents as well as the powers of attorney for all persons signing all documents, instruments or agreements required under the relevant Transfer Mode (and Transfer Document) or Retransfer Mode on an ongoing basis during the life of the transaction or any notice or certificate under the Factoring Facility Documents; |
2. | Legal Opinions to be provided on the Signing Date : |
(aa) | Legal opinion by Clifford Chance Europe LLP in respect of the legal existence, the absence of insolvency proceedings, capacity and authority of the Sellers in connection with the execution and performance of the Factoring Facility Documents to which they are a party; |
(bb) | Legal opinion by Stibbe B.V. in respect of the legal existence, the absence of insolvency proceedings, capacity and authority of the Parent Company in connection with the execution and performance of the Factoring Facility Documents to which they are a party; and |
(cc) | Legal opinion by Dentons Europe in respect of the validity of this Agreement. |
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Part 2
Conditions Precedent to the First Assignment Date
(dd) | Evidence that all costs and expenses (including the Factors legal costs, to the extent invoiced in due time) then due and payable by each of the Sellers and the Parent Company under the Transaction Documents have been paid. |
(ee) | The Credit Insurance Policy as amended in a manner satisfactory to the Factor is in full force and effect. |
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SCHEDULE 6.
R EPRESENTATION , W ARRANTIES AND U NDERTAKINGS
1. | Representations and warranties |
Each Seller and, as the case may be, the Sellers Agent and the Parent Company represents and warrants for itself to the Factor that:
1.1. | Representations and warranties relating to the Sellers |
(a) | Status: it is a company validly incorporated and existing under the laws of its place of incorporation, it is in compliance with all of the applicable laws and regulations relating to its incorporation; |
(b) | Powers, authorisations and consents: it has full power and authority to enter into the Factoring Facility Documents to which it is a party, and no governmental or regulatory consent is required in order to enter into the Factoring Facility Documents to which it is a party, and it has taken all action necessary to authorise the execution, delivery and performance by it of the Factoring Facility Documents to which it is a party; |
(c) | Non-violation: the execution, delivery and performance of the Factoring Facility Documents to which it is a party do not contravene or violate (i) its memorandum and articles of association, (ii) any law, rule, regulation or orders applicable to it, (iii) any restrictions under any agreement, contract, deed or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound, or (iv) any order, writ, judgement, award, injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or its property, and do not result in the creation or imposition of any adverse claim on or with respect to any of its assets or undertakings to the extent that such contravention, violation or result would have a Material Adverse Effect ; |
(d) | Legal validity: Subject to the Legal Reservations, its obligations under the Factoring Facility Documents currently in force to which it is a party constitute legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms; |
(e) | Accounts: each of the Sellers most recent audited annual accounts, and the Groups most recent non audited consolidated quarterly accounts and audited consolidated annual accounts, copies of which have been furnished to the Factor pursuant to the Agreement, respectively (i) present a true and fair view of each of the Sellers and the Groups financial condition (for the audited accounts) or (ii) have been prepared in good faith by the Group pursuant to the Groups accounting policy and practice (for the unaudited accounts), as applicable, as at that date and of the results of their operations for the period then ended, all in accordance with applicable accounting standards consistently applied; |
(f) | No litigation: there are to its knowledge no current material actions, suits or proceedings pending against or affecting it, in or before any judicial or administrative court, arbitrator or regulatory authority, which, based on information provided by it as well as any public information relating to such actions, suits or proceedings, which has a Material Adverse Effect; |
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(g) | No default: it is not in default with respect to any order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body, or under any contractual or other obligation, which is material to its business or operations and which has a Material Adverse Effect; |
(h) | Accuracy of information: to its best knowledge, all information furnished in writing by it to the Factor (excluding the accounts mentioned in section 1.1(e) of SCHEDULE 6 and including the information provided in connection with each Assignment) for the purposes of or in connection with the Factoring Facility Documents, is true and accurate in every material respect on the date such information is stated or certified and does not contain any material misstatement of fact; |
(i) | Principal place of business: in relation to the Sellers only, its principal place of business and main executive office and the offices where it keeps all its books, records and documents evidencing the Transferred Receivables and the related contracts are located at the addresses stated in SCHEDULE 13; |
(j) | Capacity to identify and individualise: in relation to the Sellers only, it has operating systems capable of identifying and individualising in a clear and precise manner each Transferred Receivable and all collections received in respect thereof; |
(k) | Records: in relation to the Sellers only, all IT and accounting records are accurate in all material respects and all back-up systems are accessible to the Factor and are regularly updated in light of the Groups current business practices; |
(l) | No VAT: in relation to the Sellers only, no VAT or equivalent tax is applicable in respect of any sale of Transferred Receivables by it to the Factor. |
1.2. | Representations and warranties relating to the Receivables |
(m) | No fraud, etc: such Receivables has not been offered for Assignment to the Factor as a result of fraud, gross negligence or wilful misconduct ( dol ) from the relevant Seller and (ii) the relevant Seller has not knowingly offered Receivables for Assignment that are not Eligible Receivable, at the time of the relevant offer and assignment date, or are Excluded Receivables and to the extent only that such offer affect a material portion of the outstanding amount of Transferred Receivables in respect of such Seller (for the avoidance of doubt, it is specified that the Factor shall not be responsible for verifying such compliance); |
(n) | No Violation: upon any Assignment of Receivables, such Transferred Receivables will not be available any longer to the creditors of the relevant Seller in the context of an Insolvency Proceeding or any other procedure under Livre VI of the French Commercial Code, as amended from time to time; and |
(o) | Transfer of title: subject to the Legal Reservations, upon the assignment of any Transferred Receivables, the Factor will have all the rights, interests and title of the relevant Seller in respect thereof as well as, under French law, the related and accessory security then existing in respect thereof. |
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1.3. | Repetition |
The representations and warranties in sections 1.1 and 1.2 of this SCHEDULE 6 are made by the Sellers, the Sellers Agent and the Parent Company as of the Signing Date, and they shall be repeated in the frequency set out below, in each case, by reference to the facts and circumstances existing on that date, as long as any amount or any obligation is outstanding towards the Factor under the Agreement:
(p) | the representations and warranties set out in sections 1.1(i) and 1.1(l) shall not be repeated after the Signing Date; |
(q) | the representation and warranty set out in sections 1.1(e) shall be repeated on each date of remittance to the Factor of the relevant annual or quarterly or accounts; |
(r) | the representations and warranties set out in sections 1.1(f), 1.1(g), 1.1(h), 1.1(k) shall be repeated on the first Business Day of each calendar month; and |
(s) | the representations and warranties set out in sections 1.1(a), 1.1(b), 1.1(c), 1.1(d), 1.1(j), and 1.2(m) to 1.2(o) shall be repeated on each date of Assignment of Eligible Receivables. |
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2. | Undertakings |
Each of the Sellers, and to the extent applicable the Sellers Agent and the Parent Company (each only for itself) undertakes to the Factor as follows. These undertakings are to be complied by each of the Sellers, the Sellers Agent and the Parent Company as long as any amount or any obligation is outstanding towards the Factor under the Agreement.
(t) | Delivery of documents, obligation of information and access: (i) it shall supply to the Factor (or to any person appointed by the Factor) such documents and information with respect to itself, to the Credit Insurance Policy, to the Transferred Receivables and to the Related Security as the Factor may reasonably request, notably, in order to verify each of the Sellers compliance with its obligations under the Agreement or the Credit Insurance Policy; and (ii) it shall, as soon as possible upon becoming aware of such facts or events, notify the Factor of any facts or events concerning: |
(i) | the Transferred Receivables or the Credit Insurance Policy which has a Material Adverse Effect; |
(ii) | any increase in the amount of the Airbus Advance; and |
(iii) | upon being informed of any transfer of or pledge over the Airbus Advance, details of such transfer or pledge. |
(u) | Collection: as far as each Seller is concerned, it shall maintain and implement the Credit and Collection Procedures, and procure that they are maintained and implemented (including, without limitation, an ability to recreate records in the event of their destruction), and it shall keep and maintain, all documents, computer discs, books, records and other information necessary for the collection of all Transferred Receivable, and procure that they be kept and maintained (including, without limitation, records adequate to permit the daily identification of all collections); |
(v) | Payment of taxes (Transferred Receivables): it shall pay punctually all amounts of VAT, if any, and other taxes in connection with any Transferred Receivables or any related contract and shall comply with all obligations with respect thereto; |
(w) | No assignment: it shall not (otherwise than in accordance with the Agreement) (a) sell, assign, pledge, lien, charge or otherwise dispose of, or create or suffer to exist any adverse claim or security interest upon or in respect to any Transferred Receivable or any contracts relating thereto, nor (b) assign any right to receive payment in respect thereof and it shall defend the title and interest of the Factor in, to and under any of the foregoing property relating to any Transferred Receivable, against all claims of third parties as if it were the owner of such Transferred Receivable; |
(x) |
No change in business: it shall not make any change in its business which might materially and adversely impair the operation of the Agreement or which might materially and adversely decrease the credit quality of the Transferred |
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Receivables (taken as a whole) or otherwise materially and adversely affect the rights or remedies of the Factor (provided that, if such event occurs, the Factor shall first notify in writing the Seller and propose the exclusion of new Debtors relating to such new business in order to limit the effect of such change in business and remedy such breach); |
(y) | Preservation of corporate existence: it shall preserve and maintain its corporate existence and shall maintain all licences, authorizations and certifications necessary to the performance of its business, where failure to maintain or preserve would have a Material Adverse Effect; |
(z) | Safe-keeping of documents: it shall hold in a reasonably secure and safe from damage location all documents relating to Transferred Receivables; |
(aa) | No amendment to the contracts: it shall not modify the terms and conditions of any contract relating to any Transferred Receivable, which adversely affect the eligibility or the collectability thereof, unless it has received the prior written approval of the Factor (not to be unreasonably withheld); |
(bb) | No change in place of storage: it will not change any office or location mentioned in SCHEDULE 13 ( Location Of Records ) where books, records and documents evidencing the Transferred Receivables are kept without prior notifying the Factor at the latest thirty (30) calendar days before making such change of the new location of such books, record and documents; |
(cc) | Notification: it will notify the Factor within ninety (90) calendar days prior to changing its name, identity or corporate structure or relocating its registered office; |
(dd) | No merger: it shall not, if it would have a Material Adverse Effect, operate a legal reorganization, merge or consolidate with or into, or contribute, transfer or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions, and except as otherwise contemplated herein) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to, or acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, any person, it being understood that should a voluntary reorganization or restructuration of companies of the Group (including by a way of amalgamation, merger, demerger, spin-off or voluntary liquidation) involving one or more Sellers is intended to take place, the relevant Sellers shall notify the Factor of any such event as soon as possible after all internal corporate approvals have been obtained and being legally entitled to do so; |
(ee) | Provision of financial information : |
(i) | Upon request of the Factor, to the extent such information are publicly available and otherwise without prior request of the Factor, each of the Sellers and the Parent Company, as applicable, will deliver to the Factor: |
(1) | annually, as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than one hundred and eighty (180) days from its year-end) the audited statutory annual financial statements (balance sheet and related income statement) of each Seller together with the relevant auditors reports; |
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(2) | annually, as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than one hundred and eighty (180) days from its year end, copies of the audited consolidated annual financial statements (balance sheet, related income statement and cash flow statement) of the Accounting Group together with the relevant auditors reports; |
(3) | quarterly, and no later than sixty (60) days after each Quarter Date, copies of the Accounting Groups consolidated quarterly management accounts; |
(4) | monthly, (except for the month of January of each year), and no more than thirty (30) days after its month end (and forty-five (45) days for the first six (6) monthly statements to be remitted as from the Signing Date), the unaudited and unreviewed monthly financial statements (balance sheet and related income statement) for each Seller; |
(5) | monthly, and no more than thirty (30) days after its month end, aged supplier balances for each Seller; |
(6) | monthly, and no more than thirty (30) days after its month end, detailed statement of year-end rebates, commercial discounts, Tolling, Pseudo Tolling and scrap report for each Seller; |
(7) | (A) the Transferred Receivables Ledgers in the manner set out in Clause 13.4 ( Diligence and general obligations of each Seller as agent of the Factor ), (B) the servicing reports referred to in Clause 13.5 ( Report on the performance of the Servicing Mandate ) and in the manner set out in Clause 13.5 ( Report on the performance of the Servicing Mandate ) and (C) the monthly rebate and other reports referred to in Clause 2(hh) below in the manner set forth in Clause 2(hh) below; |
(ii) | promptly, upon request of the Factor, such documentation and other evidence as reasonably requested by the Factor in order to carry out and be satisfied that it has complied with all necessary Know Your Customer requirements as per GE policy or other similar checks under any applicable laws or regulations; |
(ff) | Authorisations: it will promptly obtain, maintain and comply with the terms of, any authorisation required under any law or regulation (i) to enable it to perform its obligations under, or (ii) for the validity or enforceability of, the relevant Factoring Facility Documents; |
(gg) | Financial records: it will record the Assignment of a Transferred Receivable pursuant to the Agreement in its financial records; |
(hh) | Rebates: it shall supply to the Factor, (i) prior to the First Assignment Date (if applicable) and (ii) thereafter on a monthly basis, no more than thirty (30) days after the relevant month end, reports listing the accrued rebates or rebate payments remaining due to the Debtors; |
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(ii) | Information on Insolvency Proceedings: subject to applicable law, and as soon as becoming aware of such event, it undertakes to inform the Factor of the commencement or taking of any step relating to it that would constitute or already constitutes an Insolvency Proceeding (or any other procedure under Livre VI of the French Commercial Code, as amended from time to time, or any equivalent proceeding under any applicable law); and |
(jj) | Use of proceeds: each of the Sellers and the Parent Company undertakes to use the proceeds arising from the Factoring Facility in a manner compliant with applicable laws by using such proceeds in particular, for the avoidance of doubt, for the refinancing of working capital facilities; |
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SCHEDULE 7.
V ALUE D ATES
PART 1
PAYMENTS FROM THE CURRENT ACCOUNT
Payment type | Value date | |
Check to the relevant Seller | Issue date | |
Wire transfer to the relevant Seller | Issue date |
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PART 2
PAYMENTS TO THE ASSET ACCOUNT
Payment type |
Value date |
|
Check payable by a bank located in Paris | Date on which the payment is recorded by the Factor plus one (1) Business Day | |
Check payable by a bank in France out of Paris | Date on which the payment is recorded by the Factor plus one (1) Business Day | |
Fixed maturity negotiable instrument (effet de commerce payable à échéance) | Instruments maturity date | |
Bearer negotiable instrument (effet de commerce payable à vue) | Paying date of the instrument plus one (1) Business Day | |
Bank or postal wire transfer | Transferees bank value date | |
Foreign wire transfer | Date on which the payment is recorded by the Factor |
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SCHEDULE 8.
C REDIT A ND C OLLECTION P ROCEDURES
88
Global Credit Risk Management
|
||
Concerned accounts :
Sales, Availabilities, Customers, Other invoices, Customers accounting provisions |
GLOBAL CM contact : Michel BERARDI |
IT applications :
SAP FI (V4.6c): accounting transactions
SAP SD (V4.6c) : sales monitoring module & SAP specific credit risk projection transaction
Ellipro/Creditsafe/Atradius : Customers statements database
Start and end process :
General credit policy definition
Doubtful accounts transfer decision
Objective and description:
Customer risk is managed by the site Credit Management referring to site and corporate Finance Controlling and corporate Credit Management
The sub-process is outlined below:
1/ Definition and implementation of a general credit policy
2/ Credit lines granted to customers fixing
3/ Securing customer risk
4/ Monitoring of critical delinquencies for risk and compliance with credit lines
5/ Management of financial disputes and litigation
25.4 | Interlocutors: |
25.5 | BU CFOs |
Global Credit management: Michel BERARDI
25.6
25.7
25.8
25.9 | Input: |
25.10 | Customer information and trade issues in particular as a result of customer visits, financial press, Investigations requested information from specialized agencies, |
Guarantees by the credit insurer
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Output :
For each customer : credit lines setting
Provided instruction for doubtful customers
1/ Definition and application of a general credit policy
Corporate Credit Management and Finance participates in the definition of the general policy of the Business Unit Credit. This policy is consistent with business practices:
| Definition of allowed payment period (between 30 and 90 days with exceptions), |
| Fixing of default interest rate, |
| Fixing the discount rate in case of early settlement, |
| Identification of preferential payment methods |
| Fixing guarantees |
| Ceiling powers in arbitration |
The first three rules are part of the terms and conditions listed on the back of invoices.
Trade must ensure their proper implementation.
To be noticed ::
| Currently the default interests are not routinely charged: Credit Management takes the financial and commercial situation of the customer. It was after discussion with Credit Management as Sales decide to issue an invoice. This one following the usual process of other bills. |
| In case of early settlement, a discount rate could be proposed. |
2/ Credit lines granted to customers fixing :
Fixing a credit line follows the request to open an account or a credit line by a commercial. This request is sent to Credit Management by email.
90
Credit lines are defined by company and industry. They take business objectives and are set after analyzing the customers creditworthiness performed either by the credit insurer or by Credit Management (particularly if the insured amount is less than the amount of the requested credit line or credit insurer refused warranty).
If requested, the commercial service to the end customer must request the last financial items that are not yet in the database in order to update the risk.
A line of credit is however not blocking to record a new command, load sales department careful not to exceed the amount of the authorized line (when exceeding a request to increase must be made at the Credit Management)
Principle of securing credit lines :
Credit Management assess the creditworthiness of customers and prospects preventive and systematic manner. This assessment is based at amounts on one or more of the following background information:
| The guarantee granted by credit insurance, |
| Analysis of the most recent financial statements, |
| Business information from specialized agencies |
| The economic before (regular monitoring of the economic and financial press) |
| Possibly a visit to the customer with the Sales |
| Granted guarantees (bank, parent...) |
This study helps to fix a credit line for each customer.
Important Notes:
| When no credit line has been granted to a customer, Credit Management requires that payments are made before shipment. Sales are liable for non-compliance with this rule, the control can be done by Credit Management in the current management of the file (Sales administration responsibility which in this case must ensure that the customer payment to be made prior to release merchandise and charge). |
Maintenance of customer database :
The administration of customer files in SAP is ensured by people dedicated in on sites.
If a customer create request, the employee responsible for the administration of the customer file checks in SAP that the customer does not already exist to avoid duplicates. The control is operated in SAP on the search key, the name, the locality, country and VAT identifier or any kind of registration number. This ensures the absence of duplicates.
Principles of credit lines review :
The credit line may be reviewed by Credit Management for the following reasons:
| The clients financial situation deteriorated, |
| Credit Insurer changes (modify, reduce , cancel) its cover, |
| At the request of Sales (needs updated), |
| Following payment incidents, |
| The credit line is limited in time (time limit insurer or domestic arbitration). |
91
These events may increase or decrease in credit lines (for prevention).
All credit lines revisions are followed by Credit Management, which shall inform the Sales Services.
Adequacy of financial constraints and trade :
In order to reconcile trade and financial requirements on a customer, arbitration may be requested by Credit Management of each site or the Corporate Credit Management formalized by an email explaining the reasons for such request for arbitration with the latest financial information to facilitate decision making according to the procedure of each site. This arbitration decision is taken, following Group DOA, gradually by BU Controller, BU CFO, and BU President, formalized by e-mail.
A request for arbitration shall in no event be performed on a client with delays (overdue), Credit Management and Sales are responsible to ensure the customers creditworthiness before making an application for arbitration.
Follow-up:
Each arbitration is saved chronologically with the site, the customers name, the amount of the accepted line, date of expiry and name of the decision maker. This monitoring is done by Corporate Credit Management and sent each quarter end to Group Treasury, BU CFOs with the overdue rate, DSO and credit risk spread per BU.
DSO, overdue rate, main Receivables (over or equal 2.5 M), main Overdue (over or equal 250 K) , per sites and per BU are recorded each month end into Constellium Credit Report and sent to the Senior Management (Finance & Sales).
3/ Securing Customer Risk
If the customer is risky (insufficient insurance or denied), the Credit Manager of the site or Corporate Credit Manager could promote security instruments to determine a line of credit (letter of credit, surety, guarantee parent ...). Anyway each cases are under Group Treasurer submission and authorization, following Group DOA.
If these security elements cannot be obtained, a regulation cash before delivery will be required.
Corporate Credit Management participate as key user and expert in the negotiations conducted by the Group with the Credit Insurer for Credit Insurance contracts.
A premium rate is generally negotiated at each renewal of the contract with the Credit Insurer based on the evolution of its loss ratio (premiums allowances) and amount of coverage requested .
Other security instruments (irrevocable and confirmed letter of credit, bank guarantees, and corporate guarantees) are subject to specific negotiations undertaken or supervised by the site Controller, BU CFO, Group Treasury. Corporate Credit Management playing his part as facilitator; requesting if and as necessary Corporate Legal Counsels.
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4/ Monitoring compliance with credit lines and critical delinquencies for risk :
The Business Services each site must meet the credit lines in place and are responsible for any overruns. Control of credit lines overtaking is performed on each site by the Credit Manager with the IT tools available and is a second look.
For Neuf Brisach & Issoire , if the registration of new orders by Sales Administration causes a credit limit is exceeded (overshoot control or financial assets), the system userbatch automatically sends a warning to Sales Administration responsible, Sales and Controller site at Day + 1, informing them of exceeding the credit limit. Corporate Credit Management receives a copy of these alerts and governs accordingly.
The measures taken may be (non-exhaustive list):
| A request to increase credit insurance |
| in case of refusal or partial agreement, the following proposals may be made to commercial services: |
¡ | Request for Arbitration under the procedure of each site concerned, if the Credit Management deems feasible |
¡ | request advance payment |
¡ | reducing payment terms |
¡ | demand for bank guarantees (standby / letter of credit) |
¡ | parent company guarantees for subsidiaries |
¡ | restriction or blocking deliveries |
| in the case of late payments, after telephone reminder and if the reminder letters had no effect, a pre-litigation sentence will be launched by Credit Management or local Credit Responsible after consulting business services and recovery. |
5/ Management of financial disputes and litigation :
In case of non-payment, Corporate Credit Management and/or Sales Administration on site
| Made proceed with the recovery of the customer or send a letter of formal notice |
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| Made proceed with an order to pay by bailiff after informing the BU Sales Management and Controlling |
| Implements the retention of title clause (if written in the contract) |
| Does the follow up of disaster declaration to the Credit Insurer (Corporate Credit Management) |
Once it is found that debt will not be paid by the customer (e.g. in case of bankruptcy),
Corporate Credit Manager or Site Credit Manager sends an email to the site Financial Controller for scripture as doubtful customers, specifying the amount of the provision. Corporate Credit Manager is not able to pass the scriptures.
The calculation is based on the claim that is the subject of a payment default. The calculation is made by the Corporate Credit Manager or Site Credit Manager; depending on the repayment made by the credit insurer if the claim is secured.
94
SCHEDULE 9.
C OMPUTER R ELATIONSHIP G UIDE
95
Cahier des Cahier des charges charges informatique informatique Confidential Agreement Line for line GE Capital Factofrance
Contents Interface for optimised management Dear Sir/Madam, To strengthen the efficiency of our relations, we are
offering you the ability to send us your data electronically. There are numerous benefits: easy to use, saves time, speed of sending information via the internet and the reliability of information. Our website GE Factofrance Net has an area for
sending and receiving files. This gives you instant access to any transactions that have taken place in your account and access to downloadable management documents. The information exchanged is completely secure due to a data encryption system.
Only users with a specific password can access the information available on this site. Please do not hesitate to contact your usual representative for further information. If you wish, we can also put you in contact with one of our partners that has
developed an interface for creating files: refer to the appendices List of interface software on page 21 and Your contact representatives on page 16 for any questions. Thank you for your business. Pages Functioning of the
agreement 3 Recording of transactions (examples) 4-5-6 File creationInvoices, credit notes Payment assignments (clearing) Adjustments 7Guarantee requests 8 Appendices Your contact representatives 16 Example file
18-19 Methods of communication 20 List of interface software 21 List of currency codes 22 List of country codes 23-24-25 IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version
01/01/2009
Functioning of the agreement
Information on the functioning of the agreement The dedicated bank account: The agreement specifies the terms of functioning of the account and the role of the bank, your company and the Factor. Any invoices transferred to the Factor must include the bank details (RIB) of the dedicated account only. A parameter card dedicated to the factor is also required: this should be specified for the bank so that it can be viewed separately. THE MAIN ACCOUNTS for the Factor The CCA (Offsets and Adjustments Account (account which mirrors the dedicated bank account) This account reconciles ?Debits: payment assignments ?Credits: increases in funds in the dedicated account. The CCV (Vendor Current Account) This records any transactions in relation to the purchasing of debts, financing and fictitious assets throughout the duration of the agreement The CAF (French Purchasers Account) and/or CAE (International Purchasers Account) This records any debts and credit notes transferred by the vendor and any payments sent which have been received from purchasers and miscellaneous transactions. The FDG (Guarantee Fund) This records withdrawals in accordance with the particular terms of the agreement. The PTF (Portfolio) This records the instruments sent which are not yet due and is balanced on the due date. IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Recording of transactions
Recording of transactions (continued)
File containing invoices, credit notes, payments and adjustments CONDITIONS PRECEDENT A) Ensure that the file is
feasible and that the mandatory data requested has been extracted. If any mandatory data cannot be extracted, obtain the approval of your contact representative (1) before preparing your interface. If you wish, we can put you in contact with
one of our partners to set this up. You may also refer to the existing list of interface software (2) B) Identify your customers the purchasers. French customers: Identifying your customers is an essential prerequisite. The most
reliable method of identifying your customers is via the SIRET database 14 digits. (Siren (9 digits) + Nic (5 digits), which corresponds to the address of the billed customer. This is essential for important management aspects. A
customers siret number may be validated internally or through contact with one of our partners which has agreed to do this (1). This service depends on the currency and is billed directly by our partner. International customers: the identifier
may be the export insurance companys number, the E.C. VAT number or the internal customer number. If the identifier is not the export insurance company n°, before initially sending the invoices and depending on the number of invoices to be
sent, you should decide the format in which you would like to send your details (full address with your internal customer code) (1). C) Choose the official transmission method (appendix 6 page 22) D) Prepare a TEST file which contains all the
records using real data. As soon as the test file is deemed satisfactory by your contact representative, you will receive confirmation that you can send operational files (1). (1) Refer to appendix 1 Your contact representatives
page 16 (2) Refer to appendix 6 List of interface software page 21. STRUCTURE AND CHARACTERISTICS Record length: 360 characters with CR-LF at the end (encoded 0D0A). Numeric fields are right justified and
space filled with zeros. Invoice and credit note totals are expressed in cents and currencies with no decimal places should not be space filled with zeros. Alphanumeric fields are left justified and space filled. Characters are in upper case, with
no punctuation signs, brackets, quotation marks, apostrophes or accented characters. Dates are written in the format YYYYMMDD. (year, month, day) 100File header (Sender) page 7 101For Invoices (customer information and data) page 8
102For Credit notes (customer information and data) page 9 103For Payment assignments page 10 104For adjustments page 11 199End of file page 13 France Agreement. One file for each currency
and for each debtor type for each agreement: -French debtorseuro currency = 1 file -French overseas departments and territories debtors euro currency = 1 file. -International debtors
euro and dollars currency = 2 files. Export agreement The same as for international debtors. All invoice files should be subject to a subrogation receipt. Example receipts page 17 Example file containing
invoice-credit note-payment-adjustment data page 18 IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Guarantee request file CONDITIONS PRECEDENT When the agreement begins, if the insurance company is the factor,
guarantee requests may be made on-line via our website. If there is a high number of requests, an exceptional file is accepted for French customers when the agreement begins. A) Identify your customers the purchasers. Identifying your
customers is an essential prerequisite. The most reliable method of identifying your customers is via the SIREN database. This number allows you to make a guarantee request, which will be sent to the customers registered office to cover all
your outstanding debts, for all companies (same SIREN) therefore only one request for each SIREN. For public customers (town halls, local authorities), a guarantee request is not necessary as debts are guaranteed by the State. B)
Determine the amount of a request. The amount of your request should be expressed in KE and should correspond to the maximum credit limit for commercial relations with your customer. (Registered office + secondary offices = same siren). E.g.
Achieved or estimated turnover for 12 months = 200 K Euros. Turnover: 60 days = Maximum credit limit = 200 x 60/365 = 33 K Euros. (Obtain the Factors prior agreement for guarantee requests for international customers) C) Choose the official
transmission method (appendix 5 page 20) D) Prepare a TEST file which includes real requests (1). As soon as the test file is deemed satisfactory by your contact representative, you will receive confirmation that you can send operational files (1).
(1) Refer to appendix 1 Your contact representatives page 16 STRUCTURE AND CHARACTERISTICS Record length: 360 characters with CR-LF at the end (encoded 0D0A). Numeric fields are right justified and space
filled with zeros. Invoice and credit note totals are expressed in cents and currencies with no decimal places should not be space filled with zeros. Alphanumeric fields are left justified and space filled. Characters are in upper case, with no
punctuation signs, brackets, quotation marks, apostrophes or accented characters. Dates are written in the format YYYYMMDD. ) 100File header page 9 107For Guarantee requests page 12 199End of file page 15 One file for
each agreement Example file page 19 IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Structure Field Name Length Position Type (1) M/O(2) Comments Record code 3 1 N M Value =100 Vendor code
(Transferor) 6 4 N M agreement code allocated . by the Factor Transferors name (vendor) 40 10 A M File creation date 8 50 N M YYYYMMDD (e.g. 20090125) Contact name 40 58 A O Transferors telephone no. 10 98 A O Contact fax no. 10 108 A O
Debtors identifier type (3) 1 118 N M Customers country codification (4) 1 119 N M Vendors VAT number (transferor) 16 120 A M Transfer number (receipt) (5) 3 136 N M Free text field 213 139 A M Spaces Currency of the
amounts (6) 3 352 A M RIV type version 6 355 N M Content = 000000 For record 100 File header Notes (1) Type: N = numeric A = alphanumeric (2) Content: M = mandatory O = optional (3) notes: For the
file Invoices- credit Value of the retained identifiers: 1 = SIRET (siren+nic) 2 = Export insurers number 3 = Debtor code 4 = VAT number Important: Choice 1; (mandatory identifier for French purchasers) Choice 2;
(mandatory identifier for International purchasers) Choice 3; allocated by the transferor: Get approval beforehand. (4) 1=PTT Standards 2=ISO Standards (choice appendix 8 pages 23 to 25) (5) For the file
Invoicescredit notesthe transfer number (or subrogation receipt n°) is mandatory. It should be unique and incremented by 1 for each file. (6)see appendix 7 page 22. IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE
Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Structure Field Name Length Position Type (1) M/O(2) Comments Record code 3 1 N M Value =101 File creation date 8 4 N M Same as record 100 Vendor code (transferor) 6 12 N M Common identifier (1st field) (3) 9 18 A M siren/export insurer n°/VAT n° Common identifier (2nd field) (3) 5 27 N M nic or continuation of VAT n° Billed customers company name (4) 40 32 A M Customer brand 40 72 A O if known Road name and number (5) 40 112 A M Additional address 40 152 A O locality Post code (6) 6 192 A M Distributor office 34 198 A M Locality or Town Country Code (7) 3 232 A M Debtors telephone no. 10 235 A O Debtor code allocated by the transferor 10 245 A O M, if VAT n° or nothing in position 18 Document date 8 255 N M YYYYMMDD Document number (7) 15 263 A M Document currency (8) 3 278 A M EUR for Euros Document sign 1 281 A M + for invoices Document total (9) 15 282 N M no decimal place Payment method (10) 3 297 A M Due date 8 300 N M YYYYMMDD Debtors order N° (11) 10 308 A M Customer order reference (11) 40 318 A M Document type 3 358 A M Value =FAC For record 101 Invoice Notes (1)Type : N = numericA = alphanumeric (2)Content : M = mandatoryO = optional (3) Depending on the type of identifier selected (record 100). If 1 is selected, the SIRET (Siren+Nic) should correspond to the address of the billed customer. (4) The company name should not include the name of the town or locality. Abbreviations should be followed by the full name. (5) Important: for large cities, not entering the fields n°, road, address in full may lead to the record being rejected. (6) Important: for 1 digit French departments, space fill the left of the field using a zero (e.g. 02000 LAON) and the right of the field using blank spaces; use this field for international post codes, even if the country standardisation involves inserting the post code to the right of the distributor office. (if >truncate to 6). (7) Example: for France = F (PTT standards) FR (ISO standards) depending on the choice given in record 100. Important: If the country code and currency fields are filled in incorrectly (see appendices on pages 22 to 25), the record will be rejected. (8)The number should be the same as the number stated on the physical invoice. At present, the Factor only includes eight alphanumeric characters; These should not be duplicated. If the number is > eight characters, only the last eight (from right to left) will be included. e.g. the n° 0011098000200 becomes 98000200. For staggered payments, generate an invoice record for each due date using the same number followed by a letter (a, b, c, etc. (see 9). (9) Net total of the invoice. For staggered payments (see 8), state the net total which corresponds to each due date. (10) Payment methods: LCR = RIB bill of exchange acceptedLCM = Electronic bill of exchange not accepted PRE = Direct debitLCN = RIB bill of exchange not accepted BOR = promissory note- CHQ = chequeVIR = transferMAD = Administrative money order PAG = PagareRIB = RibaREC = Recibo. (11) References (order n°, contract n°, store n°, place of delivery, etc.) which your customer may ask you to repeat in any letters sent (either use the 10 character field or the 40 character field, or both fields after position 308) IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Structure Field Name Length Position Type (1) M/O(2) Comments Record code 3 1 N M Value=102 File creation date 8 4 N M same as record 100 Vendor code (transferor) 6 12 N M Common identifier (1st field) (3) 9 18 A M same as record 101 Common identifier (2nd field) (3) 5 27 N M same as record 101 Billed customers company name (4) 40 32 A M Customer brand 40 72 A O Road name and number (5) 40 112 A M Additional address 40 152 A O Post code (6) 6 192 A M Distributor office 34 198 A M Country Code (7) 3 232 A M Debtors telephone no. 10 235 A O Debtor code 10 245 A O same as record 101 Document date 8 255 N M YYYYMMDD Initial credit note N° or the associated invoice n° (8) 15 263 A M Document currency (9) 3 278 A M Document sign 1 281 A M - for credit note Document total 15 282 N M no decimal place Free text field 11 297 A M spaces Credit note number (10) 15 308 A M Comments reason 35 323 A O Document type 3 358 A M Value=AVO For record 102 Credit notes Notes Up to position 255 Notes (01) to (07) same as record 101 invoices (8) Enter the credit note number, unless the credit note cancels an invoice completely, enter the associated invoice number. At present, the Factor only includes eight alphanumeric characters; They should be meaningful and should not be duplicated. If the number is > eight characters, only the last eight (from right to left) will be included. e.g. 0011098000200 becomes 98000200. (9) If the country code and currency fields (7) are filled in incorrectly (see appendices on pages 22 to 25), the record will be rejected. (10) Always state the credit note number. IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Structure Field Name Length Position Type (1) M/O(2) Comments Record code 3 1 N M Value=103 File creation date 8 4 N M same as record 100 Transferor code (vendor) 6 12 N M Common identifier (1st field) 9 18 A M same as record 101 Common identifier (2nd field) 5 27 N M same as record 101 Customers company name 40 32 A M Customer brand 40 72 A O if known Road name and number 40 112 A M Additional address 40 152 A O locality, place Post code 6 192 A M Distributor office 34 198 A M Country Code 3 232 A M Debtors telephone no. 10 235 A O same as record 101 Debtor code 10 245 A O Payment accounting date 8 255 N M Invoice or credit note N° in question (8) 15 263 A M Document currency (9) 3 278 A M Document sign (10) 1 281 A M - if invoice + if credit note Payment amount (10) 15 282 N M no decimal place Payment due date (11) 8 297 N M YYYYMMDD Free text fields 13 305 A M Comments reason 40 318 O M Transaction type (12) 3 358 A M For record 103 Payment assignment Notes Up to position 255 Notes (01) to (07) same as record 101 invoices (8)Enter the invoice number or credit note number in question which is the same as the number transferred in record 101 or 102 (9) Important: the currency should be the currency on the corresponding invoice. (10) If the payment balances several invoices: generate as many 103 records as there are invoices and credit notes to be covered. If several payments with the same due date balance the same invoice, you can generate a single 103 record for the payment total. Specific cases : Non-payment, credit note, progress payment (see appendix 3 on page 18) (11)For instruments, specify the actual due date (and not the due date of the associated invoice or the date in the customers payment terms). For cheques and transfers, mention the payment accounting date. (position 255) (12) State the Payment type: LCR = RIB bill of exchange acceptedLCM = electronic bill of exchange not accepted PRE = Direct debitLCN = RIB bill of exchange not accepted BOR = promissory note- CHQ = chequeVIR = transfer MAD = Administrative money order PAG = PagareRIB = RibaREC = Recibo IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Structure Field Name Length Position Type (1) M/O(2) Comments Record code 3 1 N M Value=104 File creation date 8 4 N M same as record 100 Transferor code (vendor) 6 12 N M Common identifier (1st field) 9 18 A M same as record 101 Common identifier (2nd field) 5 27 N M same as record 101 Customers company name 40 32 A M Customer brand 40 72 A O if known Road name and number 40 112 A M Additional address 40 152 A O locality, place Post code 6 192 A M Distributor office 34 198 A M Country Code 3 232 A M Customer telephone no. 10 235 A O Debtor code 10 245 A O same as record 101 Document accounting date 8 255 N M YYYYMMDD Associated invoice N° (8) 15 263 A M Document currency (9) 3 278 A M Document sign (10) 1 281 A M + if AJD - if AJC Document total 15 282 N M no decimal place Free text fields 21 297 A M spaces Comments reason 40 318 A O Transaction type (11) 3 358 A M Value = AJD = debit AJC = credit For record 104 Adjustments Notes Up to position 255 Notes (01) to (07) same as record 101 invoices (8)Enter the invoice number or credit note number. If several invoices or credit notes are affected by the same customer payment, generate a single record on one of the invoices for the total adjustment amount. (9) If the country code and currency fields are filled in incorrectly (see appendices on pages 22 to 25), the record will be rejected. (10) the document sign and the transaction type (11) should be compatible. (11) AJD = debtor adjustment, will increase the amount owed on an invoice. Examples (overpayments, difference in currency exchange rate upon payment) AJC = creditor adjustment, will decrease the amount owed on an invoice. Examples (debit note, discount, Advertising contribution deducted, customer/supplier offsets) IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Structure Field Name Length Position Type (1) M/O(2) Comments Record code 3 1 N M Value=107 File creation date 8 4 N M same as record 100 Vendor code (transferor) 6 12 N M Common identifier (1st field) (3) 9 18 A M SIREN Common identifier (2nd field) (3) 5 27 N M NIC Customers company name (4) 40 32 A M Customer brand 40 72 A O important, if known Road name and number (5) 40 112 A O Additional address 40 152 A O Post code (6) 6 192 A M Distributor office 34 198 A M Country Code (7) 3 232 A M letter F (France) Customer telephone no. 10 235 A O Customer code 10 245 A O allocated by the transferor Date of the request 8 255 N M creation date Total requested (8) 15 263 N M in thousands of the currency Guarantee currency 3 278 A M EUR for Euros Validity date 8 281 A O if specific request Bank Code (9) 5 289 N O French standard Branch code 5 294 N O French standard Account number 11 299 A O French standard RIB key 2 310 N O French standard Bank name 24 312 A O French standard Bank country code 3 336 A O letter F (France) Manager name to contact 19 339 A O Transaction type 3 358 A M Value = DGA For record 107 Guarantee requests Notes Up to position 255 Notes (01) to (07) same as record 101 invoices (8) Express the request in the currency; preferably round to the highest thousand). The request total should correspond to the maximum credit limit for commercial relations with your customer (Registered office + secondary offices = same siren). Example: Estimated or achieved turnover for 12 months = 200K Euros Turnover: 90 days Maximum credit limit = 200 x 90/365 = a maximum of 50 K Euros for commercial relations with your customer (registered office + secondary offices = same siren). (9)Important: The RIB and the name of the case manager at the bank are useful information in the event that any additional investigations are deemed necessary. IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Structure Field Name Length Position Type (1) M/O(2) Comments Record code 3 1 N M Value =199 Vendor code (transferor) 6 4 N M Vendor name (transferor) 40 10 A M File creation date 8 50 N M same as record 100 Number of invoice records 101(3) 4 58 N O for invoices Invoice total 15 62 N O in the currency stated in position 352 Number of credit note records 102(4) 4 77 N O for credit notes Credit note total 15 81 N O in the currency stated in position 352 Number of payment records 103(5) 4 96 N O for invoices Total payments 15 100 N O in the currency stated in position 352. Number of Adjustment records 104(6) 4 115 N O for credit notes Adjustment total 15 119 N O in the currency stated in position 352. Number of records 107(7) 4 134 N O for guarantee requests Guarantee request total 15 138 N O in the currency stated in position 352. Free text field 199 153 N O spaces Currency of the amounts 3 352 A O RIV type version 6 355 N M Content = 000000 For record 199 End of file Notes (1) Type : N = numericA = alphanumeric (2) Content : M = mandatoryO = optional (3), (4), (5), and (7) if > 4 digits enter 9999 If the record is missing from the file, enter zeros in the field. IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Your contact representatives
Receipt template
Examples of invoice, credit note, payment assignment and adjustment files At the same time that you hand over your customers payment methods for collection in the dedicated account, you will send us a faithful copy Appendix 3 of the payments posted in your ledgers. You are advised to group invoices, credit notes and payment assignments in the same file. (1) Issue of 2 invoices and 1 credit note for customer C41004 (F100 for €3000.40 incl. tax, F101 for €7000.10 incl. tax, A11 for €10.50) (2) Record of a payment by cheque for €1548.72 with a 2% discount received from customer C41001 for the invoices (F81 for 980.15, F82 for 600.18 (the discount is deducted from one of the invoices for the balance). (3)Record of a non-payment (payment due on 15/09/2008) for €1810.50 for customer C41004 for invoice F45 for €1810.50. (4) Record of a payment by transfer for €1200 for customer C41018 (this is a progress payment for an invoice which will be issued at the end of the month). The progress payment should be recorded either using a conventional document number (e.g. AC1.AC2 (2nd progress payment).etc.) or the internal customer number followed by AC1.etc. When an invoice is issued, it will be cancelled using the same conventional document number (103 with the + sign), then recorded using the actual invoice n° (103 withsign) in accordance with the example in point (5) (5) Issue of invoice F102 for customer C41018 for €3600.00 and progress payment of €1200 already received. (assuming that the file is sent at the end of the month). (In order of the field names shown in the records (in this example, the field length is not observed) 10009998 DEM0 20081015MONSIEUR DUPONT 12 001 EUR000000 (1) 1012008101500999831400770900046FRANCE 3 7 ALLEE HD 75015 PARISFR 0156223030C41004 20081012F100EUR+000000000300040CHQ20081030CDE N 2 REF 791FAC (1) 1012008101500999832718171501280FRANCE 3 7 ALLEE HD 75015 PARISFR 0156223030C41004 20081012F101EUR+000000000700010CHQ20081030CDE352 REF 921FAC (1) 1012008101500999832718171501280FRANCE 3 7 ALLES HD 75015 PARISFR 0156223030C41004 20081012A11EUR-0000000000001050 A11 AVO (2) 1032008091500999832596220700016LECLERC BP 821 17416 ANGE LY FR 0546321183C41001 20081011F81EUR-000000000009801520081011CHQ (2) 1032008091500999832596220700016LECLERC BP 821 17416 ANGE LY FR 0546321183C41001 20081011F82EUR-000000000005685720081011 CHQ (2) 1042008091500999832596220700016LECLERC BP 821 17416 ANGE LY FR 0546321183C41001 20081011F82EUR-00000000000031612% discount S/Fac81 and F82 AJC (3) 103200809150099984509556120020CHAM PION RUE DES X 21715 LE NOUV FR 0323971205C41004 20081005F45EUR+000000000018105020081005Unpaid instrument 150908LCR (4) 1032008091500999878692030600168CORA BP 1968105 ST DIEFR 0329550031C410018 20081011CF003AC1 EUR-0000000000120000VIR200810118Progress paymentVIR (5) 1012008091500999878692030600168CORA BP 196 88105 ST DIEFR 0329550031C410018 20081031F102EUR+0000000000360000VIR20081110 FAC (5) 1032008091500999878692030600168CORA BP 196 88105 ST DIEFR 0329550031C410018 20081011CF003AC1 EUR-0000000000120000VIR200810118 Progress paymt cancelled 10/11VIR (5) 1032008091500999878692030600168CORA BP 196 88105 ST DIEFR 0329550031C410018 20081011F102EUR-0000000000120000VIR200810118Progress paymentVIR 199009998DEM0 200810150030000000000013600500001000000000000105000060000000000938220001000000000003161000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000EUR0000000 Other possibility for the record of payment by cheque for €1548.72 with 2% discount (2) 1032008091500999832596220700016LECLERC BP 821 17416 ANGE LY FR 0546321183C41001 20081011F81EUR-0000000009801520081011CHQ (2) 1032008091500999832596220700016LECLERC BP 821 17416 ANGE LY FR 0546321183C41001 20081011F82EUR-000000000006001820081011 CHQ (2) 103200891500999832596220700016LECLERC BP 821 17416 ANGE LY FR 0546321183C41001 20081011F82EUR+000000000000003161281011cancels discount(*) CHQ (2) 1042008091500999832596220700016LECLERC BP 821 17416 ANGE LY FR 0546321183C41001 20081011F82EUR-00000000000031612% discount allocated Fac81 and F82AJC ( * ) cancels the discount deducted (in accordance with the total payment amount). A different conventional document n° for each adjustment (e.g. internal adjustment n°the same on both records 103 and 104) is accepted if association with the invoice n° (F82 in this example) affected by the payment is not possible. As soon as a file is sent, a summary of the amounts transmitted remotely, invoices, credit notes, adjustments and payment images should be sent in a message via our website GE Factofrance Net. Messagerie tab, select Contactez vos correspondants Example: Re: Transfer on 15/10/2008 sent via the internet 3 InvoicesTot 13600.50 1Credit noteTot 10.50 6 Payment Tot 938.22 1Adjustment Tot 31.61 IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Example of a Guarantee Request file Appendix 4 (In order of the field names shown in the records (in this example, the field length is not observed) 100009998STE DEMO 20081005MME SANDRA0478517014047351701112FR86305823403 001 EUR000000 1072008100500999830241222600011SOCIETE SEBPOLE METAL 21260 SELONGEYFR 0380754444C00080020081005000000000000010EUR000000000000000000 00 DGA 1072008100500999835083170700020FILLARDETFILLARDETZI LE LIOUX01590 DORTAN FR 0474758304C003508 20081005000000000000010EUR0000000010096180400001364420136DGA 1072008100500999857568035000015ARC41 AV GENERAL DE GAULLE62510 ARQUESFR 0321954647C002300 20081005000000000000010EUR0000000030001007610000K11001833DGA 1072008100500999895650338700048SANTOS140.150 AVENUE ROGER 69120 VAULXFR 0472373529C001900 20081005000000000000010EUR00000000000000000000DGA 1072008100500999833455928300042SIMA14 RUE BECQUEREL 93275 SEVRAN FR 0143836001C004404 20081005000000000000015EUR0000000030066109480001001390139 DGA 1072008100500999864200784300021ROBOT C 12 AVENUE MAL LECLERC71305 MONTCEAU FR 0385695033C000400 20081005000000000000100EUR0000000030003033300002053973984DGA 199009998STE DEMO 2008100500000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000006000000000000155000000000000000000000000000000EUR000000 IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Transmission method Appendix 5 GE Factofrance Net: website for managing accounts and vendor transactions. It allows files to be sent which may or may not have been signed electronically. (security during the transfer and data INTERNET via our website Factonet encryption) If your files of invoices and credit notes are very large (> 6 MB (2000 invoices), we recommend that you use the SFTP protocol Secure File Transfer Protocol; security during transfer and data encryption. SFTP (Internet network) If you choose to use the SFTP protocol, a qualification test is mandatory in order to define the log-in parameters and to send a test file using temporary data: refer to page 16 Your contact representatives to send us the name of the person to contact and we will send that person the configuration procedure. Other Protocols: Contact us: refer to page 16 Your contact representatives. IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Non-exhaustive list of the interface and/or editor software on which our partners can generate a file in accordance with the Factors standards Appendix 6 If you would like to be put in contact with one of our partners that has already developed an interface, refer to appendix 1 Your contact representatives on page 16 ADONIX V3 ADONIX X3 SQL ANAEL DB2 API SOFT A CCMX CEGID S CERI PICK CETRAFACT CIEL DAISIR DYNAMICS AX DIVALTO EBP EVOLIA CEGI FACTOPACK FCLIC GENERIX INTERLOGICIEL IRIS FINANCE DB2 JD Edwards LEFEBVRE Software LD COMPTA DB2 LD COMPTA SQL NAVI SION NAVISION SQL ORLIWEB-CEGID PGI CEGID QUADRATUS SAGE 30 SAGE 100 SAGE 100 SAGE 500 Intégrale V10 SAGE 500 Intégrale V4 SAGE 500 Intégrale UNIX SAGE 500 Modulaire SAGE 500 Modulaire SQL SAGE 1000 Oracle SAGE 1000 SQL SAP R3 SQL SAP Business One SQL TARGET TRANSMAGIC INFOVISA WINFACTSOREGOR IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Table of ISO standard currency codes Appendix 7 Code Abréviation Libellé devise 03 AUD DOLLAR AUSTRALIEN 05 GBP LIVRE STERLING 06 TWD DOLLAR TAIWANAIS 08 PHP PESO PHILIPPIN (*) 12 BGN LEV BULGARE 15 ARS PESO ARGENTIN (*) 16 EUR EURO 17 SEK COURONNE SUEDOISE 19 HKD DOLLAR HONG KONG 20 DKK COURONNE DANOISE 21 NOK COURONNE NORVEGE 22 SGD DOLLAR SINGAPOUR 25 NZD DOLLAR NEO-ZELANDAIS 26 CHF FRANC SUISSE 28 JPY YEN (*) 29 HRK KUNA CROATE 30 MAD DIRHAM MAROCAIN Code Abréviation Libellé devise 32 XAF FRANC CFA (*) 33 TND DINAR TUNISIEN 35 ZAR RAND 36 MYR RINGITT MALAISIE 37 CZK COURONNE TCHEOUE (*) 39 RON LEU ROUMAIN 40 MXN PESO MEXICAIN 41 THB BATH THAILANDAIS 42 PLN ZLOTY POLONAIS 43 SAR RIAL SAOUDIEN 44 AED DIRHAM EMIRATS ARABES UNIS 45 INR ROUPIE INDIENNE 46 HUF FORINT HONGROIS 47 CNY YUAN RENMIBI (*) Currency with no decimal places Example: structure = 100 €uros = [000000000010000] 100 Yens = [000000000000100] Please contact your representative (appendix 1 on page 16) if a currency is not listed in this table IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Table of COUNTRY codes Appendix 8 Norme Norme Norme Norme Norme Norme Pays Pays Pays PTT ISO PTT ISO PTT ISO ABU DHABI AD AE BERMUDES BMR BM DANEMARK DK DK AFGANISTAN AFG AF BOLIVIE BOL BO DJIBOUTI DB DJ AFRIQUE DU SUD (ZUID AFRIKA) ZA ZA BOSNIE HERZEGOVINE YBH BA DOMINIQUE WD DM AJMAN AJM AE BOTSWANA RB BW DUBAI DU AE ALBANIE AL AL BOUTHAN BT BT EGYPTE ET EG ALGERIE (EL DJAZAIR) DZ DZ BRÉSIL BR BR EL SALVADOR ES SV ALLEMAGNE D DE BRUNEI DARUSSALAM (NEGARA) BRU BN EMIRATS ARABES UNIS (U.A.E.) FEA AE ANDORRE AND AD BULGARIE BG BG EQUATEUR EC EC ANGOLA AG AO BURKINA FASSO HV BF ERYTREE ERY ER ANTIGUA BARBUDA ANT AG BURUNDI BI BI ESPAGNE E ES ANTILLES NEERLANDAISES NWI AN CAMEROUN TC CM ESTONIE EE EE ARABIE SAOUDITE AS SA CANADA CDN CA ETATS UNIS DAMERIQUE DU NORD USA US ARCHIPELS WALLIS ET FUTUNA F W WF CAP VERT CV CV ETHIOPIE ETH ET ARGENTINE RA AR CENTRAFRIQUE RCA CF FIDJI FJI FJ ARMENIE ARM AM CHILI RCH CL FINLANDE SF FI ARUBA AW AW CHINE (REPUBLIQUE POPULAIRE) RC CN FRANCE F FR AUSTRALIE AUS AU CHYPRE CY CY FUJAIRAH FUJ AE AUTRICHE A AT COLOMBIE CO CO GABON GAB GA AZERBAIDJAN AZE AZ COMORES CMR KM GAMBIE WAG GM BAHAMAS BS BS CONGO RCB CG GEORGIE GEO GE BAHREIN BRN BH CONGO (REP.DEMOCRAT.) EX ZAIRE ZRE CD GHANA GH GH BANGLA DESH BD BD COREE DU NORD (REP. POP. DEM.) COR KP GIBRALTAR GBZ GI BARBADE BDS BB COREE DU SUD ROK KR GRANDE BRETAGNE (ROYAUME UNI) GB GB BELARUS (BIELORUSSIE) BY BY COSTA RICA CR CR GRECE (REP. HELLENIQUE) GR GR BELGIQUE B BE COTE DIVOIRE CI CI GRENADE WG GD BELIZE BH BZ CROATIE (HRVATSKA) YCR HR GUATEMALA GCA GT BENIN DY BJ CUBA C CU GUINEE GUI GN IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Table of COUNTRY codes (continued) Appendix 8 Norme Norme Norme Norme Norme Norme Pays Pays Pays PTT ISO PTT ISO PTT ISO GUINEE BISSAU GIB GW KAZAKHSTAN KZ KZ MOLDAVIE MOL MD GUINEE EQUATORIALE GEQ GQ KENYA EAK KE MONACO MC MC MONGOLIE (REPUB. GUYANA GY GY KIRGHIZISTAN KGZ KG MON MN DEMOCRATIQUE) GUYANE F Y GF KIRIBATI (ILES GILBERT) KIR KI MONTENEGRO YMO ME HAITI RH HT KOWEIT KWT KW MAZAMBIQUE MZ MK HONDURAS HON HN LAOS LAO LA MYANMAR (BIRMANIE) BUR MM HONG KONG HK HK LESOTHO LS LS NAMIBlE SWA NA HONGRIE H HU LETTONIE LT LV NAURU NRU NR ILE DE LA GUADELOUPE F G GP LIBAN RL LB NEPAL NP NP ILE DE LA MARTINIQUE F M MQ LIBERIA LB LR NICARAGUA NIC NI ILE DE LA REUNION F R RE LIBYE (JAMAHIRIVA ARABE) LAR LV NIGER RN NE ILES COOK W CK CK LIECHTENSTEIN (FUERSTENTUM) FL LI NIGERIA WAN NG ILES MARSHALL (REPUBLIQUE DES) M HL MH LITUANIE LIT LT NORVEGE N NO ILES SALOMON DU SUD SAL SB LUXEMBOURG L LU NOUVELLE CALEDONIE F N NC ILES TURKS ET CAIQUES TCA TC MACAO MKO MO NOUVELLE ZELANDE NZ NZ INDE IND IN MACEDOINE YM A MK OMAN ET MASCATE OM OM INDONESIE RI ID MADAGASCAR RM MG OUGANDA EAU UG IRAK IRQ IQ MALAISIE (LABUAN) M AL MY OUZBEKISTAN UZB UZ IRAN IR IR MALAWI MW MW PAKISTAN PAK PK IRLANDE (EIRE) IRL IE MALDIVES (REPUBLIOUE DES ILES) MI MV PANAMA PA PA ISLANDE IS IS MALI RMM ML PAPOUASIE-NOUVELLE-GUINEE PNG PG ISRAEL IL IL MALTE M MT PARAGUAY PY PY ITALIE I IT MAROC MAL MA PAYS BAS NL NL JAMAIQUE JA JM MAURICE MS MU PEROU PE PE JAPON J JP MAURITANIE RIM MR PHILIPPINES RP PH JORDANIE HKJ JO MAYOTTE COMORES F C YT POLOGNE PL PL KAMPUCHEA K KH MEXIQUE MEX MX POLYNESIE FRANCAISE F P PF IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
Table of COUNTRY codes (end) Appendix 8 Norme Norme Norme Norme Pays Pays PTT ISO PTT ISO Portugal P PT SLOVAQUIE CSS SK POS. UK AMER. (CAYMAN, MONTSERRAT) RUA VG SLOVENIE YSL SI POSS. USA PACIFIQUE (PALAU) PUP PW SOMALIE SP SO POSS. NLE ZELANDE NIUE, TOKELAU PNZ NU SOUDAN SUD SD POSS. USA AMERIQUE (PUERTO RICO) PUA PR SRI LANKA CL LK POSSESS. DANOISES (ILES FEROE) PAU FO ST PIERRE & MIQUELON F S PM POSSESSIONS AUSTRALIENNES PAU CC SUEDE S SE QATAR QT QA SUISSE (CONFEDERAT. HELVETIQUE) CH CH RAS-EL-KHAIMAH RK AE SURINAM SME SR REPUBLIQUE DOMINICAINE DOM DO SWAZILAND (NGWANE) SD SZ REPUBLIQUE TCHEOUE CST CZ SYRIE SYR SY ROUMANIE R RO TADJIKISTAN TJK TJ RUSSIE (FEDERATION DE) RUS RU TAIWAN TW TW RWANDA RWA RW TANZANIE EAT TZ SAINT KITTS ET NEVIS SKN KN TCHAD TCD TD SAINT MARIN RSM SM TERRITOIRE PALESTINIEN OCCUPE ILT PS SAINT VINCENTGRENADINES NORD WV VC THAILANDE T TH SAINTE LUCIE WL LC TOGO TG TG SAMOA OCCIDENTALES W S W S TONGA (ROYAUME DES ) TON TO SAO TOME ET PRINCIPE STP ST TRINIDAD TOBAGO TT TT SENEGAL SN SN TUNISIE TN TN SERBIE YUN RS TURKMÉNISTAN TKM TM SEYCHELLES SY SC TURQUIE TR TR SHARJAH SHA AE UKRAINE UA UA SIERRA LEONE WAL SL UMM-AL-QAYWAYN UAQ AE SINGAPOUR SGP SG URUGUAY U UY Pays Norme Norme PTT ISO VANUATU (NOUVELLES HEBRIDES) NH VU VATICAN V VA VENEZUELA YV VE VIET NAM VN VN YEMEN NORD (REPUBLIQUE ARABE) RY YE YEMEN SUD (REP. DEM. PQP.) ADN YE ZAMBIE Z ZM ZIMBABWE (RHODESIE) RSR ZW IT customer relations RIV© Copyright GE Factofrance transfers confidential agreement line for line version 01/01/2009
SCHEDULE 10.
T RANSFERRED R ECEIVABLES L EDGERS
PNS CLIENTS ELIGIBLES (GE FACTO)
Société |
Domaine Activité |
Client |
Nom |
Code cession |
Pays |
Exercice |
Nº pièce |
Date comptable |
Date pièce |
Saisie le |
||||||||||
[] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] |
Devise pièce |
Type pièce |
CC (signe de la pièce) |
D/C (Débit/Crédit) |
Montant Devise Pièce |
Montant Devise Interne |
Devise |
Texte |
|||||||
[] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] |
96
SCHEDULE 11.
F ORM O F C ONSENT L ETTER
[Letterhead of Seller]
Date: []
From: []
To: []
Dear Sirs,
We refer to the [supply/purchase] agreement dated [] between [Name of Debtor] and [Seller] (the Agreement ). [Insert any relevant background information. If needed].
We write to inform you that we will be seeking to raise finance for our general corporate purposes and that we will obtain such financing by way of transferring, assigning or collateralizing receivables payable to us by our customers, including [Name of Debtor], notably pursuant to the Agreement.
In this context, we will be assigning, pledging, transferring or otherwise disposing of, by way of sale, security or otherwise, some or all of our receivables arising (whether in the past, now or in the future from the Agreement to one or more persons (which will be entities providing financing to [Seller], being either (a) financial institutions or (b) special purpose entities funded by (i) financial institutions and/or (ii) the capital markets, in each case in the context of factoring/sale arrangements, which are in line with general market standards) in connection with any such proposed financing and we kindly ask you (on your own behalf and for and on behalf of your affiliates from time to time party to the Agreement (together, from time to time, your Affiliates ) to consent and agree to us doing so, if and to the extent such consent and agreement is required by the Agreement.
We also kindly ask you to confirm that, by your signature of this letter, each of your Affiliates from time to time party to the Agreement will also have consented and agreed to and be bound by the matters contemplated by this letter.
Your (including those of your Affiliates) and our rights and obligations under the Agreement otherwise remain unchanged. If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact us at [].
Yours faithfully,
[Seller]
We hereby consent, on our own behalf and for and on behalf of our Affiliates (as defined above), whose consent and agreement to be bound we are duly authorized to give, to [ Seller ] assigning, pledging, transferring or otherwise disposing of, by way of security or otherwise, some or all of its receivables arising under the Agreement (as described above).
[Debtor]
duly authorized for and on behalf of [Name of Debtor] acting on our own behalf and for and on behalf of our Affiliates (as defined in the above letter)
97
SCHEDULE 12.
C OLLECTION A CCOUNTS
Name |
Jurisdiction |
Location of the Collection Account |
Bank |
Number |
||||
Constellium Issoire |
France |
BNP Paribas Centre daffaires de la Défense Entreprises 5 bis place de la défense 92974 Paris la Défense |
BNP Paribas |
FR 76 3000 4013 2800 0127 2301 004 (euro account)
FR 76 3000 4013 2800 0101 6232 741 (USD account ) |
||||
Constellium Neuf Brisach |
France |
BNP Paribas Centre daffaires ile de France Ouest Entreprises 85-93 rue des 3 Fontanot, 92 000 Nanterre |
BNP Paribas |
30004 01328 00012723107 04 (euro account)
30004 01328 00010162424 41 (UDS account) |
||||
Constellium Extrusions France | France |
BNP Paribas, 85 Rue des 3 Fontanot 92729 NANTERRE |
BNP PARIBAS LA DEFENSE ENTREPRISES |
RIB : 30004 01328 00010664185 04 IBAN : FR76 3000 4013 2800 0106 6418 504 BIC : BNPAFRPPPTX |
98
SCHEDULE 13.
L OCATION O F R ECORDS
Seller |
Registered office |
Location of records and documents evidenctng | ||
the Transferred Receivables | ||||
Constellium Issoire | As indicated in Schedule 2 |
Constellium Issoire, ZI des Listes, Rue
Yves de Lamourdedieu, 63500 Issoire |
||
Constellium Neuf Brisach | As indicated in Schedule 2 |
Constellium Neuf Brisach, ZIP
Rhénane Nord RD52, 68 600 Biesheim |
||
Constellium Extrusions France | As indicared in Schedule 2 |
Constellium Extrusions France, 1, Voie
Gustave Eiffel, 21702 Nuits Saint Georges |
99
SCHEDULE 14.
C URRENT A CCOUNTS
Name of Seller |
Jurisdiction |
Currency |
Number / Seller Code |
|||
Constellium Issoire | France |
EUR USD |
024862 029565 |
|||
Constellium Neuf Brisach | France |
EUR USD |
026934 029568 |
|||
Constellium Extrusions France | France | EUR | 024865 |
100
SCHEDULE 15.
F INANCING R EQUESTS GE A DRESSEES
gilles.crombez@ge.com
gefacto-dge2@ge.com
101
SCHEDULE 16.
J URISDICTION M ATRIX *
No. |
Relevant Law Governing Law of the Transferred Receivable |
Relevant Country
Jurisdiction of incorporation of the Debtor |
||
1. |
Austrian Law | European Union | ||
2. |
Austrian Law | Turkey | ||
3. |
Austrian Law | Canada (Ontario) | ||
4. |
Austrian Law | Jordan | ||
5. |
Austrian Law | UAE (Dubaï)** | ||
6. |
Austrian Law | USA (Tennessee) | ||
7. |
Austrian Law | Australia | ||
8. |
Austrian Law | Switzerland | ||
9. |
Belgian Law | European Union | ||
10. |
Belgian Law | Turkey | ||
11. |
Belgian Law | Canada (Ontario and Quebec) | ||
12. |
Belgian Law | Jordan | ||
13. |
Belgian Law | UAE (Dubaï)** | ||
14. |
Belgian Law | USA (State of Tennessee) | ||
15. |
Belgian Law | Australia | ||
16. |
Belgian Law | Switzerland | ||
17. |
Dutch Law | European Union | ||
18. |
Dutch Law | Turkey | ||
19. |
Dutch Law | Canada (Ontario and Quebec) | ||
20. |
Dutch Law | Jordan | ||
21. |
Dutch Law | UAE (Dubaï)** | ||
22. |
Dutch Law | USA (State of Tennessee) |
102
No. |
Relevant Law Governing Law of the Transferred Receivable |
Relevant Country
Jurisdiction of incorporation of the Debtor |
||
23. |
Dutch Law | Australia | ||
24. |
Dutch Law | Switzerland | ||
25. |
English Law | European Union | ||
26. |
English Law | Turkey | ||
27. |
English Law | Canada (Ontario and Quebec) | ||
28. |
English Law | Jordan | ||
29. |
English Law | South Korea | ||
30. |
English Law | UAE (Dubaï)** | ||
31. |
English Law | USA (State of Tennessee) | ||
32. |
English Law | Australia | ||
33. |
English Law | Switzerland | ||
34. |
French Law | European Union | ||
35. |
French Law | Turkey | ||
36. |
French Law | Canada (Ontario and Quebec) | ||
37. |
French Law | Jordan | ||
38. |
French Law | South Korea | ||
39. |
French Law | UAE (Dubaï)** | ||
40. |
French Law | USA (State of Tennessee) | ||
41. |
French Law | Australia | ||
42. |
French Law | Switzerland | ||
43. |
Italian Law | European Union | ||
44. |
Italian Law | Turkey | ||
45. |
Italian Law | Canada (Ontario and Quebec) | ||
46. |
Italian Law | Jordan |
103
No. |
Relevant Law Governing Law of the Transferred Receivable |
Relevant Country
Jurisdiction of incorporation of the Debtor |
||
47. |
Italian Law | UAE (Dubaï)** | ||
48. |
Italian Law | USA (State of Tennessee) | ||
49. |
Italian Law | Australia | ||
50. |
Italian Law | Switzerland | ||
51. |
New York Law | European Union | ||
52. |
New York Law | Turkey | ||
53. |
New York Law | Canada (Ontario and Quebec) | ||
54. |
New York Law | Jordan | ||
55. |
New York Law | UAE (Dubaï)** | ||
56. |
New York Law | USA (State of Tennessee) | ||
57. |
New York Law | Australia | ||
58. |
New York Law | Switzerland | ||
59. |
Swiss Law | European Union | ||
60. |
Swiss Law | Turkey | ||
61. |
Swiss Law | Canada (Ontario and Quebec) | ||
62. |
Swiss Law | Jordan | ||
63. |
Swiss Law | UAE (Dubaï)** | ||
64. |
Swiss Law | USA (State of Tennessee) | ||
65. |
Swiss Law | Australia | ||
66. |
Swiss Law | Switzerland | ||
67. |
Laws of Quebec | European Union | ||
68. |
Laws of Quebec | Turkey | ||
69. |
Laws of Quebec | Canada (Ontario and Quebec) | ||
70. |
Laws of Quebec | Jordan |
104
No. |
Relevant Law Governing Law of the Transferred Receivable |
Relevant Country
Jurisdiction of incorporation of the Debtor |
||
71. |
Laws of Quebec | UAE (Dubaï)** | ||
72. |
Laws of Quebec | USA (State of Tennessee) | ||
73. |
Laws of Quebec | Australia | ||
74. |
Laws of Quebec | Switzerland |
* | Based on the memorandum from Clifford Chance Europe LLP to Apollo Management International LLP (with a copy to the Factor) entitled Jurisdiction Matrix and dated 16 December 2010. |
** | Subject to consent from any relevant Debtor(s) located in Dubaï other than Crown. |
105
SCHEDULE 17.
A CCESSION F ORM
To: GE Factofrance SAS, acting as Factor
From: [] [the Addition al Seller]
Date: []
Factoring Agreement between, among others, [] as the Parent Company and the Factor dated [] 2015.
We refer to the Agreement. Terms defined in the Agreement shall have the same meaning when used in this form. This is an Accession Form.
[Name of company] [address/registered office] agrees to become an Additional Seller and to be bound by the terms of the Agreement as an Additional Seller and Seller.
Moreover, we confirm that:
(lxxi) | All the conditions referred to in Clause 24.4.3 of the Agreement are satisfied as of the date of this Accession Form; and |
(lxxii) | the representations and warranties set out in Clauses 17.1 ( Representations and warranties of the Sellers , the Sellers Agent and the Parent Company ) of the Agreement, as applicable to the Additional Seller, are correct as of the date of this Accession Form by reference to the facts and circumstances existing at the date of this Accession Form. |
This Accession Form is governed by French law. Any and all disputes arising out of or in connection with this Accession Form and in particular with its validity, interpretation, performance or non-performance, shall be exclusively referred to the competent courts of the Paris Court of Appeals.
We would also appreciate if you could acknowledge accession of [] as an Additional Seller and Seller under the Agreement.
[]
As Additional Seller
By:
Agreed and accepted
GE Factofrance SAS as Factor
By:
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SCHEDULE 18.
S CHEDULE S PECIFIC TO THE S ELLERS
PART 1
TRANSFER MODE
1. | LEGAL MEANS OF ASSIGNMENT |
Each Assignment of Eligible Receivables from any French Seller to the Factor shall be performed by way of a deed of transfer (acte de cession de créances professionnelles) governed by, and complying with, the provisions of Article L. 313-23 et seq. of the French Monetary and Financial Code and Article R. 313-15 et seq. of the French Monetary and Financial Code (a French Transfer Document ).
2. | PROCEDURE FOR ASSIGNMENT |
2.1 | Upon the frequency set out in Clause 8.1.2 ( Offer to Assign Eligible Receivables ), each Seller may offer to Assign (and the Factor undertakes to purchase) all Eligible Receivables arising from time to time, by providing (either by a manual remittance or through electronic transmission) to the Factor a duly completed and signed Transfer Document, together with the information and files (and, as the case may be, the documents evidencing such Eligible Receivables) on such Eligible Receivables as required under Clause 8.1.2 ( Offer to Assign Eligible Receivables ) and Clause 8.1.3 ( Payment by the Factor ). |
2.2 | Each Transfer Document shall be prepared in compliance with the model form set out in paragraph 4 below of this SCHEDULE 18 and shall (i) clearly identify the Eligible Receivables intended to be Assigned (together with the relevant Seller Code) and incorporate all specific requirements of Article L. 313-23 et seq of the French Monetary and Financial Code and all regulations in force relating thereto, (ii) be signed by an authorised representative of the relevant French Seller and (iii) set out the Factor as assignee. |
2.3 | On the same Business Day upon delivery to it of the Transfer Document, the Factor shall date the French Transfer Document and shall hold such Transfer Document during the course of the Factoring Facility, it being understood that such date shall constitute the Assignment Date for the purposes of the Eligible Receivables referred to in the French Transfer Document. |
3. | LEGAL CONSEQUENCES |
3.1 | The Assignments of Eligible Receivables carried out in accordance with this Agreement shall constitute outright assignments (cessions à titre descompte) under Article L. 313-23 et seq. of the French Monetary and Financial Code in favour of the Factor. |
3.2 | In respect of each Eligible Receivable, the transfer of ownership thereof shall operate as at the Assignment Date relating to each such Eligible Receivables, |
3.3 | In accordance with Article L. 313-23 et seq. of the French Monetary and Financial Code: |
3.3.1 | the delivery or transmission of any Transfer Document pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall transfer absolute title and full ownership to the Factor of (i) the Face Value of the Transferred Receivables which are transferred by way of such Transfer Document; and (ii) the interest and all other accessory rights (accessoires), guarantees and security interests existing in respect of these Transferred Receivables (including any Related Security), and |
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3.3.2 | as from that Assignment Date, the Factor shall have absolute title to, and shall remain the sole owner of any Transferred Receivable so assigned, even in the event that the relevant Current Account is debited and until such Transferred Receivable have been actually Transferred-Back to the Seller pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Transfer-Back Price has been fully paid to the Factor. |
3.4 | Notwithstanding Article L. 313-24 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, none of the French Sellers shall be jointly and severally liable with the Debtors for the payment of the relevant Transferred Receivables. The Factor hereby expressly waives the French Sellers guarantee pursuant to Article L.313-24 of the French Monetary and Financial Code. |
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4. | FORM OF FRENCH TRANSFER DOCUMENT |
ACTE DE CESSION DE CREANCES PROFESSIONNELLES SOUMIS AUX DISPOSITIONS DES ARTICLES L.313-23 A L.313-34 DU CODE MONETAIRE ET FINANCIER
A. | ACTE DE CESSION |
Le présent acte de cession de créances professionnelles est soumis aux dispositions des articles L.313-23 à L.313-34 du Code monétaire et financier et est établi en application des stipulations dun contrat en langue anglaise intitulé Factoring Agreement conclu le [] 2015 entre, le Cédant (Seller) et GE Factofrance SAS (Factor) (le Contrat).
B. | IDENTIFICATION DU CEDANT |
[] , société [] de droit français ayant son siège social [], immatriculée au Registre du commerce et des sociétés sous le numéro [] RCS [] (le Cédant ).
C. | IDENTIFICATION DU CESSIONNAIRE |
GE FACTOFRANCE , société par actions simplifiée de droit français ayant le statut détablissement de crédit, dont le siège social est situé Tour Facto, 18, rue Hoche, 92988 Paris-La Défense Cedex, France, immatriculée au Registre du commerce et des sociétés sous le numéro 063 802 466 RCS Nanterre (le Cessionnaire ).
D. | DESIGNATION DES CREANCES |
Le Cédant cède au Cessionnaire les créances quil détient au titre des factures dont la liste figure dans le fichier informatique transmis au Cessionnaire par le Cédant concomitamment à la remise du présent acte de cession.
Conformément à lArticle L. 313-23 du Code monétaire et financier, le fichier ainsi transmis permet lidentification des créances cédées au titre du présent acte. En outre:
(lxxiii) le nombre total de créances cédées au titre du présent acte est de []; et
(lxxiv) le montant global des créances cédées au titre du présent acte est de [].
NB: Il est nécessaire de remettre, concomitamment à la remise du bordereau ci-dessus, le fichier informatique comprenant la liste des créances cédées au titre du bordereau, telles didentifiées par les enregistrements 101 (avec, dans la mesure du possible, lindication du débiteur cédé, du montant de la créance, de la référence ou du numéro de facture, du lieu et de léchéance de paiement). Ce fichier doit permettre lidentification des créances cédées.
Conformément à larticle L. 313-24 du Code monétaire et financier, le Cédant nest pas garant solidaire du paiement des créances cédées au titre du présent acte.
Fait à , le , en 1 (un) exemplaire 2 .
[Dénomination sociale du Cédant] en sa qualité de Cédant
2 | Date à apposer par GE Factofrance |
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Par: [Nom du signataire autorisé]
Conformément au Contrat, le présent acte de cession est stipulé à ordre, transmissible par endos au profit dun autre établissement de crédit.
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(TRANSLATION FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY)
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT OF PROFESSIONAL RECEIVABLES PURSUANT TO ARTICLES L.313-23 TO L.313-34 OF THE FRENCH MONETARY AND FINANCIAL CODE
A. | FORM OF ASSIGNMENT |
This form of assignment of professional receivables is subject to the provisions of the articles L.313- 23 to L.313-34 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and is made pursuant to the agreement encaptioned Factoring Agreement entered into on [] 2015 by and between the Assignor (as Seller) and GE Factofrance SAS (as Factor) the Agreement ).
B. | ASSIGNOR |
[] , a company incorporated under the laws of France as a [], whose registered office is located at [], registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of [] under number [] (the Assignor ).
C. | ASSIGNEE |
GE FACTOFRANCE SAS , a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée and licensed as a credit institution (établissement de crédit), whose registered office is located at Tour Facto, 18, rue Hoche, 92988 Paris-La Défense Cedex, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Nanterre under number 063 802 466 (the Assignee ).
D. | IDENTIFICATION OF THE RECEIVABLES |
The Assignor assigns to the Assignee the receivables owed to it under the invoices listed and identified in the electronic file transmitted to the Assignee by the Assignor on the date this assignment form has been remitted to the Assignee.
Pursuant to Article L. 313-23 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, the file so transmitted will allow for the identification of the receivables transferred hereunder.
Moreover,
(lxxv) the total number of the receivables transferred hereunder is []; and
(lxxvi)
(lxxvii) the total amount of the receivables transferred hereunder is [] .
Note: It is necessary to hand, at the same time the assignment form is remitted to the Assignee, an electronic file listing and identifying the receivables transferred hereunder as identified pursuant to the 101 records (with, if possible, the debtors name, the amount of the receivable, the reference of the invoice, the location and date of payment). This file will allow the identification of the assigned receivables.
Pursuant to Article L. 313-24 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, the Assignor shall not be jointly and severally liable for the payment of the receivables transferred hereunder.
Executed in [], on [], in one original. 3
3 | Date to be inserted by GE Factofrance |
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[Insert Name of Assignor] As Assignor
Name: [Insert name of authorised signatory]
In accordance with the Agreement, this assignment form may be transferred to any financial institution by endorsement.
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PART 2
RETRANSFER MODE
Any Transfer-Back of Affected Receivables shall take place through an automatic rescission (résolution de plein droit) of the Assignment having taken place over such Affected Receivables between the relevant French Seller and the Factor, which Transfer-Back shall take place and occur pursuant to the following procedure:
(lxxviii) | if the Transfer-Back is requested by a Party pursuant to this Agreement, by no later than 10.00 a.m. on a Business Day, that Party shall deliver to the other Party a transfer-back file containing the list of all outstanding Affected Receivables; |
(lxxix) | by no later than 10.00 a.m. on the immediately following Business Day, the Factor shall notify to the Seller the details of the calculations of the Transfer-Back Price which shall be equal to (i) the amount of any payment made by the Factor to the relevant Seller in respect of such Affected Receivables less (ii) the collections, the Reduction or Cancellation Items and any Insurance Indemnification relating thereto; |
(lxxx) | by no later than 10.00 a.m. on the immediately following Business Day, the relevant Seller shall instruct the Factor to make the payment of the relevant Transfer-Back Price by way of debit of such relevant Transfer-Back Price from its relevant Current Account and credit of such amount to its relevant bank account, provided that the payment of such Transfer-Back Price shall only be deemed to occur once the rule set forth in Clause 11.3 ( Procedure for the Transfer-Back of Transferred Receivables - Retransfer Modes ) has been complied with. |
Upon full payment of the agreed Transfer-Back Price, the Assignment of the Transferred Receivables shall be automatically rescinded (résolu de plein droit) without any further formality and, as from that date, the relevant French Seller shall be the owner of the relevant Affected Receivables which have been Transferred-Back to it.
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PART 3
FORM OF NOTIFICATION
[Papier à en-tête de GE Factofrance SAS]
Acte de Notification de Cession de Créances Professionnelles
Lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception
Le []
[Identification du débiteur cédé]
Messieurs,
Réf: Acte de notification de cession de créances professionnelles
Dans les conditions prévues par les articles L. 313-23 à L. 313-35 du Code monétaire et financier, la société [], société de droit français ayant son siège social [], immatriculée au Registre du commerce et des sociétés sous le numéro [] RCS [] (le Cédant) nous a cédé des créances identifiées ci-après dont vous êtes débiteur envers elle.
Les créances dont la cession est lobjet de la présente notification sont identifiées et individualisées par leur numéro, montant et date de facture énumérées dans la liste figurant en Annexe 1 de la présente lettre (les Créances).
Conformément aux dispositions de larticle L. 313-28 du Code monétaire et financier, nous vous demandons de cesser, à compter de la présente notification, tout paiement au titre de ces Créances au Cédant.
En conséquence, le règlement de votre dette devra être effectué à lordre de GE Factofrance par virement bancaire au crédit du compte dont les coordonnées figurent ci-après : [Insérer références IEAN du numéro de compte].
Par ailleurs, conformément à larticle R. 313-16 du Code monétaire et financier, nous vous demandons de faire figurer sur toute facture présente ou future relative à toute Créance qui ne serait pas en notre possession les mentions obligatoires suivantes: La créance relative à la présente facture a été cédée à GE Factofrance SAS dans le cadre des articles L. 313-23 à L. 313-35 du Code monétaire et financier. Le paiement doit être effectué directement à lordre de GE FACTOFRANCE, Tour FACTO- 18 rue Hoche - Cedex 88 - 92988 LA DEFENSE CEDEX TEL: 01.46.35.[], par virement au compte n° [Insérer références IBAN du numéro de compte] chez [Insérer nom de la banque teneuse de compte].
Cette lettre, ainsi que toute annexe y attachée, fait partie intégrant de la présente notification.
Cordialement,
GE Factofrance
Par: []
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Annexe 1
Créances
[A compléter]
115
( TRANSLATION FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY)
[Letterhead of GE Factofrance SAS]
Notice of Assignment of Professional Receivables
Registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt
[Date]
[Identification of Assigned Debtor]
Dear Sirs,
Re: Form of Notice of Assignment of Professional Receivables
In compliance with the terms and conditions set out in Articles L. 313-23 to L. 313-35 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, [], a company incorporated under the laws of France as a [], whose registered office is located at [], registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of [] under number [] (the Assignor ) has assigned to us the receivables identified below owed by you to the Assignor.
The receivables whose assignment are subject to this notification are identified and individualized by their number, amount, and invoice date, as mentioned in the list appended as Annex 1 hereto (the Receivables ).
In accordance with the provisions of Article L. 313-28 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, we hereby request you to cease to make, as of the date hereof, any payment in respect of the Receivables to the Assignor.
As a consequence, payment of these Receivables shall be in made to GE Factofrance by wire transfer to the credit of the bank account with number: [Insert IBAN references].
Moreover, pursuant to Article R. 313-16 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, we hereby request you that ail present and future invoice(s) not in our possession relating to the Receivables include the following compulsory wording: The receivable arising out of the present invoice has been assigned to GE Factofrance SAS pursuant to Articles L. 313-23 à L. 313-35 of the French Monetary and Financial Code. Payment must be made to GE FACTOFRANCE, Tour FACTO - 18 rue Hoche - Cedex 8892988 LA DEFENSE CEDEX TEL: 01.46.35.[] by wire transfer to the following account No. [Insert IBAN references] with [Insert name of bank account].
This letter, as well as any schedule appended thereto, shall be an integral part of this notification.
Truly yours,
GE Factofrance
By: []
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Annex 1
Receivables
[ To be completed ]
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SCHEDULE 19.
List of Audited Items
Etats comptables :
1. | Balance générale |
2. | Balances auxiliaire clients et fournisseurs |
3. | Balances âgée clients et fournisseurs triées par date déchéances |
4. | Grand-livre client lettré et non lettré au jour de laudit |
Documentations tiers :
5. | Déclarations URSSAF et TVA couvrant les 3 derniers mois + justificatifs de paiement |
6. | Factures de primes dassurance-crédit + justificatifs de paiement |
7. | Dernière liasse fiscale + rapport des CAC général et spécial |
Données sur chiffre daffaires :
8. | Montant cumulé des avoirs pour lexercice en cours et leurs répartitions par motif (si possible avec distinction des avoirs de RFA) |
9. | Montant du CA interco sur lexercice en cours. |
10. | Détail du compte « 419 Avoirs à établir » en date de laudit. |
11. | Détail des FNP (factures non parvenues). |
12. | Montant cumulé des RFA (remises de fin dannée) et PP (participations publicitaires et assimilées), leurs détails et le solde restant dû y compris sur les exercices antérieurs. |
13. | Détail du poste sous-traitance: liste des sous-traitants et montant des achats (avec distinction du groupe) |
14. | Avances et acomptes : Liste des clients cédés concernés avec montant des avances et acomptes facturés et encours sur affaires non soldés |
15. | Stocks déportés/consignation (Etat C10 Stock Tiers): liste des clients concernés CA et valorisation |
16. | Marchandise mise à disposition (Doc SAB 101) : liste des clients concernés, CA et valorisation |
17. | Tolling (« Pseudo Tolling » et « Transformation »): Montant des achats (avec répartition par fournisseurs) et valorisation du stock |
18. | Pour les relations croisées clients/fournisseurs sur le périmètre cédé: soldes clients et fournisseurs |
19. | Montant de la dotation aux provisions pour créances douteuses sur le dernier exercice et sur lexercice en cours |
20. | Liste des 10 principaux clients sur lexercice avec pourcentage du CA annuel, encours actuel et couvertures dassurance-crédit |
21. | Règlements reçus hors compte dédié sur les clients cédés (liste des clients concernés, liste des règlements et dates de remboursement) le cas échéant sur lexercice en cours |
Pièces et documents sur une sélection de créances :
| Contrat de vente |
| Facture |
| Bon de commande du client |
| Document du transporteur et bon de livraison émargé par le client |
| Justificatif de règlement de la facture (bordereau de remise en banque ou avis de crédit ou extrait de compte si virement) |
Pièces et documents sur une sélection davoirs :
| Avoir avec motif identifié |
| Facture ayant donné lieu à lavoir |
| Pour les avoirs suivis dune refacturation, refacturation |
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SCHEDULE 20.
L IST OF A IRBUS C OMPANIES
Division |
Airbus Group Entity |
Country of
Incorporation |
||
Airbus | Airbus SAS | France | ||
Airbus Operations SAS | France | |||
Airbus Operations GmbH | Germany | |||
Airbus Operations SL | Spain | |||
Airbus Operations Ltd | United Kingdom | |||
Premium Aerotec GmbH | Germany | |||
Stelia Aerospace SAS | France | |||
Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH | Germany | ||
Airbus Helicopters SAS | France | |||
Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd | United Kingdom | |||
Airbus Helicopters Espana SA | Spain | |||
Defence & Space | Airbus Military SL | Spain | ||
Airbus Military UK Ltd | United Kingdom | |||
Airbus Military France SAS | France | |||
Airbus Military Deutschland GmbH | Germany | |||
Airbus Defence & Space SAS | France | |||
Airbus Defence & Space UK Ltd | United Kingdom | |||
Airbus ATR SAS | France | |||
Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW) | Germany | |||
EADS CASA Espacio SL | Spain | |||
Compagnie Industrielle des Lasers CILAS SA | France | |||
MBDA Deutschland GmbH | Germany | |||
MBDA France SAS | France |
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SCHEDULE 21.
F ORM OF R EXAM F IRST D EMAND G UARANTEE
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GUARANTEE
( Garantie Autonome )
THIS GUARANTEE (the Guarantee ) is dated June 2015 and made by:
(1) | REXAM BEVERAGE CAN EUROPE LTD , a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of England, registered under number 2554348 and having its registered office at 100 Capability Green, Luton, LU1 3LG Bedfordshire, United Kingdom (the Guarantor ); |
in favour of
(2) | GE FACTOFRANCE S.A.S., a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée and licensed as a credit institution (établissement de crédit) , whose registered office is located at Tour Facto, 18, rue Hoche, 92988 Paris-La Défense Cedex, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Nanterre under number 063 802 466 (the Beneficiary ). |
BACKGROUND:
(A) | On [] November 2011, the Guarantor entered into an English law purchase agreement (the Purchase Agreement ) with Constellium Issoire SAS (a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée , whose registered office is located at rue Yves Lamourdedieu, Zone Industrielle Les Listes, 63500 Issoire, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Clermont-Ferrand under number 672 014 081 Constellium Issoire ), to which its subsidiary of the Rexam Group of companies, Rexam Beverage Can Egypt (a company organized under the laws of Egypt and having its registered office at 6 th October City, 3 rd Industrial Zone, Plot 2, Giza, Egypt, Rexam Egypt ) has acceded. |
(B) | Pursuant to a factoring agreement dated 4 January 2011 (as amended from time to time) and entered into between, inter alios , the Beneficiary as factor, Constellium Holdco II B.V. as parent company, certain French entities of the Constellium group (including Constellium Issoire) as French sellers, and Constellium Switzerland AG as sellers agent, the Beneficiary has agreed to provide a factoring facility to those relevant French entities of the Constellium group (including Constellium Issoire) by purchasing receivables from them in order to finance their general corporate and working capital needs (the Factoring Facility ). |
(C) | On 31 March 2015, Constellium Issoire contributed its activities located in Neuf Brisach, France, to its wholly owned subsidiary, Constellium Neuf Brisach SAS (a company incorporated under the laws of France under the form of a société par actions simplifiée à associé unique, whose registered office is at ZIP Rhénane Nord, RD 52, 68600 Biesheim, France, registered with the trade and commercial registry (registre du commerce et des sociétés) of Colmar under number 807 641 360 Constellium Neuf Brisach ), which activities included its rights and obligations under the Purchase Agreement and the Factoring Facility. By way of consequence, Constellium Neuf Brisach formally acceded to the Factoring Facility on 31 March 2015 as a new French seller. |
(D) | Constellium Neuf Brisach is contemplating adding Rexam Egypt as a new debtor to the Factoring Facility in order for the commercial receivables arising or to arise from the Purchase Agreement to be included in the Factoring Facility. |
(E) | It is a condition precedent to the addition of receivables over Rexam Egypt to the Factoring Facility that the Guarantor execute this autonomous and independent guarantee in favour of the Beneficiary in relation to invoices issued by Constellium Neuf Brisach to Rexam Egypt under the Purchase Agreement transferred to the Beneficiary between [] and []. (the Guarantee ). |
(F) | The Guarantor acknowledges that the description of the transactions above is only for explanatory purposes and shall in no way undermine the independence and autonomy of this Guarantee. |
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IT IS AGREED that:
1. | GUARANTEE PAYABLE ON FIRST DEMAND |
1.1 | Undertaking to pay |
(a) | In accordance with article 2321 of the French civil code ( Code civil ) and the terms of this Guarantee, the Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to pay upon first demand of the Beneficiary, as a primary and independent obligation, any amount (to be expressed in US Dollars (USD)), the Requested Amount ) set out in any payment request delivered by the Beneficiary to the Guarantor in accordance with Clause 1.2 ( Payment Request ) below substantially in the form of Schedule 1 ( Form of Payment Request ) (a Payment Request ).. Any Payment Request received after the expiry date in Clause 3 ( Duration ) below shall be considered null and void. |
(b) | For the avoidance of doubt, the maximum liability of the Guarantor hereunder may not exceed []dollars (USD []), (the Guarantee Amount ). This Guarantee may be called upon one or several times. All payments made by the Guarantor under this Guarantee will automatically and proportionately reduce the Guarantee Amount payable under this Guarantee. |
1.2 | Payment request |
(a) | The obligation of the Guarantor to pay any Requested Amount hereunder is subject to the receipt by the Guarantor of a Payment Request sent by the Beneficiary by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt ( lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception ) requested or fax. |
A Payment Request shall be deemed received, as applicable, (i) on the date when the relevant letter is presented for the first time to the Guarantor with respect to a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt ( lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception ) or (ii) on the date indicated on the relevant fax transmission confirmation. |
(b) | The Beneficiary may deliver any number of Payment Requests as required or necessary to the Guarantor provided that the aggregate amount of the Requested Amounts shall not exceed the Guarantee Amount. |
1.3 | Payment |
The Guarantor shall pay the Requested Amount in USD within two (2) business days of receipt of the Payment Request to such account as the Beneficiary shall designate in the Payment Request. |
A business day means a day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday scheduled by law) on which banks are open for business in London and Paris. |
1.4 | Independent obligation |
(a) | The obligation of the Guarantor hereunder is autonomous and independent and the Guarantor expressly waives any discounts, grace periods, defences, set-off/off-set rights or counterclaims resulting from or based on any other agreement. Therefore, this Guarantee shall continue to be in full force and effect notwithstanding termination (for any reason) or amendment of the Purchase Agreement. |
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(b) | This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any merger, acquisition or de-merger of the Guarantor and/or the Beneficiary. In addition, this Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and benefit any successors and assignees of the Beneficiary. |
(c) | The Guarantor further waives any right to claim novation or any other legal means of settlement or transfer of obligations as a defence to its obligations hereunder in the event that (these provisions applying mutatis mutandis to any successor of the Beneficiary): |
(i) | the legal form of the Beneficiary is modified; |
(ii) | the Beneficiary merges with another entity, even if this merger leads to the creation of a new legal entity; |
(iii) | (by way of exception to the last sentence of article 2321 of the French civil code) the Beneficiary transfers its rights or obligations under Factoring Facility to a third party; |
(iv) | the Beneficiary transfers its rights or obligations under this Guarantee to a third party. |
(d) | The Beneficiary shall not be required to have first exhausted any rights of recourse it may have against the Guarantor or Rexam Egypt. |
(e) | This Guarantee shall be in addition to, independent of and is not in any way prejudiced by any other assignment of indemnification rights (for the purposes of the applicable credit insurance policy) or security interest which the Beneficiary may now or at any time in the future hold or take for or in respect of the Guarantor or Rexam Egypt or its obligations under the Purchase Agreement or the obligations of Constellium Neuf Brisach or the relevant entities of the Constellium group under the Factoring Facility. |
(f) | The Guarantor acknowledges that Rexam Egypt will remain bound to perform all its obligations under the Purchase Agreement other than any payment obligation which has given rise to a payment made by the Guarantor hereunder, notwithstanding any exercise, attempted exercise or non-exercise of the Beneficiarys rights hereunder. |
2. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
The Guarantor represents and warrants to the Beneficiary that: |
(a) | the Guarantor is a corporation duly organised and validly existing in good standing under the laws of England and has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is being conducted; |
123
(b) | the Guarantor has the corporate power to enter into and perform, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorise the entry into, performance and delivery of this Guarantee and this Guarantee will upon execution by all Parties thereto constitute valid and legally binding and enforceable obligations of the Guarantor; |
(c) | the execution and delivery of, the performance of its obligations under, and compliance by the Guarantor with the provisions of, this Guarantee will not (i) , (ii) conflict with, or result in any breach of any of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or other instrument to which the Guarantor is a party or is subject or by which it or any of its property is bound, (iii) contravene or conflict with any provision of the Guarantors constitutional documents or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of, or oblige the Guarantor to create, any security interest over its undertaking or any of its assets, rights or revenues; |
(d) | the Guarantor is not in a state of insolvency and is not subject to any insolvency proceedings; |
(e) | the giving of this Guarantee is of commercial benefit to the Guarantor group of companies and in that groups commercial interests; |
3. | DURATION |
This Guarantee shall expire on the date falling nine (9) months after its signature. After this date, this Guarantee will expire automatically and as of law, without prejudice to the rights of the Beneficiary for any Payment Request received in the period during which this Guarantee was still in force and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this guarantee.
