UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of June 2016

Commission File Number 000-12790

 

 

ORBOTECH LTD.

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

 

7 SANHEDRIN BOULEVARD, NORTH INDUSTRIAL ZONE, YAVNE 8110101, ISRAEL

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F   x             Form 40-F   ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):   ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):   ¨

 

 

 


This report on Form 6-K is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) and is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-211938) and the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Registration No. 33-25782, Registration No. 33-78196, Registration No. 333-05440, Registration No. 333-06542, Registration No. 333-08404, Registration No. 333-09342, Registration No. 333-11124, Registration No. 333-12692, Registration No. 333-127979, Registration No. 333-154394, Registration No. 333-169146 and Registration No. 333-207878) of Orbotech Ltd. (the “ Company ”, the “ Registrant ” or “ Orbotech ”), all previously filed with the SEC.

INFORMATION ABOUT PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FINANCING TRANSACTIONS

On June 13, 2016, the Company issued a press release, entitled “Orbotech Ltd. Announces Strategic Capital Market Transactions to Enhance Balance Sheet Flexibility” and announcing the financing transactions described below, filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

ENTRY INTO MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

Overview

As previously announced, the Company has been actively pursuing a stand-alone secured debt financing in the United Kingdom, the proceeds of which, together with available cash, would be used to repay in full the remaining loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent dated as of August 7, 2014 (the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”).

On June 13, 2016, the Company’s indirect subsidiaries, SPTS Technologies Sapphire Limited and SPTS Technologies Limited (collectively, the “ UK Borrowers ”) entered into a facilities agreement (the “ UK Facilities Agreement ”) with Barclays Bank PLC and Lloyds Bank PLC (the “Lenders ”), with Lloyds Bank PLC acting as agent and security agent. SPTS Technologies Investments Limited, the parent company of the UK Borrowers and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of the Company, will guarantee the UK Facilities Agreement together with the UK Borrowers, SPTS Technologies UK Limited and SPTS Technologies Overseas Holdings Limited (collectively, the “ UK Guarantors ”). The UK Borrowers and the UK Guarantors and their respective subsidiaries are referred to as the “SD UK Group”.

Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, including receipt of a payoff letter related to the Existing Credit Agreement and release of the collateral securing the obligations thereunder, delivery of an executed Debenture (as defined below), receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the previously announced offering of its ordinary shares (the “ Offering ”) and delivery of certain other certificates, legal opinions and “know your customer” information, the Company will use the proceeds of the Offering together with the proceeds from the $110.0 million term loan (the “ Term Loan ”) that is part of the UK Facilities Agreement to repay in full and terminate the Existing Credit Agreement and to pay related fees and expenses (including using the Term Loan proceeds only to pay fees and expenses related to the UK Facilities Agreement). The Company expects the UK Borrowers to borrow the Term Loan prior to the end of the second quarter of 2016. The $15.0 million US dollar revolving credit facility (the “ RCF ”) available under the UK Facilities Agreement may be used, subject at each borrowing to the satisfaction of conditions precedent customary for English law facilities agreements of this type, including the making of certain true and correct representations and that there be no resulting default or material adverse effect on the SD UK Group, for general corporate purposes of the UK Borrowers, including working capital and acquisitions. The RCF will be undrawn at the time the Term Loan is borrowed. The obligations of the UK Borrowers and the UK Guarantors will be secured by a fixed and floating charge on substantially all the UK assets of the UK Guarantors.

The following information describes the material terms of the Term Loan and RCF under the UK Facilities Agreement. This description is a brief summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the UK Facilities Agreement in all respects.


Interest, Fees and Maturity

For each interest period under the UK Facilities Agreement, both the Term Loan and amounts drawn under the RCF bear interest at a percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the margin plus the prevailing LIBOR in respect of the relevant interest period (or in relation to loans in Euros, EURIBOR). The margin varies quarterly based on the Leverage (as defined in the UK Facilities Agreement as a measure of the ratio of SD UK Group Total Net Debt to SD UK Group EBITDA, each as defined in the UK Facilities Agreement) of the SD UK Group as follows:

 

Leverage of the SD UK Group

   Term Loan % per annum      RCF % per annum  

Greater than 2.0 : 1

     1.90         1.90   

Less than or equal to 2.0 : 1 but greater than 1.5 : 1

     1.60         1.60   

Less than or equal to 1.5 : 1 but greater than 1.25 : 1

     1.45         1.45   

Less than or equal to 1.25 : 1 but greater than 1.0 : 1

     1.30         1.30   

Less than or equal to 1.0 : 1

     1.15         1.15   

For the initial interest period, the margin will be 1.45%. Interest on each loan will be payable on the last day of the relevant interest period (or if such interest period is longer than 6 months, payable at six-month intervals). The commitment fee on any unused amount of the RCF will be in an amount equal to 35% of the applicable margin per annum.

The Term Loan and the RCF will mature on June 13, 2020. If the Lenders consent (and for the payment of an extension fee calculated in relation to the outstanding amount of the Term Loan and RCF) SPTS Technologies Investments Limited can elect to extend the maturity of the Term Loan and RCF by one year to June 13, 2021.

Amortization and Prepayments

Amounts borrowed under the Term Loan are to be repaid in annual installments of $20.0 million on each anniversary of the date of the UK Facilities Agreement, with the final installment of the remaining outstanding amount due for repayment on the fourth ( or if extended, the fifth) anniversary of the date of the UK Facilities Agreement. Amounts repaid under the Term Loan may not be reborrowed.

Each amount borrowed under the RCF is required to be repaid on the last day of its interest period, with a final maturity date of the fourth ( or if extended, the fifth) anniversary of the date of the UK Facilities Agreement. Amounts repaid under the RCF may be reborrowed from time to time until the maturity date.

The UK Borrowers are permitted to prepay the outstanding Term Loan or any portion thereof at any time without premium or penalty, other than normal LIBOR breakage costs. Any such prepayment will reduce the future repayment installments due to be made in respect of the Term Loan pro rata. In addition to permitting voluntary prepayments at any time, the UK Facilities Agreement contains mandatory prepayment provisions. The Term Loan and the RCF will be required to be mandatorily prepaid under certain circumstances including, without limitation, a change of control, flotation and illegality.

Guarantees and Collateral for the Term Loan and RCF

The obligations under the UK Facilities Agreement are guaranteed by the UK Guarantors, each of which are organized under the laws of England and Wales. In addition, any existing or after acquired or organized subsidiaries (in any jurisdiction) of the UK Guarantors that are considered material (tested quarterly or upon acquisition based on the assets, revenue and EBITDA of such entity) will be required to guarantee the obligations under the UK Facilities Agreement upon being acquired or becoming material.

The UK Facilities Agreement and the related guarantees are expected to be secured by security interests over all tangible and intangible assets of the UK Guarantors. In order to provide this security an English law debenture (the “ Debenture ”) will be granted and entered into by the UK Guarantors in favour of the Lenders on the initial funding date under the UK Facilities Agreement. The Debenture is in agreed form with the Lenders and will upon execution create a floating charge on all of the assets and a fixed charge on certain of the assets of each of the UK Guarantors.


Covenants and Events of Default

The UK Facilities Agreement requires that the UK Guarantors comply with certain affirmative and negative covenants, including financial maintenance covenants, in each case customary for English law facilities agreements of this type. These financial maintenance covenants are set forth below:

 

  (a) a leverage covenant (which tests the ratio of SD UK Group Total Net Debt to SD UK Group EBITDA, each as defined in the UK Facilities Agreement) which must not exceed the ratio of 2.75 to 1; and

 

  (b) an interest coverage covenant (which tests the ratio of SD UK Group EBITDA to SD UK Group Net Finance Charges, each as defined in the UK Facilities Agreement) which must not be less than the ratio of 4.0 to 1.