This Guarantee shall lapse upon the Beneficiary granting express written release of this Guarantee.
4. | TAXES AND OTHER CHARGES |
(a) | All payments to be made by the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for on account of tax unless the Guarantor is required by law to make any such payment subject to any such deduction or withholding, in which case the sum payable by the Guarantor in respect of which such deduction or withholding is required to be made shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of such deduction or withholding, the Beneficiary receives and retains (free from any liability in respect of any such deduction or withholding) a net sum equal to the sum which it would have received and so retained had no such deduction or withholding been made or required to be made. |
(b) | All sums payable by the Guarantor under or pursuant to this Guarantee are exclusive of any applicable value added tax. |
124
5. | GOVERNING LAW - JURISDICTION |
5.1 | Governing law |
This Guarantee is governed by French law.
5.2 | Jurisdiction |
The Parties irrevocably agree that any dispute arising out of, relating to or in connection with this Guarantee shall be brought before the competent courts of the Court of Appeals ( Cour dAppel ) of Paris.
Executed in one (1) original on June 2015.
[signature]
|
Rexam Beverage Can Europe Ltd. (Guarantor) By: |
125
FORM OF PAYMENT REQUEST
[ date ]
BY REGISTERED MAIL/FAX
Rexam Beverage Can Europe Ltd
[ Note: full notice details to be provided ]
Fax: []
For the attention of [ ]
Dear Sirs
Guarantee ( garantie autonome ) dated 2015
We refer to the guarantee ( garantie autonome ) dated June 2015 issued by Rexam Beverage Can Europe Ltd in favour of GE Factofrance SAS (the Guarantee ). Terms used therein with a capital letter and not defined in this letter shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Guarantee.
We confirm that Rexam Egypt owes us the following amount [] (USD []), owed on [date] (the Requested Amount ).
We therefore hereby request that you pay to us to our account reference number .
Yours faithfully, |
|
GE FACTOFRANCE |
126
SCHEDULE 22.
F ORM OF L ETTER OF W AIVER AND C ONSENT
[Date]
TO : GE FACTOFRANCE
Dear Sirs,
We, [] acknowledge that we are in receipt of goods specified in various orders (and for which the invoices are specified in the Annex to this letter);
We have inspected the goods which are held at our own risk; they appear to be of satisfactory merchantable quality and fit for purpose.
Without prejudice to our rights against Constellium under our Supply Agreement with Constellium, we can confirm that as of todays date, we are not aware of any grounds for bringing any claim against Constellium and you, GE Factofrance SAS, in relation to the quality of such goods. We further acknowledge that the receivables arising from the invoices specified in the Annex to this letter will be assigned to you by Constellium and as a result irrevocably confirm that we will pay an amount of USD []; and Euro [], related to such invoices, in full without set off, deduction or counterclaim on Constellium into collection accounts n° FR76 [] with [for the payment of Euro []); and n° FR76 [] with [for the payment of USD[]), in each case, by no later than [].
This letter is governed by English law and the court of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this letter.
Executed in [], on [], in one original.
Rexam Egypt
By: []
4
Annex
5
SIGNATORIES
Made in Paris on 3 December 2015,
In 6 originals
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO II B.V. as Parent Company |
|
CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH as Seller |
||
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|||
By : Mark KIRKLAND Capacity : Attorney |
By: Mark KIRKLAND Capacity: Attorney |
|||
CONSTELLIUM ISSOIRE as Seller |
CONSTELLIUM EXTRUSIONS FRANCE as Seller |
|||
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
|||
By : Mark KIRKLAND Capacity : Attorney |
By : Mark KIRKLAND Capacity : Attorney |
|||
CONSTELLIUM SWITZERLAND AG as Seller |
GE FACTOFRANCE as Factor |
|||
/s/ Mark Kirkland |
/s/ J.M. Morin |
|||
By : Mark KIRKLAND Capacity : Attorney |
By: J.M. Morin Capacity: DG Delegue |
1
Exhibit 10.13
Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
GE CAPITAL BANK AG
HEINRICH-VON-BRENTANO-STR. 2, 55130 MAINZ, GERMANY
AND
CONSTELLIUM SINGEN GMBH
ALUSINGEN-PLATZ 1, 78224 SINGEN GERMANY
FACTORING AGREEMENT /
FACTORINGVERTRAG
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
TABLE OF CONTENT | INHALTSVERZEICHNIS | |||||
I. | CLAUSES | I. | KLAUSELN | |||
A. | Purchase of Receivables | A. | Forderungskauf | |||
1. | Purpose of this Agreement | 1. | Zweck dieses Vertrages | |||
2. | Receivables Purchase Agreement, Offer Letter | 2. | Forderungskaufvertrag, Forderungsanzeige | |||
3. | Obligation to Purchase | 3. | Ankaufspflicht | |||
4. | Purchase Price, Due Date, Reserves, Factoring Commission, Total Financing Commission | 4. | Kaufpreis, Fälligkeit, Einbehalte, Factoringgebühr, Gesamtfinanzierungsgbühr | |||
5. | Guarantee of Dilution Risk, Obligations of the ORIGINATOR regarding Receivables | 5. | Veritätsgarantie, Pflichten des KUNDEN in Bezug auf die Forderungen | |||
6. | Bad Debt Coverage of GE CAPITAL | 6. | Delkrederehaftung von GE CAPITAL | |||
7. | Debtor Limit, Discretionary Debtor Limit | 7. | Abnehmerlimit, Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe | |||
8. | Non-Purchased Receivables, Set-Off Right, Administration Fee | 8. | Nicht angekaufte Forderungen, Verrechnungsbefugnis, Verwaltungsgebühr | |||
B. | Assignment and Security | B. | Abtretung und Sicherungsrechte | |||
9. | Assignment of Receivables, Legal Cause | 9. | Abtretung der Forderungen, Rechtsgrund | |||
10. | Cheques, Direct Debit, Bills of Exchange | 10. | Schecks, Lastschriften, Wechsel | |||
11. | Liens and Ancillary Rights, Insurance Claims | 11. | Sicherungs- und Nebenrechte, Versicherungsansprüche | |||
C. | Factoring Procedure | C. | Factoring-Verfahren | |||
12 | Full-Service, Inter-Credit ® , Smart-Service | 12. | Full-Service, Inter-Credit ® , Smart-Service | |||
13. | Disclosed/Undisclosed Procedure | 13. | Offenes / Stilles Verfahren | |||
14. | Change of Procedure by Partial Termination | 14. | Verfahrenswechsel durch Teilkündigung | |||
15. | Quarterly Account Statement, Tacit Ratification, Time Limit for Objections | 15. | Quartalsabschluss, Genehmigung durch Schweigen, Frist für Einwendungen | |||
16. | Collection Procedure | 16. | Inkassoverfahren | |||
D. | General Obligations | D. | Allgemeine Vertragspflichten | |||
17. | Negative Pledge | 17. | Keine anderweitigen Verfügungen | |||
18. | Increased Fiduciary Duty and Duty of Care | 18. | Erhöhte Treue- und Schutzpflicht | |||
19. | Information Undertaking | 19. | Informationserteilung | |||
20. | External Audit, Declaration of Consent | 20. | Außenprüfung, Einwilligungserklärung |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Note: Terms in italics have the meaning ascribed to them in part F (Definitions). | Hinweis: Kursiv gedruckte Begriffe haben die in diesem Vertrag näher erläuterte besondere Bedeutung, die sich aus Teil F (Definitionen) ergeben. |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
A. PURCHASE OF RECEIVABLES | A. FORDERUNGSKAUF | |
1. PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT | 1. ZWECK DIESES VERTRAGES | |
1.1 This agreement shall be the basis for receivables purchase agreements entered into by the ORIGINATOR as seller and GE CAPITAL as purchaser of the relevant Receivable . | 1.1. Dieser Vertrag schafft die Grundlage für Forderungskaufverträge, die zwischen dem KUNDEN als Verkäufer und GE CAPITAL als Käufer der jeweiligen Forderung eingegangen werden. | |
1.2 Any amounts paid as purchase price for the Receivables purchased by GE CAPITAL shall enable the ORIGINATOR to primarily satisfy its obligations vis-à-vis its suppliers. | 1.2 Alle Beträge, die als Kaufpreis für die von GE CAPITAL gekauften Forderungen bezahlt werden, sollen den KUNDEN in die Lage versetzen, vorrangig ihre Lieferantenverbindlichkeiten erfüllen zu können. | |
1.3 To the extent that GE CAPITAL does not purchase certain Receivables of the ORIGINATOR, such Receivables shall be assigned to GE CAPITAL subject to Clause 9.3 in order to secure claims of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR resulting from the business relationship and shall be collected by GE CAPITAL. | 1.3 Soweit GE CAPITAL bestimmte Forderungen des KUNDEN nicht kauft, sind diese vorbehaltlich Ziffer 9.3 zur Sicherung von Ansprüchen von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN abzutreten, die aus der Geschäftsbeziehung herrühren und von GE CAPITAL eingezogen werden. | |
2. RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT, OFFER LETTER | 2. FORDERUNGSKAUFVERTRAG, FORDERUNGSANZEIGE | |
2.1 The ORIGINATOR hereby offers to sell all of its Receivables to GE CAPITAL. | 2.1 Hierdurch bietet der KUNDE seine sämtlichen Forderungen GE CAPITAL zum Kauf an. | |
The ORIGINATOR repeats each offer in respect of each individual Receivable by sending an Offer Letter to GE CAPITAL, in the form substantially set out in Annex 2 ( Form of Offer Letter ). | Der KUNDE wiederholt jedes Angebot in Bezug auf jede einzelne Forderung durch Übersendung einer Forderungsanzeige an GE CAPITAL, die im Wesentlichen der Form der Anlage 2 ( Formular für Forderungsanzeigen ) entspricht. | |
2.2 | 2.2 | |
(a) German Law Receivables | (a) Forderungen, die deutschem Recht unterliegen |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Each relevant receivables purchase agreement shall be concluded by GE CAPITALs acceptance of the ORIGINATORs offer. | Der jeweilige Forderungskaufvertrag kommt dadurch zustande, dass GE CAPITAL das Kaufangebot des KUNDEN annimmt. | |
Acceptance occurs by booking the relevant Receivable on the Factoring Account , provided that the ORIGINATOR does not need to receive a notice of such book entry. | Die Annahme erfolgt durch Buchung der jeweiligen Forderung auf dem Factoringkonto , ohne dass dem Kunden eine Buchungsmitteilung zugehen muss. | |
(b) French Law Receivables | (b) Forderungen, die französischem Recht unterliegen | |
Notwithstanding the provisions set out in this clause 2 ( Receivables Purchase Agreement, Offer Letter ) with respect to the Receivables governed by German law, title to the Receivables governed by French law shall be transferred to GE CAPITAL in accordance with the provisions set out in Annex 1 ( Transfer of French Receivables ). | Ungeachtet der in dieser Ziffer 2 ( Forderungskaufvertrag , Forderungsanzeige ) enthaltenen Bestimmungen im Hinblick auf die Forderungen, die dem deutschen Recht unterliegen, wird die Berechtigung für die Forderungen, die dem französischen Recht unterliegen, gemäß den Bestimmungen in Anlage 1 ( Übertragung französischer Forderungen ) an GE CAPITAL übertragen. | |
(c) English law Receivables | (c) Forderungen, die englischem Recht unterliegen | |
Notwithstanding the provisions set out in clause 2 ( Receivables Purchase Agreement, Offer Letter ) with respect to the Receivables governed by German law, title to the Receivables governed by English law shall be transferred to GE CAPITAL in accordance with this Clause 2.2 (c): | Ungeachtet der in dieser Ziffer 2 ( Forderungskaufvertrag, Forderungsanzeige ) enthaltenen Bestimmungen im Hinblick auf die Forderungen, die deutschen Recht unterliegen, wird die Berechtigung für die Forderungen, die dem englischen Recht unterliegen, gemäß den Bestimmungen dieser Ziffer 2.2 (c) an GE CAPITAL übertragen: | |
The ORIGINATOR will by the process of offer and acceptance set out in this Agreement sell and otherwise assign, transfer and convey to GE CAPITAL, and GE CAPITAL shall purchase and otherwise acquire, all of the ORIGINATORs present and future right, title and interest in, to the Receivables which are governed by English law. | Der Kunde wird gemäß des in diesem Vertrag beschriebenen Prozess des Angebots und der Annahme all seine gegenwärtigen und 3 zukünftigen Rechte, Berechtigungen und Interessen an den Forderungen, die englischem Recht unterliegen, entweder an GE CAPITAL verkaufen oder aber abtreten, übertragen oder übereignen und GE CAPITAL wird diese kaufen oder anders erwerben. | |
This Clause (c) shall be governed by English law. | Diese Klausel 2.2 (c) unterliegt englischem Recht. |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
(d) Swiss law Receivables | (d) Forderungen, die dem Recht der Schweiz unterliegen | |
GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR agree that, both the transfer of title to such Receivables and the assignment of such Receivables which are governed by Swiss law, shall be effected in the way as set out in this clause 2 ( Receivables Purchase Agreement, Offer Letter ), but shall be governed by Swiss law. | GE CAPITAL und der KUNDE vereinbaren, dass die Rechtsübertragung und die Abtretung von Forderungen, die dem Schweizer Recht unterliegen, in einer Weise erfolgen, wie diese Ziffer 2 ( Forderungskaufvertrag, Forderungsanzeige ) es bestimmt; sie unterliegen aber dem Recht der Schweiz. | |
2.3 The ORIGINATOR is entitled and obliged to send an Offer Letter to GE CAPITAL within 10 Business Days after having dispatched the invoice to the relevant Debtor and the Receivable becoming Eligible . | 2.3 Der KUNDE ist berechtigt und verpflichtet, innerhalb von 10 Geschäftstagen nachdem er die Rechnung an den jeweiligen Abnehmer abgesandt hat und die Forderung einwandfrei geworden ist, eine Forderungsanzeige an GE CAPITAL zu übersenden. | |
The ORIGINATOR shall provide GE CAPITAL with separate Offer Letters for each jurisdiction governing the respective Receivables and additionally with a separate Offer Letter for each currency in which a Receivable for each particular jurisdiction may be denominated, or an Offer Letter consolidating several jurisdictions, provided such consolidated Offer Letter will clearly state and differentiate the different Receivables under the several jurisdictions. | Der KUNDE stellt GE CAPITAL separate Forderungsanzeigen für jede für die jeweilige Forderung maßgebliche Jurisdiktion und außerdem separate Forderungsanzeigen für jede Währung, in der eine Forderung für jede einzelne Jurisdiktion lautet, oder eine Forderungsanzeige , die verschiedene Jurisdiktionen abdeckt zur Verfügung, vorausgesetzt, dass eine solche konsolidierte Forderungsanzeige die Forderungen eindeutig angibt und zwischen den verschiedenen Forderungen unter den einzelnen Jurisdiktionen unterscheidet. | |
2.4 The ORIGINATOR is obliged to submit the Offer Letter by data transfer in accordance with Factoring-Satzaufbau or online data entry in Factorlink . | 2.4 Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet die Forderungsanzeige durch Datenübertragung gemäß Factoring-Satzaufbau oder durch Online- Dateneingabe in Factorlink vorzunehmen. | |
In addition, the ORIGINATOR is obliged to send to GE CAPITAL a submission form, together with the relevant copies preferably in the form of a pdf-file or in similar format of invoices, credit notes and debit notes. | Zusätzlich ist der KUNDE verpflichtet, GE CAPITAL ein Formular zusammen mit den jeweiligen Kopien von Rechnungen, Gutschriften und Belastungsanzeigen vorzugsweise im PDF oder einem ähnlichen Format zu übersenden. |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
GE CAPITAL hereby waives its rights to receive copies of invoices, debit notes and credit notes in hard copy form from the ORIGINATOR, but may revoke such waiver in writing at any time. The ORIGINATOR hereby undertakes to keep and store all invoices, debit notes and credit notes in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and agrees to submit such invoices, debit notes and credit notes to GE CAPITAL in due course upon request. | GE CAPITAL verzichtet hiermit auf sein Recht, Kopien von Rechnungen, Belastungs-und Gutschriftsanzeigen in gedrucktem Format vom KUNDEN zu erhalten, kann diesen Verzicht jedoch jederzeit schriftlich widerrufen. Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich hiermit, alle Rechnungen, Belastungs-und Gutschriftsanzeigen gemäß den geltenden Vorschriften aufzuheben und aufzubewahren und ist damit einverstanden, diese Rechnungen, Belastungs- und Gutschriftsanzeigen GE CAPITAL zu gegebener Zeit auf Anfrage zur Verfügung zu stellen. | |
3. OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE | 3. ANKAUFSPFLICHT | |
3.1 GE CAPITAL shall accept the ORIGINATORs offer to sell a Receivable if the relevant Receivable fulfils the following requirements: | 3.1 GE CAPITAL verpflichtet sich, das Verkaufsangebot des KUNDEN anzunehmen, wenn die jeweilige Forderung folgenden Anforderungen entspricht: | |
(a) the Offer Letter is correct and complete and was dispatched by the ORIGINATOR within the time line set out in clause 2.3; and | (a) die Forderungsanzeige ist richtig und vollständig und wurde rechtzeitig im Sinne von Ziffer 2.3 vom KUNDEN versandt; und | |
(b) the relevant Receivable is Eligible ; and | (b) die jeweilige Forderung besteht einwandfrei ; und | |
(c) the Debtor has been granted a payment term not exceeding 90 days after the relevant invoice date and, for the avoidance of doubt, the remaining outstanding payment term does not exceed 90 days; and | (c) dem Abnehmer wurde ein Zahlungsziel eingeräumt, welches nicht mehr als 90 Tage nach dem jeweiligen Rechnungsdatum liegt und, um Zweifel auszuschließen, das ausstehende Zahlungsziel ist nicht länger als 90 Tage; und | |
(d) the relevant Receivable is not a claim against an Affiliated Company ; and | (d) es handelt sich nicht um eine Forderung gegen ein Nahestehendes Unternehmen ; und | |
(e) the relevant Receivable is within the scope of the Debtor Limit . To the extent that this requirement is only partially fulfilled, GE CAPITAL shall purchase the relevant part of the Receivable ; and | (e) die jeweilige Forderung liegt im Rahmen des Abnehmerlimits . Soweit dies nur teilweise der Fall ist, soll GE CAPITAL den jeweiligen Forderungsteil ankaufen; und |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
(f) the sum of the amount of the relevant Receivable and all other purchased and unpaid Receivables against the relevant Debtor or debtor credit unit within the meaning of § 19 of the German Banking Act does not exceed 30% of all purchased and unpaid Receivables of the ORIGINATOR against all of his Debtors ; and | (f) die Summe der Beträge aus der jeweiligen Forderung und allen sonstigen gekauften und unbezahlten Forderungen gegen den jeweiligen Abnehmer bzw. Die Abnehmerkrediteinheit im Sinne des § 19 Kreditwesengesetz überschreitet nicht 30% aller gekauften und unbezahlten Forderungen vom KUNDEN gegen alle seine Abnehmer ; und | |
(g) each Receivable shall be governed by German law or by Swiss, French or English law (and in each case, subject to confirmation by a legal opinion of a reputable local law firm of the validity and enforceability vis-à-vis third parties of the purchase and assignment of the relevant receivables) and GE Capital hereby confirms that the legal opinions as to Swiss, French, English law each dated on the date of this Agreement have been delivered in satisfactory form. The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL may agree upon the ORIGINATORs request and GE CAPITALs written confirmation to include Receivables governed by any other law, (i) subject to credit approval by GE CAPITAL, and (ii) subject to confirmation by a legal opinion of a reputable local law firm of the validity and enforceability vis-à-vis third parties of the purchase and assignment of the relevant receivables, (iii) conclusion of a country specific supplement for such jurisdiction, and (iv) provided that no approval will be given when the total outstanding amount of receivables concerned by such law is less than 1,000,000 (one million) Euro); and | (g) jede Forderung unterliegt dem deutschen Recht oder dem Schweizer, französischen oder englischen Recht (und jeweils vorbehaltlich der Bestätigung der Gültigkeit und Durchsetzbarkeit gegenüber Dritten des Kaufs und der Abtretung der jeweiligen durch ein Rechtsgutachten einer renommierten lokalen Anwaltskanzlei) und GE Capital bestätigt hiermit, dass die Rechtsgutachten im Hinblick auf Schweizer, französisches, englisches Recht, jeweils datierend auf das Datum dieses Vertrages, in ordnungsgemäßer Form abgeliefert wurden. Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL können auf Anfrage des Kunden und nach schriftlicher Bestätigung vereinbaren, Forderungen die einem anderen Recht unterliegen, (i) vorbehaltlich der Kreditzusage durch GE CAPITAL, und (ii) vorbehaltlich Bestätigung der Gültigkeit und Durchsetzbarkeit gegenüber Dritten des Kaufs und der Abtretung der jeweiligen Forderung durch ein Rechtsgutachten einer renommierten lokalen Anwaltskanzlei, (iii) Abschluss einer länderspezifischen Ergänzung für die Jurisdiktion, und (iv) unter der Voraussetzung, dass keine Zusage gegeben wird, wenn der gesamte ausstehende Betrag der Forderungen, der ein solches Recht betrifft, weniger als 1.000.000 (eine Millionen) Euro beträgt; und | |
(h) the payment of the purchase price in respect of the purchased Receivable will not result in an excess of the Maximum Commitment; and | (h) die Bezahlung des Kaufpreises in Bezug auf die gekaufte Forderung wird das Höchstobligo nicht überschreiten; und | |
(i) each Receivable shall result from the sale of products and related provision of services in the ordinary course of the ORIGINATORs business; and | (i) jede Forderung stammt aus dem Verkauf von Produkten und damit verbundenen Dienstleistungen im gewöhnlichen Geschäftsgang des KUNDEN; und |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
(j) each Receivable shall be denominated in Euro, US Dollar, GBP or Swiss Franc. The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL may agree to include Receivables denominated in any other currency, subject to prior approval by GE CAPITAL; and | (j) jede Forderung ist in Euro, US Dollar, GBP oder Schweizer Franken. Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL können, nach vorheriger Einwilligung durch GE CAPITAL, zusätzlich jede andere Währung vereinbaren; und | |
(k) no Receivable shall arise from the context of contracts, where payment, even after unconditional acceptance, is subject to verifying the performance of an obligation by the ORIGINATOR; and | (k) keine Forderung stammt aus Verträgen, bei denen eine Zahlung, auch nach unbedingter Akzeptanz, der Überprüfung der Erfüllung einer Verpflichtung durch den KUNDEN unterliegt; und | |
(l) except for the Receivables deriving from contractual relationships with debtors that include tolling and/or pseudo tolling ( Materialbeistellung ) transactions (such receivables being subject to the application of clause 22.5 ( Reimbursement Claims )), no Receivable shall be subject to a right of set-off or counterclaim that has been exercised by the relevant Debtor . | (l) mit Ausnahme von Forderungen , die sich aus vertraglichen Beziehungen mit Abnehmern , eingeschlossen Materialbeistellungstransaktionen (solche Forderungen unterliegen der Anwendung der Ziffer 22.5 ( Rückvergütungsansprüche )), ergeben, sind keine Forderungen Gegenstand einer Abtretung oder eines Gegenanspruchs, die/der durch den jeweiligen Abnehmer ausgeübt wurde. | |
3.2 GE CAPITAL shall become obliged to purchase a Receivable if a Receivable that was initially not purchased subsequently fulfils the requirements set out in clause 3.1. | 3.2 GE CAPITAL wird ankaufspflichtig, wenn eine Forderung , die zunächst nicht gekauft wird, später den Anforderungen der Ziffer 3.1 entspricht. | |
3.3 GE CAPITAL will cease to be obliged to purchase any Receivable if based on the facts available to it, GE CAPITAL substantiates that it has reason to believe that the ORIGINATOR does not comply with its obligations vis-à-vis Retaining Suppliers or that Retaining Supplier s revoke the authorisation of the ORIGINATOR to collect Receivables . GE CAPITAL shall inform the ORIGINATOR of such suspension of the obligation to purchase Receivables in due course, and if possible, consult with the ORIGINATOR in advance. | 3.3 Die Ankaufspflicht von GE CAPITAL entfällt, wenn GE CAPITAL aufgrund von Tatsachen, die GE CAPITAL vorliegen, belegt, dass GE CAPITAL Grund zur Annahme hat, dass der KUNDE seinen Zahlungsverpflichtungen gegenüber Vorbehaltslieferanten nicht nachkommt oder Vorbehaltslieferanten die Berechtigung vom KUNDEN zum Forderungseinzug widerrufen. GE CAPITAL informiert den KUNDEN vom Wegfall der Verpflichtung zum Kauf von Forderungen in angemessener Zeit, und unterrichtet den KUNDEN, wenn möglich, im Voraus. |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
3.4 GE CAPITAL is entitled but not obliged to purchase Receivables which do not fulfil the requirements set out in clause 3.1. In relation to Receivables existing on the Commencement Date , GE CAPITAL will only exercise such right in respect of Receivables which have not been due for more than 60 days. | 3.4 GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt, jedoch nicht verpflichtet, Forderungen anzukaufen, die den Anforderungen der Ziffer 3.1 nicht entsprechen. Für Forderungen , die zu Vertragsbeginn bestehen, wird GE CAPITAL von diesem Recht nur im Hinblick auf solche Forderungen Gebrauch machen, die nicht länger als 60 Tage fällig sind. | |
3.5 GE CAPITAL will, upon receipt of the relevant Offer Letter , book all Receivables which have not been purchased to the Special Account. Such Receivables shall remain offered for sale. | 3.5 GE CAPITAL bucht Forderungen , die nicht angekauft wurden, nach Zugang der jeweiligen Forderungsanzeige auf dem Sonderkonto . Solche Forderungen bleiben weiterhin zum Kauf angeboten. | |
3.6 The ORIGINATORs offer expires only after a period of 10 Business Days set by the ORIGINATOR for GE CAPITALs acceptance of such offer has lapsed to no avail. | 3.6 Das Kaufangebot des KUNDEN erlischt erst nach erfolglosem Ablauf einer vom KUNDEN gesetzten Frist von 10 Geschäftstagen , in der GE CAPITAL das Kaufangebot annehmen kann. | |
4. PURCHASE PRICE, DUE DATE, RESERVES, FACTORING COMMISSION, TOTAL FINANCING COMMISSION | 4. KAUFPREIS, FÄLLIGKEIT, EINBEHALTE, FACTORINGGEBÜHR, FINANZIERUNGSGEBÜHR | |
4.1 The purchase price for each purchased Receivable shall be equal to its Nominal Amount , reduced by deductions relating to the relevant Receivable (such as discounts) that were granted to the relevant Debtor by the ORIGINATOR, less the Factoring Commission and the Financing Commission per Invoice . | 4.1 Der Kaufpreis für jede angekaufte Forderung entspricht ihrem Nominalbetrag , gemindert um Abzüge auf die jeweiligen Forderungen (z.B. Nachlasse), die dem jeweiligen Abnehmer durch den KUNDEN gewährt werden, abzüglich der Factoringgebühr und der Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis . | |
In the Bad Debt Case , the purchase price is reduced by the VAT amount included in the Receivable which the ORIGINATOR must claim from the tax authorities (see clause 6.4), at the time the legal prerequisites allowing a recovery of such VAT amounts are fulfilled. GE CAPITAL undertakes to provide the ORIGINATOR with all information and documents necessary for claiming such VAT amounts from tax authorities. | Der Kaufpreis mindert sich im Delkrederefall um die in der Forderung enthaltene Umsatzsteuer, die der KUNDE in dem Zeitpunkt von den Finanzämtern zurückfordern muss (siehe Ziffer 6.4), in dem die rechtlichen Voraussetzungen für die Rückforderung der Umsatzsteuer vorliegen. GE CAPITAL verpflichtet sich, dem KUNDEN alle Informationen und Dokumente zur Verfügung zu stellen, die für die Rückforderung dieser Umsatzsteuerbeträge von den Finanzämtern erforderlich sind. |
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The purchase price (excluding the Purchase Price Reserve and subject to the settlement of the Total Financing Commission ) shall fall due when the Receivable is purchased. The Total Financing Commission is paid in advance on each Funding Date for each relevant Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice starting on that date and is subject to applicable VAT and cannot be altered for that relevant Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice after the Funding Date on which it has started. | Der Kaufpreis wird bis auf den Kaufpreiseinbehalt und vorbehaltlich der Abrechnung der Gesamtinanzierungsgebühr mit dem Forderungskauf fällig. Die Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr wird zuzüglich Umsatzsteuern vorab an jedem Finanzierungstag für jede Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis bezahlt, die an dem Tag beginnt und kann für die jeweilige Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis nach dem Finanzierungstag an dem sie begonnen hat nicht mehr verändert werden. | |
Any payments in respect of the purchase price and any charges are made by book entry by GE CAPITAL on the Settlement Account . | Sämtliche Zahlungen in Bezug auf den Kaufpreis und alle Gebühren erfolgen durch Buchung auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto durch GE CAPITAL. | |
4.2 The Purchase Price Reserve shall fall due for payment by GE CAPITAL to the ORIGINATOR if and when | 4.2 Der Kaufpreiseinbehalt wird zur Zahlung von GE CAPITAL an den KUNDEN fällig, wenn | |
(i) the Debtor has fully paid the relevant Receivable to GE CAPITAL, but in the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring procedure, only after the Reconciliation Process , or | (i) der Abnehmer die jeweilige Forderung an GE CAPITAL bezahlt hat; im Rahmen des Inter-Credit ® -Factoring jedoch nur nach dem Stülpvorgang , oder | |
(ii) it falls due as a Bad Debt Amount (see clause 6.3). | (ii) wenn der Delkrederebetrag fällig ist (siehe Ziffer 6.3). | |
If the Debtor makes deductions which are less than the P urchase Price Reserve for the relevant Receivable , the Purchase Price Reserve (reduced by such deductions) will be credited to the Settlement Account . If the deductions exceed the Purchase Price Reserve , the Settlement Account will be debited accordingly. | Wenn der Abnehmer Abzüge vornimmt, die weniger als den Kaufpreiseinbehalt für die jeweilige Forderung ausmachen, wird der Kaufpreiseinbehalt (reduziert um die Abzüge) dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gutgeschrieben. Wenn die Abzüge den Kaufpreiseinbehalt übersteigen, wird das Kundenabrechnungskonto entsprechend belastet. | |
4.3 GE CAPITAL shall be entitled to increase the Purchase Price Reserve beyond the agreed amount if and to the extent that GE CAPITAL, based on the facts available to it, substantiates that it has reason to believe that | 4.3 GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt, den Kaufpreiseinbehalt über die vereinbarte Höhe hinaus anzuheben, wenn und soweit für GE CAPITAL Tatsachen vorliegen, welche die Annahme rechtfertigen, dass |
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(a) the ORIGINATOR will not comply with material obligations vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL, in particular because the ORIGINATOR has suffered a financial collapse or such an event is imminent or |
(a) der KUNDE wesentlichen Verpflichtungen gegenüber GE CAPITAL nicht nachkommen wird, insbesondere weil er in Vermögensverfall geraten ist oder ein solcher droht, oder | |
(b) the Purchase Price Reserve is not sufficient to adequately cover invoice reductions by Debtors and credit notes of the ORIGINATOR, whereas for purposes of this clause 4.3 (b) such increase shall be based on the Dilution Rate . | (b) der Kaufpreiseinbehalt nicht ausreicht, um die vom Abnehmer vorgenommenen Kürzungen und Gutschriften des KUNDEN zu decken, wobei die Kürzung zu Zwecken dieser Ziffer 4.3 auf der Dilutionsrate basiert. | |
GE CAPITAL shall inform the ORIGINATOR of such increase of Purchase Price Reserve in due course, and if possible, consult with the ORIGINATOR in advance. | GE CAPITAL informiert den KUNDEN von der Erhöhung des Kaufpreiseinbehalt in angemessener Zeit, und berät sich wenn möglich mit dem KUNDEN im Voraus. | |
4.4 In the event of a Notification of Dispute , GE CAPITAL shall, until this matter is settled, be entitled to set aside a Special Purchase Price Reserve and to debit the Settlement Account accordingly . | 4.4 Im Falle einer Reklamationsanzeige ist GE CAPITAL, solange diese Angelegenheit nicht geklärt ist, berechtigt, einen Sonderkaufpreiseinbehalt zu bilden und damit das Kundenabrechnungskonto zu belasten. | |
GE CAPITAL will credit the Special Purchase Price Reserve to the Settlement Account again if and to the extent that it has been established by final and non-appealable judgement, or the Debtor has acknowledged, or the ORIGINATOR has provided evidence, that the relevant Receivable is Eligible . If and to the extent that it is established by final and nonappealable judgement that the relevant Receivable is not Eligible , GE CAPITAL will exercise its rights pursuant to clause 5.1 and will cancel such Receivable as uncollectible from the books in the relevant amount. | GE CAPITAL wird den Sonderkaufpreiseinbehalt dem Kundenabrechnungskonto wieder gutschreiben, wenn und soweit rechtskräftig festgestellt oder vom Abnehmer anerkannt oder vom KUNDEN nachgewiesen wird, dass die Forderung einwandfrei ist. Wenn und soweit rechtskräftig festgestellt ist, dass die jeweilige Forderung nicht einwandfrei ist, kann GE CAPITAL die Rechte gemäß Ziffer 5.1 geltend machen und die Forderungen in der jeweiligen Höhe als uneinziehbar ausbuchen. | |
4.5 To the extent that GE CAPITAL is liable for VAT contained in the relevant Receivable because the ORIGINATOR did not pay, or not fully pay VAT when due, GE CAPITAL may pay an amount equal to such liability to the tax authorities. | 4.5 Soweit GE CAPITAL für die in der jeweiligen Forderung enthaltene Umsatzsteuer haftet, weil der KUNDE sie bei Fälligkeit nicht oder nicht vollständig entrichtet hat, kann GE CAPITAL einen seiner Haftung entsprechenden Betrag an das Finanzamt abführen. |
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Such payment shall be deemed to be a payment in respect of the purchase price for the relevant Receivable by GE CAPITAL to the ORIGINATOR. | Dies wird als Zahlung der jeweiligen Forderung von GE CAPITAL an den KUNDEN auf den Kaufpreis behandelt. | |
If such a liability is imminent, GE CAPITAL is entitled to establish a reserve in such amount until the matter of liability has been resolved. | Droht eine solche Haftung, so kann GE CAPITAL bis zur Klärung der Haftungsfrage die entsprechenden Beträge einbehalten. | |
If GE CAPITAL already paid the relevant part of the purchase price in accordance with clause 4.1, the ORIGINATOR undertakes to repay the amount payable by GE CAPITAL to the tax authorities/the respective reserve to GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL is entitled to debit the Settlement Account accordingly . | Sofern GE CAPITAL den jeweiligen Teil des Kaufpreises gemäß Ziffer 4.1 bereits bezahlt hat, übernimmt der KUNDE die Rückzahlung des zu zahlenden Betrages durch GE CAPITAL an die Finanzbehörden / des jeweiligen Einbehalts an GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt das 6 Kundenabrechnungskonto entsprechend zu belasten. | |
The ORIGINATOR is obliged, upon reasonable request and in respect of each Receivable , to inform GE CAPITAL about the following: | Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet, GE CAPITAL auf vernünftige Anforderung und bezogen auf die einzelnen Forderungen , über: | |
(a) all overdue VAT liabilities, | (a) alle rückständigen Umsatzsteuerverpflichtungen, | |
(b) all VAT filings, | (b) alle Umsatzsteueranmeldungen, | |
(c) all payments in respect of VAT. | (c) alle Zahlungen auf die Umsatzsteuer zu informieren. | |
5. GUARANTEE OF DILUTION RISK, OBLIGATIONS OF THE ORIGINATOR REGARDING RECEIVABLES | 5. VERITÄTSGARANTIE, PFLICHTEN DES KUNDEN IN BEZUG AUF DIE FORDERUNGEN | |
5.1 The ORIGINATOR warrants (by way of an independent guarantee) ( sichert zu ) that each purchased Receivable is and will continue to be Eligible until it is fully collected by GE CAPITAL (Guarantee of Dilution Risk) and that each Receivable has been originated and monitored in accordance with the credit and collection policies established by the ORIGINATOR. | 5.1 Der KUNDE sichert (im Wege eines selbstständigen Garantieversprechens) zu, dass die gekaufte Forderung einwandfrei ist und bis zum vollständigen Einzug durch GE CAPITAL einwandfrei bleibt (Veritätsgarantie) und dass jede Forderung im Einklang mit den Gutschriftsund Einzugsregeln ( credit and collection policies ) des KUNDEN entstand. |
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In the event of a breach of such guarantee, GE CAPITAL may require the reinstatement of the contractually stipulated condition (cure). If this is not possible or unreasonable, or a deadline set for such reinstatement has lapsed unsuccessfully, GE CAPITAL may reduce the purchase price, rescind from the receivable purchase and/or, in the event of negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of the ORIGINATOR, claim indemnification for damages. | Bei einem Verstoß gegen diese Garantie kann GE CAPITAL die Herstellung des vertragsgemäßen Zustandes (Nacherfüllung) verlangen. Ist dies nicht möglich oder nicht zumutbar oder ist eine hierzu gesetzte angemessene Frist erfolglos abgelaufen so kann GE CAPITAL den Kaufpreis mindern, vom Forderungskauf zurücktreten und/oder, wenn dem KUNDEN Fahrlässigkeit oder Vorsatz zur Last gelegt werden kann, Schadensersatz verlangen. | |
5.2 If a Debtor claims that the relevant Receivable is not Eligible , the ORIGINATOR must inform GE CAPITAL by sending a Notification of Dispute without undue delay. The ORIGINATOR is further obliged to clarify the matter and, following clarification, to issue a credit note, where applicable. | 5.2 Macht ein Abnehmer geltend, dass die jeweilige Forderung nicht einwandfrei ist, so muss der KUNDE GE CAPITAL unverzüglich durch eine Reklamationsanzeige unterrichten. Der KUNDE ist weiter verpflichtet, die Angelegenheit unverzüglich aufzuklären und nach Klärung dem Abnehmer ggf. eine Gutschrift zu erteilen. | |
5.3 The ORIGINATOR must forward to GE CAPITAL all payments received by it from Debtors without undue delay. | 5.3 Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet, alle bei ihm eingehenden Abnehmerzahlungen unverzüglich an GE CAPITAL weiterzuleiten. | |
6. BAD DEBT COVERAGE OF GE CAPITAL | 6. DELKREDEREHAFTUNG VON GE CAPITAL | |
6.1 GE CAPITAL assumes the Bad Debt Coverage for each purchased Receivable , to the extent that such purchased Receivable is Eligible . | 6.1 GE CAPITAL übernimmt für jede gekaufte Forderung , soweit diese einwandfrei ist, die Delkrederehaftung . | |
6.2 The Bad Debt Case occurs if the Debtor | 6.2 Der Delkrederefall tritt ein, wenn der Abnehmer | |
(a) fails to pay a Receivable within 120 days after its due date without disputing its obligation to pay prior to or after the expiry of such period (unless the dispute has been retracted, accepted by GE Capital or adjudicated to be unjustified); or | (a) nicht innerhalb von 120 Tagen nach Fälligkeit der Forderung zahlt, ohne vor oder nach Ablauf der Frist seine Zahlungsverpflichtung zu bestreiten (soweit nicht das Bestreiten der Zahlungsverpflichtung aufgegeben, von GE Capital akzeptiert oder gerichtlich als unbegründet festgestellt wurde), oder | |
(b) is Unable to Pay . | (b) zahlungsunfähig ist. |
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6.3 The Bad Debt Amount is settled promptly after the occurrence of the Bad Debt Case , but not before the expiration of a 120-day-period after the due date of the Receivable . | 6.3 Die Abrechnung des Delkrederebetrages erfolgt nach Eintritt des Delkrederefalls , jedoch nicht vor Ablauf von 120 Tagen nach Fälligkeit der Forderung . | |
6.4 If the ORIGINATOR already paid VAT for the relevant Receivable and the tax authorities legitimately refuse to refund/offset such VAT, GE CAPITAL is obliged to pay that part of the purchase price as well (see clause 4.1, paragraph 2). | 6.4 Wenn der KUNDE die Umsatzsteuer für die jeweilige Forderung bereits entrichtet hat und das Finanzamt berechtigterweise deren Rückerstattung/Verrechnung ablehnen sollte, ist GE CAPITAL auch insoweit zur Leistung verpflichtet (siehe Ziffer 4.1, Absatz 2). | |
7. DEBTOR LIMIT, DISCRETIONARY DEBTOR LIMIT | 7. BNEHMERLIMIT, ABNEHMERLIMITSELBSTVERGABE | |
7.1 At the ORIGINATORs request, GE CAPITAL sets Debtor Limits at its reasonable discretion on the basis of the relevant Debtor s creditworthiness and reliability following the amount of credit limit set out for each Debtor by the relevant credit insurance. | 7.1 Auf Anforderung des KUNDEN bestimmt GE CAPITAL Abnehmerlimits nach billigem Ermessen auf Grundlage der jeweiligen Bonität und Zuverlässigkeit des jeweiligen Abnehmers in Höhe des Kreditlimits, welches für jeden Abnehmer vom jeweiligen Kreditversicherer festgelegt ist. | |
GE CAPITAL is on the basis of the relevant Debtor s creditworthiness and reliability considering the amount of credit limit set out for each Debtor by the relevant credit insurances insurer entitled to modify (including cancellation) Debtor Limits at any time. GE CAPITAL will inform the ORIGINATOR on any deviation from the limits set by the relevant credit insurance. Such modification neither applies to purchased Receivables nor to Receivables for which the ORIGINATOR has already provided the consideration ( Gegenleistung ) to its Debtor before having received the modification notice and where such consideration cannot be reclaimed by the ORIGINATOR from the relevant Debtor . | GE CAPITAL ist basierend auf der Kreditwürdigkeit und Verlässlichkeit des Abnehmers in Anbetracht der Höhe des Kreditlimits, das für jeden Abnehmer vom jeweiligen Kreditversicherer festgelegt wirdjederzeit zu Änderungen (einschließlich Streichungen) des Abnehmerlimits berechtigt. GE CAPITAL setzte den KUNDEN über jede Abweichung der vom jeweiligen Kreditversicherer festgelegten Limits in Kenntnis. Eine solche Änderung gilt jedoch weder für bereits gekaufte Forderungen noch für Forderungen , für die der KUNDE schon vor der Änderungsmitteilung die Gegenleistung an seinen Abnehmer erbracht hat und die nicht mehr durch den KUNDEN vom jeweiligen Abnehmer zurückgefordert werden können. | |
7.2 Until revocation of such right by GE CAPITAL, the ORIGINATOR is entitled to set a Discretionary Debtor Limit . | 7.2 Bis zum Widerruf durch GE CAPITAL hat der KUNDE das Recht zur Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe . |
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Any Discretionary Debtor Limit becomes effective unless GE CAPITAL objects to it without undue delay. | Die Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe wird wirksam, wenn GE CAPITAL ihr nicht unverzüglich widerspricht. | |
The ORIGINATOR determines the amount of any Discretionary Debtor Limit , which is limited, however, to an amount equal to the maximum amount for Discretionary Debtor Limit s pursuant to schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions), in accordance with the following provisions: | Im Rahmen der Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe setzt der KUNDE die Höhe des Abnehmerlimits , maximal jedoch den Höchstbetrag für Abnehmerlimitselbstvergaben gemäß Anlage 1 (Konditionen) unter Beachtung des Folgenden fest: | |
(a) If the ORIGINATOR delivered goods to a Debtor at least twice within the preceding 12-month-period and the Debtor duly paid for such goods within 60 days after the relevant due date of the Receivable , the ORIGINATOR may set a Debtor Limit for such Debtor of up to 150% of the sum of all unpaid Receivables owing from such Debtor to the ORIGINATOR at a particular point in time during the aforementioned 12-month-period. | (a) Wenn ein Abnehmer innerhalb der letzten 12 Monate mindestens zweimal Ware vom KUNDEN bezogen und diese spätestens 60 Tage nach dem jeweiligen Fälligkeitsdatum ordnungsgemäß bezahlt hat, kann der KUNDE für diesen Abnehmer ein Abnehmerlimit von bis zu 150 % aller offenen Forderungen des KUNDEN gegen diesen Abnehmer zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt innerhalb des 12-Monats-Zeitraums festlegen. | |
(b) In all other cases, the amount of the Debtor Limit must be justifiable beyond doubt by information (not older than 12 months) provided by a commercial inquiry agency or a bank. | (b) In allen anderen Fällen muss die Abnehmerlimithöhe durch eine Auskunft (nicht älter als 12 Monate) einer Berufsauskunftei oder Bank zweifelsfrei gerechtfertigt sein. | |
7.3 At GE CAPITALs request, the ORIGINATOR must provide information about the satisfaction of the requirements set out in clause 7.2 (a) or 7.2 (b), as the case may be, in respect of the Discretionary Debtor Limit and submit the relevant documents. | 7.3 Auf Anforderung von GE CAPITAL hat der KUNDE über die Erfüllung seiner Verpflichtungen gemäß Ziffer 7.2 (a) oder 7.2 (b) in Bezug auf die Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe Auskunft zu erteilen und die zugehörigen Unterlagen vorzulegen. | |
7.4 GE CAPITAL may always replace any Discretionary Debtor Limit s by Debtor Limits set by itself. | 7.4 GE CAPITAL hat jederzeit das Recht, Abnehmerlimitselbstvergaben durch solche von GE CAPITAL zu ersetzen. | |
7.5 The amount of the fee charged by GE CAPITAL to establish a Debtor Limit is set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). Discretionary Debtor Limit s are free of charge. | 7.5 Für die Einräumung eines Abnehmerlimits berechnet GE CAPITAL eine Gebühr, deren Höhe in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) geregelt ist. Abnehmerlimitselbstvergaben sind gebührenfrei. |
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8. NON-PURCHASED RECEIVABLES, SET-OFF RIGHT, ADMINISTRATION FEE | 8. NICHT ANGEKAUFTE FORDERUNGEN, VERRECHNUNGSBEFUGNIS, VERWALTUNGSGEBÜHR | |
8.1 Upon revocation of the Undisclosed procedure in accordance with clause 13, GE CAPITAL may also collect Receivables , which have not been purchased. To the extent that the relevant authorisation does not arise from clause 9, the ORIGINATOR hereby authorises GE CAPITAL to collect such Receivables . | 8.1 Mit Widerruf des Stillen Verfahrens gemäß Ziffer 13 kann GE Capital auch die nicht angekauften Forderungen einziehen. Soweit sich die Befugnis dazu nicht aus Ziffer 9 ergibt, erteilt der KUNDE GE CAPITAL hiermit eine entsprechende Einziehungsermächtigung. | |
8.2 Any payments made by Debtors in respect of such Receivables shall be credited to the Settlement Account , but in the Inter- Credit ® -Factoring only after the Reconciliation Process . | 8.2 Die Abnehmerzahlungen dafür warden dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gutgeschrieben, jedoch im Falle des Inter-Credit ® -Factoring nur nach dem Stülpvorgang . | |
Clause 4.5 shall apply mutatis mutandis to any VAT amount which is contained in the relevant Receivables . | Ziffer 4.5 gilt sinngemäß für eine Umsatzsteuer, die in den jeweiligen Forderungen enthalten ist. | |
GE CAPITAL is entitled to set off the proceeds from the collection of Receivables , which have not been purchased against its claims vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR. To the extent that such counter-claims do not arise from the balance of the Settlement Account , the proceeds will be made available to the ORIGINATOR as part of the credit balance on the Settlement Account . The rights of Retaining Suppliers shall not be affected thereby. | GE CAPITAL ist zur Aufrechnung der Einnahmen aus der Einziehung von Forderungen , die nicht gekauft wurden, gegen ihre Ansprüche gegenüber dem KUNDEN berechtigt. Soweit solche Gegenansprüche nicht aus einem Saldo des Kundenabrechnungskontos hergeleitet werden, wird der Erlös dem KUNDEN als Teil des Guthabens des Kundenabrechnungskontos zur Verfügung gestellt. Die Rechte des Vorbehaltslieferanten sollen hiervon nicht berührt werden. | |
8.3 GE CAPITAL shall receive an Administration Fee as set out in schedule 1 ( Terms and Conditions ) for the administration of Receivables , which have not been purchased. The Administration Fee shall fall due when the relevant Receivable is booked to the Special Account and will be charged to the Settlement Account . | 8.3 GE CAPITAL erhält für die Verwaltung der Forderungen , die nicht gekauft werden, eine Verwaltungsgebühr gemäß Anhang 1 ( Konditionen ). Die Verwaltungsgebühr wird mit Buchung der jeweiligen Forderung auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto belastet. |
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B. ASSIGNMENT AND SECURITY | B. ABTRETUNG UND SICHERUNGSRECHTE | |
9. ASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES, LEGAL CAUSE | 9. ABTRETUNG DER FORDERUNGEN, RECHTSGRUND | |
9.1 The ORIGINATOR hereby assigns any and all Receivables to GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL hereby accepts such assignment. | 9.1 Der KUNDE tritt hiermit alle Forderungen an GE CAPITAL ab. GE CAPITAL nimmt diese Abtretung hiermit an. | |
9.2 The legal cause for the assignment of each purchased Receivable is the relevant receivables purchase agreement. | 9.2 Der Rechtsgrund für die Abtretung angekaufter Forderungen ist der jeweilige Forderungskaufvertrag. | |
The assignment of Receivables , which have not been purchased and the proceeds resulting from the collection of any Receivables , which have not been purchased shall secure any and all existing and future claims which GE CAPITAL may have against the ORIGINATOR in connection with their overall business relationship. | Die Abtretung der nicht angekauften Forderungen und die Erlöse aus dem Einzug nicht angekaufter Forderungen dienen der Sicherung aller gegenwärtig bestehenden und zukünftig entstehenden Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN im Zusammenhang mit diesem Vertrag. | |
For each Receivable that has already been assigned to GE CAPITAL at the time of booking the relevant Receivable on the Factoring Account (as set out in clause 2.2), the legal cause for such assignment shall be replaced by the relevant receivables purchase agreement upon crediting of the cash portion of the purchase price (purchase of the relevant Receivable as opposed to assignment for security purposes). | Für jede Forderung , die im Zeitpunkt ihrer Verbuchung auf dem Factoringkonto (wie in Ziffer 2.2 festgelegt) bereits abgetreten war, wird der Rechtsgrund für eine solche Abtretung durch den jeweiligen Forderungskaufvertrag, unter Anrechnung des Baranteils auf den Kaufpreis, ersetzt (Kauf der jeweiligen Forderung statt Abtretung zu Sicherungszwecken). | |
9.3 In respect of Receivables which have not been purchased, the following provisions shall apply: | 9.3 Im Hinblick auf nicht angekaufte Forderungen gilt das Folgende: | |
The assignment shall not include Receivables that the ORIGINATOR assigned or will assign to Retaining Suppliers in connection with an extended retention of title arrangement (partial in rem waiver of rights). If and to the extent that the extended retention of title subsequently ceases to exist, the assignment of relevant Receivable shall become valid and effective. | Die Abtretung bezieht sich nicht auf Forderungen , welche der KUNDE an seine Vorbehaltslieferanten im Zusammenhang mit einer Vereinbarung eines verlängerten Eigentumsvorbehalts abgetreten hat oder abtreten wird (dingliche Teilverzichtsklausel). Falls und soweit der verlängerte Eigentumsvorbehalt zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt entfällt, wird die Abtretung der jeweiligen Forderung gültig und wirksam. |
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Clause 11.3 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the limitation of the claim to demand security and the obligation to release security. | Ziffer 11.3 gilt sinngemäß für die Beschränkung des Anspruchs, Sicherheiten zu verlangen und die Verpflichtung, Sicherheiten freizugeben. | |
9.4 To the extent that the assignment pursuant to clause 9.1 does not result in the valid and unchallengeable ownership of GE CAPITAL in a purchased Receivable , the following provision shall apply: Subject to the condition precedent of entering into a respective receivables purchase agreement, the ORIGINATOR hereby assigns the relevant Receivable to GE CAPITAL and GE CAPITAL hereby accepts such assignment. | 9.4 Soweit die Abtretung gemäß Ziffer 9.1 nicht zu einer gültigen und unanfechtbaren Inhaberschaft von GE CAPITAL an der angekauften Forderung führt, soll die folgende Bestimmung gelten: Vorbehaltlich der aufschiebenden Bedingung des Abschlusses eines Forderungskaufvertrages tritt der KUNDE hiermit die jeweilige Forderung an GE CAPITAL ab und GE CAPITAL nimmt die Abtretung hiermit an. | |
10. CHEQUES, DIRECT DEBIT, BILLS OF EXCHANGE | 10. SCHECKS, LASTSCHRIFTEN, WECHSEL | |
10.1 If the ORIGINATOR receives payments in respect of Receivables in any other form (in particular by way of bill of exchange or cheque), GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR hereby agree that title to such instruments will transfer to GE CAPITAL as soon as the ORIGINATOR acquires title. Furthermore, the ORIGINATOR hereby assigns to GE CAPITAL any and all rights arising from such instruments. GE CAPITAL hereby accepts such assignments. | 10.1 Gehen Zahlung auf Forderungen in anderer Form (insbesondere in Form von Wechseln oder Schecks) bei dem KUNDEN ein, sind sich GE CAPITAL und der KUNDE darüber einig, dass das Eigentum an diesen Papieren auf GE CAPITAL übergeht, sobald es der KUNDE erwirbt. Der Kunde tritt ferner alle ihm aus den Papieren zustehenden Rechte an GE CAPITAL ab. GE CAPITAL nimmt die Abtretung hiermit an. | |
The delivery of any cheques and bills of exchange, which may at any time be in the ORIGINATORs possession to GE CAPITAL is replaced by the ORIGINATOR keeping such instruments in gratuitous custody for GE CAPITAL. If the ORIGINATOR does not acquire direct possession, it hereby assigns to GE CAPITAL its claim for restitution against third parties. GE CAPITAL hereby accepts such assignments. | Die Übergabe der Schecks und Wechsel, die in den unmittelbaren Besitz des KUNDEN gelangen, werden dadurch ersetzt, dass GE CAPITAL und der KUNDE hiermit einen unentgeltlichen Verwahrungsvertrag vereinbaren. Für den Fall, dass der KUNDE nicht unmittelbarer Besitzer wird, tritt er bereits jetzt seinen Herausgabeanspruch gegen Dritte an GE CAPITAL ab. GE CAPITAL nimmt diese Abtretung hiermit an. |
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10.2 The ORIGINATOR shall deliver and - to the extent necessary - endorse the instruments and any documents relating thereto to GE CAPITAL without undue delay. Until delivery to GE CAPITAL, the ORIGINATOR must take all steps that are necessary to preserve the rights resulting from such instruments. | 10.2 Der KUNDE wird die Papiere soweit erforderlich mit seinem Indossament versehen und die dazugehörigen Unterlagen unverzüglich GE CAPITAL abliefern. Der KUNDE hat bis zur Herausgabe an GE CAPITAL alle Maßnahmen, die zum Erhalt der Rechte aus den Papieren erforderlich sind, zu ergreifen. | |
The ORIGINATOR hereby authorises GE CAPITAL to sign bills of exchange on behalf of the ORIGINATOR as drawer and to endorse bills of exchange and cheques in the ORIGINATORs name. | Der KUNDE bevollmächtigt GE CAPITAL hiermit, Wechsel in Vertretung des KUNDEN zu unterzeichnen und Wechsel und Schecks im Namen des KUNDEN zu indossieren. | |
10.3 GE CAPITAL shall be entitled but not obliged to credit directly, but subject to their respective cashing, any equivalent amounts of cheques, debit entries and bills of exchange. If the relevant instruments are not irrevocably cashed, the underlying Receivable shall be treated as if it had originally not been paid. | 10.3 GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt, jedoch nicht verpflichtet, Schecks, Lastschriften und Wechsel vorbehaltlich ihrer Einlösung sofort gutzuschreiben. Werden die maßgeblichen Papiere nicht unwiderruflich eingelöst, so sind die zugrunde liegenden Forderungen so zu behandeln, als ob sie ursprünglich nicht bezahlt wurden. | |
11. LIENS AND ANCILLARY RIGHTS, INSURANCE CLAIMS | 11. SICHERUNGS- UND NEBENRECHTE; VERSICHERUNGSANSPRÜCHE | |
11.1 The ORIGINATOR hereby transfers to GE CAPITAL, who accepts such transfer, any and all rights and claims (other than the Receivable itself) arising under or in connection with the relevant contract with the Debtor, including: | 11.1 Der KUNDE überträgt hiermit an die dies annehmende GE CAPITAL alle Recht und Ansprüche, die dem KUNDEN (außer der Forderung selbst) aus oder im Zusammenhang mit dem jeweiligen Vertrag mit dem Abnehmer zustehen, insbesondere: | |
(a) all ownership and inchoate rights in the underlying assets with respect to assigned Receivables that the ORIGINATOR may have or acquire, which are particularly set out in invoices relating to assigned Receivables , provided that the ORIGINATOR shall continue to be entitled to resell such assets to the Debtor , | (a) alle Eigentums- und Anwartschaftsrechte in Bezug auf die abgetretenen Forderungen , die dem KUNDEN zustehen oder die er erwirbt und die teilweise in Rechnungen, bezogen auf die abgetretenen Forderungen , festgelegt sind, wobei der KUNDE zur Weiterveräußerung der jeweiligen (Vermögens-)Gegenstände an den Abnehmer berechtigt bleibt, | |
(b) any and all claims for delivery of such assets, in particular in the event of an unwinding of the contract, as well as the right to rescind the contract, | (b) alle Ansprüche auf Lieferung dieser (Vermögens-)Gegenstände, insbesondere im Falle der Rückabwicklung des Vertrages sowie das Recht, vom Vertrag zurückzutreten, |
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(c) in the event of a sale by consignment, any claims against the carrier and the right of pursuit, | (c) im Falle des Versendungskaufes, die Ansprüche gegen den Trasporteur und das Verfolgungsrecht, | |
(d) all rights of the ORIGINATOR arising from an extended retention of title arrangement within the meaning of clause 21 (d), in particular, the claim of the Debtor resulting from the resale of the relevant assets, | (d) alle Rechte des KUNDEN, die infolge eines verlängerten Eigentumsvorbehalts gemäß Ziffer 21 (d) entstehen, insbesondere der Anspruh des Abnehmers aus dem Wiederverkauf der jeweiligen (Vermögens-) Gegenstände, | |
(e) the ORIGINATORs right to request the insolvency administrator to exercise its rights in an insolvency of the Debtor . | (e) das Recht des KUNDEN im Falle einer Insolvenz des Abnehmers , den Insolvenzverwalter zur Ausübung seiner Rechte aufzufordern. | |
To the extent that such transfer is subject to specific additional requirements, the ORIGINATOR undertakes to comply with any such requirements in the required form. | Soweit die Übertragung von besonderen Voraussetzungen abhängig ist, verpflichtet sich der KUNDE, sie in der erforderlichen Weise vorzunehmen. | |
To the extent that the ORIGINATOR holds or reacquires direct possession of such assets, the ORIGINATOR shall keep such assets for GE CAPITAL in gratuitous custody and separate from any other goods and waives any claims for reimbursement of expenses. | Soweit der KUNDE noch oder wieder unmittelbarer Besitzer solcher 9 (Vermögens-) Gegenstände ist, verwahrt er diese für GE CAPITAL unentgeltlich und getrennt von anderen Waren und verzichtet auf Aufwendungsersatzansprüche. | |
11.2 The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL agree that GE CAPITAL acquires a lien and a retention right with respect to the securities and chattels, of which it may have or acquire possession in the course of business with the ORIGINATOR. | 11.2 Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL sind sich darüber einig, dass GE CAPITAL ein Pfand- sowie ein Zurückbehaltungsrecht in Bezug auf die Sicherheiten und Sachen zusteht, welches GE CAPITAL im Rahmen der Geschäftsbeziehung mit dem KUNDEN erworben hat oder erwirbt. | |
GE CAPITAL also acquires a lien and a retention right with respect to any claims arising from the business relationship (e.g. credit balances) that the ORIGINATOR has or will acquire against GE CAPITAL. | GE CAPITAL erwirbt auch ein Pfandrecht und ein Zurückbehaltungsrecht im Hinblick auf die Ansprüche aus der Geschäftsverbindung (z.B. Kontoguthaben), die der Kunde gegen GE CAPITAL erworben hat oder erwerben wird. | |
Such liens and the retention right shall secure all existing, future and contingent claims of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR arising from the business relationship. | Das Pfandrecht sowie das Zurückbehaltungsrecht dienen der Sicherung aller bestehenden, künftigen und bedingten Ansprüche, die GE CAPITAL aus der Geschäftsverbindung gegen den KUNDEN zustehen. |
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If GE CAPITAL acquires control over monies or other assets under the condition that they may only be used for a certain purpose, GE CAPITALs lien does not extend to such assets and in this case, GE CAPITAL shall not have a retention right. | Wenn GE CAPITAL die Herrschaft über Gelder oder andere Werte erwirbt, die nur für einen bestimmten Zweck verwendet werden sollen, wird sich das Pfandrecht von GE CAPITAL nicht auf solche Werte erstrecken und in einem solchen Fall soll GE CAPITAL auch kein Zurückbehaltungsrecht zustehen. | |
11.3 If the realisable value of all security interests not only temporarily exceeds the total amount of all claims arising from the business relationship (Cover Limit), GE CAPITAL shall, at the ORIGINATORs request, release security interests in the discretion of GE CAPITAL in the amount exceeding the Cover Limit. | 11.3 Wenn der realisierbare Wert aller Sicherheiten den Gesamtbetrag aller Ansprüche (Deckungsgrenze) nicht nur vorübergehend übersteigt, hat GE CAPITAL auf Verlangen des KUNDEN Sicherheiten nach Wahl von GE CAPITAL freizugeben, und zwar in Höhe des die Deckungsgrenze übersteigenden Betrages. | |
When selecting the security interests to be released, GE CAPITAL will consider the legitimate interests of the ORIGINATOR and any third party that provided security for the ORIGINATORs obligations. | GE CAPITAL wird bei der Auswahl der freizugebenden Sicherheiten auf die berechtigten Interessen des KUNDEN und eines dritten Sicherungsgebers, der für die Verbindlichkeiten des KUNDEN Sicherheiten bestellt hat, Rücksicht nehmen. | |
11.4 GE CAPITAL will only enforce the security interests if the ORIGINATOR is in payment default and a grace period of at least two weeks set by GE CAPITAL before the commencement of enforcement actions has expired to no avail. | 11.4 GE CAPITAL wird ihr gestellte Sicherheiten nur verwerten, wenn der KUNDE sich in Zahlungsverzug befindet und eine von GE CAPITAL vor dem Beginn der Zwangsvollstreckung gesetzte Nachfrist von mindestens zwei Wochen fruchtlos abgelaufen ist. | |
The Receivables assigned for security purposes are enforced by collection in the Undisclosed Procedure and the net proceeds resulting from such enforcement are set off against the ORIGINATORs obligations owing to GE CAPITAL. | Die Verwertung der zur Sicherheit abgetretenen Forderungen erfolgt durch deren Einzug im Stillen Verfahren und Verrechnung der Reinerlöse aus dem Einzug mit den Verbindlichkeiten des KUNDEN bei GE CAPITAL. | |
GE CAPITAL will credit the net enforcement proceeds to the Settlement Account . | GE CAPITAL wird den Reinerlös aus der Verwertung dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gutschreiben. |
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11.5 If facts emerge which indicate that the payment of a purchased Receivable by the Debtor may be at risk, the ORIGINATOR must, upon request by and at the expense of GE CAPITAL, take back the relevant goods. | 11.5 Der KUNDE muss auf Weisung und auf Kosten von GE CAPITAL die betreffende Ware zurücknehmen, wenn Tatsachen bekannt werden, die eine Bezahlung einer gekauften Forderung durch den Abnehmer als gefährdet erscheinen lassen. | |
GE CAPITAL may also take possession of the goods or store such goods at a third partys premises. | GE CAPITAL kann die Ware auch in Besitz nehmen oder bei einem Dritten einlagern. | |
GE CAPITALs Bad Debt Coverage , if applicable, shall remain unaffected thereby. | Die Delkrederehaftung von GE CAPITAL soll, sofern einschlägig, hiervon unberührt bleiben. | |
The realisation of returned goods shall be for the benefit and at the expense of GE CAPITAL who will also determine the method of enforcement. | Die Verwertung der zurückgenommenen Ware erfolgt zu Gunsten und auf Kosten von GE CAPITAL, die auch die Art und Weise der Verwertung bestimmt. | |
11.6 The ORIGINATOR shall use its best efforts to support GE CAPITAL without remuneration in enforcing and realising all security interests, rights and claims. | 11.6 Der KUNDE hat sich unentgeltlich nach besten Kräften zu bemühen, GE CAPITAL bei der Durchsetzung und Verwertung sämtlicher Sicherheiten, Rechte und Ansprüche zu unterstützen. | |
11.7 The ORIGINATOR undertakes to structure its credit insurance policy such that in each year, the maximum annual indemnification amount under the relevant credit insurance is sufficient to cover the applicable credit limit of the top five debtors of each ORIGINATOR in respect of this agreement. | 11.7 Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, seine Kreditversicherungen so zu strukturieren, dass in jedem Jahr der maximale jährliche Entschädigungsbetrag der jeweiligen Kreditversicherung zur Deckung des maßgeblichen Kreditlimits der Top-Five-Abnehmer des KUNDEN im Hinblick auf diesen Vertrag ausreicht. | |
Any changes to the terms of the insurance policies and any changes to the insurance companies need to be prior approved by GE CAPITAL, and such approval may not be unreasonably withheld. | Alle Änderungen der Versicherungsbedingungen und alle Wechsel der Versicherungsunternehmen bedürfen der vorherigen Einwilligung von GE CAPITAL, die nicht unbillig verweigert werden darf. | |
The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL shall enter into an additional agreement with respect to the assignment of claims under trade credit insurances, as set out in Annex 3 ( Trade Credit Insurance Agreement ), and will enter into specific trade credit insurance assignment agreements, for each trade credit insurer ( Warenkreditversicherer ) substantially in the form set out in Annex 4 ( Assignment Agreements on Trade Credit Insurance ) hereto. | Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL schließen einen zusätzliche Vertrag über die Abtretung von Ansprüchen aus den Warenkreditversicherungen ab, wie sie in Anlage 3 ( Warenkreditversicherungsvertrag ) festgelegt sind, und werden spezielle Warenkreditversicherungsabtretungsverträge für jeden Warenkreditversicherer abschließen, die im Wesentlichen denen im Anhang 4 ( Warenkreditversicherungsabtretungsvertrag ) entsprechen. |
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The ORIGINATOR undertakes to notify each trade credit insurer ( Warenkreditversicherer ) of the assignment pursuant to this clause in substantially the form as set out in Annex 4 ( As Assignment Agreements on Trade Credit Insurance ). | Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, jeden Warenkreditversicherer von der Abtretung gemäß dieser Ziffer in der Form, die im Wesentlichen der in Anlage 4 festgelegten Form ( Warenkreditversicherung- sabtretungsvertrag ) entspricht, zu unterrichten | |
C. FACTORING PROCEDURE | C. FACTORING-VERFAHREN | |
12. FULL-SERVICE, INTER-CREDIT ® , SMART-SERVICE | 12. FULL-SERVICE, INTER-CREDIT ® , SMART-SERVICE | |
12.1 Schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions) sets out whether the accounts receivable bookkeeping and dunning procedure follow the rules of Full- Service-Factoring, Inter-Credit ® -Factoring or Smart-Service-Factoring . | 12.1 Aus Anhang 1 (Konditionen) ist ersichtlich, ob die Debitorenbuchhaltung und das Mahnwesen nach Maßgabe des Full-Service- Factoring, des Inter-Credit ® -Factoring oder des Smart-Service-Factoring erfolgt . | |
12.2 The following rules apply to the bookkeeping: | 12.2 Für die Buchhaltung gilt: | |
In all instances, the ORIGINATOR transfers the data relating to Receivables , such as invoices, credit notes, debit notes and Notifications of Dispute by submitting the relevant documents and/or through Factoring - Satzaufbau and/or by manually entering data of invoices/credit notes online in Factorlink . | In allen Fällen übermittelt der KUNDE die Daten zu den Forderungen , wie Rechnungen, Gutschriften, Lastschriften und Reklamationsanzeigen durch Übersendung der entsprechenden Unterlagen und/oder Factoring- Satzaufbau und/oder durch manuelle Rechnungs-/Gutschriftserfassung online in Factorlink . | |
In the Full-Service-Factoring und Smart-Service-Factoring procedures, the Debtors payments are booked directly by GE CAPITAL to the Debtors Accounts . | Im Full-Service-Factoring und Smart-Service-Factoring erfolgt die Buchung der Abnehmerzahlungen direkt durch GE CAPITAL auf den Debitorenkonten . | |
In the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring procedure, the Debtors payments shall be booked by GE CAPITAL to the Incoming Payment Settlement Account . Any accounting documents that GE CAPITAL may have shall be delivered to the ORIGINATOR who books the payments on the debits side and relates them to the relevant | Beim Inter-Credit ® -Factoring werden die Abnehmerzahlungen von GE CAPITAL auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gebucht. Die GE CAPITAL verfügbaren Buchungsunterlagen werden dem KUNDEN überlassen, der die Zahlungen debitorisch bucht und den jeweiligen Rechnungen |
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invoices. At least once a week, the ORIGINATOR shall send its complete Open Items File to GE CAPITAL through Factoring-Satzaufbau . Upon receipt of such data, GE CAPITAL will perform a Reconciliation Process and will adjust all other Accounts kept in connection with the factoring arrangement. | zuordnet. Mindestens einmal pro Woche übermittelt der KUNDE seine gesamte Offene Posten Datei durch Factoring-Satzaufbau an GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL wird nach Erhalt dieser Daten einen Stülpvorgang vornehmen und auch alle übrigen im Factoring geführten Konten ausgleichen. | |
In the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring procedure, the ORIGINATOR must keep the accounts receivable books in such a manner that arrears of postings are avoided and that the Open Items File is correct and up-to-date on a daily basis. | Beim Inter-Credit ® -Factoring muss der KUNDE die Forderungsbücher in einer Weise erhalten, dass Buchungsrückstände vermieden werden und die Offene Posten Datei richtig und tagesaktuell ist. | |
12.3 The following rules apply to the dunning procedure: | 12.3 Für das Mahnwesen gilt: | |
If the Debtor fails to pay the relevant Receivable on the due date, 3 dunning runs in cycles of 14 days will generally be performed. If the relevant Receivable is not completely discharged within a period of 60 days after its due date, GE CAPITAL may initiate the Collection Procedure in accordance with and subject to clause 16. | Zahlt der Abnehmer bei Fälligkeit der jeweiligen Forderung nicht, so erfolgen regelmäßig 3 Mahnläufe im 14-Tage-Rythmus. Ist die jeweilige Forderung 60 Tage nach Fälligkeit der Forderung noch nicht vollständig ausgeglichen, wird GE CAPITAL das Inkassoverfahren gemäß und in Übereinstimmung mit Ziffer 16 einleiten. | |
In the Full-Service-Factoring procedure, GE CAPITAL performs the dunning procedure, in the Smart-Service-Factoring and the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring procedures, the ORIGINATOR performs the dunning procedure. | Im Full-Service-Factoring mahnt GE CAPITAL, im Smart-Service-Factoring und im Inter-Credit ® -Factoring mahnt der KUNDE. | |
In the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring and Smart-Service-Factoring procedures, the ORIGINATORS must perform the dunning procedure in such a manner that arrears of reminders are avoided. | Im Inter-Credit ® -Factoring und Smart-Service-Factoring muss der KUNDE das Mahnverfahren in einer Art und Weise ausführen, dass Mahnrückstände vermieden werden. | |
13. DISCLOSED / UNDISCLOSED PROCEDURE | 13. OFFENES / STILLES VERFAHREN | |
13.1 Schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions) sets out whether the Disclosed Procedure or the Undisclosed Procedure applies. | 13.1 Aus Anhang 1 (Konditionen) ist ersichtlich, ob das Offene Verfahren oder das Stille Verfahren angewandt wird. |
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13.2 In the Disclosed Procedure , the ORIGINATOR will inform its Debtors at the Commencement Date about the factoring procedure and the assignment of Receivables to GE CAPITAL in writing and in the appropriate manner (letter of notification). | 13.2 Im Offenen Verfahren wird der KUNDE seine Abnehmer bei Vertragsbeginn schriftlich in geeigneter Form (Notifikationsbrief) über das Factoringverfahren und die Abtretung der Forderungen an GE CAPITAL unterrichten. | |
Furthermore, the ORIGINATOR will attach to its invoices a clearly visible note of assignment in accordance with schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Außerdem wird der KUNDE auf seinen Rechnungen den Abtretungsvermerk gemäß Anhang 1 (Konditionen) anbringen. | |
GE CAPITAL is also entitled to inform the Debtors about the factoring arrangement and the assignment and to verify the relevant Receivables with the Debtors . | GE CAPITAL ist auch berechtigt, die Abnehmer über das Factoringverhältnis und die Abtretung zu unterrichten, sowie die jeweiligen Forderungen bei den Abnehmern zu verifizieren. | |
To the extent that the parties agree on Pledged Accounts , clause 13.3 shall apply mutatis mutandis. | Soweit die Einrichtung von Verpfändeten Bankkonten vereinbart ist, gilt für diese Ziffer 13.3 entsprechend. | |
13.3 In the Undisclosed Procedure and until termination pursuant to Clause 14, the ORIGINATOR is entitled to collect and administer Receivables in its name and on its behalf within the boundaries of the Credit and Collection Policies (by way of a collection authority ( Einzugsermächtigung ) and to perform all related functions with reasonable care, skill and diligence with the standard of care of a prudent merchant ( Sorgfalt eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns ). The ORIGINATOR shall accept Debtors payments by cashless transactions, if possible, and only into the Pledged Accounts . | 13.3 Im Stillen Verfahren und bis zur Kündigung gemäß Ziffer 14 ist der KUNDE verpflichtet, Forderungen im eigenen Namen und im eigenen Auftrag innerhalb der Grenzen der Gutschrifts- und Einziehungsbestimmungen ( Credit and Collection Policies ) (durch Einzugsermächtigung) einzuziehen und zu verwalten und alle damit zusammenhängenden Aufgaben mit angemessener Vorsicht, Fertigkeit und Sorgfalt, die denen eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns entsprechen müssen, zu erfüllen. Der KUNDE akzeptiert Abnehmerzahlungen nur, wenn sie, wenn 11 möglich, bargeldlos und nur auf die verpfändeten Konten geleistet werden. | |
(a) All invoices and any other relevant correspondence of the ORIGINATOR vis-à-vis its Debtors shall only specify the Pledged Accounts as the ORIGINATORs bank account details. Any Debtors that may have been informed otherwise will be advised accordingly by the ORIGINATOR without undue delay. | (a) Alle Rechnungen und jeder andere relevante Schriftverkehr des KUNDEN gegenüber seinen Abnehmern dürfen als Bankverbindung ausschließlich das Verpfändete Konto enthalten. Abnehmer , die anders informiert sein könnten, wird der KUNDE unverzüglich entsprechend unterrichten. |
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(b) The ORIGINATOR undertakes to reset all balances on the Pledged Accounts prior to the Commencement Date . | (b) Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, alle Salden der Verpfändeten Konten vor Vertragsbeginn auf Null zu stellen. | |
(c) To secure in particular the claim arising from clause 5, and to secure any and all other present and future claims of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR arising from the business relationship, the ORIGINATOR shall pledge to GE CAPITAL by way of a separate agreement all claims arising from the Pledged Accounts to receive any existing or future balances (credits) to which the ORIGINATOR may be entitled in connection with settlements under the relevant current account relationship, as well as any claims arising from the giro contract to receive daily balances standing to the credit on the Pledged Accounts which may arise between the settlements of accounts and all claims to credit entries with respect to any amount received (Account list in Section 8 of Schedule 1 ( Terms and Conditions )). | (c) Zur Sicherung, insbesondere des Anspruchs gemäß Ziffer 5 und zur Sicherung aller übrigen gegenwärtigen und künftigen Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN aus diesem Vertragsverhältnis, verpfändet der KUNDE gemäß separater Vereinbarung seine Ansprüche aus den Verpfändeten Bankkonten auf Auszahlung aller gegenwärtigen und künftigen Überschüsse, die dem KUNDEN bei Saldoziehung aus dem in laufender Rechnung (Kontokorrent) geführten Konto/Konten zustehen, sowie auch die Ansprüche aus dem Girovertrag auf fortlaufende Auszahlung des sich zwischen den Rechnungsabschlüssen ergebenden Tagesguthabens sowie alle Ansprüche auf Gutschriften an GE CAPITAL (Kontenliste in Ziffer 8 des Anhangs 1 ( Konditionen )). | |
(d) The parties hereby agree on the following collection arrangement: GE CAPITAL is in particular prior to the occurrence of an enforcement event entitled to solely collect the amounts standing to the credit of the Pledged Accounts . The ORIGINATOR may only demand payment to GE CAPITAL. | (d) Hiermit wird folgende Einziehungsvereinbarung getroffen: GE CAPITAL ist, insbesondere vor dem Eintritt der Verwertung, allein zur Einziehung aller Beträge des Verpfändeten Kontos berechtigt. Der Kunde darf Zahlung nur an GE CAPITAL verlangen. | |
(e) The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL agree that the Pledged Accounts are held by the ORIGINATOR as trustee for GE CAPITAL in its own name, but for the sole purpose of creating a security interest for GE CAPITAL (trust arrangement). The amounts received and standing to the credit of the Pledged Accounts shall serve the sole purpose of being transferred to GE CAPITAL. The ORIGINATOR undertakes not to dispose of any credit balance on the Pledged Accounts in any other way and not to charge or debit the Pledged Accounts . If any payments from Debtors are received on any account other than the Pledged Accounts , the ORIGINATOR hereby undertakes to transfer such amounts directly to GE CAPITAL or to a Pledged Account . | (e) Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL sind sich darüber einig, dass die Verpfändeten Bankkonten vom KUNDEN als Treuhänder für GE CAPITAL im eigenen Namen aber lediglich zu Sicherungszwecken im Interesse von GE CAPITAL geführt werden (Treuhandvereinbarung). Die Gelder auf den Verpfändeten Bankkonten dienen nur dem Zweck ihrer Weiterleitung an GE CAPITAL. Der Kunde verpflichtet sich, jede andere Verfügung über Ansprüche aus Guthaben zu unterlassen und keine Belastungen der Verpfändeten Bankkonten vorzunehmen. Sollten Abnehmerzahlungen auf anderen als den Verpfändeten Bankkonten eingehen, verpflichtet sich der KUNDE, diese direkt an GE CAPITAL oder auf ein Verpfändetes Bankkonto weiterzuleiten. |
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13.4 | 13.4 | |
(a) The ORIGINATOR undertakes to notify each credit institution that keeps any of the Pledged Accounts of the pledge and the trust arrangement, to release such credit institution vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL from the Banking Secrecy with respect to the Pledged Accounts and to use its reasonable efforts to provide a declaration from any such credit institution to GE CAPITAL pursuant to which the relevant credit institution: | (a) Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, jedem Kreditinstitut, bei dem ein Verpfändetes Bankkonto geführt wird, die Verpfändung und die Treuhandvereinbarung anzuzeigen, es vom Bankgeheimnis gegenüber GE CAPITAL in Bezug auf die Verpfändeten Bankkonten zu befreien und angemessene Anstrengungen anzuwenden, die Erklärung des Kreditinstituts gegenüber GE CAPITAL beizubringen, wonach das jeweilige Kreditinstitut: | |
- acknowledges the pledge including the collection arrangement and undertakes not to allow any disposals deviating from the collection arrangement, | - die Verpfändung einschließlich der Einziehungsvereinbarung anerkennt und sich verpflichtet, davon abweichende Verfügungen nicht zuzulassen, | |
- waives any retention and set-off rights that it may have with respect to the Pledged Accounts , abandons or subordinates to GE CAPITALs pledge any pledge it may have and agrees not to credit any payments allotted to the Pledged Accounts to any other accounts; provided that the charging of the Pledged Accounts with customary fees, costs, reverse bookings and conditional bookings may be stipulated, | - bezüglich der Verpfändeten Bankkonten auf etwa ihm zustehende Zurückbehaltungs- und Aufrechnungsrechte verzichtet, ein etwa bestehendes eigenes Pfandrecht aufgibt oder nachrangig stellt und für verpfändete Bankkonten bestimmte Zahlungen nicht anderen Konten gutschreibt; die Belastung mit üblichen Gebühren, Kosten, Rückbuchungen und bedingte Buchungen kann vorbehalten bleiben, | |
- undertakes to keep GE CAPITAL continuously informed about the Pledged Accounts by delivery of account statements and, on request, by delivery of the relevant receipts, and to allow GE CAPITAL to obtain information by retrieving digital data. | - GE CAPITAL durch Kontoauszüge und auf Anforderung auch durch die zugehörigen Belege über die Verpfändeten Bankkonten fortlaufend unterrichtet und GE CAPITAL die Möglichkeit einräumt, sich durch Abrufen digitaler Daten zu informieren. |
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(b) The ORIGINATOR warrants by way of an independent guarantee that following performance of clause 13.4(a) no third party rights exist with respect to the pledged rights and claims other than a subordinated pledge in favour of the account bank(s) and except for pledges in favour of account bank(s) with respect to claims arising from and relating to: (a) cancellation and correction entries, (b) reversals of reserved bookings (e.g. check or direct debit) and unintentional payments, and (c) fees and other account charges or fees in the context of normal business, provided, however, that such claims as set out in (a) (c) above arise in connection with the relevant Pledged Account and do not derive from a different relationship between the ORIGINATOR and the account bank, if applicable. | (b) Der KUNDE garantiert im Wege eines selbstständigen Garantieversprechens, dass nach Erfüllung von Ziffer 13.4 (a) keine Rechte Dritter an den verpfändeten Rechten und Ansprüchen bestehen, mit der Ausnahme eines etwaigen nachrangigen AGB-Pfandrecht der kontoführenden Bank und mit Ausnahme eines etwaigen Pfandrechts der der kontoführenden Bank, im Hinblick auf Ansprüche, die entstehen aus und sich beziehen auf: (a) Stornierungsund Korrektureinträge, (b) Rückbelastungen vorbehaltener Buchungen (z.B. Scheck oder Lastschrift) und unbeabsichtigten Zahlungen, und (c) Gebühren und anderen Kontogebühren und Gebühren im ordentlichen Geschäftsverkehr, vorausgesetzt jedoch, dass diese in (a)(c) aufgeführten Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit dem jeweiligen verpfändeten Konto entstehen und, falls zutreffend, nicht von einer anderen Beziehung zwischen dem KUNDEN und der kontoführenden Bank herrühren. | |
(c) The ORIGINATOR undertakes to inform GE CAPITAL immediately if any third party asserts any such right. | (c) Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, umgehend GE CAPITAL zu verständigen, wenn Dritte solche Rechte geltend machen. | |
(d) The ORIGINATOR authorises GE CAPITAL to notify the relevant credit institution of the pledge and to receive the declaration referred to in clause 13.4(a) above, on behalf of the ORIGINATOR. | (d) GE CAPITAL ist bevollmächtigt, die Verpfändung gegenüber dem jeweiligen Kreditinstitut anzuzeigen und die Erklärung gemäß Ziffer 13.4 (a) auch im Namen des KUNDEN vorzunehmen. | |
13.5 GE CAPITAL is entitled to conduct regular balance acknowledgement procedures with Debtors . | 13.5 GE Capital ist berechtigt, regelmäßig Saldenbestätigungsverfahren mit den Abnehmern durchzuführen | |
GE CAPITAL will send an account statement setting out the Receivables which, to GE CAPITALs knowledge, are unsettled at the relevant date, including the account balance resulting therefrom, accompanied with a request to the relevant Debtor to confirm the balance set out therein to be accurate and the relevant Receivables to be Eligible . | GE CAPITAL verschickt einen Kontoauszug über die nach ihrer Kenntnis zum Stichtag offenen Forderungen einschließlich des sich daraus ergebenden Saldos, verbunden mit der Aufforderung an den jeweiligen Abnehmer , diesen Saldo als zutreffend und die Forderung als einwandfrei zu bestätigen. | |
For the duration of the Undisclosed Procedure , the request to confirm the account balances is made in the name of the ORIGINATOR by an auditor appointed by GE CAPITAL as trustee for GE CAPITAL. The ORIGINATOR will grant a relevant power of attorney to the trustee for submission to the Debtor . The trustee will inform GE CAPITAL comprehensively about the results of the balance acknowledgement procedure. | Für die Dauer des stillen Verfahrens erfolgt regelmäßig die Aufforderung zur Saldenbestätigung unter dem Namen des KUNDEN durch einen von GE CAPITAL benannten Prüfer als Treuhänder für GE CAPITAL. Der KUNDE stellt dem Treuhänder eine entsprechende Vollmacht zur Vorlage beim Abnehmer aus. Der Treuhänder informiert GE CAPITAL umfassend über die Ergebnisse des Saldenbestätigungsverfahrens. |
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14. CHANGE OF PROCEDURE BY PARTIAL TERMINATION | 14. VERFAHRENSWECHSEL DURCH TEILKÜNDIGUNG | |
14.1 GE CAPITAL is only entitled to an extraordinary partial termination in writing of the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring and/or the Undisclosed Procedure without observation of a termination period, if the conditions of Clause 26.2 are fulfilled. | 14.1 GE CAPITAL hat ohne Einhaltung einer Kündigungsfrist nur das Recht zu einer außerordentlichen Kündigung des Inter-Credit ® -Factorings und/oder des stillen Verfahrens , die der Schriftform entsprechen muss, wenn die Bedingungen der Ziffer 26.2 erfüllt sind. | |
14.2 Upon effectiveness of a partial termination of the Inter-Credit ® - Factoring , the Factoring Agreement shall continue as Full-Service- Factoring , upon partial termination of the Undisclosed Procedure as Disclosed Procedure , respectively. | 14.2 Mit Wirksamwerden einer Teilkündigung des Inter-Credit ® -Factoring setzt sich der Factoringvertrag als Full-Service-Factoring , bzw. bei Teilkündigung des stillen Verfahrens , als offenes Verfahren fort. | |
14.3 Upon receipt of a partial termination pursuant to clause 14.1, the ORIGINATOR is entitled to terminate the Factoring Agreement by giving 5 Business Days notice prior to the date on which the partial termination takes effect. | 14.3 Nach dem Zugang einer Teilkündigung nach Ziffer 14.1 hat der KUNDE das Recht, den Factoringvertrag mit einer Frist von mindestens 5 Geschäftstagen vor dem Zeitpunkt, auf den gekündigt ist, zu kündigen. | |
14.4 The ORIGINATOR may approach GE CAPITAL with a request not to disclose the assignment notwithstanding a termination of the Undisclosed Procedure if and as long as the claims owing to GE CAPITAL arising from the business relationship with the ORIGINATOR are unappealably satisfied ( erfüllt ). | 14.4 Der KUNDE hat das Recht, GE CAPITAL darum zu ersuchen, ungeachtet der Kündigung des Stillen Verfahrens die Abtretung nicht offenzulegen, wenn und solange die GE CAPITAL zustehenden Ansprüche, die aus einer Geschäftsbeziehung mit dem KUNDEN herrühren, unanfechtbar erfüllt sind. | |
14.5 GE CAPITAL is entitled to terminate the Smart-Service-Factoring by written notice, applying clause 14.1 mutatis mutandis. Upon effectiveness of a partial termination, the Factoring Agreement shall continue as Full- Service-Factoring ; clause 14.3 shall also apply mutatis mutandis. | 14.5 GE CAPITAL kann das Smart-Service-Factoring schriftlich kündigen; Ziffer 14.1 gilt entsprechend. Mit dem Wirksamwerden einer Teilkündigung setzt sich der Factoringvertrag als Full-Service-Factoring fort; Ziffer 14.3 gilt ebenfalls entsprechend. |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
15. QUARTERLY ACCOUNT STATEMENT, TACIT RATIFICATION, TIME LIMIT FOR OBJECTIONS | 15. QUARTALSABSCHLUSS, GENEHMIGUNG DURCH SCHWEIGEN, FRIST FÜR EINWENDUNGEN | |
15.1 GE CAPITAL shall, within 10 days following the end of each calendar quarter, send the Quarterly Account Statement to the ORIGINATOR. | 15.1 GE CAPITAL übersendet dem KUNDEN innerhalb von 10 Tagen nach Abschluss des Quartals den Quartalsabschluss . | |
15.2 The ORIGINATOR must raise any objections concerning the incorrectness or incompleteness of a Quarterly Account Statement no later than 6 weeks following receipt thereof; if such objections are made in writing, dispatch thereof during the 6-week-period shall suffice. | 15.2 Der KUNDE hat Einwendungen wegen Unrichtigkeit oder Unvollständigkeit eines Quartalsabschlusses spätestens vor Ablauf von 6 Wochen nach dessen Zugang zu erheben; macht er seine Einwendungen schriftlich geltend, genügt die Absendung innerhalb der 6-Wochen-Frist. | |
Failure to make objections in due time will be considered an approval of the Quarterly Account Statement . When issuing the Quarterly Account Statement , GE CAPITAL will expressly refer the ORIGINATOR to this consequence. | Das Unterlassen rechtzeitiger Einwendungen gilt als Genehmigung des Quartalsabschlusses . Auf diese Folge wird GE CAPITAL bei Erteilung des Quartalsabschlusses besonders hingewiesen. | |
The ORIGINATOR is also entitled to request correction of the Quarterly Account Statement after the expiry of the 6-week-period, but must prove in that instance that its Account was either unlawfully (unrechtmäßig) debited or not credited. | Der KUNDE kann auch nach Ablauf der 6-Wochen-Frist eine Berichtigung des Quartalsabschlusses verlangen, muss dann aber beweisen, dass sein 13 Konto unrechtmäßig entweder belastet oder eine ihm zustehende Gutschrift nicht erteilt wurde. | |
15.3 To the extent that GE CAPITAL has a repayment claim against the ORIGINATOR, GE CAPITAL may reverse incorrect credit entries on all accounts of the ORIGINATOR by way of a debit entry prior to the issue of the next Quarterly Account Statement (reverse entry); in this case, the ORIGINATOR may not object to the debit entry on the grounds of having already disposed of an amount equivalent to the credit entry. | 15.3 Soweit GE CAPITAL ein Rückzahlungsanspruch gegen den KUNDEN zusteht, kann GE CAPITAL fehlerhafte Gutschriften auf allen Konten des KUNDEN durch eine Belastungsbuchung vor dem nächsten Quartalsabschluss rückgängig machen (Stornobuchung); der KUNDE kann in diesem Fall gegen die Belastungsbuchung nicht einwenden, dass er in Höhe der Gutschrift bereits verfügt hat. |
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If GE CAPITAL discovers an incorrect credit entry only after a Quarterly Account Statement has been issued and if GE CAPITAL has a repayment claim against the ORIGINATOR, it will make a correction entry in the amount of such claim. | Stellt GE CAPITAL eine fehlerhafte Gutschrift erst nach einem Quartalsabschluss fest und steht ihr ein Rückzahlungsanspruch gegen den KUNDEN zu, so wird sie in Höhe dieses Anspruchs eine Berichtigungsbuchung durchführen. | |
If the ORIGINATOR objects to the correction entry, GE CAPITAL will re-credit the account with the amount in dispute and pursue its repayment claim separately. | Erhebt der KUNDE gegen die Berichtigungsbuchung Einwendungen, so wird GE CAPITAL den Betrag dem Konto wieder gutschreiben und ihren Rückzahlungsanspruch gesondert verfolgen. | |
GE CAPITAL will immediately notify the ORIGINATOR of any reverse entries and correction entries made by it. With respect to the calculation of the Financing Commission per Invoice and the Total Financing Commission , the entries will take retroactive effect to the day on which the incorrect entry was made. | Über Storno-und Berichtigungsbuchungen wird GE CAPITAL den KUNDEN unverzüglich unterrichten. Die Buchungen nimmt GE CAPITAL hinsichtlich der Berechnung der Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis und der Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr rückwirkend zu dem Tag vor, an dem die fehlerhafte Buchung durchgeführt wurde. | |
16. COLLECTION PROCEDURE | 16. INKASSOVERFAHREN | |
16.1 If any Receivables remain unsettled after the third dunning letter, GE CAPITAL will initiate the Collection Procedure . | 16.1 Wenn Forderungen nach der dritten Mahnung noch offen sind, so leitet GE CAPITAL das Inkassoverfahren ein. | |
16.2 GE CAPITAL shall inform the ORIGINATOR about any developments in the Collection Procedure if necessary, and shall, in the event of any disputes raised by the Debtor, give the ORIGINATOR the opportunity to provide comments thereon and introduce such comments in the procedure. GE CAPITAL shall enter into settlement agreements concerning the Eligibility of any Receivable , or Receivables which have not been purchased only with the consent of the ORIGINATOR. | 16.2 GE CAPITAL wird den KUNDEN über den Verlauf des Inkassoverfahrens bei Bedarf unterrichten und bei Reklamationen des Abnehmers Gelegenheit zur Stellungnahme geben und diese in das Verfahren einführen. Vergleiche, die nicht angekaufte Forderungen oder die Einwandfreiheit der Forderung betreffen, wird GE CAPITAL nur im Einverständnis mit dem KUNDEN abschließen. | |
Considering the above, the ORIGINATOR acknowledges that the results of a legal proceeding between GE CAPITAL and the Debtor are also binding between GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR. | Unter Berücksichtigung des Vorstehenden ist der KUNDE an die Ergebnisse eines Rechtsstreits zwischen GE CAPITAL und dem Abnehmer ebenso gebunden, wie zwischen GE CAPITAL und dem KUNDEN. |
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16.3 GE CAPITAL shall bear the collection costs for purchased and Eligible Receivables , all other costs shall be borne by the ORIGINATOR. | 16.3 Die Inkassokosten für gekaufte und einwandfreie Forderungen trägt GE CAPITAL, im Übrigen trägt sie der KUNDE. | |
All collection costs are initially debited to the Settlement Account . When the Bad Debt Amount is provided, GE CAPITAL shall reimburse such amount for the relevant Receivable . | Die Inkassokosten werden zunächst dem Kundenabrechnungskonto belastet. Bei Leistung des Delkrederebetrags erfolgt in Bezug auf die betreffende Forderung eine entsprechende Erstattung. | |
GE CAPITAL is entitled to claim an advance in justifiable instances. | In begründeten Fällen ist GE CAPITAL berechtigt, einen Vorschuss zu verlangen. | |
16.4 GE CAPITAL is entitled but shall not be obliged to claim default interest from the Debtor . At the ORIGINATORs request, GE CAPITAL shall assign such claims against the Debtor to the ORIGINATOR. | 16.4 Zur Geltendmachung von Verzugszinsen gegen den Abnehmer ist GE CAPITAL berechtigt, jedoch nicht verpflichtet. Auf Anforderung des KUNDEN tritt GE CAPITAL diese Ansprüche gegen den Abnehmer an den KUNDEN ab. | |
16.5 The ORIGINATOR is obliged to provide GE CAPITAL with documentation necessary for the Collection Procedure and make all relevant disclosures at the latest on the 60th day after the due date of the relevant Receivable and shall continue to provide such information immediately upon request during the procedure. | 16.5 Der Kunde ist verpflichtet, GE CAPITAL bis spätestens zum 60. Tag nach Fälligkeit der betreffenden Forderung alle für das Inkassoverfahren erforderlichen Informationen zu übergeben und während des Verfahrens auf Anfrage unverzüglich alle erforderlichen Informationen zu erteilen | |
If the ORIGINATOR fails to submit the necessary information in due time, GE CAPITAL may, after having set a reasonable period to provide information, withdraw from the Receivables Purchase Agreement relating to the relevant Receivable . | Kommt der KUNDE seiner Verpflichtung zur Erteilung der erforderlichen Informationen nicht nach, so kann GE CAPITAL, wenn sie zuvor erfolglos eine angemessene Frist zur Informationserteilung bestimmt hat, vom Forderungskaufvertrag über die betroffene Forderung zurücktreten. | |
GE CAPITAL declares the withdrawal by rebooking the Receivables from the Factoring Account to the Special Account , provided that the ORIGINATOR does not need to receive a notice of such book entry. | Der Rücktritt erfolgt durch Umbuchung der Forderungen vom Factoringkonto auf das Sonderkonto, ohne dass dem KUNDEN eine gesonderte Buchungsmitteilung zur Verfügung gestellt werden muss. |
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D. GENERAL OBLIGATIONS | D. ALLGEMEINE VERTRAGSPFLICHTEN | |
17. NEGATIVE PLEDGE | 17. KEINE ANDERWEITIGEN VERFÜGUNGEN | |
The ORIGINATOR shall not undertake any action or make any declaration intended to create any third party rights in respect of the assigned Receivables and ancillary rights, in particular: | Der KUNDE hat alle Rechtsgeschäfte zu unterlassen, die darauf gerichtet sind, Dritten in Bezug auf die abgetretenen Forderungen und Nebenrechte Befugnisse irgendwelcher Art einzuräumen, insbesondere: | |
(a) security assignments of Receivables ; | (a) Sicherungszessionen der Forderungen; | |
(b) collection authorisations of any kind in relation to the Receivables . | (b) Einziehungsberechtigungen jeglicher Art in Bezug auf die Forderungen. | |
18 INCREASED FIDUCIARY DUTY AND DUTY OF CARE | 18 ERHÖHTE TREUE UND SCHUTZPFLICHT | |
In the Undisclosed Procedure , Inter-Credit ® -Factoring and Smart-Service-Factoring procedure, the ORIGINATOR has an increased fiduciary duty and the duty of care of a prudent merchant ( Sorgfalt eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns ), and must exercise such duties in such a manner that GE CAPITAL is in no worse position than if GE CAPITAL had performed the relevant task itself, or the assignment had been disclosed, as the case may be. | Bei stillen Verfahren , dem Inter-Credit ® -Factoring und beim Smart-Service-Factoring hat der KUNDE eine erhöhte Treuepflicht und die Sorgfaltspflicht eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns zu beachten und er muss diesen Pflichten in einer Weise nachkommen, dass GE CAPITAL nicht schlechter steht als wenn GE CAPITAL die jeweilige Aufgabe selbst ausgeführt hätte oder die Abtretung offengelegt worden wäre. | |