These financial maintenance covenants are tested quarterly, at the end of March, June, September and December of each year (commencing in December 2016), in each case by reference to the financial performance of the SD UK Group over the preceding twelve months. The UK Facilities Agreement limits the amount of intra-group trading that can be carried out between the SD UK Group and the other parts of the Company. In particular, payments of dividends by the SD UK Group to outside the SD UK Group, and repayments of loans or advances made to the SD UK Group from outside the SD UK Group, are restricted, and are only permitted upon certain conditions being met. These conditions include that there not be an event of default, the Leverage covenant (as described above) not exceeding 2.0 to 1.0 when most recently tested and a look forward certificate being issued pursuant to which the SD UK Group would confirm that it is projected to remain in compliance with the financial maintenance covenants detailed above for the next 6 months). In addition, subject to certain exceptions, all transactions between the SD UK Group and the Company and its other subsidiaries must be on an arm’s length basis. These provisions in the UK Facilities Agreement will limit the amount of intra-group transactions between the SD UK Group and the Company and its other subsidiaries. The Company will not be able to receive distributions, advances, loans or other amounts from the SD UK Group unless the financial maintenance covenants are met and are expected to be met for at least the next six months. This may limit the Company’s ability to engage in advantageous transactions with the SD UK Group.

The UK Facilities Agreement also places certain restrictions on the SD UK Group’s ability to undertake certain acts including, among other things, taking further borrowings (with permitted exceptions), creating security (with permitted exceptions), disposing assets (with permitted exceptions), making loans and granting guarantees (with permitted exceptions) and corporate acquisitions above a certain threshold. The UK Facilities Agreement contains certain events of default customary for English law facilities agreements of this type, such as payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to other material indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, material judgments, invalidity of loan documents, certain liens and guarantees, change in control, cessation of business and material adverse effect on the SD UK Group.

The foregoing summary of the UK Facilities Agreement and the brief description of the guarantees and collateral securing the obligations thereunder are qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms and provisions thereof filed herewith as Exhibit 99.2 (UK Facilities Agreement), which is incorporated by reference herein.


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This Report contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, future prospects, developments and business strategies and involve certain risks and uncertainties. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “will,” “plan,” “expect” and “would” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions, have been used in this Report to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made based on management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting Orbotech and are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to Orbotech’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected including, without limitation, cyclicality in the industries in which the Company operates, the Company’s production capacity, timing and occurrence of product acceptance (the Company defines “bookings” and “backlog” as purchase arrangements with customers that are based on mutually agreed terms, which, in some cases for bookings and backlog, may still be subject to completion of written documentation and may be changed or cancelled by the customer, often without penalty), fluctuations in product mix, worldwide economic conditions generally, especially in the industries in which the Company operates, the timing and strength of product and service offerings by the Company and its competitors, changes in business or pricing strategies, changes in the prevailing political and regulatory framework in which the relevant parties operate or in economic or technological trends or conditions, including currency fluctuations, inflation and consumer confidence, on a global, regional or national basis, the level of consumer demand for sophisticated devices such as smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices as well as automobiles, the Company’s global operations and its ability to comply with varying legal, regulatory, exchange, tax and customs regimes, the Company’s ability to achieve strategic initiatives, including related to its acquisition strategy, the Company’s debt and corporate financing activities; the final timing and outcome (each, expected in mid-to-late 2016), and impact of the criminal matter and ongoing investigation in Korea, including any impact on existing or future business opportunities in Korea and elsewhere, any civil actions related to the Korean matter brought by third parties, including the Company’s customers, which may result in monetary judgments or settlements, expenses associated with the Korean matter, ongoing or increased hostilities in Israel and the surrounding areas, and other risks detailed in the Company’s SEC reports, including the 2015 Annual Report and subsequent SEC filings. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this Report to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.


EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

#

  

Description

99.1    Press release issued by the Registrant on, and dated June 13, 2016, and entitled “Orbotech Ltd. Announces Strategic Capital Market Transactions to Enhance Balance Sheet Flexibility.”
99.2    Facilities Agreement dated June 13, 2016, among SPTS Technologies Investments Limited, the UK Borrowers, the UK Guarantors, Barclays Bank PLC and Lloyds Bank PLC, as agent and security agent.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

ORBOTECH LTD.

(Registrant)

 

By:  

/s/ RAN BAREKET

  Ran Bareket
  Corporate Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer

Date: June 13, 2016

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Orbotech Ltd. Announces Strategic Capital Market Transactions

to Enhance Balance Sheet Flexibility

 

    Proceeds from new $110 million UK term debt facility and recent share offering to be used to retire the balance of the Company’s 2014 Credit Agreement

 

    Net impact to earnings per share expected to be accretive due to substantial interest savings

 

    Significant reduction in secured assets enhances strength and flexibility of the balance sheet

June 13, 2016, YAVNE, ISRAEL – ORBOTECH LTD. (the “ Company ” or “ Orbotech ”) (NASDAQ/GSM SYMBOL: ORBK) announced today that it has successfully repositioned its debt structure through a series of transactions.

On June 9, 2016 the Company conducted a public share offering of 3,850,000 ordinary shares. On June 13, 2016 the Company entered into a new term and revolving debt agreement in the UK in the amounts of $110 million and $15 million, respectively. The net proceeds from the offering (approximately $100 million) combined with the proceeds of the UK term debt agreement will be used to retire the entire outstanding balance of the Company’s 2014 Credit Agreement in the amount of $202 million. The revolving debt facility is available for working capital purposes in the Company’s semiconductor device business, if needed. All of these transactions are expected to close by the end of the second calendar quarter; accordingly, the Company expects to record a one-time charge in the second quarter of approximately $6.2 million associated with the retirement of the 2014 Credit Agreement.

“We are very pleased to have successfully executed this series of financing transactions which, we believe, will immediately increase shareholder value. The significant reduction in interest expense, net of the shares issued, is expected to be accretive to earnings per share on both pro forma and prospective bases,” stated Ran Bareket, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. “The reduction in both interest expense and leverage on our balance sheet is considerable. In addition, the new debt agreement is secured only by the assets of the Company’s SPTS subsidiaries, whereas our previous Credit Agreement was secured by Company assets worldwide. As a result, we have substantially improved the strength of our balance sheet, seized upon current favorable conditions in the capital markets and enhanced operating flexibility for future growth opportunities.”

The terms of the new UK debt agreement were filed separately on Form 6-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13, 2016.

About Orbotech Ltd.

Orbotech Ltd. (NASDAQ/GSM: ORBK) is a global innovator of enabling technologies used in the manufacture of the world’s most sophisticated consumer and industrial products throughout the electronics and adjacent industries. The Company is a leading provider of yield enhancement and production solutions for electronics reading, writing and connecting, used by manufacturers of printed circuit boards, flat panel displays, advanced packaging, micro-electro-mechanical systems and other electronic components. Virtually every electronic device in the world is produced using Orbotech systems.


Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes or incorporates by reference certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, future prospects, developments and business strategies and involve certain risks and uncertainties, and are identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “will,” “plan,” “expect” and “would” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are made based on management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting Orbotech and are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to Orbotech’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected including, without limitation, cyclicality in the industries in which the Company operates, the Company’s production capacity, timing and occurrence of product acceptance (the Company defines “bookings” and “backlog” as purchase arrangements with customers that are based on mutually agreed terms, which, in some cases for bookings and backlog, may still be subject to completion of written documentation and may be changed or cancelled by the customer, often without penalty), fluctuations in product mix, worldwide economic conditions generally, especially in the industries in which the Company operates, the timing and strength of product and service offerings by the Company and its competitors, changes in business or pricing strategies, changes in the prevailing political and regulatory framework in which the relevant parties operate or in economic or technological trends or conditions, including currency fluctuations, inflation and consumer confidence, on a global, regional or national basis, the level of consumer demand for sophisticated devices such as smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices as well as automobiles, the Company’s global operations and its ability to comply with varying legal, regulatory, exchange, tax and customs regimes, the Company’s ability to achieve strategic initiatives, including related to its acquisition strategy, the Company’s debt and corporate financing activities, the final timing and outcome (each, expected in mid-to-late 2016), and impact of the criminal matter and ongoing investigation in Korea, including any impact on existing or future business opportunities in Korea and elsewhere, any civil actions related to the Korean matter brought by third parties, including the Company’s customers, which may result in monetary judgments or settlements, expenses associated with the Korean matter, ongoing or increased hostilities in Israel and the surrounding areas, and other risks detailed in the Company’s SEC reports, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, and subsequent SEC filings. As a result of all of the foregoing, the forward looking events discussed in this press release might not occur and our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements. Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on any forward looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of these factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward looking statement.