19. INFORMATION UNDERTAKING | 19. INFORMATIONSERTEILUNG | |
19.1 The ORIGINATOR must, at GE CAPITALs request, deliver to GE CAPITAL all records that document the Receivables offered for purchase, such as bills of delivery, contracts, order confirmations etc. | 19.1 Der KUNDE wird auf Verlangen von GE CAPITAL, Unterlagen, welche die zum Kauf angebotenen Forderungen belegen, wie Lieferscheine, Verträge, Auftragsbestätigungen etc., an GE CAPITAL aushändigen. | |
19.2 The ORIGINATOR shall inform GE CAPITAL without undue delay of any Circumstances relating to the ORIGINATORs enterprise which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ORIGINATOR or its business or financial condition or on its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement: | 19.2 Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet GE CAPITAL unverzüglich über alle Umstände des Unternehmens des KUNDEN zu unterrichten, die vernünftigerweise erhebliche nachteilige Auswirkungen auf den KUNDEN oder sein Geschäft oder die finanzielle Situation oder seine Fähigkeit zur Erfüllung seiner Verpflichtungen aus diesem Vertrag erwarten lassen: |
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The ORIGINATOR shall submit to GE CAPITAL: | Der KUNDE übermittelt GE CAPITAL: | |
(a) financial information, consisting of: | (a) Finanzinformationen, bestehend aus: | |
(i) unaudited and unreviewed monthly and quarterly balance sheet and related income statement of each ORIGINATOR (on a reporting unit level); | (i) ungeprüften monatlichen und quartalsmäßigen Bilanzaufstellungen und dazugehörigen Gewinn- und Verlustrechnungen jedes KUNDEN (auf Berichtseinheitsebene); | |
(ii) annual, and to the extent required by applicable laws, audited balance sheet and related income statement of the ORIGINATOR; | (ii) jährlichen, und soweit vom anwendbaren Gesetz vorgeschrieben, geprüften Bilanzen und dazugehörigen Gewinn-und Verlustrechnungen des KUNDEN; | |
(iii) monthly account payable ledger and, if applicable, monthly tolling report, including but not limited to Tolling/Pseudo Tolling Reimbursement Claims (actual balance at the end of each month); | (iii) monatlichen Listen hinsichtlich offener Posten von Kreditoren und, falls zutreffend, monatlichen Beistellungsberichten, einschließlich aber nicht beschränkt aufRückvergütungsansprüche aus Materialbeistellung (aktuelle Bilanz am Ende jeden Monats); | |
(iv) monthly VAT Information | (iv) monatliche Umsatzsteuerinformationen | |
(b) any intended changes with respect to the rights of representation, the shareholding, the constitutional documents and intended changes with respect to Affiliated Companies , to the extent that such changes are relevant for the performance of this Agreement; | (b) jede beabsichtigte Veränderung in Bezug auf die Vertretungsverhältnisse, den Gesellschafterbestand, den Gesellschaftsvertrag und die beabsichtigten Veränderungen in Bezug auf die nahestehenden Unternehmen , sofern diese für die Erfüllung dieses Vertrages wesentlich sind; | |
(c) any financing arrangements with any other financial institutions including security agreements, provided such financing (i) exceeds EUR 10,000,000, or (ii) is secured by any kind of security or by a sale of receivables, | (c) wesentliche Änderungen von Kreditvereinbarungen mit anderen Kreditinstituten einschließlich Sicherungsabreden, vorausgesetzt, eine solche Finanzierung (i) übersteigt EUR 10.000.000 oder (ii) ist durch irgend ein Sicherungsmittel oder durch den Verkauf von Forderungen abgesichert, |
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(d) any restriction of the authorisation to resell retained goods and/or collect Receivables , if and to the extent the ORIGINATOR is or should be aware considering the duty of care of a prudent merchant (Sorgfalt eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns) of such restriction, | (d) Einschränkungen von Ermächtigungen zur Weiterveräußerung der Vorbehaltsware und/oder zum Einzug der verkauften Forderungen , wenn und soweit dem KUNDEN, unter Beachtung der Pflichten und der Sorgfalt eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns, eine solche Einschränkung bewusst ist oder bewusst war, | |
(e) any substantial deterioration in the ORIGINATORs general financial and business condition. | (e) jede wesentliche Verschlechterung der allgemeinen Vermögens- und Geschäftssituation des KUNDEN. | |
19.3 The ORIGINATOR is obliged to inform GE CAPITAL of any circumstances of which it may become aware concerning the risk of the Debtor of being unable to pay debts as they fall due except if the ORIGINATOR is legally prevented from such disclosure and the ORIGINATORs non compliance with applicable confidentiality agreements will expose the ORIGINATOR to damage claims by its respective Debtor(s) . | 19.3 Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet, GE CAPITAL über alle ihm bekannt werdenden Umstände, welche das Risiko der Zahlungsunfähigkeit eines Abnehmers betreffen, zu unterrichten, es sei denn, dem KUNDEN ist eine solche Offenlegung gesetzlich untersagt und durch diese Nichtbeachtung betreffenden Vertraulichkeitsvereinbarungen des KUNDEN wird der KUNDE Schadensersatzansprüchen seiner jeweiligen Abnehmer ausgesetzt. | |
19.4 The ORIGINATOR is obliged to provide GE CAPITAL with all information and documents necessary for GE CAPITAL to perform its obligations under the Anti-Money-Laundering Act and to inform GE CAPITAL without undue delay of any relevant changes during the course of the business relationship. | 19.4 Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet, GE CAPITAL alle notwendigen Informationen und Unterlagen zur Verfügung zu stellen, damit GE CAPITAL seine Verpflichtungen nach dem Anti-Geldwäsche-Gesetz erfüllen kann und GE CAPITAL unverzüglich über wesentliche Änderungen im Laufe der Geschäftsbeziehung zu informieren. | |
19.5 The ORIGINATOR undertakes to provide GE CAPITAL with all relevant information pursuant to this clause 19 ( Information Undertaking) which is to be provided on a monthly/quarterly basis within 45 (forty-five) days after the end of the respective month/calendar quarter, and information which is to be provided annually within 150 (one-hundred-and-fifty) days after the end of the ORIGINATORs financial year, provided that for the financial year of 2011 the ORIGINATOR shall provide (i) the quarterly information to be provided for 31 March 2011 and 30 June 2011 within 75 (seventy-five) days, and the information to be provided for 30 | 19.5 Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, GE CAPITAL die monatlich/quartalsweise zur Verfügung zu stellenden Informationen innerhalb von 45 (fünfundvierzig) Tagen nach Ablauf des jeweiligen 15 Monats/Kalenderquartals entsprechend dieser Ziffer 19 ( Informationspflicht ) zur Verfügung zu stellen, und die jährlich zur Verfügung zu stellenden Informationen innerhalb von 150 (einhundertfünfzig) Tagen nach Ablauf des Geschäftsjahres des KUNDEN zur Verfügung zu stellen, mit der Ausnahme, dass der KUNDE für das Geschäftsjahr 2011, (i) die quartalsmäßig zur Verfügung zu stellenden Informationen für die am 31. März 2011 und |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
September 2011 and 31 December 2011 within 60 (sixty) days and (ii) the information to be provided annually (for 31 December 2010) within 180 days. | 30. Juni 2011 endenden Quartale innerhalb von 75 (fünfundsiebzig) Tagen, und die am 30. September 2011 und 31. Dezember 2011 endenden Quartale innerhalb von 60 (sechzig) Tagen zur Verfügung stellt, und (ii) die jährlich (zum 31. Dezember 2010) zur Verfügung zu stellenden Informationen innerhalb von 180 Tagen zur Verfügung stellt. | |
If in the case of any unforeseeable event or under any exceptional circumstances reasonably evidenced by the ORIGINATOR, the ORIGINATOR should not be able to deliver the annual reports within 150 (one-hundredand-fifty) days after the end of the financial year, a further cure period shall be mutually agreed between the ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL. | Sollte es wegen eines nicht vorhersehbaren Ereignisses oder unter außergewöhnlichen Umständen, die vom KUNDEN vernünftig bewiesen werden, dem KUNDEN nicht möglich sein, die jährlichen Berichte innerhalb von 150 (einhundert-fünfzig) Tagen nach Ablauf des Geschäftsjahres, zur Verfügung zu stellen, werden sich der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL auf eine zusätzliche Heilungsfrist einigen. | |
20. EXTERNAL AUDIT, DECLARATION OF CONSENT | 20. AUSSENPRÜFUNG, EINWILLIGUNGSERKLÄRUNG | |
GE CAPITAL is entitled to perform an external audit at the ORIGINATORs business premises at any time during customary business hours, at least twice per year, whereas GE CAPITAL shall give the ORIGINATOR at least two weeks prior written notice regarding such regular audits, notwithstanding GE CAPITALs right to perform additional audits without prior notice in case GE CAPITAL has reason to believe that observance of such notice period will adversely affect the interest of GE CAPITAL. | GE CAPITAL ist in den Geschäftsräumen des KUNDEN und zu den üblichen Geschäftszeiten mindestens zweimal pro Jahr zur Durchführung einer regulären Außenprüfung berechtigt, wobei GE CAPITAL dem KUNDEN eine solche Prüfung mindestens zwei Wochen vorher schriftlich ankündigt, unbeschadet GE CAPITALs Recht, zusätzliche Prüfungen ohne vorherige Ankündigung durchzuführen, wenn GE CAPITAL Grund zur Annahme hat, dass eine solche Ankündigung die Interessen von GE CAPITAL nachteilig beeinflussen wird. | |
GE CAPITAL is entitled to review and make copies of all books, records and other documents of the ORIGINATOR relating to the factoring arrangement and its performance. The ORIGINATOR is obliged to support GE CAPITAL and provide comprehensive information. | GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt, alle das Factoringverhältnis betreffenden Bücher, Schriften und sonstigen Unterlagen des KUNDEN einzusehen und sich Ablichtungen hiervon anzufertigen. Der KUNDE hat GE CAPITAL hierbei zu unterstützen und umfassend Auskunft zu erteilen. |
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GE CAPITALs right to receive information shall also include the right to receive information from the tax advisor, auditor or any other person who keeps the accounts or prepares, establishes or audits the annual report for the ORIGINATOR. The ORIGINATOR hereby releases such persons vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL from their professional duty of confidentiality. | Dieses Informationsrecht von GE CAPITAL erstreckt sich auch darauf, diesbezügliche Auskünfte von dem Steuerberater, Wirtschaftsprüfer oder jeder anderen Person, die die Buchhaltung führt oder die Bilanz vorbereitet, erstellt oder prüft, einzuholen. Der KUNDE befreit diese Personen gegenüber GE CAPITAL hiermit von ihrer Schweigepflicht. | |
The right of GE CAPITAL to collect, process and utilise data and the release from its obligations under the Banking Secrecy is set out in schedule 2 (Declaration of Consent), and is granted within the boundaries of this agreement and applicable data protection rules. Furthermore, GE CAPITAL agrees to treat such information GE CAPITAL has received and which is subject to confidentiality agreements between the ORIGNATOR and third parties, also confidential. | Das Recht von GE CAPITAL, Daten zu erheben, zu verarbeiten und zu nutzen und ihre Verpflichtungen gemäß dem Bankgeheimnis offenzulegen ist in Anhang 2 (Einverständniserklärung) festgelegt und wird innerhalb der Grenzen dieses Vertrages und der anwendbaren Datenschutzregeln gewährt. Ferner akzeptiert GE CAPITAL, solche Informationen, die GE CAPITAL erhalten hat und die Gegenstand von Vertraulichkeitserklärungen zwischen dem KUNDEN und Dritten sind, ebenfalls vertraulich zu behandeln. | |
21. ARRANGEMENTS IN DEBTOR AGREEMENTS | 21. VERTRAGSGESTALTUNG GEGENÜBER ABNEHMERN | |
The ORIGINATOR shall use Reasonable Efforts and shall provide GE CAPITAL with reasonable evidence that its agreements with any Debtors , in particular its standard business conditions applicable to its agreements with any other Debtor , contain the following terms: | Der KUNDE wird sich angemessen bemühen und weist gegenüber GE CAPITAL nach, dass jeder Vertrag von GE CAPITAL mit seinen Abnehmern , insbesondere seine auf Verträge mit allen anderen Abnehmern anwendbaren Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen, Folgendes regeln: | |
(a) Standard business conditions of any Debtor which are in conflict with the ORIGINATORs standard business conditions shall have no effect. | (a) Die Geltung von Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen des Abnehmers , die den Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen des KUNDEN widersprechen, wird ausgeschlossen. | |
(b) The standard terms and conditions of the ORIGINATOR provide for a right to assign Receivables against the relevant Debtor to a third party and in case of customer contracts, such right is not expressly excluded. | (b) Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen des KUNDEN beinhalten ein Recht zur Abtretung von Forderungen gegen den jeweiligen Abnehmer an einen Dritten und Kundenverträge dürfen ein solches Recht nicht ausdrücklich ausschließen. |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
(c) The business relationship between Debtor and the ORIGINATOR shall be governed by German law and in case of customer contracts, any other laws under which Receivables are assignable pursuant to this agreement; the place of jurisdiction shall be at the registered seat of the ORIGINATOR, and in case of customer contracts, either at the registered seat of the ORIGINATOR or at the registered seat of the relevant Debtor. | (c) Für die Geschäftsbeziehung zwischen dem Abnehmer und dem KUNDEN gilt deutsches Recht und, bei Kundenverträgen, gilt jedes andere Recht nach dem die Forderungen entsprechend dieses Vertrages abtretbar sind; der Gerichtsstand ist der Sitz des KUNDEN und, bei Kundenverträgen, entweder der Sitz des KUNDEN oder der Sitz des jeweiligen Abnehmers . | |
(d) The standard terms and conditions shall include, and the ORIGINATOR shall use Reasonable Efforts to implement into customer agreements, all customary and permissible security arrangements, in particular retention of title arrangements, including any forms of extension and augmentation of such retention of title arrangements. | (d) Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen müssen alle branchenüblichen und zulässigen Sicherungsabreden, insbesondere den Eigentumsvorbehalt mit seinen Erweiterungs- und Verlängerungsformen enthalten, und der KUNDE wird sich angemessen bemühen , diese Bedingungen in Kundenverträge aufzunehmen. | |
(e) The standard terms and conditions shall exclude any set-off or retention rights of Debtors , unless such rights are undisputed or declared final by and unappealable judgement. | (e) Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen schließen alle Aufrechnungs16 oder Zurückbehaltungsrechte der Abnehmer aus, es sei denn, diese Rechte sind unbestritten oder rechtskräftig festgestellt worden. | |
(f) The standard terms and conditions shall provide for a right to accelerate all Receivables against the relevant Debtor , if such Debtor is in payment default with any Receivable . | (f) Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen sehen ein Recht zur Beschleunigung aller Forderungen gegen den jeweiligen Abnehmer vor, wenn dieser Abnehmer mit einer Forderung in Zahlungsverzug gerät. | |
(g) The standard terms and conditions shall provide that the Debtor shall bear all fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with any legal proceedings successfully instituted against it outside of Germany. | (g) Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen sehen vor, dass der Abnehmer alle Gebühren, Kosten und Auslagen trägt, die im Zusammenhang mit einer erfolgreich eingeleiteten Rechtsverfolgung gegen ihn außerhalb Deutschlands anfallen. | |
Reasonable Efforts as used in this Clause 21 means | sich angemessen bemühen gemäß Ziffer 21 bedeutet | |
(i) with respect to the ORIGINATORs standard business conditions that the ORIGINATOR will implement outstanding aspects in the course of the next revision of the ORIGINATORs standard business conditions, and | (i) im Hinblick auf die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen des KUNDEN, dass der KUNDE die offenen Punkte im Zuge der Neugestaltung seiner Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen umsetzen wird, und |
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(ii) with respect to existing agreements with Debtors that the ORIGINATOR will use reasonable efforts to implement the requested provisions at the next renegotiation of existing supply agreements, | (ii) im Hinblick auf bestehende Verträge mit Abnehmern, dass der KUNDE sich zur Umsetzung der geforderten Bestimmungen bei der nächsten Wiederverhandlung existierender Lieferverträge angemessen bemühen wird, | |
in each case unless the ORIGINATOR is aware and has GE CAPITAL informed that such request will have a material adverse effect on the ORIGINATORs business relationship and the commercial conditions with such Debtor. The ORIGINATOR will liaise with GE CAPITAL prior to the revision of its standard business conditions with respect to agreeing on the priority of implementing any outstanding aspects. | in jedem Fall, soweit dem KUNDE bewusst ist und er GE CAPITAL darüber informiert hat, dass dieses Begehren eine erhebliche nachteilige Wirkung auf die Geschäftsbeziehung des KUNDEN und die kaufmännischen Vertragsbedingungen mit dem Abnehmer hat. Der KUNDE wird vor der Überarbeitung seiner Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen im Hinblick auf die Einigung der Dringlichkeit der Umsetzung der offenen Punkte mit GE CAPITAL in Verbindung treten. | |
E. OTHER TERMS | E. SONSTIGE REGELUNGEN | |
22. SET-OFF, SETTLEMENT, REIMBURSEMENT CLAIMS | 22. AUFRECHNUNG, VERRECHNUNG, RÜCKVERGÜTUNGSANSPRÜCHE | |
22.1 All claims of GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR against each other arising from any legal relationship may be set off against each other by GE CAPITAL. | 22.1 Sämtliche wechselseitigen Ansprüche zwischen GE CAPITAL und dem KUNDEN, gleich aus welchem Rechtsverhältnis, dürfen durch GE CAPITAL gegeneinander aufgerechnet werden. | |
22.2 Following the cancellation of a Debtor Limit , GE CAPITAL may, in relation to the ORIGINATOR, set off payments received from the relevant Debtor against Receivables purchased from such Debtor (irrespective of the Debtors appropriation of payment) provided that the application shall not affect the rights of any Retaining Supplier . The same shall apply mutatis mutandis to Credit Notes issued to a Debtor and enforcement proceeds, if any. | 22.2 Zahlungen eines Abnehmers , die nach Streichung eines für diesen festgesetzten Abnehmerlimits eingehen, darf GE CAPITAL im Verhältnis zum KUNDEN (unabhängig von der Zahlungszweckbestimmung des Abnehmers ) auf gekaufte Forderungen gegen denselben Abnehmer aufrechnen, vorausgesetzt, dass durch die Aufrechnung die Rechte von Vorbehaltslieferanten nicht beeinträchtigt werden. Falls einschlägig, soll dasselbe entsprechend für die an einen Abnehmer ausgegebenen Gutschriften sowie für die Verwertung gelten. |
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22.3 Unless expressly agreed otherwise, all claims and receivables of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR arising from this agreement fall due with immediate effect. | 22.3 Sofern nicht ausdrücklich anders vereinbart, werden alle Ansprüche und Forderungen gegen GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN aus dieser Vereinbarung mit sofortiger Wirkung fällig. | |
22.4 The ORIGINATOR may only set off its claims against claims of GE CAPITAL if the ORIGINATORs claims are undisputed or have been confirmed by an unappealable court decision. | 22.4 Der KUNDE kann gegen Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL nur aufrechnen, wenn seine Forderungen unbestritten oder rechtskräftig festgestellt sind. | |
22.5 The ORIGINATOR shall keep GE CAPITAL continuously informed about agreements with Debtors from which Reimbursement Claims may arise. Such agreements do not affect the Eligibility of Receivables if the Reimbursement Claims have been secured in accordance with the following terms: | 22.5 Der KUNDE unterrichtet GE CAPITAL fortlaufend über Vereinbarungen mit den Abnehmern , bei denen Rückvergütungsansprüche geltend gemacht werden können. Diese Vereinbarungen haben keinen Einfluss auf die Einwandfreiheit der Forderungen , wenn die Rückvergütungsansprüche gemäß den folgenden Regelungen gesichert sind: | |
GE CAPITAL is entitled to establish a reserve or (at its choice) demand security deposits from the ORIGINATOR in the anticipated amount of the Reimbursement Claims. The ORIGINATOR is entitled to provide a security deposit in order to discharge a reserve at any time. When determining the anticipated amount of the Reimbursement Claims , future Reimbursement Claims shall also be considered. These are claims that are certain or likely to arise in the future, but which amount and/or time of origination is still uncertain. To the extent that the determination of such claims depends on future events (e.g. development of sales), the amount shall be determined by way of estimate, in the absence of other indicators on the basis of historical data. | GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt, einen Einbehalt oder (nach ihrer Wahl) Sicherheitsleistung vom KUNDEN in der erwarteten Höhe der Rückvergütungsansprüche zu verlangen. Der KUNDE ist berechtigt, den Einbehalt durch eine Sicherheitsleistung abzulösen. Bei der Ermittlung der zu erwartenden Höhe der Rückvergütungsansprüche sind künftige Rückvergütungsansprüche ebenfalls zu berücksichtigen. Dies sind Ansprüche, die mit Sicherheit oder mit Wahrscheinlichkeit in der Zukunft entstehen, bei denen aber der Betrag und/oder der Zeitpunkt der Entstehung noch ungewiss sind. Soweit die Bestimmung solcher Ansprüche von zukünftigen Ereignissen abhängen (z.B. Umsatzentwicklung), wird der Betrag im Wege der Schätzung ermittelt, in Ermangelung anderer Indikatoren, werden sie auf der Grundlage historischer Daten ermittelt. | |
GE CAPITAL determines the amount of Reimbursement Claims considering all circumstances in its reasonable discretion on a monthly basis, by the end of each month at the latest. | GE CAPITAL bestimmt die Höhe der Rückvergütungsansprüche auf monatlicher Basis, spätestens bis zum Ende eines jeden Monats, unter Berücksichtigung aller Umstände nach billigem Ermessen. |
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Immediately after the end of each month, the ORIGINATOR shall demonstrate the anticipated amount of Reimbursement Claims in a testable manner. | Unmittelbar nach dem Ende eines jeden Monats zeigt der KUNDE den erwarteten Betrag der Rückvergütungsansprüche in nachvollziehbarer 17 Weise an. | |
The reserve is established by debiting the Settlement Account and crediting the Reserve Account by the relevant amount. If the anticipated amount of the Reimbursement Claims is reduced, the Reserve Account will be debited by such reduction and a respective credit will be booked on the Settlement Account . | Der Einbehalt ist durch Abbuchung auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto und Gutschrift auf dem Rückstellungskonto um den jeweiligen Betrag festgelegt. Wenn der voraussichtliche Betrag der Rückvergütungsansprüche gemindert ist, wird das Rückstellungskonto in Höhe dieser Minderung belastet und eine entsprechende Gutschrift auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gebucht. | |
Security deposits will be provided by payment by the ORIGINATOR to GE CAPITAL, whereby the amount is credited to the Reserve Account and any dissolution is debited on the Reserve Account and credited on the Settlement Account . | Die Sicherheitsleistungen werden GE CAPITAL durch Zahlung des KUNDEN zur Verfügung gestellt, wodurch der Betrag dem Rückstellungskonto gutgeschrieben wird und die Liquidation dem Kundenabrechnungskonto belastet wird. | |
The reserve and the security deposit shall primarily secure GE CAPITAL against setoffs or settlements by Debtors with Reimbursement Claims . To the extent that such claims are legally and validly raised, GE CAPITAL is entitled to receive the relevant amounts like Debtors payments. | Der Einbehalt und die Sicherheitsleistung werden in erster Linie GE CAPITAL gegen Aufrechnungen oder Zurückbehaltungsrechte der Abnehmer mit Rückvergütungsansprüchen sichern. Soweit solche Ansprüche rechtmäßig geltend gemacht werden, ist GE CAPITAL berechtigt, die entsprechenden Beträge, wie Abnehmer zahlungen, zu erhalten. | |
In addition, the reserve and the security deposit shall secure any and all existing and future claims which GE CAPITAL may have against the ORIGINATOR in connection with their business relationship. | Darüber hinaus müssen der Einbehalt- und die Sicherheitsleistung alle bestehenden und künftigen Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL gegen den Abnehmer im Zusammenhang mit ihrer Geschäftsbeziehung sichern. | |
Clause 22.5 shall apply mutatis mutandis for Tolling/Pseudo Tolling Reimbursement Claims. | Ziffer 22.5 gilt sinngemäß für Rückvergütungsansprüche aus Materialbeistellungen. |
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23. CHANGES IN THE FINANCING COMMISSION PER INVOICE/TOTAL FINANCING COMMISSION | 23. ÄNDERUNG DER FINANZIERUNGSGEBÜHR AUF EINZELRECHNUNGSBASIS/GESA MTFINANZIERUNGSGEBÜHR, | |
The applicable Financing Commission per Invoice/Total Financing Commission and any changes to the Financing Commission per Invoice/Total Financing Commission during the term of this Agreement are set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Die anwendbare Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis/ Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr und Änderungen der Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis/ Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr während der Laufzeit dieses Vertrages sind in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) geregelt. | |
Payments of Debtors are settled at the current market rate. | Abnehmer zahlungen werden zum aktuellen Marktkurs festgelegt. | |
24. FEES AND EXPENSES | 24. ENTGELTE UND AUSLAGEN | |
The amount of fees is set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Die Höhe der Gebühren ist in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) festgelegt. | |
If a service provided by GE CAPITAL is required by law or secondary contractual obligation, or is provided in GE CAPITALs own interest, such service will be free of charge, unless the charging of fees is legally permitted and occurs in accordance with the relevant statutory provision. | Wenn eine Leistung, die GE CAPITAL von Gesetzes wegen oder aufgrund vertraglicher Nebenpflicht oder im eigenen Interesse anbietet, ist diese Leistung gebührenfrei, es sei denn die Gebührenerhebung ist rechtlich zulässig und geschieht in Übereinstimmung mit den maßgeblichen gesetzlichen Bestimmungen. | |
The ORIGINATOR will bear all customary account keeping and payment transaction fees, as well as any expenses that may be incurred by GE CAPITAL acting upon its instructions or in its presumed interest. | Der KUNDE trägt alle gewöhnlichen Kontoführungsgebühren und Gebühren für die Zahlungstransaktion sowie die Kosten, die GE CAPITAL dadurch entstehen, dass sie nach seinen Anweisungen oder in seinem mutmaßlichen Interesse handelt. | |
The ORIGINATOR undertakes to reimburse GE CAPITAL from all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by GE CAPITAL in connection with the formalities required to be carried out for the enforceability of the transfers or Receivables being made pursuant to the Factoring Agreement. | Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich gegenüber GE CAPITAL zur Erstattung aller Kosten und Ausgaben (einschließlich Anwaltskosten), die GE CAPITAL im Zusammengang mit den Formalitäten entstehen, die zur Durchsetzbarkeit der Forderungsübertragung gemäß des Factoringvertrages anfallen. |
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25. ASSIGNABILITY OF CLAIMS AGAINST GE CAPITAL | 25. ABTRETBARKEIT DER ANSPRÜCHE GEGEN GE CAPITAL | |
Any claims that the ORIGINATOR may have against GE CAPITAL may only be assigned to third parties with the consent of GE CAPITAL. | Alle Ansprüche, die dem KUNDEN gegen GE CAPITAL zustehen können nur mit Einwilligung von GE CAPITAL abgetreten werden. | |
GE CAPITAL may decline its consent for good cause; such cause will be assumed in particular if GE CAPITAL has reason to believe that the intended assignment would be disadvantageous to suppliers of the ORIGINATOR. | GE CAPITAL kann die Zustimmung aus wichtigem Grund verweigern; ein solcher liegt insbesondere dann vor, wenn die beabsichtigte Abtretung Anlass zu der Annahme bietet, dass sie für die Lieferanten des KUNDEN nachteilig ist. | |
26. COMMENCEMENT, EXPIRATION, TERMINATION | 26. VERTRAGSBEGINN, VERTRAGSENDE, KÜNDIGUNG | |
26.1 The Commencement Date and Expiration Date of this agreement are set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | 26.1 Vertragsbeginn und Ablaufdatum sind in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) festgelegt. | |
Unless this agreement is terminated with three months notice prior to its scheduled Expiration Date, it shall be extended by another year. The same shall apply to any subsequent periods. | Wird der Vertrag nicht drei Monate vor Ablaufdatum gekündigt, verlängert er sich um ein weiteres Jahr. Entsprechendes gilt für die Folgeperioden. | |
The ORIGINATOR is entitled to terminate this agreement subject to (i) 30 days prior notice to be sent to GE CAPITAL and to the respective other ORIGINATOR and (ii) to the payment by the ORIGINATOR of an early termination premium as set out in the Fee Letter . Each ORIGINATOR shall, to the extent possible, specify in the termination notice whether the agreement shall be terminated by way of buy-back in full of the outstanding Receivables or by way of amortization of the portfolio of Receivables. | Der KUNDE ist berechtigt, diesen Vertrag vorbehaltlich (i) vorheriger 30- tägiger Mitteilung, die an GE CAPITAL und den entsprechenden anderen KUNDEN gesendet werden muss und (ii) der Zahlung einer vorzeitigen Kündigungsprämie durch den KUNDEN gemäß des Fee Letter zu kündigen. Jeder KUNDE führt, soweit möglich, in der Kündigungsmitteilung aus, ob die Kündigung dieses Vertrages durch vollständigen Rückkauf der ausstehenden Forderungen oder durch Amortisierung des Forderungsportfolios erfolgen soll. | |
For the avoidance of doubt, upon termination of this agreement (such termination to occur at the end of the notice period specified above) and subject to the payment of the early termination premium, (a) each ORIGINATOR | Um Zweifel auszuräumen: Bei Kündigung dieses Vertrags (die zum Ablauf der oben genannten Kündigungsfrist eintritt) und vorbehaltlich der Zahlung der vorzeitigen Kündigungsprämie, (a) bietet kein KUNDE |
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shall no longer make offers to GE CAPITAL for the purchase of Receivables , (b) GE CAPITAL shall not be committed any longer to purchase the Receivables from any ORIGINATOR, (c) the Unused Facility Fee (as defined in Schedule 1) and the Factoring Commission shall no longer be payable by the ORIGINATOR to GE CAPITAL, and (d) GE CAPITAL will cease to be subject to any obligations under this agreement other than obligations outstanding on the date of termination. | GE CAPITAL weiterhin Forderungen zum Verkauf an, (b) GE CAPITAL ist nicht länger zum Ankauf von Forderungen von KUNDEN verpflichtet, (c) der Bereitstellungsbetrag (wie in Anhang 1 definiert) und die Factoringgebühr müssen nicht länger von dem KUNDEN an GE CAPITAL gezahlt werden, und (d) GE CAPITAL wird keine Verpflichtungen mehr nach diesem Vertrag haben, mit Ausnahme der zum Zeitpunkt der Kündigung ausstehenden Verpflichtungen. | |
Provided the ORIGINATOR requests to buyback the Receivables , the parties shall then agree in good faith during the notice period referred to above on the terms of the buyback documentation and the buy-back will be implemented as soon as reasonably practicable following termination of this agreement. | Wenn der KUNDE den Rückkauf der Forderungen verlangt, vereinbaren die Parteien in Treu und Glauben während der oben genannten Kündigungsfrist die Bedingungen der Rückkaufdokumentation und der Rückkauf wird, nach der Kündigung dieses Vertrags und sobald eine vernünftige Durchführung möglich ist, umgesetzt. | |
The buy-back will be completed on the date on which the outstanding Receivables are transferred back to the ORIGINATOR having originated such Receivables and an amount equal to the outstanding amount funded by GE CAPITAL to acquire such outstanding Receivables plus accrued funding cost is paid to GE CAPITAL. | Der Rückkauf wird zum Zeitpunkt beendet sein, an dem die ausstehenden Forderungen an den Kunden zurücküberwiesen werden, der diese Forderung begründet hat und ein Betrag an GE CAPITAL bezahlt wird, der sich mit dem ausstehenden Betrag deckt, der von GE CAPITAL zum Erwerb solcher ausstehender Forderungen zuzüglich angefallener Kosten finanziert wird. | |
26.2 Each party may terminate the factoring agreement for good cause without observing any notice period. Good cause is shown if, considering all circumstances of the individual case and weighing the interests of both parties, the terminating party cannot reasonably be expected to continue the contractual relationship until the end of the notice period in accordance with clause 26.1. | 26.2 Jeder Vertragspartner kann den Factoringvertrag aus wichtigem Grund ohne Einhaltung einer Kündigungsfrist kündigen. Ein wichtiger Grund liegt vor, wenn dem kündigenden Teil unter Berücksichtigung aller Umstände des Einzelfalls und unter Abwägung der beiderseitigen Interessen die Fortsetzung des Vertragsverhältnisses nicht bis zum Ablauf der Kündigungsfrist gemäß Ziffer 26.1 zugemutet werden kann. | |
If the good cause results from a breach of a contractual obligation, unless the breach of a contractual obligation is based on fraud termination shall only be permitted after expiry | Besteht der wichtige Grund in der Verletzung einer Pflicht aus dem Vertrag, ausgenommen die Vertragsverletzung beruht auf Betrug, ist die Kündigung erst nach erfolglosem Ablauf |
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of a reasonable period of time set for remedy to no avail, or after a dissuasion has proved to be unsuccessful, unless this proviso can be dispensed with because of the particularities of the individual case. | einer zur Abhilfe bestimmten angemessenen Frist oder nach erfolgloser Abmahnung zulässig, es sei denn, dies ist wegen der Besonderheiten des Einzelfalls entbehrlich. | |
GE CAPITAL is in particular entitled to terminate for good cause | Für GE CAPITAL liegt ein wichtiger Grund für eine Kündigung insbesondere vor, | |
(a) if the ORIGINATOR is in substantial breach of clause 5 (for the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the ORIGINATORs rights under clause 26.2, sub-clause 2 above), 12, 13, 18 or 19, or | (a) wenn der KUNDE wesentlich gegen Ziffern 5 (um Zweifel auszuräumen, unbeschadet der Rechte des KUNDEN nach Ziffer 26.2, Absatz 2 oben), 12, 13, 18 oder 19 verstößt, oder | |
(b) if the ORIGINATOR made incorrect statements about its financial condition that were of fundamental significance for GE CAPITALs decision about risk relevant operations, in particular, but not limited to, with respect to GE CAPITALs credit decision ( Kreditentscheidung ), or | (b) wenn der KUNDE unrichtige Angaben über seine Vermögensverhältnisse gemacht hat, die für eine Entscheidung von GE CAPITAL über mit Risiken behafteten Geschäften von erheblicher Bedeutung waren, insbesondere im Hinblick auf GE CAPITALs Kreditentscheidung, aber nicht beschränkt hierauf), oder | |
(c)intentionally left blank | (c) absichtlich freigelassen | |
(d) if a substantial deterioration in the ORIGINATORs financial condition or of the value of a security interest occurs or threatens to occur which would jeopardize the fulfilment of an obligation vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL, even if security provided therefore is realised, or | (d) wenn eine wesentliche Verschlechterung der Vermögensverhältnisse des KUNDEN oder der Werthaltigkeit einer Sicherheit eintritt oder einzutreten droht und dadurch die Erfüllung einer Verbindlichkeit gegenüber GE CAPITAL auch unter Verwertung einer hierfür bestehenden Sicherheit gefährdet ist, oder | |
(e) if the ORIGINATOR fails to comply within a reasonable time period set by GE CAPITAL with its obligation to create security pursuant to this agreement or any other agreement pertaining to the factoring transaction, or | (e) wenn der KUNDE seiner Verpflichtung zur Bestellung von Sicherheiten aufgrund dieses Vertrages oder sonstigen die Factoringtransaktion betreffenden Vereinbarung nicht innerhalb der von GE CAPITAL gesetzten angemessenen Frist nachkommt, oder | |
(f) if the Group fails to comply with the financial covenants as set out in section 8 ( Undertakings ) of the Intercreditor Agreement , or | (f) wenn die Gruppe die Finanzkennzahlen, wie sie in Ziffer 8 ( Verpflichtungen ) des Interkreditorvertrags geregelt sind, nicht einhält, oder |
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(g) if the French RPA has been terminated; | (g) wenn das Französische RPA gekündigt wird; | |
in each case of (f) and (g) provided that such failure (if capable of remedy) continues unremedied for a period of ten (10) Business Days after the date on which the Parent Company has received a notice from GE CAPITAL requiring the same to be remedied. | in jedem in (f) und (g) geregelten Fall jedoch unter der Voraussetzung, dass der Grund (sofern Abhilfe möglich ist) für einen Zeitraum von zehn (10) Geschäftstagen nachdem das Mutterunternehmen eine Benachrichtigung von GE CAPITAL bekommen hat, den Grund zu beheben, nicht behoben wird. | |
Statutory termination rights for good cause shall remain unaffected. | Gesetzliche Kündigungsrechte aus wichtigem Grund bleiben unberührt. | |
26.4 Any termination notice must be made in writing. | 26.4 Die Kündigung bedarf der Schriftform. | |
26.5 Upon termination of this agreement, all purchase offers, which have not yet been accepted, shall expire. All pending transactions shall be unwound in accordance with this agreement. | 26.5 Mit Vertragsende erlöschen alle bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt noch nicht angenommenen Kaufangebote. Die noch schwebenden Geschäfte werden nach Maßgabe dieses Vertrages abgewickelt. | |
GE CAPITAL will, after satisfaction of all of its claims arising from the business relationship with the ORIGINATOR, reassign to the ORIGINATOR all outstanding Receivables, which have not been purchased. | GE CAPITAL wird nach Erfüllung aller Ansprüche, die ihr aus der Geschäftsbeziehung mit dem KUNDEN zustehen, die noch nicht eingezogenen und nicht angekauften Forderungen an den KUNDEN zurückabtreten. | |
27. FURTHER ELEMENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT | 27. WEITERE VERTRAGSBESTAND-TEILE | |
The following Schedules form an integral part of this Agreement: | Die folgenden Anhänge stellen Vertragsbestandteile dar: | |
Schedule 1 ( Terms and Conditions ) | Anhang 1 (Konditionen) | |
In the event of any discrepancies between Schedule 1 ( Terms and Conditions ) and this agreement, the provisions of Schedule 1 ( Terms and Conditions ) shall prevail. | Bei Abweichungen zwischen Anlage 1 ( Konditionen ) und diesem Vertrag, gehen die in Anlage 1 ( Konditionen ) getroffenen Regelungen vor. | |
Schedule 1a ( Excluded Debtors ) | Anhang 1a ( Ausgenommene Abnehmer ) | |
Schedule 1b ( Approved Jurisdictions ) | Anhang 1b ( Anerkannte Jurisdiktionen ) |
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Schedule 2 (Declaration of Consent) | Anhang 2 (Einwilligungserklärung) | |
Pursuant to which the ORIGINATOR consents to the collection, processing and utilisation of data by GE CAPITAL, the transfer of data to GE CAPITAL, the transfer of rights (including the relevant documentation) arising from this agreement to a third party and the release of the tax authorities from their professional duty of confidentiality. | Wonach der KUNDE die Erhebung, Verarbeitung und Nutzung von Daten durch GE CAPITAL, die Übertragung von Rechten (einschließlich der zugehörigen Dokumentation) aus diesem Vertrag an Dritte und in die Befreiung der Finanzämter von der Schweigepflicht einwilligt. | |
Schedule 3 ( Conditions Precedent ) | Anhang 3 ( Auszahlungsvoraussetzungen ) | |
Annex 1 Transfer of French Receivables | Anlage 1 Übertragung französicher Forderungen | |
Annex 2 Form of Offer Letter | Anlage 2 Formular für Forderungsanzeigen | |
Annex 3 Trade Credit Insurance Agreement | Anlage 3 Warenkreditversicherungsvertrag | |
Annex 4 Assignment Agreement on Trade Insurance | Anlage 4 Warenkreditversicherungsabtretungsvertrag | |
Annex 5 Account Pledge Agreement | Anlage 5 Kontoverpfändungsvertrag | |
28. GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION | 28. MAßGEBLICHES RECHT, GERICHTSSTAND | |
28.1 Except for as stated otherwise in section 2.2 of this Agreement, this Agreement shall be governed by German law. | 28.1 Soweit in Ziffer 2.2. dieses Vertrages nicht Gegenteiliges geregelt ist, unterliegt dieser Vertrag deutschem Recht. | |
28.2 Without prejudice to Clause 28.1, the courts in Mainz shall have jurisdiction. | 28.2 Gerichtsstand ist Mainz, wenn sich nicht aus Ziffer 28.2 etwas Gegenteiliges ergibt. | |
29. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE | 29. SALVATORISCHE KLAUSEL | |
If any provisions of this agreement or the schedules thereto are or become invalid in full or in part, the validity of the remaining provisions will not be affected thereby. The invalid provision shall be replaced by the provision which is valid and effective and comes closest to the economic intention of the parties. The same principles shall apply if this agreement contains a gap. | Sollten Bestimmungen in diesem Vertrag oder seinen Anlagen ganz oder teilweise unwirksam sein oder werden, so wird die Wirksamkeit der übrigen Bestimmungen hiervon nicht berührt. An die Stelle der unwirksamen Bestimmungen tritt diejenige Regelung, die dem beabsichtigten wirtschaftlichen Zweck in rechtswirksamer Weise am nächsten kommt. Nach diesem Grundsatz sind auch etwaige Lücken in diesem Vertrag zu schließen. |
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If any in rem transfers (assignments of receivables or inchoate rights and transfers of movable assets) should be or become ineffective, GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR are obliged to treat each other as if the relevant transfers were effective. They are further obliged to perform the relevant in rem transfer without undue delay, observing any requirements which until that time may not have been observed. | Soweit dingliche Übertragungen (Abtretungen von Forderungen oder Anwartschaften, sowie Übereignungen beweglicher Sachen) unwirksam sein oder werden sollten, sind GE CAPITAL und der KUNDE verpflichtet, die Geschäfte untereinander so zu behandeln, als sei das Geschäft wirksam. Sie sind weiter verpflichtet, das dingliche Geschäft unverzüglich unter Berücksichtigung etwa bis dahin außer Acht gelassener Anforderungen zu vollziehen. | |
F. DEFINITIONS | F. DEFINITIONEN | |
Accounts: The accounts maintained in the factoring procedure: Factoring Account, Incoming Payment Settlement Account, Purchase Price Reserve Account, Reserve Account, Settlement Account, Special Account, Special Settlement Account, Special Purchase Price Reserve Account. | Konten: die im Factoringverfahren geführten Konten: Factoringkonto, Zahlungseingangsverrechnungskonto, Kaufpreiseinbehaltskonto, Einbehaltskonto, Kundenabrechnungskonto, Sonderkonto, Sonderverrechnungskonto, Sonderkaufpreiseinbehaltskonto. | |
Actual Average Funding Period is calculated for each batch of Receivables contained in each transmission of Financing Commission Calculation Data as the weighted average of all Actual Funding Periods per Invoice of all Receivables contained in the relevant previous transmission of Financing Commission Calculation Data. | Die Tatsächliche Durchschnittliche Finanzierungsperiode wird für jede Forderungsgesamtheit berechnet, die in jeder Übermittlung der Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr enthalten ist, als der gewichtete Durchschnitt aller Tatsächlichen Finanzierungsperioden auf Einzelrechnungsbasis für alle Forderungen, die in der jeweiligen vorherigen Übermittlung der Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr enthalten sind . | |
Actual Funding Period per Invoice is the actual number of calendar days from (and including) the Funding Date to (and excluding) the day communicated by the ORIGINATOR (to be tested and confirmed from time to time by way of samples taken by GE CAPITAL) of actual repayment of each Receivable in the Financing Commission Calculation Data. | Die Tatsächliche Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis ist die tatsächliche Anzahl von Kalendertagen vom Finanzierungstag (einschließlich) bis (ausschließlich) zu dem Tag, der jeweils vom KUNDEN (dies wird von Zeit zu Zeit stichprobenartig von GE CAPITAL überprüft) als derjenige Tag in den Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr mitgeteilt wird, an dem die Forderung tatsächlich zurückbezahlt wird. |
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Adjustment is the difference between the Actual Average Funding Period and the Average Expected Funding Period for a batch of Receivables contained in a transmission of Financing Commission Calculation Data. | Anpassung ist für jede Forderungsgesamtheit die Differenz zwischen der Tatsächlichen Durchschnittlichen Finanzierungsperiode und der Durchschnittlichen Erwarteten Finanzierungsperiode. | |
Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice for the first drawdown under this contract is the Expected Funding Period per Invoice. For subsequent drawdowns the Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice is equal to the Expected Funding Period per Invoice plus the Adjustment calculated for the relevant previous batch of Receivables sold . The ORIGINATOR and GE Capital agree that the Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice shall, for the purposes of the calculation of the Financing Commission per Invoice, never be smaller than 10 calendar days. | Die Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis für die erste Ziehung unter diesem Vertrag ist die Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis . Für alle weiteren Ziehungen ist die Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis gleich der Erwarteten Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis plus die für die jeweilige vorherige verkaufte Forderungsgesamtheit berechnete Anpassung. Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL sind sich einig, dass die Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis für die Zwecke der Berechnung der Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis niemals kleiner als 10 Kalendertage sein soll. | |
Administration Fee : The percentage rate of the Nominal Amount set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Verwaltungsgebühr: Der Prozentsatz des in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) festgelegten Nominalbetrages . | |
Affiliated Company: A company which holds a participation in the ORIGINATOR or in which the ORIGINATOR holds a participation or a shareholder of which holds a participation in the ORIGINATOR or whose representatives are completely or partially identical with those of the ORIGINATOR. The form of participation is irrelevant; an indirect participation is sufficient. | Nahestehendes Unternehmen: Ein Unternehmen, das eine Beteiligung am KUNDEN hält oder an dem der KUNDE eine Beteiligung unterhält oder Gesellschafter ist oder dessen Vertreter ganz oder teilweise identisch mit denen des KUNDEN sind. Die Form der Beteiligung ist unerheblich; eine indirekte Beteiligung ist ausreichend. | |
Average Expected Funding Period is the weighted average of Expected Funding Periods per Invoice for all invoices in the Financing Commission Calculation Data . | Durchschnittliche Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode ist der Durchschnitt aller Erwarteten Finanzierungsperioden auf Einzelrechnungsbasis für alle Rechnungen in den jeweiligen Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr . |
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Bad Debt Amount: Amount corresponding to the purchase price for the relevant Receivable , but reduced by the VAT amount contained in the Receivable . Any payments made in respect of the purchase price are offset. The balance shall be credited or debited, as the case may be, to the Settlement Account. | Delkrederebetrag: Entspricht dem Kaufpreis der jeweiligen Forderung , jedoch vermindert um einen Betrag in Höhe der in der Forderung enthaltenen Umsatzsteuer. Bereits auf den Kaufpreis erbrachte Leistungen sind zu verrechnen. Der Differenzbetrag ist dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gutzuschreiben bzw. zu belasten. | |
Bad Debt Case: Occurrence of an event referred to in clause 6.2. | Delkrederefall: Eintritt eines der in Ziffer 6.2 beschriebenen Ereignisse. | |
Bad Debt Coverage: Obligation of GE CAPITAL to pay the Bad Debt Amount in the Bad Debt Case . | Delkrederehaftung: Die Verpflichtung von GE CAPITAL, im Delkrederefall den Delkrederebetrag zu zahlen. | |
Business Days: All calendar days except for Saturdays, Sundays and any public holidays and bank holidays applicable at the registered seat of the ORIGINATOR or GE CAPITAL. | Geschäftstage: alle Kalendertage mit Ausnahme von Samstagen, Sonntagen und am Sitz des KUNDEN oder von GE CAPITAL gültigen gesetzlichen Bank-Feiertagen. | |
CED GmbH: Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH, a German law limited liability company, with business address at Bildstraße 4, 74564 Crailsheim, registered with the commercial register at the local court of Ulm with registration number HRB 670619. | CED GmbH: Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH, eine deutsche Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung mit Sitz in der Bildstraße 4, 74564 Crailsheim, eingetragen beim Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Ulm unter HRB 670619. | |
Collection Procedure: Procedure instigated to collect Receivables, including legal dunning procedures by external counsel, judicial court proceedings and foreclosure proceedings until the final settlement of the proceeding. | Inkassoverfahren: Verfahren zur Beitreibung einer Forderung, durch (extern-)anwaltliches Mahnverfahren, gerichtliches Erkenntnisverfahren und Zwangsvollstreckungsverfahren bis zur Beendigung des Verfahrens. | |
Commencement Date: The commencement date referred to in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Vertragsbeginn: Der in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) genannte Vertragsbeginn. | |
Credit and Collection Policies: means the ORIGINATORs credit and collection policies currently in force on the date hereof which may only be amended or changed with GE CAPITALs prior written consent, except for only minor editorial amendments and changes. | Gutschrifts- und Einzugsregeln: die Gutschrifts- und Einzugsregeln des KUNDEN in der derzeit gültigen Fassung, die, mit Ausnahme von geringfügigen redaktionellen Ergänzungen oder Änderungen, nur mit 21 vorheriger schriftlicher Einwilligung von GE CAPITAL ergänzt oder geändert werden können. |
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Debtor Limit: The maximum amount available to fund purchases of Receivables against a particular Debtor . The extent of its utilization is equal to the sum of all purchased and outstanding Receivables . Bills of exchange and cheques are considered as a settlement of a Receivable when irrevocably cashed. Debtor Limits are established pursuant to clause 7. | Abnehmerlimit: Der Höchstbetrag, der für den Ankauf von Forderungen gegen einen Abnehmer zur Verfügung steht. Der Umfang seiner Ausnutzung entspricht der Summe aller gekauften und vom Abnehmer noch nicht bezahlten Forderungen . Wechsel und Schecks werden mit endgültiger Einlösung als Erfüllung der Forderung berücksichtigt. Die Festsetzung von Abnehmerlimiten ergibt sich aus Ziffer 7. | |
Debtors: All present and future counterparties of the ORIGINATOR to contracts pursuant to which the ORIGINATOR owes the delivery of goods and/or the rendering of services for which the relevant counterparty owes payment, provided that the Debtors excluded from the factoring agreement are set out in schedule 1a (Excluded Debtors). | Abnehmer: Alle bestehenden und zukünftigen Vertragspartner des KUNDEN in Verträgen, in denen der KUNDE die Warenlieferung und/oder die Erbringung von Dienstleistungen schuldet, für welche der Vertragspartner eine Leistung in Geld schuldet, ausgenommen der vom Factoringvertrag ausgenommenen Abnehmer, die in Anhang 1a (Ausgenommene Abnehmer) aufgeführt sind. | |
Debtors Accounts: Accounts administrated by GE CAPITAL, which show the ORIGINATORs Receivables against the Debtors that were assigned to GE CAPITAL. | Debitorenkonten: Von GE CAPITAL geführte Konten, auf die die vom KUNDEN an GE CAPITAL abgetretenen Forderungen gebucht werden. | |
Dilution Rate: The Dilution Rate considers the average dilution depending on the performance of the Purchased Receivables and considers specific risks (i.e. set-off (without double counting with the Specific Reserve ), and other dilutions but for the avoidance of doubt not debtor risk), whereas a given event shall be taken into account only once, and only with respect to a given reserve and means as of any date of determination, the greater of: | Dilution Rate: Die Dilution Rate berücksichtigt die durchschnittliche Verwässerung abhängig von der Leistungsfähigkeit der gekauften Forderungen und berücksichtigt spezielle Risiken (z.B. Aufrechnung (ohne Doppelberechnung mit der Sondereinbehalt ), und andere Verwässerungen, jedoch, um Missverständnissen vorzubeugen, kein Abnehmer- /Delkredererisiko), wobei jeder Anlass nur einmalig berücksichtigt wird, und nur im Hinblick auf einen einzigen Einbehalt, und bedeutet der zum jeweils entscheidenden Zeitpunkt größere Betrag von | |
(x) 10% and | (x) 10% und | |
(y) (a) two times the average dilution reduction of 12 months as of such date of determination, plus (b) 5%. | (y) (a) zweimal den durchschnittlichen Dilution Abschlag der letzten 12 Monate vor dem Berechnungstag, plus (b) 5%. |
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Disclosed Procedure: Factoring procedure in which the assignment of Receivables is disclosed to the Debtors . | Offenes Verfahren: Factoringverfahren, bei dem die Abtretung der Forderungen gegenüber den Abnehmern angezeigt wird. | |
Discretionary Debtor Limit: Debtor Limit established and modified by declaration of the ORIGINATOR vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL in accordance with clause 7.2 and within the extent set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe: Festsetzung und Änderung der Abnehmerlimite durch Erklärung des KUNDEN gegenüber GE CAPITAL nach Ziffer 7.2 und innerhalb der Grenzen, die sich aus Anhang 1 (Konditionen) ergibt. | |
Eligible: Means in respect of any Receivable that, as applicable: | Einwandfrei: Bedeutet im Hinblick auf eine Forderung , dass, soweit anwendbar: | |
(a) each Receivable exists as set out in the Offer Letter , is free from any objections and defenses, is assignable (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Receivables which are assignable pursuant to sec. 354a of the German Commercial Code (HGB)) and is not subject to any third party rights that may be asserted against GE CAPITAL and that the respective invoice has been received by the Debtor ; | (a) jede Forderung wie aus der Forderungsanzeige ersichtlich, besteht, frei ist von jeglichen Einwendungen und Einreden, abtretbar (zur Vermeidung von Missverständnissen, einschließlich Forderungen , die gemäß § 354a Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB) abtretbar sind) und nicht mit Rechten Dritter, die gegen GE CAPITAL geltend gemacht werden können, belastet ist und dass die entsprechende Rechnung dem Abnehmer zugegangen ist | |
(b) each Receivable shall be fully capable of transfer without the requirements of any consents from the debtors or third parties, or when a consent is required (such as in case of a prohibition or restriction of assignment which would prevent the legal transfer of the receivable if the consent would not be obtained), each such consent must have been obtained to the satisfaction of GE CAPITAL on or prior to the date on which the relevant Receivable is intended to be transferred (failing to receive such letters of consent, the relevant receivables shall not be eligible for purchase); and | (b) jede Forderung ohne Einwilligung der Abnehmer oder Dritter übertragbar sein soll, oder, wenn eine Einwilligung notwendig ist (wie im Fall eines Verbots oder einer Einschränkung der Abtretung, die die rechtliche Übertragung der Forderung verhindern würde, wenn die Einwilligung nicht erlangt werden würde), muss die Einwilligung zur Zufriedenheit von GE CAPITAL erlangt worden sein (zu oder vor dem Zeitpunkt, an dem die Übertragung der jeweiligen Forderung beabsichtigt ist (werden die Einwilligungsschreiben nicht erhalten, sind die jeweiligen Forderungen zum Kauf nicht einwandfrei ); und | |
(c) each Receivable shall constitute legal valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the relevant debtor ; and | (c) jede Forderung rechtlich gültige, bindende und durchsetzbare Verpflichtungen des jeweiligen Abnehmers begründet; und |
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(d) each Receivable shall be free from any security interest, rights of third parties or adverse claims, or as the case may be, such security interest, rights of third parties or adverse claims will have (i) been waived to the satisfaction of GE CAPITAL prior to the transfer of the relevant Receivable or (ii) released due to payment to such relevant supplier upon delivery of supplies, provided that in respect of the Receivables governed by German law standard extended retention of title clauses which contain an authorization of the ORIGINATOR to collect the relevant receivable shall be permitted; and | (d) jede Forderung frei ist von Sicherungsrechten, Rechten Dritter oder nachteiligen Ansprüchen, oder auf diese Sicherungsrechte, Rechte Dritter oder nachteiligen Ansprüche gegebenenfalls zur Zufriedenheit von GE CAPITAL (i) vor der Übertragung der jeweiligen Forderung verzichtet oder (ii) sie wegen Zahlung an den jeweiligen Lieferant nach Lieferung der Güter freigegeben wurden, vorausgesetzt, dass im Hinblick auf die dem deutschen Recht unterliegenden Forderungen Eigentumsvorbehaltsklauseln, die eine Ermächtigung des KUNDEN zur Einziehung der jeweiligen Forderung beinhalten, erlaubt werden; und | |
(e) no Receivable shall arise from a contract of which the performance has been wholly or partly subcontracted under French law n°75-1334 of 31 December 1975, or any similar applicable law or regulation granting to the subcontractor a direct claim on a debtor for the payment owed to it by the ORIGINATOR under the subcontract, save if, to the reasonable satisfaction of GE CAPITAL, bank guarantees (to guarantee payments to the relevant subcontractors) or other relevant arrangements have been implemented in advance in accordance with the above laws and regulations so as to avert the exercise of any such direct claim; and | 22 (e) keine Forderung aus einem Vertrag entsteht, aus dem die Erfüllung ganz oder teilweise unter dem französischem Gesetz Nr. 75-1334 vom 31. Dezember 1975 an einen Subunternehmer weitergegeben wurde, oder ein anderes ähnliches anwendbares Gesetz oder eine Regelung, welche dem Subunternehmer einen direkten Anspruch gegen einen Abnehmer für die Zahlung, die der KUNDE unter dem Subunternehmervertrag schuldet, ausgenommen wenn die Bankgarantien (Zahlungen des jeweiligen Subunternehmers garantieren) oder andere relevante Vereinbarungen, jeweils zur vernünftigen Zufriedenheit von GE CAPITAL, im Voraus und im Einklang mit den o.g. Gesetzen und Regelungen umgesetzt wurden, so wie die Verhinderung der Geltendmachung eines solchen direkten Anspruchs. | |
(f) is not subject to a current account Agreement ( kontokorrentgebundene Forderung ) within the meaning of sec. 355 of the German Commercial Code (HGB). | (f) sie keine kontokorrentgebundene Forderung im Sinne von § 355 Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB) ist. | |
Expected Funding Period per Invoice is the expected number of calendar days from (and including) the relevant Funding Date to (and excluding) the relevant due date or, if different, such other day on which the repayment of each Receivable included in the Financing Commission Calculation Data is expected by the ORIGINATOR. | Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis ist die erwartete Anzahl von Kalendertagen von dem jeweiligen Finanzierungsdatum (einschließlich) bis zum (aber ausschließlich des) jeweiligen Fälligkeitsdatum(s) einer Forderung oder, sofern davon abweichend, dem Tag an dem die Bezahlung einer jeweiligen Forderung in den Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr vom KUNDEN sonst erwartet wird. |
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Expiration Date: The expiration date referred to in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Ablaufdatum: Das Ablaufdatum, auf das in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) Bezug genommen wird. | |
Factoring Account: Account on which the purchased Receivables are booked in their aggregate amount. | Factoringkonto: Konto, auf dem die angekauften Forderungen in Höhe ihres vollen Wertes gebucht werden. | |
Factoring Commission: The percentage rate of the Nominal Amount set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Factoringgebühr: Der Prozentsatz des in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) festgelegten Nominalbetrages . | |
Factoring-Satzaufbau: GE CAPITALs requirements for information to be provided by the ORIGINATOR in electronic form about invoices, credit notes, payments or open items. | Factoring Satzaufbau: Vorgaben von GE CAPITAL für vom KUNDEN in elektronischer Form zu erteilende Informationen über Rechnungen, Gutschriften, Zahlungen oder Offene Posten. | |
Factorlink: Software for the performance of the factoring procedure. | Factorlink: Software für die Durchführung des Factoringverfahrens. | |
Fee Letter: a fee letter dated on or about 04 January 2011 and to be entered into between GE CAPITAL, the French Purchaser , Constellium N.V. and AIF VII Euro Holdings L.P. | Fee Letter: ein Fee Letter, der am oder um den 04. Januar 2011 datiert und zwischen GE CAPITAL, dem französischen Käufer , Constellium N.V. und AIF VII Euro Holdings L.P abgeschlossen werden wird. | |
Financing Commission Assessment Base per Invoice is the amount drawn by the ORIGINATOR from the Settlement Account on each Funding Date by invoice , calculated on the basis of each of the Receivables included in the most recent Financing Commission Calculation Data . | Finanzierungsgebühr Berechnungsgrundlage auf Einzelrechnungsbasis ist der Betrag, der vom KUNDEN vom Kundenabrechnungskonto an jedem jeweiligen Finanzierungstag auf Einzelrechnungsbasis abgebucht wird und der sich auf Grundlage der Forderungen berechnet, die in der jeweils jüngsten Übermittlung von Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr enthalten waren. | |
Financing Commission Calculation Data: means a list of Receivables setting out on a Receivable- by -Receivable basis (a) the name of the relevant Debtor , (b) the amount of the relevant related invoice, (c) the Receivable | Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr bezeichnet eine Liste von Forderungen in der auf Einzelrechnungsbasis (a) der Name des jeweiligen Abnehmers , (b) der Betrag der |
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related invoice date, (d) the Receivable due date, (e) the Expected Funding Period per Invoice as well (f) as the Actual Funding Period per Invoice in respect of the batch of Receivables sold during the relevant previous Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice . The Financing Commission Calculation Data is provided by the ORIGINATOR two Business Days prior to each relevant Funding Date . | jeweiligen Rechnung, (c) das Rechnungsdatum, (d) das Fälligkeitsdatum der Forderung, (e) die Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis, sowie, (f) die jeweilige Tatsächliche Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis, bezogen auf die in der jeweils zurückliegenden Angepassten Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis verkauften Forderungen . Die Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr werden vom KUNDEN jeweils vorab zwei Geschäftstage vor jedem jeweiligen Finanzierungstag übermittelt. | |
Financing Commission per Invoice is calculated upfront for the relevant next following Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice on a Receivable -by- Receivable basis by applying the Financing Commission Rate to the Financing Commission Assessment Base per Invoice . The Financing Commission Rate is calculated as follows on the basis of an interest rate calculation in accordance with the international method, i.e. act/360 interest days per year: | Die Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis wird jeweils vorab für die jeweils folgende Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis auf Einzelrechnungsbasis dergestalt berechnet, dass der Finanzierungsgebührensatz auf die Finanzierungsgebühren Berechnungsgrundlage auf Einzelrechnungsbasis angewendet wird. | |
Der Finanzierungsgebührensatz errechnet sich wie folgt auf Grundlage einer Zinssatzberechnung in Übereinstimmung mit der internationalen Berechnungsmethode, d.h. act/360 Tage p.a.: | ||
FCPI = FCABI x FCR x (AEPI /360) | FCPI = FCABI x FCR x (AEPI /360) | |
FCPI is the Financing Commission per Invoice, | FCPI bezeichnet die Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis, | |
FCABI is the Financing Commission Assessment Base per Invoice , | FCABI bezeichnet die Finanzierungsgebühr Berechnungsgrundlage auf Einzelrechnungsbasis, | |
FCR is the Finance Commission Rate; and | FCR bezeichnet den Finanzierungsgebührensatz ; und | |
AEPI is the Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice . | AEPI bezeichnet die Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis . |
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Financing Commission Rate: The percentage rate p.a. (per annum) set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions), consisting of the sum of the percentage rates of the Financing Commission Reference Rate and the margin. | Finanzierungsgebührensatz: Der aus Anhang 1 ersichtliche Prozentsatz p.a (Pro Jahr), bestehend aus der Summe der Prozentsätze des Referenzfinanzierungsgebührensatzes und der Marge. | |
Financing Commission Reference Rate: is the EURIBOR (Euro Interbank Offered Rate), provided that the applicable term and the details of the continuing adjustment of the EURIBOR are set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). The actual rate of the EURIBOR is published, inter alia , on the internet site of the German Federal Bank. | Referenzfinanzierungsgebührensatz: ist der EURIBOR (Euro Interbank Offered Rate), unter der Maßgabe, dass die anwendbare Laufzeitsbezugsgröße und die Einzelheiten der fortlaufenden Anpassung des EURIBOR in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) näher festgelegt sind. Die tatsächliche Höhe des EURIBOR ist unter anderem auf der Internetseite der Deutschen Bundesbank veröffentlicht. | |
Funding Date: the date when available funds are drawn by the ORIGINATOR from the Settlement Account . | Finanzierungstag ist der Tag an dem verfügbare Mittel vom KUNDEN vom Kundenabrechnungskonto abgebucht werden. | |
French Purchaser: GE Factofrance SNC as purchaser under the French RPA . | Französischer Käufer: Ge Factofrance SNC als Käufer nach dem französischen RPA . | |
French RPA: a non-recourse French law receivables purchase agreement dated on or about the date hereof, between the French Sellers as sellers and GE Factofrance SNC as French purchaser , pursuant to which the French purchaser acquires receivables originated from the French sellers. | Französisches RPA: eine regresslose Vereinbarung über einen Forderungskauf, die dem französischen Recht unterliegt vom oder um das Datum dieses Vertrages, zwischen den französischen Verkäufern und GE Factofrance SBC als französischer Käufer , gemäß dessen der französische Käufer Forderungen, die von den französischen Verkäufern stammen, erwirbt. | |
French Seller: collectively Constellium France, a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée with a share capital of EUR 123,547,875.00, whose registered office is located at 40-44 rue de Washington, 75008 Paris, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Paris under number 672 014 081, , Constellium Extrusions France, a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par | Französischer Verkäufer: gemeinsam: Constellium France, eine Gesellschaft eingetragen als société par actions simplifiée nach französischem Recht mit einem Stammkapital in Höhe von EUR 123.547.875,00 mit Geschäftssitz in 40-44 rue de Washington, 75008 Paris, Frankreich, registriert beim Handels- und Gesellschaftsregister Paris unter Nr. 672 014 081, , Constellium Extrusions France, eine |
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actions simplifiée with a share capital of EUR 22,265,000.00, whose registered office is located at 40-44 rue de Washington, 75008 Paris, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Paris under number 662 032 374, and Constellium Aviatube, a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée with a share capital of EUR 3,284,400, whose registered office is located at Zone Industrielle, 44470 Carquefou, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Nantes under number 712 032 705, as sellers under the French RPA | Gesellschaft eingetragen als société par actions simplifiée nach französischem Recht mit einem Stammkapital in Höhe von EUR 22.265.000,00 mit Geschäftssitz in 40-44 rue de Washington, 75008 Paris, Frankreich, registriert beim Handels- und Gesellschaftsregister Paris unter Nr. 662 032 374 und Constellium Aviatube eine Gesellschaft eingetragen als société par actions simplifiée nach französischem Recht mit einem Stammkapital in Höhe von EUR 3.284.400, mit Geschäftssitz in Zone Industrielle, 44470 Carquefou, Frankreich, registriert beim Handels- und Gesellschaftsregister Nantes unter Nr. 712 032 705, als Verkäufer gemäß dem französischen RPA. | |
Full-Service-Factoring: Factoring procedure in which the accounts receivable bookkeeping and dunning procedure are performed by GE CAPITAL. | Full-Service-Factoring: Factoringverfahren, bei dem die Debitorenbuchhaltung und das Mahnwesen durch GE CAPITAL erledigt werden. | |
German CED RPA: a German law non-recourse receivables purchase agreement dated on or about the date hereof, between the CED GmbH as seller and GE CAPITAL as purchaser, pursuant to which GE CAPITAL acquires receivables originated from CED GmbH . | Deutsches CED RPA: eine regresslose Vereinbarung über einen Forderungskauf, vom oder um das Datum dieses Vertrages, zwischen CED GmbH als Verkäufer und GE CAPITAL als Käufer, gemäß dessen GE CAPITAL Forderungen, die von CED GmbH stammen, erwirbt. | |
German Sellers: the ORIGINATOR and CED GmbH , each as seller of receivables pursuant to German law factoring agreements entered into with GE CAPITAL. | Deutsche Verkäufer: der KUNDE und die CED GmbH , jeweils als Verkäufer der Forderungen gemäß den deutschen Factoringverträgen, die mit GE CAPITAL geschlossen wurden. | |
Group: has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement . | Gruppe: hat dieselbe Bedeutung wie im Interkreditorvertrag . | |
Incoming Payment Settlement Account: Account on which in the Inter- Credit ® -Factoring incoming payments are booked by interim posting until the Reconciliation Process has been performed, see clause 12.2. | Zahlungseingangsverrechnungskonto: Konto, auf dem beim Inter-Credit ® -Factoring Zahlungseingänge bis zum Stülpvorgang zwischengebucht werden, siehe Ziffer 12.2. |
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Inter-Credit ® -Factoring: Factoring procedure in which the accounts receivable bookkeeping and dunning procedure are performed by the ORIGINATOR as trustee for GE CAPITAL. | Inter-Credit ® -Factoring: Factoringverfahren, bei dem die Debitorenbuchhaltung und das Mahnwesen durch den KUNDEN als Treuhänder für GE CAPITAL erledigt werden. | |
Intercreditor Agreement: a French law intercreditor agreement dated on or about the date hereof, between, inter alia, the Parent , the French Sellers , the German Sellers , the Swiss Seller and GE CAPITAL, pursuant to which the parties agreed to regulate certain cross-collateralization principles and to subordinate certain rights of certain investors in respect of liabilities owed to each of them by the French Sellers, the German Sellers and the Swiss Seller. | Interkreditorvertrag: ein Interkreditorvertrag nach französischem Recht datierend auf oder um das Datum dieses Vertrages, unter anderem zwischen dem Mutterunternehmen und den französischen Käufern , den deutschen Käufern , den Schweizer Käufern und GE CAPITAL, wonach die Parteien vereinbarten, bestimmte Grundsätze zur wechselseitigen Besicherung zu regeln und bestimmte Rechte gewisser Investoren im Hinblick auf Verbindlichkeiten, die jedem von ihnen von den französischen Käufern , den deutschen Käufern und den Schweizer Käufern geschuldet sind. | |
Maximum Commitment: The amount which the Utilization may not exceed. The amount of the Maximum Commitment is set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Höchstobligo: Der Betrag, welcher die Inanspruchnahme nicht übersteigt. Der Betrag des Höchtsobligos ergibt sich aus Anhang 1 (Konditionen). | |
Nominal Amount: The final amount set out in the invoice for the relevant Receivable , including VAT. | Nominalbetrag: Der in der Rechnung ausgewiesene Endbetrag für die Forderung einschließlich Umsatzsteueranteil. | |
Notification of Dispute: Notification by the ORIGINATOR or the Debtor to GE CAPITAL that the Debtor claims that the Receivable is not Eligible . | Reklamationsanzeige: Anzeige des KUNDE oder des Abnehmers an GE CAPITAL, dass der Abnehmer geltend macht, die Forderung sei nicht einwandfrei. | |
Offer Letter : Notification of a certain Receivable by the ORIGINATOR to GE CAPITAL. Several notifications of Receivables can be combined in one Offer Letter . | Forderungsanzeige: Anzeige einer bestimmten Forderung an GE CAPITAL durch den KUNDEN. Es können verschiedene Anzeigen von Forderungen in einer Forderungsanzeige erfolgen. | |
Open Items File: List of all Receivables which are existing and unpaid at the time when the list is compiled. | Offene Posten Datei: Aufstellung sämtlicher zum Zeitpunkt der Erstellung der Aufstellung bestehender unbezahlter Forderungen . |
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Parent: Constellium Holdco II B.V., a company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands as a besloten vennootschap , whose registered office is located at Tupolevlann 41-61, 1119 NW Schipho-Rijk, The Netherlands, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of The Netherlands under number 34393946 0000. | Mutterunternehmen: Constellium Holdco II B.V., eine Gesellschaft eingetragen als besloten vennootschap nach dem Recht der Niederlande mit Geschäftssitz in Tupolevlann 41-61, 1119 NW Schipho-Rijk, Niederlande, registriert beim Handels- und Gesellschaftsregister der Niederlande unter Nr. 34393946 0000. | |
Pledged Accounts: The bank accounts referred to as pledged accounts in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Verpfändete Bankkonten: Die in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) als verpfändete Konten bezeichnete Bankkonten. | |
Purchase Price Reserve: Amount corresponding to the percentage rate set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions) of the Nominal Amount . | Kaufpreiseinbehalt: Betrag, der dem Prozentsatz des Nominalbetrags wie in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) entspricht. | |
Purchase Price Reserve Account: Account on which the Purchase Price Reserve is booked (see clause 4.1 and 4.3). | Kaufpreiseinbehaltskonto: Konto, auf dem der Kaufpreiseinbehalt gebucht wird (siehe Ziffer 4.1 und 4.3). | |
Quarterly Account Statement: Written summary of the balances of all Accounts as of the end of each calendar quarter. | Quartalsabschluss: Schriftliche Übersicht über die Stände aller Konten zum Ende des Quartals. | |
Receivables: All existing and future payment receivables arising under agreements for the delivery of goods and/or the rendering of services by the ORIGINATOR vis-à-vis its Debtors. | Forderungen: alle gegenwärtig bestehenden und künftig entstehenden Forderungen auf Zahlung für Warenlieferungen und/oder der Erbringung von Dienstleistungen durch den KUNDEN gegenüber seinen Abnehmern . | |
Reconciliation Process: Reconciliation of GE CAPITALs Open Items File with the Open Item File provided by the ORIGINATOR. | Stülpvorgang: Angleichung der Offene Posten Datei von GE CAPITAL an die Offene Posten Datei des KUNDEN. | |
Reimbursement Claims : Claims of Debtors vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR, which do not result in a direct reduction of individual receivables, in particular claims based on a relevant period and/or the volume of sales (bonuses etc.), and claims arising from certain operations/events (marketing contributions, anniversary bonuses etc.). | Rückvergütungsansprüche: Ansprüche des Abnehmers gegenüber dem KUNDEN, die nicht eine direkte Minderung einzelner Forderungen zur Folge haben, insbesondere Ansprüche auf der Grundlage eines bestimmten Zeitraumes und/oder des Verkaufsvolumens (Boni, etc.), und Ansprüche aus bestimmten Tätigkeiten/Events (Werbekostenzuschüsse, Jubiläumsboni, etc.). | |
Reserve Account: Account showing the anticipated amount of Reimbursement Claims (see clause 22.5). | Rückstellungskonto: Konto, auf dem die Rückvergütungsansprüche gebucht werden (siehe Ziffer 22.5). |
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Retaining Supplier: Each supplier of the ORIGINATOR who has stipulated an extended retention of title arrangement (assignment of the receivables resulting from the resale of the goods) with the ORIGINATOR. | Vorbehaltslieferant: Jeder Lieferant des KUNDEN, der mit dem KUNDEN wegen seiner Lieferungen einen verlängerten Eigentumsvorbehalt (Abtretung der aus der Weiterveräußerung resultierenden Forderung) vereinbart hat. | |
Settlement Account: Account on which all claims of the ORIGINATOR vis-àvis GE CAPITAL (e.g. purchase price payments for purchased Receivables, including Purchase Price Reserves that have been released, Debtors payments in respect of Receivables which have not been purchased) and claims of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR (e.g. commission claims, claims for reimbursement based on performance defaults) as well as disbursements to the ORIGINATOR are booked and offset against each other. | Kundenabrechnungskonto : Konto , auf dem alle Ansprüche des KUNDEN gegenüber GE CAPITAL (z.B. Kaufpreiszahlungen für angekaufte Forderungen einschließlich freigewordener Kaufpreiseinbehalte , Abnehmerzahlungen auf nicht bezahlte Forderungen ) und von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN (z.B. Gebührenansprüche, Rückforderungsansprüche wegen Leistungsstörungen) sowie Auszahlungen an den KUNDEN gebucht und miteinander verrechnet werden. | |
Smart-Service-Factoring: Factoring procedure in which the accounts receivable bookkeeping is performed by GE CAPITAL and the dunning procedure is performed by the ORIGINATOR as trustee for GE CAPITAL. | Smart-Service-Factoring: Factoringverfahren, bei dem die Debitorenbuchhaltung durch GE CAPITAL und das Mahnwesen durch den KUNDEN als Treuhänder für GE CAPITAL durchgeführt werden. | |
Special Purchase Price Reserve: Reserve established as the result of a Notification of Dispute which shall not exceed, however, the part of the purchase price that was previously credited. | Sonderkaufpreiseinbehalt: Geldbetrag, der aufgrund der Reklamationsanzeige einbehalten wird, höchstens jedoch in der Höhe des zuvor gutgeschriebenen Kaufpreisanteils. | |
Special Purchase Price Reserve Account: Account on which Special Purchase Price Reserves resulting from Notifications of Disputes are booked, see clause 4.4. | Sonderkaufpreiseinbehaltskonto: Konto, auf dem durch Reklamationsanzeigen ausgelöste Sonderkaufpreiseinbehalte gebucht werden, siehe Ziffer 4.4. | |
Special Account: Account on which the Receivables which have not been purchased are booked. | Sonderkonto: Konto , auf dem die nicht angekauften Forderungen gebucht werden. | |
Special Settlement Account: Technical offset account to the Special Account . | Sonderverrechnungskonto: Technisches Gegenkonto zum Sonderkonto . | |
Swiss Purchaser: GE CAPITAL as purchaser under the Swiss RPA . | Schweizer Käufer: GE CAPITAL als Käufer nach dem Schweizer RPA . |
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Swiss RPA: a Swiss law non-recourse receivables purchase agreement dated on or about the date hereof, between the Swiss Seller as seller and GE CAPITAL as Swiss purchaser , pursuant to which GE CAPITAL acquires receivables originated from the Swiss seller . | Schweizer RPA: eine regresslose Vereinbarung über einen Forderungskauf, mit oder um das Datum dieses Vertrages, zwischen dem Schweizer Verkäufer als Verkäufer und GE CAPITAL als Schweizer Käufer, gemäß dessen GE CAPITAL Forderungen erwirbt, die vom Schweizer Verkäufer stammen. | |
Swiss Seller: Constellium Valais S.A., Sierre, with business seat at 3960 Sierre, Switzerland and registration number CH-626.3.000.048-9, as seller under the Swiss RPA. | Schweizer Verkäufer: Constellium Valais S.A., Sierre, mit Geschäftssitz in 3960 Sierre, Schweiz und Registrierungsnummer CH-626.3.000.048-9, als Verkäufer nach dem Schweizer RPA. | |
Tolling/Pseudo Tolling Reimbursement Claims: Claims of Debtors vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR which do not result in a direct reduction of individual receivables, and which result out of tolling/pseudo tolling transactions ( Materialbeistellung ) between the ORIGINATOR and the respective Debtor . | Rückvergütungsansprüche aus Materialbeistellung: Ansprüche der Abnehmer gegen den KUNDEN, die nicht zu einer Minderung einzelner Forderungen führen, und die aus Materialbeistellungen zwischen dem KUNDEN und dem jeweiligen Abnehmer herrühren. | |
Total Financing Commission is calculated as the sum of Financing Commissions per Invoice for all invoices included in a relevant transmission of Financing Commission Data . | Die Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr errechnet sich als die Summe aller Finanzierungsgebühren auf Einzelrechnungsbasis für alle Forderungen der jeweils mitgeteilten Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr . | |
Unable to Pay : Means with respect to a Debtor that such Debtor is unable to pay its debts as and when they fall due. Inability to Pay is generally presumed if the Debtor generally ceases to make payments. | Zahlungsunfähig: Bedeutet im Hinblick auf einen Abnehmer , dass der Abnehmer nicht in der Lage ist, seine fälligen Zahlungspflichten zu erfüllen. Zahlungsunfähigkeit ist in der Regel anzunehmen, wenn der Abnehmer seine Zahlungen eingestellt hat. | |
Undisclosed Procedure : Factoring procedure as described in Clause 13 of this Agreement in which the assignment of Receivables is not initially, but only upon termination of the Undisclosed Procedure or in the Collection Procedure , disclosed. | Stilles Verfahren: Factoringverfahren gemäß Ziffer 13 dieses Vertrages, bei dem die Abtretung der Forderungen zunächst nicht, sondern erst nach Beendigung des Stillen Verfahrens oder im Inkassoverfahren offengelegt wird. | |
Utilization: Sum of the balances on all Accounts held for the ORIGINATOR in accordance with the factoring agreement. | Inanspruchnahme: Summe aller Salden von Konten die für den KUNDEN aufgrund des Factoringvertrages geführt werden. |
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US Borrower: Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC, as borrower under the US GE ABL . | US Kreditnehmer: Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC, als Kreditnehmer nach dem US GE ABL . | |
US GE ABL: means a loan agreement dated on or about the date hereof, between the US Borrower as borrower and the US Lender as lender, pursuant to which the US Lender has agreed to make available to the US Borrower a certain loan. | US GE ABL: ist ein Kreditvertrag vom oder um den Tag dieses Vertrags zwischen dem US Kreditnehmer als Kreditnehmer und dem US Kreditgeber als Kreditgeber, wonach der US Kreditgeber zugestimmt hat, dem US Kreditnehmer einen Kredit zu gewähren. | |
US Lender: GE Capital Corporation as lender under the US GE ABL . | US Kreditgeber: GE Capital Corporation als Kreditgeber nach dem US GE ABL . | |
VAT Information: all information as specified in clause 4.5, sub-clause 5. | Umsatzsteuerinformationen: alle in Ziffer 4.5, Absatz 5, genauer beschriebenen Informationen. | |
SIGNATORIES | UNTERSCHRIFTEN | |
GE CAPITAL BANK AG | ||
Signed by: | ||
Title: | ||
Constellium Singen GmbH | ||
Signed by: | ||
Title: | ||
SCHEDULE 1 TERMS AND CONDITIONS | ANHANG 1 KONDITIONEN | |
1. Receivables: | 1. Forderungen: | |
Receivables for payment of compensation from contracts regarding sales of products and related provision of services against all Debtors of the ORIGINATOR whose office location is in Germany, and all Debtors whose office location is in a jurisdiction which is listed in Schedule 1b ( Approved Jurisdictions ) or any other jurisdiction approved by the GE CAPITAL, with the exception of receivables against debtors listed in Schedule 1a ( Excluded Debtors ). | Forderungen für die Zahlung der Vergütung aus Verträgen aus Warenverkäufen und der Erbringung von Dienstleistungen gegen alle Abnehmer des KUNDEN, die ihren Sitz in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland haben, sowie alle Abnehmer, die ihren Sitz an einem der in Anhang 1b ( Anerkannte Rechtsordnungen ) aufgeführten Rechtsordnungen oder einer anderen von GE CAPITAL anerkannten Rechtsordnung haben, mit Ausnahme der Forderungen gegen die Abnehmer, die in Anhang 1a ( Ausgenommene Abnehmer ) aufgeführt sind. |
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2. Purchase Price Reserve: the higher of (i) 10% or (ii) the sum of 5% and the average dilution rate as observed over the last three months. | 2. Kaufpreiseinbehalt: Der jeweils höhere Betrag von entweder (i) 10% oder (ii) der Summe von 5% und der durchschnittlichen Dilution Rate der letzten drei Monate. | |
3. Financing Commission Reference Rate; Fees; Commission: | 3. Finanzierungsgebührensatz; andere Gebühren; Provision: | |
a) Financing Commission Reference Rate (see Clause 4.1): 3 month Euribor + 1,95%, paid monthly and calculated on the last Business Day of each month for the following month. | a) Referenzfinanzierungsgebührensatz (siehe Ziffer 4.1): 3 Monate EURIBOR + 1,95%, Zahlung monatlich und Berechnung am letzten Geschäftstag jeden Monats für den Folgemonat. | |
b) Unused Facility Fee : 1% per annum of the amount of the available but unused amount of the Settlement Account . | b) Bereitstellungsgebühr: 1% pro Jahr des verfügbaren aber nicht in Anspruch genommenen Betrages auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto. | |
c) Audit Fees : EUR 3,000 per audit and a maximum audit fee of EUR 6,000 per year | c) Außenprüfungsgebühren : EUR 3.000 pro Außenprüfung und maximal EUR 6.000 pro Jahr. | |
d) Factoring Commission and Administration Fee (see Clauses 4.1 and 8.3): 0,15 % + 0,01% bad debt cost calculated on the volume of the Receivables . | d) Factoring- und Verwaltungsgebühr (siehe Ziffer 4.1 und 8.3): 0,15% + 0,01% Delkrederekosten, berechnet nach dem Volumen der Forderungen . | |
e) Discretionary Debtor Limit (see Clause 7) | e) Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe (siehe Ziffer 7) | |
Domestic/Export 10,000 EUR | Im Inland/im Ausland 10.000 EUR | |
Limit fees for each debtor and for each contractual year: | Limitgebühren für jeden Abnehmer und für jedes Vertragsjahr: | |
1. domestic 30 EUR/40 USD/40 CHF/25 GBP | 1. Im Inland 30 EUR/40 USD/40 CHF/25 GBP | |
2. export 60 EUR/80 USD/80 CHF/50 GBP | 2. Im Ausland 60 EUR/80 USD/80 CHF/50 GBP |
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f) The ORIGINATOR shall bear all costs, fees and expenses charged by any credit institution with respect to payments made by any Debtors and which have been charged to any Pledged Accounts or to GE CAPITAL. | f) Der KUNDE trägt alle Kosten, Gebühren und Auslagen die von jedem Kreditinstitut im Hinblick auf die von jedem Abnehmer geltend gemachten Zahlungen erhoben werden und die jedem verpfändeten Bankkonto oder GE CAPITAL berechnet werden. | |
Whereas a domestic Debtor shall be a Debtor domiciled in the same jurisdiction as the ORIGINATOR, and whereas the limit fees currency shall be the main currency in which the majority of the respective Debtors Receivables are denominated. | Wonach ein inländischer Abnehmer ein Abnehmer mit Sitz am Ort der gleichen Rechtswahl wie der KUNDE ist, und wonach die Währung für die Limitgebühr die Hauptwährung ist, auf welche die Mehrheit der Forderungen des jeweiligen Abnehmers lauten. | |
The ORIGINATOR shall bear all costs, fees and expenses for keeping the Pledged Accounts and for the transfer of any moneys. | Der KUNDE trägt alle Kosten, Gebühren und Auslagen zur Unterhaltung der verpfändeten Bankkonten und für die Überweisungen von Geldern. | |
Aforementioned Financing Commission Rate , fees and commissions are stated excluding the legal value added tax (VAT). | Die vorstehende Finanzierungsgebührrensatz, andere Gebühren und Provisionen verstehen sich zuzüglich der gesetzlichen Umsatzsteuer. | |
4. Maximum Commitment: GE CAPITAL will set a maximum limit for each Constellium Singen GmbH, Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH and Constellium Valais S.A.provided that the total aggregate Maximum Commitment under the respective factoring agreements between GE CAPITAL and Constellium Singen GmbH, Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH and Constellium Valais S.A. amounts to 115,000,000.00 EUR (one hundred fifteen million Euro) and which can be changed upon request of the respective originator(s). | 4. Höchstobligo: GE CAPITAL wird eine Obergrenze für jede Constellium Singen GmbH, Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH und Constellium Valais S.A festlegen, unter der Maßgabe, dass das Gesamthöchstobligo der jeweiligen Factoringverträge zwischen GE CAPITAL und Constellium Singen GmbH, Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH und Constellium Valais S.A. 115.000.000,00 EUR (einhundert fünfzehn Millionen Euro) beträgt und auf Antrag des jeweiligen Kunden geändert werden kann. | |
5. Commencement Date: | 5. Vertragsbeginn: | |
This agreement will become effective on the date on which all conditions precedent as stated in Schedule 3 are fulfilled to the satisfaction of GE CAPITAL. GECAPITAL will confirm vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR the fulfilment of the conditions precedent and the commencement of this agreement (Condition Precedent). | Dieser Vertrag wird wirksam an dem Tag, an dem sämtliche in Anhang 3 enthaltenen Bedingungen zur Zufriedenheit von GE CAPITAL erfüllt sind. GE CAPITAL wird gegenüber dem KUNDEN die Erfüllung der Bedingungen und den Beginn dieses Vertrags bestätigen (aufschiebende Bedingung). |
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6. Termination Date: | 6. Vertragsablaufdatum: | |
5 calendar years after the Commencement Date (clause 5 of this Schedule 1). | 5 Kalenderjahre nach dem Vertragsbeginn (Ziffer 5 dieses Anhangs 1). | |
7. The ORIGINATOR and/or GE CAPITAL reserves the right to retain payments of the purchase price in respect of Receivables against single Debtors or debtor credit unitsin terms of § 19 of the German Banking Act ( Kreditwesengesetz ) as long as they show a greater concentration than 30% of the amount of all purchased and still unsettled Receivables of the ORIGINATOR against all its Debtors . | 7. Der KUNDE und/oder GE CAPITAL behält sich das Recht vor, Kaufpreiszahlungen für Forderungen gegen einzelne Abnehmer bzw. Abnehmerkrediteinheiten im Sinne von § 19 Kreditwesengesetz solange zurückzuhalten, soweit sie mehr als 30% aller gekauften und noch offenen Forderungen des KUNDEN gegen alle seine Abnehmer ausmachen. | |
8. Pledged Accounts: | 8. Verpfändete Bankkonten: | |
In accordance with section 13.3 (c) of the Factoring Agreement, the ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL agree that the ORIGINATOR shall pledge the following accounts in favour of GE CAPITAL by entering into an agreement on the date hereof, in substantially the form as set out in Annex 5 (Account Pledge Agreement) for the accounts: | In Übereinstimmung mit Ziffer 13.3 (c) des Factoringvertrages vereinbaren der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL, dass der KUNDE die folgenden Konten zugunsten von GE CAPITAL verpfändet, indem zum entsprechenden Zeitpunkt ein Vertrag über die Konten geschlossen wird, der im Wesentlichen der in Anlage 5 ( Kontoverpfändungsvertrag ) festgelegten Form entspricht: |
Account Bank (name and address
Kontoführende Bank (Name und
|
Swift |
IBAN | Currency Währung | |||
Deutsche Bank Rotteckring 3 D-79098 Freiburg |
DEUTDE6F692 | DE15692700380075310300 | EUR | |||
ATT: Roland Hehn Phone: +49 761 2184 233 Fax: +49 711 125 4100 |
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Deutsche Bank Rotteckring 3 D-79098 Freiburg
ATT: Roland Hehn Phone: +49 761 2184 233 Fax: +49 711 125 4100 |
DEUTDE6F692 | DE15692700380075310300 | GBP | |||
Deutsche Bank Rotteckring 3 D-79098 Freiburg
ATT: Roland Hehn Phone: +49 761 2184 233 Fax: +49 711 125 4100 |
DEUTDE6F692 | DE15692700380075310300 | USD |
All ORIGINATORs accounts for incoming payments relating to Receivables . The ORIGINATOR will provide GE CAPITAL without delay with a chart containing all necessary details. | Alle Konten des KUNDEN für Zahlungseingänge im Hinblick auf die Forderungen . Der KUNDE wird GE CAPITAL eine Aufstellung mit allen erforderlichen Daten unverzüglich zukommen lassen. | |
9. Factoring-Procedure: undisclosed Inter-Credit-Factoring | 9. Factoring-Verfahren : stilles Inter-Credit-Factoring. | |
10. Note of assignment (in the Disclosed Procedure): We have assigned our receivables to GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano-Str. 2, 55130 Mainz, Germany, pursuant to an ongoing factoring arrangement, respectively authorized GE Capital Bank AG to collect receivables on our behalf. Payments must be made by way of wire transfer to the following account: number: 300111800, bank sort code: 550 305 00, BIC: HRBKDE51, IBAN: DE12 5503 0500 0300 1118 00 or by cheque directly to GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano-Str. 2, 55130 Mainz, Germany. | 10. Abtretungsvermerk (im offenen Verfahren): Wir haben unsere Forderungen im Rahmen eines laufenden Factoringverfahrens an GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrichvon- Brentano-Str. 2, 55130 Mainz, Deutschland abgetreten bzw. GE Capital Bank AG zum Forderungseinzug ermächtigt. Zahlungen sind zu leisten per Überweisung auf das Konto: Kontonummer: 300111800, Bankleitzahl: 550 305 00, BIC: HRBKDE51, IBAN: DE12 5503 0500 0300 1118 00 oder per Scheck direkt an GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano-Str. 2, 55130 Mainz, Deutschland. | |
11. Binding Version: This Agreement and their respective Schedules and Annexes as well as any country specific supplement (if any) shall be executed in the German and the English language; both versions, the German as well as the English language versions shall be binding versions. | 11. Verbindliche Fassung: Dieser Vertrag und die entsprechenden Anhänge und Anlagen sowie länderspezifische Zusätze (sofern zutreffend) wird in der deutschen und der englischen Sprache vollzogen; beide Fassungen, die deutschen als auch die englischen Sprachversionen stellen verbindliche Fassungen dar. |
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SCHEDULE 1a: Excluded Debtors | ANHANG 1a: Ausgenommene Abnehmer | |
a) General: | a) Allgemein | |
All Affiliated Companies are Excluded Debtors. | Alle Nahestehenden Unternehmen sind ausgenommene Abnehmer | |
All Debtors against which the ORIGINATOR may have any claims which are not subject to the Approved Jurisdictions as set forth in Schedule 1b, shall be Excluded Debtors . | Alle Abnehmer , gegen die der KUNDE Ansprüche haben kann und die nicht den in Anhang 1b festgelegten anerkannten Gerichtsständen unterliegen, sind ausgenommene Abnehmer . | |
All Debors which prepay their claims and all Debtors which pay their debt on delivery (Prepayment Debtors), shall be Excluded Debtors. A list of all Prepayment Debtors contained in sub-clause b) below. The Parties agree that the list of Prepayment Debtors may be amended and expanded from time to time at the ORIGINATORs request, subject to GE CAPITALs approval, which may not be unreasonably withheld. | Alle Abnehmer , die ihre Ansprüche im Voraus bezahlen und alle Abnehmer die ihre Schulden bei Lieferung bezahlen (vorauszahlende Abnehmer), sind ausgenommene Abnehmer. Die Parteien vereinbaren, dass die Liste der vorauszahlenden Abnehmer auf Verlangen des KUNDEN und unter der Voraussetzung der Zustimmung von GE CAPITAL, die nicht willkürlich vorenthalten werden darf, von Zeit zu Zeit geändert und erweitert werden kann | |
a) In particular:
|
b) Insbesondere |
PCA
Warenempfänger:
Peugeot Citroen A. Slovakia S.R.O.