For further information, please contact:

Ran Bareket

Corporate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Orbotech Ltd.

Tel: +972-8-942-3638

Ran-B@orbotech.com

Tally Kaplan Porat

Head of Corporate Marketing

Orbotech Ltd.

Tel: +972-8-942-3603

Tally-Ka@orbotech.com

Exhibit 99.2

EXECUTION VERSION

FACILITIES AGREEMENT

in respect of term and revolving loan facilities of $125,000,000

dated 13 June 2016

for

SPTS TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS LIMITED

arranged by

BARCLAYS BANK PLC

and

LLOYDS BANK PLC

with

LLOYDS BANK PLC

acting as Agent

with

LLOYDS BANK PLC

acting as Security Agent

Osborne Clarke LLP

2 Temple Back East

Temple Quay

Bristol BS1 6EG

OAN/1048495/29533429


CONTENTS

 

Clause        Page  

1.

 

Definitions and Interpretation

     1   

2.

 

The Facilities

     32   

3.

 

Purpose

     35   

4.

 

Conditions of Utilisation

     35   

5.

 

Utilisation

     37   

6.

 

Optional Currencies

     38   

7.

 

Ancillary Facilities

     39   

8.

 

Repayment

     45   

9.

 

Prepayment and Cancellation

     49   

10.

 

Interest

     54   

11.

 

Interest Periods

     55   

12.

 

Changes to the Calculation of Interest

     56   

13.

 

Fees

     58   

14.

 

Tax Gross Up and Indemnities

     59   

15.

 

Increased Costs

     68   

16.

 

Other Indemnities

     70   

17.

 

Mitigation by the Lenders

     71   

18.

 

Costs and Expenses

     72   

19.

 

Guarantee and Indemnity

     74   

20.

 

Representations

     78   

21.

 

Information Undertakings

     82   

22.

 

Financial Covenants

     86   

23.

 

General Undertakings

     90   

24.

 

Events of Default

     98   

25.

 

Changes to the Lenders

     102   

26.

 

Restriction on Debt Purchase Transactions

     107   

27.

 

Changes to the Obligors

     108   

28.

 

Role of the Agent and the Arranger

     112   

29.

 

The Security Agent

     120   

30.

 

Conduct of Business by the Finance Parties

     133   

31.

 

Sharing among the Finance Parties

     133   


32.

  

Payment Mechanics

     135   

33.

  

Set-Off

     138   

34.

  

Notices

     138   

35.

  

Calculations and Certificates

     140   

36.

  

Partial Invalidity

     140   

37.

  

Remedies and Waivers

     140   

38.

  

Amendments and Waivers

     141   

39.

  

Confidential Information

     142   

40.

  

Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations

     145   

41.

  

Counterparts

     147   

42.

  

Governing Law

     148   

43.

  

Enforcement

     148   

SCHEDULE 1 T HE O RIGINAL P ARTIES

     149   
  

Part I The Original Obligors

     149   
  

Part II The Original Lenders

     149   

SCHEDULE 2 C ONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     150   
  

Part I Conditions Precedent To Signing this Agreement

     150   
  

Part II Conditions Precedent To Initial Utilisation

     152   
  

Part III Conditions Precedent Required To Be Delivered By An Additional Obligor

     154   

SCHEDULE 3 R EQUESTS

     156   
  

Part I Utilisation Request

     156   
  

PART II Selection Notice

     157   
  

Part III Extension Request

     158   

SCHEDULE 4 F ORM OF T RANSFER C ERTIFICATE

     159   

SCHEDULE 5 F ORM OF A SSIGNMENT A GREEMENT

     162   

SCHEDULE 6 F ORM OF A CCESSION L ETTER

     166   

SCHEDULE 7 F ORM OF R ESIGNATION L ETTER

     167   

SCHEDULE 8 F ORM OF C OMPLIANCE C ERTIFICATE

     168   

SCHEDULE 9 E XISTING S ECURITY

     169   

SCHEDULE 10 T IMETABLES

     170   

SCHEDULE 11 A GREED S ECURITY P RINCIPLES

     172   

SCHEDULE 12 F ORM OF I NCREASE C ONFIRMATION

     174   


THIS AGREEMENT is dated 13 June 2016 and made between:

 

(1) SPTS TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS LIMITED registered number 07635236 (the “ Company ”);

 

(2) THE SUBSIDIARIES of the Company listed in Part I of Schedule 1 as original borrowers (the “ Original Borrowers ”);

 

(3) THE SUBSIDIARIES of the Company listed in Part I of Schedule 1 as original guarantors (together with the Company, the “ Original Guarantors ”);

 

(4) BARCLAYS BANK PLC and LLOYDS BANK PLC as mandated lead arrangers and book runners (whether acting individually or together the “ Arranger ”);

 

(5) THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Part II of Schedule 1 as lenders (the “ Original Lenders ”);

 

(6) LLOYDS BANK PLC as agent of the other Finance Parties (the “ Agent ”); and

 

(7) LLOYDS BANK PLC as security trustee for the Secured Parties (the “ Security Agent ”)

IT IS AGREED as follows:

SECTION 1

INTERPRETATION

 

1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1 Definitions

In this Agreement:

Acceleration Event ” means any Event of Default in respect of which the Agent has served a notice of acceleration pursuant to Clause 24.15 ( Acceleration ), other than a notice declaring Utilisations or other amounts to be due on demand only.

Acceptable Bank ” means:

 

  (a) a bank or financial institution which has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of A- or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or Fitch Ratings Ltd or A3 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service Limited or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency; or

 

  (b) any Original Lender; or

 

  (c) any other bank or financial institution approved by the Agent.

Accession Letter ” means a document substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 ( Form of Accession Letter) .

Additional Borrower ” means a company which becomes an Additional Borrower in accordance with Clause 27 ( Changes to the Obligors ).

Additional Guarantor ” means a company which becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 27 ( Changes to the Obligors ).

Additional Obligor ” means an Additional Borrower or an Additional Guarantor.

 

- 1 -


Affiliate ” means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange ” means the Agent’s spot rate of exchange for the purchase of the relevant currency with the Base Currency in the London foreign exchange market at or about 11:00 a.m. on a particular day.

Agreed Security Principles ” means the principles set out in Schedule 11 ( Agreed Security Principles ).

Ancillary Commencement Date ” means, in relation to an Ancillary Facility, the date on which that Ancillary Facility is first made available, which date shall be a Business Day within the Availability Period for Facility B.

Ancillary Commitment ” means, in relation to an Ancillary Lender and an Ancillary Facility, the maximum Base Currency Amount which that Ancillary Lender has agreed (whether or not subject to satisfaction of conditions precedent) to make available from time to time under an Ancillary Facility and which has been authorised as such under Clause 7 ( Ancillary Facilities ), to the extent that amount is not cancelled or reduced under this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents relating to that Ancillary Facility.

Ancillary Document ” means each document relating to or evidencing the terms of an Ancillary Facility.

Ancillary Facility ” means any ancillary facility made available by an Ancillary Lender in accordance with Clause 7 ( Ancillary Facilities ).

Ancillary Lender ” means each Lender or Affiliate of a Lender which makes available an Ancillary Facility in accordance with Clause 7 ( Ancillary Facilities ).

Ancillary Outstandings ” means, at any time, in relation to an Ancillary Lender and an Ancillary Facility then in force the aggregate of the equivalents (as calculated by that Ancillary Lender) in the Base Currency of the following amounts outstanding under that Ancillary Facility:

 

  (a) the principal amount under each overdraft facility and on-demand short term loan facility (net of any Available Credit Balance);

 

  (b) the face amount of each guarantee, bond and letter of credit under that Ancillary Facility; and

 

  (c) the amount fairly representing the aggregate exposure (excluding interest and similar charges) of that Ancillary Lender under each other type of accommodation provided under that Ancillary Facility,

in each case as determined by such Ancillary Lender, acting reasonably in accordance with its normal banking practice and in accordance with the relevant Ancillary Document.

Annual Financial Statements ” means the financial statements for a Financial Year delivered pursuant to Clause 21.1(a)(i) ( Financial Statements ).

Assignment Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 ( Form of Assignment Agreement ) or any other form agreed between the relevant assignor and assignee.