Zavarska Cesta
CZ-919 26 Trnava
Czech Republic/Tscheschien
Customer-no./KD-Nr: 3006515
Regulierer:
PCA SLOVAKIA S.R.O.
Automobilova Ulica 1, 91 701 Trnava
TSA 80001
FR-78091 YVELINES CEDEX 9
France/Frankreich
Customer-no./KD-Nr: 3006070
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GM-Polen:
General Motors
Manufacturing Poland Sp. Z
UL Adama Opla 1
PL-44-121 Gliwice
Poland/Polen
Customer-no./KD-Nr: 3003327
ThyssenKrupp MetalServ GmbH
Hans-Günther-Sohl-Str. 1
40235 Düsseldorf
Germany/Deutschland
- incl. all subsidiaries/inkl. aller Niederlassungen
Customer-no./KD-Nr: 1048500
ThyssenKrupp Schulte GmbH
Hans-Günther-Sohl-Str. 1
40235 Düsseldorf
Germany/Deutschland
- incl. all subsidiaries/inkl. aller Niederlassungen
Customer-no./KD-Nr: 1038000
General Motors UK Ltd.
Carretera N-150 Km 6.7
Edificio Cristal, Sector Baricentro
08210 Barbera del Valles
ES-Barcelona
Spain/Spanien
Customer-no./KD-Nr: 3001217
General Motors Espana
PG Enterrios Ctra N232 KM29
50639 Figueruelas - Zaragoza NIF ESB50629187
Spain/Spanien
Customer-no./KD-Nr: 3002099
MVG Metallverwertungsges.mbH
Buchheimer-Str.13
79288 Gottenheim
Germany/Deutschland
Customer no./KD-Nr.: 1118870
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
THÖNI Industriebetriebe GmbH
Obermarktstraße 48
AT - 6410 Telfs
Österreich/Austria
Customer no./KD-Nr.: 4147900
Metal Exchange International GmbH
Seefeldstr. 45
CH - 8008 Zürich
Switzerland/Schweiz
Customer no./KD-Nr.: 3005862
ODDO&CIE
12bd de la Madeline Paris
FR - 75440 Paris Cedex 09
France/Frankreich
Customer no./KD-Nr.: 3005847]
Prepayment Debtors: | Vorauszahlende Abnehmer: | |
Currently none, but subject to the Parties right as set out in sub-clause a above | Derzeit keine; abhängig jedoch von dem den Parteien zustehenden Recht gemäß Abschnitt a (siehe oben). | |
SCHEDULE 1b: Approved Jurisdictions | ANHANG 1b: Anerkannte Rechtsordnungen | |
AT: Austria | AT: Österreich | |
AU: Australia | AU: Australien | |
BE: Belgium | BE: Belgien | |
BG: Bulgaria | BG: Bulgarien | |
BR: Brazil | BR: Brasilien | |
CA: Canada | CA: Kanada | |
CH: Switzerland | CH: Schweiz | |
CN: China | CN: China | |
CY: Cyprus | CY: Zypern | |
CZ: Czech Republic | CZ: Tschechische Republik | |
DE: Germany | DE: Deutschland | |
DK: Denmark | DK: Dänemark | |
EE: Estonia | EE: Estland | |
ES: Spain | ES: Spanien | |
FI: Finland | FI: Finnland | |
FR: France | FR: Frankreich | |
GB: Great Britain | GB: Groß-Britannien |
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GR: Greece | GR: Griechenland | |
HR: Croatia | HR: Kroatien | |
HU: Hungary | HU: Ungarn | |
IE: Ireland | IE: Irland | |
IL: Israel | IL: Israel | |
IN: India | IN: Indien | |
IS: Island | IS: Island | |
IT: Italy | IT: Italien | |
JP: Japan | JP: Japan | |
LT: Lithuania | LT: Littauen | |
LU: Luxemburg | LU: Luxemburg | |
LV: Latvia | LV: Lettland | |
MT: Malta | MT: Malta | |
MIX: Mexico | MIX: Mexiko | |
MY: Malaysia | MY: Malaysia | |
NL: The Netherlands | NL: Niederlande | |
NO: Norway | NO: Norwegen | |
PL: Poland | PL: Polen | |
PT: Portugal | PT: Portugal | |
RO: Romania | RO: Rumänien | |
SE: Sweden | SE: Schweden | |
SG: Singapore | SG: Singapur | |
SI: Slovenia | SI: Slovenien | |
SK: Slovakia | SK: Slowakei | |
SM: San Marino | SM: San Marino | |
TH: Thailand | TH: Thailand | |
TN: Tunisia | TN: Tunesien | |
TR: Turkey | TR: Türkei | |
TW: Taiwan | TW: Taiwan | |
UA: Ukraine | UA: Ukraine | |
US: United States of America | US: Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika | |
ZA: South Africa | ZA: Südafrika | |
SCHEDULE 2DECLARATION OF CONSENT | ANHANG 2 -EINWILLIGUNGSERKLÄRUNG | |
Declaration of consent for the collection, processing and usage of data and the confidentiality obligations of tax authorities | Einwilligungserklärung zur Erhebung, Verarbeitung und Nutzung von Daten und der Schweigepflicht der Finanzämter | |
I. Collection, processing and usage of data by the GE Capital Bank AG | I. Erhebung, Verarbeitung und Nutzung von Daten durch die GE Capital Bank AG | |
1. GE Capital Bank AG collects, processes and uses data in connection with the preparation, execution and implementation of the factoring agreement with respect to | 1. GE Capital Bank AG collects, processes and uses data in connection with the preparation, execution and implementation of the factoring agreement with respect to |
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name and address of Constellium Singen GmbH and Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH, | Name und Anschrift von Constellium Singen GmbH und Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH, | |
information provided in the annual financial statements, | Informationen, die aus einem Jahresabschluss ersichtlich sind, | |
accounts receivable of the ORIGINATOR against its debtors (creditor, debtor, subject, amount, credit worthiness of the ORIGINATOR, legal existence of the accounts receivable, potential security interests of other creditors), | Forderungen des KUNDEN gegen seine Abnehmer (Gläubiger, Schuldner, Forderungsgegenstand, Forderungshöhe, Bonität des Abnehmers, Verität der Forderung, etwaige Sicherungsrechte anderer Gläubiger, | |
debtor limits and their respective utilisation, | Abnehmerlimite und deren Ausnutzung, | |
balances on accounts maintained in accordance with the factoring agreement, | Kontostände der gemäß Factoringvertrag geführten Konten, | |
hereinafter referred to as Data, but in each case only in accordance with the factoring agreement. | nachstehend als Daten bezeichnet, aber in jedem Fall nur im Zusammenhang mit dem Factoringvertrag | |
2. The ORIGINATOR authorises and consents to the transfer of data by GE Capital Bank AG to affiliated companies and/or service providers and the processing (including transfer) and using of such Data by the relevant companies if and to the extent that this is necessary for the following purposes: | 2. Der KUNDE erklärt sich damit einverstanden, dass GE Capital Bank AG die Daten an verbundene Unternehmen und/oder Dienstleistungsunternehmen übermittelt und dass diese ihrerseits die Daten verarbeiten (einschließlich Übermittlung) und nutzen, wenn und soweit dies zu folgenden Zwecken erfolgt: | |
Compliance by GE Capital Bank AG with its obligations under the factoring agreement, including the processing of Data for such purposes in data processing centers. | Erfüllung von der GE Capital Bank AG nach dem Factoringvertrag obliegenden Aufgaben einschließlich der Verarbeitung der Daten zu diesen Zwecken in Rechenzentren, | |
Compliance with reporting obligations resulting from statutory or internal regulations applicable to GE Capital Bank AG and/or its affiliated companies, including reporting obligations vis-à-vis committees or control functions of the relevant affiliated companies inside or outside of the European Economic Area. | Erfüllung von durch Rechtsvorschriften Oder konzernintern angeordneten Berichtspflichten, die der GE Capital Bank AG und/oder verbundenen Unternehmen obliegen, einschließlich von Berichtspflichten gegenüber Gremien und Kontrollorganen der Verbundenen Unternehmen innerhalb und außerhalb des europäischen Wirtschaftsraumes, |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Evaluation and reporting within the General Electric group as well as market- and statistical analyses. | Auswertungen und Berichterstattung innerhalb des General Electric Konzerns, sowie Marktanalysen und statistische Analysen, | |
Feeding of Data into an information system which is only accessible to members of the General Electric group, and from which GE Capital Bank AG may retrieve Data (which were not transferred by it for its business purposes. | Einstellung der Daten in ein ausschließlich für Unternehmen des General Electric Konzerns nutzbares Informationssystem, aus dem auch die GE Capital Bank AG für ihre Geschäftszwecke auch von ihr nicht übermittelte Daten abrufen kann. | |
3. The ORIGINATOR furthermore consents to the transfer of Data by GE Capital Bank AG to credit- or financial institutions and to the processing of the transferred Data (incl. transfer and usage of such data) by such institutions if and to the extent that this transfer occurs in connection with a transfer or pledge of the factoring agreement, rights or claims resulting from the factoring agreement or purchased receivables for the purposes of refinancing GE Capital Bank AG or in connection with the administration or collection of receivables. | 3. Der KUNDE erklärt sich weiterhin damit einverstanden, dass die GE Capital Bank AG Daten an andere Kreditinstitute oder Finanzinstitute übermittelt, und dass diese Ihrerseits die Daten verarbeiten (einschließlich Übermittlung und Nutzung), wenn und soweit diese Übertragung im Zusammenhang mit einer Übertragung oder Verpfändung des Factoringvertrages oder von Rechten oder Forderungen aus dem Factoringvertrag oder angekauften Forderungen für Zwecke der Refinanzierung der GE Capital Bank AG oder im Zusammenhang mit der Verwaltung oder Einziehung von Forderungen geschieht. | |
In this context, the ORIGINATOR releases GE Capital Bank AG from any legal restrictions with respect to the collection, processing and usage of Data. | In diesem Zusammenhang befreit der KUNDE die GE Capital Bank AG von gesetzlichen Beschränkungen zur Erhebung, Verarbeitung und Nutzung von Daten. | |
II. Transfer of Data to GE Capital Bank AG | II. Übermittlung von Daten an die GE Capital Bank AG | |
The ORIGINATOR releases all financial institutions with which it cooperates from the banking secrecy and any other legal restrictions with respect to the transfer of data, to the extent that GE Capital Bank AG requests information from the relevant financial institution which is relevant for the compliance with the obligations under the factoring agreement. This includes information with respect to: | Der KUNDE befreit alle mit ihm zusammenarbeitenden Finanzinstitute vom Bankgeheimnis und anderweitig durch Rechtsvorschriften begründeten Einschränkungen der Datenübermittlung, soweit die GE Capital Bank AG bei dem jeweiligen Finanzinstitut Anfragen stellt, die für die Erfüllung des Factoringvertrages von Bedeutung sind. Dies betrifft Informationen betreffend: |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Security interests of the relevant financial institution with respect to receivables of the ORIGINATOR, including ancillary rights, and other movable current assets, | Sicherungsrechte des Finanzinstituts an Forderungen des KUNDEN einschließlich Nebenrechten und an sonstigem beweglichen Umlaufvermögen. | |
Payments received with respect to receivables assigned to GE Capital Bank AG and any other information relating such receivables. | Zahlungseingänge auf Forderungen, die der GE Capital Bank AG abgetreten sind und etwaige sonstige Informationen in Bezug auf solche Forderungen. | |
Information available to the relevant financial institution regarding the creditworthiness of the ORIGINATOR. | Bei dem Finanzinstitut vorhandene Informationen über die Bonität des KUNDEN. | |
The ORIGINATOR consents to GE Capital Bank AG treating these Data in accordance with item. I. above. | Der KUNDE erklärt sich damit einverstanden, dass die GE Capital Bank AG solche Daten nach Maßgabe von Ziffer I. behandelt. | |
III. Release of tax authorities from confidentiality obligations | III. Befreiung von der Schweigepflicht der Finanzämter | |
The ORIGINATOR hereby releases the tax authorities which may be involved from their relevant confidentiality obligations with respect to VAT payable by the ORIGINATOR and undertakes to repeat such release directly vis-à-vis the relevant tax authorities in the appropriate form. | Der KUNDE entbindet hiermit die befassten Finanzämter in Bezug auf die vom 32 KUNDEN zu entrichtende Umsatzsteuer von der Schweigepflicht und verpflichtet sich, diese Entbindungserklärung direkt gegenüber den Finanzämtern in geeigneter Form zu wiederholen. |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
SCHEDULE 3 - Condition Precedents | ANHANG 3 - Aufschiebende Bedingungen | |
The Commencement Date can only occur upon fulfilment of the following condition precedents: | Der Vertragsbeginn ist aufschiebend bedingt durch den Eintritt der folgenden Bedingungen. |
CP |
Document |
Required Form |
||
I. Corporate Documents | ||||
1. Directors certificate with respect to the corporate documents, the companys solvency, specimen signatures | ||||
(1) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | Orignal | ||
(2) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | Orignal | ||
(3) | c) Constellium Valais S.A. | Original | ||
2. Excerpt from the commercial register (dated less than 2 weeks prior to signing) | ||||
(4) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | Inspection of Online Register | ||
(5) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | Inspection of Online Register | ||
(6) | c) Constellium Valais S.A. | Certified Copy | ||
3. Articles of Association | ||||
(7) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | Copy | ||
(8) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | Copy | ||
(9) | c) Constellium Valais S.A. | Copy | ||
4. Shareholder list | ||||
(10) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | Copy | ||
(11) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | Copy | ||
5. Shareholder Resolution approving the terms and conditions of the transaction; no changes to corporate documents; specimen signatures | ||||
(12) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | Copy | ||
(13) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH Copy | Copy | ||
(14) | c) Constellium Valais S.A. | Copy |
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CP |
Document |
Required Form |
||
6. Board Resolution approving the terms and conditions of the transaction; no changes to corporate documents, specimen signatures | ||||
(15) | a) Constellium Valais S.A. | Copy | ||
7. Power of Attorneys (if somebody different from the companies authorized representatives will be signing any document) | If applicable | |||
(16) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | Orignal | ||
(17) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | Orignal | ||
(18) | c) Constellium Aluminium Valais S.A. | Orignal | ||
II. Legal Opinions | ||||
(19) | a) Legal Opinion delivered by CC and satisfactory to the GE Capital in respect of the capacity and authority of the German Sellers in connection with the execution and performance of the Factoring Agreement and all other related transaction documents | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(20) | b) Legal Opinion delivered by WWP in respect of the capacity and authority of the Swiss Seller in connection with the execution and performance of the Factoring Agreement and all other related transaction documents | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(21) | c) Legal Opinion delivered by Mayer Brown and satisfactory to GE Capital relating to the validity of the AR Financing Facilities Documents and all other relevant transaction documents under German law | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(22) | d) Legal Opinion delivered by Pestalozzi and satisfactory to GE Capital relating to the validity of the AR Financing Facilities Documents and all other relevant transaction documents under Swiss law | PDF, Original to follow | ||
III. AR Financing Facilities Documents | ||||
1. Constellium Singen GmbH | ||||
(23) | a) Customary information reasonably satisfactory to GE Capital on the existing relevant receivables to be purchased | |||
(24) | b) Factoring Agreement | Original/PDF | ||
2. Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | ||||
(25) | a) Customary information reasonably satisfactory to GE Capital on the existing relevant receivables to be purchased |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
CP |
Document |
Required Form |
||
(26) | b) German CED RPA Original/PDF | Original/PDF | ||
3. Constellium Valais S.A. | ||||
(27) | a) Customary information reasonably satisfactory to GE Capital on the existing relevant receivables to be purchased | |||
(28) | b) Swiss RPA Original/PDF | Original/PDF | ||
(29) | c) Country Specific Amendment | Original/PDF | ||
(30) | 4. Fee Letter | Original/PDF | ||
(31) | 5. Intercreditor Agreement | Original/PDF | ||
(32) | 6. Parent Guarantee (Germany) | Original/PDF | ||
IV. Credit Insurance | ||||
1. Constellium Singen GmbH | ||||
(33) | a) Receipt of credit insurance policies | |||
(34) | b) Standard credit insurance information, evidencing that in each year, the maximum annual indemnification amount under the relevant credit insurance is sufficient to cover the applicable credit limit of the top five debtors | |||
(35) | c) Trade Credit Insurance Agreement | Original | ||
(36) |
d) Trade Credit Insurance Assignment Agreement
i) Coface
ii) ACE European Group (Limit Plus)
iii) Euler Hermes |
|||
2. Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | ||||
(37) | a) Receipt of credit insurance policies | |||
(38) | b) Standard credit insurance information, evidencing that in each year, the maximum annual indemnification amount under the relevant credit insurance is sufficient to cover the applicable credit limit of the top five debtors | |||
(39) | c) Trade Credit Insurance Agreement | Original | ||
(40) | d) Trade Credit Insurance Assignment Agreement | Original | ||
i) Coface | ||||
3. Constellium Valais S.A. |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
CP |
Document |
Required Form |
||
(41) | a) Receipt of credit insurance policies | |||
(42) | b) Standard credit insurance information, evidencing that in each year, the maximum annual indemnification amount under the relevant credit insurance is sufficient to cover the applicable credit limit of the top five debtors | |||
(43) | c) Trade Credit Insurance Agreement | Original | ||
(44) |
d) Trade Credit Insurance Assignment Agreement
i) Coface |
Original | ||
V. Collection Accounts | ||||
1. Constellium Singen GmbH | ||||
(45) | a) Account Pledge Agreement | Original | ||
2. Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | Original | |||
(46) | a) Account Pledge Agreement | |||
3. Constellium Valais S.A. | ||||
(47) |
a) Account Assignment/Pledge Agreement
i) Credit Suisse
ii) Deutsche Bank |
Original | ||
VI. Consent letter , if applicable, with respect to those debtors with a ban of assignment clause | ||||
(48) |
a) Constellium Singen GmbH: 1
b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH: not applicable
c) Constellium Valais S.A., 2 |
|||
VII. Know-Your-Customer | ||||
(49) | 1. Constellium Singen GmbH | |||
(50) | 2. Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | |||
(51) | 3. Constellium Valais S.A. | |||
VIII. Receivables | ||||
1. Statement re Reimbursement Claims , e.g. current status of bonuses granted, etc. | ||||
(52) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | |||
(53) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
CP |
Document |
Required Form |
||
(54) | c) Constellium Valais S.A. | |||
2. Statement re Tolling/Pseudo Tolling Reimbursement Claims | ||||
(55) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | |||
(56) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | |||
(57) | c) Constellium Valais S.A. | |||
3. VAT information | ||||
(58) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | |||
(59) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | |||
(60) | c) Constellium Valais S.A. | |||
IX: Miscellaneous | ||||
1. Auditor Agreement (sec. 13.4 of the factoring agreement) | ||||
(61) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | Original | ||
(62) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | Original | ||
(63) | c) Constellium Valais S.A. | Original | ||
2. Negative pledge confirmations (corresponding reassignments if necessary) of all financing banks and investors | ||||
(64) | a) Constellium Singen GmbH | |||
(65) | b) Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH | |||
(66) | c) Constellium Valais S.A. | |||
3. Evidence regarding the Completion of the Acquisistion | ||||
(67) | Copy of the executed share purchase agreement between inter alia AIF VII Euro Holdings, L.P. and Rio Tinto in the form agreed by GE Factofrance. | |||
(68) | Written confirmation by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz that the Acquisition has been completed. | |||
X: Swiss Taxes / VAT | ||||
(69) | 1. True sale tax ruling | |||
(70) | 2. VAT Tax Ruling re no acceleration | |||
(71) | 3. VAT Ruling re no secondary liability |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Annex 1
Transfer of French Receivables
FRENCH PROVISIONS
Reference is made to a factoring agreement to be dated 16 December 2010 and entered into between Constellium Singen GmbH and GE CAPITAL (the Factoring Agreement ).
Capitalised terms defined in the Factoring Agreement have, unless expressly defined in this Agreement, the same meaning in this Agreement.
The following clauses of the Factoring Agreement shall be amended/replaced and shall read as follows:
1. AMENDMENTS TO THE FACTORING AGREEMENT
(a) The parties agree to amend Clause 2.2 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by following paragraphs 2.2.1 to 2.2.5:
2.2.1 For the purpose of effecting the transfer of the French Receivables pursuant to the Factoring Agreement, GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR shall follow the steps and procedure described below.
2.2.2 Transfer mode
On each Transfer Date, the transfer of French Receivables from the ORIGINATOR to GE CAPITAL shall be performed by way of a transfer document ( acte de cession de créances professionnelles ) complying with articles L. 313-23 et seq . and articles R. 313-15 et seq . of the French Monetary and Financial Code ( Code Monétaire et Financier ) and in the form set out in Schedule 1 (a French Transfer Document ).
The statutory guarantee provided for under article L. 313-24 al 2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code ( Code Monétaire et Financier ) shall not apply. As a result, the seller shall not be held liable ( garant solidaire ) of the payment of any assigned Receivable .
2.2.3 Procedure
The ORIGINATOR shall offer to sell French Receivables on each Transfer Date by sending the original of a duly signed French Transfer Document in the form set out in Schedule [1]. The Computer File is attached to each French Transfer Document. The Computer File attached to this French Transfer Document shall allow the identification and individualization of the said French Receivables.
By no later than [6] p.m. on the Transfer Date, GE CAPITAL shall sign and insert the date on the French Transfer Document. The signed and dated French Transfer Document shall constitute the acceptance of GE CAPITAL to purchase the French Receivables offered pursuant to the offer to sell.
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
2.2.4 Legal consequences
The French Receivables together with any ancillary right attached thereto, shall be transferred to GE CAPITAL and such transfer shall be, as matter of French law:
(a) valid between GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR;
(b) enforceable against the corresponding French Debtors; and
(c) enforceable against third parties,
without any other formality, and irrespective of the law governing the French Receivables and the law of the jurisdiction where the corresponding French Debtors are resident, in accordance with articles L. 313-23 et seq. and articles R. 313-15 et seq . of the French Monetary and Financial Code ( Code Monétaire et Financier ) as of the date affixed on the relevant French Transfer Document, on which the relevant French Transfer Document is signed by GE CAPITAL provided however that:
(i) the corresponding Debtors and provided may validly discharge their respective debts under the corresponding Receivables by making payment to the relevant ORIGINATOR until a notice of transfer in the form of Schedule [2] is served to them; and
(ii) the corresponding Debtors may assert all defences (including set-off) arising prior to a notice of transfer referred to in sub-clause (i) above is served on them.
2.2.5 Governing law
This Clause 2.2 shall be governed by French law.
(b) The parties agree to amend Clause 3 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by inserting the following Clause 3.2. (the remaining paragraphs of Clause 3 being redenominated accordingly):
3.2 On each Transfer Date, GE CAPITAL shall accept to purchase all the French Receivables set out in an ORIGINATORs offer to sell, it being provided that the ORIGINATOR shall have identified in each offer to sell those of the Receivables which fulfill the following criteria (the French Eligible Receivables ) and those which does not fulfill those criteria (the French Non Eligible Receivables ):
(i) | the Offer Letter is correct and complete and was dispatched by the ORIGINATOR within the time line set out in clause 2.3 of the Factoring Agreement; |
(ii) | the relevant French Receivable is Eligible; |
(iii) | the French Debtor has been granted a payment term not exceeding 60 days after the relevant invoice date; |
(iv) | the relevant French Receivable is not a claim against an Affiliated Company; |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
(v) | the relevant French Receivable is within the scope of the Debtor Limit; |
(vi) | the sum of the amount of the relevant Receivable and all other purchased and unpaid French Receivables against the relevant French Debtor or debtor credit unit within the meaning of § 19 of the German Banking Act does not exceed 30% of all purchased and unpaid French Receivables of the ORIGINATOR against all of his French Debtors; |
(vii) | the payment of the purchase price in respect of the purchased Receivable will not result in and excess of the Maximum Commitment; |
(viii) | the legal relationship from which such French Receivables arise is governed by French law. |
(ix) | the contracts pursuant to which such French Receivables arises do not contain a confidentiality clause or a clause banning the transfer of such French Receivables or requesting the approval of the parties of the purchaser of such French Receivables; |
(x) | such French Receivable is a valid obligation enforceable against the French Debtor; |
(xi) | the payment of such French Receivable in full is (subject to any contractual set-off and right of counterclaim) legally enforceable against the Originator to whom the invoice is addressed; |
(xii) | the transfer by the Originator to GE CAPITAL of such French Receivable, GE CAPITALs ownership of such French Receivable and the transfer to GE CAPITAL of information about a French Debtor is not made in violation of: |
| the contract pursuant to which such French Receivable arises or any other agreement to which the Originator is a party to an extend that would have a material adverse effect on the legal transferability or collectability of, or the legal title of GE CAPITAL to such French Receivable; or |
| any applicable laws; |
(xiii) | the principal outstanding amount of such French Receivable, as notified in the relevant invoice, is the amount due in respect of that French Receivable under the relevant contract; |
(xiv) | all sums due from or obligations owed by the Originator to the French Debtor have been paid or performed and the Originator does not have any other obligations towards the French Debtor which, in either case, would give the French Debtor such right to reduce the amount payable for the French Receivable; |
(xv) | the correct name and address of the French Debtor and any required purchase order number appear on each invoice or credit note, on any documents evidencing the French Receivable as required and on the invoice; |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
(xvi) | the contracts pursuant to which such French Receivable arises have not been entered into with suppliers of the Originator; and |
(xvii) | the contracts pursuant to which such French Receivables arise have not been entered into with a public sector company. |
(c) The parties agree to amend Clause 4 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by inserting the following Clause 4.2 (the remaining paragraphs of Clause 4 being redenominated accordingly): 4.2 On each Transfer Date, the purchase price for the French Receivables purchased on that date shall be equal to the aggregate Nominal Amount of the French Eligible Receivables purchased on that date, reduced by deductions relating to the relevant French Eligible Receivable (such as discounts) that were granted to the relevant French Debtor by the ORIGINATOR, and deducting the Factoring Commission and the Total Financing Commission.
If a French Non Eligible Receivable becomes a French Eligible Receivable after its Transfer Date because of a modification of the applicable Debtor Limit or otherwise, GE CAPITAL shall then pay to the ORIGINATOR an additional purchase price equal to the aggregate Nominal Amount of such French Receivable that have become eligible after the Transfer Date, reduced by deductions relating to the relevant French Receivables (such as discounts) that were granted to the relevant French Debtor by the ORIGINATOR, and deducting the Factoring Commission and the Total Financing Commission.
In the Bad Debt Case , the purchase price is reduced by the VAT amount included in the Receivable which the ORIGINATOR must claim from the tax authorities (see clause 6.4), at the time the legal prerequisites allowing a recovery of such VAT amounts are fulfilled. GE CAPITAL undertakes to provide the ORIGINATOR with all information and documents necessary for claiming such VAT amounts from tax authorities.
The purchase price regarding the French Receivables purchased on any given Transfer Date (excluding the Purchase Price Reserve and subject to the settlement of the Total Financing Commission) shall fall due when such French Receivables are purchased. The Total Financing Commission will be charged monthly in arrears.
Any payments in respect of the purchase price and any charges are made by book entry by GE CAPITAL on the Settlement Account.
(d) The parties agree to supplement Clause 19 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by adding the following paragraphs 19.5 to 19.7:
19.5 The ORIGINATOR, after having offered to sell the French Receivables to GE CAPITAL, undertakes not to cancel or vary any of the following with respect to such French Receivable;
| any contract pursuant to which a French Receivable arises; or |
| any related rights; or |
| any payment terms or settlement discounts; |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
without GE CAPITALs written consent;
19.6 The ORIGINATOR undertakes to make sure that every contract pursuant to which a French Receivable arises shall only be entered into in the ordinary course of its trading activities as disclosed to GE CAPITAL;
(e) The parties agree to supplement Clause 2 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by adding the following paragraph 2.5:
2.5 The ORIGINATOR represents and warrants that the receivables identified in the Offer Letter as being French Eligible Receivables, comply with the eligibility criteria set out in Clause 3.2 of the Factoring Agreement.
(f) The parties agree to supplement Clause 4.1 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by the following paragraph 4.6:
4.1 The purchase price for each purchased French Receivable shall be deemed to be inclusive of any value added tax ( VAT ) (if any) and GE CAPITAL shall not be required to increase the purchase price for such VAT.
(g) The parties agree to replace Clause 6 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by inserting the following paragraph 6.3 (the remaining paragraphs of Clause 6 being redenominated accordingly):
6.3 Bad Debt Case means, for the French Receivables, that the relevant Debtor :
(a) fails to pay a Receivable within 120 days after its due date without disputing its obligation to pay prior to or after the expiry of such period; or
(b) is in situation of état de cessation des paiements or is subject to bankruptcy proceedings ( sauvegarde , redressement or liquidation judiciaire ) or amicable reorganisation ( conciliation or mandat ad hoc ) or is in a situation or is subject to a procedure similar to those referred to above.
(h) The parties agree to supplement Clause 6 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by inserting the following paragraph 6.6:
6.6 GE CAPITAL hereby grants power of attorney and appoints the ORIGINATOR to act as its agent, in its name and behalf, pursuant to the terms of a mandate ( mandat ) which the ORIGINATOR hereby accepts to collect and recover from the relevant tax administration, VAT which has already been paid or accounted for in respect of assigned French Receivables which have become uncollectible.
(i) The parties agree to supplement Clause 6 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by adding the following paragraph 6.7:
6.7 The ORIGINATOR shall take such steps and do all things as may be necessary or appropriate for the recovery and/or reimbursement from the relevant tax administration of the amount of VAT which has already been paid or accounted for in respect of assigned French Receivables which have become uncollectible and are eligible for such recovery and/or reimbursement from the relevant tax administration.
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Furthermore, the ORIGINATOR, acting as servicer of the assigned French Receivables shall transfer to GE CAPITAL the amount of VAT bad debt relief corresponding to the said assigned French Receivables that shall be recovered from, or refunded by, the relevant tax administration.
(j) The parties agree that Clause 8.1 of the Factoring Agreement shall not apply to the French Receivables.
(k) The parties agree to amend Clause 11.1(b) of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the French Receivables by the following paragraph 11.1(b):
any and all claims for delivery of such assets, in particular in the event of an unwinding of the contract, as well as the right to rescind the contract including, for the French Receivables, any retention of title right over the goods delivered by the ORIGINATOR under such contract
(l) The parties agree to amend Clause 13 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by inserting the following paragraph 13.2 (the remaining paragraphs of Clause 13 beingredenominated accordingly):
13.2.1 In the Disclosed Procedure for the French Receivables, GE CAPITAL (i) will notify the French Debtors of each Transfer Date by delivering a notice of transfer in the form of Schedule 2 and, (ii) may request any or all French Debtors to accept the assignment of French Receivables owing by them in accordance with article L.313-29 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.
In addition, the ORIGINATOR will indicate on its invoices a clearly visible note of assignment.
(m) The parties agree to supplement Clause 21 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the French Receivables by inserting the following paragraph 21(h):
(h) Notwithstanding paragraph (c) above, the transfer of the French Receivables made in accordance with Clause 2 shall be governed by French law and the competent court of Paris have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute in relation with such assignment.
(n) The parties agree to supplement Clause 24 of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by adding the following paragraph:
All amounts expressed to be payable by the ORIGINATOR (including without limitation the Factoring Commission ) shall be deemed to be exclusive of VAT (if any). If VAT is chargeable on such amounts, the amounts payable by the ORIGINATOR shall be increased by the amount of such VAT.
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(o) The parties agree to amend or supplement Section F (Definitions) of the Factoring Agreement in respect of the assignment of French Receivables by adding the following definitions:
Computer File : electronic file containing all the relevant information (including all the information set out in Clause 3.1) for the purpose of identifying and individualizing (including, inter alia, the name and details of the French Debtor, the invoice number, the invoice issue date and the due date) the French Receivables which are owned by the Originator as at the relevant Transfer Date.
Debtors: All present and future counterparties of the ORIGINATOR to contracts (including the French Debtors) pursuant to which the ORIGINATOR owes the delivery of goods and/or the rendering of services for which the relevant counterparty owes payment, provided that the Debtors included in the factoring agreement are set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions).
French Debtor : any Debtor of a French Receivable.
French Receivable : any Receivable which is governed by French law and owed by a French Debtor, together with the related rights listed in clause 11.1 of this agreement.
Transfer Date : the date on which the ORIGINATOR sends an Offer Letter to GE CAPITAL, in accordance with clause 2.3 of this agreement.
Receivables: all existing and future payment receivables arising under agreements for the delivery of goods and/or the rendering of services by the ORIGINATOR vis-à-vis its Debtors (including the French Receivables).
Any and all other provisions of the Factoring Agreement shall apply and shall remain unaffected hereby.
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
SCHEDULE 1
FORM OF FRENCH TRANSFER DOCUMENT
ACTE DE CESSION DE CREANCES PROFESSIONNELLES
régi par les dispositions des Articles L. 313-23 à L. 313-34 du Code monétaire et financier
1. | CÉDANT |
[], une société [], dont le siège social est situé à v , immatriculée au [] de [] sous le numéro [], représenté par , dûment habilité aux fins des présentes, (le Cédant ),
2. | CESSIONNAIRE |
GE CAPITAL BANK AG, une société [] de droit [], dont le siège social est situé [], immatriculée au [] sous le numéro [], représenté par [ nom ], [ titre ], dûment habilité aux fins des présentes (le Cessionnaire ),
3. | DATE |
Date de signature et de remise de lacte au Cessionnaire : le [ date à compléter par le Cessionnaire ]
4. | CESSION DE CRÉANCES |
Le Cédant cède au Cessionnaire les Créances désignées au paragraphe 5 sans garantie ni recours quelconques autres que lexistence des Créances et des garanties et accessoires qui sy attachent et ceux prévus dans le Contrat dAffacturage ( Factoring Agreement ) (le Contrat ) en date du [], selon les modalités et obligations décrites dans ledit Contrat. La cession desdites créances intervient avec jouissance à la date du présent acte de cession de créances ( lActe de Cession de Créance ).
5. | RÉANCES CÉDÉES |
Les créances cédées (les Créances) correspondent à un ensemble de [nombre de Créances à compléter] créances (y compris leurs accessoires) répondant à la définition de French Receivables dont le montant total en principal restant dû est de [à compléter] et qui sont lensembles des créances dont la liste figuresur les fichiers informatiques intitulés [à compléter] remis avec le présent Acte de Cession de Créance.
6. | PRIX DE CESSION |
[Le prix de cession total des Créances visées à lArticle 5 est de [ montant ] et est payable conformément à lArticle 4 ( Purchase Price, Due Date, Reserves, Factoring Commission, Total Financing Commission) du Contrat.]
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
7. | GENERAL |
La présente cession de créances est soumise aux dispositions des Articles L. 313-23 et suivants du Code monétaire et financier.
Les termes en langue anglaise figurant aux présentes ont le sens qui leur est donné dans le Contrat.
Le présent acte de cession de créances et le(s) fichier(s) informatique(s) susvisés sont établis en un seul exemplaire original, lequel est remis au Cessionnaire.
[]
Cédant
Représenté par :
Nom :
Titre : []
Le :
GE CAPITAL France AG,
Cessionnaire
représentée par :
Nom :
Titre :
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Translation for information purposes only
FRENCH TRANSFER DOCUMENT
governed by the provisions of Articles L. 313-23 to L. 313-34 of the French Code monétaire et financier
1. | THE SELLER |
[ Name of the Seller ] [ type of company ], having its registered office at [], registered with the [], under the number [], represented by [], duly authorised for the purpose hereof (the Seller ).
2. | THE PURCHASER |
GE CAPITAL BANK AG [ type of company ], having its registered office at [], registered with the [], under the number [], , represented by [], duly authorised for the purpose hereof (the Purchaser ).
3. | DATE |
The date of delivery of the Transfer Document to the Purchaser: [ Date to be affixed by the Purchaser ].
4. | TRANSFER OF RECEIVABLES |
The Seller transfers to the Purchaser the receivables ( Receivables ) referred to in paragraph 5 without warranty or recourse other than those provided for the existence of the Receivables and the security and ancillary rights attached thereto in accordance with the provisions of the Factoring Agreement (the Agreement ) dated [], in accordance with the terms and conditions described in such Agreement. The transfer of the Receivables occurs on the date of this transfer document.
5. | TRANSFERRED RECEIVABLES |
The transferred receivables (the Receivables ) correspond to [ number of Receivables ] (including their ancillary rights) being defined as French Receivables, having an outstanding amount of [to be inserted] and that constitute all the Receivables named [ to be inserted ] in the computer file delivered with this transfer document.
PURCHASE PRICE
[The total purchase price of the Receivables provided for in Article 5 is [ amount ] and is payable in accordance with Clause 4 (Purchase Price, Due Date, Reserves, Factoring Commission, Total Financing Commission) of the Agreement.
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
6. | GENERAL |
Capitalised terms and expressions used herein in English shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement.
|
[NAME OF SELLER]
by:
Name:
Title:
Date:
|
[NAME OF PURCHASER]
by:
Name:
Title:
Date:
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
SCHEDULE 2
FORM OF NOTIFICATION LETTER
NOTIFICATION AU DEBITEUR DUNE CREANCE CEDEE EN APPLICATION
DES ARTICLES L.313-23 A L.313-34 DU
CODE MONETAIRE ET FINANCIER
[Lieu], le [Date]
Lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception
Monsieur,
Notification au débiteur dune créance cédée en application des articles L.313-23 à L.313-34 du Code monétaire
et financier.
Nous nous référons au Contrat dAffacturage ( Factoring Agreement ) en date du [] 2010 conclu entre [] en
qualité de Cédant ( Seller ) et GE CAPITAL BANK AG en qualité de Cessionnaire ( Purchaser ) (le Contrat ) et à lActe de Cession de Créances Professionnelles en date du [] portant cession par la société [] en notre faveur.
Dans les conditions prévues par les articles L.313-23 à L.313-34 du Code monétaire et financier [] nous a cede les créances suivantes dont vous êtes débiteurs envers elle :
Designation du débiteur cédé |
Désignation du
contrat donnant naissance à la créance cédée |
Montant ou
évaluation du montant de la créance cédée |
Lieu de
paiement prévu |
Echéance | ||||||||||||
[] |
[ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] |
Conformément aux dispositions de larticle L.313-28 du Code monétaire et financier, nous vous demandons de cesser, à compter de la présente notification, tout paiement au titre de ces créances à la société []. En conséquence, à compter de la présente notification le règlement desdites créances devra être effectué par virement bancaire sur le compte suivant:
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Nom du bénéficiaire : [];
Banque : [];
Swift : [];
Numéro de compte : [];
IBAN : [].
Par ailleurs, conformément à larticle R. 313-16 du Code monétaire et financier, nous vous demandons de faire figurer sur toute facture présente ou future relative à toute Créance qui ne serait pas en notre possession les mentions obligatoires suivantes : La créance relative à la présente facture a été cédée à GE Factofrance SNC dans le cadre des articles L. 313-23 à L. 313-34 du Code monétaire et financier. Le paiement doit être effectué par virement au compte n° [ Insérer références IRAN du numéro de compte ] chez [ Insérer nom de la banque teneuse de compte ].
Fait à [] | ||
le | ||
[] | ||
Par: |
|
|
Nom : [ name ] |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Translation for information purposes only
FORM OF LETTER OF NOTIFICATION
NOTIFICATION TO THE FRENCH DEBTOR OF THE TRANSFER OF
RECEIVABLES IN ACCORDANCE TO ARTICLE
313623 TO 313-34 OF THE FRENCH MONETARY AND FINANCIAL CODE
[place], [date]
Registered letter with recorded delivery
Dear Sirs,
Notification to the French Debtor of the transfer of French Receivables in accordance to Article 313-23 to 313- 34 of the French Monetary and Financial Code
We refer to a Factoring Agreement dated [] 2010 entered into between [] as Seller and GE CAPITAL BANK as
Purchaser (the Agreement ) and to the French Transfer Document dated [], under which transfer of receivables has been made to our benefit.
In accordance with article L.313-23 to L.313-34 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, [] has transferred to us the following receivables in respect of which you are the debtor:
Transferred Debtor |
Contract under
which the transferred receivable arise |
Amount or
valuation of the transferred receivable |
Contemplated
place of payment |
Maturity date | ||||||||||||
[] |
[ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] |
In accordance with the provisions of article L.313-28 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, we hereby instruct you to stop making payment of any sum due under the receivables to []. As from the date of receipt of this notice, we also instruct you to make payment of such sum due by your company under the receivables by direct debit bank transfer to the credit of the following bank account:
Name of the beneficiary:
Account Bank:
Swift:
Account number:
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
IBAN:
Moreover, pursuant to Article R. 313-16 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, we hereby request you that all present and future invoice(s) not in our possession relating to the Receivables include the following compulsory mention: The receivable arising out of the present invoice has been assigned to GE Factofrance SNC pursuant to Articles L. 313-23 à L. 313-34 of the French Monetary and Financial Code. Payment must be made by wire transfer to the following account No . [ Insert IRAN references ] with [ Insert name of bank account ].
Done in [] | ||
On | ||
[] | ||
By: |
|
|
Name: |
|
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
ANLAGE 2
FORMULAR FÜR FORDERUNGSANZEIGEN
A. German
GE Capital Bank AG Heinrich-von-Brentano-Str. 2 55130 Mainz |
Einreichung Nr.: | 1 | ||
Kundennummer: | 001 / | |||
Kunde: | ||||
Währung: EURO |
Bestandsveränderung Intercredit-Verfahren
Im Rahmen des mit Ihnen geschlossenen Factoring-Vertrages übersenden wir Ihnen als Anlage nachstehend aufgeführte Unterlagen und bieten Ihnen den Kauf und die Abtretung der nachstehend durch die beigefügten Rechnungskopien und beigefügten Dateien spezifizierten Forderungen an. Die Waren, über die wir Rechnungen erstellt haben, sind ausgeliefert. Kommissionsware wurde nicht fakturiert. Auf den beigefügten Gutschriftsbelegen ist die jeweilige Begründung angegeben.
|
|
|||
Ort, Datum | Stempel und rechtsverb. Unterschrift |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
ANNEX 2
FORM OF OFFER LETTER
B. English
GE Capital Bank AG Heinrich-von-Brentano-Str. 2 55130 Mainz |
Submission No.: | 1 | ||
ORIGINATOR number: | 001 / | |||
ORIGINATOR: | ||||
Currency: EURO |
Change in inventory Intercredit-process
On the basis of the concluded Factoring Agreement between us, please find enclosed the following listed documents. We would like to offer you the sale and assignment of the account receivables which are specified by the enclosed invoices and files. The goods which we have invoiced have been delivered. Goods on consignment have not been billed. The enclosed receipts regarding credit balances state the respective reason.
|
|
|||
Place, Date | Stamp andl legally binding signature |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
ANNEX 3
TRADE CREDIT INSURANCE AGREEMENT
Supplement Agreement
to a Factoring Agreement
between
GE Capital Bank AG,
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2,
55130 Mainz, Germany
hereinafter referred to as GE Capital
and
[ ] , [ ],
hereinafter referred to as Originator
The Originator has entered into a trade credit insurance agreement [insurance policy no.[]] with [] [ insurance company ]. As a part of this agreement certain credit limits are assigned to the Originators customers from time to time.
GE Capital will use these limits as a basis for the allocation of the Debtor Limits pursuant to section 7 of the Factoring Agreement. GE Capital, however, reserves the right to modify the Debtor Limits higher or lower than set by the credit insurers granted limits within the boundaries of the Factoring Agreement. Within the limit set out by GE Capital, GE Capital assumes the Bad Debt Coverage ( Delkrederehaftung ) pursuant to section 6 of the Factoring Agreement.
GE Capital must be informed without undue delay ( unverzüglich ) about any granting, changes and cancellations of limits of which the Originator is aware of by way of electronic transfer (i.e. the Originator shall provide GE Capital per email with scanned copies of the granted/changed/cancelled limits, as applicable).
The Originator undertakes to pay the remuneration (fees, costs, etc.) when due to the credit insurer in accordance with the insurance policy.
The Originator hereby undertakes to assign the payment claims against the credit insurer in accordance with the separate assignment agreement and to request the credit insurer to approve the terms of such assignment. Furthermore, the Originator shall request the credit insurer to accept that GE Capital shall conduct the collection procedure upon revocation of the Undisclosed Procedure. The relevant declarations are to be provided to GE Capital as soon as they have been received from the relevant credit insurance provider.
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Mainz, Germany, [] [], [] | ||
GE CAPITAL BANK AG | ||
|
||
Signed by: [] [] | ||
Title: [] [] | ||
[ ] | ||
|
||
Signed by: [ ] [ ] | ||
Title: [ ] [ ] |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
ANLAGE 3
WARENKREDITVERSICHERUNGSVERTRAG
Nachtrag
zu einem Factoringvertrag
zwischen
GE Capital Bank AG,
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2,
55130 Mainz, Deutschland
Nachstehend GE Capital genannt
und
[ ], [ ],
nachstehend Kunde genannt
Der KUNDE hat mit [] einen Warenkreditversicherungsvertrag (Versicherungsschein-Nr.[]) abgeschlossen. Im Rahmen dieses Vertrages wurden gelegentlich Limite auf die Abnehmer des Kunden gezeichnet.
GE Capital wird diese Limite als Grundlage für die Vergabe von Abnehmerlimiten gemäß Ziffer 7 des Factoringvertrags verwenden. GE Capital behält sich jedoch das Recht vor, die Abnehmerlimite höher oder auch niedriger als die vom Kreditversicherer vergebenen Limite festzusetzen. Im Rahmen der von ihr festgesetzten Limite übernimmt GE Capital die Delkrederehaftung gemäß Ziffer 6 des Factoringvertrages.
GE Capital ist über alle Limiteinräumungen,veränderungen und streichungen, die dem Kunden bekannt sind, durch elektronische Datenübermittlung zu unterrichten (Beispiel: Der Kunde stellt GE Capital eingescannte Kopien über Limiteinräumungen,veränderungen und-streichungen per Email zur Verfügung).
Der Kunde verpflichtet sich, Entgelte (Gebühren, Kosten, etc.) gemäß dem Versicherungsschein zu entrichten, wenn sie beim Kreditversicherer fällig werden.
Der Kunde verpflichtet sich hiermit, die Auszahlungsansprüche gegenüber dem Kreditversicherer gemäß gesonderter Abtretungserklärung abzutreten und die Zustimmung des Kreditversicherers zur Abtretung einzuholen. Des Weiteren wird der Kunde den Kreditversicherer dazu auffordern, seine Einwilligung zur Durchführung des Inkassoverfahrens im Stillen Verfahren bis auf Widerruf zu erteilen. Die entsprechenden Erklärungen sind, sobald sie vom jeweiligen Kreditversicherer empfangen wurden, GE Capital zur Verfügung zu stellen.
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Mainz, Deutschland, [] [], [] |
||
GE CAPITAL BANK AG | ||
|
||
Name: [] [] | ||
Position: [] [] | ||
[ ] | ||
|
||
Name: [] [] | ||
Position: [] [] |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
ANNEX 4
ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT ON TRADE CREDIT INSURANCE
We, the company
[],
hereby assign the existing and future claims against
[]
arising under the Trade Credit Insurance in relation to sold and/or assigned receivables to
[Insurance Policy No. []]
to
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2
55130 Mainz
Simultaneously, the Trade Credit Insurer is authorized to pass decisions of limits directly to GE Capital Bank AG.
GE Capital Bank AG and the Trade Credit Insurer are authorized to mutually exchange any necessary information.
[ Place [], date []] |
|
|||||
Companys stamp/Signatures |
Hereby we accept the assignment:
Mainz, [ date []]
CE Capital Bank AG
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
NOTIFICATION OF ASSIGNMENT TO TRADE CREDIT INSURER
[Drafting note: Depending on with which insurance companies the ORIGINATOR has entered into credit
insurance agreements, the relevant following drafts shall be used:]
a) Euler Hermes:
Björn Hemp Neukundenbetreuer GE Capital Bank AG T +49 (0) 6131 4647 486 M +49 (0) 162 205 4249 F +49 (0) 6131 809 337 E bjoern.hemp@ge.com |
Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs AG
Niederlassung Mitte
Hans-Joachim Schieffer
Große Gallusstraße 1-17
60311 Frankfurt
[ date []]
Assignment Agreement by [ company []]
[ insurance policy no. []]
Dear Madam or Sir,
The aforementioned company has assigned their existing and future claims in relation to sold and assigned receivables arising under or in connection with the Trade Credit Insurance against Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs-AG pursuant to insurance policy no. [] to us,
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2
55130 Mainz, Germany
(see enclosure).
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Kindly confirm your approval to us in writing as to the aforementioned assignment agreement. In case you approve, kindly have all payments resulting from the claims paid to the bank account
Account No: 300 111
BIN: 550 305 00
SWIFT: HRBKDE 51
IBAN: DE 5503 0500 0300 11.
Furthermore, kindly include the clause insurance coverage for sold claims ( Versicherungsschutz für verkaufte Forderungen ) and thus GE Capital Bank AG as additionally insured company to the contract. As to the collection of receivables, kindly authorize GE Capital Bank AG, Mainz, Germany, to conduct the collection procedure in addition to Euler Hermes Forderungsmanagement GmbH.
We appreciate your effort.
Kind regards
GE Capital Bank AG
Enclosures
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
b) Coface:
Björn Hemp
Neukundenbetreuer
GE Capital Bank AG
T +49 (0) 6131 4647 486
M +49 (0) 162 205 4249
F +49 (0) 6131 809 337
E bjoern.hemp@ge.com
Coface Kreditversicherungs AG
Isaac-Fulda-Allee 1
55124 Mainz
[ date []]
Assignment Agreement by [ company []]
[ insurance policy no. []]
Dear Madam or Sir,
The aforementioned company has assigned their existing and future claims in relation to sold and assigned receivables arising under or in connection with the Trade Credit Insurance against Coface Kreditversicherungs-AG pursuant to insurance policy no. []
to us,
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2
55130 Mainz, Germany
(see enclosure).
Kindly confirm your approval to us in writing as to the aforementioned assignment agreement. In case you approve, kindly have all payments resulting from the claims paid to the bank account
Account No: 300 111
BIN: 550 305 00
SWIFT: HRBKDE 51
IBAN: DE 5503 0500 0300 11.
In connection with the assignment of the claims to payment under the above-mentioned insurance policy, we are happy to confirm to you that proceeds from any security granted and other amounts paid by the insured company that were transferred to us under the Factoring Agreement, will still be deducted in the damage calculation of the credit insurer under the terms of the Trade Credit Insurance Agreement (together with standard conditions of insurance and supplementary provisions). This also applies to the indemnifications of the above mentioned security or any other payments provided. The credit insurer is entitled to the proceeds of collateral and other payments after the indemnification of the credit insurer up to the amount of indemnification, whereupon a new damage settlement takes place under proportional allocation (Indemnity /Deductible).
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
We will inform the credit insurer immediately about the respective proceeds and other payments.
At the same time we will transfer the receivables underlying the indemnification including the reservation of property rights, which adhere to these receivables.
Furthermore we ask you to file GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von Brentano-Straße 2, 55130 Mainz as a further collection agency (Inkassostelle) .
We appreciate your effort.
Kind regards
GE Capital Bank AG
Enclosures
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
ANLAGE 4
WARENKREDITVERSICHERUNGSABTRETUNGSVERTRAG
VERTRAG
Hiermit treten wir, die Firma
[],
die uns gegen die
[]
zustehenden, gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Ansprüche aus der Warenkreditversicherung,
[Versicherungsschein-Nr. []]
im Hinblick auf verkaufte und/oder abgetretene Forderungen an die
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2
55130 Mainz
ab.
Gleichzeitig wird der Warenkreditversicherer hiermit ermächtigt, Limitentscheidungen direkt an die GE Capital Bank AG weiterzugeben. Die GE Capital Bank AG und der Warenkreditversicherer sind berechtigt, wechselseitig notwendige Informationen auszutauschen.
[ Ort [], Datum []] |
Firmenstempel/Unterschriften |
Wir nehmen die Abtretung hiermit an:
Mainz, [ Datum []]
CE Capital Bank AG
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
ABTRETUNGSANZEIGE FÜR KREDITVERSICHERER
a) Euler Hermes:
Björn Hemp
Neukundenbetreuer
GE Capital Bank AG
T +49 (0) 6131 4647 486
M +49 (0) 162 205 4249
F +49 (0) 6131 809 337
E bjoern.hemp@ge.com
Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs AG
Niederlassung Mitte
Hans-Joachim Schieffer
Große Gallusstraße 1-17
60311 Frankfurt
[ Datum []]
Abtretungsvertrag der [ Firma []]
[ Versicherungsschein-Nr. []]
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
die oben genannte Firma hat Ihre gegen die Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs-AG zustehenden gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Ansprüche aus der Warenkreditversicherung gemäß Versicherungsschein Nr. []
im Hinblick auf verkaufte und abgetretene Forderungen an uns, die
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2
55130 Mainz, Germany
abgetreten
(siehe Anlage).
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Wir bitten Sie, uns Ihre Zustimmung bezüglich der vorgenannten Abtretungserklärung schriftlich zu bestätigen.
Im Falle Ihrer Zustimmung bitten wir Sie, alle Zahlungen aus den Ansprüchen auf das
Konto-Nr.: 300 111
BIN: 550 305 00
SWIFT: HRBKDE 51
IBAN: DE 5503 0500 0300 11.
bei der GE Capital Bank AG, Mainz zu veranlassen.
Wir bitten Sie weiterhin, die Klausel Versicherungsschutz für verkaufte Forderungen und damit die GE
Capital Bank AG, Mainz als Mitversicherte- mit in den Vertrag aufzunehmen. Bezüglich des Forderungseinzugsbitten wir Sie, dass die GE Capital Bank AG, Mainz neben der Euler Hermes Forderungsmanagement GmbH als zusätzlich anerkannte Inkassostelle bevollmächtigt wird.
Wir bedanken uns für Ihre Bemühungen.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen GE Capital Bank AG
Anlagen
[ Datum []]
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b) Coface:
Björn Hemp
Neukundenbetreuer
GE Capital Bank AG
T +49 (0) 6131 4647 486
M +49 (0) 162 205 4249
F +49 (0) 6131 809 337
E bjoern.hemp@ge.com
Coface Kreditversicherungs AG
Isaac-Fulda-Allee-1
55124 Mainz
[Datum []]
Abtretungsvertrag der [ Firma []]
[ Versicherungsschein-Nr. []]
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
die oben genannte Firma hat Ihre gegen die Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs-AG zustehenden gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Ansprüche aus der Warenkreditversicherung gemäß Versicherungsschein Nr. []
im Hinblick auf verkaufte und abgetretene Forderungen an uns, die
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2
55130 Mainz, Germany
abgetreten
(siehe Anlage).
Wir bitten Sie, uns Ihre Zustimmung bezüglich der vorgenannten Abtretungserklärung schriftlich zu bestätigen.
Im Falle Ihrer Zustimmung bitten wir Sie, alle Zahlungen aus den Ansprüchen auf das
Konto-Nr.: 300 111
BIN: 550 305 00
SWIFT: HRBKDE 51
IBAN: DE 5503 0500 0300 11.
zu veranlassen. Ihrer Zustimmung bitten wir Sie, alle Zahlungen aus den Ansprüchen auf das Konto der GE Capital Bank AG.
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Gerne bestätigen wir Ihnen im Zusammenhang mit der Abtretung der Auszahlungsansprüche aus dem o.g. Versicherungsvertrag, dass Erlöse aus den durch den Versicherungsnehmer vereinbarten Sicherheiten und sonstigen Zahlungen, die an uns im Rahmen des Factoringvertrages übertragen wurden, bei der Schadensabrechnung des Kreditversicherers entsprechend der Bestimmungen des Kreditversicherungsvertrages (nebst Allgemeinen Versicherungsbedingungen und ergänzenden Bestimmungen) weiterhin in Abzug gebracht werden. Dies gilt auch für nach der Entschädigungsleistung aus den vorgenannten Sicherheiten oder sonstige erbrachte Zahlungen. Die Erlöse aus Sicherheiten sowie sonstige Zahlungen nach der Entschädigungsleistung des Kreditversicherers stehen bis zur Höhe der Entschädigungsleistung dem Kreditversicherer zu, wobei eine neue Schadensabrechnung unter anteiliger Aufteilung
(Entschädigungsleistung/Selbstbehalt) der entsprechenden Rückflüsse erfolgt.
Wir werden dem Kreditversicherer die jeweiligen Erlöse und sonstigen Zahlungen unverzüglich mitteilen.
Gleichzeitig werden wir im Fall einer Entschädigung die der Entschädigung zugrundeliegenden Forderungen einschließlich der für diese haftenden Eigentumsvorbehaltsrechte übertragen.
Des Weiteren bitten wir Sie, die GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2, 55130 Mainz, als weitere Inkassostelle bei Ihnen zu hinterlegen.
Wir bedanken uns für Ihre Bemühungen.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
GE Capital Bank AG
Anlagen
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ANNEX 5
ACCOUNT PLEDGE AGREEMENT
Account Pledge and Trust Agreement
the Agreement
between
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2, 55130 Mainz, Germany
-hereinafter referred to as GE CAPITAL-
as Trustor and Pledgee
and
[], []
-hereinafter referred to as ORIGINATOR
as Trustee and Pledgor
1. Pledged Account, Obligation to Transfer
1.1 GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR have entered into a Factoring Agreement under which GE CAPITAL acquires accounts receivables from the ORIGINATOR owed by its debtors, thus GE CAPITAL is entitled to debtors payments.
1.2 The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL hereby agree that the ORIGINATORs following bank account shall be the Pledged Account as defined in the Factoring Agreement :
Account-No.: [] Account Bank : Deutsche Bank AG BLZ/IBAN: []
1.3 The ORIGINATOR is obliged vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL to forward to GE CAPITAL without undue delay all incoming payments to the Pledged Account as well as all payments otherwise received from debtors.
2. Pledge
2.1 To secure any and all of GE CAPITALs present and future claims against the ORIGINATOR pursuant to section 1.3 and arising out of the Factoring Agreement, in particular from clause 5 of the Factoring Agreement ,
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and its performance, and to secure any and all other present and future claims of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR arising from the business relationship, the ORIGINATOR hereby pledges any and all of its rights to payment of any and all future credits (surplus) relating to the Pledged Account, which the ORIGINATOR is entitled to, regarding balances from current accounts ( Kontokorrent ) of the Pledged Account as well as the rights to the daily balance resulting from the current account agreement related to current payouts between balancing of accounts, including the right to transfer any credits standing to the account of the Pledged Account and the right to credit the received amounts (altogether Claims on Credit and from Credit ) to GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL hereby accepts such pledge.
3. Collection Authority ( Einziehungsermächtigung )
3.1 The ORIGINATOR is solely entitled to claim performance in favor to GE CAPITAL.
3.2 GE CAPITAL is solely entitled to collect all Claims on Credit and from Credit especially even those prior to the maturity of the pledge (Pfandreife) .
3.3 GE CAPITAL undertakes vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR to pay out to the ORIGINATOR any amount paid into the Pledged Accounts which have been made towards any receivables which have verifiably not been assigned or
transferred to GE CAPITAL under or in connection with the Factoring Agreement .
4. Trust Arrangement and waiver from the confidentiality obligation
4.1 The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL agree that the Pledged Account is held by the ORIGINATOR as a Trustee on its own behalf but only for the sole purpose of providing security for GE CAPITAL (the Trust Arrangement).
The funds and assets paid to the Pledged Account shall be transferred to GE CAPITAL only. The ORIGINATOR is obliged to refrain from disposing of any amounts standing to the credit of the Pledged Account and not to otherwise charge the Pledged Account . If any of the ORIGINATORs debtors pay to any account other than the Pledged Account , the ORIGINATOR agrees to forward these payments to GE CAPITAL or to a Pledged Account without undue delay.
4.2 The ORIGINATOR hereby releases the account bank vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL from any confidentiality obligations with respect to the Pledged Account .
5. Notification, Receipt and Subordination / Waiver
5.1 The ORIGINATOR agrees vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL to notify the account bank of the pledge, the Collection Authority ( Einziehungsermächtigung ), the Trust Arrangement and the waiver from the confidentiality obligations (Notification).
5.2 Furthermore the ORIGINATOR undertakes to provide GE CAPITAL with the account banks acknowledgement whereupon the account bank:
(a) | confirms the receipt of the Notification; and explains that |
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(b) has not been provided with any other notifications of pledges and that the account bank has no knowledge of other third party rights with respect to the Pledged Account ;
(c) subordinates any of its statutory pledges to pledges created pursuant to this Agreement except for the following claims as set out under section 5.3 below and unconditionally and irrevocably waives any retention and set-off rights that it may have with respect to the ORIGINATORs receivables due from the Pledged Account as well as to other pledged account deductions (the Subordination / Waiver);
(d) issues bank statements to both the ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL in accordance with the ORIGINATORs order to issue bank statements and related data / documents in paper or digital form;
(e) acknowledges that the ORIGINATOR is only entitled to request payments for Claims on Credit and from Credit to GE CAPITAL and that only GE CAPITAL is entitled to collect the Claims on Credit and from Credit also prior to the maturity of the pledge.
5.3 The Subordination / Waiver shall not apply with respect to claims arising from and relating to:
(a) | cancellation and correction entries; |
(b) | reversals of reserved bookings (e.g. check or direct debit) and unintentional payments; |
(c) | fees and other account charges or fees in the context of normal business; |
provided, however, that such claims as set out in these sections 5.3 a c above arise in connection with the Pledged Account and do not derive from a different relationship between the ORIGINATOR and the account bank.
5.4 GE CAPITAL hereby declares vis-à-vis the account bank (§328 / German Civil Code) that the Trust Arrangement between GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR does not affect the account banks subordinated pledge and that GE CAPITAL is jointly and severally liable in addition to the ORIGINATOR for all claims, arising from the issues mentioned in 5.3.
6 ORIGINATORs guarantee
6.1 The ORIGINATOR represents and warrants that there are no rights of third parties related to the pledged claims and rights, except for the pledges pursuant to the account banks standard terms and conditions ( AGB Pfandrechte ).
6.2 Its the ORIGINATORs duty to promptly notify GE CAPITAL in case of third parties claiming such rights.
7. Authorization
7.1 The ORIGINATOR authorizes GE CAPITAL to notify the account bank of the pledge and to receive any declarations from the account bank. GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR agree to inform each other about any declarations received from the account bank without undue delay.
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7.2 The ORIGINATORs obligation as set out in section 5 above remains unaffected by this precautionary issued Authorization.
8. Other Regulations
8.1 This Agreement and a security interest of GE CAPITAL, constituted after or due to this Agreement shall be valid and will not be released until all secured debt has been paid in full under the appropriate conditions.
8.2 If any provisions of this agreement are or become unlawful, invalid or infeasible, the lawfulness / validity or feasibility of the remaining provisions will not be affected thereby.
8.3 This Agreement shall be governed by German law.
8.4 This Agreement shall be executed in the German and the English language; both versions, the German as well as the English language versions shall be binding versions. The German version shall prevail in case of any discrepancy between the German and the English version.
[ place []], [ date []]
Mainz, [ date []]
GE CAPITAL BANK AG
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Pledge of Accounts between [ ], [ ], [ ] and GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2, 55130
Mainz, Germany
Account-No: [], BLZ/IBAN: [] hereinafter referred to as Pledged Account
Dear [],
We hereby notify you of the fact that by agreement dated [] we pledged any and all present and future claims to payment of any and all present and future credits (surplus), which we are entitled to, regarding balances from current accounts (Kontokorrent) , as well as the rights to the daily balance resulting from the current account agreement related to current payouts between balancing of accounts, including the right to transfer any credits standing to the account and the right to credit the received amounts (altogether Claims on Credit and from Credit) to GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2, 55130 Mainz, Germany.
Notwithstanding of the statutory scheme, GE Capital Bank AG is exclusively entitled to collect all Claims in Credit and from Credit especially prior to the maturity of the pledge (Pfandreife) . We are only entitled to demand performance to GE Capital Bank AG.
Furthermore we release you vis-à-vis GE Capital Bank AG from any confidentiality obligation, especially from the banking secrecy, with respect to the Pledged Account . We hereby instruct you to send to GE Capital Bank AG duplicates of bank statements or copies of the bank statements and, on request, the corresponding data / supporting documents in paper or digital form. We also agree that GE Capital Bank AG receives an electronic authorization information (elektronische Auskunftsberechtigung) related to the Pledged Account .
Kindly confirm to GE Capital Bank AG that you have not received any other notification of a pledge relating to the Pledged Account and that you do not have any knowledge of any third parties rights relating to the Pledged Account .
Furthermore, kindly subordinate your pledges to the pledge granted to GE Capital Bank AG and waive any retention and set-off rights that you may have with respect to the Pledged Account as well as any other deductions from the Pledged Account (the Subordination / Waiver)
The Subordination / Waiver does not apply to claims arising from or in connection with cancellation and correction bookings, reversals of reserved bookings (e.g. check or direct debit) and unintentional payment as well as fees and other account charges or fees in the ordinary course of business, provided that the relevant facts exclusively concerns the Pledged Account and are not due to any other relation between you and us.
We keep the Pledged Account as a trustee for GE Capital Bank AG. The trust arrangement between GE Capital Bank AG and us does not affect your subordinated pledge to be remained unaffected. The payments received to the Pledged Account only serve the purpose to be transferred to GE Capital Bank AG.
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The pledge of the account shall terminate as soon as GE Capital Bank AG will have notified you of a respective release.
Furthermore we inform you that GE Capital Bank AG has assumed the joint and several liability (§328 / German Civil Code ) for your rights against us arising from or in connection with the cancellation and correction bookings, reversals of reserved bookings and unintentional payments as well as fees and other account charges or fees in the ordinary course of business, provided that the relevant facts concern exclusively the Pledged Account and is not due to any other relation between you and us.
We ask you to acknowledge the receipt of this notice and that you agree with the above regulations by sending the confirmation legally valid signed by you to GE Capital Bank AG.
Kind regards,
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To
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2
55130 Mainz, Germany
Notification of account pledge re Account-No. [], BLZ/IBAN [], Account Holder: [], [], []
Dear Madam or Sir,
We refer to the notice dated [] of [ name []] and confirm the receipt of the notification of the pledge.
We hereby acknowledge,
a) | that we have not received any other notification of pledge and that we dont know about any third party rights in respect to this account. |
b) | that we subordinate all our pledges to the pledge created in favor of GE Capital Bank AG and unconditionally and irrevocably waive any of our retention and set-off rights that we may have with respect to the pledged account as well as other deductions from the pledged account (Subordination / Waiver). |
The Subordination / Waiver shall not apply with respect to claims arising from and relating to cancellation and correction entries, reversals of reserved bookings (e.g. check or direct debit) and unintentional payments, fees and other account charges or fees in the context of normal business, provided that such claims arise in connection with the pledged account and do not derive from a different relationship between us and the pledgor.
We have taken notice of the fact that GE Capital Bank AG has taken over the joint and several liability (§ 328 / German Civil Code ) for our claims against the ORIGINATOR arising from and relating to cancellation and correction entries, reversals of reserved bookings and unintentional payments, fees and other account charges or fees in the context of normal business, provided that, however, that such claims arise in connection with the pledged account and do not derive from a different relationship between us and the ORIGINATOR.
c) | to consider that the pledgor is solely entitled to claim performance in favor of GE Capital Bank AG and that GE Capital Bank AG is entitled particularly to collect the claims from credits especially even prior to the maturity of the pledge (Pfandreife) . We will respect the Collection Authority ( Einziehungsermächtigung ) by GE Capital Bank AG especially prior to maturity of the pledge, even in the case of bankruptcy or any revocation of the ORIGINATOR. |
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d) | that we send duplicates of bank statements or copies of bank statements and on request the corresponding data / supporting documents in paper or digital form to GE Capital Bank AG and that GE Capital Bank AG receives an electronic authorization of information for the pledged account. |
The pledge of the account shall be terminated if GE Capital Bank AG has shown us the release of the lien.
Kind regards
Deutsche Bank AG
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ANLAGE 5
KONTOVERPFÄNDUNGSVERTRAG
Kontenverpfändungs- und Treuhandvertrag
zwischen
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2, 55130 Mainz
nachstehend GE CAPITAL genannt
als Treugeber und Pfandgläubiger
und
[], []
nachstehend KUNDE genannt
als Treuhänder und Verpfänder
1. Verpfändetes Bankkonto; Weiterleitungspflicht
1.1 GE CAPITAL und der K UNDE haben einen Factoringvertrag geschlossen, aufgrund dessen GE CAPITAL Forderungen des KUNDEN gegen seine Abnehmer erwirbt und somit die Abnehmerzahlungen GE CAPITAL zustehen.
1.2 Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL vereinbaren hierdurch, dass folgendes Bankkonto des KUNDEN Verpfändetes Bankkonto im Sinne des Factoringvertrages ist:
Kto. Nr.: [] Kreditinstitut: Deutsche Bank AG BLZ: []
1.3 Der KUNDE ist gegenüber GE CAPITAL verpflichtet, alle auf dem Verpfändeten Bankkonto eingehenden Zahlungen sowie sonst bei ihm eingehende Abnehmerzahlungen unverzüglich an GE CAPITAL weiterzuleiten.
2. Verpfändung
Zur Sicherung aller gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN gemäß Ziffer 1.3 und aus dem Factoringvertrag , insbesondere gemäß Ziffer 5 des Factoringvertrages , und seiner Durchführung und zur Sicherung aller gegenwärtige und zukünftigen Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN aus der Geschäftsbeziehung, verpfändet der KUNDE hierdurch seine sämtlichen gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Ansprüche aus dem Verpfändeten Bankkonto auf Auszahlung aller gegenwärtigen und künftigen Überschüsse (Guthaben), die dem KUNDEN bei Saldoziehung aus dem in laufender Rechnung (Kontokorrent) geführten Verpfändeten Bankkonto zustehen, 4 sowie aus dem das Verpfändete Bankkonto
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betreffenden Girovertrag auf fortlaufende Auszahlung des sich zwischen den Rechnungsabschlüssen ergebenden Tagesguthabens unter Einschluss des Rechts, über diese Guthaben durch Überweisungsaufträge zu verfügen und des Anspruchs auf Gutschrift der eingehenden Beträge (zusammen: Ansprüche auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben ) an GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL nimmt diese Verpfändung hierdurch an.
3. Einziehungsvereinbarung
3.1 Der KUNDE ist nur berechtigt, Leistung an GE CAPITAL zu verlangen.
3.2 GE CAPITAL ist insbesondere auch vor Pfandreife- allein zur Einziehung der Ansprüche auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben berechtigt.
3.3 GE CAPITAL verpflichtet sich gegenüber dem KUNDEN alle Beträge an die KUNDEN auszuzahlen, die in die Verpfändeten Bankkonten gezahlt wurden und die auf eine Forderung geleistet wurde, die nachweisbar nicht an GE CAPITAL in Zusammenhang mit dem Factoringvertrag abgetreten oder übertragen wurden.
4. Treuhandvereinbarung und Befreiung von der Verschwiegenheitsverpflichtung
4.1 Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL sind sich darüber einig, dass das Verpfändete Bankkonto vom KUNDEN als Treuhänder in eigenem Namen aber nur für den alleinigen Zweck der Sicherheitenbestellung für GE CAPITAL geführt wird (Treuhandvereinbarung). Die eingehenden Gelder und Guthaben auf dem Verpfändeten Bankkonto dienen nur dem Zweck ihrer Weiterleitung an GE CAPITAL. Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, jede andere Verfügung über Ansprüche aus Guthaben zu unterlassen und keine Belastungen des Verpfändeten Bankkontos vorzunehmen. Sollten Abnehmerzahlungen auf anderen als dem Verpfändeten Bankkonto eingehen, verpflichtet sich der KUNDE, diese unverzüglich an GE CAPITAL oder auf ein Verpfändetes Bankkonto weiterzuleiten.
4.2 Der KUNDE befreit hierdurch das Kreditinstitut gegenüber GE CAPITAL von allen Verschwiegenheitsverpflichtungen in Bezug auf das Verpfändete Bankkonto .
5. Anzeige, Empfangsbestätigung und Rangrücktritt/Verzicht
5.1 Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich gegenüber GE CAPITAL, dem Kreditinstitut die Verpfändung, die Einziehungsvereinbarung, die Treuhandvereinbarung und die Befreiung von der Verschwiegenheitsverpflichtung anzuzeigen (Anzeige).
5.2 Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich gegenüber GE CAPITAL des Weiteren, eine Erklärung des Kreditinstitutes beizubringen, wonach das Kreditinstitut:
(a) | den Empfang der Anzeige bestätigt und erklärt, dass |
(b) bisher keine anderweitige Verpfändungsanzeige erhalten hat und ihm auch sonst Rechte Dritter in Bezug auf das Verpfändete Bankkonto nicht bekannt sind,
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(c) mit allen ihm zustehenden Pfandrechten außer in den Fällen nachstehender Ziffer 5.3 während der Verpfändung hinter die Rechte von GE CAPITAL aufgrund dieser Verpfändungsvereinbarung zurücktritt und gegen über GE CAPITAL unbedingt und unwiderruflich auf die Geltendmachung der Rechte zur Aufrechnung mit und zur Zurückbehaltung gegenüber dem Verpfänder zustehenden Forderungen aus dem verpfändeten Konto sowie auf sonstige Absetzungen vom verpfändeten Konto verzichtet (Rangrücktritt/Verzicht).
(d) die Kontoauszüge dem KUNDEN und GE CAPITAL aufgrund des seitens des KUNDEN insoweit erteilten Auftrages, Kopien der Kontoauszüge und der dazugehörigen Daten/Belege in Papier- oder digitaler Form zu überlassen.
(e) anerkennt, dass der KUNDE nur berechtigt ist, Zahlung für Ansprüche aus Gutschrift und aus Guthaben an GE CAPITAL zu verlangen und dass nur GE CAPITAL zur Einziehung von Ansprüchen aus Gutschrift und aus Guthaben auch für solche vor Pfandreife berechtigt ist.
5.3 Der Rangrücktritt/Verzicht gilt nicht für folgende Ansprüche aus und im Zusammenhang mit:
(a) Storno- und Berichtigungsbuchungen;
(b) Rückbelastungen von Vorbehaltsbuchungen (z. B. aus Scheck oder Lastschrifteinzügen) und Fehlüberweisungen;
(c) Gebühren und andere Kontobelastungen oder Gebühren im Rahmen des normalen Geschäftsverkehrs
Für die Anwendung der Punkte 5.3 a c ist jedoch Voraussetzung, dass der Sachverhalt ausschließlich das Verpfändete Bankkonto betrifft und nicht aus einer anderen Beziehung zwischen dem KUNDEN und dem Kreditinstitut herrührt.
GE Capital erklärt hiermit gegenüber dem Kreditinstitut (§ 328 BGB) , dass das Treuhandverhältnis zwischen GE CAPITAL und dem KUNDEN das nachrangige Pfandrecht des Kreditinstitutes unberührt lässt und dass GE CAPITAL für Ansprüche des Kreditinstituts, die ausschließlich aus den in 5.3 genannten Sachverhalten entstehen, neben dem KUNDEN die gesamtschuldnerische Haftung übernimmt.
6. Garantie des KUNDEN
6.1 Der KUNDE garantiert, dass keine Rechte Dritter an den verpfändeten Ansprüchen und Rechten bestehen, mit Ausnahmen solcher Pfandrechte, die gemäß standardisierter Allgemeiner Geschäftsbedingungen von Banken existieren (AGB-Pfandrechte).
6.2 Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, GE CAPITAL umgehend zu verständigen, wenn Dritte solche Rechte geltend machen.
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7. Vollmacht
Der KUNDE bevollmächtigt GE CAPITAL, die Verpfändung gegenüber dem Kreditinstitut anzuzeigen und die Erklärungen des Kreditinstitutes auch im Namen des KUNDEN entgegenzunehmen.
Die Verpflichtung des KUNDEN gemäß Ziffer 5 bleibt von dieser vorsorglich erteilten Vollmacht unberührt.
8. Sonstige Bestimmungen
8.1 Dieser Verpfändungsvertrag und ein nach oder infolge dieses Vertrages begründetes Sicherungsrecht von GE CAPITAL bleiben gültig und werden nicht aufgehoben, bis jegliche besicherte Verbindlichkeit in vollem Umfang gemäß den entsprechenden Bedingungen beglichen worden ist.
8.2 Sollte eine der Bestimmungen dieser Vereinbarung rechtswidrig, ungültig oder undurchführbar sein oder werden, hat dies keinen Einfluss auf die Rechtmäßigkeit/Rechtsgültigkeit oder Durchsetzbarkeit der übrigen Bestimmungen dieser Vereinbarung.
8.3 Diese Vereinbarung unterliegt dem Recht der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
8.4 Dieser Vertrag soll in deutscher und englischer Sprache vollzogen werden; beide Fassungen, sowohl die deutsche als auch die englische Fassung sind bindend. Im Falle einer Diskrepanz zwischen der deutschen und der englischen Fassung, ist die deutsche Fassung vorrangig.
[], [den []
[]
Mainz, den []
GE Capital Bank AG
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Kontenverpfändung zwischen [ ], [ ], [ ] und GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2, 55130
Mainz
Kontonummer: [], BLZ: []nachstehend VERPFÄNDETES BANKKONTO genannt
Sehr geehrter/ geehrte [],
hiermit zeigen wir Ihnen an, dass wir unsere sämtlichen gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Ansprüche auf Auszahlung aller gegenwärtigen und künftigen Überschüsse (Guthaben), die uns bei Saldoziehung aus dem in laufender Rechnung (Kontokorrent) geführten o. g. Konto zustehen, sowie auch die Ansprüche aus dem Girovertrag auf fortlaufende Auszahlung des sich zwischen den Rechnungsabschlüssen ergebenden Tagesguthabens unter Einschluss des Rechts, über diese Guthaben durch Überweisungsaufträge zu verfügen und des Anspruchs auf Gutschrift der eingehenden Beträge (zusammen: Ansprüche auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben) mit Vereinbarung vom [] (Datum ergänzen) an die GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano- Straße 2, 55130 Mainz, (nachfolgend GE Capital genannt) verpfändet haben.
Abweichend von der gesetzlichen Regelung ist GE Capital jederzeit insbesondere auch vor Pfandreife- alleine zur Einziehung aller Ansprüche auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben berechtigt. Wir können nur Leistung an GE Capital verlangen.
Ferner entbinden wir Sie gegenüber GE Capital im Hinblick auf das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO von allen Verschwiegenheitsverpflichtungen, insbesondere vom Bankgeheimnis. Wir beauftragen Sie hiermit, GE Capital Duplikatskontoauszüge bzw. Kopien der Kontoauszüge zuzusenden und auf Anforderung auch die dazugehörigen Daten/Buchungsbelege in Papier- oder digitaler Form zu übersenden. Des Weiteren sind wir damit einverstanden, dass GE Capital eine elektronische Auskunftsberechtigung über das VERPFÄNDETEBANKKONTO erhält.
Wir bitten Sie, gegenüber GE Capital zu bestätigen, dass Sie bisher keine anderweitige Verpfändungsanzeige erhalten haben und Ihnen auch sonst Rechte Dritter in Bezug auf das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO nicht bekannt sind.
Des Weiteren bitten wir Sie, mit allen Ihnen zustehenden Pfandrechten hinter das zu Gunsten von GE Capital bestellte Pfandrecht zurückzutreten und gegenüber GE Capital auf die Geltendmachung der Rechte zur Aufrechnung mit und zur Zurückbehaltung gegenüber uns zustehenden Forderungen aus dem VERPFÄNDETEN BANKKONTO sowie auf sonstige Absetzungen vom verpfändeten Konto zu verzichten (Rangrücktritt/Verzicht).
Der Rangrücktritt/Verzicht gilt nicht für Ansprüche aus und im Zusammenhang mit Storno-und Berichtigungsbuchungen, Rückbelastungen von Vorbehaltsbuchungen (z. B. aus Scheck oder Lastschrifteinzügen) und Fehlüberweisungen sowie Gebühren und anderen Kontobelastungen oder Gebühren im Rahmen des normalen Geschäftsverkehrs, unter der Voraussetzung, dass der diesbezügliche Sachverhalt ausschließlich das VERPFÄNDETE
BANKKONTO betrifft und nicht aus einer anderen Beziehung zwischen Ihnen und uns herrührt.
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Wir führen das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO als Treuhänder für GE Capital. Das Treuhandverhältnis zwischen GE Capital und uns lässt Ihr nachrangiges Pfandrecht unberührt. Die auf dem VERPFÄNDETEN BANKKONTO eingehenden Zahlungen dienen nur dem Zweck ihrer Weiterleitung an GE Capital.
Die Kontoverpfändung erlischt, sobald Ihnen GE Capital die Freigabe des Pfandrechts angezeigt hat.
Weiterhin dürfen wir Sie darüber informieren, das GE Capital die gesamtschuldnerische Haftung (§ 328 BGB) für Ihre Ansprüche gegen uns aus und im Zusammenhang mit Storno-und Berichtigungsbuchungen, Rückbelastungen von Vorbehaltsbuchungen und Fehlüberweisungen sowie Gebühren und andere Kontobelastungen oder Gebühren im Rahmen des normalen Geschäftsverkehrs übernommen hat, jedoch unter der Voraussetzung, dass der Sachverhalt ausschließlich das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO betrifft und nicht aus einer anderen Beziehung zwischen uns und Ihnen herrührt.
Wir bitten Sie, den Eingang dieser Verpfändungsanzeige und Ihr Einverständnis mit den vorstehenden Regelungen durch Übersendung des von Ihnen rechtsgültig unterzeichneten Bestätigungsschreibens gegenüber GE Capital zu erklären.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
[]
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
An
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2
55130 Mainz
Kontenverpfändungsanzeige zu Konto Nr. [], BLZ [], Kontoinhaber: [], [], [] Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, wir beziehen uns auf das Schreiben vom [] unseres Kunden [], [], [] und bestätigen Ihnen hiermit, den Empfang der Verpfändungsanzeige.
Wir erklären hiermit,
a) | dass wir bisher keine anderweitige Verpfändungsanzeige erhalten haben und uns auch sonstige Rechte Dritter in Bezug auf dieses Konto nicht bekannt sind. |
b) | dass wir mit allen uns zustehenden Pfandrechten hinter das zu Gunsten GE Capital bestellte Pfandrecht zurücktreten und gegenüber GE Capital unbedingt und unwiderruflich auf die Geltendmachung unserer Rechte zur Aufrechnung mit und zur Zurückbehaltung gegenüber dem Verpfänder zustehenden Forderungen aus dem verpfändeten Konto sowie auf sonstige Absetzungen vom verpfändeten Konto verzichten (Rangrücktritt/Verzicht). |
Der Rangrücktritt/Verzicht gilt nicht für Ansprüche aus und im Zusammenhang mit Storno- und Berichtigungsbuchungen, Rückbelastungen von Vorbehaltsbuchungen (z. B. aus Scheck oder Lastschrifteinzügen) und Fehlüberweisungen sowie Gebühren und anderen Kontobelastungen oder Gebühren im Rahmen des normalen Geschäftsverkehrs, vorausgesetzt, dass der diesbezügliche Sachverhalt ausschließlich das verpfändete Bankkonto betrifft und nicht aus einer anderen Beziehung zwischen uns und dem Verpfänder herrührt.)
Wir haben zur Kenntnis genommen, das GE Capital die gesamtschuldnerische Haftung (§ 328 BGB) für unsere Ansprüche gegen den Kunden aus und im Zusammenhang mit Storno- und Berichtigungsbuchungen, Rückbelastungen von Vorbehaltsbuchungen und Fehlüberweisungen sowie Gebühren und anderen Kontobelastungen oder Gebühren im Rahmen des normalen Geschäftsverkehrs übernommen hat, jedoch unter der Voraussetzung, dass der Sachverhalt ausschließlich das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO betrifft und nicht aus einer anderen Beziehung zwischen uns und dem Kunden herrührt.
c) | zu beachten, dass der Verpfänder nur berechtigt ist, Leistung an GE CAPITAL zu verlangen und GE CAPITAL -insbesondere auch vor Pfandreife-allein zur Einziehung der Ansprüche aus Guthaben berechtigt ist. Wir werden die Einziehungsermächtigung durch GE Capital insbesondere vor Pfandreife auch im Fall einer Insolvenz oder eines Widerrufs des Kunden beachten. |
d) | dass wir GE Capital Duplikatskontoauszüge bzw. Kopien der Kontoauszüge und auf Anforderung auch die dazugehörigen Daten/Buchungsbelege in Papier- oder digitaler Form übersenden und dass GECapital eine elektronische Auskunftsberechtigung über das verpfändete Konto erhält. |
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Execution Version | 26 March 2014 |
Die Kontoverpfändung erlischt, sobald uns GE Capital die Freigabe des Pfandrechts angezeigt hat.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Deutsche Bank AG
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Exhibit 10.14
Execution Version
26 JUNE 2015
GE CAPITAL BANK AG
HEINRICH-VON-BRENTANO-STR. 2, 55130 MAINZ, GERMANY
AND
CONSTELLIUM EXTRUSIONS DĚČÍN S.R.O.
ÚSTECKÁ 751/37, DĚČÍN V-ROZBĚLESY, 405 02 DĚČÍN, CZECH REPUBLIC
FACTORING AGREEMENT /
FACTORINGVERTRAG
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27. Assignability of Claims against GE CAPITAL |
27. Abtretbarkeit der Ansprüche gegen GE CAPITAL |
|
28. Commencement Date, Expiration, Termination |
28. Vertragsbeginn, Vertragsende, Kündigung |
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29. Further Elements of this Agreement |
29. Weitere Vertragsbestandteile |
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30. Governing Law, Jurisdiction |
30. Maßgebliches Recht, Gerichtsstand |
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31. Severability Clause |
31. Salvatorische Klausel |
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F. Definitions |
F. Definitionen |
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II. Schedules |
II. Anhänge |
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Schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions) |
Anhang 1 (Konditionen) |
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Schedule 1a (Included Debtors) |
Anhang 1a (Aufgenommene Abnehmer) |
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Schedule 1b (Approved Jurisdictions) |
Anhang 1b (Zugelassene Gerichtsstände) |
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Schedule 2 (Declaration of Consent) |
Anhang 2 (Einwilligungserklärung) |
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Schedule 3 (Deposit Protection Deposit Protection Fund of the Association of German Banks) |
Anhang 3 (Schutz der Einlagen Einlagensicherungsfonds des Bundesverbandes deutscher Banken e.V.) |
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Schedule 4 (Condition Precedents) |
Anhang 4 (Aufschiebende Bedingungen) |
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Schedule 5 (Consent Letter) |
Anhang 5 (Consent Letter) |
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III. Annexes |
III. Anlagen |
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Annex 1 Form of Offer Letter |
Anlage 1 Formular für Forderungsanzeige |
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Annex 2 Trade Credit Insurance Agreement |
Anlage 2 Warenkreditversicherungs-vertrag |
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Annex 3 Assignment Agreement on Trade Insurance |
Anlage 3 Warenkreditversicherungs-abtretungsvertrag |
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Annex 4 Account Pledge Agreement |
Anlage 4 Kontoverpfändungsvertrag |
|
Note: Terms in italics have the meaning ascribed to them in part F (Definitions). | Hinweis: Kursiv gedruckte Begriffe haben die in diesem Vertrag näher erläuterte besondere Bedeutung, die sich aus Teil F (Definitionen) ergeben. | |
A. PURCHASE OF RECEIVABLES | A. FORDERUNGSKAUF | |
1. PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT | 1. ZWECK DIESES VERTRAGES | |
1.1 This agreement shall be the basis for receivables purchase agreements entered into by the ORIGINATOR as seller and GE CAPITAL as purchaser of the relevant Receivable . | 1.1. Dieser Vertrag schafft die Grundlage für Forderungskaufverträge, die zwischen dem KUNDEN als Verkäufer und GE CAPITAL als Käufer der jeweiligen Forderung eingegangen werden. |
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1.2 Any amounts paid as purchase price for the Receivables purchased by GE CAPITAL shall enable the ORIGINATOR to primarily satisfy its obligations vis-à-vis its suppliers. | 1.2 Alle Beträge, die als Kaufpreis für die von GE CAPITAL gekauften Forderungen bezahlt werden, sollen den KUNDEN in die Lage versetzen, vorrangig ihre Lieferantenverbindlichkeiten erfüllen zu können. | |
1.3 To the extent that GE CAPITAL does not purchase certain Receivables of the ORIGINATOR, such Receivables shall be assigned to GE CAPITAL subject to Clause 9.3 in order to secure claims of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR resulting from the business relationship and shall be collected by GE CAPITAL. | 1.3 Soweit GE CAPITAL bestimmte Forderungen des KUNDEN nicht kauft, sind diese vorbehaltlich Ziffer 9.3 zur Sicherung von Ansprüchen von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN abzutreten, die aus der Geschäftsbeziehung herrühren und von GE CAPITAL eingezogen werden. | |
2. RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT, OFFER LETTER | 2. FORDERUNGSKAUFVERTRAG, FORDERUNGSANZEIGE | |
2.1 The ORIGINATOR hereby offers to sell all of its Receivables to GE CAPITAL. | 2.1 Hierdurch bietet der KUNDE seine sämtlichen Forderungen GE CAPITAL zum Kauf an. | |
The ORIGINATOR repeats each offer in respect of each individual Receivable by sending an Offer Letter to GE CAPITAL, in the form substantially set out in Annex 1 ( Form of Offer Letter ). | Der KUNDE wiederholt jedes Angebot in Bezug auf jede einzelne Forderung durch Übersendung einer Forderungsanzeige an GE CAPITAL, die im Wesentlichen der Form der Anlage 1 ( Formular für Forderungsanzeigen ) entspricht. | |
2.2 | 2.2 | |
Czech and German Law Receivables: | Forderungen, die tschechischem und deutschem Recht unterliegen: | |
Each relevant Receivables purchase agreement shall be concluded by GE CAPITALs acceptance of the ORIGINATORs offer. | Der jeweilige Forderungskaufvertrag kommt dadurch zustande, dass GE CAPITAL das Kaufangebot des KUNDEN annimmt. | |
Acceptance occurs by booking the relevant Receivable on the Factoring Account , provided that the ORIGINATOR does not need to receive a notice of such book entry. | Die Annahme erfolgt durch Buchung der jeweiligen Forderung auf dem Factoringkonto , ohne dass dem Kunden eine Buchungsmitteilung zugehen muss. | |
2.3 The ORIGINATOR is entitled and obliged to send an Offer Letter to GE CAPITAL within 10 Business Days after having dispatched the invoice to the relevant Debtor and the Receivable becoming Eligible. | 2.3 Der KUNDE ist berechtigt und verpflichtet, innerhalb von 10 Geschäftstagen nachdem er die Rechnung an den jeweiligen Abnehmer abgesandt hat und die Forderung einwandfrei geworden ist, eine Forderungsanzeige an GE CAPITAL zu übersenden. |
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The ORIGINATOR shall provide GE CAPITAL with separate Offer Letters for each jurisdiction governing the respective Receivables and additionally with a separate Offer Letter for each currency in which a Receivable for each particular jurisdiction may be denominated, or an Offer Letter consolidating several jurisdictions, provided such consolidated Offer Letter will clearly state and differentiate the different Receivables under the several jurisdictions. | Der KUNDE stellt GE CAPITAL separate Forderungsanzeigen für jede für die jeweilige Forderung maßgebliche Jurisdiktion und außerdem separate Forderungsanzeigen für jede Währung, in der eine Forderung für jede einzelne Jurisdiktion lautet, oder eine Forderungsanzeige , die verschiedene Jurisdiktionen abdeckt zur Verfügung, vorausgesetzt, dass eine solche konsolidierte Forderungsanzeige die Forderungen eindeutig angibt und zwischen den verschiedenen Forderungen unter den einzelnen Jurisdiktionen unterscheidet. | |
2.4 The ORIGINATOR is obliged to submit the Offer Letter by data transfer in accordance with Factoring-Satzaufbau or online data entry in Factorlink . | 2.4 Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet die Forderungsanzeige durch Datenübertragung gemäß Factoring-Satzaufbau oder durch Online- Dateneingabe in Factorlink vorzunehmen. | |
In addition, the ORIGINATOR is obliged to send to GE CAPITAL a submission form, together with the relevant copies preferably in the form of a pdf-file or in similar format of invoices, credit notes and debit notes. | Zusätzlich ist der KUNDE verpflichtet, GE CAPITAL ein Formular zusammen mit den jeweiligen Kopien von Rechnungen, Gutschriften und Belastungsanzeigen vorzugsweise im PDF oder einem ähnlichen Format zu übersenden. | |
GE CAPITAL hereby waives its rights to receive copies of invoices, debit notes and credit notes in hard copy form from the ORIGINATOR, but may revoke such waiver in writing at any time. The ORIGINATOR hereby undertakes to keep and store all invoices, debit notes and credit notes in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and agrees to submit such invoices, debit notes and credit notes to GE CAPITAL in due course upon request. | GE CAPITAL verzichtet hiermit auf sein Recht, Kopien von Rechnungen, Belastungs- und Gutschriftsanzeigen in gedrucktem Format vom KUNDEN zu erhalten, kann diesen Verzicht jedoch jederzeit schriftlich widerrufen. Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich hiermit, alle Rechnungen, Belastungs- und Gutschriftsanzeigen gemäß den geltenden Vorschriften aufzuheben und aufzubewahren und ist damit einverstanden, diese Rechnungen, Belastungs- und Gutschriftsanzeigen GE CAPITAL zu gegebener Zeit auf Anfrage zur Verfügung zu stellen. |
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3. OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE | 3. ANKAUFSPFLICHT | |
3.1 GE CAPITAL shall accept the ORIGINATORs offer to sell a Receivable if the relevant Receivable fulfils the following requirements: | 3.1 GE CAPITAL verpflichtet sich, das Verkaufsangebot des KUNDEN anzunehmen, wenn die jeweilige Forderung folgenden Anforderungen entspricht: | |
(a) the Offer Letter is correct and complete and was dispatched by the ORIGINATOR within the time line set out in clause 2.3; and | (a) die Forderungsanzeige ist richtig und vollständig und wurde rechtzeitig im Sinne von Ziffer 2.3 vom KUNDEN versandt; und | |
(b) the relevant Receivable is Eligible ; and | (b) die jeweilige Forderung besteht einwandfrei ; und | |
(c) the Debtor has been granted a payment term not exceeding 90 days after the relevant invoice date and, for the avoidance of doubt, the remaining outstanding payment term does not exceed 90 days; and | (c) dem Abnehmer wurde ein Zahlungsziel eingeräumt, welches nicht mehr als 90 Tage nach dem jeweiligen Rechnungsdatum liegt und, um Zweifel auszuschließen, das ausstehende Zahlungsziel ist nicht länger als 90 Tage; und | |
(d) the relevant Receivable is not a claim against an Affiliated Company ; and | (d) es handelt sich nicht um eine Forderung gegen ein Nahestehendes Unternehmen ; und | |
(e) the relevant Receivable is within the scope of the Debtor Limit . To the extent that this requirement is only partially fulfilled, GE CAPITAL shall purchase the relevant part of the Receivable ; and | (e) die jeweilige Forderung liegt im Rahmen des Abnehmerlimits . Soweit dies nur teilweise der Fall ist, soll GE CAPITAL den jeweiligen Forderungsteil ankaufen; und | |
(f) the sum of the amount of the relevant Receivable and all other purchased and unpaid Receivables against the relevant Debtor or debtor credit unit within the meaning of § 19 of the German Banking Act does not exceed 30% of all purchased and unpaid Receivables of the ORIGINATOR against all of his Debtors ; and | (f) die Summe der Beträge aus der jeweiligen Forderung und allen sonstigen gekauften und unbezahlten Forderungen gegen den jeweiligen Abnehmer bzw. die Abnehmerkrediteinheit im Sinne des § 19 Kreditwesengesetz überschreitet nicht 30 % aller gekauften und unbezahlten Forderungen vom KUNDEN gegen alle seine Abnehmer ; und | |
(g) each Receivable shall be governed by Czech or German law. The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL may agree upon the ORIGINATORs request and GE CAPITALs written confirmation to include Receivables governed by any other law, (i) subject to credit approval by GE CAPITAL, and (ii) subject to confirmation by a legal opinion of a reputable local law firm of the validity and enforceability vis-à-vis third parties of the purchase and assignment of the relevant Receivables , (iii) conclusion of a country specific supplement for such jurisdiction, and (iv) provided that no approval will be given when the total outstanding amount of Receivables concerned by such law is less than 1,000,000 (one million) Euro); and | (g) jede Forderung unterliegt dem tschechischen oder deutschen Recht . Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL können auf Anfrage des Kunden und nach schriftlicher Bestätigung vereinbaren, Forderungen die einem anderen Recht unterliegen, (i) vorbehaltlich der Kreditzusage durch GE CAPITAL, und (ii) vorbehaltlich Bestätigung der Gültigkeit und Durchsetzbarkeit gegenüber Dritten des Kaufs und der Abtretung der jeweiligen Forderung durch ein Rechtsgutachten einer renommierten lokalen Anwaltskanzlei, (iii) Abschluss einer länderspezifischen Ergänzung für die Jurisdiktion, und (iv) unter der Voraussetzung, dass keine Zusage gegeben wird, wenn der gesamte ausstehende Betrag der Forderungen , der ein solches Recht betrifft, weniger als 1.000.000 (eine Millionen) Euro beträgt; und |
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(h) the payment of the purchase price in respect of the purchased Receivable will not result in an excess of the Maximum Commitment ; and | (h) die Bezahlung des Kaufpreises in Bezug auf die gekaufte Forderung wird das Höchstobligo nicht überschreiten; und | |
(i) each Receivable shall result from the sale of products and related provision of services in the ordinary course of the ORIGINATORs business; and | (i) jede Forderung stammt aus dem Verkauf von Produkten und damit verbundenen Dienstleistungen im gewöhnlichen Geschäftsgang des KUNDEN; und | |
(j) each Receivable shall be denominated in Euro. The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL may agree to include Receivables denominated in any other currency, subject to prior approval by GE CAPITAL; and | (j) jede Forderung ist in Euro. Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL können, nach vorheriger Einwilligung durch GE CAPITAL, zusätzlich jede andere Währung vereinbaren; und | |
(k) no Receivable shall arise from the context of contracts, where payment, even after unconditional acceptance, is subject to verifying the performance of an obligation by the ORIGINATOR; and | (k) keine Forderung stammt aus Verträgen, bei denen eine Zahlung, auch nach unbedingter Akzeptanz, der Überprüfung der Erfüllung einer Verpflichtung durch den KUNDEN unterliegt; und | |
(l) except for the Receivables deriving from contractual relationships with debtors that include tolling and/or pseudo tolling ( Materialbeistellung ) transactions (such receivables being subject to the application of clause 24.5 ( Reimbursement Claims )), no Receivable shall be subject to a right of setoff or counterclaim that has been exercised by the relevant Debtor . | (l) mit Ausnahme von Forderungen , die sich aus vertraglichen Beziehungen mit Abnehmern , eingeschlossen Materialbeistellungstransaktionen (solche Forderungen unterliegen der Anwendung der Ziffer 24.5 ( Rückvergütungsansprüche )), ergeben, sind keine Forderungen Gegenstand einer Abtretung oder eines Gegenanspruchs, die/der durch den jeweiligen Abnehmer ausgeübt wurde. |
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3.2 GE CAPITAL shall become obliged to purchase a Receivable if a Receivable that was initially not purchased subsequently fulfils the requirements set out in clause 3.1. | 3.2 GE CAPITAL wird ankaufspflichtig, wenn eine Forderung, die zunächst nicht gekauft wird, später den Anforderungen der Ziffer 3.1 entspricht. | |
3.3 GE CAPITAL will cease to be obliged to purchase any Receivable if based on the facts available to it, GE CAPITAL substantiates that it has reason to believe that the ORIGINATOR does not comply with its obligations vis-à-vis Retaining Suppliers or that Retaining Suppliers revoke the authorisation of the ORIGINATOR to collect Receivables . GE CAPITAL shall inform the ORIGINATOR of such suspension of the obligation to purchase Receivables in due course, and if possible, consult with the ORIGINATOR in advance. | 3.3 Die Ankaufspflicht von GE CAPITAL entfällt, wenn GE CAPITAL aufgrund von Tatsachen, die GE CAPITAL vorliegen, belegt, dass GE CAPITAL Grund zur Annahme hat, dass der KUNDE seinen Zahlungsverpflichtungen gegenüber Vorbehaltslieferanten nicht nachkommt oder Vorbehaltslieferanten die Berechtigung vom KUNDEN zum Forderungseinzug widerrufen. GE CAPITAL informiert den KUNDEN vom Wegfall der Verpflichtung zum Kauf von Forderungen in angemessener Zeit, und unterrichtet den KUNDEN, wenn möglich, im Voraus. | |
3.4 GE CAPITAL is entitled but not obliged to purchase Receivables which do not fulfil the requirements set out in clause 3.1. In relation to Receivables existing on the Commencement Date , GE CAPITAL will only exercise such right in respect of Receivables which have not been due for more than 60 days. | 3.4 GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt, jedoch nicht verpflichtet, Forderungen anzukaufen, die den Anforderungen der Ziffer 3.1 nicht entsprechen. Für Forderungen , die zu Vertragsbeginn bestehen, wird GE CAPITAL von diesem Recht nur im Hinblick auf solche Forderungen Gebrauch machen, die nicht länger als 60 Tage fällig sind. | |
3.5 GE CAPITAL will, upon receipt of the relevant Offer Letter , book all Receivables which have not been purchased to the Special Account . Such Receivables shall remain offered for sale. | 3.5 GE CAPITAL bucht Forderungen , die nicht angekauft wurden, nach Zugang der jeweiligen Forderungsanzeige auf dem Sonderkonto . Solche Forderungen bleiben weiterhin zum Kauf angeboten. | |
3.6 The ORIGINATORs offer expires only after a period of 10 Business Days set by the ORIGINATOR for GE CAPITALs acceptance of such offer has lapsed to no avail. | 3.6 Das Kaufangebot des KUNDEN erlischt erst nach erfolglosem Ablauf einer vom KUNDEN gesetzten Frist von 10 Geschäftstagen , in der GE CAPITAL das Kaufangebot annehmen kann. |
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4. PURCHASE PRICE, DUE DATE, RESERVES, FACTORING COMMISSION, TOTAL FINANCING COMMISSION | 4. KAUFPREIS, FÄLLIGKEIT, EINBEHALTE, FACTORINGGEBÜHR, FINANZIERUNGSGEBÜHR | |
4.1 The purchase price for each purchased Receivable shall be equal to its Nominal Amount , reduced by deductions relating to the relevant Receivable (such as discounts) that were granted to the relevant Debtor by the ORIGINATOR, less the Factoring Commission and the Financing Commission per Invoice . | 4.1 Der Kaufpreis für jede angekaufte Forderung entspricht ihrem Nominalbetrag , gemindert um Abzüge auf die jeweiligen Forderungen (z.B. Nachlasse), die dem jeweiligen Abnehmer durch den KUNDEN gewährt werden, abzüglich der Factoringgebühr und der Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis . | |
In the Bad Debt Case , the purchase price is reduced by the VAT amount included in the Receivable which the ORIGINATOR must claim from the tax authorities (see clause 6.4), at the time the legal prerequisites allowing a recovery of such VAT amounts are fulfilled. GE CAPITAL undertakes to provide the ORIGINATOR with all information and documents necessary for claiming such VAT amounts from tax authorities. | Der Kaufpreis mindert sich im Delkrederefall um die in der Forderung enthaltene Umsatzsteuer, die der KUNDE in dem Zeitpunkt von den Finanzämtern zurückfordern muss (siehe Ziffer 6.4), in dem die rechtlichen Voraussetzungen für die Rückforderung der Umsatzsteuer vorliegen. GE CAPITAL verpflichtet sich, dem KUNDEN alle Informationen und Dokumente zur Verfügung zu stellen, die für die Rückforderung dieser Umsatzsteuerbeträge von den Finanzämtern erforderlich sind. | |
The purchase price (excluding the Purchase Price Reserve and subject to the settlement of the Total Financing Commission ) shall fall due when the Receivable is purchased. The Total Financing Commission is paid in advance on each Funding Date for each relevant Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice starting on that date and is subject to applicable VAT and cannot be altered for that relevant Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice after the Funding Date on which it has started. | Der Kaufpreis wird bis auf den Kaufpreiseinbehalt und vorbehaltlich der Abrechnung der Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr mit dem Forderungskauf fällig. Die Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr wird zuzüglich Umsatzsteuern vorab an jedem Finanzierungstag für jede Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis bezahlt, die an dem Tag beginnt und kann für die jeweilige Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis nach dem Finanzierungstag an dem sie begonnen hat nicht mehr verändert werden. | |
Any payments in respect of the purchase price and any charges are made by book entry by GE CAPITAL on the Settlement Account . | Sämtliche Zahlungen in Bezug auf den Kaufpreis und alle Gebühren erfolgen durch Buchung auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto durch GE CAPITAL. |
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4.2 The Purchase Price Reserve shall fall due for payment by GE CAPITAL to the ORIGINATOR if and when | 4.2 Der Kaufpreiseinbehalt wird zur Zahlung von GE CAPITAL an den KUNDEN fällig, wenn | |
(i) the Debtor has fully paid the relevant Receivable to GE CAPITAL, but in the Inter- Credit ® -Factoring procedure, only after the Reconciliation Process , or | (i) der Abnehmer die jeweilige Forderung an GE CAPITAL bezahlt hat; im Rahmen des Inter-Credit ® -Factoring jedoch nur nach dem Stülpvorgang , oder | |
(ii) it falls due as a Bad Debt Amount (see clause 6.3). | (ii) wenn der Delkrederebetrag fällig ist (siehe Ziffer 6.3). | |
If the Debtor makes deductions which are less than the Purchase Price Reserve for the relevant Receivable , the Purchase Price Reserve (reduced by such deductions) will be credited to the Settlement Account . If the deductions exceed the Purchase Price Reserve , the Settlement Account will be debited accordingly. | Wenn der Abnehmer Abzüge vornimmt, die weniger als den Kaufpreiseinbehalt für die jeweilige Forderung ausmachen, wird der Kaufpreiseinbehalt (reduziert um die Abzüge) dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gutgeschrieben. Wenn die Abzüge den Kaufpreiseinbehalt übersteigen, wird das Kundenabrechnungskonto entsprechend belastet. | |
4.3 GE CAPITAL shall be entitled to increase the Purchase Price Reserve beyond the agreed amount if and to the extent that GE CAPITAL, based on the facts available to it, substantiates that it has reason to believe that | 4.3 GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt, den Kaufpreiseinbehalt über die vereinbarte Höhe hinaus anzuheben, wenn und soweit für GE CAPITAL Tatsachen vorliegen, welche die Annahme rechtfertigen, dass | |
(a) the ORIGINATOR will not comply with material obligations vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL, in particular because the ORIGINATOR has suffered a financial collapse or such an event is imminent or | (a) der KUNDE wesentlichen Verpflichtungen gegenüber GE CAPITAL nicht nachkommen wird, insbesondere weil er in Vermögensverfall geraten ist oder ein solcher droht, oder | |
(b) the Purchase Price Reserve is not sufficient to adequately cover invoice reductions by Debtors and credit notes of the ORIGINATOR, whereas for purposes of this clause 4.3 (b) such increase shall be based on the Dilution Rate . | (b) der Kaufpreiseinbehalt nicht ausreicht, um die vom Abnehmer vorgenommenen Kürzungen und Gutschriften des KUNDEN zu decken, wobei die Kürzung zu Zwecken dieser Ziffer 4.3 auf der Dilutionsrate basiert. | |
GE CAPITAL shall inform the ORIGINATOR of such increase of Purchase Price Reserve in due course, and if possible, consult with the ORIGINATOR in advance. | GE CAPITAL informiert den KUNDEN von der Erhöhung des Kaufpreiseinbehalt in angemessener Zeit, und berät sich wenn möglich mit dem KUNDEN im Voraus. |
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4.4 In the event of a Notification of Dispute , GE CAPITAL shall, until this matter is settled, be entitled to set aside a Special Purchase Price Reserve and to debit the Settlement Account accordingly. | 4.4 Im Falle einer Reklamationsanzeige ist GE CAPITAL, solange diese Angelegenheit nicht geklärt ist, berechtigt, einen Sonderkaufpreiseinbehalt zu bilden und damit das Kundenabrechnungskonto zu belasten. | |
GE CAPITAL will credit the Special Purchase Price Reserve to the Settlement Account again if and to the extent that it has been established by final and non-appealable judgement, or the Debtor has acknowledged, or the ORIGINATOR has provided evidence, that the relevant Receivable is Eligible . If and to the extent that it is established by final and nonappealable judgement that the relevant Receivable is not Eligible , GE CAPITAL will exercise its rights pursuant to clause 5.1 and will cancel such Receivable as uncollectible from the books in the relevant amount. | GE CAPITAL wird den Sonderkaufpreiseinbehalt dem Kundenabrechnungskonto wieder gutschreiben, wenn und soweit rechtskräftig festgestellt oder vom Abnehmer anerkannt oder vom KUNDEN nachgewiesen wird, dass die Forderung einwandfrei ist. Wenn und soweit rechtskräftig festgestellt ist, dass die jeweilige Forderung nicht einwandfrei ist, kann GE CAPITAL die Rechte gemäß Ziffer 5.1 geltend machen und die Forderungen in der jeweiligen Höhe als uneinziehbar ausbuchen. | |
4.5 To the extent that GE CAPITAL is liable for VAT contained in the relevant Receivable because the ORIGINATOR did not pay, or not fully pay VAT when due, GE CAPITAL may pay an amount equal to such liability to the tax authorities. | 4.5 Soweit GE CAPITAL für die in der jeweiligen Forderung enthaltene Umsatzsteuer haftet, weil der KUNDE sie bei Fälligkeit nicht oder nicht vollständig entrichtet hat, kann GE CAPITAL einen seiner Haftung entsprechenden Betrag an das Finanzamt abführen. | |
Such payment shall be deemed to be a payment in respect of the purchase price for the relevant Receivable by GE CAPITAL to the ORIGINATOR. | Dies wird als Zahlung der jeweiligen Forderung von GE CAPITAL an den KUNDEN auf den Kaufpreis behandelt. | |
If such a liability is imminent, GE CAPITAL is entitled to establish a reserve in such amount until the matter of liability has been resolved. | Droht eine solche Haftung, so kann GE CAPITAL bis zur Klärung der Haftungsfrage die entsprechenden Beträge einbehalten. | |
If GE CAPITAL already paid the relevant part of the purchase price in accordance with clause 4.1, the ORIGINATOR undertakes to repay the amount payable by GE CAPITAL to the tax authorities/the respective reserve to GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL is entitled to debit the Settlement Account accordingly. | Sofern GE CAPITAL den jeweiligen Teil des Kaufpreises gemäß Ziffer 4.1 bereits bezahlt hat, übernimmt der KUNDE die Rückzahlung des zu zahlenden Betrages durch GE CAPITAL an die Finanzbehörden / des jeweiligen Einbehalts an GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt das 6 Kundenabrechnungskonto entsprechend zu belasten. |
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The ORIGINATOR is obliged, upon reasonable request and in respect of each Receivable , to inform GE CAPITAL about the following: | Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet, GE CAPITAL auf vernünftige Anforderung und bezogen auf die einzelnen Forderungen , über: | |
(a) all overdue VAT liabilities, | (a) alle rückständigen Umsatzsteuerverpflichtungen, | |
(b) all VAT filings, | (b) alle Umsatzsteueranmeldungen, | |
(c) all payments in respect of VAT. | (c) alle Zahlungen auf die Umsatzsteuer zu informieren. | |
5. GUARANTEE OF DILUTION RISK, OBLIGATIONS OF THE ORIGINATOR REGARDING RECEIVABLES | 5. VERITÄTSGARANTIE, PFLICHTEN DES KUNDEN IN BEZUG AUF DIE FORDERUNGEN | |
5.1 The ORIGINATOR warrants (by way of an independent guarantee) ( sichert zu ) that each purchased Receivable is and will continue to be Eligible until it is fully collected by GE CAPITAL (Guarantee of Dilution Risk) and that each Receivable has been originated and monitored in accordance with the Credit and Collection Policies established by the ORIGINATOR. | 5.1 Der KUNDE sichert (im Wege eines selbstständigen Garantieversprechens) zu, dass die gekaufte Forderung einwandfrei ist und bis zum vollständigen Einzug durch GE CAPITAL einwandfrei bleibt (Veritätsgarantie) und dass jede Forderung im Einklang mit den Gutschrifts- und Einzugsregeln ( credit and collection policies ) des KUNDEN entstand. | |
In the event of a breach of such guarantee, GE CAPITAL may require the reinstatement of the contractually stipulated condition (cure). If this is not possible or unreasonable, or a deadline set for such reinstatement has lapsed unsuccessfully, GE CAPITAL may reduce the purchase price, rescind from the receivable purchase and/or, in the event of negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of the ORIGINATOR, claim indemnification for damages. | Bei einem Verstoß gegen diese Garantie kann GE CAPITAL die Herstellung des vertragsgemäßen Zustandes (Nacherfüllung) verlangen. Ist dies nicht möglich oder nicht zumutbar oder ist eine hierzu gesetzte angemessene Frist erfolglos abgelaufen so kann GE CAPITAL den Kaufpreis mindern, vom Forderungskauf zurücktreten und/oder, wenn dem KUNDEN Fahrlässigkeit oder Vorsatz zur Last gelegt werden kann, Schadensersatz verlangen. | |
5.2 If a Debtor claims that the relevant Receivable is not Eligible , the ORIGINATOR must inform GE CAPITAL by sending a Notification of Dispute without undue delay. The ORIGINATOR is further obliged to clarify the matter and, following clarification, to issue a credit note, where applicable. | 5.2 Macht ein Abnehmer geltend, dass die jeweilige Forderung nicht einwandfrei ist, so muss der KUNDE GE CAPITAL unverzüglich durch eine Reklamationsanzeige unterrichten. Der KUNDE ist weiter verpflichtet, die Angelegenheit unverzüglich aufzuklären und nach Klärung dem Abnehmer ggf. eine Gutschrift zu erteilen. |
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5.3 The ORIGINATOR must forward to GE CAPITAL all payments received by it from Debtors without undue delay. | 5.3 Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet, alle bei ihm eingehenden Abnehmerzahlungen unverzüglich an GE CAPITAL weiterzuleiten. | |
6. BAD DEBT COVERAGE OF GE CAPITAL | 6. DELKREDEREHAFTUNG VON GE CAPITAL | |
6.1 GE CAPITAL assumes the Bad Debt Coverage for each purchased Receivable , to the extent that such purchased Receivable is Eligible . | 6.1 GE CAPITAL übernimmt für jede gekaufte Forderung , soweit diese einwandfrei ist, die Delkrederehaftung . | |
6.2 The Bad Debt Case occurs if the Debtor | 6.2 Der Delkrederefall tritt ein, wenn der Abnehmer | |
(a) fails to pay a Receivable within 120 days after its due date without disputing its obligation to pay prior to or after the expiry of such period (unless the dispute has been retracted, accepted by GE Capital or adjudicated to be unjustified); or | (a) nicht innerhalb von 120 Tagen nach Fälligkeit der Forderung zahlt, ohne vor oder nach Ablauf der Frist seine Zahlungsverpflichtung zu bestreiten (soweit nicht das Bestreiten der Zahlungsverpflichtung aufgegeben, von GE Capital akzeptiert oder gerichtlich als unbegründet festgestellt wurde), oder | |
(b) is Unable to Pay . | (b) zahlungsunfähig ist. | |
6.3 The Bad Debt Amount is settled promptly after the occurrence of the Bad Debt Case , but not before the expiration of a 120-day period after the due date of the Receivable . | 6.3 Die Abrechnung des Delkrederebetrages erfolgt nach Eintritt des Delkrederefalls , jedoch nicht vor Ablauf von 120 Tagen nach Fälligkeit der Forderung . | |
6.4 If the ORIGINATOR already paid VAT for the relevant Receivable and the tax authorities legitimately refuse to refund/offset such VAT, GE CAPITAL is obliged to pay that part of the purchase price as well (see clause 4.1, paragraph 2). | 6.4 Wenn der KUNDE die Umsatzsteuer für die jeweilige Forderung bereits entrichtet hat und das Finanzamt berechtigterweise deren Rückerstattung/Verrechnung ablehnen sollte, ist GE CAPITAL auch insoweit zur Leistung verpflichtet (siehe Ziffer 4.1, Absatz 2). | |
7. DEBTOR LIMIT, DISCRETIONARY DEBTOR LIMIT | 7. ABNEHMERLIMIT, ABNEHMERLIMITSELBSTVERGABE | |
7.1 At the ORIGINATORs request, GE CAPITAL sets Debtor Limits at its reasonable discretion on the basis of the relevant Debtors creditworthiness and reliability following the amount of credit limit set out for each Debtor by the relevant credit insurance. | 7.1 Auf Anforderung des KUNDEN bestimmt GE CAPITAL Abnehmerlimits nach billigem Ermessen auf Grundlage der jeweiligen Bonität und Zuverlässigkeit des jeweiligen Abnehmers in Höhe des Kreditlimits, welches für jeden Abnehmer vom jeweiligen Kreditversicherer festgelegt ist. |
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GE CAPITAL is on the basis of the relevant Debtors creditworthiness and reliability considering the amount of credit limit set out for each Debtor by the relevant credit insurances insurer entitled to modify (including cancellation) Debtor Limits at any time. GE CAPITAL will inform the ORIGINATOR on any deviation from the limits set by the relevant credit insurance. Such modification neither applies to purchased Receivables nor to Receivables for which the ORIGINATOR has already provided the consideration ( Gegenleistung ) to its Debtor before having received the modification notice and where such consideration cannot be reclaimed by the ORIGINATOR from the relevant Debtor . | GE CAPITAL ist basierend auf der Kreditwürdigkeit und Verlässlichkeit des Abnehmers in Anbetracht der Höhe des Kreditlimits, das für jeden Abnehmer vom jeweiligen Kreditversicherer festgelegt wirdjederzeit zu Änderungen (einschließlich Streichungen) des Abnehmerlimits berechtigt. GE CAPITAL setzte den KUNDEN über jede Abweichung der vom jeweiligen Kreditversicherer festgelegten Limits in Kenntnis. Eine solche Änderung gilt jedoch weder für bereits gekaufte Forderungen noch für Forderungen , für die der KUNDE schon vor der Änderungsmitteilung die Gegenleistung an seinen Abnehmer erbracht hat und die nicht mehr durch den KUNDEN vom jeweiligen Abnehmer zurückgefordert werden können. | |
7.2 Until revocation of such right by GE CAPITAL, the ORIGINATOR is entitled to set a Discretionary Debtor Limit . | 7.2 Bis zum Widerruf durch GE CAPITAL hat der KUNDE das Recht zur Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe . | |
Any Discretionary Debtor Limit becomes effective unless GE CAPITAL objects to it without undue delay. | Die Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe wird wirksam, wenn GE CAPITAL ihr nicht unverzüglich widerspricht. | |
The ORIGINATOR determines the amount of any Discretionary Debtor Limit , which is limited, however, to an amount equal to the maximum amount for Discretionary Debtor Limits pursuant to schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions), in accordance with the following provisions: | Im Rahmen der Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe setzt der KUNDE die Höhe des Abnehmerlimits , maximal jedoch den Höchstbetrag für Abnehmerlimitselbstvergaben gemäß Anlage 1 (Konditionen) unter Beachtung des Folgenden fest: | |
(a) If the ORIGINATOR delivered goods to a Debtor at least twice within the preceding 12- month-period and the Debtor duly paid for such goods within 60 days after the relevant due date of the Receivable, the ORIGINATOR may set a Debtor Limit for such Debtor of up to 150% of the sum of all unpaid Receivables owing from such Debtor to the ORIGINATOR at a particular point in time during the aforementioned 12-month period. | (a) Wenn ein Abnehmer innerhalb der letzten 12 Monate mindestens zweimal Ware vom KUNDEN bezogen und diese spätestens 60 Tage nach dem jeweiligen Fälligkeitsdatum ordnungsgemäß bezahlt hat, kann der KUNDE für diesen Abnehmer ein Abnehmerlimit von bis zu 150 % aller offenen Forderungen des KUNDEN gegen diesen Abnehmer zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt innerhalb des 12-Monats- Zeitraums festlegen. |
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(b) In all other cases, the amount of the Debtor Limit must be justifiable beyond doubt by information (not older than 12 months) provided by a commercial inquiry agency or a bank. | (b) In allen anderen Fällen muss die Abnehmerlimithöhe durch eine Auskunft (nicht älter als 12 Monate) einer Berufsauskunftei oder Bank zweifelsfrei gerechtfertigt sein. | |
7.3 At GE CAPITALs request, the ORIGINATOR must provide information about the satisfaction of the requirements set out in clause 7.2 (a) or 7.2 (b), as the case may be, in respect of the Discretionary Debtor Limit and submit the relevant documents. | 7.3 Auf Anforderung von GE CAPITAL hat der KUNDE über die Erfüllung seiner Verpflichtungen gemäß Ziffer 7.2 (a) oder 7.2 (b) in Bezug auf die Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe Auskunft zu erteilen und die zugehörigen Unterlagen vorzulegen. | |
7.4 GE CAPITAL may always replace any Discretionary Debtor Limits by Debtor Limits set by itself. | 7.4 GE CAPITAL hat jederzeit das Recht, Abnehmerlimitselbstvergaben durch solche von GE CAPITAL zu ersetzen. | |
7.5 The amount of the fee charged by GE CAPITAL to establish a Debtor Limit is set out in schedule 1 ( Terms and Conditions ). Discretionary Debtor Limits are free of charge. | 7.5 Für die Einräumung eines Abnehmerlimits berechnet GE CAPITAL eine Gebühr, deren Höhe in Anhang 1 ( Konditionen ) geregelt ist. Abnehmerlimitselbstvergaben sind gebührenfrei. | |
8. NON-PURCHASED RECEIVABLES, SET-OFF RIGHT, ADMINISTRATION FEE | 8. NICHT ANGEKAUFTE FORDERUNGEN, VERRECHNUNGSBEFUGNIS, VERWALTUNGSGEBÜHR | |
8.1 Upon revocation of the Undisclosed procedure in accordance with clause 13, GE CAPITAL may also collect Receivables , which have not been purchased. To the extent that the relevant authorisation does not arise from clause 9, the ORIGINATOR hereby authorises GE CAPITAL to collect such Receivables . | 8.1 Mit Widerruf des Stillen Verfahrens gemäß Ziffer 13 kann GE Capital auch die nicht angekauften Forderungen einziehen. Soweit sich die Befugnis dazu nicht aus Ziffer 9 ergibt, erteilt der KUNDE GE CAPITAL hiermit eine entsprechende Einziehungsermächtigung. | |
8.2 Any payments made by Debtors in respect of such Receivables shall be credited to the Settlement Account , but in the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring only after the Reconciliation Process . Clause 4.5 shall apply mutatis mutandis to any VAT amount which is contained in the relevant Receivables . | 8.2 Die Abnehmerzahlungen dafür werden dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gutgeschrieben, jedoch im Falle des Inter-Credit ® -Factoring nur nach dem Stülpvorgang . Ziffer 4.5 gilt sinngemäß für eine Umsatzsteuer, die in den jeweiligen Forderungen enthalten ist. |
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GE CAPITAL is entitled to set off the proceeds from the collection of Receivables , which have not been purchased against its claims vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR. To the extent that such counter-claims do not arise from the balance of the Settlement Account , the proceeds will be made available to the ORIGINATOR as part of the credit balance on the Settlement Account . The rights of Retaining Suppliers shall not be affected thereby. | GE CAPITAL ist zur Aufrechnung der Einnahmen aus der Einziehung von Forderungen , die nicht gekauft wurden, gegen ihre Ansprüche gegenüber dem KUNDEN berechtigt. Soweit solche Gegenansprüche nicht aus einem Saldo des Kundenabrechnungskontos hergeleitet werden, wird der Erlös dem KUNDEN als Teil des Guthabens des Kundenabrechnungskontos zur Verfügung gestellt. Die Rechte des Vorbehaltslieferanten sollen hiervon nicht berührt werden. | |
8.3 GE CAPITAL shall receive an Administration Fee as set out in schedule 1 ( Terms and Conditions ) for the administration of Receivables , which have not been purchased. The Administration Fee shall fall due when the relevant Receivable is booked to the Special Account and will be charged to the Settlement Account . | 8.3 GE CAPITAL erhält für die Verwaltung der Forderungen , die nicht gekauft werden, eine Verwaltungsgebühr gemäß Anhang 1 ( Konditionen ). Die Verwaltungsgebühr wird mit Buchung der jeweiligen Forderung auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto belastet. | |
B. ASSIGNMENT AND SECURITY | B. ABTRETUNG UND SICHERUNGSRECHTE | |
9. ASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES, LEGAL CAUSE | 9. ABTRETUNG DER FORDERUNGEN, RECHTSGRUND | |
9.1 The ORIGINATOR hereby assigns any and all Receivables to GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL hereby accepts such assignment. | 9.1 Der KUNDE tritt hiermit alle Forderungen an GE CAPITAL ab. GE CAPITAL nimmt diese Abtretung hiermit an. | |
9.2 The legal cause for the assignment of each purchased Receivable is the relevant receivables purchase agreement. | 9.2 Der Rechtsgrund für die Abtretung angekaufter Forderungen ist der jeweilige Forderungskaufvertrag. | |
The assignment of Receivables , which have not been purchased and the proceeds resulting from the collection of any Receivables , which have not been purchased shall secure any and all existing and future claims which GE CAPITAL may have against the ORIGINATOR in connection with their overall business relationship. | Die Abtretung der nicht angekauften Forderungen und die Erlöse aus dem Einzug nicht angekaufter Forderungen dienen der Sicherung aller gegenwärtig bestehenden und zukünftig entstehenden Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN im Zusammenhang mit diesem Vertrag. |
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For each Receivable that has already been assigned to GE CAPITAL at the time of booking the relevant Receivable on the Factoring Account (as set out in clause 2.2), the legal cause for such assignment shall be replaced by the relevant receivables purchase agreement upon crediting of the cash portion of the purchase price (purchase of the relevant Receivable as opposed to assignment for security purposes). | Für jede Forderung , die im Zeitpunkt ihrer Verbuchung auf dem Factoringkonto (wie in Ziffer 2.2 festgelegt) bereits abgetreten war, wird der Rechtsgrund für eine solche Abtretung durch den jeweiligen Forderungskaufvertrag, unter Anrechnung des Baranteils auf den Kaufpreis, ersetzt (Kauf der jeweiligen Forderung statt Abtretung zu Sicherungszwecken). | |
9.3 In respect of Receivables which have not been purchased, the following provisions shall apply: | 9.3 Im Hinblick auf nicht angekaufte Forderungen gilt das Folgende: | |
The assignment shall not include Receivables that the ORIGINATOR assigned or will assign to Retaining Suppliers in connection with an extended retention of title arrangement (partial in rem waiver of rights). If and to the extent that the extended retention of title subsequently ceases to exist, the assignment of relevant Receivable shall become valid and effective. | Die Abtretung bezieht sich nicht auf Forderungen , welche der KUNDE an seine Vorbehaltslieferanten im Zusammenhang mit einer Vereinbarung eines verlängerten Eigentumsvorbehalts abgetreten hat oder abtreten wird (dingliche Teilverzichtsklausel). Falls und soweit der verlängerte Eigentumsvorbehalt zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt entfällt, wird die Abtretung der jeweiligen Forderung gültig und wirksam. | |
Clause 11.3 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the limitation of the claim to demand security and the obligation to release security. | Ziffer 11.3 gilt sinngemäß für die Beschränkung des Anspruchs, Sicherheiten zu verlangen und die Verpflichtung, Sicherheiten freizugeben. | |
9.4 To the extent that the assignment pursuant to clause 9.1 does not result in the valid and unchallengeable ownership of GE CAPITAL in a purchased Receivable , the following provision shall apply: Subject to the condition precedent of entering into a respective receivables purchase agreement, the ORIGINATOR hereby assigns the relevant Receivable to GE CAPITAL and GE CAPITAL hereby accepts such assignment. | 9.4 Soweit die Abtretung gemäß Ziffer 9.1 nicht zu einer gültigen und unanfechtbaren Inhaberschaft von GE CAPITAL an der angekauften Forderung führt, soll die folgende Bestimmung gelten: Vorbehaltlich der aufschiebenden Bedingung des Abschlusses eines Forderungskaufvertrages tritt der KUNDE hiermit die jeweilige Forderung an GE CAPITAL ab und GE CAPITAL nimmt die Abtretung hiermit an. |
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10. CHEQUES, DIRECT DEBIT, BILLS OF EXCHANGE | 10. SCHECKS, LASTSCHRIFTEN, WECHSEL | |
10.1 If the ORIGINATOR receives payments in respect of Receivables in any other form (in particular by way of bill of exchange or cheque), GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR hereby agree that title to such instruments will transfer to GE CAPITAL as soon as the ORIGINATOR acquires title. Furthermore, the ORIGINATOR hereby assigns to GE CAPITAL any and all rights arising from such instruments. GE CAPITAL hereby accepts such assignments. | 10.1 Gehen Zahlung auf Forderungen in anderer Form (insbesondere in Form von Wechseln oder Schecks) bei dem KUNDEN ein, sind sich GE CAPITAL und der KUNDE darüber einig, dass das Eigentum an diesen Papieren auf GE CAPITAL übergeht, sobald es der KUNDE erwirbt. Der Kunde tritt ferner alle ihm aus den Papieren zustehenden Rechte an GE CAPITAL ab. GE CAPITAL nimmt die Abtretung hiermit an. | |
The delivery of any cheques and bills of exchange, which may at any time be in the ORIGINATORs possession to GE CAPITAL is replaced by the ORIGINATOR keeping such instruments in gratuitous custody for GE CAPITAL. If the ORIGINATOR does not acquire direct possession, it hereby assigns to GE CAPITAL its claim for restitution against third parties. GE CAPITAL hereby accepts such assignments. | Die Übergabe der Schecks und Wechsel, die in den unmittelbaren Besitz des KUNDEN gelangen, werden dadurch ersetzt, dass GE CAPITAL und der KUNDE hiermit einen unentgeltlichen Verwahrungsvertrag vereinbaren. Für den Fall, dass der KUNDE nicht unmittelbarer Besitzer wird, tritt er bereits jetzt seinen Herausgabeanspruch gegen Dritte an GE CAPITAL ab. GE CAPITAL nimmt diese Abtretung hiermit an. | |
10.2 The ORIGINATOR shall deliver and- to the extent necessaryendorse the instruments and any documents relating thereto to GE CAPITAL without undue delay. Until delivery to GE CAPITAL, the ORIGINATOR must take all steps that are necessary to preserve the rights resulting from such instruments. | 10.2 Der KUNDE wird die Papiere soweit erforderlich mit seinem Indossament versehen und die dazugehörigen Unterlagen unverzüglich GE CAPITAL abliefern. Der KUNDE hat bis zur Herausgabe an GE CAPITAL alle Maßnahmen, die zum Erhalt der Rechte aus den Papieren erforderlich sind, zu ergreifen. | |
The ORIGINATOR hereby authorises GE CAPITAL to sign bills of exchange on behalf of the ORIGINATOR as drawer and to endorse bills of exchange and cheques in the ORIGINATORs name. | Der KUNDE bevollmächtigt GE CAPITAL hiermit, Wechsel in Vertretung des KUNDEN zu unterzeichnen und Wechsel und Schecks im Namen des KUNDEN zu indossieren. | |
10.3 GE CAPITAL shall be entitled but not obliged to credit directly, but subject to their respective cashing, any equivalent amounts of cheques, debit entries and bills of exchange. If the relevant instruments are not irrevocably cashed, the underlying Receivable shall be treated as if it had originally not been paid. | 10.3 GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt, jedoch nicht verpflichtet, Schecks, Lastschriften und Wechsel vorbehaltlich ihrer Einlösung sofort gutzuschreiben. Werden die maßgeblichen Papiere nicht unwiderruflich eingelöst, so sind die zugrunde liegenden Forderungen so zu behandeln, als ob sie ursprünglich nicht bezahlt wurden. |
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11. LIENS AND ANCILLARY RIGHTS, INSURANCE CLAIMS | 11. SICHERUNGS- UND NEBENRECHTE; VERSICHERUNGSANSPRÜCHE | |
11.1 The ORIGINATOR hereby transfers to GE CAPITAL, who accepts such transfer, any and all rights and claims (other than the Receivable itself) arising under or in connection with the relevant contract with the Debtor , including: | 11.1 Der KUNDE überträgt hiermit an die dies annehmende GE CAPITAL alle Recht und Ansprüche, die dem KUNDEN (außer der Forderung selbst) aus oder im Zusammenhang mit dem jeweiligen Vertrag mit dem Abnehmer zustehen, insbesondere: | |
(a) all ownership and inchoate rights in the underlying assets with respect to assigned Receivables that the ORIGINATOR may have or acquire, which are particularly set out in invoices relating to assigned Receivables , provided that the ORIGINATOR shall continue to be entitled to resell such assets to the Debtor , | (a) alle Eigentums- und Anwartschaftsrechte in Bezug auf die abgetretenen Forderungen , die dem KUNDEN zustehen oder die er erwirbt und die teilweise in Rechnungen, bezogen auf die abgetretenen Forderungen , festgelegt sind, wobei der KUNDE zur Weiterveräußerung der jeweiligen (Vermögens-)Gegenstände an den Abnehmer berechtigt bleibt, | |
(b) any and all claims for delivery of such assets, in particular in the event of an unwinding of the contract, as well as the right to rescind the contract, | (b) alle Ansprüche auf Lieferung dieser (Vermögens-)Gegenstände, insbesondere im Falle der Rückabwicklung des Vertrages sowie das Recht, vom Vertrag zurückzutreten, | |
(c) in the event of a sale by consignment, any claims against the carrier and the right of pursuit, | (c) im Falle des Versendungskaufes, die Ansprüche gegen den Transporteur und das Verfolgungsrecht, | |
(d) all rights of the ORIGINATOR arising from an extended retention of title arrangement within the meaning of clause 22 (d), in particular, the claim of the Debtor resulting from the resale of the relevant assets, | (d) alle Rechte des KUNDEN, die infolge eines verlängerten Eigentumsvorbehalts gemäß Ziffer 22 (d) entstehen, insbesondere der Anspruch des Abnehmers aus dem Wiederverkauf der jeweiligen (Vermögens-) Gegenstände, | |
(e) the ORIGINATORs right to request the insolvency administrator to exercise its rights in an insolvency of the Debtor . | (e) das Recht des KUNDEN im Falle einer Insolvenz des Abnehmers , den Insolvenzverwalter zur Ausübung seiner Rechte aufzufordern. |
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To the extent that such transfer is subject to specific additional requirements, the ORIGINATOR undertakes to comply with any such requirements in the required form. | Soweit die Übertragung von besonderen Voraussetzungen abhängig ist, verpflichtet sich der KUNDE, sie in der erforderlichen Weise vorzunehmen. | |
To the extent that the ORIGINATOR holds or reacquires direct possession of such assets, the ORIGINATOR shall keep such assets for GE CAPITAL in gratuitous custody and separate from any other goods and waives any claims for reimbursement of expenses. | Soweit der KUNDE noch oder wieder unmittelbarer Besitzer solcher 9 (Vermögens-) Gegenstände ist, verwahrt er diese für GE CAPITAL unentgeltlich und getrennt von anderen Waren und verzichtet auf Aufwendungsersatzansprüche. | |
11.2 The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL agree that GE CAPITAL acquires a lien and a retention right with respect to the securities and chattels, of which it may have or acquire possession in the course of business with the ORIGINATOR. | 11.2 Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL sind sich darüber einig, dass GE CAPITAL ein Pfand- sowie ein Zurückbehaltungsrecht in Bezug auf die Sicherheiten und Sachen zusteht, welches GE CAPITAL im Rahmen der Geschäftsbeziehung mit dem KUNDEN erworben hat oder erwirbt. | |
GE CAPITAL also acquires a lien and a retention right with respect to any claims arising from the business relationship (e.g. credit balances) that the ORIGINATOR has or will acquire against GE CAPITAL. | GE CAPITAL erwirbt auch ein Pfandrecht und ein Zurückbehaltungsrecht im Hinblick auf die Ansprüche aus der Geschäftsverbindung (z.B. Kontoguthaben), die der Kunde gegen GE CAPITAL erworben hat oder erwerben wird. | |
Such liens and the retention right shall secure all existing, future and contingent claims of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR arising from the business relationship. | Das Pfandrecht sowie das Zurückbehaltungsrecht dienen der Sicherung aller bestehenden, künftigen und bedingten Ansprüche, die GE CAPITAL aus der Geschäftsverbindung gegen den KUNDEN zustehen. | |
If GE CAPITAL acquires control over monies or other assets under the condition that they may only be used for a certain purpose, GE CAPITALs lien does not extend to such assets and in this case, GE CAPITAL shall not have a retention right. | Wenn GE CAPITAL die Herrschaft über Gelder oder andere Werte erwirbt, die nur für einen bestimmten Zweck verwendet werden sollen, wird sich das Pfandrecht von GE CAPITAL nicht auf solche Werte erstrecken und in einem solchen Fall soll GE CAPITAL auch kein Zurückbehaltungsrecht zustehen. | |
11.3 If the realisable value of all security interests not only temporarily exceeds the total amount of all claims arising from the business relationship (Cover Limit), GE CAPITAL shall, at the ORIGINATORs request, release security interests in the discretion of GE CAPITAL in the amount exceeding the Cover Limit. | 11.3 Wenn der realisierbare Wert aller Sicherheiten den Gesamtbetrag aller Ansprüche (Deckungsgrenze) nicht nur vorübergehend übersteigt, hat GE CAPITAL auf Verlangen des KUNDEN Sicherheiten nach Wahl von GE CAPITAL freizugeben, und zwar in Höhe des die Deckungsgrenze übersteigenden Betrages. |
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When selecting the security interests to be released, GE CAPITAL will consider the legitimate interests of the ORIGINATOR and any third party that provided security for the ORIGINATORs obligations. | GE CAPITAL wird bei der Auswahl der freizugebenden Sicherheiten auf die berechtigten Interessen des KUNDEN und eines dritten Sicherungsgebers, der für die Verbindlichkeiten des KUNDEN Sicherheiten bestellt hat, Rücksicht nehmen. | |
11.4 GE CAPITAL will only enforce the security interests if the ORIGINATOR is in payment default and a grace period of at least two weeks set by GE CAPITAL before the commencement of enforcement actions has expired to no avail. | 11.4 GE CAPITAL wird ihr gestellte Sicherheiten nur verwerten, wenn der KUNDE sich in Zahlungsverzug befindet und eine von GE CAPITAL vor dem Beginn der Zwangsvollstreckung gesetzte Nachfrist von mindestens zwei Wochen fruchtlos abgelaufen ist. | |
The Receivables assigned for security purposes are enforced by collection in the Undisclosed Procedure and the net proceeds resulting from such enforcement are set off against the ORIGINATORs obligations owing to GE CAPITAL. | Die Verwertung der zur Sicherheit abgetretenen Forderungen erfolgt durch deren Einzug im Stillen Verfahren und Verrechnung der Reinerlöse aus dem Einzug mit den Verbindlichkeiten des KUNDEN bei GE CAPITAL. | |
GE CAPITAL will credit the net enforcement proceeds to the Settlement Account . | GE CAPITAL wird den Reinerlös aus der Verwertung dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gutschreiben. | |
11.5 If facts emerge which indicate that the payment of a purchased Receivable by the Debtor may be at risk, the ORIGINATOR must, upon request by and at the expense of GE CAPITAL, take back the relevant goods. | 11.5 Der KUNDE muss auf Weisung und auf Kosten von GE CAPITAL die betreffende Ware zurücknehmen, wenn Tatsachen bekannt werden, die eine Bezahlung einer gekauften Forderung durch den Abnehmer als gefährdet erscheinen lassen. | |
GE CAPITAL may also take possession of the goods or store such goods at a third partys premises. | GE CAPITAL kann die Ware auch in Besitz nehmen oder bei einem Dritten einlagern. | |
GE CAPITALs Bad Debt Coverage , if applicable, shall remain unaffected thereby. | Die Delkrederehaftung von GE CAPITAL soll, sofern einschlägig, hiervon unberührt bleiben. |
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The realisation of returned goods shall be for the benefit and at the expense of GE CAPITAL who will also determine the method of enforcement. | Die Verwertung der zurückgenommenen Ware erfolgt zu Gunsten und auf Kosten von GE CAPITAL, die auch die Art und Weise der Verwertung bestimmt. | |
11.6 The ORIGINATOR shall use its best efforts to support GE CAPITAL without remuneration in enforcing and realising all security interests, rights and claims. | 11.6 Der KUNDE hat sich unentgeltlich nach besten Kräften zu bemühen, GE CAPITAL bei der Durchsetzung und Verwertung sämtlicher Sicherheiten, Rechte und Ansprüche zu unterstützen. | |
11.7 The ORIGINATOR undertakes to structure its credit insurance policy such that in each year, the maximum annual indemnification amount under the relevant credit insurance is sufficient to cover the applicable credit limit of the top five debtors of each ORIGINATOR in respect of this agreement. | 11.7 Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, seine Kreditversicherungen so zu strukturieren, dass in jedem Jahr der maximale jährliche Entschädigungsbetrag der jeweiligen Kreditversicherung zur Deckung des maßgeblichen Kreditlimits der Top-Five- Abnehmer des KUNDEN im Hinblick auf diesen Vertrag ausreicht. | |
Any changes to the terms of the insurance policies and any changes to the insurance companies need to be prior approved by GE CAPITAL, and such approval may not be unreasonably withheld. | Alle Änderungen der Versicherungsbedingungen und alle Wechsel der Versicherungsunternehmen bedürfen der vorherigen Einwilligung von GE CAPITAL, die nicht unbillig verweigert werden darf. | |
The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL shall enter into an additional agreement with respect to the assignment of claims under trade credit insurances, as set out in Annex 2 ( Trade Credit Insurance Agreement ), and will enter into specific trade credit insurance assignment agreements, for each trade credit insurer ( Warenkreditversicherer ) substantially in the form set out in Annex 3 ( Assignment Agreements on Trade Credit Insurance ) hereto. | Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL schließen einen zusätzliche Vertrag über die Abtretung von Ansprüchen aus den Warenkreditversicherungen ab, wie sie in Anlage 2 ( Warenkreditversicherungsvertrag ) festgelegt sind, und werden spezielle Warenkreditversicherungsabtretungsverträge für jeden Warenkreditversicherer abschließen, die im Wesentlichen denen im Anlage 3 ( Warenkreditversicherungsabtretungsvertrag ) entsprechen. | |
The ORIGINATOR undertakes to notify each trade credit insurer ( Warenkreditversicherer ) of the assignment pursuant to this clause in substantially the form as set out in Annex 3 ( Assignment Agreements on Trade Credit Insurance ). | Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, jeden Warenkreditversicherer von der Abtretung gemäß dieser Ziffer in der Form, die im Wesentlichen der in Anlage 3 festgelegten Form ( Warenkreditversicherung-sabtretungsvertrag ) entspricht, zu unterrichten |
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C. FACTORING PROCEDURE |
C. FACTORING-VERFAHREN | |
12. FULL-SERVICE, INTER-CREDIT ® , SMART-SERVICE |
12. FULL-SERVICE, INTER-CREDIT ® , SMART-SERVICE |
|
12.1 Schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions) sets out whether the accounts receivable bookkeeping and dunning procedure follow the rules of Full- Service-Factoring , Inter- Credit ® -Factoring or Smart-Service- Factoring . | 12.1 Aus Anhang 1 (Konditionen) ist ersichtlich, ob die Debitorenbuchhaltung und das Mahnwesen nach Maßgabe des Full- Service- Factoring, des Inter-Credit ® - Factoring oder des Smart-Service-Factoring erfolgt. | |
12.2 The following rules apply to the bookkeeping: | 12.2 Für die Buchhaltung gilt: | |
In all instances, the ORIGINATOR transfers the data relating to Receivables , such as invoices, credit notes, debit notes and Notifications of Dispute by submitting the relevant documents and/or through Factoring-Satzaufbau and/or by manually entering data of invoices/credit notes online in Factorlink . | In allen Fällen übermittelt der KUNDE die Daten zu den Forderungen , wie Rechnungen, Gutschriften, Lastschriften und Reklamationsanzeigen durch Übersendung der entsprechenden Unterlagen und/oder Factoring- Satzaufbau und/oder durch manuelle Rechnungs-/Gutschriftserfassung online in Factorlink . | |
In the Full-Service-Factoring und Smart- Service-Factoring procedures, the Debtors payments are booked directly by GE CAPITAL to the Debtors Accounts . | Im Full-Service-Factoring und Smart-Service- Factoring erfolgt die Buchung der Abnehmerzahlungen direkt durch GE CAPITAL auf den Debitorenkonten . | |
In the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring procedure, the Debtors payments shall be booked by GE CAPITAL to the Incoming Payment Settlement Account . Any accounting documents that GE CAPITAL may have shall be delivered to the ORIGINATOR who books the payments on the debits side and relates them to the relevant invoices. At least once a week, the ORIGINATOR shall send its complete Open Items File to GE CAPITAL through Factoring-Satzaufbau . Upon receipt of such data, GE CAPITAL will perform a Reconciliation Process and will adjust all other Accounts kept in connection with the factoring arrangement. | Beim Inter-Credit ® -Factoring werden die Abnehmerzahlungen von GE CAPITAL auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gebucht. Die GE CAPITAL verfügbaren Buchungsunterlagen werden dem KUNDEN überlassen, der die Zahlungen debitorisch bucht und den jeweiligen Rechnungen zuordnet. Mindestens einmal pro Woche übermittelt der KUNDE seine gesamte Offene Posten Datei durch Factoring-Satzaufbau an GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL wird nach Erhalt dieser Daten einen Stülpvorgang vornehmen und auch alle übrigen im Factoring geführten Konten ausgleichen. |
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In the I nter-Credit ® -Factoring procedure, the ORIGINATOR must keep the accounts receivable books in such a manner that arrears of postings are avoided and that the Open Items File is correct and up-to-date on a daily basis. | Beim Inter-Credit ® -Factoring muss der KUNDE die Forderungsbücher in einer Weise erhalten, dass Buchungsrückstände vermieden werden und die Offene Posten Datei richtig und tagesaktuell ist. | |
12.3 The following rules apply to the dunning procedure: | 12.3 Für das Mahnwesen gilt: | |
If the Debtor fails to pay the relevant Receivable on the due date, 3 dunning runs in cycles of 14 days will generally be performed. If the relevant Receivable is not completely discharged within a period of 60 days after its due date, GE CAPITAL may initiate the Collection Procedure in accordance with and subject to clause 16. | Zahlt der Abnehmer bei Fälligkeit der jeweiligen Forderung nicht, so erfolgen regelmäßig 3 Mahnläufe im 14-Tage- Rythmus. Ist die jeweilige Forderung 60 Tage nach Fälligkeit der Forderung noch nicht vollständig ausgeglichen, wird GE CAPITAL das Inkassoverfahren gemäß und in Übereinstimmung mit Ziffer 16 einleiten. | |
In the Full-Service-Factoring procedure, GE CAPITAL performs the dunning procedure, in the Smart-Service-Factoring and the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring procedures, the ORIGINATOR performs the dunning procedure. | Im Full-Service-Factoring mahnt GE CAPITAL, im Smart-Service-Factoring und im Inter-Credit ® -Factoring mahnt der KUNDE. | |
In the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring and Smart-Service-Factoring procedures, the ORIGINATORS must perform the dunning procedure in such a manner that arrears of reminders are avoided. | Im Inter-Credit ® -Factoring und Smart-Service-Factoring muss der KUNDE das Mahnverfahren in einer Art und Weise ausführen, dass Mahnrückstände vermieden werden. | |
13. DISCLOSED / UNDISCLOSED PROCEDURE | 13. OFFENES / STILLES VERFAHREN | |
13.1 Schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions) sets out whether the Disclosed Procedure or the Undisclosed Procedure applies. | 13.1 Aus Anhang 1 (Konditionen) ist ersichtlich, ob das Offene Verfahren oder das Stille Verfahren angewandt wird. | |
13.2 In the Disclosed Procedure , the ORIGINATOR will inform its Debtors at the Commencement Date about the factoring procedure and the assignment of Receivables to GE CAPITAL in writing and in the appropriate manner (letter of notification). | 13.2 Im Offenen Verfahren wird der KUNDE seine Abnehmer bei Vertragsbeginn schriftlich in geeigneter Form (Notifikationsbrief) über das Factoringverfahren und die Abtretung der Forderungen an GE CAPITAL unterrichten. |
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Furthermore, the ORIGINATOR will attach to its invoices a clearly visible note of assignment in accordance with schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Außerdem wird der KUNDE auf seinen Rechnungen den Abtretungsvermerk gemäß Anhang 1 (Konditionen) anbringen. | |
GE CAPITAL is also entitled to inform the Debtors about the factoring arrangement and the assignment and to verify the relevant Receivables with the Debtors . | GE CAPITAL ist auch berechtigt, die Abnehmer über das Factoringverhältnis und die Abtretung zu unterrichten, sowie die jeweiligen Forderungen bei den Abnehmern zu verifizieren. | |
To the extent that the parties agree on Pledged Accounts , clause 13.3 shall apply mutatis mutandis. | Soweit die Einrichtung von Verpfändeten Bankkonten vereinbart ist, gilt für diese Ziffer 13.3 entsprechend. | |
13.3 In the Undisclosed Procedure and until termination pursuant to Clause 14, the ORIGINATOR is entitled to collect and administer Receivables in its name and on its behalf within the boundaries of the Credit and Collection Policies (by way of a collection authority ( Einzugsermächtigung ) and to perform all related functions with reasonable care, skill and diligence with the standard of care of a prudent merchant ( Sorgfalt eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns ). The ORIGINATOR shall accept Debtors payments by cashless transactions, if possible, and only into the Pledged Accounts . | 13.3 Im Stillen Verfahren und bis zur Kündigung gemäß Ziffer 14 ist der KUNDE verpflichtet, Forderungen im eigenen Namen und im eigenen Auftrag innerhalb der Grenzen der Gutschrifts- und Einziehungsbestimmungen ( Credit and Collection Policies ) (durch Einzugsermächtigung) einzuziehen und zu verwalten und alle damit zusammenhängenden Aufgaben mit angemessener Vorsicht, Fertigkeit und Sorgfalt, die denen eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns entsprechen müssen, zu erfüllen. Der KUNDE akzeptiert Abnehmerzahlungen nur, wenn sie, wenn möglich, bargeldlos und nur auf die verpfändeten Konten geleistet werden. | |
(a) All invoices and any other relevant correspondence of the ORIGINATOR vis-àvis its Debtors shall only specify the Pledged Accounts as the ORIGINATORs bank account details. Any Debtors that may have been informed otherwise will be advised accordingly by the ORIGINATOR without undue delay. | (a) Alle Rechnungen und jeder andere relevante Schriftverkehr des KUNDEN gegenüber seinen Abnehmern dürfen als Bankverbindung ausschließlich das Verpfändete Konto enthalten. Abnehmer , die anders informiert sein könnten, wird der KUNDE unverzüglich entsprechend unterrichten. | |
(b) The ORIGINATOR undertakes to reset all balances on the Pledged Accounts prior to the Commencement Date . | (b) Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, alle Salden der Verpfändeten Konten vor Vertragsbeginn auf Null zu stellen. |
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(c) To secure in particular the claim arising from clause 5, and to secure any and all other present and future claims of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR arising from the business relationship, the ORIGINATOR shall pledge to GE CAPITAL by way of a separate agreement all claims arising from the Pledged Accounts to receive any existing or future balances (credits) to which the ORIGINATOR may be entitled in connection with settlements under the relevant current account relationship, as well as any claims arising from the giro contract to receive daily balances standing to the credit on the Pledged Accounts which may arise between the settlements of accounts and all claims to credit entries with respect to any amount received (Account list in Section 8 of Schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions)). | (c) Zur Sicherung, insbesondere des Anspruchs gemäß Ziffer 5 und zur Sicherung aller übrigen gegenwärtigen und künftigen Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN aus diesem Vertragsverhältnis, verpfändet der KUNDE gemäß separater Vereinbarung seine Ansprüche aus den Verpfändeten Bankkonten auf Auszahlung aller gegenwärtigen und künftigen Überschüsse, die dem KUNDEN bei Saldoziehung aus dem in laufender Rechnung (Kontokorrent) geführten Konto/Konten zustehen, sowie auch die Ansprüche aus dem Girovertrag auf fortlaufende Auszahlung des sich zwischen den Rechnungsabschlüssen ergebenden Tagesguthabens sowie alle Ansprüche auf Gutschriften an GE CAPITAL (Kontenliste in Ziffer 8 des Anhangs 1 (Konditionen)). | |
(d) The parties hereby agree on the following collection arrangement: GE CAPITAL is in particular prior to the occurrence of an enforcement event entitled to solely collect the amounts standing to the credit of the Pledged Accounts . The ORIGINATOR may only demand payment to GE CAPITAL. | (d) Hiermit wird folgende Einziehungsvereinbarung getroffen: GE CAPITAL ist, insbesondere vor dem Eintritt der Verwertung, allein zur Einziehung aller Beträge des Verpfändeten Kontos berechtigt. Der Kunde darf Zahlung nur an GE CAPITAL verlangen. | |
GE CAPITAL undertakes vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR to pay out to the ORIGINATOR, to the extent permitted by law, any amount paid into the Pledged Accounts which have been made towards any receivables which have verifiably not been assigned or transferred to GE CAPITAL under or in connection with the Factoring Agreement. | CE CAPITAL verpflichtet sich gegenüber dem KUNDEN, soweit dies gesetzlich zulässig ist, alle Beträge an den KUNDEN auszuzahlen, die in die Verpfändeten Bankkonten gezahlt wurden und die auf eine Forderung geleistet wurde, die nachweisbar nicht an GE CAPITAL in Zusammenhang mit dem Factoringvertrag abgetreten oder übertragen wurde. | |
(e) The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL agree that the Pledged Accounts are held by the ORIGINATOR as trustee for GE CAPITAL in its own name, but for the sole purpose of creating a security interest for GE CAPITAL (trust arrangement). The amounts received and standing to the credit of the Pledged Accounts shall serve the sole purpose of being transferred to GE CAPITAL. The ORIGINATOR undertakes not to dispose of any credit balance on the Pledged Accounts in any other way and not to charge or debit the Pledged Accounts . If any payments from Debtors are received on any account other than the Pledged Accounts , the ORIGINATOR hereby undertakes to transfer such amounts directly to GE CAPITAL or to a Pledged Account . | (e) Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL sind sich darüber einig, dass die Verpfändeten Bankkonten vom KUNDEN als Treuhänder für GE CAPITAL im eigenen Namen aber lediglich zu Sicherungszwecken im Interesse von GE CAPITAL geführt werden (Treuhandvereinbarung). Die Gelder auf den Verpfändeten Bankkonten dienen nur dem Zweck ihrer Weiterleitung an GE CAPITAL. Der Kunde verpflichtet sich, jede andere Verfügung über Ansprüche aus Guthaben zu unterlassen und keine Belastungen der Verpfändeten Bankkonten vorzunehmen. Sollten Abnehmerzahlungen auf anderen als den Verpfändeten Bankkonten eingehen, verpflichtet sich der KUNDE, diese direkt an GE CAPITAL oder auf ein Verpfändetes Bankkonto weiterzuleiten. |
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13.4 | 13.4 | |
(a) The ORIGINATOR undertakes to notify each credit institution that keeps any of the Pledged Accounts of the pledge and the trust arrangement, to release such credit institution vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL from the Banking Secrecy with respect to the Pledged Accounts and to use its reasonable efforts to provide a declaration from any such credit institution to GE CAPITAL pursuant to which the relevant credit institution: | (a) Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, jedem Kreditinstitut, bei dem ein Verpfändetes Bankkonto geführt wird, die Verpfändung und die Treuhandvereinbarung anzuzeigen, es vom Bankgeheimnis gegenüber GE CAPITAL in Bezug auf die Verpfändeten Bankkonten zu befreien und angemessene Anstrengungen anzuwenden, die Erklärung des Kreditinstituts gegenüber GE CAPITAL beizubringen, wonach das jeweilige Kreditinstitut: | |
- acknowledges the pledge including the collection arrangement and undertakes not to allow any disposals deviating from the collection arrangement, | - die Verpfändung einschließlich der Einziehungsvereinbarung anerkennt und sich verpflichtet, davon abweichende Verfügungen nicht zuzulassen, | |
- waives any retention and set-off rights that it may have with respect to the Pledged Accounts , abandons or subordinates to GE CAPITALs pledge any pledge it may have and agrees not to credit any payments allotted to the Pledged Accounts to any other accounts; provided that the charging of the Pledged Accounts with customary fees, costs, reverse bookings and conditional bookings may be stipulated, | - bezüglich der Verpfändeten Bankkonten auf etwa ihm zustehende Zurückbehaltungs- und Aufrechnungsrechte verzichtet, ein etwa bestehendes eigenes Pfandrecht aufgibt oder nachrangig stellt und für Verpfändete Bankkonten bestimmte Zahlungen nicht anderen Konten gutschreibt; die Belastung mit üblichen Gebühren, Kosten, Rückbuchungen und bedingte Buchungen kann vorbehalten bleiben, | |
- undertakes to keep GE CAPITAL continuously informed about the Pledged Accounts by delivery of account statements and, on request, by delivery of the relevant receipts, and to allow GE CAPITAL to obtain information by retrieving digital data. | - GE CAPITAL durch Kontoauszüge und auf Anforderung auch durch die zugehörigen Belege über die Verpfändeten Bankkonten fortlaufend unterrichtet und GE CAPITAL die Möglichkeit einräumt, sich durch Abrufen digitaler Daten zu informieren. |
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(b) The ORIGINATOR warrants by way of an independent guarantee that following performance of clause 13.4 (a) no third party rights exist with respect to the pledged rights and claims other than a subordinated pledge in favour of the account bank(s) and except for pledges in favour of account bank(s) with respect to claims arising from and relating to: (a) cancellation and correction entries, (b) reversals of reserved bookings (e.g. check or direct debit) and unintentional payments, and (c) fees and other account charges or fees in the context of normal business, provided, however, that such claims as set out in (a) (c) above arise in connection with the relevant Pledged Account and do not derive from a different relationship between the ORIGINATOR and the account bank, if applicable. | (b) Der KUNDE garantiert im Wege eines selbstständigen Garantieversprechens, dass nach Erfüllung von Ziffer 13.4 (a) keine Rechte Dritter an den verpfändeten Rechten und Ansprüchen bestehen, mit der Ausnahme eines etwaigen nachrangigen AGB-Pfandrecht der kontoführenden Bank und mit Ausnahme eines etwaigen Pfandrechts der der kontoführenden Bank, im Hinblick auf Ansprüche, die entstehen aus und sich beziehen auf: (a) Stornierungsgrund Korrektureinträge, (b) Rückbelastungen vorbehaltener Buchungen (z.B. Scheck oder Lastschrift) und unbeabsichtigten Zahlungen, und (c) Gebühren und anderen Kontogebühren und Gebühren im ordentlichen Geschäftsverkehr, vorausgesetzt jedoch, dass diese in (a) - (c) aufgeführten Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit dem jeweiligen verpfändeten Konto entstehen und, falls zutreffend, nicht von einer anderen Beziehung zwischen dem KUNDEN und der kontoführenden Bank herrühren. | |
(c) The ORIGINATOR undertakes to inform GE CAPITAL immediately if any third party asserts any such right. | (c) Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, umgehend GE CAPITAL zu verständigen, wenn Dritte solche Rechte geltend machen. | |
(d) The ORIGINATOR authorises GE CAPITAL to notify the relevant credit institution of the pledge and to receive the declaration referred to in clause 13.4 (a) above, on behalf of the ORIGINATOR. | (d) GE CAPITAL ist bevollmächtigt, die Verpfändung gegenüber dem jeweiligen Kreditinstitut anzuzeigen und die Erklärung gemäß Ziffer 13.4 (a) auch im Namen des KUNDEN vorzunehmen. | |
13.5 GE CAPITAL is entitled to conduct regular balance acknowledgement procedures with Debtors . | 13.5 GE Capital ist berechtigt, regelmäßig Saldenbestätigungsverfahren mit den Abnehmern durchzuführen | |
GE CAPITAL will send an account statement setting out the Receivables which, to GE CAPITALs knowledge, are unsettled at the relevant date, including the account balance resulting therefrom, accompanied with a request to the relevant Debtor to confirm the balance set out therein to be accurate and the relevant Receivables to be Eligible . | GE CAPITAL verschickt einen Kontoauszug über die nach ihrer Kenntnis zum Stichtag offenen Forderungen einschließlich des sich daraus ergebenden Saldos, verbunden mit der Aufforderung an den jeweiligen Abnehmer , diesen Saldo als zutreffend und die Forderung als einwandfrei zu bestätigen. |
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For the duration of the Undisclosed Procedure, the request to confirm the account balances is made in the name of the ORIGINATOR by an auditor appointed by GE CAPITAL as trustee for GE CAPITAL. The ORIGINATOR will grant a relevant power of attorney to the trustee for submission to the Debtor . The trustee will inform GE CAPITAL comprehensively about the results of the balance acknowledgement procedure. | Für die Dauer des stillen Verfahrens erfolgt regelmäßig die Aufforderung zur Saldenbestätigung unter dem Namen des KUNDEN durch einen von GE CAPITAL benannten Prüfer als Treuhänder für GE CAPITAL. Der KUNDE stellt dem Treuhänder eine entsprechende Vollmacht zur Vorlage beim Abnehmer aus. Der Treuhänder informiert GE CAPITAL umfassend über die Ergebnisse des Saldenbestätigungsverfahrens. | |
14. CHANGE OF PROCEDURE BY PARTIAL TERMINATION | 14. VERFAHRENSWECHSEL DURCH TEILKÜNDIGUNG | |
14.1 GE CAPITAL is only entitled to an extraordinary partial termination in writing of the Inter-Credit ® -Factoring and/or the Undisclosed Procedure without observation of a termination period, if the conditions of Clause 28.2 are fulfilled. | 14.1 GE CAPITAL hat ohne Einhaltung einer Kündigungsfrist nur das Recht zu einer außerordentlichen Kündigung des Inter- Credit ® -Factorings und/oder des stillen Verfahrens , die der Schriftform entsprechen muss, wenn die Bedingungen der Ziffer 28.2 erfüllt sind. | |
14.2 Upon effectiveness of a partial termination of the Inter-Credit ® - Factoring , the Factoring Agreement shall continue as Full-Service - Factoring , upon partial termination of the Undisclosed Procedure as Disclosed Procedure , respectively. | 14.2 Mit Wirksamwerden einer Teilkündigung des Inter-Credit ® -Factoring setzt sich der Factoringvertrag als Full- Service-Factoring , bzw. bei Teilkündigung des stillen Verfahrens , als offenes Verfahren fort. | |
14.3 Upon receipt of a partial termination pursuant to clause 14.1, the ORIGINATOR is entitled to terminate the Factoring Agreement by giving 5 Business Days notice prior to the date on which the partial termination takes effect. | 14.3 Nach dem Zugang einer Teilkündigung nach Ziffer 14.1 hat der KUNDE das Recht, den Factoringvertrag mit einer Frist von mindestens 5 Geschäftstagen vor dem Zeitpunkt, auf den gekündigt ist, zu kündigen. | |
14.4 The ORIGINATOR may approach GE CAPITAL with a request not to disclose the assignment notwithstanding a termination of the Undisclosed Procedure if and as long as the claims owing to GE CAPITAL arising from the business relationship with the ORIGINATOR are unappealably satisfied ( erfüllt ). | 14.4 Der KUNDE hat das Recht, GE CAPITAL darum zu ersuchen, ungeachtet der Kündigung des Stillen Verfahrens die Abtretung nicht offenzulegen, wenn und solange die GE CAPITAL zustehenden Ansprüche, die aus einer Geschäftsbeziehung mit dem KUNDEN herrühren, unanfechtbar erfüllt sind. |
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14.5 GE CAPITAL is entitled to terminate the Smart-Service-Factoring by written notice, applying clause 14.1 mutatis mutandis. Upon effectiveness of a partial termination, the Factoring Agreement shall continue as Full- Service-Factoring; clause 14.3 shall also apply mutatis mutandis. | 14.5 GE CAPITAL kann das Smart-Service- Factoring schriftlich kündigen; Ziffer 14.1 gilt entsprechend. Mit dem Wirksamwerden einer Teilkündigung setzt sich der Factoringvertrag als Full-Service-Factoring fort ; Ziffer 14.3 gilt ebenfalls entsprechend. | |
15. QUARTERLY ACCOUNT STATEMENT, TACIT RATIFICATION, TIME LIMIT FOR OBJECTIONS | 15. QUARTALSABSCHLUSS, GENEHMIGUNG DURCH SCHWEIGEN, FRIST FÜR EINWENDUNGEN | |
15.1 GE CAPITAL shall, within 10 days following the end of each calendar quarter, send the Quarterly Account Statement to the ORIGINATOR. | 15.1 GE CAPITAL übersendet dem KUNDEN innerhalb von 10 Tagen nach Abschluss des Quartals den Quartalsabschluss . | |
15.2 The ORIGINATOR must raise any objections concerning the incorrectness or incompleteness of a Quarterly Account Statement no later than 6 weeks following receipt thereof; if such objections are made in writing, dispatch thereof during the 6-week period shall suffice. | 15.2 Der KUNDE hat Einwendungen wegen Unrichtigkeit oder Unvollständigkeit eines Quartalsabschlusses spätestens vor Ablauf von 6 Wochen nach dessen Zugang zu erheben; macht er seine Einwendungen schriftlich geltend, genügt die Absendung innerhalb der 6-Wochen-Frist. | |
Failure to make objections in due time will be considered an approval of the Quarterly Account Statement . When issuing the Quarterly Account Statement , GE CAPITAL will expressly refer the ORIGINATOR to this consequence. | Das Unterlassen rechtzeitiger Einwendungen gilt als Genehmigung des Quartalsabschlusses . Auf diese Folge wird GE CAPITAL bei Erteilung des Quartalsabschlusses besonders hingewiesen. | |
The ORIGINATOR is also entitled to request correction of the Quarterly Account Statement after the expiry of the 6-week period, but must prove in that instance that its account was either unlawfully (unrechtmäßig) debited or not credited. | Der KUNDE kann auch nach Ablauf der 6- Wochen-Frist eine Berichtigung des Quartalsabschlusses verlangen, muss dann aber beweisen, dass sein 13 Konto unrechtmäßig entweder belastet oder eine ihm zustehende Gutschrift nicht erteilt wurde. | |
15.3 To the extent that GE CAPITAL has a repayment claim against the ORIGINATOR, GE CAPITAL may reverse incorrect credit entries on all accounts of the ORIGINATOR by way of a debit entry prior to the issue of the next Quarterly Account Statement (reverse entry); in this case, the ORIGINATOR may not object to the debit entry on the grounds of having already disposed of an amount equivalent to the credit entry. | 15.3 Soweit GE CAPITAL ein Rückzahlungsanspruch gegen den KUNDEN zusteht, kann GE CAPITAL fehlerhafte Gutschriften auf allen Konten des KUNDEN durch eine Belastungsbuchung vor dem nächsten Quartalsabschluss rückgängig machen (Stornobuchung); der KUNDE kann in diesem Fall gegen die Belastungsbuchung nicht einwenden, dass er in Höhe der Gutschrift bereits verfügt hat. |
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If GE CAPITAL discovers an incorrect credit entry only after a Quarterly Account Statement has been issued and if GE CAPITAL has a repayment claim against the ORIGINATOR, it will make a correction entry in the amount of such claim. | Stellt GE CAPITAL eine fehlerhafte Gutschrift erst nach einem Quartalsabschluss fest und steht ihr ein Rückzahlungsanspruch gegen den KUNDEN zu, so wird sie in Höhe dieses Anspruchs eine Berichtigungsbuchung durchführen. | |
If the ORIGINATOR objects to the correction entry, GE CAPITAL will re-credit the account with the amount in dispute and pursue its repayment claim separately. | Erhebt der KUNDE gegen die Berichtigungsbuchung Einwendungen, so wird GE CAPITAL den Betrag dem Konto wieder gutschreiben und ihren Rückzahlungsanspruch gesondert verfolgen. | |
GE CAPITAL will immediately notify the ORIGINATOR of any reverse entries and correction entries made by it. With respect to the calculation of the Financing Commission per Invoice and the Total Financing Commission , the entries will take retroactive effect to the day on which the incorrect entry was made. | Über Storno- und Berichtigungsbuchungen wird GE CAPITAL den KUNDEN unverzüglich unterrichten. Die Buchungen nimmt GE CAPITAL hinsichtlich der Berechnung der Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis und der Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr rückwirkend zu dem Tag vor, an dem die fehlerhafte Buchung durchgeführt wurde. | |
16. COLLECTION PROCEDURE | 16. INKASSOVERFAHREN | |
16.1 If any Receivables remain unsettled after the third dunning letter, GE CAPITAL will initiate the Collection Procedure . | 16.1 Wenn Forderungen nach der dritten Mahnung noch offen sind, so leitet GE CAPITAL das Inkassoverfahren ein. | |
16.2 GE CAPITAL shall inform the ORIGINATOR about any developments in the Collection Procedure if necessary, and shall, in the event of any disputes raised by the Debtor , give the ORIGINATOR the opportunity to provide comments thereon and introduce such comments in the procedure. GE CAPITAL shall enter into settlement agreements concerning the Eligibility of any Receivable , or Receivables which have not been purchased only with the consent of the ORIGINATOR. | 16.2 GE CAPITAL wird den KUNDEN über den Verlauf des Inkassoverfahrens bei Bedarf unterrichten und bei Reklamationen des Abnehmers Gelegenheit zur Stellungnahme geben und diese in das Verfahren einführen. Vergleiche, die nicht angekaufte Forderungen oder die Einwandfreiheit der Forderung betreffen, wird GE CAPITAL nur im Einverständnis mit dem KUNDEN abschließen. |
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Considering the above, the ORIGINATOR acknowledges that the results of a legal proceeding between GE CAPITAL and the Debtor are also binding between GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR. | Unter Berücksichtigung des Vorstehenden ist der KUNDE an die Ergebnisse eines Rechtsstreits zwischen GE CAPITAL und dem Abnehmer ebenso gebunden, wie zwischen GE CAPITAL und dem KUNDEN. | |
16.3 GE CAPITAL shall bear the collection costs for purchased and Eligible Receivables , all other costs shall be borne by the ORIGINATOR. | 16.3 Die Inkassokosten für gekaufte und einwandfreie Forderungen trägt GE CAPITAL, im Übrigen trägt sie der KUNDE. | |
All collection costs are initially debited to the Settlement Account . When the Bad Debt Amount is provided, GE CAPITAL shall reimburse such amount for the relevant Receivable . | Die Inkassokosten werden zunächst dem Kundenabrechnungskonto belastet. Bei Leistung des Delkrederebetrags erfolgt in Bezug auf die betreffende Forderung eine entsprechende Erstattung. | |
GE CAPITAL is entitled to claim an advance in justifiable instances. | In begründeten Fällen ist GE CAPITAL berechtigt, einen Vorschuss zu verlangen. | |
16.4 GE CAPITAL is entitled but shall not be obliged to claim default interest from the Debtor . At the ORIGINATORs request, GE CAPITAL shall assign such claims against the Debtor to the ORIGINATOR. | 16.4 Zur Geltendmachung von Verzugszinsen gegen den Abnehmer ist GE CAPITAL berechtigt, jedoch nicht verpflichtet. Auf Anforderung des KUNDEN tritt GE CAPITAL diese Ansprüche gegen den Abnehmer an den KUNDEN ab. | |
16.5 The ORIGINATOR is obliged to provide GE CAPITAL with documentation necessary for the Collection Procedure and make all relevant disclosures at the latest on the 60th day after the due date of the relevant Receivable and shall continue to provide such information immediately upon request during the procedure. | 16.5 Der Kunde ist verpflichtet, GE CAPITAL bis spätestens zum 60. Tag nach Fälligkeit der betreffenden Forderung alle für das Inkassoverfahren erforderlichen Informationen zu übergeben und während des Verfahrens auf Anfrage unverzüglich alle erforderlichen Informationen zu erteilen | |
If the ORIGINATOR fails to submit the necessary information in due time, GE CAPITAL may, after having set a reasonable period to provide information, withdraw from the Receivables Purchase Agreement relating to the relevant Receivable . | Kommt der KUNDE seiner Verpflichtung zur Erteilung der erforderlichen Informationen nicht nach, so kann GE CAPITAL, wenn sie zuvor erfolglos eine angemessene Frist zur Informationserteilung bestimmt hat, vom Forderungskaufvertrag über die betroffene Forderung zurücktreten. |
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GE CAPITAL declares the withdrawal by rebooking the Receivables from the Factoring Account to the Special Account , provided that the ORIGINATOR does not need to receive a notice of such book entry. | Der Rücktritt erfolgt durch Umbuchung der Forderungen vom Factoringkonto auf das Sonderkonto , ohne dass dem KUNDEN eine gesonderte Buchungsmitteilung zur Verfügung gestellt werden muss. | |
D. GENERAL OBLIGATIONS | D. ALLGEMEINE VERTRAGSPFLICHTEN | |
17. NEGATIVE PLEDGE | 17. KEINE ANDERWEITIGEN VERFÜGUNGEN | |
The ORIGINATOR shall not undertake any action or make any declaration intended to create any third party rights in respect of the assigned Receivables and ancillary rights, in particular: | Der KUNDE hat alle Rechtsgeschäfte zu unterlassen, die darauf gerichtet sind, Dritten in Bezug auf die abgetretenen Forderungen und Nebenrechte Befugnisse irgendwelcher Art einzuräumen, insbesondere: | |
(a) security assignments of Receivables ; | (a) Sicherungszessionen der Forderungen ; | |
(b) pledges over assigned Receivables whether registered in the Czech Notarial Pledge register ( Notářský rejstřík zástav ) or evidenced merely by pledge agreements; | (b) Verpfändungen von abgetretenen Forderungen , unabhängig davon, ob diese im tschechischen notariellen Pfändungsregister ( Notářský rejstřík zástav ) registiert oder nur durch die Unterzeichnung von Pfändungsvereinbarungen verpfändet wurden; | |
c) collection authorisations of any kind in relation to the Receivables . | (c) Einziehungsberechtigungen jeglicher Art in Bezug auf die Forderungen . | |
18. RECEIVABLES PLEDGE | 18. VERPFÄNDUNG DER FORDERUNGEN | |
In the event of a breach of clause 28.2(f) of this Agreement, the ORIGINATOR must, within 15 Business Days from a GE CAPTALs written request enter into (i) a pledge agreement governed by Czech law over all then existing assigned Receivables governed by German law in a form and substance satisfactory to GE CAPITAL and (ii) a pledge agreement governed by Czech law over all then existing and assigned Receivables governed by Czech law in a form and substance satisfactory to GE CAPITAL and to register such pledge agreements, if possible, in the Czech Notarial Pledge Register ( Notářský rejstřík zástav ) within 2 Business Days from its execution. | Im Falle eines Verstoßes gegen Ziffer 28.2 (f) dieses Vertrages, hat der KUNDE innerhalb von 15 Geschäftstagen nach einer schriftlichen Aufforderung durch GE CAPITAL eine in Form und Inhalt den Anforderungen von GE CAPITAL entsprechende Verpfändungsvereinbarung nach tschechischem Recht über alle zu diesem Zeitpunkt bestehenden und abgetretenen Forderungen , die deutschem Recht unterliegen, abzuschließen und (ii) eine in Form und Inhalt den Anforderungen von GE CAPITAL entsprechende Verpfändungsvereinbarung nach tschechischem Recht über alle zu diesem Zeitpunkt bestehenden und abgetretenen Forderungen , die tschechischem Recht unterliegen, abzuschließen und diese Verpfändungsvereinbarungen, soweit möglich, innerhalb von zwei Geschäftstagen nach Unterzeichnung im tschechischen notariellen Pfändungsregister ( Notářský rejstřík zástav ) eintragen zu lassen. |
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19. INCREASED FIDUCIARY DUTY AND DUTY OF CARE | 19. ERHÖHTE TREUE UND SCHUTZPFLICHT | |
In the Undisclosed Procedure , Inter-Credit ® - Factoring and Smart-Service-Factoring procedure, the ORIGINATOR has an increased fiduciary duty and the duty of care of a prudent merchant ( Sorgfalt eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns ), and must exercise such duties in such a manner that GE CAPITAL is in no worse position than if GE CAPITAL had performed the relevant task itself, or the assignment had been disclosed, as the case may be. | Bei stillen Verfahren , dem Inter-Credit ® -Factoring und beim Smart-Service-Factoring hat der KUNDE eine erhöhte Treuepflicht und die Sorgfaltspflicht eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns zu beachten und er muss diesen Pflichten in einer Weise nachkommen, dass GE CAPITAL nicht schlechter steht als wenn GE CAPITAL die jeweilige Aufgabe selbst ausgeführt hätte oder die Abtretung offengelegt worden wäre. | |
20. INFORMATION UNDERTAKING | 20. INFORMATIONSERTEILUNG | |
20.1 The ORIGINATOR must, at GE CAPITALs request, deliver to GE CAPITAL all records that document the Receivables offered for purchase, such as bills of delivery, contracts, order confirmations etc. | 20.1 Der KUNDE wird auf Verlangen von GE CAPITAL, Unterlagen, welche die zum Kauf angebotenen Forderungen belegen, wie Lieferscheine, Verträge, Auftragsbestätigungen etc., an GE CAPITAL aushändigen. | |
20.2 The ORIGINATOR shall inform GE CAPITAL without undue delay of any circumstances relating to the ORIGINATORs enterprise which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ORIGINATOR or its business or financial condition or on its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement: | 20.2 Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet GE CAPITAL unverzüglich über alle Umstände des Unternehmens des KUNDEN zu unterrichten, die vernünftigerweise erhebliche nachteilige Auswirkungen auf den KUNDEN oder sein Geschäft oder die finanzielle Situation oder seine Fähigkeit zur Erfüllung seiner Verpflichtungen aus diesem Vertrag erwarten lassen: |
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The ORIGINATOR shall submit to GE CAPITAL: | Der KUNDE übermittelt GE CAPITAL: | |
(a) financial information, consisting of: | (a) Finanzinformationen, bestehend aus: | |
(i) unaudited and unreviewed monthly and quarterly balance sheet and related income statement of each ORIGINATOR (on a reporting unit level); | (i) ungeprüften monatlichen und quartalsmäßigen Bilanzaufstellungen und dazugehörigen Gewinn- und Verlustrechnungen jedes KUNDEN (auf Berichtseinheitsebene); | |
(ii) annual, and to the extent required by applicable laws, audited balance sheet and related income statement of the ORIGINATOR; | (ii) jährlichen, und soweit vom anwendbaren Gesetz vorgeschrieben, geprüften Bilanzen und dazugehörigen Gewinn- und Verlustrechnungen des KUNDEN; | |
(iii) monthly account payable ledger and, if applicable, monthly tolling report, including but not limited to Tolling/Pseudo Tolling Reimbursement Claims (actual balance at the end of each month); | (iii) monatlichen Listen hinsichtlich offener Posten von Kreditoren und, falls zutreffend, monatlichen Beistellungsberichten, einschließlich aber nicht beschränkt auf Rückvergütungsansprüche aus Materialbeistellung (aktuelle Bilanz am Ende jeden Monats); | |
(iv) monthly VAT Information | (iv) monatliche Umsatzsteuerinformationen | |
(b) any intended changes with respect to the rights of representation, the shareholding, the constitutional documents and intended changes with respect to Affiliated Companies , to the extent that such changes are relevant for the performance of this Agreement; | (b) jede beabsichtigte Veränderung in Bezug auf die Vertretungsverhältnisse, den Gesellschafterbestand, den Gesellschaftsvertrag und die beabsichtigten Veränderungen in Bezug auf die nahestehenden Unternehmen , sofern diese für die Erfüllung dieses Vertrages wesentlich sind; | |
(c) any financing arrangements with any other financial institutions including security agreements, provided such financing (i) exceeds EUR 10,000,000, or (ii) is secured by any kind of security or by a sale of receivables, | (c) wesentliche Änderungen von Kreditvereinbarungen mit anderen Kreditinstituten einschließlich Sicherungsabreden, vorausgesetzt, eine solche Finanzierung (i) übersteigt EUR 10.000.000 oder (ii) ist durch irgend ein Sicherungsmittel oder durch den Verkauf von Forderungen abgesichert, | |
(d) any restriction of the authorisation to resell retained goods and/or collect Receivables , if and to the extent the ORIGINATOR is or should be aware considering the duty of care of a prudent merchant (Sorgfalt eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns) of such restriction, | (d) Einschränkungen von Ermächtigungen zur Weiterveräußerung der Vorbehaltsware und/oder zum Einzug der verkauften Forderungen , wenn und soweit dem KUNDEN, unter Beachtung der Pflichten und der Sorgfalt eines ordentlichen Kaufmanns, eine solche Einschränkung bewusst ist oder bewusst war, |
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(e) any substantial deterioration in the ORIGINATORs general financial and business condition. | (e) jede wesentliche Verschlechterung der allgemeinen Vermögens- und Geschäftssituation des KUNDEN. | |
20.3 The ORIGINATOR is obliged to inform GE CAPITAL of any circumstances of which it may become aware concerning the risk of the Debtor of being unable to pay debts as they fall due except if the ORIGINATOR is legally prevented from such disclosure and the ORIGINATORs non compliance with applicable confidentiality agreements will expose the ORIGINATOR to damage claims by its respective Debtor(s) . | 20.3 Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet, GE CAPITAL über alle ihm bekannt werdenden Umstände, welche das Risiko der Zahlungsunfähigkeit eines Abnehmers betreffen, zu unterrichten, es sei denn, dem KUNDEN ist eine solche Offenlegung gesetzlich untersagt und durch diese Nichtbeachtung betreffenden Vertraulichkeitsvereinbarungen des KUNDEN wird der KUNDE Schadensersatzansprüchen seiner jeweiligen Abnehmer ausgesetzt. | |
20.4 The ORIGINATOR is obliged to provide GE CAPITAL with all information and documents necessary for GE CAPITAL to perform its obligations under the Anti- Money-Laundering Act and to inform GE CAPITAL without undue delay of any relevant changes during the course of the business relationship. | 20.4 Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet, GE CAPITAL alle notwendigen Informationen und Unterlagen zur Verfügung zu stellen, damit GE CAPITAL seine Verpflichtungen nach dem Anti-Geldwäsche-Gesetz erfüllen kann und GE CAPITAL unverzüglich über wesentliche Änderungen im Laufe der Geschäftsbeziehung zu informieren. | |
20.5 The ORIGINATOR undertakes to provide GE CAPITAL with all relevant information pursuant to this clause 20 ( Information Undertaking ) which is to be provided on a monthly/quarterly basis within 45 (forty-five) days after the end of the respective month/calendar quarter, and information which is to be provided annually within 150 (one-hundred-and-fifty) days after the end of the ORIGINATORs financial year. | 20.5 Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, GE CAPITAL die monatlich/quartalsweise zur Verfügung zu stellenden Informationen innerhalb von 45 (fünfundvierzig) Tagen nach Ablauf des jeweiligen Monats/Kalenderquartals entsprechend dieser Ziffer 20 ( Informationspflicht ) zur Verfügung zu stellen, und die jährlich zur Verfügung zu stellenden Informationen innerhalb von 150 (einhundertfünfzig) Tagen nach Ablauf des Geschäftsjahres des KUNDEN zur Verfügung zu stellen.. |
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If in the case of any unforeseeable event or under any exceptional circumstances reasonably evidenced by the ORIGINATOR, the ORIGINATOR should not be able to deliver the annual reports within 150 (one hundred and-fifty) days after the end of the financial year, a further cure period shall be mutually agreed between the ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL. | Sollte es wegen eines nicht vorhersehbaren Ereignisses oder unter außergewöhnlichen Umständen, die vom KUNDEN vernünftig bewiesen werden, dem KUNDEN nicht möglich sein, die jährlichen Berichte innerhalb von 150 (einhundert-fünfzig) Tagen nach Ablauf des Geschäftsjahres, zur Verfügung zu stellen, werden sich der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL auf eine zusätzliche Heilungsfrist einigen. | |
21. EXTERNAL AUDIT, DECLARATION OF CONSENT | 21. AUSSENPRÜFUNG, EINWILLIGUNGSERKLÄRUNG | |
GE CAPITAL is entitled to perform an external audit at the ORIGINATORs business premises at any time during customary business hours, at least twice per year, whereas GE CAPITAL shall give the ORIGINATOR at least two weeks prior written notice regarding such regular audits, notwithstanding GE CAPITALs right to perform additional audits without prior notice in case GE CAPITAL has reason to believe that observance of such notice period will adversely affect the interest of GE CAPITAL. | GE CAPITAL ist in den Geschäftsräumen des KUNDEN und zu den üblichen Geschäftszeiten mindestens zweimal pro Jahr zur Durchführung einer regulären Außenprüfung berechtigt, wobei GE CAPITAL dem KUNDEN eine solche Prüfung mindestens zwei Wochen vorher schriftlich ankündigt, unbeschadet GE CAPITALs Recht, zusätzliche Prüfungen ohne vorherige Ankündigung durchzuführen, wenn GE CAPITAL Grund zur Annahme hat, dass eine solche Ankündigung die Interessen von GE CAPITAL nachteilig beeinflussen wird. | |
GE CAPITAL is entitled to review and make copies of all books, records and other documents of the ORIGINATOR relating to the factoring arrangement and its performance. The ORIGINATOR is obliged to support GE CAPITAL and provide comprehensive information. | GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt, alle das Factoringverhältnis betreffenden Bücher, Schriften und sonstigen Unterlagen des KUNDEN einzusehen und sich Ablichtungen hiervon anzufertigen. Der KUNDE hat GE CAPITAL hierbei zu unterstützen und umfassend Auskunft zu erteilen. | |
GE CAPITALs right to receive information shall also include the right to receive information from the tax advisor, auditor or any other person who keeps the accounts or prepares, establishes or audits the annual report for the ORIGINATOR. The ORIGINATOR hereby releases such persons vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL from their professional duty of confidentiality. | Dieses Informationsrecht von GE CAPITAL erstreckt sich auch darauf, diesbezügliche Auskünfte von dem Steuerberater, Wirtschaftsprüfer oder jeder anderen Person, die die Buchhaltung führt oder die Bilanz vorbereitet, erstellt oder prüft, einzuholen. Der KUNDE befreit diese Personen gegenüber GE CAPITAL hiermit von ihrer Schweigepflicht. |
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The right of GE CAPITAL to collect, process and utilise data and the release from its obligations under the Banking Secrecy is set out in schedule 2 (Declaration of Consent), and is granted within the boundaries of this agreement and applicable data protection rules. Furthermore, GE CAPITAL agrees to treat such information GE CAPITAL has received and which is subject to confidentiality agreements between the ORIGNATOR and third parties, also confidential. | Das Recht von GE CAPITAL, Daten zu erheben, zu verarbeiten und zu nutzen und ihre Verpflichtungen gemäß dem Bankgeheimnis offenzulegen ist in Anhang 2 (Einverständniserklärung) festgelegt und wird innerhalb der Grenzen dieses Vertrages und der anwendbaren Datenschutzregeln gewährt. Ferner akzeptiert GE CAPITAL, solche Informationen, die GE CAPITAL erhalten hat und die Gegenstand von Vertraulichkeitserklärungen zwischen dem KUNDEN und Dritten sind, ebenfalls vertraulich zu behandeln. | |
22. ARRANGEMENTS IN DEBTOR AGREEMENTS | 22. VERTRAGSGESTALTUNG GEGENÜBER ABNEHMERN | |
The ORIGINATOR shall use Reasonable Efforts and shall provide GE CAPITAL with reasonable evidence that its agreements with any Debtors , in particular its standard business conditions applicable to its agreements with any other Debtor , contain the following terms: | Der KUNDE wird sich angemessen bemühen und weist gegenüber GE CAPITAL nach, dass jeder Vertrag von GE CAPITAL mit seinen Abnehmern , insbesondere seine auf Verträge mit allen anderen Abnehmern anwendbaren Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen, Folgendes regeln: | |
(a) Standard business conditions of any Debtor which are in conflict with the ORIGINATORs standard business conditions shall have no effect. | (a) Die Geltung von Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen des Abnehmers , die den Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen des KUNDEN widersprechen, wird ausgeschlossen. | |
(b) The standard terms and conditions of the ORIGINATOR provide for a right to assign Receivables against the relevant Debtor to a third party and in case of customer contracts, such right is not expressly excluded. | (b) Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen des KUNDEN beinhalten ein Recht zur Abtretung von Forderungen gegen den jeweiligen Abnehmer an einen Dritten und Kundenverträge dürfen ein solches Recht nicht ausdrücklich ausschließen. | |
(c) The business relationship between the Debtor and the ORIGINATOR shall be governed by Czech or German law and in case of customer contracts, any other laws under which Receivables are assignable pursuant to this agreement; the place of jurisdiction shall be at the registered seat of the ORIGINATOR, and in case of customer contracts, either at the registered seat of the ORIGINATOR or at the registered seat of the relevant Debtor . | (c) Für die Geschäftsbeziehung zwischen dem Abnehmer und dem KUNDEN gilt tschechisches oder deutsches Recht und, bei Kundenverträgen, gilt jedes andere Recht nach dem die Forderungen entsprechend dieses Vertrages abtretbar sind; der Gerichtsstand ist der Sitz des KUNDEN und, bei Kundenverträgen, entweder der Sitz des KUNDEN oder der Sitz des jeweiligen Abnehmers . |
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(d) The standard terms and conditions shall include, and the ORIGINATOR shall use Reasonable Efforts to implement into customer agreements, all customary and permissible security arrangements, in particular retention of title arrangements, including any forms of extension and augmentation of such retention of title arrangements. | (d) Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen müssen alle branchenüblichen und zulässigen Sicherungsabreden, insbesondere den Eigentumsvorbehalt mit seinen Erweiterungs- und Verlängerungsformen enthalten, und der KUNDE wird sich angemessen bemühen , diese Bedingungen in Kundenverträge aufzunehmen. | |
(e) The standard terms and conditions shall exclude any set-off or retention rights of Debtors , unless such rights are undisputed or declared final by and unappealable judgement. | (e) Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen schließen alle Aufrechnungs- oder Zurückbehaltungsrechte der Abnehmer aus, es sei denn, diese Rechte sind unbestritten oder rechtskräftig festgestellt worden. | |
(f) The standard terms and conditions shall provide for a right to accelerate all Receivables against the relevant Debtor , if such Debtor is in payment default with any Receivable . | (f) Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen sehen ein Recht zur Beschleunigung aller Forderungen gegen den jeweiligen Abnehmer vor, wenn dieser Abnehmer mit einer Forderung in Zahlungsverzug gerät. | |
(g) The standard terms and conditions shall provide that the Debtor shall bear all fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with any legal proceedings successfully instituted against it outside of Germany or Czech Republic. | (g) Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen sehen vor, dass der Abnehmer alle Gebühren, Kosten und Auslagen trägt, die im Zusammenhang mit einer erfolgreich eingeleiteten Rechtsverfolgung gegen ihn außerhalb Deutschlands oder der Tschechischen Republik anfallen. | |
Reasonable Efforts as used in this Clause 22 means | sich angemessen bemühen gemäß Ziffer 22 bedeutet | |
(i) with respect to the ORIGINATORs standard business conditions that the ORIGINATOR will implement outstanding aspects in the course of the next revision of the ORIGINATORs standard business conditions, and | (i) im Hinblick auf die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen des KUNDEN, dass der KUNDE die offenen Punkte im Zuge der Neugestaltung seiner Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen umsetzen wird, und |
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(ii) with respect to existing agreements with Debtors that the ORIGINATOR will use reasonable efforts to implement the requested provisions at the next renegotiation of existing supply agreements, | (ii) im Hinblick auf bestehende Verträge mit Abnehmern, dass der KUNDE sich zur Umsetzung der geforderten Bestimmungen bei der nächsten Wiederverhandlung existierender Lieferverträge angemessen bemühen wird, | |
in each case unless the ORIGINATOR is aware and has GE CAPITAL informed that such request will have a material adverse effect on the ORIGINATORs business relationship and the commercial conditions with such Debtor. The ORIGINATOR will liaise with GE CAPITAL prior to the revision of its standard business conditions with respect to agreeing on the priority of implementing any outstanding aspects. | in jedem Fall, soweit dem KUNDE bewusst ist und er GE CAPITAL darüber informiert hat, dass dieses Begehren eine erhebliche nachteilige Wirkung auf die Geschäftsbeziehung des KUNDEN und die kaufmännischen Vertragsbedingungen mit dem Abnehmer hat. Der KUNDE wird vor der Überarbeitung seiner Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen im Hinblick auf die Einigung der Dringlichkeit der Umsetzung der offenen Punkte mit GE CAPITAL in Verbindung treten. | |
23. ADDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS REGARDING RECEIVABLES GOVERNED BY CZECH LAW | 23. BESONDERE VERPFLICHTUNGEN BEI FORDERUNGEN , DIE TSCHECHISCHEM RECHT UNTERLIEGEN | |
For Receivables governed by Czech law, the ORIGINATOR is obliged, if assignment restrictions or approval reservations are agreed with the Debtors or upon GE CAPITALs request, to obtain the respective Debtors consent to the assignment of the Receivables within the Factoring Agreement in a consent letter in substantially in the form as set out in Schedule 5 ( Consent Letter ) and to demonstrate this vis-á-vis GE CAPITAL. | Im Falle von Forderungen , die tschechischem Recht unterliegen, ist der KUNDE verpflichtet, bei Vorliegen von mit Abnehmern vereinbarten Abtretungsverboten oder Zustimmungsvorbehalten oder sonst auf Anforderung von GE CAPITAL, von dem jeweiligen Abnehmer die Zustimmung zur Abtretung der Forderungen im Rahmen des Factoringvertrages mit einem Schreiben, das im Wesentlichen der in Anhang 5 ( Consent Letter ) festgelegten Form entspricht, einzuholen und dies GE CAPITAL gegenüber nachzuweisen. | |
E. OTHER TERMS | E. SONSTIGE REGELUNGEN | |
24. SET-OFF, SETTLEMENT, REIMBURSEMENT CLAIMS | 24. AUFRECHNUNG, VERRECHNUNG, RÜCKVERGÜTUNGSANSPRÜCHE | |
24.1 All claims of GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR against each other arising from any legal relationship may be set off against each other by GE CAPITAL. | 24.1 Sämtliche wechselseitigen Ansprüche zwischen GE CAPITAL und dem KUNDEN, gleich aus welchem Rechtsverhältnis, dürfen durch GE CAPITAL gegeneinander aufgerechnet werden. |
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24.2 Following the cancellation of a Debtor Limit , GE CAPITAL may, in relation to the ORIGINATOR, set off payments received from the relevant Debtor against Receivables purchased from such Debtor (irrespective of the Debtors appropriation of payment) provided that the application shall not affect the rights of any Retaining Supplier . The same shall apply mutatis mutandis to Credit Notes issued to a Debtor and enforcement proceeds, if any. | 24.2 Zahlungen eines Abnehmers , die nach Streichung eines für diesen festgesetzten Abnehmerlimits eingehen, darf GE CAPITAL im Verhältnis zum KUNDEN (unabhängig von der Zahlungszweckbestimmung des Abnehmers ) auf gekaufte Forderungen gegen denselben Abnehmer aufrechnen, vorausgesetzt, dass durch die Aufrechnung die Rechte von Vorbehaltslieferanten nicht beeinträchtigt werden. Falls einschlägig, soll dasselbe entsprechend für die an einen Abnehmer ausgegebenen Gutschriften sowie für die Verwertung gelten. | |
24.3 Unless expressly agreed otherwise, all claims and receivables of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR arising from this agreement fall due with immediate effect. | 24.3 Sofern nicht ausdrücklich anders vereinbart, werden alle Ansprüche und Forderungen gegen GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN aus dieser Vereinbarung mit sofortiger Wirkung fällig. | |
24.4 The ORIGINATOR may only set off its claims against claims of GE CAPITAL if the ORIGINATORs claims are undisputed or have been confirmed by an unappealable court decision. | 24.4 Der KUNDE kann gegen Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL nur aufrechnen, wenn seine Forderungen unbestritten oder rechtskräftig festgestellt sind. | |
24.5 The ORIGINATOR shall keep GE CAPITAL continuously informed about agreements with Debtors from which Reimbursement Claims may arise. Such agreements do not affect the Eligibility of Receivables if the Reimbursement Claims have been secured in accordance with the following terms: | 24.5 Der KUNDE unterrichtet GE CAPITAL fortlaufend über Vereinbarungen mit den Abnehmern , bei denen Rückvergütungsansprüche geltend gemacht werden können. Diese Vereinbarungen haben keinen Einfluss auf die Einwandfreiheit der Forderungen , wenn die Rückvergütungsansprüche gemäß den folgenden Regelungen gesichert sind: | |
GE CAPITAL is entitled to establish a reserve or (at its choice) demand security deposits from the ORIGINATOR in the anticipated amount of the Reimbursement Claims . The ORIGINATOR is entitled to provide a security deposit in order to discharge a reserve at any time. When determining the anticipated amount of the Reimbursement Claims , future Reimbursement Claims shall also be considered. These are claims that are certain or likely to arise in the future, but which amount and/or time of origination is still uncertain. To the extent that the determination of such claims depends on future events (e.g. development of sales), the amount shall be determined by way of estimate, in the absence of other indicators on the basis of historical data. | GE CAPITAL ist berechtigt, einen Einbehalt oder (nach ihrer Wahl) Sicherheitsleistung vom KUNDEN in der erwarteten Höhe der Rückvergütungsansprüche zu verlangen. Der KUNDE ist berechtigt, den Einbehalt durch eine Sicherheitsleistung abzulösen. Bei der Ermittlung der zu erwartenden Höhe der Rückvergütungsansprüche sind künftige Rückvergütungsansprüche ebenfalls zu berücksichtigen. Dies sind Ansprüche, die mit Sicherheit oder mit Wahrscheinlichkeit in der Zukunft entstehen, bei denen aber der Betrag und/oder der Zeitpunkt der Entstehung noch ungewiss sind. Soweit die Bestimmung solcher Ansprüche von zukünftigen Ereignissen abhängen (z.B. Umsatzentwicklung), wird der Betrag im Wege der Schätzung ermittelt, in Ermangelung anderer Indikatoren, werden sie auf der Grundlage historischer Daten ermittelt. |
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GE CAPITAL determines the amount of Reimbursement Claims considering all circumstances in its reasonable discretion on a monthly basis, by the end of each month at the latest. | GE CAPITAL bestimmt die Höhe der Rückvergütungsansprüche auf monatlicher Basis, spätestens bis zum Ende eines jeden Monats, unter Berücksichtigung aller Umstände nach billigem Ermessen. | |
Immediately after the end of each month, the ORIGINATOR shall demonstrate the anticipated amount of Reimbursement Claims in a testable manner. | Unmittelbar nach dem Ende eines jeden Monats zeigt der KUNDE den erwarteten Betrag der Rückvergütungsansprüche in nachvollziehbarer 17 Weise an. | |
The reserve is established by debiting the Settlement Account and crediting the Reserve Account by the relevant amount. If the anticipated amount of the Reimbursement Claims is reduced, the Reserve Account will be debited by such reduction and a respective credit will be booked on the Settlement Account . | Der Einbehalt ist durch Abbuchung auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto und Gutschrift auf dem Rückstellungskonto um den jeweiligen Betrag festgelegt. Wenn der voraussichtliche Betrag der Rückvergütungsansprüche gemindert ist, wird das Rückstellungskonto in Höhe dieser Minderung belastet und eine entsprechende Gutschrift auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gebucht. | |
Security deposits will be provided by payment by the ORIGINATOR to GE CAPITAL, whereby the amount is credited to the Reserve Account and any dissolution is debited on the Reserve Account and credited on the Settlement Account . | Die Sicherheitsleistungen werden GE CAPITAL durch Zahlung des KUNDEN zur Verfügung gestellt, wodurch der Betrag dem Rückstellungskonto gutgeschrieben wird und die Auflösung dem Kundenabrechnungskonto belastet wird. | |
The reserve and the security deposit shall primarily secure GE CAPITAL against setoffs or settlements by Debtors with Reimbursement Claims . To the extent that such claims are legally and validly raised, GE CAPITAL is entitled to receive the relevant amounts like Debtors payments. | Der Einbehalt und die Sicherheitsleistung werden in erster Linie GE CAPITAL gegen Aufrechnungen oder Zurückbehaltungsrechte der Abnehmer mit Rückvergütungsansprüchen sichern. Soweit solche Ansprüche rechtmäßig geltend gemacht werden, ist GE CAPITAL berechtigt, die entsprechenden Beträge, wie Abnehmerzahlungen, zu erhalten. |
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In addition, the reserve and the security deposit shall secure any and all existing and future claims which GE CAPITAL may have against the ORIGINATOR in connection with their business relationship. | Darüber hinaus müssen der Einbehalt- und die Sicherheitsleistung alle bestehenden und künftigen Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL gegen den Abnehmer im Zusammenhang mit ihrer Geschäftsbeziehung sichern. | |
Clause 24.5 shall apply mutatis mutandis for Tolling/Pseudo Tolling Reimbursement Claims . | Ziffer 24.5 gilt sinngemäß für Rückvergütungsansprüche aus Materialbeistellungen . | |
25. CHANGES IN THE FINANCING COMMISSION PER INVOICE/TOTAL FINANCING COMMISSION | 25. ÄNDERUNG DER FINANZIERUNGSGEBÜHR AUF EINZELRECHNUNGSBASIS/GESAM TFINANZIERUNGSGEBÜHR, | |
The applicable Financing Commission per Invoice/Total Financing Commission and any changes to the Financing Commission per Invoice/Total Financing Commission during the term of this Agreement are set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Die anwendbare Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis/ Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr und Änderungen der Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis/ Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr während der Laufzeit dieses Vertrages sind in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) geregelt. | |
Payments of Debtors are settled at the current market rate. | Abnehmerzahlungen werden zum aktuellen Marktkurs festgelegt. | |
26. FEES AND EXPENSES | 26. ENTGELTE UND AUSLAGEN | |
The amount of fees is set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Die Höhe der Gebühren ist in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) festgelegt. | |
If a service provided by GE CAPITAL is required by law or secondary contractual obligation, or is provided in GE CAPITALs own interest, such service will be free of charge, unless the charging of fees is legally permitted and occurs in accordance with the relevant statutory provision. | Wenn eine Leistung, die GE CAPITAL von Gesetzes wegen oder aufgrund vertraglicher Nebenpflicht oder im eigenen Interesse anbietet, ist diese Leistung gebührenfrei, es sei denn die Gebührenerhebung ist rechtlich zulässig und geschieht in Übereinstimmung mit den maßgeblichen gesetzlichen Bestimmungen. | |
The ORIGINATOR will bear all customary account keeping and payment transaction fees, as well as any expenses that may be incurred by GE CAPITAL acting upon its instructions or in its presumed interest. | Der KUNDE trägt alle gewöhnlichen Kontoführungsgebühren und Gebühren für die Zahlungstransaktion sowie die Kosten, die GE CAPITAL dadurch entstehen, dass sie nach seinen Anweisungen oder in seinem mutmaßlichen Interesse handelt. |
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The ORIGINATOR undertakes to reimburse GE CAPITAL from all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by GE CAPITAL in connection with the formalities required to be carried out for the enforceability of the transfers or Receivables being made pursuant to the Factoring Agreement. | Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich gegenüber GE CAPITAL zur Erstattung aller Kosten und Ausgaben (einschließlich Anwaltskosten), die GE CAPITAL im Zusammengang mit den Formalitäten entstehen, die zur Durchsetzbarkeit der Forderungsübertragung gemäß des Factoringvertrages anfallen. | |
27. ASSIGNABILITY OF CLAIMS AGAINST GE CAPITAL | 27. ABTRETBARKEIT DER ANSPRÜCHE GEGEN GE CAPITAL | |
Any claims that the ORIGINATOR may have against GE CAPITAL may only be assigned to third parties with the consent of GE CAPITAL. | Alle Ansprüche, die dem KUNDEN gegen GE CAPITAL zustehen können nur mit Einwilligung von GE CAPITAL abgetreten werden. | |
GE CAPITAL may decline its consent for good cause; such cause will be assumed in particular if GE CAPITAL has reason to believe that the intended assignment would be disadvantageous to suppliers of the ORIGINATOR. | GE CAPITAL kann die Zustimmung aus wichtigem Grund verweigern; ein solcher liegt insbesondere dann vor, wenn die beabsichtigte Abtretung Anlass zu der Annahme bietet, dass sie für die Lieferanten des KUNDEN nachteilig ist. | |
28. COMMENCEMENT, EXPIRATION, TERMINATION | 28. VERTRAGSBEGINN, VERTRAGSENDE, KÜNDIGUNG | |
28.1 The Commencement Date and Expiration Date of this agreement are set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | 28.1 Vertragsbeginn und Ablaufdatum sind in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) festgelegt. | |
Unless this agreement is terminated with three months notice prior to its scheduled Expiration Date , it shall be extended by another year. The same shall apply to any subsequent periods. | Wird der Vertrag nicht drei Monate vor Ablaufdatum gekündigt, verlängert er sich um ein weiteres Jahr. Entsprechendes gilt für die Folgeperioden. | |
The ORIGINATOR is entitled to terminate this agreement subject to (i) 30 days prior notice to be sent to GE CAPITAL and to the respective other ORIGINATOR and (ii) to the payment by the ORIGINATOR of an early termination premium as set out in the Fee Letter . Each ORIGINATOR shall, to the extent possible, specify in the termination notice whether the agreement shall be terminated by way of buy-back in full of the outstanding Receivables or by way of amortization of the portfolio of Receivables. | Der KUNDE ist berechtigt, diesen Vertrag vorbehaltlich (i) vorheriger 30- tägiger Mitteilung, die an GE CAPITAL und den entsprechenden anderen KUNDEN gesendet werden muss und (ii) der Zahlung einer vorzeitigen Kündigungsprämie durch den KUNDEN gemäß des Fee Letter zu kündigen. Jeder KUNDE führt, soweit möglich, in der Kündigungsmitteilung aus, ob die Kündigung dieses Vertrages durch vollständigen Rückkauf der ausstehenden Forderungen oder durch Amortisierung des Forderungsportfolios erfolgen soll. |
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For the avoidance of doubt, upon termination of this agreement (such termination to occur at the end of the notice period specified above) and subject to the payment of the early termination premium, (a) each ORIGINATOR shall no longer make offers to GE CAPITAL for the purchase of Receivables , (b) GE CAPITAL shall not be committed any longer to purchase the Receivables from any ORIGINATOR, (c) the Unused Facility Fee (as defined in Schedule 1) and the Factoring Commission shall no longer be payable by the ORIGINATOR to GE CAPITAL, and (d) GE CAPITAL will cease to be subject to any obligations under this agreement other than obligations outstanding on the date of termination. | Um Zweifel auszuräumen: Bei Kündigung dieses Vertrags (die zum Ablauf der oben genannten Kündigungsfrist eintritt) und vorbehaltlich der Zahlung der vorzeitigen Kündigungsprämie, (a) bietet kein KUNDE GE CAPITAL weiterhin Forderungen zum Verkauf an, (b) GE CAPITAL ist nicht länger zum Ankauf von Forderungen von KUNDEN verpflichtet, (c) der Bereitstellungsbetrag (wie in Anhang 1 definiert) und die Factoringgebühr müssen nicht länger von dem KUNDEN an GE CAPITAL gezahlt werden, und (d) GE CAPITAL wird keine Verpflichtungen mehr nach diesem Vertrag haben, mit Ausnahme der zum Zeitpunkt der Kündigung ausstehenden Verpflichtungen. | |
Provided the ORIGINATOR requests to buyback the Receivables , the parties shall then agree in good faith during the notice period referred to above on the terms of the buy-back documentation and the buy-back will be implemented as soon as reasonably practicable following termination of this agreement. | Wenn der KUNDE den Rückkauf der Forderungen verlangt, vereinbaren die Parteien in Treu und Glauben während der oben genannten Kündigungsfrist die Bedingungen der Rückkaufdokumentation und der Rückkauf wird, nach der Kündigung dieses Vertrags und sobald eine vernünftige Durchführung möglich ist, umgesetzt. | |
The buy-back will be completed on the date on which the outstanding Receivables are transferred back to the ORIGINATOR having originated such Receivables and an amount equal to the outstanding amount funded by GE CAPITAL to acquire such outstanding Receivables plus accrued funding cost is paid to GE CAPITAL. | Der Rückkauf wird zum Zeitpunkt beendet sein, an dem die ausstehenden Forderungen an den Kunden zurücküberwiesen werden, der diese Forderung begründet hat und ein Betrag an GE CAPITAL bezahlt wird, der sich mit dem ausstehenden Betrag deckt, der von GE CAPITAL zum Erwerb solcher ausstehender Forderungen zuzüglich angefallener Kosten finanziert wird. | |
28.2 Each party may terminate the factoring agreement for good cause without observing any notice period. Good cause is shown if, considering all circumstances of the individual case and weighing the interests of both parties, the terminating party cannot reasonably be expected to continue the contractual relationship until the end of the notice period in accordance with clause 28.1. | 28.2 Jeder Vertragspartner kann den Factoringvertrag aus wichtigem Grund ohne Einhaltung einer Kündigungsfrist kündigen. Ein wichtiger Grund liegt vor, wenn dem kündigenden Teil unter Berücksichtigung aller Umstände des Einzelfalls und unter Abwägung der beiderseitigen Interessen die Fortsetzung des Vertragsverhältnisses nicht bis zum Ablauf der Kündigungsfrist gemäß Ziffer 28.1 zugemutet werden kann. |
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If the good cause results from a breach of a contractual obligation, unless the breach of a contractual obligation is based on fraud termination shall only be permitted after expiry of a reasonable period of time set for remedy to no avail, or after a dissuasion has proved to be unsuccessful, unless this proviso can be dispensed with because of the particularities of the individual case. | Besteht der wichtige Grund in der Verletzung einer Pflicht aus dem Vertrag, ausgenommen die Vertragsverletzung beruht auf Betrug, ist die Kündigung erst nach erfolglosem Ablauf einer zur Abhilfe bestimmten angemessenen Frist oder nach erfolgloser Abmahnung zulässig, es sei denn, dies ist wegen der Besonderheiten des Einzelfalls entbehrlich. | |
GE CAPITAL is in particular entitled to terminate for good cause | Für GE CAPITAL liegt ein wichtiger Grund für eine Kündigung insbesondere vor, | |
(a) if the ORIGINATOR is in substantial breach of clause 5 (for the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the ORIGINATORs rights under clause 28.2, sub-clause 2 above), 12, 13, 19 or 20, or | (a) wenn der KUNDE wesentlich gegen Ziffern 5 (um Zweifel auszuräumen, unbeschadet der Rechte des KUNDEN nach Ziffer 28.2, Absatz 2 oben), 12, 13, 19 oder 20 verstößt, oder | |
(b) if the ORIGINATOR made incorrect statements about its financial condition that were of fundamental significance for GE CAPITALs decision about risk relevant operations, in particular, but not limited to, with respect to GE CAPITALs credit decision ( Kreditentscheidung ), or | (b) wenn der KUNDE unrichtige Angaben über seine Vermögensverhältnisse gemacht hat, die für eine Entscheidung von GE CAPITAL über mit Risiken behafteten Geschäften von erheblicher Bedeutung waren, insbesondere im Hinblick auf GE CAPITALs Kreditentscheidung, aber nicht beschränkt hierauf), oder | |
(c) intentionally left blank | (c) absichtlich freigelassen | |
(d) if a substantial deterioration in the ORIGINATORs financial condition or of the value of a security interest occurs or threatens to occur which would jeopardize the fulfilment of an obligation vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL, even if security provided therefore is realised, or | (d) wenn eine wesentliche Verschlechterung der Vermögensverhältnisse des KUNDEN oder der Werthaltigkeit einer Sicherheit eintritt oder einzutreten droht und dadurch die Erfüllung einer Verbindlichkeit gegenüber GE CAPITAL auch unter Verwertung einer hierfür bestehenden Sicherheit gefährdet ist, oder |
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Schedule 1 ( Terms and Conditions ) | Anhang 1 ( Konditionen ) | |
In the event of any discrepancies between Schedule 1 ( Terms and Conditions ) and this agreement, the provisions of Schedule 1 ( Terms and Conditions ) shall prevail. | Bei Abweichungen zwischen Anlage 1 ( Konditionen ) und diesem Vertrag, gehen die in Anlage 1 ( Konditionen ) getroffenen Regelungen vor. | |
Schedule 1a ( Excluded Debtors ) | Anhang 1a ( Ausgenommene Abnehmer ) | |
Schedule 1b ( Approved Jurisdictions ) | Anhang 1b ( Anerkannte Jurisdiktionen ) | |
Schedule 2 ( Declaration of Consent ) | Anhang 2 ( Einwilligungserklärung ) | |
Pursuant to which the ORIGINATOR consents to the collection, processing and utilisation of data by GE CAPITAL, the transfer of data to GE CAPITAL, the transfer of rights (including the relevant documentation) arising from this agreement to a third party and the release of the tax authorities from their professional duty of confidentiality. | Wonach der KUNDE die Erhebung, Verarbeitung und Nutzung von Daten durch GE CAPITAL, die Übertragung von Rechten (einschließlich der zugehörigen Dokumentation) aus diesem Vertrag an Dritte und in die Befreiung der Finanzämter von der Schweigepflicht einwilligt. | |
Schedule 3 ( Deposit Protection Deposit Protection Fund of the Association of German Banks ) | Anhang 3 ( Schutz der Einlagen Einlagensicherungsfonds des Bundesverbandes deutscher Banken e.V. ) | |
Schedule 4 ( Conditions Precedent ) | Anhang 4 ( Auszahlungsvoraussetzungen ) | |
Schedule 5 ( Consent Letter ) | Anhang 5 ( Consent Letter ) | |
Annex 1 Form of Offer Letter | Anlage 1 Formular für Forderungsanzeigen | |
Annex 2 Trade Credit Insurance Agreement | Anlage 2 Warenkreditversicherungsvertrag | |
Annex 3 Assignment Agreement on Trade Insurance | Anlage 3 Warenkreditversicherungsabtretungsvertrag | |
Annex 4 Account Pledge Agreement | Anlage 4 Kontoverpfändungsvertrag | |
30. GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION | 30. MAßGEBLICHES RECHT, GERICHTSSTAND | |
30.1 Except for as stated otherwise in section 2.2 of this Agreement, this Agreement shall be governed by German law. | 30.1 Soweit in Ziffer 2.2. dieses Vertrages nicht Gegenteiliges geregelt ist, unterliegt dieser Vertrag deutschem Recht. |
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30.2 Without prejudice to Clause 30.1, the courts in Mainz shall have jurisdiction. | 30.2 Gerichtsstand ist Mainz, wenn sich nicht aus Ziffer 30.1 etwas Gegenteiliges ergibt. | |
31. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE | 31. SALVATORISCHE KLAUSEL | |
If any provisions of this agreement or the schedules thereto are or become invalid in full or in part, the validity of the remaining provisions will not be affected thereby. The invalid provision shall be replaced by the provision which is valid and effective and comes closest to the economic intention of the parties. The same principles shall apply if this agreement contains a gap. | Sollten Bestimmungen in diesem Vertrag oder seinen Anlagen ganz oder teilweise unwirksam sein oder werden, so wird die Wirksamkeit der übrigen Bestimmungen hiervon nicht berührt. An die Stelle der unwirksamen Bestimmungen tritt diejenige Regelung, die dem beabsichtigten wirtschaftlichen Zweck in rechtswirksamer Weise am nächsten kommt. Nach diesem Grundsatz sind auch etwaige Lücken in diesem Vertrag zu schließen. | |
If any in rem transfers (assignments of Receivables or inchoate rights and transfers of movable assets) should be or become ineffective, GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR are obliged to treat each other as if the relevant transfers were effective. They are further obliged to perform the relevant in rem transfer without undue delay, observing any requirements which until that time may not have been observed. | Soweit dingliche Übertragungen (Abtretungen von Forderungen oder Anwartschaften, sowie Übereignungen beweglicher Sachen) unwirksam sein oder werden sollten, sind GE CAPITAL und der KUNDE verpflichtet, die Geschäfte untereinander so zu behandeln, als sei das Geschäft wirksam. Sie sind weiter verpflichtet, das dingliche Geschäft unverzüglich unter Berücksichtigung etwa bis dahin außer Acht gelassener Anforderungen zu vollziehen. | |
F. DEFINITIONS | F. DEFINITIONEN | |
Accounts: The accounts maintained in the factoring procedure: Factoring Account, Incoming Payment Settlement Account, Purchase Price Reserve Account, Reserve Account, Settlement Account, Special Account, Special Settlement Account, Special Purchase Price Reserve Account . | Konten: die im Factoringverfahren geführten Konten: Factoringkonto, Zahlungseingangsverrechnungskonto, Kaufpreiseinbehaltskonto, Einbehaltskonto, Kundenabrechnungskonto, Sonderkonto, Sonderverrechnungskonto, Sonderkaufpreiseinbehaltskonto . | |
Actual Average Funding Period is calculated for each batch of Receivables contained in each transmission of Financing Commission Calculation Data as the weighted average of all Actual Funding Periods per Invoice of all Receivables contained in the relevant previous transmission of Financing Commission Calculation Data . | Die Tatsächliche Durchschnittliche Finanzierungsperiode wird für jede Forderungsgesamtheit berechnet, die in jeder Übermittlung der Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr enthalten ist, als der gewichtete Durchschnitt aller Tatsächlichen Finanzierungsperioden auf Einzelrechnungsbasis für alle Forderungen, die in der jeweiligen vorherigen Übermittlung der Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr enthalten sind. |
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Actual Funding Period per Invoice is the actual number of calendar days from (and including) the Funding Date to (and excluding) the day communicated by the ORIGINATOR (to be tested and confirmed from time to time by way of samples taken by GE CAPITAL) of actual repayment of each Receivable in the Financing Commission Calculation Data. | Die Tatsächliche Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis ist die tatsächliche Anzahl von Kalendertagen vom Finanzierungstag (einschließlich) bis (ausschließlich) zu dem Tag, der jeweils vom KUNDEN (dies wird von Zeit zu Zeit stichprobenartig von GE CAPITAL überprüft) als derjenige Tag in den Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr mitgeteilt wird, an dem die Forderung tatsächlich zurückbezahlt wird. | |
Adjustment is the difference between the Actual Average Funding Period and the Average Expected Funding Period for a batch of Receivables contained in a transmission of Financing Commission Calculation Data . | Anpassung ist für jede Forderungsgesamtheit die Differenz zwischen der Tatsächlichen Durchschnittlichen Finanzierungsperiode und der Durchschnittlichen Erwarteten Finanzierungsperiode . | |
Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice for the first drawdown under this contract is the Expected Funding Period per Invoice . For subsequent drawdowns the Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice is equal to the Expected Funding Period per Invoice plus the Adjustment calculated for the relevant previous batch of Receivables sold. The ORIGINATOR and GE Capital agree that the Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice shall, for the purposes of the calculation of the Financing Commission per Invoice , never be smaller than 10 calendar days. | Die Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis für die erste Ziehung unter diesem Vertrag ist die Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis . Für alle weiteren Ziehungen ist die Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis gleich der Erwarteten Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis plus die für die jeweilige vorherige verkaufte Forderungsgesamtheit berechnete Anpassung. Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL sind sich einig, dass die Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis für die Zwecke der Berechnung der Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis niemals kleiner als 10 Kalendertage sein soll. | |
Administration Fee: The percentage rate of the Nominal Amount set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Verwaltungsgebühr: Der Prozentsatz des in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) festgelegten Nominalbetrages . |
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Affiliated Company: A company which holds a participation in the ORIGINATOR or in which the ORIGINATOR holds a participation or a shareholder of which holds a participation in the ORIGINATOR or whose representatives are completely or partially identical with those of the ORIGINATOR. The form of participation is irrelevant; an indirect participation is sufficient. | Nahestehendes Unternehmen: Ein Unternehmen, das eine Beteiligung am KUNDEN hält oder an dem der KUNDE eine Beteiligung unterhält oder Gesellschafter ist oder dessen Vertreter ganz oder teilweise identisch mit denen des KUNDEN sind. Die Form der Beteiligung ist unerheblich; eine indirekte Beteiligung ist ausreichend. | |
Average Expected Funding Period is the weighted average of Expected Funding Periods per Invoice for all invoices in the Financing Commission Calculation Data . | Durchschnittliche Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode ist der Durchschnitt aller Erwarteten Finanzierungsperioden auf Einzelrechnungsbasis für alle Rechnungen in den jeweiligen Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr . | |
Bad Debt Amount : Amount corresponding to the purchase price for the relevant Receivable , but reduced by the VAT amount contained in the Receivable . Any payments made in respect of the purchase price are offset. The balance shall be credited or debited, as the case may be, to the Settlement Account . | Delkrederebetrag : Entspricht dem Kaufpreis der jeweiligen Forderung , jedoch vermindert um einen Betrag in Höhe der in der Forderung enthaltenen Umsatzsteuer. Bereits auf den Kaufpreis erbrachte Leistungen sind zu verrechnen. Der Differenzbetrag ist dem Kundenabrechnungskonto gutzuschreiben bzw. zu belasten. | |
Bad Debt Case: Occurrence of an event referred to in clause 6.2. | Delkrederefall: Eintritt eines der in Ziffer 6.2 beschriebenen Ereignisse. | |
Bad Debt Coverage : Obligation of GE CAPITAL to pay the Bad Debt Amount in the Bad Debt Case . | Delkrederehaftung : Die Verpflichtung von GE CAPITAL, im Delkrederefall den Delkrederebetrag zu zahlen. | |
Business Days : All calendar days except for Saturdays, Sundays and any public holidays and bank holidays applicable at the registered seat of the ORIGINATOR or GE CAPITAL. | Geschäftstage : alle Kalendertage mit Ausnahme von Samstagen, Sonntagen und am Sitz des KUNDEN oder von GE CAPITAL gültigen gesetzlichen Bank- Feiertagen. | |
CED GmbH: Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH, a German law limited liability company, with business address at Bildstraße 4, 74564 Crailsheim, registered with the commercial register at the local court of Ulm with registration number HRB 670619. | CED GmbH: Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH, eine deutsche Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung mit Sitz in der Bildstraße 4, 74564 Crailsheim, eingetragen beim Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts Ulm unter HRB 670619. |
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Collection Procedure: Procedure instigated to collect Receivables , including legal dunning procedures by external counsel, judicial court proceedings and foreclosure proceedings until the final settlement of the proceeding. | Inkassoverfahren: Verfahren zur Beitreibung einer Forderung , durch (extern-)anwaltliches Mahnverfahren, gerichtliches Erkenntnisverfahren und Zwangsvollstreckungsverfahren bis zur Beendigung des Verfahrens. | |
Commencement Date : The commencement date referred to in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Vertragsbeginn: Der in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) genannte Vertragsbeginn. | |
Credit and Collection Policies: means the ORIGINATORs credit and collection policies currently in force on the date hereof which may only be amended or changed with GE CAPITALs prior written consent, except for only minor editorial amendments and changes. | Gutschrifts- und Einzugsregeln: die Gutschrifts- und Einzugsregeln des KUNDEN in der derzeit gültigen Fassung, die, mit Ausnahme von geringfügigen redaktionellen Ergänzungen oder Änderungen, nur mit vorheriger schriftlicher Einwilligung von GE CAPITAL ergänzt oder geändert werden können. | |
Debtor Limit : The maximum amount available to fund purchases of Receivables against a particular Debtor . The extent of its utilization is equal to the sum of all purchased and outstanding Receivables . Bills of exchange and cheques are considered as a settlement of a Receivable when irrevocably cashed. Debtor Limits are established pursuant to clause 7. | Abnehmerlimit: Der Höchstbetrag, der für den Ankauf von Forderungen gegen einen Abnehmer zur Verfügung steht. Der Umfang seiner Ausnutzung entspricht der Summe aller gekauften und vom Abnehmer noch nicht bezahlten Forderungen . Wechsel und Schecks werden mit endgültiger Einlösung als Erfüllung der Forderung berücksichtigt. Die Festsetzung von Abnehmerlimiten ergibt sich aus Ziffer 7. | |
Debtors : All present counterparties of the ORIGINATOR to contracts pursuant to which the ORIGINATOR owes the delivery of goods and/or the rendering of services for which the relevant counterparty owes payment, and the Debtors are set out in schedule 1a (Included Debtors). | Abnehmer: Alle bestehenden Vertragspartner des KUNDEN in Verträgen, in denen der KUNDE die Warenlieferung und/oder die Erbringung von Dienstleistungen schuldet, für welche der Vertragspartner eine Leistung in Geld schuldet und die in Anhang 1a (Aufgenommene Abnehmer) aufgeführt sind. | |
Debtors Accounts: Accounts administrated by GE CAPITAL, which show the ORIGINATORs Receivables against the Debtors that were assigned to GE CAPITAL. | Debitorenkonten: Von GE CAPITAL geführte Konten, auf die die vom KUNDEN an GE CAPITAL abgetretenen Forderungen gebucht werden. |
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Dilution Rate: The Dilution Rate considers the average dilution depending on the performance of the Purchased Receivables and considers specific risks (i.e. set-off (without double counting with the Specific Reserve ), and other dilutions but for the avoidance of doubt not debtor risk), whereas a given event shall be taken into account only once, and only with respect to a given reserve and means as of any date of determination, the greater of: | Dilution Rate: Die Dilution Rate berücksichtigt die durchschnittliche Verwässerung abhängig von der Leistungsfähigkeit der gekauften Forderungen und berücksichtigt spezielle Risiken (z.B. Aufrechnung (ohne Doppelberechnung mit der Sondereinbehalt ), und andere Verwässerungen, jedoch, um Missverständnissen vorzubeugen, kein Abnehmer- /Delkredererisiko), wobei jeder Anlass nur einmalig berücksichtigt wird, und nur im Hinblick auf einen einzigen Einbehalt, und bedeutet der zum jeweils entscheidenden Zeitpunkt größere Betrag von | |
(x) 10% and | (x) 10% und | |
(y) (a) two times the average dilution reduction of 12 months as of such date of determination, plus (b) 5%. | (y) (a) zweimal den durchschnittlichen Dilution Abschlag der letzten 12 Monate vor dem Berechnungstag, plus (b) 5%. | |
Disclosed Procedure : Factoring procedure in which the assignment of Receivables is disclosed to the Debtors . | Offenes Verfahren: Factoringverfahren, bei dem die Abtretung der Forderungen gegenüber den Abnehmern angezeigt wird. | |
Discretionary Debtor Limit: Debtor Limit established and modified by declaration of the ORIGINATOR vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL in accordance with clause 7.2 and within the extent set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe: Festsetzung und Änderung der Abnehmerlimite durch Erklärung des KUNDEN gegenüber GE CAPITAL nach Ziffer 7.2 und innerhalb der Grenzen, die sich aus Anhang 1 (Konditionen) ergibt. | |
Eligible: Means in respect of any Receivable that, as applicable: | Einwandfrei : Bedeutet im Hinblick auf eine Forderung , dass, soweit anwendbar: | |
(a) each Receivable exists as set out in the Offer Letter , is free from any objections and defenses, is assignable (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Receivables which are assignable pursuant to sec. 354a of the German Commercial Code (HGB)) and is not subject to any third party rights that may be asserted against GE CAPITAL and that the respective invoice has been received by the Debtor ; | (a) jede Forderung wie aus der Forderungsanzeige ersichtlich, besteht, frei ist von jeglichen Einwendungen und Einreden, abtretbar (zur Vermeidung von Missverständnissen, einschließlich Forderungen , die gemäß § 354a Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB) abtretbar sind) und nicht mit Rechten Dritter, die gegen GE CAPITAL geltend gemacht werden können, belastet ist und dass die entsprechende Rechnung dem Abnehmer zugegangen ist. |
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(b) each Receivable shall be fully capable of transfer without the requirements of any consents from the Debtors or third parties, or when a consent is required (such as in case of a prohibition or restriction of assignment which would prevent the legal transfer of the Receivable if the consent would not be obtained), each such consent must have been obtained to the satisfaction of GE CAPITAL on or prior to the date on which the relevant Receivable is intended to be transferred (failing to receive such letters of consent, the relevant receivables shall not be eligible for purchase); and | (b) jede Forderung ohne Einwilligung der Abnehmer oder Dritter übertragbar sein soll, oder, wenn eine Einwilligung notwendig ist (wie im Fall eines Verbots oder einer Einschränkung der Abtretung, die die rechtliche Übertragung der Forderung verhindern würde, wenn die Einwilligung nicht erlangt werden würde), muss die Einwilligung zur Zufriedenheit von GE CAPITAL erlangt worden sein (zu oder vor dem Zeitpunkt, an dem die Übertragung der jeweiligen Forderung beabsichtigt ist (werden die Einwilligungsschreiben nicht erhalten, sind die jeweiligen Forderungen zum Kauf nicht einwandfrei ); und | |
(c) each Receivable shall constitute legal valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the relevant debtor ; and | (c) jede Forderung rechtlich gültige, bindende und durchsetzbare Verpflichtungen des jeweiligen Abnehmers begründet; und | |
(d) each Receivable shall be free from any security interest, rights of third parties or adverse claims, or as the case may be, such security interest, rights of third parties or adverse claims will have (i) been waived to the satisfaction of GE CAPITAL prior to the transfer of the relevant Receivable or (ii) released due to payment to such relevant supplier upon delivery of supplies, provided that in respect of the Receivables governed by German law standard extended retention of title clauses which contain an authorization of the ORIGINATOR to collect the relevant Receivable shall be permitted; and | (d) jede Forderung frei ist von Sicherungsrechten, Rechten Dritter oder nachteiligen Ansprüchen, oder auf diese Sicherungsrechte, Rechte Dritter oder nachteiligen Ansprüche gegebenenfalls zur Zufriedenheit von GE CAPITAL (i) vor der Übertragung der jeweiligen Forderung verzichtet oder (ii) sie wegen Zahlung an den jeweiligen Lieferant nach Lieferung der Güter freigegeben wurden, vorausgesetzt, dass im Hinblick auf die dem deutschen Recht unterliegenden Forderungen Eigentumsvorbehaltsklauseln, die eine Ermächtigung des KUNDEN zur Einziehung der jeweiligen Forderung beinhalten, erlaubt werden; und | |
(e) no Receivable shall arise from a contract of which the performance has been wholly or partly subcontracted under French law n°75-1334 of 31 December 1975, or any similar applicable law or regulation granting to the subcontractor a direct claim on a debtor for the payment owed to it by the ORIGINATOR under the subcontract, save if, to the reasonable satisfaction of GE CAPITAL, bank guarantees (to guarantee payments to the relevant subcontractors) or other relevant arrangements have been implemented in advance in accordance with the above laws and regulations so as to avert the exercise of any such direct claim; and | 22 (e) keine Forderung aus einem Vertrag entsteht, aus dem die Erfüllung ganz oder teilweise unter dem französischem Gesetz Nr. 75-1334 vom 31. Dezember 1975 an einen Subunternehmer weitergegeben wurde, oder ein anderes ähnliches anwendbares Gesetz oder eine Regelung, welche dem Subunternehmer einen direkten Anspruch gegen einen Abnehmer für die Zahlung, die der KUNDE unter dem Subunternehmervertrag schuldet, ausgenommen wenn die Bankgarantien (Zahlungen des jeweiligen Subunternehmers garantieren) oder andere relevante Vereinbarungen, jeweils zur vernünftigen Zufriedenheit von GE CAPITAL, im Voraus und im Einklang mit den o.g. Gesetzen und Regelungen umgesetzt wurden, so wie die Verhinderung der Geltendmachung eines solchen direkten Anspruchs. |
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(f) is not subject to a current account agreement ( kontokorrentgebundene Forderung ) within the meaning of sec. 355 of the German Commercial Code (HGB). | (f) sie keine kontokorrentgebundene Forderung im Sinne von § 355 Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB) ist. | |
Expected Funding Period per Invoice is the expected number of calendar days from (and including) the relevant Funding Date to (and excluding) the relevant due date or, if different, such other day on which the repayment of each Receivable included in the Financing Commission Calculation Data is expected by the ORIGINATOR. | Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis ist die erwartete Anzahl von Kalendertagen von dem jeweiligen Finanzierungstag (einschließlich) bis zum (aber ausschließlich des) jeweiligen Fälligkeitsdatum(s) einer Forderung oder, sofern davon abweichend, dem Tag an dem die Bezahlung einer jeweiligen Forderung in den Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr vom KUNDEN sonst erwartet wird. | |
Expiration Date: The expiration date referred to in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Ablaufdatum: Das Ablaufdatum, auf das in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) Bezug genommen wird. | |
Factoring Account : Account on which the purchased Receivables are booked in their aggregate amount. | Factoringkonto : Konto , auf dem die angekauften Forderungen in Höhe ihres vollen Wertes gebucht werden. | |
Factoring Commission : The percentage rate of the Nominal Amount set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Factoringgebühr: Der Prozentsatz des in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) festgelegten Nominalbetrages . | |
Factoring-Satzaufbau : GE CAPITALs requirements for information to be provided by the ORIGINATOR in electronic form about invoices, credit notes, payments or open items. | Factoring Satzaufbau: Vorgaben von GE CAPITAL für vom KUNDEN in elektronischer Form zu erteilende Informationen über Rechnungen, Gutschriften, Zahlungen oder Offene Posten. | |
Factorlink : Software for the performance of the factoring procedure. | Factorlink: Software für die Durchführung des Factoringverfahrens. |
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Financing Commission Assessment Base per Invoice is the amount drawn by the ORIGINATOR from the Settlement Account on each Funding Date by invoice, calculated on the basis of each of the Receivables included in the most recent Financing Commission Calculation Data . | Finanzierungsgebühr Berechnungsgrundlage auf Einzelrechnungsbasis ist der Betrag, der vom KUNDEN vom Kundenabrechnungskonto an jedem jeweiligen Finanzierungstag auf Einzelrechnungsbasis abgebucht wird und der sich auf Grundlage der Forderungen berechnet, die in der jeweils jüngsten Übermittlung von Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr enthalten waren. | |
Financing Commission Calculation Data : means a list of Receivables setting out on a Receivable -by- Receivable basis (a) the name of the relevant Debtor , (b) the amount of the relevant related invoice, (c) the Receivable related invoice date, (d) the Receivable due date, (e) the Expected Funding Period per Invoice as well (f) as the Actual Funding Period per Invoice in respect of the batch of Receivables sold during the relevant previous Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice . The Financing Commission Calculation Data is provided by the ORIGINATOR two Business Days prior to each relevant Funding Date . | Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr bezeichnet eine Liste von Forderungen in der auf Einzelrechnungsbasis (a) der Name des jeweiligen Abnehmers , (b) der Betrag der jeweiligen Rechnung, (c) das Rechnungsdatum, (d) das Fälligkeitsdatum der Forderung , (e) die Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis , sowie, (f) die jeweilige Tatsächliche Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis , bezogen auf die in der jeweils zurückliegenden Angepassten Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis verkauften Forderungen . Die Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr werden vom KUNDEN jeweils vorab zwei Geschäftstage vor jedem jeweiligen Finanzierungstag übermittelt. | |
Financing Commission per Invoice is calculated upfront for the relevant next following Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice on a Receivable -by- Receivable basis by applying the Financing Commission Rate to the Financing Commission Assessment Base per Invoice . The Financing Commission Rate is calculated as follows on the basis of an interest rate calculation in accordance with the international method, i.e. act/360 interest days per year: |
Die Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis wird jeweils vorab für die jeweils folgende Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis auf Einzelrechnungsbasis dergestalt berechnet, dass der Finanzierungsgebührensatz auf die Finanzierungsgebühren Berechnungsgrundlage auf Einzelrechnungsbasis angewendet wird.
Der Finanzierungsgebührensatz errechnet sich wie folgt auf Grundlage einer Zinssatzberechnung in Übereinstimmung mit der internationalen Berechnungsmethode, d.h. act/360 Tage p.a.: |
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FCPI = FCABI x FCR x (AEPI /360) | FCPI = FCABI x FCR x (AEPI /360) | |
FCPI is the Financing Commission per Invoice, | FCPI bezeichnet die Finanzierungsgebühr auf Einzelrechnungsbasis, | |
FCABI is the Financing Commission Assessment Base per Invoice, | FCABI bezeichnet die Finanzierungsgebühr Berechnungsgrundlage auf Einzelrechnungsbasis, | |
FCR is the Finance Commission Rate ; and | FCR bezeichnet den Finanzierungsgebührensatz ; und | |
AEPI is the Adjusted Expected Funding Period per Invoice . | AEPI bezeichnet die Angepasste Erwartete Finanzierungsperiode auf Einzelrechnungsbasis . | |
Financing Commission Rate: The percentage rate p.a. (per annum) set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions), consisting of the sum of the percentage rates of the Financing Commission Reference Rate and the margin. | Finanzierungsgebührensatz: Der aus Anhang 1 ersichtliche Prozentsatz p.a (Pro Jahr), bestehend aus der Summe der Prozentsätze des Referenzfinanzierungsgebührensatzes und der Marge. | |
Financing Commission Reference Rate: is the EURIBOR (Euro Interbank Offered Rate), provided that the applicable term and the details of the continuing adjustment of the EURIBOR are set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). The actual rate of the EURIBOR is published, inter alia , on the internet site of the German Federal Bank. | Referenzfinanzierungsgebührensatz: ist der EURIBOR (Euro Interbank Offered Rate), unter der Maßgabe, dass die anwendbare Laufzeitsbezugsgröße und die Einzelheiten der fortlaufenden Anpassung des EURIBOR in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) näher festgelegt sind. Die tatsächliche Höhe des EURIBOR ist unter anderem auf der Internetseite der Deutschen Bundesbank veröffentlicht. | |
Funding Date : the date when available funds are drawn by the ORIGINATOR from the Settlement Account . | Finanzierungstag ist der Tag an dem verfügbare Mittel vom KUNDEN vom Kundenabrechnungskonto abgebucht werden. | |
French Purchaser: GE Factofrance SNC as purchaser under the French RPA . | Französischer Käufer: Ge Factofrance SNC als Käufer nach dem französischen RPA . | |
French RPA: a non-recourse French law receivables purchase agreement dated on or about the date hereof, between the French Sellers as sellers and GE Factofrance SNC as French purchaser , pursuant to which the French purchaser acquires receivables originated from the French sellers. | Französisches RPA: eine regresslose Vereinbarung über einen Forderungskauf, die dem französischen Recht unterliegt vom oder um das Datum dieses Vertrages, zwischen den französischen Verkäufern und GE Factofrance SBC als französischer Käufer , gemäß dessen der französische Käufer Forderungen, die von den französischen Verkäufern stammen, erwirbt. |
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French Seller: Constellium Issoire, a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée with a share capital of EUR 123,547,875.00, whose registered office is located at Rue Yves Lamourdedieu Zone Industrielle les Listes 63500 Issoire, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Paris under number 672 014 081, , Constellium Extrusions France, a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée with a share capital of EUR 22,265,000.00, whose registered office is located at 40-44 rue de Washington, 75008 Paris, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Paris under number 662 032 374, and Constellium Montreuil Juigné, a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée with a share capital of EUR 3,284,400, whose registered office is located 6 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie 49461 Montreuil Juign, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Nantes under number 712 032 705 and Constellium Neuf Brisach, a company incorporated under the laws of France as a société par actions simplifiée with a share capital of EUR 176.522.762,00, whose registered office is located at Rhénane Nord, RD 52-68600 Biesheim, France, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of Colmar under number 807 641 360, as sellers under the French RPA | Französischer Verkäufer: gemeinsam: Constellium Issoire, eine Gesellschaft eingetragen als société par actions simplifiée nach französischem Recht mit einem Stammkapital in Höhe von EUR 123.547.875,00 mit Geschäftssitz in Rue Yves Lamourdedieu Zone Industrielle les Listes 63500 Issoire, Frankreich, registriert beim Handels- und Gesellschaftsregister Paris unter Nr. 672 014 081, , Constellium Extrusions France, eine Gesellschaft eingetragen als société par actions simplifiée nach französischem Recht mit einem Stammkapital in Höhe von EUR 22.265.000,00 mit Geschäftssitz in 40-44 rue de Washington, 75008 Paris, Frankreich, registriert beim Handels- und Gesellschaftsregister Paris unter Nr. 662 032 374 und Constellium Montreuil Juigné eine Gesellschaft eingetragen als société par actions simplifiée nach französischem Recht mit einem Stammkapital in Höhe von EUR 3.284.400, mit Geschäftssitz 6 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie 49461 Montreuil Juign, Frankreich, registriert beim Handels- und Gesellschaftsregister Nantes unter Nr. 712 032 705und Constellium Neuf Brisach, eine Gesellschaft eingetragen als société par actions simplifiée nach französischem Recht mit einem Stammkapital in Höhe von EUR 176.522.762,00, mit Geschäftssitz Rhénane Nord, RD 52- 68600 Biesheim, Frankreich, registriert beim Handels- und Gesellschaftsregister Colmar unter Nr. 807 641 360, als Verkäufer gemäß dem französischen RPA. | |
Full-Service-Factoring : Factoring procedure in which the accounts receivable bookkeeping and dunning procedure are performed by GE CAPITAL. | Full-Service-Factoring: Factoringverfahren, bei dem die Debitorenbuchhaltung und das Mahnwesen durch GE CAPITAL erledigt werden. |
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German Sellers: the ORIGINATOR and CED GmbH , each as seller of receivables pursuant to German law factoring agreements entered into with GE CAPITAL. | Deutsche Verkäufer: der KUNDE und die CED GmbH , jeweils als Verkäufer der Forderungen gemäß den deutschen Factoringverträgen, die mit GE CAPITAL geschlossen wurden. | |
Group: has the meaning assigned to such term in the I ntercreditor Agreement . | Gruppe: hat dieselbe Bedeutung wie im Interkreditorvertrag . | |
Incoming Payment Settlement Account: Account on which in the Inter-Credit ® - Factoring incoming payments are booked by interim posting until the Reconciliation Process has been performed, see clause 12.2. | Zahlungseingangsverrechnungskonto: Konto, auf dem beim Inter-Credit ® - Factoring Zahlungseingänge bis zum Stülpvorgang zwischengebucht werden, siehe Ziffer 12.2. | |
Inter-Credit ® -Factoring: Factoring procedure in which the accounts receivable bookkeeping and dunning procedure are performed by the ORIGINATOR as trustee for GE CAPITAL. | Inter-Credit ® - Factoring: Factoringverfahren, bei dem die Debitorenbuchhaltung und das Mahnwesen durch den KUNDEN als Treuhänder für GE CAPITAL erledigt werden. | |
Intercreditor Agreement: a French law intercreditor agreement dated on or about the date hereof, between, inter alia, the Parent , the French Sellers, the German Sellers, the Swiss Seller and GE CAPITAL, pursuant to which the parties agreed to regulate certain cross-collateralization principles and to subordinate certain rights of certain investors in respect of liabilities owed to each of them by the French Sellers, the German Sellers and the Swiss Seller . | Interkreditorvertrag: ein Interkreditorvertrag nach französischem Recht datierend auf oder um das Datum dieses Vertrages, unter anderem zwischen dem Mutterunternehmen und den französischen Käufern , den deutschen Käufern , den Schweizer Käufern und GE CAPITAL, wonach die Parteien vereinbarten, bestimmte Grundsätze zur wechselseitigen Besicherung zu regeln und bestimmte Rechte gewisser Investoren im Hinblick auf Verbindlichkeiten, die jedem von ihnen von den französischen Käufern , den deutschen Käufern und den Schweizer Käufern geschuldet sind. | |
Maximum Commitment : The amount which the Utilization may not exceed. The amount of the Maximum Commitment is set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Höchstobligo: Der Betrag, welcher die Inanspruchnahme nicht übersteigt. Der Betrag des Höchtsobligos ergibt sich aus Anhang 1 (Konditionen). | |
Nominal Amount : The final amount set out in the invoice for the relevant Receivable , including VAT. | Nominalbetrag: Der in der Rechnung ausgewiesene Endbetrag für die Forderung einschließlich Umsatzsteueranteil. |
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Notification of Dispute: Notification by the ORIGINATOR or the Debtor to GE CAPITAL that the Debtor claims that the Receivable is not Eligible. | Reklamationsanzeige: Anzeige des KUNDE oder des Abnehmers an GE CAPITAL, dass der Abnehmer geltend macht, die Forderung sei nicht einwandfrei. | |
Offer Letter : Notification of a certain Receivable by the ORIGINATOR to GE CAPITAL. Several notifications of Receivables can be combined in one Offer Letter . | Forderungsanzeige: Anzeige einer bestimmten Forderung an GE CAPITAL durch den KUNDEN. Es können verschiedene Anzeigen von Forderungen in einer Forderungsanzeige erfolgen. | |
Open Items File : List of all Receivables which are existing and unpaid at the time when the list is compiled. | Offene Posten Datei: Aufstellung sämtlicher zum Zeitpunkt der Erstellung der Aufstellung bestehender unbezahlter Forderungen . | |
Parent: Constellium Holdco II B.V., a company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands as a besloten vennootschap , whose registered office is located at Tupolevlann 41-61, 1119 NW Schipho-Rijk, The Netherlands, registered with the Trade and Companies Registry of The Netherlands under number 34393946 0000. | Mutterunternehmen: Constellium Holdco II B.V., eine Gesellschaft eingetragen als besloten vennootschap nach dem Recht der Niederlande mit Geschäftssitz in Tupolevlann 41-61, 1119 NW Schipho-Rijk, Niederlande, registriert beim Handels- und Gesellschaftsregister der Niederlande unter Nr. 34393946 0000. | |
Pledged Accounts : The bank accounts referred to as pledged accounts in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions). | Verpfändete Bankkonten: Die in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) als verpfändete Konten bezeichnete Bankkonten. | |
Purchase Price Reserve : Amount corresponding to the percentage rate set out in schedule 1 (Terms and Conditions) of the Nominal Amount . | Kaufpreiseinbehalt: Betrag, der dem Prozentsatz des Nominalbetrags wie in Anhang 1 (Konditionen) entspricht. | |
Purchase Price Reserve Account : Account on which the Purchase Price Reserve is booked (see clause 4.1 and 4.3). | Kaufpreiseinbehaltskonto: Konto, auf dem der Kaufpreiseinbehalt gebucht wird (siehe Ziffer 4.1 und 4.3). | |
Quarterly Account Statement : Written summary of the balances of all Accounts as of the end of each calendar quarter. | Quartalsabschluss: Schriftliche Übersicht über die Stände aller Konten zum Ende des Quartals. | |
Receivables : All existing and future payment receivables arising under agreements for the delivery of goods and/or the rendering of services by the ORIGINATOR vis-à-vis its Debtors . | Forderungen: alle gegenwärtig bestehenden und künftig entstehenden Forderungen auf Zahlung für Warenlieferungen und/oder der Erbringung von Dienstleistungen durch den KUNDEN gegenüber seinen Abnehmern. |
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Reconciliation Process: Reconciliation of GE CAPITALs Open Items File with the Open Item File provided by the ORIGINATOR. | Stülpvorgang: Abgleich der Offene Posten Datei von GE CAPITAL an die Offene Posten Datei des KUNDEN. | |
Reimbursement Claims: Claims of Debtors vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR, which do not result in a direct reduction of individual Receivables , in particular claims based on a relevant period and/or the volume of sales (bonuses etc.), and claims arising from certain operations/events (marketing contributions, anniversary bonuses etc.). | Rückvergütungsansprüche : Ansprüche des Abnehmers gegenüber dem KUNDEN, die nicht eine direkte Minderung einzelner Forderungen zur Folge haben, insbesondere Ansprüche auf der Grundlage eines bestimmten Zeitraumes und/oder des Verkaufsvolumens (Boni, etc.), und Ansprüche aus bestimmten Tätigkeiten/Events (Werbekostenzuschüsse, Jubiläumsboni, etc.). | |
Reserve Account : Account showing the anticipated amount of Reimbursement Claims (see clause 24.5). | Rückstellungskonto : Konto , auf dem die Rückvergütungsansprüche gebucht werden (siehe Ziffer 24.5). | |
Retaining Supplier: Each supplier of the ORIGINATOR who has stipulated an extended retention of title arrangement (assignment of the Receivables resulting from the resale of the goods) with the ORIGINATOR. | Vorbehaltslieferant: Jeder Lieferant des KUNDEN, der mit dem KUNDEN wegen seiner Lieferungen einen verlängerten Eigentumsvorbehalt (Abtretung der aus der Weiterveräußerung resultierenden Forderung ) vereinbart hat. | |
Settlement Account: Account on which all claims of the ORIGINATOR vis-àvis GE CAPITAL (e.g. purchase price payments for purchased Receivables , including Purchase Price Reserves that have been released, Debtors payments in respect of Receivables which have not been purchased) and claims of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR (e.g. commission claims, claims for reimbursement based on performance defaults) as well as disbursements to the ORIGINATOR are booked and offset against each other. | Kundenabrechnungskonto : Konto , auf dem alle Ansprüche des KUNDEN gegenüber GE CAPITAL (z.B. Kaufpreiszahlungen für angekaufte Forderungen einschließlich freigewordener Kaufpreiseinbehalte , Abnehmerzahlungen auf nicht bezahlte Forderungen ) und von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN (z.B. Gebührenansprüche, Rückforderungsansprüche wegen Leistungsstörungen) sowie Auszahlungen an den KUNDEN gebucht und miteinander verrechnet werden. | |
Smart-Service-Factoring : Factoring procedure in which the accounts receivable bookkeeping is performed by GE CAPITAL and the dunning procedure is performed by the ORIGINATOR as trustee for GE CAPITAL. | Smart-Service-Factoring : Factoringverfahren, bei dem die Debitorenbuchhaltung durch GE CAPITAL und das Mahnwesen durch den KUNDEN als Treuhänder für GE CAPITAL durchgeführt werden. | |
Special Purchase Price Reserve : Reserve established as the result of a Notification of Dispute which shall not exceed, however, the part of the purchase price that was previously credited. | Sonderkaufpreiseinbehalt: Geldbetrag, der aufgrund der Reklamationsanzeige einbehalten wird, höchstens jedoch in der Höhe des zuvor gutgeschriebenen Kaufpreisanteils. |
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Special Purchase Price Reserve Account: Account on which Special Purchase Price Reserves resulting from Notifications of Disputes are booked, see clause 4.4. | Sonderkaufpreiseinbehaltskonto: Konto, auf dem durch Reklamationsanzeigen ausgelöste Sonderkaufpreiseinbehalte gebucht werden, siehe Ziffer 4.4. | |
Special Account: Account on which the Receivables which have not been purchased are booked. | Sonderkonto: Konto , auf dem die nicht angekauften Forderungen gebucht werden. | |
Special Settlement Account: Technical offset account to the Special Account . | Sonderverrechnungskonto: Technisches Gegenkonto zum Sonderkonto . | |
Swiss Purchaser: GE CAPITAL as purchaser under the Swiss RPA . | Schweizer Käufer: GE CAPITAL als Käufer nach dem Schweizer RPA . | |
Swiss RPA: a Swiss law non-recourse Receivables purchase agreement dated on or about the date hereof, between the Swiss Seller as seller and GE CAPITAL as Swiss purchaser , pursuant to which GE CAPITAL acquires Receivables originated from the Swiss seller . | Schweizer RPA: eine regresslose Vereinbarung über einen Forderungskauf, mit oder um das Datum dieses Vertrages, zwischen dem Schweizer Verkäufer als Verkäufer und GE CAPITAL als Schweizer Käufer , gemäß dessen GE CAPITAL Forderungen erwirbt, die vom Schweizer Verkäufer stammen. | |
Swiss Seller: Constellium Valais S.A., Sierre, with business seat at 3960 Sierre, Switzerland and registration number CH-626.3.000.048-9, as seller under the Swiss RPA . | Schweizer Verkäufer: Constellium Valais S.A., Sierre, mit Geschäftssitz in 3960 Sierre, Schweiz und Registrierungsnummer CH-626.3.000.048-9, als Verkäufer nach dem Schweizer RPA . | |
Tolling/Pseudo Tolling Reimbursement Claims: Claims of Debtors vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR which do not result in a direct reduction of individual Receivables , and which result out of tolling/pseudo tolling transactions ( Materialbeistellung ) between the ORIGINATOR and the respective Debtor . | Rückvergütungsansprüche aus Materialbeistellung: Ansprüche der Abnehmer gegen den KUNDEN, die nicht zu einer Minderung einzelner Forderungen führen, und die aus Materialbeistellungen zwischen dem KUNDEN und dem jeweiligen Abnehmer herrühren. | |
Total Financing Commission is calculated as the sum of Financing Commissions per Invoice for all invoices included in a relevant transmission of Financing Commission Data . | Die Gesamtfinanzierungsgebühr errechnet sich als die Summe aller Finanzierungsgebühren auf Einzelrechnungsbasis für alle Forderungen der jeweils mitgeteilten Berechnungsdaten zur Ermittlung der Finanzierungsgebühr . |
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Unable to Pay: Means with respect to a Debtor that such Debtor is unable to pay its debts as and when they fall due. Inability to Pay is generally presumed if the Debtor generally ceases to make payments. | Zahlungsunfähig: Bedeutet im Hinblick auf einen Abnehmer, dass der Abnehmer nicht in der Lage ist, seine fälligen Zahlungspflichten zu erfüllen. Zahlungsunfähigkeit ist in der Regel anzunehmen, wenn der Abnehmer seine Zahlungen eingestellt hat. | |
Undisclosed Procedure : Factoring procedure as described in Clause 13 of this Agreement in which the assignment of Receivables is not initially, but only upon termination of the Undisclosed Procedure or in the Collection Procedure , disclosed. | Stilles Verfahren: Factoringverfahren gemäß Ziffer 13 dieses Vertrages, bei dem die Abtretung der Forderungen zunächst nicht, sondern erst nach Beendigung des Stillen Verfahrens oder im Inkassoverfahren offengelegt wird. | |
Utilization: Sum of the balances on all Accounts held for the ORIGINATOR in accordance with the factoring agreement. | Inanspruchnahme: Summe aller Salden von Konten die für den KUNDEN aufgrund des Factoringvertrages geführt werden. | |
VAT Information: all information as specified in clause 4.5, sub-clause 5. | Umsatzsteuerinformationen: alle in Ziffer 4.5, Absatz 5, genauer beschriebenen Informationen. |
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SIGNATORIES | UNTERSCHRIFTEN | |
GE CAPITAL BANK AG | ||
26.06.2015 /s/ Michael Hornischer |
Heide Legal Counsel |
|
Signed by: Michael Hornischer | ||
Title: Deputy Team Leader Large Clients | ||
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. | ||
/s/ Mark Kirkland | ||
Signed by: Mark Kirkland | ||
Title: Group Treasurer |
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SCHEDULE 1 TERMS AND CONDITIONS | ANHANG 1 KONDITIONEN | |
1. Receivables: | 1. Forderungen: | |
Receivables for payment of compensation from contracts regarding sales of products and related provision of services against all Debtors of the ORIGINATOR whose office location is in Germany, and all Debtors whose office location is in a jurisdiction which is listed in Schedule 1b ( Approved Jurisdictions ) or any other jurisdiction approved by the GE CAPITAL and which are listed in Schedule 1a ( Included Debtors ). | Forderungen für die Zahlung der Vergütung aus Verträgen aus Warenverkäufen und der Erbringung von Dienstleistungen gegen alle Abnehmer des KUNDEN, die ihren Sitz in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland haben, sowie alle Abnehmer , die ihren Sitz an einem der in Anhang 1b (Anerkannte Rechtsordnungen) aufgeführten Rechtsordnungen oder einer anderen von GE CAPITAL anerkannten Rechtsordnung haben und die in Anhang 1a (Aufgenommene Abnehmer) aufgeführt sind. | |
2. Purchase Price Reserve: the higher of (i) 10 % or (ii) the sum of 5 % and the average dilution rate as observed over the last three months. | 2. Kaufpreiseinbehalt: Der jeweils höhere Betrag von entweder (i) 10% oder (ii) der Summe von 5% und der durchschnittlichen Dilution Rate der letzten drei Monate. | |
3. Financing Commission Reference Rate; Fees; Commission: | 3. Finanzierungsgebührensatz; andere Gebühren; Provision: | |
a) Financing Commission Reference Rate (see Clause 4.1): 3 month EURIBOR + 1,95%, paid monthly and calculated on the last Business Day of each month for the following month. | a) Referenzfinanzierungsgebührensatz (siehe Ziffer 4.1): 3 Monate EURIBOR + 1,95 %, Zahlung monatlich und Berechnung am letzten Geschäftstag jeden Monats für den Folgemonat. | |
b) Unused Facility Fee : 1 % per annum of the amount of the available but unused amount of the Settlement Account . | b) Bereitstellungsgebühr : 1 % pro Jahr des verfügbaren aber nicht in Anspruch genommenen Betrages auf dem Kundenabrechnungskonto . | |
c) Audit Fees : EUR 3,000 per audit and a maximum audit fee of EUR 6,000 per year | c) Außenprüfungsgebühren : EUR 3.000 pro Außenprüfung und maximal EUR 6.000 pro Jahr. | |
d) Factoring Commission and Administration Fee (see Clauses 4.1 and 8.3): 0,15 % + 0,01 % bad debt cost calculated on the volume of the Receivables . | d) Factoring- und Verwaltungsgebühr (siehe Ziffer 4.1 und 8.3): 0,15 % + 0,01 % Delkrederekosten, berechnet nach dem Volumen der Forderungen . |
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e) Discretionary Debtor Limit (see Clause 7) | e) Abnehmerlimitselbstvergabe (siehe Ziffer 7) | |
Domestic/Export 10,000 EUR | Im Inland/im Ausland 10.000 EUR | |
Limit fees for each debtor and for each contractual year: | Limitgebühren für jeden Abnehmer und für jedes Vertragsjahr: | |
1. domestic (Germany and Czech Republic) 30 EUR | 1. Im Inland (Deutschland und Tschechische Republik) 30 EUR | |
2. export 60 EUR | 2. Im Ausland 60 EUR | |
f) The ORIGINATOR shall bear all costs, fees and expenses charged by any credit institution with respect to payments made by any Debtors and which have been charged to any Pledged Accounts or to GE CAPITAL. | f) Der KUNDE trägt alle Kosten, Gebühren und Auslagen die von jedem Kreditinstitut im Hinblick auf die von jedem Abnehmer geltend gemachten Zahlungen erhoben werden und die jedem verpfändeten Bankkonto oder GE CAPITAL berechnet werden. | |
Whereas a domestic Debtor shall be a Debtor domiciled in the same jurisdiction as the ORIGINATOR, and whereas the limit fees currency shall be the main currency in which the majority of the respective Debtors Receivables are denominated. | Wonach ein inländischer Abnehmer ein Abnehmer mit Sitz am Ort der gleichen Rechtswahl wie der KUNDE ist, und wonach die Währung für die Limitgebühr die Hauptwährung ist, auf welche die Mehrheit der Forderungen des jeweiligen Abnehmers lauten. | |
The ORIGINATOR shall bear all costs, fees and expenses for keeping the Pledged Accounts and for the transfer of any moneys. | Der KUNDE trägt alle Kosten, Gebühren und Auslagen zur Unterhaltung der verpfändeten Bankkonten und für die Überweisungen von Geldern. | |
Aforementioned Financing Commission Rate , fees and commissions are stated excluding the legal value added tax (VAT). | Die vorstehende Finanzierungsgebührensatz , andere Gebühren und Provisionen verstehen sich zuzüglich der gesetzlichen Umsatzsteuer. | |
4. Maximum Commitment: GE CAPITAL will set a maximum limit for each Constellium Singen GmbH, Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH, Constellium Valais S.A and Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o.. provided that the total aggregate Maximum Commitment under the respective factoring agreements between GE CAPITAL and Constellium Singen GmbH, Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH, Constellium Valais S.A. and Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. amounts to 115.000.000,00 EUR (one hundred fifteen million Euro), the Maximum Commitment for Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. may not exceed 15.000.000,00 EUR (fifteen million Euro) and which can be changed upon request of the respective originator(s). | 4. Höchstobligo: GE CAPITAL wird eine Obergrenze für jede Constellium Singen GmbH, Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH, Constellium Valais S.A und Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o.. festlegen, unter der Maßgabe, dass das gesamte Höchstobligo der jeweiligen Factoringverträge zwischen GE CAPITAL und Constellium Singen GmbH, Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH,Constellium Valais S.A. und Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. 115.000.000,00 EUR (einhundert fünfzehn Millionen Euro) beträgt, das maximale Höchstobligo für Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o 15.000.000,00 EUR (fünfzehn Millionen Euro) nicht übersteigen darf und auf Antrag des jeweiligen Kunden geändert werden kann. |
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5. Commencement Date: | 5. Vertragsbeginn: | |
This agreement will become effective on the date on which all conditions precedent as stated in Schedule 3 are (i) fulfilled and/or (ii) waived to the satisfaction of GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL will confirm vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR the fulfilment or waiver of the conditions precedent and the commencement of this agreement (Condition Precedent). | Dieser Vertrag wird wirksam an dem Tag, an dem sämtliche in Anhang 3 enthaltenen Bedingungen zur Zufriedenheit von GE CAPITAL erfüllt sind und/oder GE CAPITAL auf die Bedingung verzichtet. GE CAPITAL wird gegenüber dem KUNDEN die Erfüllung der und/oder den Verzicht Bedingungen und den Beginn dieses Vertrags bestätigen (aufschiebende Bedingung). | |
6. Termination Date: | 6. Vertragsablaufdatum: | |
04. June 2017 | 04. Juni 2017 | |
7. The ORIGINATOR and/or GE CAPITAL reserves the right to retain payments of the purchase price in respect of Receivables against single Debtors or debtor credit unitsin terms of § 19 of the German Banking Act ( Kreditwesengesetz ) as long as they show a greater concentration than 30 % of the amount of all purchased and still unsettled Receivables of the ORIGINATOR against all its Debtors . | 7. Der KUNDE und/oder GE CAPITAL behält sich das Recht vor, Kaufpreiszahlungen für Forderungen gegen einzelne Abnehmer bzw. Abnehmerkrediteinheiten im Sinne von § 19 Kreditwesengesetz solange zurückzuhalten, soweit sie mehr als 30 % aller gekauften und noch offenen Forderungen des KUNDEN gegen alle seine Abnehmer ausmachen. | |
8. Pledged Accounts: | 8. Verpfändete Bankkonten: | |
In accordance with section 13.3 (c) of the Factoring Agreement, the ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL agree that the ORIGINATOR shall pledge the following accounts in favour of GE CAPITAL by entering into an agreement on the date hereof, in substantially the form as set out in Annex 4 (Account Pledge Agreement) for the accounts: | In Übereinstimmung mit Ziffer 13.3 (c) des Factoringvertrages vereinbaren der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL, dass der KUNDE die folgenden Konten zugunsten von GE CAPITAL verpfändet, indem zum entsprechenden Zeitpunkt ein Vertrag über die Konten geschlossen wird, der im Wesentlichen der in Anlage 4 ( Kontoverpfändungsvertrag ) festgelegten Form entspricht: |
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Account Bank (name and address Kontoführende Bank (Name und Adresse) |
Swift |
IBAN |
Currency
Währung |
|||
Deutsche Bank | DEUTDE8CXXX | DE79870700000539079400 | EUR |
All ORIGINATORs accounts for incoming payments relating to Receivables. The ORIGINATOR will provide GE CAPITAL without delay with a chart containing all necessary details. | Alle Konten des KUNDEN für Zahlungseingänge im Hinblick auf die Forderungen . Der KUNDE wird GE CAPITAL eine Aufstellung mit allen erforderlichen Daten unverzüglich zukommen lassen. | |
9. Factoring-Procedure: undisclosed Inter-Credit-Factoring | 9. Factoring-Verfahren: stilles Inter-Credit-Factoring . | |
10. Note of assignment (in the Disclosed Procedure ): We have assigned our receivables to GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano-Str. 2, 55130 Mainz, Germany, pursuant to an ongoing factoring arrangement, respectively authorized GE Capital Bank AG to collect receivables on our behalf. Payments must be made by way of wire transfer to the following account: number: 300111800, bank sort code: 550 305 00, BIC: HRBKDE51, IBAN: DE12 5503 0500 0300 1118 00 or by cheque directly to GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano-Str. 2, 55130 Mainz, Germany. | 10. Abtretungsvermerk (im offenen Verfahren ): Wir haben unsere Forderungen im Rahmen eines laufenden Factoringverfahrens an GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von- Brentano-Str. 2, 55130 Mainz, Deutschland abgetreten bzw. GE Capital Bank AG zum Forderungseinzug ermächtigt. Zahlungen sind zu leisten per Überweisung auf das Konto: Kontonummer: 300111800, Bankleitzahl: 550 305 00, BIC: HRBKDE51, IBAN: DE12 5503 0500 0300 1118 00 oder per Scheck direkt an GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano- Str. 2, 55130 Mainz, Deutschland. | |
11. Binding Version: This Agreement and their respective Schedules and Annexes as well as any country specific supplement (if any) shall be executed in the German and the English language; both versions, the German as well as the English language versions shall be binding versions. | 11. Verbindliche Fassung: Dieser Vertrag und die entsprechenden Anhänge und Anlagen sowie länderspezifische Zusätze (sofern zutreffend) wird in der deutschen und der englischen Sprache vollzogen; beide Fassungen, die deutschen als auch die englischen Sprachversionen stellen verbindliche Fassungen dar. |
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SCHEDULE 1a: Included Debtors | ANHANG 1a: Aufgenommene Abnehmer |
Debtor Name |
Street Number |
ZIP Code |
City |
Country |
||||||
ALBIXON, a.s. |
Zbraslavská 55 | 15900 | PRAHA 5 | CZ | ||||||
ALLEGA GmbH |
SEEBLERSTRASSE | 8172 | NIEDERGLATT ZH | CH | ||||||
Amari Austria GmbH |
SLAMASTRASSE 43 | 1230 | WIEN | AT | ||||||
Amari Hungaria KFT |
IPARI PARK U. 3 | 1044 | BUDAPEST | HU | ||||||
AMCO METALL-SERVICE GmbH |
PFALZBURGER STRASSE 251 | 28207 | BREMEN | DE | ||||||
BALDOMERO VENTURA, S.L. |
LES FRANQUESES DEL VALLES | 8520 | BARCELONA | ES | ||||||
BURNER SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL |
8 ALLEE DE LA ROBINETTERIE | 37250 | VEIGNE | FR | ||||||
Casappa S.p.a. |
VIA BALESTRIERI 1 | 43044 | CAVALLI DI COLLECCHIOPARMA | IT | ||||||
Cometal Metallhandel GmbH |
WERKSTRASSE 15 17 | 71384 | WEINSTADT 2 | DE | ||||||
Egelhof SA |
Rue du Moulin | 67220 | Breitenbach | FR | ||||||
GERRO GmbH |
CARLBENZSTRASSE 1 | 78244 | GOTTMADINGEN | DE | ||||||
GRIESHABER GmbH&CO.KG |
AM HOHENSTEIN 115 | 77761 | SCHILTACH | DE | ||||||
Leibold & Amann GmbH&Co.KG |
Präzisionstechnik | 78669 | Wellendingen/Wilflingen | DE | ||||||
Manfred J.C. Niemann Zentrale KG |
POSTFACH 14 02 52 | 28089 | BREMEN | DE | ||||||
PRESSWERK KREFELD GmbH&CO.KG |
IDASTRASSE 60 | 47809 | KREFELDLINN | DE | ||||||
Robert Bosch (France) SAS |
32 Avenue Michelet | 93404 | SainQuen | FR | ||||||
Robert Bosch GmbH |
Postfach 1120 | 87542 | Blaichach | DE | ||||||
SCHRADER SA |
48 RUE DE SALINS | 25301 | PONTARLIER CEDEX | FR | ||||||
Schwarzwaelder Metallhandel GmbH |
INDUSTRIESTRASSE 18 | 78647 | TROSSINGEN | DE | ||||||
SOCIETE DEPERY DUFOUR |
76 AVENUE DU MONT BLANC | 74951 | SCIONZIER | FR |
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SCHEDULE 1b: Approved Jurisdictions | ANHANG 1b: Anerkannte Rechtsordnungen | |
AT: Austria | AT: Österreich | |
CH: Switzerland | CH: Schweiz | |
CZ: Czech Republic | CZ: Tschechische Republik | |
DE: Germany | DE: Deutschland | |
FR: France | FR: Frankreich | |
IT: Italy | IT: Italien | |
HU: Hungary | HU: Ungarn | |
ES: Spain | ES: Spanien |
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SCHEDULE 2 DECLARATION OF CONSENT | ANHANG 2 EINWILLIGUNGSERKLÄRUNG | |
Declaration of consent for the collection, processing and usage of data and the confidentiality obligations of tax authorities | Einwilligungserklärung zur Erhebung, Verarbeitung und Nutzung von Daten und der Schweigepflicht der Finanzämter | |
I. Collection, processing and usage of data by the GE Capital Bank AG | I. Erhebung, Verarbeitung und Nutzung von Daten durch die GE Capital Bank AG | |
1. GE Capital Bank AG collects, processes and uses data in connection with the preparation, execution and implementation of the factoring agreement with respect to | 1. GE Capital Bank AG erhebt, verarbeitet und nutzt im Rahmen der Vorbereitung des Abschlusses und der Durchführung des Factoringvertrages Daten zu | |
- name and address of CONSTELLIUM EXTRUSIONS DĚČÍN S.R.O. | - Name und Anschrift von CONSTELLIUM EXTRUSIONS DĚČÍN S.R.O. | |
ÚSTECKÁ 751/37, DĚČÍN V-ROZBĚLESY, 405 02 DĚČÍNCONSTELLIUM, | ÚSTECKÁ 751/37, DĚČÍN V-ROZBĚLESY, 405 02 DĚČÍNCONSTELLIUM | |
- information provided in the annual financial statements, | - Informationen, die aus einem Jahresabschluss ersichtlich sind, | |
- accounts receivable of the ORIGINATOR against its debtors (creditor, debtor, subject, amount, credit worthiness of the ORIGINATOR, legal existence of the accounts receivable, potential security interests of other creditors), | - Forderungen des KUNDEN gegen seine Abnehmer (Gläubiger, Schuldner, Forderungsgegenstand, Forderungshöhe, Bonität des Abnehmers, Verität der Forderung, etwaige Sicherungsrechte anderer Gläubiger, | |
- debtor limits and their respective utilisation, | - Abnehmerlimite und deren Ausnutzung, | |
- balances on accounts maintained in accordance with the factoring agreement, | - Kontostände der gemäß Factoringvertrag geführten Konten, | |
- hereinafter referred to as Data, but in each case only in accordance with the factoring agreement. | - nachstehend als Daten bezeichnet, aber in jedem Fall nur im Zusammenhang mit dem Factoringvertrag | |
2. The ORIGINATOR authorises and consents to the transfer of data by GE Capital Bank AG to affiliated companies and/or service providers and the processing (including transfer) and using of such Data by the relevant companies if and to the extent that this is necessary for the following purposes: | 2. Der KUNDE erklärt sich damit einverstanden, dass GE Capital Bank AG die Daten an verbundene Unternehmen und/oder Dienstleistungsunternehmen übermittelt und dass diese ihrerseits die Daten verarbeiten (einschließlich Übermittlung) und nutzen, wenn und soweit dies zu folgenden Zwecken erfolgt: |
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- Compliance by GE Capital Bank AG with its obligations under the factoring agreement, including the processing of Data for such purposes in data processing centers. | - Erfüllung von der GE Capital Bank AG nach dem Factoringvertrag obliegenden Aufgaben einschließlich der Verarbeitung der Daten zu diesen Zwecken in Rechenzentren, | |
- Compliance with reporting obligations resulting from statutory or internal regulations applicable to GE Capital Bank AG and/or its affiliated companies, including reporting obligations vis-à-vis committees or control functions of the relevant affiliated companies inside or outside of the European Economic Area. | - Erfüllung von durch Rechtsvorschriften oder konzernintern angeordneten Berichtspflichten, die der GE Capital Bank AG und/oder verbundenen Unternehmen obliegen, einschließlich von Berichtspflichten gegenüber Gremien und Kontrollorganen der Verbundenen Unternehmen innerhalb und außerhalb des europäischen Wirtschaftsraumes, | |
- Evaluation and reporting within the General Electric group as well as market- and statistical analyses. | - Auswertungen und Berichterstattung innerhalb des General Electric Konzerns, sowie Marktanalysen und statistische Analysen, | |
- Feeding of Data into an information system which is only accessible to members of the General Electric group, and from which GE Capital Bank AG may retrieve Data (which were not transferred by it for its business purposes. | - Einstellung der Daten in ein ausschließlich für Unternehmen des General Electric Konzerns nutzbares Informationssystem, aus dem auch die GE Capital Bank AG für ihre Geschäftszwecke auch von ihr nicht übermittelte Daten abrufen kann. | |
3. The ORIGINATOR furthermore consents to the transfer of Data by GE Capital Bank AG to credit- or financial institutions and to the processing of the transferred Data (incl. transfer and usage of such data) by such institutions if and to the extent that this transfer occurs in connection with a transfer or pledge of the factoring agreement, rights or claims resulting from the factoring agreement or purchased receivables for the purposes of refinancing GE Capital Bank AG or in connection with the administration or collection of receivables. | 3. Der KUNDE erklärt sich weiterhin damit einverstanden, dass die GE Capital Bank AG Daten an andere Kreditinstitute oder Finanzinstitute übermittelt, und dass diese ihrerseits die Daten verarbeiten (einschließlich Übermittlung und Nutzung), wenn und soweit diese Übertragung im Zusammenhang mit einer Übertragung oder Verpfändung des Factoringvertrages oder von Rechten oder Forderungen aus dem Factoringvertrag oder angekauften Forderungen für Zwecke der Refinanzierung der GE Capital Bank AG oder im Zusammenhang mit der Verwaltung oder Einziehung von Forderungen geschieht. |
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In this context, the ORIGINATOR releases GE Capital Bank AG from any legal restrictions with respect to the collection, processing and usage of Data. | In diesem Zusammenhang befreit der KUNDE die GE Capital Bank AG von gesetzlichen Beschränkungen zur Erhebung, Verarbeitung und Nutzung von Daten. | |
II. Transfer of Data to GE Capital Bank AG | II. Übermittlung von Daten an die GE Capital Bank AG | |
The ORIGINATOR releases all financial institutions with which it cooperates from the banking secrecy and any other legal restrictions with respect to the transfer of data, to the extent that GE Capital Bank AG requests information from the relevant financial institution which is relevant for the compliance with the obligations under the factoring agreement. This includes information with respect to: | Der KUNDE befreit alle mit ihm zusammenarbeitenden Finanzinstitute vom Bankgeheimnis und anderweitig durch Rechtsvorschriften begründeten Einschränkungen der Datenübermittlung, soweit die GE Capital Bank AG bei dem jeweiligen Finanzinstitut Anfragen stellt, die für die Erfüllung des Factoringvertrages von Bedeutung sind. Dies betrifft Informationen betreffend: | |
- Security interests of the relevant financial institution with respect to receivables of the ORIGINATOR, including ancillary rights, and other movable current assets, | - Sicherungsrechte des Finanzinstituts an Forderungen des KUNDEN einschließlich Nebenrechten und an sonstigem beweglichen Umlaufvermögen. | |
- Payments received with respect to receivables assigned to GE Capital Bank AG and any other information relating such receivables. | - Zahlungseingänge auf Forderungen, die der GE Capital Bank AG abgetreten sind und etwaige sonstige Informationen in Bezug auf solche Forderungen. | |
- Information available to the relevant financial institution regarding the creditworthiness of the ORIGINATOR. | - Bei dem Finanzinstitut vorhandene Informationen über die Bonität des KUNDEN. | |
The ORIGINATOR consents to GE Capital Bank AG treating these Data in accordance with item. I. above. | Der KUNDE erklärt sich damit einverstanden, dass die GE Capital Bank AG solche Daten nach Maßgabe von Ziffer I. behandelt. | |
III. Release of tax authorities from confidentiality obligations | III. Befreiung von der Schweigepflicht der Finanzämter | |
The ORIGINATOR hereby releases the tax authorities which may be involved from their relevant confidentiality obligations with respect to VAT payable by the ORIGINATOR and undertakes to repeat such release directly vis-à-vis the relevant tax authorities in the appropriate form. | Der KUNDE entbindet hiermit die befassten Finanzämter in Bezug auf die vom 32 KUNDEN zu entrichtende Umsatzsteuer von der Schweigepflicht und verpflichtet sich, diese Entbindungserklärung direkt gegenüber den Finanzämtern in geeigneter Form zu wiederholen. |
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Schedule 3 (Deposit Protection Deposit Protection Fund of the Association of German Banks)
Deposit Protection Fund
(1) | Scope of protection |
GE Capital is a member of the Deposit Protection Fund of the Association of German Banks (Einlagensicherungsfonds des Bundesverbandes deutscher Banken e.V.), hereinafter referred to as Deposit Protection Fund. The Deposit Protection Fund protects all liabilities which are required to be shown in the balance sheet item Liabilities to customers. Among these are demand, term and savings deposits, including registered savings certificates. The protection ceiling for each creditor is, until 31 December 2014, 30%, until 31 December 2019, 20%, until 31 December 2024, 15% and, as of 1 January 2025, 8.75% of the liable capital of GE CAPITAL relevant for deposit protection. Deposits established or renewed after 31 December 2011 shall be subject to the respective new protection ceilings as of the aforementioned dates, irrespective of the time when the deposits are established. Deposits established before 31 December 2011 shall be subject to the old protection ceilings until maturity or until the next possible withdrawal date. The applicable protection ceiling shall be notified to the customer by GE CAPITAL on request. It is also available on the Internet at www.bankenverband.de . Where GE CAPITAL is a branch of a bank from another European Economic Area (EEA) country, the Deposit Protection Fund shall only provide compensation if and to the extent that the deposits exceed the protection ceiling of the home-country deposit guarantee scheme. The level of coverage provided by the home-country deposit guarantee scheme can be viewed on the Internet at the website of the relevant scheme, the address of which shall be made available to the customer by the Bank on request.
(2) | Exemptions from deposit protection |
Not protected are claims in respect of which GE CAPITAL has issued bearer instruments, e.g. bearer bonds and bearer certificates of deposit, as well as liabilities to banks.
(3) | Additional validity of the By-laws of the Deposit Protection |
Fund Further details of the scope of protection are contained in Section 6 of the By-laws of the Deposit Protection Fund, which are available on request.
(4) | Transfer of claims |
To the extent that the Deposit Protection Fund or its mandatory makes payments to a customer, the respective amount of the customers claims against GE CAPITAL together with all subsidiary rights shall be transferred simultaneously to the Deposit Protection Fund.
(5) | Disclosure of information |
GE CAPITAL shall be entitled to disclose to the Deposit Protection Fund or to its mandatory all relevant information and to place necessary documents at their disposal.
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Anlage 3 (Schutz der Einlagen Einlagensicherungsfonds des Bundesverbandes deutscher Banken e.V.)
Einlagensicherungsfonds
(1) Schutzumfang
GE CAPITAL ist dem Einlagensicherungsfonds des Bundesverbandes deutscher Banken e.V. angeschlossen. Der Einlagensicherungsfonds sichert alle Verbindlichkeiten, die in der Bilanzposition Verbindlichkeiten gegenüber Kunden auszuweisen sind. Hierzu zählen Sicht-, Termin- und Spareinlagen einschließlich der auf den Namen lautenden Sparbriefe. Die Sicherungsgrenze je Gläubiger beträgt bis zum 31. Dezember 2014 30%, bis zum 31. Dezember 2019 20 %, bis zum 31. Dezember 2024 15 % und ab dem 1. Januar 2025 8,75 % des für die Einlagensicherung maßgeblichen haftenden Eigenkapitals von GE CAPITAL. Für Einlagen, die nach dem 31. Dezember 2011 begründet oder prolongiert werden, gelten, unabhängig vom Zeitpunkt der Begründung der Einlage, die jeweils neuen Sicherungsgrenzen ab den vorgenannten Stichtagen. Für Einlagen, die vor dem 31. Dezember 2011 begründet wurden, gelten die alten Sicherungsgrenzen bis zur Fälligkeit der Einlage oder bis zum nächstmöglichen Kündigungstermin. Diese Sicherungsgrenze wird dem Kunden von GE CAPITAL auf Verlangen bekanntgegeben. Sie kann auch im Internet unter www.bankenverband.de abgefragt werden. Sofern es sich bei GE CAPITAL um eine Zweigniederlassung eines Instituts aus einem anderen Staat des Europäischen Wirtschaftsraumes handelt, erbringt der Einlagensicherungsfonds Entschädigungsleistungen nur, wenn und soweit die Guthaben die Sicherungsgrenze der Heimatlandeinlagensicherung übersteigen. Der Umfang der Heimatlandeinlagensicherung kann im Internet auf der Webseite der jeweils zuständigen Sicherungseinrichtung abgefragt werden, deren Adresse dem Kunden auf Verlangen von GE CAPITAL mitgeteilt wird.
(2) Ausnahmen vom Einlegerschutz
Nicht geschützt sind Forderungen, über die GE CAPITAL Inhaberpapiere ausgestellt hat, wie z. B. Inhaberschuldverschreibungen und Inhabereinlagenzertifikate, sowie Verbindlichkeiten gegenüber Kreditinstituten.
(3) Ergänzende Geltung des Statuts des Einlagensicherungsfonds
Wegen weiterer Einzelheiten des Sicherungsumfanges wird auf § 6 des Statuts des Einlagensicherungsfonds verwiesen, das auf Verlangen zur Verfügung gestellt wird.
(4) Forderungsübergang
Soweit der Einlagensicherungsfonds oder ein von ihm Beauftragter Zahlungen an einen Kunden leistet, gehen dessen Forderungen gegen GE CAPITAL in entsprechender Höhe mit allen Nebenrechten Zug um Zug auf den Einlagensicherungsfonds über.
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(5) Auskunftserteilung
GE CAPITAL ist befugt, dem Einlagensicherungsfonds oder einem von ihm Beauftragten alle in diesem Zusammenhang erforderlichen Auskünfte zu erteilen und Unterlagen zur Verfügung zu stellen.
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SCHEDULE 4 Condition Precedents | ANHANG 4 Aufschiebende Bedingungen | |
The Commencement Date can only occur upon fulfilment of the following condition precedents: | Der Vertragsbeginn ist aufschiebend bedingt durch den Eintritt der folgenden Bedingungen. |
CP |
Document |
Required Form |
||
I. Corporate Documents | ||||
(1) | 1. Directors certificate with respect to the corporate documents, the companys solvency, specimen signatures | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(2) | 2. Excerpt from the commercial register (dated less than 2 weeks prior to signing) | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(3) | 3. Articles of Association of Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. | |||
(4) | 4. Shareholder list of Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. | |||
(5) | 5. Shareholder Resolution approving the terms and conditions of the transaction; no changes to corporate documents; specimen signatures | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(6) | 6. Power of Attorneys (if somebody different from the companies authorized representatives will be signing any document) |
If applicable PDF, Original to follow |
||
II. Legal Opinions | ||||
(7) | Legal Opinion delivered by CC and satisfactory to the GE Capital in respect of the capacity and authority of the Originator in connection with the execution and performance of the Factoring Agreement and all other related transaction documents | PDF, Original to follow | ||
III. AR Financing Facilities Documents | ||||
(8) | 1. Customary information reasonably satisfactory to GE Capital on the existing relevant receivables to be purchased | |||
(9) | 2. Factoring Agreement | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(10) | 3. Amendment Agreement regarding reimbursement claims /counter claims | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(11) | 4. Confirmation by Constellium HoldCo II B.V. that factoring is not in conflict with other financing | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(12) | 5. Accession Agreement to the Intercreditor Agreement | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(13) | 6. Amendment Agreement to the factoring Agreement with Constellium Singen GmbH regarding the inclusion of Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o into the EUR 115 Million facilities. | PDF, Original to follow |
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CP |
Document |
Required Form |
||
(14) | 7. Amendment Agreement to the factoring Agreement with Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH regarding the inclusion of Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o into the EUR 115 Million facilities. | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(15) | 8. Amendment Agreement to the factoring Agreement with Constellium Valais S.A. regarding the inclusion of Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o into the EUR 115 Million facilities. | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(16) | 9. Performance Guarantee provided by Constellium Holdco II B.V. | PDF, Original to follow | ||
IV. Credit Insurance | ||||
(17) | 1. Receipt of credit insurance policies | |||
(18) | 2. Standard credit insurance information, evidencing that in each year, the maximum annual indemnification amount under the relevant credit insurance is sufficient to cover the applicable credit limit of the top five debtors | |||
(19) | c) Trade Credit Insurance Agreement | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(20) |
d) Trade Credit Insurance Assignment Agreement Atradius |
PDF, Original to follow | ||
(21) | Approval of Atradius Credit Insurance N.V to the assignment agreement on trade credit insurance | PDF, Original to follow | ||
V. Collection Accounts | ||||
(22) | Account Pledge Agreement | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(23) | VI. Consent letter , if applicable, with respect to those debtors with a ban of assignment clause | |||
VII. Know-Your-Customer | ||||
(24) | Know-Your-Customer Form | |||
VIII. Receivables | ||||
(25) | 1. Statement re Reimbursement Claims, e.g. current status of bonuses granted, etc. | |||
(26) | 2. Statement re Tolling/Pseudo Tolling Reimbursement Claims | |||
(27) | 3. VAT information |
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CP |
Document |
Required Form |
||
IX: Miscellaneous | ||||
(28) | 1. Auditor Agreement (sec. 13.5 of the factoring agreement) | PDF, Original to follow | ||
2. Negative pledge confirmations (corresponding reassignments if necessary) of all financing banks and investors | ||||
(29) | a) Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. (that there is no prior assignment, pledge or any other right on the receivables are provided to third parties). | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(30) | b) from all banks with a business relationship to Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. | PDF, Original to follow |
The ORIGINATOR undertakes to use best efforts to provide the following documents until 3 July 2015, but in any case no later than 15 July 2015: | Der KUNDE ist verpflichtet, sich nach besten Kräften zu bemühen bis zum 3. Juli 2015, in jedem Fall aber bis spätestens 15. Juli 2015, folgende Auflagen zu erfüllen: |
No. |
Document |
Required Form |
||
(1) | Capacity Opinion delivered by CC and satisfactory to GE Capital in respect of the capacity and authority of the guarantor under the parent guarantee. | PDF, Original to follow | ||
(2) | Amendment of the General Terms and Conditions of the ORIGINATOR | PDF, upload to ORIGINATOR website |
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Schedule/Anhang 5
Please print on the letterhead of the DEBTOR
[Please address to
ORIGINATOR
and
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Str. 2
55130 Mainz]
[Date]
[Name of the Agreement] dated [Date] between [ORIGINATOR] and [DEBOR] together with any variation, novation or replacement, or ancillary or related to the Agreement (Distribution Agreement)
We refer to our Distribution Agreement with you.
We irrevocably consent to, and waive any restriction or prohibition against, the assignment of your rights and interest (including the rights to all or any present and future receivables/debt owing by us to you) under or in connection with the supply of goods and/or services to us from time to time pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.
We acknowledge that GE Capital Bank AG and/or its affiliates will be relying on the terms of this letter in providing factoring facilities to you.
Yours sincerely,
|
For and on behalf of |
[Debtor] |
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ANLAGE 1
FORMULAR FÜR FORDERUNGSANZEIGEN
A. German
GE Capital Bank AG Heinrich-von-Brentano-Str. 2 55130 Mainz |
||||||
Kundennummer: | 001 / | |||||
Kunde: | ||||||
Währung: EURO | ||||||
EINREICHUNGSFORMULAR ZUM FACTORINGVERTRAG Wir bestätigen hiermit, dass die mit der heutigen Datenübertragung durch Factoring-Satzaufbau oder Eingabe in Factorlink
angezeigten Forderungen bestehen, abtretbar und frei von jeglichen Einwendungen, Einreden und Rechten Dritter sind, die gegen GE Capital geltend gemacht werden können und die über die Forderungen ausgestellten Rechnungen den Abnehmern zugegangen sind und
die übermittelten Rechnungen und Gutschriften die unten aufgeführten Gesamtbeträge haben:
Anzahl |
Belegart |
Währung |
Betrag |
|||
Rechnungen | EUR | |||||
Gutschriften | EUR |
|
|
|||
Ort, Datum | Stempel und rechtsverb. Unterschrift |
Nur für interne Vermerke der GE Capital Bank AG!
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Journal-Nr. |
Korrekturen:
|
Gebucht: | ||||||
o Fehler in Abstimmsumme | ||||||||
o Sonstiges | Datum | |||||||
Abstimmsumme: | ||||||||
Handzeichen | ||||||||
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ANNEX 1
FORM OF OFFER LETTER
B. English
GE Capital Bank AG Heinrich-von-Brentano-Str. 2 55130 Mainz |
||||
ORIGINATOR number: | 001 / | |||
ORIGINATOR: | ||||
Currency: EURO |
Offer Letter to the Factoring Agreement We hereby acknowledge that, in respect of todays data transmission via Factoring-Satzaufbau or data entry in Factorlink,
the notified Receivables exist, are assignable and free of any objections and defenses and third party rights, which can be asserted against GE CAPITAL. Further, the debtors have received invoices for the relevant receivables and
the transmitted invoices and credit notes sum up to the below stated total amount:
Number |
Invoices / Credit Notes |
Currency |
Amount |
|||
Invoices total | EUR | |||||
Credit Notes total | EUR |
We hereby acknowledge and repeat precautionary the assignment and the purchase offer for the notified Receivables .
We will upon your request at any time submit Receivables records (in particular invoices, credit notes, debit notes, orders, order confirmations and bills of delivery) relating to this offer letter without undue delay.
For internal notes of GE Capital Bank AG!
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Journal-No. |
Corrections:
|
Booked: | ||||||
o Mistakes in Reconciliation Amount | ||||||||
o Other | Date | |||||||
Reconciliation Amount: |
||||||||
Signature | ||||||||
|
|
|||
Place, Date | Stamp and legally binding signature |
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ANNEX 2
TRADE CREDIT INSURANCE AGREEMENT
Supplement Agreement to a Factoring Agreement between
GE Capital Bank AG,
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2,
55130 Mainz, Germany
hereinafter referred to as GE Capital
and
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o.,
Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy,
405 02 Děčín, Czech Republic
hereinafter referred to as Originator
The Originator has entered into a trade credit insurance agreement insurance policy no. 651173 with Atradius Credit Insurance N.V. , a company established and existing under the laws of the Netherlands, with its registered office at David Ricardostraat 1, 1006 JS Amsterdam, the Netherlands, acting through Atradius Credit Insurance N.V., organizační sloka , with its registered office at Karolinská 661/4, 186 00 Praha 8, Karlín, the Czech Republic, identification No. 271 23 979, registered with Commercial Register maintained by the Municipal Court in Prague, File A, Insert 49393.. As a part of this agreement certain credit limits are assigned to the Originators customers from time to time.
GE Capital will use these limits as a basis for the allocation of the Debtor Limits pursuant to section 7 of the Factoring Agreement. GE Capital, however, reserves the right to modify the Debtor Limits higher or lower than set by the credit insurers granted limits within the boundaries of the Factoring Agreement. Within the limit set out by GE Capital, GE Capital assumes the Bad Debt Coverage ( Delkrederehaftung ) pursuant to section 6 of the Factoring Agreement.
GE Capital must be informed without undue delay ( unverzüglich ) about any granting, changes and cancellations of limits of which the Originator is aware of by way of electronic transfer (i.e. the Originator shall provide GE Capital per email with scanned copies of the granted/changed/cancelled limits, as applicable).
The Originator undertakes to pay the remuneration (fees, costs, etc.) when due to the credit insurer in accordance with the insurance policy.
The Originator hereby undertakes to assign the payment claims against the credit insurer in accordance with the separate assignment agreement and to request the credit insurer to approve the terms of such assignment. Furthermore, the Originator shall request the credit insurer to accept that GE Capital shall conduct the collection procedure upon revocation of the Undisclosed
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Procedure. The relevant declarations are to be provided to GE Capital as soon as they have been received from the relevant credit insurance provider.
This Agreement shall be governed by Czech law. |
Mainz, |
GE CAPITAL BANK AG |
Signed by: |
Title: |
Děčín, |
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. |
Signed by: |
Title: |
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ANLAGE 2
WARENKREDITVERSICHERUNGSVERTRAG
Nachtrag
zu einem Factoringvertrag
zwischen
GE Capital Bank AG,
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2,
55130 Mainz, Deutschland
nachstehend GE Capital genannt
und
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o.;
Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy,
405 02 Děčín, Tschechien
nachstehend Kunde genannt
Der Kunde hat mit Atradius Credit Insurance N.V. , eine Gesellschaft, gegründet und bestehend unter dem Recht des Königreichs der Niederlande, mit Geschäftssitz in David Ricardostraat 1, 1006 JS Amsterdam, the Netherlands, handelnd durch Atradius Credit Insurance N.V., organizační sloka , mit Geschäftssitz in Karolinská 661/4, 186 00 Praha 8, Karlín, Tschechische Republik, Unternehmensnummer: 271 23 979, registriert im Handelsregister des Amtsgerichts in Prag, File A, Insert 49393. einen Warenkreditversicherungsvertrag (Versicherungsschein-Nr.651173 abgeschlossen. Im Rahmen dieses Vertrages wurden gelegentlich Limite auf die Abnehmer des Kunden gezeichnet.
GE Capital wird diese Limite als Grundlage für die Vergabe von Abnehmerlimiten gemäß Ziffer 7 des Factoringvertrags verwenden. GE Capital behält sich jedoch das Recht vor, die Abnehmerlimite höher oder auch niedriger als die vom Kreditversicherer vergebenen Limite festzusetzen. Im Rahmen der von ihr festgesetzten Limite übernimmt GE Capital die Delkrederehaftung gemäß Ziffer 6 des Factoringvertrages.
GE Capital ist über alle Limiteinräumungen,veränderungen und streichungen, die dem Kunden bekannt sind, durch elektronische Datenübermittlung zu unterrichten (Beispiel: Der Kunde stellt GE Capital eingescannte Kopien über Limiteinräumungen,veränderungen und- streichungen per Email zur Verfügung).
Der Kunde verpflichtet sich, Entgelte (Gebühren, Kosten, etc.) gemäß dem Versicherungsschein zu entrichten, wenn sie beim Kreditversicherer fällig werden.
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Der Kunde verpflichtet sich hiermit, die Auszahlungsansprüche gegenüber dem Kreditversicherer gemäß gesonderter Abtretungserklärung abzutreten und die Zustimmung des Kreditversicherers zur Abtretung einzuholen. Des Weiteren wird der Kunde den Kreditversicherer dazu auffordern, seine Einwilligung zur Durchführung des Inkassoverfahrens im Stillen Verfahren bis auf Widerruf zu erteilen. Die entsprechenden Erklärungen sind, sobald sie vom jeweiligen Kreditversicherer empfangen wurden, GE
Capital zur Verfügung zu stellen. |
Diese Vereinbarung unterliegt tschechischem Recht. |
Mainz, |
GE Capital Bank AG |
Name: |
Position: |
Děčín, |
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. |
Name: |
Position: |
- 89 -
ANNEX 3
AGREEMENT ON ASSIGNMENT OF CLAIMS FROM TRADE CREDIT
INSURANCE
BETWEEN
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. , with its registered seat at Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02 Děčín (the Assignor )
and
GE Capital Bank AG , with its registered seat at Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 255130 Mainz (the Assignee ).
The Assignor hereby assigns to the Assignee the existing and future claims (the Insurance Claims ) against
Atradius Credit Insurance N.V. , a company established and existing under the laws of the Netherlands, with its registered office at David Ricardostraat 1, 1006 JS Amsterdam, the Netherlands, as the founder (zřizovatel) of Atradius Credit Insurance N.V., organizační sloka , with its registered office at Karolinská 661/4, 186 00 Praha 8, Karlín, the Czech Republic, identification No. 271 23 979, registered with Commercial Register maintained by the Municipal Court in Prague, File A, Insert 49393 (the Trade Credit Insurer )
arising under the insurance agreement no. 651173, concerning losses through insolvency, protracted default and political risk, entered into on 31 December 2014. The assignment of the Insurance Claims relates to receivables sold and/or assigned by the Assignor to the Assignee under the factoring agreement entered into on 2015 between the Assignor as seller and assignor and Assignee as buyer and assignee.
The assignment of the Insurance Claims under this agreement shall become effective between the Assignor and the Assignee upon execution of this agreement by both parties. The assignment of the Insurance Claims under this agreement shall become effective towards the Trade Credit Insurer when the Trade Credit Insurer has been notified of the assignment under this agreement by the Assignor.
The parties agree that the Assignee will not pay any purchase price to the Assignor for the assignment of the Insurance Claims under this agreement.
Simultaneously, the Trade Credit Insurer is authorized to pass decisions of limits directly to the Assignee.
The Assignor hereby undertakes not to make any action or declaration resulting in creation of any third party rights in respect of the Claims assigned under this agreement, including, but not limited to, any security assignments, pledges (whether registered in the Czech Notarial Pledge Register ( Notářský rejstřík zástav ) or evidenced merely by pledge agreements) and collection authorisations of any kind. The Assignor and Assignee agree that this restriction to the extent
- 90 -
constituting the prohibition to create any other security interest over the assigned claims and ancillary rights under this agreement shall be until [] created as a right in rem within the meaning of Section 1309 (2) and Section 1761 of the Act No. 89/2012 Coll., the Civil Code. The Assignee shall file an application for the registration of this restriction in the Czech Notarial Pledge Register and the Assignor undertakes to provide Assignee will all reasonable assistance. The Assignor shall not be liable if the restriction is not registered in the Czech Notarial Pledge Register because the authority administering the Czech Notarial Pledge Register is not capable of effecting the registration.
The Assignee and the Trade Credit Insurer are authorized to mutually exchange any necessary information.
This agreement shall be governed by Czech law. |
[ Place [], date []] |
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. |
Hereby we accept the assignment and the terms of this agreement. |
Mainz, [ date []] |
GE Capital Bank AG |
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NOTIFICATION OF ASSIGNMENT TO TRADE CREDIT INSURER
To: Atradius Credit Insurance N.V. , a company established and existing under the laws of the Netherlands, with its registered office at David Ricardostraat 1, 1006 JS Amsterdam, the Netherlands, as the founder of Atradius Credit Insurance N.V., organizační sloka , with its registered office at Karolinská 661/4, 186 00 Praha 8, Karlín, the Czech Republic, identification No. 271 23 979, registered with Commercial Register maintained by the Municipal Court in Prague, File A, Insert 49393
Assignment Agreement between
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o.
Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02 Děčín ( the Assignor ), and
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 255130 Mainz (the Assignee )
insurance policy no . 651173
Dear Madam or Sir,
You are hereby notified that in accordance with the agreement on assignment of insurance receivables entered into between the Assignor and the Assignee on 2015 the Assignor assigned its existing and future receivables arising under or in connection with the Trade Credit Insurance against Atradius Credit Insurance N.V. pursuant to the insurance agreement no. 651173, concerning losses through insolvency, protracted default and political risk, entered into on 31 December 2014, to the Assignee. The assignment of the insurance receivables relates to the receivables (the Receivables ) sold and/or assigned by the Assignor to the Assignee under the factoring agreement (the Factoring Agreement ) entered into on 2015 between the Assignor as seller and assignor and Assignee as buyer and assignee.
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Kindly confirm your approval to us in writing as to the aforementioned assignment agreement and acknowledge receipt of this notice and agreement with its terms by signing the notice and sending it to
GE Capital Bank AG
Attention: Philipp Schiemann
Team Leader Large Clients GE Capital Bank AG
T +49 (0) 6131 4647 235
M +49 (0) 172 2701754
EPhilipp.Schiemann@ge.com
and
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o.
Attention: Jiří Palma
As of the date of the receipt of this notice, please have all payments resulting from the receivables assigned under this agreement paid to the bank account
GE Capital Bank AG
IBAN: DE40550305000300112266
BIC: CPLADE55
Kto. 300 112 266
BLZ 550 305 00
In connection with the assignment of the receivables arising under the above-mentioned insurance policy, the Assignee confirms to you that proceeds from any security granted and other amounts paid by the Assignor that were transferred to the Assignee under the Factoring Agreement, will still be deducted in the damage calculation of the credit insurer under the terms of the Trade Credit Insurance Agreement (together with standard conditions of insurance and supplementary provisions). This also applies to the indemnifications of the above mentioned security or any other payments provided. The credit insurer is entitled to the proceeds of collateral and other payments after the indemnification of the credit insurer up to the amount of indemnification, whereupon a new damage settlement takes place under proportional allocation (Indemnity / Deductible).
The Assignee will inform the credit insurer immediately about the respective proceeds and other payments.
At the same time the Assignee will transfer the Receivables underlying the indemnification including the reservation of property rights, which adhere to these Receivables.
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Furthermore the Assignee asks you to file GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von Brentano- Straße 2, 55130 Mainz as a further collection agency ( Inkassostelle ).
We appreciate your effort. | ||||
Kind regards | ||||
Date | Date | |||
GE Capital Bank AG | Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. |
We acknowledge delivery and agree with the above without any reservation.
In on
|
Atradius Credit Insurance N.V. |
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ANNEX 4
ACCOUNT PLEDGE AGREEMENT
Account Pledge and Trust Agreement
the Agreement
between
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2, 55130 Mainz, Germany
hereinafter referred to as GE CAPITAL
as Trustor and Pledgee
and
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o.
Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02 Děčín, Czech Republic -hereinafter referred to
as ORIGINATOR
as Trustee and Pledgor
1. Pledged Account, Obligation to Transfer
1.1 GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR have entered into a Factoring Agreement under which GE CAPITAL acquires accounts receivables from the ORIGINATOR owed by its debtors, thus GE CAPITAL is entitled to debtors payments.
1.2 The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL hereby agree that the ORIGINATORs following bank account shall be the Pledged Account as defined in the Factoring Agreement:
IBAN.: DE79870700000539079400
Account Bank: Deutsche Bank AG
BIC: DEUTDE8CXXX
1.3 The ORIGINATOR is obliged vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL to forward to GE CAPITAL without undue delay all incoming payments to the Pledged Account as well as all payments otherwise received from debtors.
2. Pledge
2.1 To secure any and all of GE CAPITALs present and future claims against the ORIGINATOR pursuant to section 1.3 and arising out of the Factoring Agreement, in particular from clause 5 of the Factoring Agreement, and its performance, and to secure any and all other
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present and future claims of GE CAPITAL against the ORIGINATOR arising from the business relationship, the ORIGINATOR hereby pledges any and all of its rights to payment of any and all future credits (surplus) relating to the Pledged Account , which the ORIGINATOR is entitled to, regarding balances from current accounts ( Kontokorrent ) of the Pledged Account as well as the rights to the daily balance resulting from the current account agreement related to current payouts between balancing of accounts, including the right to transfer any credits standing to the account of the Pledged Account and the right to credit the received amounts (altogether Claims on Credit and from Credit ) to GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL hereby accepts such pledge.
3. Collection Authority ( Einziehungsermächtigung )
3.1 The ORIGINATOR is solely entitled to claim performance in favor to GE CAPITAL.
3.2 GE CAPITAL is solely entitled to collect all Claims on Credit and from Credit especially even those prior to the maturity of the pledge ( Pfandreife ) (the Collection Authority ).
3.3 GE CAPITAL undertakes vis-à-vis the ORIGINATOR to pay out to the ORIGINATOR, to the extent permitted by law, any amount paid into the Pledged Account which have been made towards any receivables which have verifiably not been assigned or transferred to GE CAPITAL under or in connection with the Factoring Agreement.
4. Trust Arrangement and waiver from the confidentiality obligation
4.1 The ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL agree that the Pledged Account is held by the ORIGINATOR as a trustee on its own behalf but only for the sole purpose of providing security for GE CAPITAL (the Trust Arrangement ).
The funds and assets paid to the Pledged Account shall be transferred to GE CAPITAL only. The ORIGINATOR is obliged to refrain from disposing of any amounts standing to the credit of the Pledged Account and not to otherwise charge the Pledged Account . If any of the ORIGINATORs debtors pay to any account other than the Pledged Account , the ORIGINATOR agrees to forward these payments to GE CAPITAL or to the Pledged Account without undue delay.
4.2 The ORIGINATOR hereby releases the account bank vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL from any confidentiality obligations with respect to the Pledged Account .
5. Notification, Receipt and Subordination / Waiver
5.1 The ORIGINATOR agrees vis-à-vis GE CAPITAL to notify the account bank of the pledge, the Collection Authority ( Einziehungsermächtigung ), the Trust Arrangement and the waiver from the confidentiality obligations (Notification).
5.2 Furthermore, the ORIGINATOR undertakes to provide GE CAPITAL with the account banks acknowledgement whereupon the account bank:
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(a) confirms the receipt of the Notification; and explains that it
(b) has not been provided with any other notifications of pledges and that the account bank has no knowledge of other third party rights with respect to the Pledged Account ;
(c) subordinates any of its statutory pledges to pledges created pursuant to this Agreement except for the following claims as set out under section 5.3 below and unconditionally and irrevocably waives any retention and set-off rights that it may have with respect to the ORIGINATORs receivables due from the Pledged Account as well as to other pledged account deductions (the Subordination / Waiver );
(d) issues bank statements to both the ORIGINATOR and GE CAPITAL in accordance with the ORIGINATORs order to issue bank statements and related data / documents in paper or digital form;
(e) acknowledges that the ORIGINATOR is only entitled to request payments for Claims on Credit and from Credit to GE CAPITAL and that only GE CAPITAL is entitled to collect the Claims on Credit and from Credit also prior to the maturity of the pledge.
5.3 The Subordination / Waiver shall not apply with respect to claims arising from and relating to:
(a) cancellation and correction entries;
(b) reversals of reserved bookings (e.g. check or direct debit) and unintentional payments;
(c) fees and other account charges or fees in the context of normal business;
provided, however, that such claims as set out in these sections 5.3 (a) (c) above arise in connection with the Pledged Account and do not derive from a different relationship between the ORIGINATOR and the account bank.
5.4 GE CAPITAL hereby declares vis-à-vis the account bank ( contract for the benefit of third parties § 328 of the German Civil Code ) that the Trust Arrangement between GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR does not affect the account banks subordinated pledge and that GE CAPITAL is jointly and severally liable in addition to the ORIGINATOR for all claims, arising from the issues mentioned in 5.3.
6 ORIGINATORs guarantee
6.1 The ORIGINATOR represents and warrants that there are no rights of third parties related to the pledged claims and rights, except for the pledges pursuant to the account banks standard terms and conditions ( AGB Pfandrechte ).
6.2 Its the ORIGINATORs duty to promptly notify GE CAPITAL in case of third parties claiming such rights.
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7. Authorization
7.1 The ORIGINATOR authorizes GE CAPITAL to notify the account bank of the pledge and to receive any declarations from the account bank. GE CAPITAL and the ORIGINATOR Execution Version agree to inform each other about any declarations received from the account bank without undue delay (the Authorization ).
7.2 The ORIGINATORs obligation as set out in section 5 above remains unaffected by this precautionary issued Authorization.
8. Other Regulations
8.1 This Agreement and a security interest of GE CAPITAL, constituted after or due to this Agreement shall be valid and will not be released until all secured debt has been paid in full under the appropriate conditions.
8.2 If any provisions of this Agreement are or become unlawful, invalid or infeasible, the lawfulness / validity or feasibility of the remaining provisions will not be affected thereby.
8.3 This Agreement shall be governed by German law.
8.4 This Agreement shall be executed in the German and the English language; both versions, the German as well as the English language versions shall be binding versions. The German version shall prevail in case of any discrepancy between the German and the English version.
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SIGNATURES
ACCOUNT PLEDGE AGREEMENT
Děčín, | Mainz, | |||
|
|
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Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. | GE Capital Bank AG |
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SCHEDULE 1 NOTICE OF PLEDGE
From: | Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o., Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02 Děčín, Czech Republic |
To: | Deutsche Bank AG [please insert address details] |
Pledge of Accounts between Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o., Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02Děčín, Czech Republic and GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von- Brentano-Straße 2, 55130 Mainz, Germany
Account-IBAN: DE79870700000539079400, BIC: DEUTDE8CXXX []
hereinafter referred to as Pledged Account
Dear [],
We hereby notify you of the fact that by agreement dated [] we pledged any and all present and future claims to payment of any and all present and future credits (surplus), which we are entitled to, regarding balances from current accounts ( Kontokorrent ), as well as the rights to the daily balance resulting from the current account agreement related to current payouts between balancing of accounts, including the right to transfer any credits standing to the account and the right to credit the received amounts (altogether Claims on Credit and from Credit ) to GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2, 55130 Mainz, Germany.
Notwithstanding of the statutory scheme, GE Capital Bank AG is exclusively entitled to collect all Claims in Credit and from Credit especially prior to the maturity of the pledge ( Pfandreife ). We are only entitled to demand performance to GE Capital Bank AG.
Furthermore we release you vis-à-vis GE Capital Bank AG from any confidentiality obligation, especially from the banking secrecy, with respect to the Pledged Account . We hereby instruct you to send to GE Capital Bank AG duplicates of bank statements or copies of the bank statements and, on request, the corresponding data / supporting documents in paper or digital form. We also agree that GE Capital Bank AG receives an electronic authorization information ( elektronische Auskunftsberechtigung ) related to the Pledged Account .
Kindly confirm to GE Capital Bank AG that you have not received any other notification of a pledge relating to the Pledged Account and that you do not have any knowledge of any third parties rights relating to the Pledged Account .
Furthermore, kindly subordinate your pledges to the pledge granted to GE Capital Bank AG and waive any retention and set-off rights that you may have with respect to the Pledged Account as well as any other deductions from the Pledged Account (the Subordination / Waiver )
The Subordination / Waiver does not apply to claims arising from or in connection with cancellation and correction bookings, reversals of reserved bookings (e.g. check or direct debit) and unintentional payment as well as fees and other account charges or fees in the ordinary course of business, provided that the relevant facts exclusively concerns the Pledged Account and are not due to any other relation between you and us.
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We keep the Pledged Account as a trustee for GE Capital Bank AG. The trust arrangement between GE Capital Bank AG and us does not affect your subordinated pledge to be remained unaffected. The payments received to the Pledged Account only serve the purpose to be transferred to GE Capital Bank AG.
The pledge of the account shall terminate as soon as GE Capital Bank AG will have notified you of a respective release.
Furthermore, we inform you that GE Capital Bank AG has assumed the joint and several liability (by virtue of a contract for the benefit of third parties§ 328 of the German Civil Code) for your rights against us arising from or in connection with the cancellation and correction bookings, reversals of reserved bookings and unintentional payments as well as fees and other account charges or fees in the ordinary course of business, provided that the relevant facts concern exclusively the Pledged Account and is not due to any other relation between you and us.
We ask you to acknowledge the receipt of this notice and that you agree with the above regulations by sending the confirmation legally valid signed by you to GE Capital Bank AG.
Kind regards,
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o.
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SCHEDULE TO THE NOTICE OF PLEDGE
[ on the letterhead of Account Bank ]
To
GE Capital Bank AG (GE CAPITAL)
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2
55130 Mainz, Germany
Notification of account pledge re Account-IBAN. DE79870700000539079400, BIC DEUTDE8CXXX, Account Holder: Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o., Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02 Děčín, Tschechien
Dear Madam or Sir,
We refer to the notice dated of Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. , Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02Děčín, Czech Republic and confirm the receipt of the notification of the pledge.
We hereby acknowledge,
a) | that we have not received any other notification of pledge and that we dont know about any third party rights in respect to this account; |
b) | that we subordinate all our pledges to the pledge created in favor of GE CAPITAL and unconditionally and irrevocably (but subject to the restrictions in the next following paragraph) waive any of our retention and set-off rights that we may have with respect to the pledged account as well as other deductions from the pledged account (Subordination / Waiver). |
The Subordination / Waiver shall not apply with respect to all claims even if not due or conditional arising from and relating to cancellation and correction entries, reversals of reserved bookings (e.g. check or direct debit) and unintentional payments, fees and other account charges or fees in the context of normal business, provided that such claims arise in connection with the pledged account and do not derive from a different relationship between us and the pledgor.
We have taken notice of the fact that GE CAPITAL has taken over the joint and several liability (§ 328 / German Civil Code ) for our claims against the ORIGINATOR arising from and relating to cancellation and correction entries, reversals of reserved bookings and unintentional payments, fees and other account charges or fees in the context of normal business, provided that, however, that such claims arise in connection with the pledged account and do not derive from a different relationship between us and the ORIGINATOR;
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c) | to consider that the pledgor is solely entitled to claim performance in favor of GE CAPITAL and that GE CAPITAL is entitled particularly to collect the Claims on Credit and from Credit especially even prior to the maturity of the pledge ( Pfandreife ). We will respect the Collection Authority ( Einziehungsermächtigung ) by GE Capital Bank AG especially prior to maturity of the pledge, even in the case of bankruptcy or any revocation of the ORIGINATOR; and |
d) | that we on the instruction of the ORIGINATOR send duplicates of bank statements or copies of bank statements and on request the corresponding data / supporting documents in paper or digital form, to the extent available to us, to GE CAPITAL and that GE CAPITAL receives an electronic authorization of information for the pledged account. |
The pledge of the account shall be terminated if GE CAPITAL has shown us the release of the lien.
Kind regards
Deutsche Bank AG
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ANLAGE 4
KONTOVERPFÄNDUNGSVERTRAG
Kontenverpfändungs- und Treuhandvertrag
zwischen
GE Capital Bank AG
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2, 55130 Mainz, Deutschland
nachstehend GE CAPITAL genannt
als Treugeber und Pfandgläubiger
und
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o.
Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02 Děčín, Tschechien
nachstehend KUNDE genannt
als Treuhänder und Verpfänder
1. Verpfändetes Bankkonto; Weiterleitungspflicht
1.1 GE CAPITAL und der KUNDE haben einen Factoringvertrag geschlossen, aufgrund dessen GE CAPITAL Forderungen des KUNDEN gegen seine Abnehmer erwirbt und somit die Abnehmerzahlungen GE CAPITAL zustehen.
1.2 Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL vereinbaren hierdurch, dass folgendes Bankkonto des KUNDEN Verpfändetes Bankkonto im Sinne des Factoringvertrages ist:
IBAN.: DE79870700000539079400
Kreditinstitut: Deutsche Bank AG
BIC: DEUTDE8CXXX
1.3 Der KUNDE ist gegenüber GE CAPITAL verpflichtet, alle auf dem Verpfändeten Bankkonto eingehenden Zahlungen sowie sonst bei ihm eingehende Abnehmerzahlungen unverzüglich an GE CAPITAL weiterzuleiten.
2. Verpfändung
Zur Sicherung aller gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN gemäß Ziffer 1.3 und aus dem Factoringvertrag, insbesondere gemäß Ziffer 5 des Factoringvertrages, und seiner Durchführung und zur Sicherung aller gegenwärtige und zukünftigen Ansprüche von GE CAPITAL gegen den KUNDEN aus der Geschäftsbeziehung,
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verpfändet der KUNDE hierdurch seine sämtlichen gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Ansprüche aus dem Verpfändeten Bankkonto auf Auszahlung aller Unterschriftsversion gegenwärtigen und künftigen Überschüsse (Guthaben), die dem KUNDEN bei Saldoziehung aus dem in laufender Rechnung (Kontokorrent) geführten Verpfändeten Bankkonto zustehen, sowie aus dem das Verpfändete Bankkonto betreffenden Girovertrag auf fortlaufende Auszahlung des sich zwischen den Rechnungsabschlüssen ergebenden Tagesguthabens unter Einschluss des Rechts, über diese Guthaben durch Überweisungsaufträge zu verfügen und des Anspruchs auf Gutschrift der eingehenden Beträge (zusammen: Ansprüche auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben ) an GE CAPITAL. GE CAPITAL nimmt diese Verpfändung hierdurch an.
3. Einziehungsvereinbarung
3.1 Der KUNDE ist nur berechtigt, Leistung an GE CAPITAL zu verlangen.
3.2 GE CAPITAL ist insbesondere auch vor Pfandreife- allein zur Einziehung der Ansprüche auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben berechtigt.
3.3 GE CAPITAL verpflichtet sich gegenüber dem KUNDEN, soweit dies gesetzlich zulässig ist, alle Beträge an die KUNDEN auszuzahlen, die in die Verpfändeten Bankkonten gezahlt wurden und die auf eine Forderung geleistet wurden, die nachweisbar nicht an GE CAPITAL in Zusammenhang mit dem Factoringvertrag abgetreten oder übertragen wurden.
4. Treuhandvereinbarung und Befreiung von der Verschwiegenheitsverpflichtung
4.1 Der KUNDE und GE CAPITAL sind sich darüber einig, dass das Verpfändete Bankkonto vom KUNDEN als Treuhänder in eigenem Namen aber nur für den alleinigen Zweck der Sicherheitenbestellung für GE CAPITAL geführt wird (Treuhandvereinbarung). Die eingehenden Gelder und Guthaben auf dem Verpfändeten Bankkonto dienen nur dem Zweck ihrer Weiterleitung an GE CAPITAL. Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, jede andere Verfügung über Ansprüche aus Guthaben zu unterlassen und keine Belastungen des Verpfändeten Bankkontos vorzunehmen. Sollten Abnehmerzahlungen auf anderen als dem Verpfändeten Bankkonto eingehen, verpflichtet sich der KUNDE, diese unverzüglich an GE CAPITAL oder auf ein Verpfändetes Bankkonto weiterzuleiten.
4.2 Der KUNDE befreit hierdurch das Kreditinstitut gegenüber GE CAPITAL von allen Verschwiegenheitsverpflichtungen in Bezug auf das Verpfändete Bankkonto .
5. Anzeige, Empfangsbestätigung und Rangrücktritt/Verzicht
5.1 Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich gegenüber GE CAPITAL, dem Kreditinstitut die Verpfändung, die Einziehungsvereinbarung, die Treuhandvereinbarung und die Befreiung von der Verschwiegenheitsverpflichtung anzuzeigen (Anzeige).
5.2 Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich gegenüber GE CAPITAL des Weiteren, eine Erklärung des Kreditinstitutes beizubringen, wonach das Kreditinstitut:
(a) den Empfang der Anzeige bestätigt und erklärt, dass
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(b) bisher keine anderweitige Verpfändungsanzeige erhalten hat und ihm auch sonst Rechte Dritter in Bezug auf das Verpfändete Bankkonto nicht bekannt sind,
(c) mit allen ihm zustehenden Pfandrechten außer in den Fällen nachstehender Ziffer 5.3 während der Verpfändung hinter die Rechte von GE CAPITAL aufgrund dieser Verpfändungsvereinbarung zurücktritt und gegen über GE CAPITAL unbedingt und Unterschriftsversion unwiderruflich auf die Geltendmachung der Rechte zur Aufrechnung mit und zur Zurückbehaltung gegenüber dem Verpfänder zustehenden Forderungen aus dem verpfändeten Konto sowie auf sonstige Absetzungen vom verpfändeten Konto verzichtet (Rangrücktritt/Verzicht).
(d) die Kontoauszüge dem KUNDEN und GE CAPITAL aufgrund des seitens des KUNDEN insoweit erteilten Auftrages, Kopien der Kontoauszüge und der dazugehörigen Daten/Belege in Papier- oder digitaler Form zu überlassen.
(e) anerkennt, dass der KUNDE nur berechtigt ist, Zahlung für Ansprüche auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben an GE CAPITAL zu verlangen und dass nur GE CAPITAL zur Einziehung von Ansprüchen auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben auch für solche vor Pfandreife berechtigt ist.
5.3 Der Rangrücktritt/Verzicht gilt nicht für folgende Ansprüche aus und im Zusammenhang mit:
(a) Storno- und Berichtigungsbuchungen;
(b) Rückbelastungen von Vorbehaltsbuchungen (z. B. aus Scheck oder Lastschrifteinzügen) und Fehlüberweisungen; und
(c) Gebühren und andere Kontobelastungen oder Gebühren im Rahmen des normalen Geschäftsverkehrs.
Für die Anwendung der Punkte 5.3 (a) (c) ist jedoch Voraussetzung, dass der Sachverhalt ausschließlich das Verpfändete Bankkonto betrifft und nicht aus einer anderen Beziehung zwischen dem KUNDEN und dem Kreditinstitut herrührt.
GE CAPITAL erklärt hiermit gegenüber dem Kreditinstitut ( Vertrag zugunsten Dritter §328 BGB), dass das Treuhandverhältnis zwischen GE CAPITAL und dem KUNDEN das nachrangige Pfandrecht des Kreditinstitutes unberührt lässt und dass GE CAPITAL für Ansprüche des Kreditinstituts, die ausschließlich aus den in 5.3 genannten Sachverhalten entstehen, neben dem KUNDEN die gesamtschuldnerische Haftung übernimmt.
6. Garantie des KUNDEN
6.1 Der KUNDE garantiert, dass keine Rechte Dritter an den verpfändeten Ansprüchen und Rechten bestehen, mit Ausnahmen solcher Pfandrechte, die gemäß standardisierter Allgemeiner Geschäftsbedingungen von Banken existieren (AGB-Pfandrechte).
6.2 Der KUNDE verpflichtet sich, GE CAPITAL umgehend zu verständigen, wenn Dritte solche Rechte geltend machen.
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7. Vollmacht
Der KUNDE bevollmächtigt GE CAPITAL, die Verpfändung gegenüber dem Kreditinstitut anzuzeigen und die Erklärungen des Kreditinstitutes auch im Namen des KUNDEN entgegenzunehmen.
Die Verpflichtung des KUNDEN gemäß Ziffer 5 bleibt von dieser vorsorglich erteilten Vollmacht unberührt.
8. Sonstige Bestimmungen
8.1 Dieser Verpfändungsvertrag und ein nach oder infolge dieses Vertrages begründetes Sicherungsrecht von GE CAPITAL bleiben gültig und werden nicht aufgehoben, bis jegliche besicherte Verbindlichkeit in vollem Umfang gemäß den entsprechenden Bedingungen beglichen worden ist.
8.2 Sollte eine der Bestimmungen dieser Vereinbarung rechtswidrig, ungültig oder undurchführbar sein oder werden, hat dies keinen Einfluss auf die Rechtmäßigkeit/Rechtsgültigkeit oder Durchsetzbarkeit der übrigen Bestimmungen dieser Vereinbarung.
8.3 Diese Vereinbarung unterliegt dem Recht der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
8.4 Dieser Vertrag soll in deutscher und englischer Sprache vollzogen werden; beide Fassungen, sowohl die deutsche als auch die englische Fassung sind bindend. Im Falle einer Diskrepanz zwischen der deutschen und der englischen Fassung, ist die deutsche Fassung vorrangig.
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UNTERSCHRIFTEN
KONTOVERPFÄNDUNGSVERTRAG
Děčín, den | Mainz, den | |||
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Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. | GE Capital Bank AG |
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ANLAGE 1 KONTOVERPFÄNDUNGSANZEIGE
Von: | Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o., Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02 Děčín, Tschechien |
An: | Deutsche Bank AG [ please insert address details ] |
Kontenverpfändung zwischen Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o., Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02 Děčín, Tschechien und GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von- Brentano-Straße 2, 55130 Mainz, Deutschland
Konto: IBAN: DE79870700000539079400:, BIC: DEUTDE8CXXX
nachstehend VERPFÄNDETES BANKKONTO genannt
Sehr geehrter/ geehrte [],
hiermit zeigen wir Ihnen an, dass wir unsere sämtlichen gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Ansprüche auf Auszahlung aller gegenwärtigen und künftigen Überschüsse (Guthaben), die uns bei Saldoziehung aus dem in laufender Rechnung (Kontokorrent) geführten o. g. Konto zustehen, sowie auch die Ansprüche aus dem Girovertrag auf fortlaufende Auszahlung des sich zwischen den Rechnungsabschlüssen ergebenden Tagesguthabens unter Einschluss des Rechts, über diese Guthaben durch Überweisungsaufträge zu verfügen und des Anspruchs auf Gutschrift der eingehenden Beträge (zusammen: Ansprüche auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben) mit Vereinbarung vom [] (Datum ergänzen) an die GE Capital Bank AG, Heinrich-von- Brentano- Straße 2, 55130 Mainz, (nachfolgend GE CAPITAL genannt) verpfändet haben.
Abweichend von der gesetzlichen Regelung ist GE CAPITAL jederzeit insbesondere auch vor Pfandreife- allein zur Einziehung aller Ansprüche auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben berechtigt. Wir können nur Leistung an GE CAPITAL verlangen.
Ferner entbinden wir Sie gegenüber GE CAPITAL im Hinblick auf das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO von allen Verschwiegenheitsverpflichtungen, insbesondere vom Bankgeheimnis. Wir beauftragen Sie hiermit, GE CAPITAL Duplikatskontoauszüge bzw. Kopien der Kontoauszüge zuzusenden und auf Anforderung auch die dazugehörigen Daten/Buchungsbelege in Papier- oder digitaler Form zu übersenden. Des Weiteren sind wir damit einverstanden, dass GE CAPITAL eine elektronische Auskunftsberechtigung über das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO erhält.
Wir bitten Sie, gegenüber GE CAPITAL zu bestätigen, dass Sie bisher keine anderweitige Verpfändungsanzeige erhalten haben und Ihnen auch sonst Rechte Dritter in Bezug auf das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO nicht bekannt sind.
Des Weiteren bitten wir Sie, mit allen Ihnen zustehenden Pfandrechten hinter das zu Gunsten von GE Capital bestellte Pfandrecht zurückzutreten und gegenüber GE CAPITAL auf die Geltendmachung der Rechte zur Aufrechnung mit und zur Zurückbehaltung gegenüber uns zustehenden Forderungen aus dem VERPFÄNDETEN BANKKONTO sowie auf sonstige Absetzungen vom verpfändeten Konto zu verzichten (Rangrücktritt/Verzicht).
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Der Rangrücktritt/Verzicht gilt nicht für Ansprüche aus und im Zusammenhang mit Storno- und Berichtigungsbuchungen, Rückbelastungen von Vorbehaltsbuchungen (z. B. aus Scheck Unterschriftsversion oder Lastschrifteinzügen) und Fehlüberweisungen sowie Gebühren und anderen Kontobelastungen oder Gebühren im Rahmen des normalen Geschäftsverkehrs, unter der Voraussetzung, dass der diesbezügliche Sachverhalt ausschließlich das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO betrifft und nicht aus einer anderen Beziehung zwischen Ihnen und uns herrührt.
Wir führen das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO als Treuhänder für GE CAPITAL. Das Treuhandverhältnis zwischen GE CAPITAL und uns lässt Ihr nachrangiges Pfandrecht unberührt. Die auf dem VERPFÄNDETEN BANKKONTO eingehenden Zahlungen dienen nur dem Zweck ihrer Weiterleitung an GE CAPITAL.
Die Kontoverpfändung erlischt, sobald Ihnen GE CAPITAL die Freigabe des Pfandrechts angezeigt hat.
Weiterhin dürfen wir Sie darüber informieren, dass GE CAPITAL die gesamtschuldnerische Haftung für Ihre Ansprüche gegen uns aus und im Zusammenhang mit Storno- und Berichtigungsbuchungen, Rückbelastungen von Vorbehaltsbuchungen und Fehlüberweisungen sowie Gebühren und andere Kontobelastungen oder Gebühren im Rahmen des normalen Geschäftsverkehrs übernommen hat ( als Vertrag zugunsten Dritter §328 BGB ), jedoch unter der Voraussetzung, dass der Sachverhalt ausschließlich das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO betrifft und nicht aus einer anderen Beziehung zwischen uns und Ihnen herrührt.
Wir bitten Sie, den Eingang dieser Verpfändungsanzeige und Ihr Einverständnis mit den vorstehenden Regelungen durch Übersendung des von Ihnen rechtsgültig unterzeichneten Bestätigungsschreibens gegenüber GE CAPITAL zu erklären.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o.
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ANLAGE ZUR VERPFÄNDUNGSANZEIGE
[ on the letterhead of Account Bank ]
An
GE Capital Bank AG (nachstehend GE CAPITAL genannt)
Heinrich-von-Brentano-Straße 2
55130 Mainz
Kontenverpfändungsanzeige zum Konto: IBAN DE79870700000539079400, BIC DEUTDE8CXXX, Kontoinhaber: Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o., Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02 Děčín, Tschechien
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
wir beziehen uns auf das Schreiben vom unseres Kunden Constellium Extrusions Děčín s.r.o. , Ústecká 751/37, Děčín V-Rozbělesy, 405 02 Děčín, Tschechien und bestätigen Ihnen hiermit, den Empfang der Verpfändungsanzeige.
Wir erklären hiermit,
a) | dass wir bisher keine anderweitige Verpfändungsanzeige erhalten haben und uns auch sonstige Rechte Dritter in Bezug auf dieses Konto nicht bekannt sind; |
b) | dass wir mit allen uns zustehenden Pfandrechten hinter das zu Gunsten GE CAPITAL bestellte Pfandrecht zurücktreten und gegenüber GE CAPITAL unbedingt und unwiderruflich (aber vorbehaltlich der im nachstehenden Absatz enthaltenen Einschränkungen) auf die Geltendmachung unserer Rechte zur Aufrechnung mit und zur Zurückbehaltung gegenüber dem Verpfänder zustehenden Forderungen aus dem verpfändeten Konto sowie auf sonstige Absetzungen vom verpfändeten Konto verzichten (Rangrücktritt/Verzicht). |
Der Rangrücktritt/Verzicht gilt nicht für sämtliche Ansprüche auch soweit nicht fällig oder bedingt aus und im Zusammenhang mit Storno- und Berichtigungsbuchungen, Rückbelastungen von Vorbehaltsbuchungen (z. B. aus Scheck oder Lastschrifteinzügen) und Fehlüberweisungen sowie Gebühren und anderen Kontobelastungen oder Gebühren im Rahmen des normalen Geschäftsverkehrs, unter der Voraussetzung, dass der diesbezügliche Sachverhalt ausschließlich das verpfändete Bankkonto betrifft und nicht aus einer anderen Beziehung zwischen uns und dem Verpfänder herrührt.
- 111 -
Wir haben zur Kenntnis genommen, das GE CAPITAL die gesamtschuldnerische Haftung (§328 BGB) für unsere Ansprüche gegen den Kunden aus und im Zusammenhang mit Storno- und Berichtigungsbuchungen, Rückbelastungen von Vorbehaltsbuchungen und Fehlüberweisungen sowie Gebühren und andere Kontobelastungen oder Gebühren im Rahmen des normalen Geschäftsverkehrs übernommen hat, jedoch unter der Voraussetzung, dass der Sachverhalt ausschließlich das VERPFÄNDETE BANKKONTO betrifft und nicht aus einer anderen Beziehung zwischen uns und dem Kunden herrührt;
c) | zu beachten, dass der Verpfänder nur berechtigt ist, Leistung an GE CAPITAL zu verlangen und GE CAPITAL -insbesondere auch vor Pfandreife- allein zur Einziehung der Ansprüche auf Gutschrift und aus Guthaben berechtigt ist. Wir werden die Vereinbarung der Einziehung durch GE Capital insbesondere vor Pfandreife auch im Fall einer Insolvenz oder eines Widerrufs des Kunden beachten; und |
d) | dass wir GE CAPITAL gemäß Auftrag des Verpfänders Duplikatskontoauszüge bzw. Kopien der Kontoauszüge und auf Anforderung auch die dazugehörigen Daten/Buchungsbelege in Papier- oder digitaler Form, soweit bei uns vorhanden, übersenden und dass GE CAPITAL eine elektronische Auskunftsberechtigung über das verpfändete Konto erhält. |
Die Kontoverpfändung erlischt, sobald uns GE Capital die Freigabe des Pfandrechts angezeigt hat.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Deutsche Bank AG
- 112 -
Exhibit 10.20
EXECUTION VERSION
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This First Amendment dated as of October 27, 2015 (this Amendment ) to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, is among Wise Alloys Funding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its capacity as seller ( Seller ), Wise Alloys LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its capacity as servicer ( Servicer ), and HSBC Bank USA, National Association ( Purchaser ).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Seller, the Servicer and the Purchaser are parties to the certain Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of March 23, 2015 (the Agreement );
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the Agreement in certain respects as set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Agreement.
SECTION 2. Amendments to the Agreement . The Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(a) Section 2(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
(a) Committed and Uncommitted Purchase and Sales .
(i) Committed Purchase and Sales . Commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Purchase Termination Date, Seller may from time to time make an offer to sell to Purchaser certain Proposed Receivables by submitting to Purchaser a request substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto at least three Business Days prior to any purchase hereunder (a Purchase Request ), and Purchaser agrees, subject to the requirements for purchase and all of the terms and conditions therefor set forth herein (including the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2(c) hereof), but solely up to the Committed Facility Sublimit, to purchase from Seller the Proposed Receivables identified in such Purchase Request. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2(c) hereof, Purchaser shall and hereby does, but solely up to the Committed Facility Sublimit, purchase from Seller, and Seller shall and hereby does sell to Purchaser, without representation, warranty, covenant or recourse except as expressly provided herein, all of Sellers right, title and interest in such Proposed Receivables and all Related Rights with respect thereto as of the applicable Purchase Date (all such Proposed Receivables together with such Related Rights, once sold and purchased hereunder (including, without limitation, those
purchased on an uncommitted basis, pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph (a) , below), being referred to, collectively, as the Purchased Receivables ). The Seller shall not request and Purchaser shall not be required to fund more than one (1) purchase per week. No single request for purchase hereunder shall be for an amount less than $250,000. All purchase and sales of Proposed Receivables under this Agreement shall be made first pursuant this clause (i) , prior to any purchase and sales under clause (ii) below, up to the Committed Facility Sublimit and, thereafter, and for so long as the aggregate of the Outstanding Account Debtor Purchase Amounts for all Account Debtors and all Purchased Receivables at such time, is at least equal to the Committed Facility Sublimit, purchase and sales, may take place on an uncommitted basis pursuant to the terms of clause (ii) , below.
(ii) Uncommitted Purchase and Sales . On any date when the aggregate of the Outstanding Account Debtor Purchase Amounts for all Account Debtors and all Purchased Receivables at such time, exceeds the Committed Facility Sublimit, then, Seller may from time to time, thereafter, make an offer to sell to Purchaser certain additional Proposed Receivables by submitting to Purchaser a Purchase Request at least three Business Days prior to any purchase under this clause (ii) , and Purchaser, in its sole discretion, may accept such offer and purchase from the Seller the Proposed Receivables identified in such Purchase Request. If the Purchaser accepts such Purchase Request, then subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2(c) hereof, Purchaser shall and hereby does, but solely up to the Uncommitted Facility Sublimit, purchase from Seller, and Seller shall and hereby does sell to Purchaser, without representation, warranty, covenant or recourse except as expressly provided herein, all of Sellers right, title and interest in such Proposed Receivables and all Related Rights with respect thereto as of the applicable Purchase Date which Proposed Receivables and Related Rights, once sold and purchased hereunder shall become Purchased Receivables hereunder. The Seller shall not request more than one (1) purchase per week. No single request for purchase hereunder shall be for an amount less than $250,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else in this Agreement to the contrary (and in addition to the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2(c) hereof), no purchases shall be made or permitted under this clause (ii) , unless on the date of such purchase, after giving effect to such proposed purchase, the aggregate of the Outstanding Account Debtor Purchase Amounts for all Account Debtors and all Purchased Receivables at such time, exceeds the Committed Facility Sublimit. In addition, THE PURCHASES AND SALES DESCRIBED IN THIS CLAUSE (ii) DO NOT CONSTITUTE A COMMITMENT, OBLIGATION OR OTHER UNDERTAKING OF PURCHASER TO PURCHASE ANY RECEIVABLES OFFERED FROM SELLER UNDER THIS CLAUSE (ii) OR OTHERWISE EXTEND CREDIT OR PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATION TO SELLER.
2
(b) Section 2(c)(x) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
(x) Following the sale and purchase of the Proposed Receivables set forth in the related Purchase Request (i) the aggregate of the Outstanding Account Debtor Purchase Amounts for all Account Debtors and all Purchased Receivables at such time pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) hereof, shall not exceed the Committed Facility Sublimit, (ii) the aggregate of the Outstanding Account Debtor Purchase Amounts for all Account Debtors and all Purchased Receivables at such time pursuant to Section 2(a)(ii) hereof, shall not exceed the Uncommitted Facility Sublimit, and (iii) the Outstanding Aggregate Purchase Amount for all Purchased Receivables (purchased under Sections 2(a)(i) and 2(a)(ii) , combined), shall not exceed the Facility Amount.
(c) Section 2(e) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
(e) Commitment Fee .
The Seller shall pay to the Purchaser, a commitment fee (the Commitment Fee ) in an amount equal to, on the last business day of each calendar quarter and on the Purchase Termination Date, $5,000.00, plus an amount calculated quarterly in arrears at a rate per annum (calculated on a 360-day basis) determined in accordance with the commitment fee table set forth on Schedule 3 attached hereto, on the average unused portion of the Committed Facility Sublimit.
(d) The definition of Facility Amount set forth in Exhibit A of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
Facility Amount : Up to USD $300,000,000, USD $100,000,000 of which shall represent the Committed Facility Sublimit and USD $200,000,000 of which shall represent the Uncommitted Facility Sublimit; provided , that in the event of an increase in the Uncommitted Facility Sublimit (as described herein), the Facility Amount shall automatically increase in tandem with the increase in the Uncommitted Facility Sublimit; provided , further , that in no event shall the Facility Amount exceed $380,000,000.
(e) The following definitions of Committed Facility Sublimit and Uncommitted Facility Sublimit are hereby added to Exhibit A of the Agreement in the appropriate alphabetical order:
Committed Facility Sublimit : Up to USD $100,000,000.
Uncommitted Facility Sublimit : Up to USD $200,000,000; provided , that in the event of an amendment to Section 5.5(j) of the ABL Facility increasing the maximum amount of indebtedness permitted to be incurred as AB Qualified Receivables Financing (as defined in the ABL Facility), the Uncommitted Facility
3
Sublimit shall, upon delivery of written notice of such amendment by the Seller to the Purchaser, automatically increase to the maximum amount of indebtedness permitted to be incurred as AB Qualified Receivables Financing under Section 5.5(j) of the ABL Facility less $100,000,000; provided , further , that in no event shall the Uncommitted Facility Sublimit exceed $280,000,000.
(f) The definition of Contract set forth in Exhibit A of the Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the reference to Section 5(a) with a reference to Section 6(a) therein.
(g) The following new definition of ABL Facility is hereby added to Exhibit A of the Agreement in the appropriate alphabetical order:
ABL Facility : That certain Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among Seller, as the borrower, the other credit parties signatory thereto, General Electric Capital Corporation, as the agent, and the lenders signatory thereto.
(h) The Form of Purchase Request set forth in Exhibit B of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety with the Form of Purchase Request attached hereto as Exhibit A .
SECTION 3. Condition to Effectiveness . This Amendment shall become effective on the date hereof when (i) each of the parties hereto shall have received counterparts of this Amendment executed by each of the other parties hereto (including, without limitation, the confirmation of the Parent with respect to each Parent Guarantee) (including facsimile or e-mail signature pages), (ii) the Purchaser has received a secretary certificate of the Seller, Originator and Parent, including incumbency and authorizing resolutions with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Amendment in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser, (iii) the Purchaser has received a fully executed copy of the First Amendment to the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of the date hereof, signed by each party thereto and (iv) the Purchaser has received a legal opinion from outside counsel to the Seller, Originator and Servicer with respect to corporate and enforceability matters in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser.
SECTION 4. Effect of Amendment; Ratification . Except as specifically amended hereby, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects.
SECTION 5. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, and each counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 6. Governing Law . This Amendment shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles that would require the application of the law of any other jurisdiction.
4
SECTION 7. Section Headings . The various headings of the Amendment are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Amendment or the Agreement or any provision hereof or thereof.
SECTION 8. Parent Confirmation . By signing in the space provided for it below, Constellium Holdco II, B.V., as Parent and provider of the Parent Guarantee, as such term is defined in each of the Agreement (covering Wise Alloys Funding LLC, as seller thereunder) and the Sale Agreement (covering Wise Alloys LLC as seller thereunder), hereby confirms, acknowledges and agrees with the amendments contemplated hereby (including the increase in the Facility Amount) and further confirms that the Parent Guarantee provided by it under each of the Agreement and the Sale Agreement remains in full force and effect and remains the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Parent enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to creditors rights generally or by general principles of equity, both before and after giving effect to the amendments contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the increase to the Facility Amount).
[Signatures follow]
5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.
WISE ALLOYS FUNDING LLC , as Seller | ||||
By: | /s/ Yves Monette |
Name: | Yves Monette | |||
Title: | CFO |
WISE ALLOYS LLC , as Servicer | ||||
By: | /s/ Yves Monette |
Name: | Yves Monette | |||
Title: | CFO |
Confirmed, Acknowledged and Agreed:
CONSTELLIUM HOLDCO II, B.V. , as Parent and Guarantor |
||||
By: | /s/ Mark Kirkland |
Name: | Mark Kirkland | |||
Title: | Group Treasurer |
S-1
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Purchaser |
||||
By: | /s/ Heidi C. Pote |
Name: | Heidi C. Pote | |||
Title: | VP |
S-2
Exhibit A to
First Amendment to
Receivables Purchase Agreement
Exhibit B
to Receivables Purchase Agreement
Form of Purchase Request
[date]
HSBC Bank USA, National Association
452 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10018
Reference is hereby made to that certain Receivable Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2015, between Wise Alloys Funding LLC ( Seller ) and HSBC Bank USA, National Association ( Purchaser ) (as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the Agreement ; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement).
Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Seller hereby requests that Purchaser purchase from Seller the Proposed Receivables listed herein with an aggregate Net Invoice Amount of USD[ ].
Seller represents and warrants that as of the date hereof and on the Purchase Date:
1. Following the sale and purchase of the Proposed Receivables set forth in this Purchase Request (i) the aggregate of the Outstanding Account Debtor Purchase Amounts for all Account Debtors and all Purchased Receivables at such time pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) of the Agreement, shall not exceed the Committed Facility Sublimit, (ii) the aggregate of the Outstanding Account Debtor Purchase Amounts for all Account Debtors and all Purchased Receivables at such time pursuant to Section 2(a)(ii) of the Agreement, shall not exceed the Uncommitted Facility Sublimit, and (iii) the Outstanding Aggregate Purchase Amount for all Purchased Receivables (purchased under Sections 2(a)(i) and 2(a)(ii) , combined), shall not exceed the Facility Amount;
2. Sellers representations, warranties and covenants set forth in the Agreement are true and correct;
3. The conditions precedent for purchase set forth in Section 2(c) of the Agreement have been satisfied;
4. No Event of Repurchase exists on such Purchase Date except for repurchases being effectuated on the date hereof by setoff by Purchaser against the Purchase Price for the Proposed Receivables; and
5. There has not been any Material Adverse Change in Seller.
A-1
6. Set forth below is the applicable invoice related to the Proposed Receivables offered for sale by Seller to Purchaser based on the approved Account Debtor(s), including Account Debtors legal name, address, the invoice number(s), the stated amount of the invoice(s), the date and term of the invoice, the stated due date of such invoice (s), the Scheduled Payment Date of such invoice, the related Buffer Period and the calculation of the Offset Condition:
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
Upon acceptance by Purchaser of this Purchase Request and payment of the Purchase Price, Purchaser hereby purchases, and Seller hereby sells, all of Sellers right, title and interest with respect to the Proposed Receivables on the attached Exhibit as of the date hereof, and the Proposed Receivables shall become Purchased Receivables in the manner set forth in the Agreement.
[ ] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
PURCHASE REQUEST ACCEPTED:
HSBC Bank USA, National Association |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Date: |
A-2
Exhibit to Purchase Request
List of Proposed Receivables
A-3
Exhibit 10.21
Execution Copy
RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, this Agreement ) is made as of March 16, 2016 between Wise Alloys Funding II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its capacity as seller hereunder ( Seller ), Wise Alloys LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its capacity as servicer hereunder ( Servicer ), Hitachi Capital America Corp. (together with its successors and permitted assigns, the Purchaser ) and Greensill Capital Inc., a Delaware corporation, in its capacity as purchaser agent hereunder (the Purchaser Agent ).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Seller has purchased certain accounts receivable related to each account debtor listed on Schedule 1 hereto (each an Account Debtor and, collectively, the Account Debtors ) and is the legal and beneficial owner of Receivables (as hereinafter defined) payable by each such Account Debtor; and
WHEREAS, Seller desires to sell certain Receivables to Purchaser, and Purchaser is willing to purchase from Seller such Receivables, in which case the terms set forth herein shall apply to such purchase and sale.
THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to those terms in Exhibit A attached hereto and thereby incorporated herein.
2. SALE AND PURCHASE.
(a) Sale . Commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Purchase Termination Date, Seller may from time to time make an offer to sell to Purchaser certain Proposed Receivables by submitting to Purchaser a request substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto by 2:00 p.m., (New York City time), at least three Business Days prior to any purchase hereunder (a Purchase Request ), and Purchaser agrees, subject to the requirements for purchase and all of the terms and conditions therefor set forth herein (including the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2(c) ), to purchase from Seller the Proposed Receivables identified in such Purchase Request. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2(c) hereof, Purchaser shall and hereby does purchase from Seller, and Seller shall and hereby does sell to Purchaser, without representation, warranty, covenant or recourse except as expressly provided herein, all of Sellers right, title and interest in such Proposed Receivables and all Related Rights with respect thereto as of the applicable Purchase Date (all such Proposed Receivables together with such Related Rights, once sold and purchased hereunder, being referred to, collectively, as the Purchased Receivables ). The Seller shall not request and Purchaser shall not be required to fund more than two (2) purchases per week, to take place on the Monday and Thursday of each week (or, if any such day is not a Business Day, on the immediately following Business Day). No single request for purchase hereunder shall be for an amount less than $250,000.
(b) Term . This Agreement shall continue in effect until the Purchase Termination Date, provided that Purchaser shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time (i) upon ten (10) days prior written notice to Seller in the event that Purchaser is legally prohibited under applicable law or any rule or regulation applicable to Purchaser from being a party to this Agreement or consummating the transactions contemplated hereunder, (ii) as provided in Section 5 below, or (iii) as
provided in paragraphs (b) , (c) and (d) of Section 7 below ; provided further , that Seller shall have the rights to terminate this Agreement as provided in the last sentence of Section 7(d) below. Termination shall not affect the rights and obligations of the parties with respect to Purchased Receivables sold hereunder prior to the Purchase Termination Date or are expressed to survive termination hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as no Termination Event or Unmatured Termination Event has occurred and is continuing, Seller may provide a written request to Purchaser no less than 90 days prior to the then existing Purchase Termination Date of its desire to extend the then current Purchase Termination Date and Purchaser shall notify Seller within 60 days of the then existing Purchase Termination Date whether it has elected and agreed (in its sole discretion) to extend such Purchase Termination Date for a period not longer than an additional term of 364 days from the date of such election by the Purchaser.
(c) Conditions Precedent . Each purchase of Proposed Receivables described in a Purchase Request is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions prior to (and, if applicable, after giving effect to) the proposed Purchase Date, all to the reasonable satisfaction of Purchaser:
(i) No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such purchase that constitutes a Termination Event or an Unmatured Termination Event;
(ii) No Material Adverse Change has occurred since the last purchase of Receivables under this Agreement with respect to Seller, Parent, Originator or Servicer;
(iii) The Servicer has delivered the most recent Servicer Report required to be delivered by it hereunder;
(iv)(A) There are no amounts then due and owing by the Seller or the Originator to the Account Debtor in respect of any Purchased Receivable (including, without limitation, in relation to any adjustments or settlements related to any preliminary invoices, based on any agreements with respect thereto between the Seller or the Originator and the Account Debtor); and (B) the Offset Condition shall be satisfied before and after giving effect to the purchase of such Proposed Receivables;
(v) The Sale Agreement remains in full force and effect and no Termination Event or Unmatured Termination Event has occurred and is continuing thereunder;
(vi) Purchaser shall have received at least three Business Days prior to any purchase (A) a Purchase Request with respect to the Proposed Receivables, (B) the related Contract (or portion thereof that is permitted to be disclosed to the Purchaser by the parties to such applicable Contract) for such Proposed Receivables, and (C) such additional supporting documentation that Purchaser may have reasonably requested;
(vii) Purchaser is not legally prohibited from purchasing the Proposed Receivables listed on the relevant Purchase Request;
(viii) The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the Purchase Request shall be true and correct (subject to any applicable materiality qualification to the extent expressly set forth in any particular representation or warranty) on and as of such Purchase Date;
2
(ix) Seller, Servicer and Parent shall be in compliance (subject to any applicable materiality qualification to the extent expressly set forth in any particular covenant or other provision) with each term, covenant and other provision of this Agreement and the Parent Guarantee applicable to Seller, Servicer or Parent, as applicable;
(x) No Event of Repurchase shall then exist, unless Seller has repurchased and paid (or is paying on such proposed Purchase Date and Purchaser is satisfied that Seller will be paying on such proposed Purchased Date in cash), the full amount of the Repurchase Price (or the amount subject to Dispute or Dilution, to the extent provided pursuant to Section 7 hereof) for the affected Purchased Receivables pursuant to the terms of Section 7 hereof;
(xi) Following the sale and purchase of the Proposed Receivables set forth in the related Purchase Request, the Outstanding Aggregate Purchase Amount for all Purchased Receivables shall not exceed the Facility Amount;
(xii)(A) No Account Debtor Insolvency Event shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to any Account Debtor obligated on the Proposed Receivables described in such Purchase Request, and no Insolvency Event with respect to Seller, Servicer or Parent shall have occurred and be continuing; and (B) neither Moodys nor Standard & Poors shall have rated or downgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from its current rating to a rating below Baa3 (in the case or Moodys) or below BBB- (in the case of Standard & Poors);
(xiii) Purchaser shall have received payment of all Commitment Fees due and payable under Section 2(e) and all other amounts due under this Agreement at such time have been paid;
(xiv) The Collection Account shall be open under the Collection Account Agreement and not subject to a notice of termination by the account bank under the Collection Account Agreement, or a replacement collection account under a replacement collection account agreement reasonably acceptable to Purchaser shall be in effect (or scheduled to be in effect upon the termination of the Collection Account); and
(xv) On the initial Purchase Date, the Purchaser Agent shall have received a fully executed copy of the Purchaser Agent Fee Letter and the Purchaser shall have received each of the following documents, each dated such date and in form and substance satisfactory to Purchaser:
(A) Executed counterparts of this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents by the parties thereof;
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(B) Purchaser shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that Seller shall have established the Collection Account and Purchaser shall have control over such account as herein provided and pursuant to the Collection Account Agreement ;
(C) A certificate of each of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of Seller, Servicer and the Parent certifying the names and true signatures of the incumbent officers authorized on behalf of such Person to execute and deliver this Agreement, each Purchase Request, the other Transaction Documents and any other documents to be executed or delivered by it hereunder, together with its Organizational Documents and board resolutions, evidencing necessary organizational action and governmental approvals, if any, necessary for Seller, Servicer and Parent to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
(D) UCC, tax and judgment lien searches, bankruptcy and pending lawsuit searches or equivalent reports or searches, listing all effective financing statements, lien notices or comparable documents that name Seller or Originator as debtor and that are filed in those state and county jurisdictions in which Seller or Originator is organized or maintains its principal place of business or chief executive office and such other searches that Purchaser deems reasonably necessary or appropriate.
(E) Acknowledgment copies of proper termination statements (Form UCC-3) and any other relevant filings necessary to evidence the release of all security interests, ownership and other rights of any Person previously granted by Seller in the Proposed Receivables.
(F) Copies of proper Uniform Commercial Code financing statements identifying Seller as seller and Purchaser as buyer, together with evidence that they have been duly filed on or before the initial Purchase Date in the correct filing office under the Uniform Commercial Code of the jurisdiction in which seller is located for purposes of the UCC.
(G) A good standing certificate for each of Seller, Servicer and Parent from its respective jurisdiction of organization.
(H) A fully completed Seller Information Schedule in the form attached as Schedule 2 , containing certain factual information regarding Seller to the extent that such information was not previously delivered to Purchaser.
(I) A duly executed Parent Guarantee, together with a secretarys certificate of Parent and such other documentation relating to Parent as Purchaser may request.
(J) A favorable legal opinion of counsel to each of Seller, Servicer and Parent covering enforceability, general corporate matters, no conflicts and UCC matters, in form and substance satisfactory to Purchaser and addressed to the Purchaser;
(K) A favorable true sale opinion of counsel to Seller in form and substance satisfactory to Purchaser and addressed to the Purchaser;
(L) A schedule of Receivables purchased by the Purchaser from the Seller on each Purchase Date, as such schedule may be amended, modified, updated or supplemented from time to time as Receivables are purchased hereunder;
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(M) Originator and Seller shall have executed and delivered to Purchaser two (2) original Notifications of Assignment in the form of Exhibit E hereto to be used in accordance with Section 6(d) ; and
(N) All documents and other evidence that Purchaser requires for its know-your-customer and other compliance checks on Seller, Servicer, Parent and each Account Debtor.
(d) Purchase Price . The purchase price for any Purchased Receivable purchased on any Purchase Date (the Purchase Price ) shall be determined on and as of the applicable Purchase Date (without any subsequent adjustment whether for late payment, credit rating deterioration or otherwise), shall be paid to Seller on the Purchase Date and shall be equal to:
Purchase Price = A - (A x (B x ( ( C ) /360)) , where:
A | = Net Invoice Amount |
B | = Discount Rate |
C | = number of days between the Purchase Date and the Scheduled Payment Date (including the Purchase Date, |
but not including the Scheduled Payment Date |
On each Purchase Date, the Purchase Price for Purchased Receivables purchased by the Purchaser shall be paid by the Purchaser to such account designated by the Seller (or the Servicer on its behalf) in immediately available funds.
(e) Commitment Fee and Purchaser Account Information .
The Seller shall pay to the Purchaser, a commitment fee (the Commitment Fee ) on the last business day of each calendar quarter (commencing with the first payment to be made on June 30, 2016) and on the Purchase Termination Date, in an amount equal to (i) $5,000, plus (ii) an amount calculated quarterly in arrears at a rate of 1% per annum (calculated on a 360-day basis), on the Facility Amount. The Commitment Fee, and all other payments to be made to the Purchaser pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, shall be made to the following account maintained in the name of Hitachi Capital America Corp. at Citibank, N.A., with account number 4076-4427, ABA # 021-000-089 and SWIFT code CITIUS33, or such other account designated by the Purchaser from time to time.
(f) Transaction Fee .
On the date that is the earlier of the initial Purchase Date hereunder or five (5) Business Days following the date hereof, Seller shall pay to the Purchaser Agent a one-time up front and fully earned transaction fee (the Transaction Fee ) in an amount equal to $250,000. Such fee shall be payable without any deduction, withholding or set-off of any kind.
(g) True Sale; No Recourse . Except as otherwise provided in Section 7 hereof, each purchase of the Purchased Receivables is made without recourse to Seller, and Seller shall have no liability to Purchaser and Purchaser shall be solely responsible for Account Debtors failure to pay any Purchased Receivable when it is due and payable under the terms applicable thereto, including but not limited to as the result of an Account Debtor Insolvency Event, such assumption of credit risk being effective as of the Purchase Date for such Purchased Receivables. Purchaser and Seller have structured the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as a sale, and Purchaser and Seller each agree to treat
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each such transaction as a true sale for all purposes under applicable law and accounting principles, including, without limitation, in their respective books, records, computer files, tax returns (federal, state and local), regulatory and governmental filings (and shall reflect such sale in their respective financial statements). Notwithstanding the intent of the parties hereunder, in the event that the transfers hereunder are recharacterized as other than a sale from the Seller to the Purchaser, then in order to secure all of Sellers obligations (monetary or otherwise) under this Agreement, whether now or hereafter existing or arising, due or to become due, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, Seller hereby grants to Purchaser a security interest in all of Sellers right, title and interest (including any undivided interest of Seller) in, to and under all of the following, whether now or hereafter owned, existing or arising: (i) all Purchased Receivables and all Related Rights with respect thereto, (ii) all Collections with respect to such Purchased Receivables, (iii) all accounts into which Collections may be deposited to which the Seller is the named owner on the account, including the Collection Account, and all amounts on deposit therein, (iv) all rights (but none of the obligations) of Seller under the Sale Agreement between Wise Alloys LLC and Seller, and (v) all proceeds of, and all amounts received or receivable under any or all of, the foregoing (collectively, the Sold Assets ).
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Until the later of the Purchase Termination Date and the last Invoice Due Date (subject to any provisions hereof which by their express terms survive termination, and subject to any specific representations which are expressly limited to a particular date or dates) Seller and, to the extent specifically applicable to the Servicer below, the Servicer, in each case represents and warrants to Purchaser with respect to itself only that on the date hereof and on each Purchase Date, the representations and warranties set forth below are true and correct (subject to any applicable materiality qualification to the extent expressly set forth in any particular representation or warranty below):
(a) Proposed Receivables .
(i) With respect to each transfer of Receivables hereunder, as of the date of the applicable Purchase Request and the related Purchase Date for such Proposed Receivable, the information contained in the applicable Purchase Request in respect of such Proposed Receivable on the applicable Purchase Date is a true and correct list of the Account Debtors name, the purchase order numbers, the invoice numbers, the Net Invoice Amount due in respect thereof and the Invoice Due Date, in each case, for each applicable Proposed Receivable that is the subject of such Purchase Request. With respect to the Proposed Receivables listed on the related Purchase Request to be transferred on the applicable Purchase Date, as of the date of the applicable Purchase Request and the related Purchase Date for such Proposed Receivable, (A) all information contained in each Purchase Request is accurate in all respect, (B) each invoice related to such Proposed Receivable is accurate in all respects as of its date and the Purchase Date, as applicable, (C) Purchaser has received true and correct copies of all the relevant documentation relating to each of the Proposed Receivables requested by Purchaser, (D) none of the Proposed Receivables are currently evidenced by chattel paper or instruments (as each such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC), (E) each of the Proposed Receivables is in full force and effect and is the valid and binding obligation of the applicable Account Debtor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and constitutes the applicable Account Debtors legal, valid and binding obligation to pay to Seller the amount of the Purchased Receivables, subject to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors rights,
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(F) neither Seller nor any Account Debtor is in default in the performance of any of the provisions of the documentation applicable to its transactions included within any Proposed Receivables, including any of the Contracts relating to such Proposed Receivables, (G) each Proposed Receivable and the Contract and sale terms related thereto are not subject to any Dispute, whether arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or independently thereof and (H) Originator has delivered to the Account Debtor all property or performed all services required to be so delivered or performed by the terms of the documentation giving rise to the Proposed Receivables. The payments due with respect to each Proposed Receivable are not contingent upon Sellers or Originators fulfillment of any further obligation.
(ii) With respect to the Proposed Receivables listed on a Purchase Request, as of the date of the applicable Purchase Request and the related Purchase Date for such Proposed Receivables, each Proposed Receivable listed in such Purchase Request is an Eligible Receivable and a bona fide payment obligation of the applicable Account Debtor identified in the applicable invoice and due on the Invoice Due Date for such Proposed Receivable.
(iii) Each Proposed Receivable (A) arises under a Contract between Originator and the applicable Account Debtor, (B) does not require the applicable Account Debtor or any other Person to consent to the transfer, sale or assignment of Sellers rights to payment under such agreement and (C) does not contain a confidentiality provision that purports to restrict the ability of Purchaser to exercise its rights under this Agreement.
(iv) Seller is the legal and beneficial owner of each Proposed Receivable free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or security interest, and upon each purchase of a Proposed Receivable, Purchaser shall acquire valid ownership of each Purchased Receivable and the Collections and Related Rights with respect thereto prior to all other Persons.
(v) No sale or assignment hereunder constitutes a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under any United States federal or applicable state bankruptcy or insolvency laws or is otherwise void or voidable under such or similar laws or principles or for any other reason.
(vi) All Proposed Receivables (i) were originated by Seller or the Originator in the ordinary course of its business, and (ii) were sold to the Seller (in the case of the Sale Agreement) and to Purchaser hereunder, as applicable, for fair consideration and reasonably equivalent value.
(vii) No proceeds of any purchase will be used (i) for any purpose that violates any applicable law, rule or regulation, including Regulations T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board or (ii) to acquire any security in any transaction which is subject to Section 12, 13 or 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(b) Seller. Seller is a limited liability company, duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in every jurisdiction where the nature of its business requires it to be so qualified except where
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the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of Seller to fulfill its obligations hereunder or on the validity or enforceability of, or the rights, remedies or benefits available to Purchaser under this Agreement. Seller is not subject to any Insolvency Event. Seller was formed on February 26, 2016 and Seller did not engage in any business activities prior to the date of this Agreement. Seller has no subsidiaries.
(c) Servicer. Servicer is a limited liability company, duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in every jurisdiction where the nature of its business requires it to be so qualified except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of Servicer to fulfill its obligations hereunder or on the validity or enforceability of, or the rights, remedies or benefits available to Purchaser under this Agreement. Servicer is not subject to any Insolvency Event. In addition to any specific representations and warranties made by the Servicer herein, in its capacity as such, Servicer hereby makes all of the representations and warranties contained in the Sale Agreement whether in its capacity as Originator or Servicer thereunder, incorporated herein by reference and as if expressly set forth in this Agreement.
(d) No Conflict, etc . The execution, delivery and performance by Seller or Servicer (as the case may be) of this Agreement, each Purchase Request and each other document to be delivered by Seller and Servicer hereunder, (i) are within its corporate or other organizational powers, (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and (iii) do not contravene (A) its Organizational Documents, (B) any law, rule or regulation applicable to it, (C) any contractual restriction binding on or affecting it or its property, or (D) any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or its property. The Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller and Servicer. Each of Seller and Servicer have furnished to Purchaser a true, correct and complete copy of its Organizational Documents, including all amendments thereto.
(e) Authorizations; Filings . No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental entity is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by Seller and Servicer of this Agreement or any other document to be delivered thereunder except, with respect to the Seller, for the filing of any Uniform Commercial Code financing statements as may be necessary to perfect the sale of Purchased Receivables pursuant to this Agreement and UCC-3 statements releasing existing liens on the Receivables. Other than the Uniform Commercial Code financing statements to be released pursuant to the UCC-3s as aforementioned, no Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or other instrument similar in effect naming Seller as debtor or seller and covering any Purchased Receivable is on file in any filing or recording office, except those filed in favor of Purchaser relating to this Agreement, and no competing notice of assignment or payment instruction or other notice inconsistent with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement is in effect with respect to any Account Debtor, other than those contemplated in the Intercreditor Agreement.
(f) Enforceability . This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller and Servicer, enforceable against Seller and Servicer, as applicable, in accordance with its terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws relating to the enforcement of creditors rights generally and general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought at equity or law).
(g) Litigation Matters . There is no pending (or, to its knowledge, threatened) action, proceeding, investigation or injunction, writ or restraining order affecting Seller or Servicer before any court, governmental entity or arbitrator which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, and neither Seller nor Servicer is currently the subject of, and has no present intention of taking any action to commence, an Insolvency Event applicable to Seller or Servicer.
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(h) Material Adverse Change . There exists no event which has or is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change with respect to Seller, Servicer, Parent or the Ultimate Parent.
(i) Change of Control. No Change of Control has occurred.
(j) Liens . All Purchased Receivables are free and clear of any Adverse Claim in favor of the Internal Revenue Service, any employee benefit plan, the PBGC or similar entity.
(k) Review . Each of Seller and Servicer has discussed and reviewed this Agreement with its accountant, independent auditors, tax advisors and counsel and neither Seller nor Servicer is relying upon oral representations or statements or advice from the Purchaser.
(l) Investment Company Act . Seller is not an investment company, or a company controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. In determining that Seller is not a covered fund, Seller is entitled to rely on the exemption from the definition of investment company set forth in Section 3(c)(5) of the Investment Company Act, as amended, and may be able to rely on other exemptions or exclusions.
(m) Termination Events . No Termination Event or Unmatured Termination Event has occurred and is continuing.
(n) Tax Matters. Each of Seller and the Servicer has filed all material tax returns and reports required by applicable law to have been filed by it and has paid all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges thereby shown to be owing by it, other than any such taxes, assessments or charges that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established.
(o) Accuracy of Information . All information, exhibits, financial statements, documents, books, records or other reports furnished or to be furnished at any time by or on behalf of Seller or the Servicer to Purchaser in connection with the Agreement or any other Transaction Document is or will be complete and accurate in all material respects as of its date or as of the date so furnished and, to the extent materially related to the information then being provided, does not and will not omit to state a fact necessary in order to make the information contained therein with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such information may not contain all of the information or disclosure which would be required for inclusion in a registration statement for debt or equity securities issued by Seller).
(p) UCC Matters .
(i) Sellers location as such term is defined in the applicable UCC is its jurisdiction of organization specified in the preamble to this Agreement, and the address or addresses at which it keeps its records concerning the Proposed Receivables is as set forth herein or otherwise identified to the Purchaser in writing. Sellers Federal Employee Identification Number is 81-1679693. Purchaser has control (as defined in § 9-104 of the UCC) over the Collection Account.
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(ii) Sellers complete corporate name is set forth in this Agreement, and it does not use and has not during the last five years used any other corporate name, trade name, doing-business name or fictitious name, except for names set forth in a written notice delivered to Purchaser.
(q) Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Laws; Etc .
(i) Neither Seller nor any Affiliate of Seller nor, to the knowledge of Seller, any Account Debtor (i) (A) is, or is owned or controlled by, a Sanctioned Person; (B) is located, incorporated, organized, or resident in a Sanctioned Country; (C) has any business affiliation or commercial dealings with, or investments in, any Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person; or (D) is in breach of or is the subject of any action or investigation under any Sanctions Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws.
(ii) Seller and its Affiliates, and, to the knowledge of Servicer and Seller without any duty to make inquiries, each Account Debtor and each Affiliate of such Account Debtor (A) are in compliance with Sanction Laws, the Trading with the Enemy Act, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, the anti-money laundering and bank secrecy provisions of the Patriot Act, and other federal or state laws relating to know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations and (B) have taken appropriate steps to implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to provide that there will be no payments to any government official or employee, political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage in violation of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.
4. COVENANTS . Until the later of the Purchase Termination Date and the last Invoice Due Date (subject to any provisions hereof which by their express terms survive termination), Seller (and, to the extent specifically applicable to the Servicer below, the Servicer) agrees to perform the covenants set forth below solely as to itself only:
(a) Notice of Disputes, Breaches of Contract, Account Debtor Insolvency Events, Etc. Seller shall deliver to Purchaser a reasonably detailed written notice to Purchaser promptly and in any event within two (2) Business Days after becoming aware or receiving notice of (i) any Dispute asserted or threatened in respect of a Purchased Receivable, (ii) any breach by the applicable Account Debtor of the Contract which might give rise to such Account Debtor failing to pay any invoice amount or give rise to any Dispute, (iii) any Account Debtor Insolvency Event occurring or with respect to which Seller has received actual knowledge, or (iv) it becoming illegal for an Account Debtor to pay all or any part of the invoice amount because of the imposition of any prohibition or restriction on such payments.
(b) Contracts; Purchased Receivables . Seller, at its expense, shall timely and fully perform in all material respects with all terms, covenants and other provisions, if any, required to be performed by it under the Contracts related to the Purchased Receivables. The Servicer shall enforce the Purchasers rights against each applicable Account Debtor under the Contracts related to the Purchased Receivables.
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(c) Perfection . Each of Seller and Servicer shall at all times take all action necessary or desirable to maintain in full force and effect the security interests created under this Agreement free and clear of any Adverse Claim created or caused by or arising through or under Seller, Servicer or any of their Affiliates, or as a result of any act or omission of any such party.
(d) Existence . Seller will (i) comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders and (ii) preserve and maintain its organizational existence, rights, franchises, qualifications, and privileges. Seller will keep its state of organization as the State of Delaware and principal place of business and chief executive office and the office where it keeps its records concerning the Purchased Receivables at the address set forth in Section 12 hereof or, in each case, upon ten (10) Business Days prior written notice to Purchaser, at any other locations in jurisdictions where all actions reasonably requested by Purchaser or otherwise necessary to protect, perfect and maintain Purchasers interest in the Purchased Receivables have been taken and completed.
(e) Books and Records . Seller will maintain accurate books and accounts with respect to the Purchased Receivables and shall make a notation on its books and records, including any computer files, to indicate which Receivables have been sold to Purchaser. Seller shall maintain and implement administrative and operating procedures (including, without limitation, an ability to recreate records evidencing Purchased Receivables and related Contracts in the event of the destruction of the originals thereof), and keep and maintain all documents, books, records and other information reasonably necessary or advisable for collecting all Purchased Receivables (including, without limitation, records adequate to permit the daily identification of each Purchased Receivable and all Collections of and adjustments to each existing Purchased Receivable).
(f) Sales, Liens and Debt . Seller will not sell, assign or otherwise dispose of, or cause or create or suffer to exist any lien, encumbrance or security interest, as a result of any act or omission of Seller, upon or with respect to, the Purchased Receivables or upon or with respect to any deposit or other account to which any Collections of any Purchased Receivable are sent, or assign any right to receive income in respect thereof except the interests in favor of Purchaser.
(g) Extension or Amendment of Purchased Receivables . Neither Seller nor Purchaser will amend or extend the payment terms under any Purchased Receivables, unless approved in advance in writing by Purchaser, and neither of them shall otherwise waive or permit or agree to any deviation from the terms or conditions of any Purchased Receivable without the prior written consent of Purchaser.
(h) Audits and Visits . Each of Seller and Servicer will, at any time and from time to time during regular business hours as requested by Purchaser, permit Purchaser, or its agents or representatives, upon reasonable notice, (i) on a confidential basis, to examine and make copies of and abstracts from all books, records and documents (including, without limitation, computer tapes and disks) in its possession or under its control relating to Purchased Receivables owed by Account Debtor including, without limitation, the related Contracts, and (ii) to visit its offices and properties for the purpose of examining and auditing such materials described in clause (i) above, and to discuss matters relating to Purchased Receivables owed by Account Debtor or Sellers performance hereunder or under the related Contracts with any of its officers or employees having knowledge of such matters (hereinafter, an Audit ), provided that, unless a breach or default of Sellers or Servicers obligations hereunder occurs and is continuing, only two such Audits in any calendar year shall be at Sellers expense. Subject to Section 15(d) and Section 15(e) , upon reasonable notice, the Seller will provide the Purchaser with any invoice requested with respect to one or more Purchased Receivables.
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(i) Accounting Treatment. Seller will make all disclosures required by applicable law or regulation with respect to the sale of the Proposed Receivables to Purchaser and account for such sale in accordance with GAAP.
(j) Notice. Seller and Servicer will promptly notify Purchaser of any circumstance that it becomes aware of in connection with a Proposed Receivable that may relate to money laundering, terrorist financing, bribery, corruption, tax evasion or Sanctions.
(k) Further Assurances . Seller will, at its expense, promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further action that Purchaser may reasonably request, from time to time, in order to perfect, protect or more fully evidence the full and complete ownership of Purchaser of the Purchased Receivables, or to enable Purchaser to exercise or enforce the rights of Purchaser hereunder or under the Purchased Receivables.
(l) Taxes . Seller will pay any and all taxes (excluding any Excluded Taxes) relating to the transfer of the Purchased Receivables to Purchaser; except for those taxes that Seller is contesting in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been taken. Seller shall treat each sale of Purchased Receivables hereunder as a sale for federal and state income tax, reporting and accounting purposes.
(m) Not Adversely Affect Purchasers Rights . Seller will refrain from any act or omission which it reasonably believes might in any way prejudice or limit Purchasers rights under any of the Purchased Receivables pursuant to this Agreement.
(n) Nature of Business . Seller will not engage in any business or engage in any transactions other than the purchase of Receivables from Wise Alloys LLC and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents. Seller will not create or form any subsidiary and will not make any loans to, advances to, investments in or otherwise acquire any capital stock or equity security of, or any equity interest in, any other Person. Seller shall not create, incur, guarantee, assume or suffer to exist any indebtedness or other liabilities, whether direct or contingent, other than (i) as a result of the endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business and (ii) the incurrence of obligations under this Agreement.
(o) Change in Business . Except for changes mandated by Applicable Law applicable to the Seller or Servicer, as applicable, (i) the Seller will not make any change in the character of its business, which change would materially and adversely affect the collectibility of any Purchased Receivable or otherwise have a Material Adverse Change with respect to Seller, and (ii) the Servicer will not make any change in the character of its business relating to the administration, servicing and collection of Receivables, which change would materially and adversely affect the collectibility of any Purchased Receivable or otherwise have a Material Adverse Change with respect to the Servicer.
(p) Mergers, Etc. Seller will not merge with or into or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions), all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to, or acquire all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock or other ownership interest of, or enter into any joint venture or partnership agreement with, any Person, other than as contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents.
(q) Separate Existence. Seller and Servicer hereby acknowledge that Purchaser is entering into the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and in reliance upon Sellers identity as a legal entity separate from Servicer and its respective Affiliates. Therefore, from and after the date hereof,
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each of Seller and Servicer shall take all steps specifically required by the Agreement or reasonably required to continue Sellers identity as a separate legal entity and to make it apparent to third Persons that Seller is an entity with assets and liabilities distinct from those of Servicer and any other Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and in addition to and consistent with the other covenants set forth herein, each of Seller and Servicer shall take such actions as shall be required in order that:
(i) Seller will be a limited purpose company whose primary activities are restricted in its organizational documents to: (i) purchasing or otherwise acquiring, owning, holding, granting security interests or selling interests in Receivables, (ii) entering into agreements for the selling and servicing of the Receivables, and (iii) conducting such other activities as it deems necessary or appropriate to carry out its primary activities;
(ii) Not less than one member of Sellers Board of Directors (the Independent Director ) shall be an individual who is not a direct, indirect or beneficial stockholder, officer, director, employee, affiliate, associate or supplier of Servicer or any of its Affiliates and is otherwise independent of Servicer and its Affiliates to the satisfaction of Purchaser;
(iii) [reserved];
(iv) To the extent, if any, that Seller (or any Affiliate thereof) shares items of expenses not reflected in the servicing fee, such as legal, auditing and other professional services, such expenses will be allocated to the extent practical on the basis of actual use or the value of services rendered, and otherwise on a basis reasonably related to the actual use or the value of services rendered; it being understood that Servicer shall pay all expenses relating to the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement, including legal, agency and other fees;
(v) All of Sellers business correspondence and other communications shall be conducted in Sellers own name and on its own separate stationery;
(vi) Sellers books and records will be maintained separately from those of Servicer and any other Affiliate thereof;
(vii) All financial statements of the Ultimate Parent, Servicer or any Affiliate thereof that are consolidated to include Seller will, in accordance with GAAP, contain detailed notes clearly stating that: (i) a special purpose company exists as a subsidiary of Servicer, and (ii) Wise Alloys LLC has sold receivables and other related assets to such special purpose subsidiary that, in turn, has sold such receivables to certain financial institutions and other entities; and
(viii) Seller will strictly observe corporate formalities in its dealings with Servicer or any Affiliate thereof, and funds or other assets of Seller will not be commingled with those of the Originator, Servicer or any Affiliate thereof except as permitted by the Agreement or one of the other Transaction Documents in connection with servicing the Purchased Receivables. Seller shall not maintain joint bank accounts or other depository accounts to
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which Servicer or any Affiliate thereof (other than Servicer in its capacity as Servicer) has independent access. Seller is not named, and has not entered into any agreement to be named, directly or indirectly, as a direct or contingent beneficiary or loss payee on any insurance policy with respect to any loss relating to the property of Servicer or Affiliate thereof.
(r) Change in Credit and Collection Policy . Except for changes mandated by Applicable Law applicable to the Seller or the Servicer, as applicable, neither the Seller nor the Servicer, as applicable, shall make (or permit the Originator to make) without the prior written consent of the Purchaser (as provided in the following sentence), any change (by amendment or otherwise) to the Credit and Collection Policy that would materially adversely affect the collectability of the Purchased Receivables or the ability of the Servicer to perform its obligations under any related Contract that would in turn materially adversely affect the collectability of the Purchased Receivables (in each case, taken as a whole). If consent of the Purchaser is required pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, then the Servicer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Purchaser at least ten (10) days prior to the effectiveness of any material change in (or material amendment to) the Credit and Collection Policy, a notice indicating such change or amendment and a request for consent thereto.
(s) Confirmation of Termination of Prior Facility . Within a reasonable time period after closing, Originator will request that HSBC Bank USA, National Association issue a letter to Originator and Purchaser confirming the termination of its receivables purchase facility with Wise Alloys Funding LLC. A refusal or other failure of HSBC Bank USA, National Association to provide such a letter shall not be a breach or default under this Agreement.
5. TERMINATION EVENTS
If any Termination Event shall occur, Purchaser may, by notice to Seller, declare the Purchase Termination Date to have occurred and that it shall have no further obligation to purchase any Receivables hereunder; provided that if any of the Termination Events described in paragraph (e) of the definition thereof shall occur, then the obligation of the Purchaser to make purchases hereunder shall cease automatically upon the occurrence of such event, without notice of any kind.
Whether or not the expressed intent of the parties that the transfers hereunder constitute sales, is respected or recharacterized, the Purchaser shall have, with respect to the Purchased Receivables, Related Rights and all other Sold Assets, and in addition to all the other rights and remedies available to Purchaser hereunder and under the Transaction Documents (whether prior to or following any Termination Event), all the rights and remedies of a secured party under any applicable UCC. In connection with any exercise of remedies by Purchaser hereunder following the occurrence of a Termination Event that has not been cured or waived in accordance with this Agreement, Seller agrees that ten (10) Business Days shall be reasonable prior notice to Seller of the date of any public or private sale or other disposition of all or any of the Purchased Receivables and other Sold Assets.
6. SERVICING; COLLECTION ACTIVITIES; ETC.
(a) Servicing .
(i) Appointment of Servicer . Purchaser appoints Wise Alloys LLC as its servicer and agent (in such capacity, the Servicer ) for the administration and servicing of all Purchased Receivables sold to Purchaser hereunder, and Servicer hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to assume the duties and the administration and servicing obligations as Servicer, and
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perform all necessary and appropriate commercial collection activities in arranging the timely payment of amounts due and owing by any Account Debtor all in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, with reasonable care and diligence, including, without limitation, diligently and faithfully performing all servicing and collection actions (including, if necessary, acting as party of record in foreign jurisdictions). The Servicer shall also maintain and update the schedule of Receivables listing those Receivables purchased from time to time by the Purchaser under this Agreement and the Servicer shall indicate in the Servicers books and records and in the appropriate computer files those Receivables purchased from time to time by the Purchaser. In addition, Servicer shall track all Purchased Receivables on its ERP system or similar system. Such appointment as Servicer shall not release Seller from any of its other duties to comply with any other terms, covenants and provisions of this Agreement. In connection with its servicing obligations, Servicer will, and will ensure that Seller will, perform their respective obligations and exercise and enforce their respective rights and remedies under the contracts and other agreements related to the Purchased Receivables (the Contracts ) with the same care and applying the same policies as they apply to their own Receivables generally and would exercise and apply if they owned the Purchased Receivables and shall use commercially reasonable efforts in connection with such activities and standards to maximize Collections. In consideration for its activities as Servicer, on the date of the first purchase hereunder, and on each one-year anniversary of this Agreement (or if such one-year anniversary is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), the Purchaser shall, so long as this Agreement remains in effect at such time and so long as Wise Alloys LLC has not been terminated or replaced on or prior to such date, pay to the Servicer, a servicing fee (each such annual payment, a Servicing Fee ) in cash in immediately available funds, in an amount, in the case of each such annual Servicing Fee, equal to $20,000.
(ii) Replacement of Servicer . Upon the earlier to occur of (i) Servicer defaulting in its obligations set forth under this Section 6 , (ii) an Insolvency Event with respect to Servicer, (iii) a Material Adverse Change in Seller or Servicer, (iv) a Termination Event or (v) a breach of the representations and warranties in any material respect by Seller or Servicer under this Agreement, Purchaser may at any time thereafter (but only with respect to clauses (i) and (iv) if within 10 days after knowledge of Seller or Servicer or notice from Purchaser to Seller and Servicer, Servicer fails to cure such default or breach in all material respects and in all other cases without requirement of notice to Servicer, Seller or any other Person) replace Servicer (which replacement may be made through the outplacement to a Person of all back office duties, including billing, collection and processing responsibilities, and access to all personnel, hardware and software utilized in connection with such responsibilities). Servicer shall reimburse Purchaser for all expenses reasonably incurred by Purchaser in connection with such replacement; provided that in no event shall Servicer be liable for any servicing compensation paid or payable to such replacement.
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(b) Collections .
(i) Establishment of Account(s) . Seller has established the Collection Account to receive amounts owing under the Purchased Receivables and covenants to maintain such account so long as any Purchased Receivable remains unpaid unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Purchaser.
(ii) Collections . Servicer covenants (i) Servicer shall direct each Account Debtor to wire or transmit by ACH transfer Collections directly to the Collections Account and shall take such commercially reasonable actions as may be reasonably requested by Purchaser to ensure that each Account Debtor complies with such direction and (ii) not to change the payment instructions relating to Collections while any Purchased Receivable remains outstanding or, if later, prior to the Purchase Termination Date. If Seller or Servicer inadvertently receives any Collections, Seller or Servicer, as applicable, shall cause such Collections to be delivered to and deposited into the Collection Account within two (2) Business Days of receipt.
(iii) Receipt of Collections . No Collections shall be deemed received by Purchaser for purposes of this Agreement until funds are credited to the Collection Account as immediately available funds or otherwise actually received by Purchaser.
(iv) Funds Held in Trust . Prior to being deposited in the Collection Account, funds received by Seller or Servicer in respect of any Purchased Receivables shall be deemed to be the exclusive property of Purchaser, and Seller and Servicer each shall be deemed to be holding such funds in trust for the exclusive use and benefit of Purchaser. Neither Servicer nor any Seller shall, directly or indirectly, utilize such funds for its own purposes, and shall not have any right to pledge such funds as collateral for any obligations of Servicer or Seller or any other Person.
(v) Payment of Collections . Subject to Section 6(c) , Servicer shall pay any amounts of Collections deposited in the Collection Account from time to time to the Purchaser within two (2) Business Days after such Collections are identified and matched to a related Purchased Receivable (or are to be applied on account thereof under Section 6(c) below) (each a Settlement Date ). Any Collections held in the Collection Account between each Settlement Date shall be deemed to be the exclusive property of Purchaser, and Seller and Servicer each shall be deemed to be holding such funds in trust for the exclusive use and benefit of Purchaser until disbursement on the forthcoming Settlement Date. Upon the occurrence and at any time during the continuance of any Termination Event, Purchaser may exercise its rights under the Collection Account Agreement and take exclusive control of the Collection Account and none of Originator, Servicer nor Seller shall have any further right to make withdrawals or to otherwise direct disbursements from the Collection Account. During any period of such exclusive control, Purchaser shall direct the disbursement of the Collections in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.
(c) Payment Reconciliation . Pursuant to its servicing obligations under this Section 6 hereof, Servicer shall be responsible for promptly identifying, matching and reconciling any
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payments, including those related to any Dilution of the Receivable, deposited in the Collection Account with the Purchased Receivable associated with such payment. Servicer shall provide to Purchaser, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit D and substance satisfactory to Purchaser, a full reconciliation ( Payment Reconciliation ) of all such payments deposited in the Collection Account, together with the DSO values of all Collections deposited in the Collection Account and adjustments (including Dilutions amounts, if any, with respect to the Purchased Receivables), concurrently with the transfer to the Collection Account of all Collections in respect of the Purchased Receivables and from time to time upon the request of Purchaser. In accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, if at any time any payment is delivered to or identified in the Collection Account that does not constitute a Collection with respect to any Purchased Receivable, within two (2) Business Days following receipt by Purchaser of evidence of payment details documenting that the payment is for Receivables not constituting Purchased Receivables which shall be done no less frequently than weekly, such funds will be forwarded to an account specified by the Seller or the Servicer. If any Collection on account of any Purchased Receivable is paid to any Person other than Purchaser (either directly by Account Debtor or from out of the Collection Account pursuant to the remaining provisions of this paragraph (c) or otherwise, such Person shall promptly pay such amount to Purchaser, together with interest at the Discount Rate for the period that is two (2) Business Days after such erroneous payment is received until the date paid to Purchaser. To the extent Purchaser has control over the Collection Account, following the occurrence of a Termination Event the Purchaser shall be obligated to remit funds that do not relate to Purchased Receivables to an account specified by the Servicer within three (3) Business Days following receipt by Purchaser of evidence of payment details documenting to Purchasers reasonable satisfaction that the payment is for Receivables not constituting Purchased Receivables. In accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, if any payment is received from an Account Debtor, and such payment is not identified by such Account Debtor as relating to a particular Receivable and cannot otherwise be reasonably identified in accordance with the Payment Reconciliation as relating to a particular Receivable within five (5) Business Days of receipt thereof, such payment shall be applied first to the unpaid Receivables with respect to such Account Debtor that are not subject to any Dispute with such Account Debtor in chronological order based on the related scheduled payment dates (beginning with the unpaid Receivable with the oldest scheduled payment date).
(d) Rights of Purchaser; Notices to Account Debtors . Purchaser shall have all rights as holder and owner in respect of the Purchased Receivables and the owner of the other Sold Assets, including, subject to Section 6(a)(ii) (with respect to the replacement of the Servicer), the right to exercise any and all of its rights and remedies hereunder, under applicable law (including, the UCC) or at equity to collect any Purchased Receivables directly from the applicable Account Debtor, and the right to exercise any rights of Seller as purchaser under the Sale Agreement with respect to any such Purchased Receivables under the Sale Agreement. In furtherance of the foregoing, without limiting the generality thereof, Purchaser may, in its sole discretion, upon the occurrence and continuation of (i) a Termination Event, (ii) any other event which would permit Purchaser to replace Servicer (but prior to the expiration of, and without the need to take into account any grace or cure period as may be provided for prior to such replacement pursuant to Section 6(a)(ii) ), (iii) the giving by or on behalf of the ABL Agent to Account Debtor of any notice or instruction to pay any Unsold Receivables to an account other than the Collection Account, or (iv) any late payment with respect to any Purchased Receivable, to the extent that such late payment has not yet been determined to be the result of a Repurchase Event for which the Seller has paid or is required to pay the Repurchase Price therefor (or portion thereof subject to a Dispute or Dilution), (A) notify or otherwise indicate to any Account Debtor that Seller has sold the applicable Purchased Receivable to Purchaser hereunder, and may direct such Account Debtor to make payments with respect to such Purchased Receivable directly to the Collection Account (or as otherwise directed by Purchaser), or (B) deliver a Notification of Assignment to the Account Debtor. The Purchaser agrees that prior to the occurrence of one of the events described in clauses (i) , (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, the Purchaser shall hold the Notification of Assignment in trust for the benefit of the Seller and shall have no right to deliver,
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share, disclose or otherwise transmit the Notification of Assignment (or the contents thereof) to the Account Debtor or any other party, subject to the permitted disclosures permitted under Section 15(d) . Without limiting Purchasers right to otherwise directly contact and direct the applicable Account Debtor, upon the occurrence of one of the events described in clauses (i) , (ii) , (iii) or (iv) above, each of Seller and Originator hereby expressly and irrevocably consents to Purchasers executing in the space provided, dating and providing to the Account Debtor, a Notification of Assignment executed by the Originator and Seller. Notwithstanding the foregoing, solely in the case of clause (iv) above, so long as Seller and Servicer are in material compliance with all terms, covenants and provisions in this Agreement applicable to Seller and Servicer, and no event described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) has occurred and is continuing at such time, upon the occurrence of any payment default by an Account Debtor in payment of the Purchased Receivable (which is not the subject of a Dispute or Dilution), prior to the Purchasers right (as described above) to directly contact and direct the applicable Account Debtor, Servicer shall consult with Purchaser with regard to such default and on the course of action the Servicer plans to adopt in light thereof. If Servicer has not resolved the cause of such payment default (as a Dilution, Dispute, Account Debtor Insolvency or otherwise) within fifteen (15) days of the original due date for such payment, then Purchaser shall at such time, without further notice to or consultation with the Seller or Servicer, have all right to deliver a Notification of Assignment, notify, contact, instruct and direct the applicable Account Debtor as described in the prior sentences of this paragraph above.
(e) Reporting Requirements . Servicer shall provide or make available (by access to a website, Intralinks or otherwise); to Purchaser the following:
(i) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Ultimate Parent, consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of the Ultimate Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and statements of income, retained earnings and cash flow of the Ultimate Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter, certified by the chief financial officer of such Person;
(ii) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Ultimate Parent, a copy of the annual report for such year for such Person and its consolidated subsidiaries, containing unqualified consolidated and consolidating financial statements for such year audited by independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing;
(iii) on the fifth (5 th ) Business Day of each calendar month, aging, past due and performance reports (the Servicer Report ) relating to all Purchased Receivables, together with such other data (including all calculations of the ratios described herein), reports and information relating to the Purchased Receivables of each Account Debtor reasonably requested by Purchaser from time to time (including, without limitation, proof reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser that Originator has delivered to the applicable Account Debtor all property or performed all services required to be so delivered or performed by the terms of the Contract giving rise to the Purchased Receivables) in each case, in a format reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser and the Servicer;
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(iv) as to each of Seller and Servicer, as soon as possible and in any event within two Business Days after becoming aware of the occurrence of each Termination Event or Unmatured Termination Event, a statement of an officer of such Person setting forth details of such Termination Event or Unmatured Termination Event and the action that such Person has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(v) as soon as possible and in any event within two (2) Business Days (in the case of clause (A) below) and three (3) Business Days (in the case of clause (B) below) after becoming aware of the occurrence thereof, written notice of (A) any non-payment of amounts due with respect to any Purchased Receivable or (B) any matter that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and
(vi) such other information respecting the Receivables or the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of Seller or Servicer as Purchaser may from time to time reasonably request.
(f) From time to time, the Purchaser may request that the Servicer access Budnet (the Anheuser-Busch supplier portal) and, based solely upon the information referenced on Budnet on such access date, provide the Purchaser with the invoices that Anheuser-Busch LLC has processed as of such access date and the payment date(s) for such invoices. The Servicer shall promptly provide the Purchaser with duplicate copies of all periodic statements on the Collection Account (including monthly statements) that are sent to the Servicer or the Seller by the account bank under the Collection Account Agreement.
7. REPURCHASE EVENTS; INDEMNITIES AND SET-OFF.
(a) Repurchase Events . If any of the following events ( Event of Repurchase ) occurs and is continuing with respect to any Purchased Receivable:
(i) Such Purchased Receivable, at the time of purchase, did not constitute an Eligible Receivable; or
(ii) Without limiting clause (i) above and in addition thereto, any representation or warranty made by Seller under Section 3(a) with respect to such Purchased Receivable is incorrect when made and shall have an adverse effect on the ability to collect the Net Invoice Amount of such Purchased Receivable, as reasonably determined by the Purchaser; or
(iii) Seller or Servicer fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or provision with respect to such Purchased Receivable and such failure shall have a material adverse effect on the ability to collect the Net Invoice Amount of such Purchased Receivable; or
(iv) the Account Debtor on such Purchased Receivable asserts an actual Dispute in writing or Dilution has occurred with respect to such Purchased Receivable, excluding any Dispute or Dilution that (A) relates to the acts or omissions of the Purchaser which are (x) in material violation of applicable law relating to such action or omission or (y) in material
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breach of its obligations hereunder, (B) does not relate to the acts or omissions of the Seller, the Servicer or any of their Affiliates, (C) does not relate to the transfer of such Purchased Receivable from the Seller to the Purchaser and (D) does not relate to the goods or services that are the subject of such Purchased Receivable; or
(v) Seller or Servicer instructs the Account Debtor on such Purchased Receivable to pay amounts owing in respect of such Purchased Receivable to an account other than the Collection Account;
then, Seller shall, within one (1) Business Day of demand therefor from Purchaser (such date, the Repurchase Date ), repurchase all (or any portion) of such Purchased Receivable then outstanding. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent any portion of a Purchased Receivable is subject to repurchase, the related invoice shall not be divided.
The repurchase price (the Repurchase Price ) for such Purchased Receivable shall be the amount equal to the sum of (i) the Net Invoice Amount relating to such Purchased Receivable less the aggregate amount of all Collections with respect to such Purchased Receivables deposited into the Collection Account, plus (ii) interest for the period from the Scheduled Payment Date for such Purchased Receivable until the date the Repurchase Price has been repaid in full, at a rate equal to the Discount Rate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Purchased Receivable is subject to a Repurchase Event described above as a result of a Dispute or an event of Dilution which affects or only applies with respect to a portion of such Receivable that is less than 10% of the Net Invoice Amount thereof, the Seller may, in its discretion, elect to satisfy its obligation under this Section 7 by rather than repurchasing such Receivable and paying the Repurchase Price therefor, paying to the Purchaser on what would otherwise have been the Repurchase Date, an amount in cash equal to the entire amount which is the subject of such Dispute or Dilution plus interest due thereon for a period from the Scheduled Payment Date for such Purchased Receivable until the date the Seller pays such amount in full, at a rate equal to the Discount Rate at such time (such amount, the Subject Payment Amount ). If the Seller elects not to repurchase the entire Receivable but rather pay the Subject Payment Amount with respect thereto then each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that any such Receivable will remain the property of the Purchaser hereunder and shall not be or be deemed to have been sold back to the Seller on the applicable Repurchase Date.
The Repurchase Price or Subject Payment Amount, as applicable, for a Purchased Receivable and all amounts due hereunder with respect to such Purchased Receivable shall be paid to the Collection Account in immediately available funds on the Repurchase Date. Upon the payment in full of the Repurchase Price for a Purchased Receivable and all amounts due hereunder with respect to such Purchased Receivable, such Purchased Receivable shall be automatically and without further action sold by Purchaser to Seller without recourse to or representation or warranty, express or implied, by Purchaser. Upon repurchase by Seller, Seller shall have all right, title and interest in and to such repurchased Purchased Receivables. Seller agrees that Purchaser may set off in the manner set forth in paragraph (f) below against any unpaid obligation of Seller under this Section 7(a) . Amounts due hereunder shall accrue interest at the Discount Rate.
(b) General Indemnification .
(i) Indemnities by Seller . Seller hereby agrees to indemnify Purchaser (together with its officers, directors, agents, representatives, shareholders, counsel and employees, each, an Indemnified Party ) from and against any and all claims, losses and liabilities (including,
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without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees) (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to as Indemnified Amounts ) arising out of or resulting from any of the following: (i) the sale to Purchaser of any Receivable as to which the representations and warranties made herein are not all true and correct on the Purchase Date therefor; (ii) any representation or warranty made by Seller (or any of its respective officers) under or in connection with this Agreement (except with respect to the Purchased Receivables) which shall have been incorrect in any respect when made; (iii) the failure by Seller or Servicer to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to any Purchased Receivable; (iv) the failure to vest in Purchaser a perfected interest in each Purchased Receivable and other Sold Assets and the proceeds and Collections in respect thereof free and clear of any liens or encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever (other than those granted to Purchaser under this Agreement); (v) any Dispute or any other claim related to such Purchased Receivable (or any portion thereof) excluding any Dispute or claim that (A) relates to the acts or omissions of the Purchaser which are (x) in material violation of applicable law relating to such action or omission or (y) in material breach of its obligations hereunder, (B) does not relate to the acts or omissions of the Seller, the Servicer or any of their Affiliates, (C) does not relate to the transfer of such Purchased Receivable from the Seller to the Purchaser and (D) does not relate to the goods or services that are the subject of such Purchased Receivables; (vi) except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or in any of the other Transaction Documents, the commingling by Seller of Collections at any time with other funds of Seller or any other Person; (vii) any products liability claim, personal injury or property damage suit, environmental liability claim or any other claim or action by a party of whatever sort, whether in tort, contract or any other legal theory, arising out of or in connection with the goods or services that are the subject of any Purchased Receivable with respect thereto; (viii) this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and the purchases of the Purchased Receivables by Purchaser pursuant to the terms hereof, excluding any Dispute or claim that (A) relates to the acts or omissions of the Purchaser which are (x) in material violation of applicable law relating to such action or omission or (y) in material breach of its obligations hereunder, (B) does not relate to the acts or omissions of the Seller, the Servicer or any of their Affiliates, (C) does not relate to the transfer of such Purchased Receivable from the Seller to the Purchaser and (D) does not relate to the goods or services that are the subject of such Purchased Receivables; (ix) any currency restrictions or foreign political restrictions or regulations; (x) any failure by: (A) any Person who is not a party to the Intercreditor Agreement and to whom Seller, Originator or Servicer directs or furnishes payment, or (B) HSBC Bank USA, National Association or any of its successors, assigns or agents, to pay over to Purchaser reasonably promptly any Collections on account of Purchased Receivables received by it; (xi) any breach by Seller, Originator or any of their affiliates of that certain letter dated March 11, 2016 from Originator and Wise Alloys Funding LLC to Purchaser regarding the termination of the receivables purchase facility between Wise Alloys Funding LLC and HSBC Bank USA, National Association; or (xii) the failure of Seller to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents. The foregoing indemnification shall not apply in the case any claims, losses or liabilities to the extent resulting solely from (1) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of an Indemnified Party as determined in a final non-appealable
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judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, (2) lack of credit worthiness of the related Account Debtor or an Account Debtor Insolvency Event or (3) acts or omissions of the Purchaser (A) which are (x) in material violation of applicable law relating to such action or omission or (y) in material breach of its obligations hereunder, (B) which do not relate to the acts or omissions of the Seller, the Servicer or any of their Affiliates, (C) which do not relate to the transfer of such Purchased Receivable from the Seller to the Purchaser and (D) which do not relate to the goods or services that are the subject of such Purchased Receivables, (4) taxes imposed on Purchaser under FATCA, or (5) with respect to the occurrence of the events set forth in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) above, to the extent such Purchased Receivable has been repurchased by the Seller. Amounts due hereunder shall accrue interest at the Delinquent Rate.
(ii) Indemnities by Servicer . Servicer hereby agrees to indemnify Purchaser (together with its officers, directors, agents, representatives, shareholders, counsel and employees, each, an Indemnified Party ) from and against any and all claims, losses and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees) (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to as Indemnified Amounts ) arising out of or resulting from any of the following: (i) any representation or warranty made by Servicer (or any of its respective officers) under or in connection with this Agreement (except with respect to the Purchased Receivables) which shall have been incorrect in any respect when made; (ii) the failure by Servicer to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to any Purchased Receivable; (iii) any failure by Servicer or Originator to perform its duties or obligations hereunder in accordance with this Agreement or under any other Transaction Document to which it is a party, or any claim brought by any Person other than an Indemnified Party arising from Servicers collection activities; or (iv) except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or in any of the other Transaction Documents, the commingling by the Servicer of Collections at any time with other funds of the Servicer or any other Person. The foregoing indemnification shall not apply in the case any claims, losses or liabilities to the extent resulting solely from (A) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of an Indemnified Party as determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, (B) lack of credit worthiness of the related Account Debtor or an Account Debtor Insolvency Event or (C) (w) enforcement or similar actions of the Purchaser with respect to a related Purchased Receivable as against the Account Debtor and which (as determined in a final non appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction) are in material violation of applicable law relating to such action, (x) a Dispute or Dilution by the Account Debtor not as a result of anything relating to the product or service provided to such Account Debtor by the Originator, Seller or Servicer, but solely as a result of a separate and distinct transaction or agreement between the Account Debtor and the Purchaser and not in any way related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (y) taxes imposed upon Purchaser under FATCA, or (z) with respect to the occurrence of any of the events set forth in clause (iii) or (iv) above, to the extent such Purchased Receivable has been repurchased by the Seller. Amounts due hereunder shall accrue interest at the Delinquent Rate.
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(c) Tax Indemnification . All payments on the Purchased Receivables from the Account Debtors will be made free and clear of any present or future taxes, withholdings or other deductions whatsoever. Seller will indemnify Purchaser for any such taxes, withholdings or deductions other than Excluded Taxes as well as any stamp duty or any similar tax or duty on documents or the transfer of title to property arising in the context of this Agreement which has not been paid by Seller. Further, Seller shall pay, and indemnify and hold Purchaser harmless from and against, any taxes other than Excluded Taxes that may be asserted in respect of the Purchased Receivables hereunder prior to the date of sale (including any sales, occupational, excise, gross receipts, personal property, privilege or license taxes, or withholdings, but not including taxes imposed upon Purchaser with respect to its overall net income) and costs, expenses and reasonable counsel fees in defending against the same, whether arising by reason of the acts to be performed by Seller hereunder or otherwise. Amounts due hereunder shall accrue interest at the Delinquent Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnities described herein with respect to tax matters, shall only apply with respect to applicable laws, rules and regulations relating thereto which are in existence on the applicable Purchase Date for any Purchased Receivables hereunder and shall not apply with respect to changes to such laws rules or regulations following such Purchase Date; it being understood and agreed that if the Purchaser and/or any Purchased Receivable becomes (following the applicable Purchase Date therefor) subject to any such tax matters which are not subject to the indemnity or recovery of this paragraph (c) , Purchaser shall have the right, upon fifteen (15) days prior written notice to the Seller, to terminate this Agreement and its commitments hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents. If a payment made hereunder to any Indemnified Party would be subject to withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Indemnified Party were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Indemnified Party shall deliver to the Seller and the Servicer at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by such persons such documentation prescribed by applicable law and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Seller and the Servicer as may be necessary for such persons to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Indemnified Party has complied with such Indemnified Partys obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.
(d) Increased Costs . If Purchaser shall determine that any Regulatory Change regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on Purchasers capital or assets or increasing its amount of required liquidity as a consequence of (i) this Agreement, (ii) any of Purchasers obligations under this Agreement or (iii) Purchasers purchase or the ownership, maintenance or funding of any Purchased Receivables hereunder, to a level below that which Purchaser would have achieved but for such Regulatory Change (taking into consideration Purchasers policies with respect to capital adequacy), then (A) if such Regulatory Change relates to the commitment of the Purchaser hereunder, but does not relate to the purchase and subsequent ownership of Purchased Receivables, then the Purchaser may by notice to Seller setting forth in reasonable detail the basis therefor, adjust the Commitment Fee and/or provide a separate written demand for payment to reflect such increased cost with respect to the Purchasers commitment to make purchases hereunder, which adjustments to the fees or amounts payable in respect of the commitment hereunder, in each case, shall be effective and payable by the Seller within five (5) days after the giving of such notice, it being understood that if such Regulatory Change has retroactive application to the commitment hereunder, such retroactive increase shall be payable by the Seller in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, and (B) if such Regulatory Change relates to the purchase and subsequent ownership of Purchased Receivables, then Purchaser shall have the right to by notice to Seller setting forth in reasonable detail the basis therefor, (x) for the purpose of future purchases hereunder adjust the Discount Rate to reflect such increased cost with respect to such future purchases (but not with respect to any prior purchases), which adjustments to the Discount Rate shall apply solely to purchases occurring at least five (5) days after the giving of such notice, and (y) to the extent it is not practical to so adjust the Discount Rate pursuant to clause (x) prior to the applicable Purchase Date, promptly after the applicable Purchase Date provide the Seller with a
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written demand for payment to reflect the increased costs with respect to Regulatory Changes that were in existence on the applicable Purchase Date for any Purchased Receivables hereunder but for which the Discount Rate was not adjusted as described in clause (x), which such increased costs shall be effective and payable by the Seller within five (5) days after the giving of such notice. Except as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence, and notwithstanding any other provision, under no circumstances shall the purchase price of a Purchased Receivable be altered after the Purchase Date therefor as a result of a Regulatory Change. In addition to foregoing, if any Purchased Receivables or the existing of the commitment hereunder becomes the subject of a Regulatory Change regarding capital or liquidity requirements that has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on Purchasers capital or assets or increasing its amount of required liquidity as a consequence of (i) this Agreement, (ii) any of Purchasers obligations under this Agreement or (iii) Purchasers purchase or the ownership, maintenance or funding of any Purchased Receivables hereunder, to a level below that which Purchaser would have achieved but for such Regulatory Change (taking into consideration Purchasers policies with respect to capital adequacy) that is not covered by clauses (A) or (B) of this paragraph, then the Purchaser shall have the right, upon fifteen (15) days prior written notice to the Seller, to terminate this Agreement and its commitments hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents. Any amount owing pursuant to this section shall be paid to Purchaser in immediately available funds. A certificate as to such amounts submitted to Seller by Purchaser shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes as to the calculations therein, absent manifest error. Upon receipt of notice from Purchaser of any such increased cost or adjustment to the Commitment Fee or the Discount Rate, Seller shall have the right, at any time after payment to the Purchaser of amounts, if any, due pursuant to clause (A) of this paragraph, and upon five (5) days prior written notice to the Purchaser, to terminate this Agreement and all commitments and obligations hereunder except insofar as such obligations relate to Purchased Receivables sold on or prior to the date of notice of termination or otherwise expressly survive termination hereof.
(e) Regulatory Indemnity . Seller will indemnify Purchaser for all losses, costs, damages, claims, actions, suits, demands and liabilities (together, the Losses ) suffered or incurred by or brought against Purchaser arising out of or relating to any Compliance Action, unless such Losses are caused by (i) the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of Purchaser or (ii) do not relate to the transfer of such Purchased Receivable from the Seller to the Purchaser under this Agreement.
(f) Set-Off . Seller further agrees that, unless Seller notifies Purchaser in writing that it desires to pay on the date when due any amounts due under this paragraph (f) and Seller makes such payment to Purchaser in immediately available funds on the date that such payment is due, Seller hereby irrevocably authorizes Purchaser, without further notice to Seller, to set-off such amount against the Purchase Price of any Proposed Receivables to be purchased on or after such due date.
(g) UCC . The rights granted to Purchaser hereunder are in addition to all other rights and remedies afforded to Purchaser as a buyer under the UCC or other applicable law.
8. RETAINED OBLIGATIONS . Purchaser shall have no responsibility for, or have any liability with respect to, the performance of any Contract, and neither shall Purchaser have any obligation to intervene in any commercial dispute arising out of the performance of any Contract. All obligations of Seller under each Contract, including all representations and warranty obligations, all servicing obligations, all maintenance obligations, and all delivery, transport and insurance obligations, shall be retained by Seller (the Retained Obligations ). Neither any claim that Seller may have against any Account Debtor or any other Person, nor the failure of an Account Debtor to fulfill its obligations under the applicable Contracts, shall affect the obligations of Seller or Servicer to perform its obligations hereunder, and none of such events or circumstances shall be used as a defense or as set-off, counterclaim or cross-complaint as against the performance or payment of any of Sellers or Servicers obligations hereunder.
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9. COSTS AND EXPENSES; DELINQUENT RATE.
(a) Seller shall reimburse Purchaser and the Purchaser Agent for all reasonable costs (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses) that Purchaser and the Purchaser Agent incurs in connection with the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement, any amendments hereto and the administration, preservation of rights and enforcement hereof. In no event shall such obligation of Seller to reimburse Purchaser or the Purchaser Agent include costs incurred by Purchaser or the Purchaser Agent in collecting or otherwise enforcing its rights as against the Account Debtors under the Receivables, including, but not limited to, as a result of an Account Debtor Insolvency Event, unless Seller or Servicer is in breach or default of the performance of its obligations hereunder or under the terms of such Receivable.
(b) Any fees, expenses, indemnity, Repurchase Price or other amounts payable by Seller to Purchaser in connection with this Agreement shall bear interest each day from the date due until paid in full at the Delinquent Rate, whether before or after judgment. Such interest shall be payable on demand. Fees are deemed payable on the date or dates set forth herein; expenses, indemnity or other amounts payable by Seller to Purchaser are due ten (10) days after receipt by Seller of written demand thereof.
10. GENERAL PAYMENTS. All amounts payable by Seller to Purchaser under this Agreement shall be paid in full, free and clear of all deductions, set-off or withholdings whatsoever except only as may be required by law, and shall be paid on the date such amount is due by not later than 3:00 pm (New York City time) to the account of Purchaser notified to Seller from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, Seller shall not be responsible for any deductions, set-off or withholdings made by the Account Debtors or required by law, except to the extent provided for in Section 7 above. If any deduction or withholding is required by law other than as Excluded Taxes, Seller shall pay to Purchaser such additional amount as necessary to ensure that the net amount actually received by Purchaser equals to the full amount Purchaser should have received had no such deduction or withholding been required. All payments to be made hereunder or in respect of a Purchased Receivable shall be in USD. Any amounts that would fall due for payment on a day other than a Business Day shall be payable on the succeeding Business Day. All interest amounts calculated on a per annum basis hereunder are calculated on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty (360) days.
11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. IN NO EVENT SHALL PURCHASER SHALL BE LIABLE TO SELLER FOR ANY SPECIAL INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS OR LOSS OF BUSINESS).
12. NOTICES. Unless otherwise provided herein, any notice, request or other communication which Purchaser, Seller or Servicer may be required or may desire to give to the other party under any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and sent by email, hand delivery or first class mail, certified or registered and postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to have been given or made when transmitted with receipt confirmed in the case of email, when received if sent by hand delivery or five (5) days after deposit in the mail if mailed, and in each case addressed to Purchaser, Seller or Servicer as set forth below. Any party hereto may change the address to which all notices, requests and other communications are to be sent to it by giving written notice of such address change to the other parties in conformity with this paragraph, but such change shall not be effective until notice of such change has been received by the other parties.
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If to Seller: Wise Alloys Funding II LLC
4805 Second Street
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
Attn: Alex Godwin or Treasury Department
Fax: 256.386.6980
Email: alex.godwin@constellium.com
with a copy to:
Constellium Switzerland AG
Max Högger-Strasse 6
8048 Zürich, Switzerland
Attention: Mark Kirkland, Group Treasurer
Office phone : +41 44 438 6642
Email : mark.kirkland@constellium.com
If to Servicer: Wise Alloys LLC
4805 Second Street
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
Attn: Alex Godwin or Treasury Department
Fax: 256.386.6980
Email: alex.godwin@constellium.com
with a copy to:
Constellium Switzerland AG
Max Högger-Strasse 6
8048 Zürich, Switzerland
Attention: Mark Kirkland, Group Treasurer
Office phone : +41 44 438 6642
Email : mark.kirkland@constellium.com
If to Purchaser: Hitachi Capital America Corp.
800 Connecticut Ave.
Norwalk, CT 06854
Attention: Mark Benson; Tom Cross
Email: mbenson@hitachicapitalamerica.com; tcross@hitachicapitalamerica.com
If to the Purchaser Agent: Greensill Capital Inc.
175 Varick Street, 8 th Floor
New York, NY 10014
Attention: Michael Gilhuley
Email: mike@greensill.com
Seller agrees that Purchaser may presume the authenticity, genuineness, accuracy, completeness and due execution of any email bearing a scanned signature resembling a signature of an authorized Person of Seller without further verification or inquiry by Purchaser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser in its sole discretion may elect not to act or rely upon such a communication and shall be entitled (but not obligated) to make inquiries or require further action by Seller to authenticate any such communication.
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13. SURVIVAL. Notwithstanding the occurrence of the Purchase Termination Date, (a) all covenants, representations and warranties made herein shall continue in full force and effect so long as any Purchased Receivables remain outstanding; and (b) Sellers and Servicers obligations to indemnify Purchaser with respect to the expenses, damages, losses, costs, liabilities and other obligations shall survive until the later of (i) all applicable statute of limitations periods with respect to actions that may be brought against Purchaser have run and (ii) 365 days following the entry of a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction with respect to actions brought against Purchaser or any other Indemnified Party that were initiated prior to the end of the applicable statute of limitations for such actions.
14. GOVERNING LAW; VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; ETC.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles that would require the application of the law of any other jurisdiction.
(b) Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of the United States sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment. 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 any such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. 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. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any New York State or federal court located in the Borough of Manhattan. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(c) EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT THAT SUCH PERSON MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR STATUTORY CLAIMS.
15. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) This Agreement represents the final agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements with respect to such subject matter. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived except by a writing signed by the Purchaser, the Servicer and the Seller and, in the case of any provision hereof which expressly refers to or provides a right to the Purchaser Agent or affects the definitions used to calculate the Purchase Price hereunder, the Purchaser Agent.
(b) This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties; provided , however , that neither Seller nor Servicer may
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assign any of its rights hereunder without Purchasers prior written consent, given or withheld in Purchasers sole discretion. Purchaser shall have the right without the consent of or notice to Seller or Servicer to sell, transfer, negotiate or grant participations in all or any part of, or any interest in, Purchasers obligations, rights and benefits hereunder and in any of the Sold Assets hereunder.
(c) Each provision of this Agreement shall be severable from every other provision hereof for the purpose of determining the legal enforceability of any specific provision. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one and the same agreement.
(d) Seller acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to Seller or one or more of its affiliates (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by Purchaser or its subsidiaries. Seller hereby authorizes Purchaser to share any information delivered to Purchaser by Seller and its subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, or in connection with the decision of Purchaser to enter into this Agreement to any actual or prospective participant or assignee under this Agreement that agrees to keep it confidential to the same extent as set forth in this paragraph (d) . Such authorization shall survive the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof. Without limiting the foregoing, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (e) below, each party agrees to maintain the confidentiality of any Confidential Information (as defined below) of the other party and shall not disclose such Confidential Information to any third party except as set forth in the Agreement. Confidential Information shall mean the terms of this Agreement and all information of a party provided to the other party hereunder. Confidential Information shall not include any information that (i) is part of the public domain without any breach of this Agreement by the receiving party; (ii) is or becomes generally known to the general public or organizations engaged in the same or similar businesses as the receiving party on a non-confidential basis, through no wrongful act of such party; (iii) is known by the receiving party prior to disclosure to it hereunder without any obligation to keep it confidential; (iv) is disclosed to it by a third party which, to the best of the receiving partys knowledge, is not required to maintain the information as proprietary or confidential; (v) is independently developed by the receiving party without reference to Confidential Information of the other party; or (vi) is the subject of a written agreement whereby the other party consents to the disclosure of such Confidential Information on a non-confidential basis. A party may disclose Confidential Information, without the consent of the other party, if such party is requested or becomes legally compelled (by applicable law, rule, regulation, oral questions, interrogatories, request for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process and including, without limitation, to the extent required to be disclosed to any regulatory body having jurisdiction over such party or its affiliates pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise) to disclose any of the Confidential Information. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (e) below, each party may disclose any Confidential Information to its Affiliates and to its and their directors, officers, employees, legal counsel, accountants, lenders, prospective lenders, agents and representatives, so long as any such Person is subject to confidentiality obligations similar to those in this paragraph (d) . The obligations under this paragraph (d) shall terminate on the Confidentiality Termination Date which is two (2) years from the Purchase Termination Date. Following the applicable Confidentiality Termination Date, Purchaser shall, in its sole determination, either return Confidential Information of Seller to Seller, unless otherwise required by applicable law to maintain, or confirm to Seller that it has destroyed any Confidential Information in accordance with its document retention policy, unless otherwise required by applicable law to maintain. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information may be disclosed by Purchaser to the extent reasonably necessary or required, in the reasonable judgment of the Purchaser, for (i) the transfer of servicing, (ii) the sale or foreclosure of the Purchased Receivables, (iii) the enforcement of the rights of the Purchaser under any Transaction Document or with respect to any invoice (including, without limitation, in connection with any legal proceeding), and (iv) the protection of the Purchasers ownership and security interest in the Purchased Receivables and its rights hereunder and under the Transaction Documents.
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(e) In addition to the confidentiality provisions set forth in paragraph (d) above, the Purchaser (and any subsequent participant or assignee of the Purchaser under this Agreement) agrees that none of the terms and substance of any Contract or invoice (or portion of a Contract or invoice) provided pursuant to this Agreement shall be disclosed, directly or indirectly to any other person by such Purchaser, except (i) with the prior written consent of the Seller, (ii) any actual or prospective participant or assignee under this Agreement that agrees to keep it confidential to the same extent as set forth in this paragraph (e) , (iii) to its directors, officers and employees, (iv) to its Affiliates that control Purchaser, directly or indirectly, (v) to its legal counsel, accountants, agents, representatives and advisors representing the Purchaser in connection with entering into, performing or enforcing this Agreement, or auditing or otherwise reviewing for diligence, financial reporting or regulatory purposes any Purchased Receivables, (vi) as required by applicable law or regulation or by any court, other tribunal or regulatory authority, and (vii) as Purchaser, in good faith, reasonably determines is necessary in connection with the enforcement of any Transaction Document or any Purchased Receivable; in each case under clauses (i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv) , and (v) so long as any such Person is subject to confidentiality obligations similar to those in this Agreement. The obligations under this paragraph (e) shall terminate on the Confidentiality Termination Date which is seven (7) years from the date hereof.
(f) As used in this Agreement, the terms include and including shall be read as if followed by without limitation whether or not so followed.
[Remainder of page intentionally blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
Wise Alloys Funding II LLC, as Seller | ||
By: | /s/ Alex Goodwin | |
Name: | Alex Goodwin | |
Title: | Treasurer | |
Wise Alloys LLC, as initial Servicer and as Originator | ||
By: | /s/ Alex Goodwin | |
Name: | Alex Goodwin | |
Title: | Treasurer |
Hitachi Capital America Corp., as Purchaser | ||
By: | /s/ James M. Giaimo | |
Name: | James M. Giaimo | |
Title: | Vice President, Structured Credit and Operations | |
Greensill Capital Inc., as Purchaser Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Jonathan Lane | |
Name: | Jonathan Lane | |
Title: | General Counsel |
Schedule 1
Account Debtors
1. | Anheuser-Busch LLC (but only so long as Anheuser-Busch LLC remains a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV) |
Schedule 1-1
Schedule 2
Seller Information Schedule
Actual Name, as reflected in the attached organizational documents (i.e., certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Formation or Certificate of Limited Partnership):
Wise Alloys Funding II LLC
Trade Name(s) (if any): n/a
Type and Jurisdiction of Organization (e.g. Delaware corporation, sole proprietorship): Delaware limited liability company
Address of Place of Business (if only one) or Chief Executive Office (if more than one place of business):
Wise Alloys Funding II LLC
4805 Second Street
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
Attn: Alex Godwin or Treasury Department
Fax: 256.386.6980
Email: alex.godwin@constellium.com
Seller Payment Instructions:
Account maintained in the name of Wise Alloys II LLC at Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, with account number 4194360814 or such other account designated by the Seller or the Servicer from time to time.
Schedule 2-1
Schedule 3
Applicable Credit Spreads
Applicable Credit Spread
On any applicable date, the Applicable Credit Spread for purposes of the Agreement shall be determined on such date based on the grid below depending on the lower of the most recent public issuer credit ratings for Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV as provided by S&P and Moodys.
Anheuser-Busch
InBev SA/NV, Long Term Rating |
Applicable
Credit Spread |
|||||||||||
S&P | Moodys | |||||||||||
>= |
A- | A3 | 2.00 | % | ||||||||
<= |
BBB+ | Baa1 | 2.50 | % |
Schedule 3-1
Exhibit A
Definitions
ABL Agent means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as successor in interest to General Electric Capital Corporation, in its capacity as agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, together with its successors and assigns.
ABL Credit Agreement means the credit agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among Wise Alloys LLC, as the borrower, the other credit parties signatory thereto, the ABL Agent, and the lenders signatory thereto.
Account Debtor : The meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
Account Debtor Insolvency Event : With respect to any Account Debtor, such Account Debtor shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally (including its obligations under the Receivables), or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against such Account Debtor 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, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or such Account Debtor shall take any action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this definition.
Adverse Claim means any ownership interest or claim, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest, hypothecation, charge or other encumbrance or security arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily given, including, but not limited to, any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, and any assignment, deposit arrangement or lease intended as, or having the effect of, security and any filed financing statement or other notice of any of the foregoing (whether or not a lien or other encumbrance is created or exists at the time of the filing); it being understood that any thereof in favor of, or assigned to, Purchaser shall not constitute an Adverse Claim.
Affiliate : With respect to any Person, each officer, director, general partner or joint-venturer of such Person and any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purpose of this definition, control means the possession of either (a) the power to vote, or the beneficial ownership of, 25% or more of the equity interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or (b) the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.
Agreement : The meaning set forth in the first paragraph of the agreement to which this Exhibit is attached.
Applicable Credit Spread : On any applicable date of determination, means the credit spreads determined at such time in accordance with the credit spread chart set forth on Schedule 3 attached hereto.
Exhibit A-1
Applicable Law : means any law (including common law), constitution, statute, treaty, regulation, rule, ordinance, order, injunction, writ, decree, judgment, award or similar item of or by a governmental authority or any interpretation, implementation or application thereof.
Buffer Period : means five (5) days.
Business Day : Any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks in New York City are required or permitted to close.
Capital Stock means, with respect to any Person, any and all common shares, preferred shares, interests, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Persons capital stock, partnership interests, limited liability company interests, membership interests or other equivalent interests and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock), warrants or options exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock or other equity interests.
Change of Control means, if at any time, (i) Constellium N.V. ceases to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Capital Stock of Parent, (ii) Parent ceases to own directly or indirectly, 100% of the Capital Stock of the Originator or (iii) Originator ceases to own, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Adverse Claim, except with respect to the ABL Credit Agreement, the PIK Toggle Notes Indenture, the Senior Secured Notes Indenture or any other similar incurrence of debt, 100% of the Capital Stock of the Seller.
Closing Date means March 16, 2016, or such other date as all conditions in Section 2(c) have been satisfied.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and shall include all amendments, modifications and supplements thereto from time to time.
Collections : means all collections and other proceeds received and payment of any amounts owed in respect of the Purchased Receivables, including, without limitation, all cash collections, wire transfers or electronic funds transfers.
Collection Account : means the account maintained in the name of Wise Alloys Funding II LLC at Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, with Account No. 4193371119 and ABA No. 121000248.
Collection Account Agreement : means the Deposit Account Control Agreement, dated as of 16, 2016, by and among the Servicer, the Seller, as pledgor, the Purchaser, as secured party, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the account bank.
Commitment Fee : has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
Compliance Action : means any action taken by Purchaser (or any action that Purchaser instructs other members of the Purchaser, its Affiliates or subsidiaries to take) to the extent it is legally permitted to do so under the laws of its jurisdiction, which it, in its sole discretion, considers appropriate to act in accordance with Sanctions Laws or domestic and foreign laws and regulations, including without limitation, the interception and investigation of any payment, communication or instruction; the making of further enquiries as to whether a person or entity is subject to any Sanctions Laws; and the refusal to process any transaction or instruction that does not conform with Sanctions Laws.
Exhibit A-2
Confidentiality Termination Date means, (i) with respect to the confidentiality obligations related to Contracts and invoices, the date which is seven (7) years from the date hereof, and (ii) with respect to the confidentiality obligations relating to all other Confidential Information, the date which is two (2) years from the Purchase Termination Date.
Contracts : has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) hereof.
Credit and Collection Policy means, as the context may require, those receivables credit and collection policies and practices of each Originator, the Seller or the Servicer in effect on the date of this Agreement and delivered to Purchaser on or prior to the date hereof, as may be modified in compliance with this Agreement and the Transaction Documents.
Defaulted Receivable means a Receivable:
(a) as to which any payment, or part thereof, remains unpaid for more than 10 days from the original due date for such payment, or
(b) without duplication (i) as to which an Account Debtor Insolvency Event shall have occurred, or (ii) that has been (or consistent with its standard Credit and Collection Policies, should have been) written off on Sellers or Servicers books as uncollectible.
Default Ratio means the ratio (expressed as a percentage and rounded to the nearest 1/100 of 1%, with 5/1000th of 1% rounded upward) computed as of the last day of each calendar month by dividing: (a) the aggregate outstanding balance of all Purchased Receivables that became or remained Defaulted Receivables during such month, by (b) the aggregate outstanding balance of all Purchased Receivables during the month that is three calendar months before such month.
Delinquency Ratio means the ratio (expressed as a percentage and rounded to the nearest 1/100 of 1%, with 5/1000th of 1% rounded upward) computed as of the last day of each calendar month by dividing: (a) the aggregate outstanding balance of all Purchased Receivables that were Delinquent Receivables on such day by (b) the aggregate outstanding balance of all Purchased Receivables on such day.
Delinquent Receivable means a Receivable as to which any payment, or part thereof, remains unpaid for more than 5 days from the original due date for such payment.
Delinquent Rate : A rate of interest equal to 2.00% per annum plus the Discount Rate.
Dilution : All actual offsets to the face value of the Net Invoice Amount for the relating to one or more Purchased Receivables, including, without limitation, customer payment and/or volume discounts, write-offs, deductions, offsets, credit memoranda, returns and allowances, billing errors, rebates and other similar items but no event shall include failure or inability of the Account Debtor to timely pay due to credit-related reasons.
Discount Rate : On any date of determination, a rate equal LIBOR plus a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Credit Spread at such time.
Dispute : Any dispute, Dilution, claim, defense or counterclaim relating to one or more Purchased Receivables (other than an adjustment granted with Purchasers prior written consent) asserted or claimed by the Account Debtor in writing or other reasonable and customary form of business communication and which is not remedied within 10 days regardless of whether the same (i) is in an
Exhibit A-3
amount greater than, equal to or less than the applicable Purchased Receivable, or (ii) arises by reason of an act of God, civil strife, war, currency restrictions, foreign political restrictions or regulations, or any other circumstance beyond the control of Seller or the applicable Account Debtor, but shall in no event include the failure of the Account Debtor to timely pay any of its obligations under the Receivable in the absence of a Dispute, Dilution or any other event for which any amount is payable pursuant to Section 6 . For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure to make payment of a Purchased Receivable as a result of an Account Debtor Insolvency Event of the applicable Account Debtor shall not be deemed a Dispute hereunder.
Eligible Receivable : A Receivable that satisfies each of the following conditions to the satisfaction of Purchaser:
(i) is generated by the Originator in the ordinary course of its business from sale of goods or the provision of services to an Account Debtor under a duly authorized Contract that is in full force and effect and that is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Originator and the related Account Debtor, enforceable against such Person in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, arrangement, moratorium, receivership, conservatorship or other laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally;
(ii) such sale of goods or provision of services to the applicable Account Debtor have been fully delivered or performed by Originator,
(iii) the Account Debtor with respect to such Receivable is rated investment grade by all nationally recognized statistical rating organizations then rating such Account Debtor;
(iv) that by its terms has an Invoice Due Date that is no more than 90 days from the original invoice date and such Invoice Due Date has not occurred,
(v) that is owned by Seller, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and security interests of any Person.
(vi) that is freely assignable without the consent of any Person, including the applicable Account Debtor,
(vii) for which no default or event of default (howsoever defined) exists under the applicable Contract between Originator and the applicable Account Debtor,
(viii) which is not subject to any Dispute or Dilution,
(ix) the related Account Debtor has been instructed in writing to make payments on such Receivable only to the Collection Account,
(x) the related Account Debtor (i) is a resident of the United States of America and has provided Originator with a billing address in the United States of America, (ii) is not an Affiliate of Seller, Servicer or Parent and (iii) is not a natural person,
(xi) such Receivable (i) is denominated and payable only in USD in the United States and (ii) is not payable in installments,
Exhibit A-4
(xii) such Receivable is not a Receivable which arose as a result of the sale of consigned goods or finished goods that have incorporated any consigned goods into such finished goods or a sale in which Seller or Servicer acted as a bailee, consignee or agent of any other Person or otherwise not as principal or otherwise in respect of deferred or unearned revenues,
(xiii) such Receivable does not constitute a re-billed amount arising from a deduction taken by the related Account Debtor with respect to a previously arising Receivable,
(xiv) as of the related Purchase Date, no Account Debtor Insolvency Event has occurred with respect to the related Account Debtor, such Account Debtor is not delinquent or in default either on more than 5% of its then unpaid and outstanding Receivables or on more than 5% of its then unpaid and outstanding Purchased Receivables,
(xv) such Receivable (i) does not arise from a sale of accounts made as part of a sale of a business or constitute an assignment for the purpose of collection only, (ii) is not a transfer of a single account made in whole or partial satisfaction of a preexisting indebtedness or an assignment of a right to payment under a contract to an assignee that is also obligated to perform under the contract and (iii) is not a transfer of an interest in or an assignment of a claim under a policy of insurance,
(xvi) such Receivable constitutes an account or a payment intangible as defined in the UCC and is not evidenced by instruments or chattel paper, and
(xvii) the related Account Debtor is Anheuser-Busch LLC (but only so long as Anheuser-Busch LLC remains a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV) and/or such other Account Debtors as Purchaser may agree to from time to time in its sole discretion and in a writing signed by the Purchaser.
Event of Repurchase : The meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.
Excluded Taxes : Any of the following taxes imposed on or with respect to Purchaser or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to Purchaser, taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or capital, franchise taxes, and branch profits taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of Purchaser being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such tax (or any political subdivision thereof), (ii) imposed under or as a result of FATCA, or (iii) that are taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between Purchaser and the jurisdiction imposing such tax (other than connections arising from Purchaser having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, Purchased Receivables under or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to this Agreement).
Facility Amount : up to USD 100,000,000.
FATCA means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or as amended or a successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (or any amended or successor version as described above), any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with such sections of the Code and any legislation, law, regulation or practice enacted or promulgated pursuant to such intergovernmental agreement.
Exhibit A-5
First Tier Parent Guarantee A guarantee agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Seller and Purchaser duly executed and delivered by Parent to Seller, as the purchaser under the Sale Agreement.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America or the International Financial Reporting Standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and related interpretations (in each case as in effect from time to time).
Identification Ratio means the ratio (expressed as a percentage and rounded to the nearest 1/100 of 1%, with 5/1000th of 1% rounded upward) computed as of the last day of each calendar month by dividing: (a) the aggregate of all Collections during such month on all outstanding receivables originated by the Originator (whether or not Purchased Receivables hereunder (and whether or not then owned, pledged or otherwise assigned by the Originator), which were not, within five (5) Business Days of receipt of such Collections, properly identified as being related or applicable to a particular receivable (whether or not a Purchased Receivable), by (b) the aggregate of all Collections during such month on all outstanding Purchased Receivables, which were, within five (5) Business Days of receipt of such Collections, properly identified as being related or applicable to a particular Purchased Receivable.
Indemnified Amounts : The meaning set forth in Section 7(b) hereof.
Indemnified Party : The meaning set forth in Section 7(b) hereof.
Insolvency Event : With respect to any Person, such Person 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 such Person seeking to adjudicate it as 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 it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 30 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or such Person shall take any action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this definition; provided , that in the case of the inability of a Person to pay its debts as such debts become due arising by reason of currency restrictions or foreign political restrictions or regulations beyond the control of Seller or such Person, such event shall not be deemed an Insolvency Event hereunder.
Intercreditor Agreement : That certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as ABL Agent (the ABL Agent ), the Purchaser, the Servicer and the Seller, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Invoice Due Date : With respect to a Purchased Receivable, the last date identified for timely payment in the applicable original invoice.
LIBOR : The offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars in the London interbank market for a period determined by Purchaser, which is shown on the Telerate screen (page 3750) as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) day that the Purchase Price is paid pursuant hereto; provided , however , that if such a rate ceases to be available on that or any other source from Telerate, LIBOR Rate shall be a rate per annum equal to the offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars in the London interbank market for a period
Exhibit A-6
determined by Purchaser, that appears on Reuters Screen LIBO Page (or any successor page) as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day such rate is calculated or if not so reported, then as determined by Purchaser from another recognized source or interbank.
Material Adverse Change : With respect to any Person, an event that results or could likely result in (a) a material adverse change in (i) the business condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance or properties of such Person, or (ii) the ability of such Person to fulfill its obligations hereunder, or (b) the impairment of the validity or enforceability of, or the rights, remedies or benefits available to, Purchaser under this Agreement.
Moodys : Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Net Invoice Amount : The amount shown on the original invoice for the applicable Purchased Receivable as the total amount payable by the applicable Account Debtor, which amount shall be net of any discounts, credits or other allowances identified with specificity on such original invoice.
OFAC : The meaning set forth in the definition of Sanctioned Country.
Offset Condition : On any date of determination shall be satisfied, so long as (i) the aggregate outstanding Purchase Prices of all Purchased Receivables at such time related to any Account Debtor and its Affiliates (on a combined basis) does not exceed (ii) 90% of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all receivables payable at such time by such Account Debtor (whether or not such receivables are Purchased Receivables hereunder), minus (y) the aggregate amounts of principal and interest, if any, at such time in respect of any amounts which are subject to payment by (whether or not then due and payable) the Seller or any of its Affiliates (on an aggregate basis), to or for the account of such Account Debtor (and any of its Affiliates (on a combined basis).
Organization Documents : Means (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and the operating agreement, or the equivalent thereof; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable governmental authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity, or any equivalent thereof.
Originator means Wise Alloys LLC, as originator and seller under the Sale Agreement.
Outstanding Account Debtor Purchase Amount : As of the date of determination, an amount equal to (i) the aggregate amount paid by Purchaser to Seller in respect of Purchased Receivables of a particular Account Debtor, minus (ii) the aggregate amount of all Collections with respect to such Purchased Receivables actually deposited into the Collection Account.
Outstanding Aggregate Purchase Amount : As of the date of determination, an amount equal the Outstanding Account Debtor Purchase Amount for all Account Debtors.
Parent : Constellium Holdco II, B.V., a Dutch entity.
Parent Guarantee : A guarantee agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Purchaser duly executed and delivered by Parent to Purchaser.
Exhibit A-7
Person : An individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), limited liability company, limited partnership, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.
PIK Toggle Notes Indenture means the indenture, dated as of April 16, 2014, among Wise Intermediate Holdings LLC, as an issuer, Wise Holdings Finance Corporation, as an issuer and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 9 3 / 4 % / 10 1 / 2 % Senior PIK toggle Notes due 2019 were issued.
Proposed Receivables : With respect to any Purchase Date, the Eligible Receivables proposed by Seller to Purchaser for purchase hereunder and described in a Purchase Request to be purchased on such Purchase Date.
Purchase Date : Each date on which Purchaser purchases Eligible Receivables.
Purchase Price : The meaning set forth in Section 2(d) hereof.
Purchase Request : The meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
Purchase Termination Date : The date which is the earlier of (i) on which this Agreement terminates pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, (ii) the date declared by Purchaser in its sole discretion following the occurrence of a Termination Event and (iii) March 15, 2017, as such date may be extended in accordance with the terms of Section 2(b) hereof.
Purchased Receivables : The meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
Purchaser : The meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Purchaser Agent : Means Greensill Capital Inc., together with its successors and assigns in such capacity.
Purchaser Agent Fee Letter : That certain fee letter agreement dated on or about the date hereof between the Purchaser and the Purchaser Agent, as such letter agreement may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
Receivables : Any indebtedness or other payment obligation owing to Seller or Originator by any Account Debtor (whether constituting an account or payment intangible), including any right to payment of interest or finance charges and other obligations of such Account Debtor with respect thereto, arising out of Originators sale and delivery of goods or Originators sale and provision of services.
Regulatory Change means, relative to any Person:
(a) any change in (or the adoption, implementation, administration, change in phase-in or interpretation or commencement of effectiveness of) any:
(i) Applicable Law applicable to such Person;
(ii) regulation, interpretation, directive, requirement or request (whether or not having the force of law) applicable to such Person of (A) any governmental authority charged with the interpretation or administration of any Applicable Law referred to in clause (a)(i) or of (B) any fiscal, monetary or other authority having jurisdiction over such Person;
Exhibit A-8
(iii) GAAP, IFRS or regulatory accounting principles applicable to such Person and affecting the application to such Person of any Applicable Law, regulation, interpretation, directive, requirement or request referred to in clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above; or
(iv) notwithstanding the forgoing, (A) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (B) all requests, rules, guidelines 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 governmental or regulatory authorities, shall in each case be deemed to be a Regulatory Change occurring and implemented after the date hereof, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented; or
(b) any change in the application to such Person of any existing Applicable Law, regulation, interpretation, directive, requirement, request or accounting principles referred to in clause (a)(i) , (a)(ii) , (a)(iii) or (a)(iv) above.
Related Rights: means, with respect to any Receivable:
(a) all of the Sellers and the Originators interest in any documents of title evidencing the shipment or storage of any goods that give rise to such Receivable, and all goods (including returned goods) relating to such Receivable,
(b) all instruments, chattel paper or other documents or contracts, to the extent evidencing such Receivable,
(c) all other security interests or liens and property subject thereto from time to time, to the extent purporting to secure payment of such Receivable, whether pursuant to the Contract related to such Receivable or otherwise, together with all UCC financing statements or similar filings relating thereto,
(d) all of the Sellers and each Originators rights, interests and claims under the Contracts and all guaranties, indemnities, insurance and other agreements (including the related Contract) or arrangements of whatever character from time to time, to the extent supporting or securing payment of such Receivable or otherwise relating to such Receivable, whether pursuant to the Contract related to such Receivable or otherwise,
(e) the Sellers rights and remedies as against the Originator or Parent under the Sale Agreement and/or any other Transaction Document; and
(f) all Collections and proceeds of any of the foregoing.
Repurchase Date : The meaning set forth in Section 7 hereof.
Repurchase Price : The meaning set forth in Section 7 hereof.
Exhibit A-9
Repurchase Rate : For any Purchased Receivable repurchased by the Seller, a rate per annum equal to the Discount Rate.
Repurchase Ratio means, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) with respect to any month, equal to (i) the aggregate outstanding balance of all Purchased Receivables which has become the subject of a Repurchase Event, divided by (ii) the aggregate outstanding balance of all Receivables generated by the Wise Alloys LLC one month prior to such month.
Retained Obligations : The meaning set forth in Section 8 hereof.
Sale Agreement means the receivables purchase agreement between the Originator and the Seller, dated as of the date hereof, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Sanctioned Country : A country that is the subject of country-wide or territory wide economic or trade sanctions administered by the US Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control ( OFAC ).
Sanctioned Person : Any of the following currently or in the future: (i) an entity, vessel, or individual named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons maintained by U.S. Department of Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) available at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx or on the consolidated list of persons, groups, and entities subject to the European Union financial sanctions currently available at http://eeas.europa.eu/cfsp/sanctions/consol-list_en.htm; (ii) any entity or individual located in or organized under the laws of any Sanctioned Country to the extent that the entity or individual is subject to sanctions under Sanctions Laws; (iii) any entity or individual otherwise a subject of sanctions under Sanctions Laws; and (iv) any entity or individual engaged in sanctionable activities under the Sanctions Laws.
Sanctions Laws : The sanctions laws, regulations, and rules promulgated or administered by OFAC and the U.S. Department of State, including any enabling legislation or Executive Order related thereto, as amended from time to time; the sanctions and other restrictive measures applied by the European Union in pursuit of the Common Foreign and Security Policy objectives set out in the Treaty on European Union; the United Kingdom, and any similar sanctions laws as may be enacted from time to time in the future by the U.S., the European Union (and any of its member states), or the Security Council or any other legislative body of the United Nations; and any corresponding laws of jurisdictions in which Seller operates or in which the proceeds of the Purchase Price will be used or from which repayments of such obligations be derived.
Scheduled Payment Date : For any invoice, the date arrived at by adding the Buffer Period to the Invoice Due Date.
Seller : The meaning set forth in the preamble.
Senior Secured Notes Indenture means the indenture, dated as of December 11, 2013, among Wise Metals Group LLC, as an issuer, Wise Alloys Finance Corporation, as an issuer, the guarantors party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 8 3 / 4 % Senior Secured Notes due 2018 were issued.
Servicer : The meaning set forth in Section 6(a) hereof.
Exhibit A-10
Servicer Report : The meaning set forth in Section 6(e) hereof.
Servicing Fee : The meaning set forth in Section 6(a) hereof.
Settlement Date : The meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(v) hereof.
Sold Assets : The meaning set forth in Section 2(g) hereof.
Standard & Poors : Standard & Poors, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Termination Event : Each of the following shall be a Termination Event:
(a)(i) Seller, Parent, Originator or Servicer shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement under this Agreement or any Transaction Document and, except as otherwise provided herein, such failure shall continue for five (5) Business Days after such Persons knowledge or notice thereof, (ii) Seller or Servicer shall fail to make when due any payment or deposit to be made by it under this Agreement including without limitation, any payment or deposit of Collections Due on each Settlement Date or under Section 7(b) of this Agreement and such failure shall continue unremedied for one Business Day or (iii) Servicer shall resign as Servicer, and no successor Servicer reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser shall have been appointed;
(b) any representation or warranty made by Seller, Parent, Originator or Servicer (or any of their respective officers) under or in connection with this Agreement or any Transaction Document, or any information or report delivered by Seller, Parent, Originator or Servicer pursuant to the Agreement, shall prove to have been incorrect or untrue in any material respect when made or deemed made or delivered and shall continue unremedied for five (5) Business Days after such Persons knowledge or notice thereof;
(c) Seller or Servicer shall fail to deliver any report required to be delivered by this Agreement when due;
(d) this Agreement or any purchase pursuant to the Agreement shall for any reason: cease to create with respect to the Purchased Receivables, or the interest of Purchaser with respect to such Purchased Receivables shall cease to be, a valid and enforceable first priority perfected ownership interest, free and clear of any Adverse Claim; or there shall exist any Adverse Claim on the Purchased Receivables other than the Adverse Claims created under this Agreement;
(e) Seller, Parent, Originator or Servicer 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 Seller or Servicer 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 it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or Seller, Parent, Originator or Servicer shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this paragraph;
Exhibit A-11
(f) (i) on any date of determination the (A) Default Ratio shall exceed 1.00%, (B) the Delinquency Ratio shall exceed 1.00%; (C) the Repurchase Ratio shall exceed 3.00%, or (D) the Identification Ratio shall exceed 5.00%, (ii) the average for three consecutive calendar months of: (A) the Default Ratio shall exceed 1.00%, (B) the Delinquency Ratio shall exceed 1.00%, (C) the Repurchase Ratio shall exceed 3.00%, or (D) the Identification Ratio shall exceed 5.00% or (iii) the Offset Condition shall fail to be satisfied;
(g) a Change in Control shall occur;
(h) (i) Parent or Servicer or any of their subsidiaries shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any of its debt that is outstanding in a principal amount of at least $75,000,000 in the aggregate when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement, mortgage, indenture or instrument relating to such debt (and shall have not been waived); or (ii) any other default, event of default or similar event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement, mortgage, indenture or instrument relating to any such debt and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement, mortgage, indenture or instrument;
(i) to the extent Ultimate Parent has a credit rating from Standard & Poors or Moodys (including, if applicable, a shadow rating from either such rating agency): (i) such rating shall be downgraded below B- by Standard & Poors and below B3 by Moodys or (ii) such rating of Ultimate Parent is withdrawn by Standard & Poors or Moodys, as the case may be (for the avoidance of doubt, if either Standard & Poors or Moodys takes any of the actions described in clauses (i) or (ii) above, whether or not such action is taken by the other or both, such action by either such agency shall constitute a Termination Event hereunder);
(j)(i) One or more final judgments for the payment of money shall be entered against Seller or (ii) one or more final judgments for the payment of money in an amount in excess of $50,000,000, individually or in the aggregate, shall be entered against Servicer, Parent or Originator on claims not covered by insurance or as to which the insurance carrier has denied its responsibility; or
(k) This Agreement or the Parent Guarantee, at any time, ceases to be the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Seller, the Originator, the Servicer or the Parent, as applicable, at any time, challenges its obligations hereunder or thereunder.
Transaction Documents means this Agreement, the Sale Agreement, the Parent Guarantee, the First Tier Parent Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collection Account Agreement, any account, control or similar agreement (if any) covering the Collection Account and all other certificates, instruments, UCC financing statements, reports, notices, agreements and documents executed or delivered under or in connection with this Agreement, in each case as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
UCC : The Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York from time to time.
Ultimate Parent means Constellium N.V., a Dutch public limited liability company.
Unmatured Termination Event means an event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a Termination Event.
Unsold Receivable means any Receivable that is not a Purchased Receivable.
USD : United States Dollars, the lawful currency of the United States of America.
Exhibit A-12
Exhibit B
Form of Purchase Request
[date]
Hitachi Capital America Corp.
800 Connecticut Ave.
Norwalk, CT 06854
Reference is hereby made to that certain Receivable Purchase Agreement, dated as March 16, 2016, between Wise Alloys Funding II LLC ( Seller ), Hitachi Capital America Corp. ( Purchaser ), Wise Alloys LLC ( Servicer ) and Greensill Capital Inc. (the Purchaser Agent ) (as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the Agreement ; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement).
Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Seller hereby requests that Purchaser purchase from Seller the Proposed Receivables listed herein with an aggregate Net Invoice Amount of USD[ ].
Seller represents and warrants that as of the date hereof and on the Purchase Date:
1. Following the purchase of the Proposed Receivables set forth in this Purchase Request, (A) the Outstanding Aggregate Purchase Amount does not exceed USD[ ] and (B) the Outstanding Account Debtor Purchase Amount with respect to the Purchased Receivables (assuming the Proposed Receivables constitute Purchased Receivables) payable by any Account Debtor does not exceed the sublimit established by Purchaser for such Account Debtor;
2. Sellers representations, warranties and covenants set forth in the Agreement are true and correct;
3. The conditions precedent for purchase set forth in Section 2(c) of the Agreement have been satisfied;
4. No Event of Repurchase exists on such Purchase Date except for repurchases being effectuated on the date hereof by setoff by Purchaser against the Purchase Price for the Proposed Receivables; and
5. There has not been any Material Adverse Change in Seller, Servicer, Originator or Parent since the last purchase of Receivables under the Agreement.
6. With respect to the related Proposed Receivables offered for sale by Seller to Purchaser based on the approved Account Debtor(s), set forth below is the following: applicable Account Debtors legal name, address, the invoice number(s), the stated amount of the invoice(s), the date and term of the invoice(s), the stated due date of such invoice (s), the Scheduled Payment Date of such invoice and the calculation of the Offset Condition:
[ ]
Exhibit B-1
[ ]
[ ]
Upon acceptance by Purchaser of this Purchase Request and payment of the Purchase Price, Purchaser hereby purchases, and Seller hereby sells, all of Sellers right, title and interest with respect to the Proposed Receivables on the attached Exhibit and all Related Rights as of the date hereof, and the Proposed Receivables shall become Purchased Receivables in the manner set forth in the Agreement.
[ ] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
PURCHASE REQUEST ACCEPTED: | ||||
HITACHI CAPITAL AMERICA CORP. | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Date: |
Exhibit B-2
Exhibit C
[Reserved.]
Exhibit C-1
Exhibit D
Payment Reconciliation
Exhibit D shows the payment for each individual invoice related to the Purchased Receivable.
Please include all the information in the Purchase Request together with the payment date, payment amount, any Dilutions and the outstanding amount, if any.
Exhibit D-1
Exhibit E
Form of Notification of Assignment
, 201_
Anheuser-Busch, LLC.
One Busch Place, 202-5
St. Louis, Missouri 63118
Attention: Accounts Payable; Head of Metal Procurement
Wise Alloys LLC (Supplier) and Wise Alloys Funding II LLC (Subsidiary) hereby notifies you pursuant to Section 9-406 of the Uniform Commercial Code that Supplier has sold and assigned and will sell and assign to Subsidiary and Subsidiary has thereupon sold and assigned to Hitachi Capital America Corp. (the Purchaser) certain of Suppliers accounts receivable due from you, including those accounts listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto. From time to time, Purchaser may notify you of additional accounts receivable due from you that have then been purchased by Purchaser. You are hereby instructed to rely upon any such notice from Purchaser.
You are hereby instructed to make all payments due from you on all Suppliers or Subsidiarys accounts receivable to Purchaser in accordance with the instructions set forth on Schedule 2 attached hereto or such other instructions as Purchaser may provide you with from time to time. Neither Supplier nor Subsidiary may countermand any Purchaser instructions and you are instructed to disregard any instructions from Supplier or Subsidiary that are contrary to those on Schedule 2 or to any other instructions hereafter furnished to you by Purchaser, unless such instructions are joined in by Purchaser in writing.
Please contact Purchaser at 203-956-3264 if you have any questions about the above notification of assignment and remittance instructions.
Very truly yours,
SUPPLIER:
Wise Alloys LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:
Name:
Title:
[Signatures continued on following page]
Exhibit E-1
SUBSIDIARY:
Wise Alloys Funding II LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:
Name:
Title:
Acknowledged and Accepted as of the date first written above:
PURCHASER:
Hitachi Capital America Corp.,
a Delaware corporation
By:
Print Name:
Print Title:
Exhibit E-2
Schedule 1 to Notification of Assignment
List of Current Purchased Accounts
Exhibit E-3
Schedule 2 to Notification of Assignment
Payment Instructions for Purchased Accounts
Until further notice, please continue to make payments on account of Purchased Receivables to:
Account Bank: Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
Account Holder: Wise Alloys Funding II LLC
Account No.: 4193371119 and
ABA No.: 121000248
OR
Please pay all amounts due on Purchased Receivables to:
Exhibit 12.1
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Pierre Vareille, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Constellium N.V. (the Company);
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The Companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Companys internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting;
5. The Companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Companys auditors and the audit committee of the Companys board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
Date: April 18, 2016
By: |
/s/ Pierre Vareille |
|
Name: Pierre Vareille | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 12.2
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Didier Fontaine, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Constellium N.V. (the Company);
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The Companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Companys internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting;
5. The Companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Companys auditors and the audit committee of the Companys board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
Date: April 18, 2016
By: |
/s/ Didier Fontaine |
|
Name: Didier Fontaine | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 13.1
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Constellium N.V. (the Company) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Pierre Vareille, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: April 18, 2016
By: |
/s/ Pierre Vareille |
|
Name: Pierre Vareille | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 13.2
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Constellium N.V. (the Company) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Didier Fontaine, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: April 18, 2016
By: |
/s/ Didier Fontaine |
|
Name: Didier Fontaine | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 15.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-191905 and 333-201141) of Constellium N.V. of our reports dated March 15, 2016 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedule and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appear in this Form 20-F.
/s/ Olivier Lotz
Olivier Lotz
Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
April 18, 2016
Exhibit 21.1
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES OF CONSTELLIUM N.V.
Name |
Jurisdiction of Incorporation |
|
Alabama Electric Motor Services, LLC |
Delaware | |
Alcan International Network (Thailand) Co. Ltd. |
Thailand | |
Alcan International Network México S.A. de C.V. |
Mexico | |
Alcan International Network Portugal Importações e Exportações, Lda. Em Liquidação |
Portugal | |
Astrex Inc. |
Canada | |
Constellium Automotive USA, LLC |
Delaware | |
Constellium China |
China | |
Constellium Deutschland GmbH |
Germany | |
Constellium Engley (Changchun) Automotive Structures Co Ltd. |
China | |
Constellium Extrusions Burg GmbH |
Germany | |
Constellium Extrusions Decin s.r.o. |
Czech Republic | |
Constellium Extrusions Deutschland GmbH |
Germany | |
Constellium Extrusions France |
France | |
Constellium Extrusions Landau GmbH |
Germany | |
Constellium Extrusions Levice s.r.o. |
Slovak Republic | |
Constellium Finance |
France | |
Constellium France Holdco |
France | |
Constellium France III |
France | |
Constellium Germany Holdco GmbH & Co. KG |
Germany | |
Constelium Germany Verwaltungs GmbH |
Germany | |
Constellium Holdco II B.V. |
Netherlands | |
Constellium Holdco III B.V. |
Netherlands | |
Constellium Issoire (formerly known as Constellium France) |
France | |
Constellium Italy S.p.A. |
Italy | |
Constellium Japan KK |
Japan | |
Constellium Montreuil Juigné (formerly known as Constellium Aviatube) |
France | |
Constellium Neuf Brisach |
France | |
Constellium Paris |
France | |
Constellium Property and Equipment Company, LLC |
Delaware | |
Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC |
Delaware |
Constellium Rolled Products Singen GmbH & Co. KG | Germany | |
Constellium Singen GmbH | Germany | |
Constellium South East Asia | Singapore | |
Constellium Switzerland AG | Switzerland | |
Constellium Treuhand UG (haftunsgbeschränkt) | Germany | |
Constellium UK Limited | United Kingdom | |
Constellium US Holdings I, LLC | Delaware | |
Constellium US Holdings II, LLC | Delaware | |
Constellium Ussel | France | |
Constellium Valais SA | Switzerland | |
Constellium W | France | |
C-TEC Constellium Technology Center (formerly known as Constellium CRV) | France | |
Engineered Products International SAS | France | |
Listerhill Total Maintenance Center LLC | Delaware | |
Wise Alloys Finance Corporation | Delaware | |
Wise Alloys LLC | Delaware | |
Wise Alloys Funding LLC | Delaware | |
Wise Alloys Funding II LLC | Delaware | |
Wise Holdings Finance Corporation | Delaware | |
Wise Metals Group LLC | Delaware | |
Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC | Delaware | |
Quiver Ventures LLC | Delaware |
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