 

- 2 -


Authorisation ” means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

Availability Period ” means:

 

  (a) in relation to Facility A, the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date falling 60 days after the date of this Agreement; and

 

  (b) in relation to Facility B, the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date falling one Month prior to the Termination Date for Facility B.

Available Commitment ” means, in relation to a Facility, a Lender’s Commitment under that Facility minus:

 

  (a) the Base Currency Amount of its participation in any outstanding Loans under that Facility and, in the case of Facility B only, the Base Currency Amount of the aggregate of its Ancillary Commitments; and

 

  (b) in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the Base Currency Amount of its participation in any Loans that are due to be made under that Facility on or before the proposed Utilisation Date and, in the case of Facility B only, the Base Currency Amount of its Ancillary Commitment in relation to any new Ancillary Facility that is due to be made available on or before the proposed Utilisation Date.

For the purposes of calculating a Lender’s Available Commitment in relation to any proposed Utilisation under Facility B only, the following amounts shall not be deducted from that Lender’s Facility B Commitment:

 

  (i) that Lender’s participation in any Facility B Utilisations that are due to be repaid or prepaid on or before the proposed Utilisation Date; and

 

  (ii) that Lender’s Ancillary Commitments to the extent that they are due to be reduced or cancelled on or before the proposed Utilisation Date.

Available Credit Balance ” means, in relation to an Ancillary Facility, credit balances on any account of any Borrower of that Ancillary Facility with the Ancillary Lender making available that Ancillary Facility to the extent that those credit balances are freely available to be set off by that Ancillary Lender against liabilities owed to it by that Borrower under that Ancillary Facility.

Available Facility ” means, in relation to a Facility, the aggregate for the time being of each Lender’s Available Commitment in respect of that Facility.

Base Currency ” means USD.

Base Currency Amount ” means:

 

  (a) in relation to a Loan, the amount specified in the Utilisation Request delivered by a Borrower for that Loan (or, if the amount requested is not denominated in the Base Currency, that amount converted into the Base Currency at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on the date which is three Business Days before the Utilisation Date or, if later, on the date the Agent receives the Utilisation Request); and

 

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  (b) in relation to an Ancillary Commitment, the amount specified as such in the notice delivered to the Agent by the Company pursuant to Clause 7.2 ( Availability ) (or, if the amount specified is not denominated in the Base Currency, that amount converted into the Base Currency at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on the date which is three Business Days before the Ancillary Commencement Date for that Ancillary Facility or, if later, the date the Agent receives the notice of the Ancillary Commitment in accordance with the terms of this Agreement),

as adjusted to reflect any repayment (other than, in relation to Facility A, a repayment arising from a change of currency), prepayment, consolidation or division of a Loan.

Borrower ” means an Original Borrower or an Additional Borrower unless it has ceased to be a Borrower in accordance with Clause 27 ( Changes to the Obligors ) and, in respect of an Ancillary Facility only, any Affiliate of a Borrower that becomes a borrower of that Ancillary Facility with the approval of the relevant Lender pursuant to Clause 7.8 ( Affiliates of Borrowers ).

Break Costs ” means the amount (if any) by which:

 

  (a) the interest (excluding Margin) which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period;

exceeds:

 

  (b) the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period.

Business Day ” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London and:

 

  (a) (in relation to any date for payment or purchase of a currency other than euro) the principal financial centre of the country of that currency; or

 

  (b) (in relation to any date for payment or purchase of euro) any TARGET Day.

“Cash” means, at any time, cash denominated in sterling, USD, euro, NT$, Sing$ or any other currencies agreed by the Agent from time to time (acting on instructions from the Majority Lenders) in hand or at bank and (in the latter case) credited to an account in the name of a member of the Group with an Acceptable Bank and to which a member of the Group is alone (or together with other members of the Group) beneficially entitled and for so long as:

 

  (a) that cash is repayable on demand;

 

  (b) repayment of that cash is not contingent on the prior discharge of any other indebtedness of any member of the Group or of any other person whatsoever or on the satisfaction of any other condition;

 

  (c) there is no Security over that cash except for Transaction Security or any Permitted Security constituted by a netting or set-off arrangement entered into by members of the Group in the ordinary course of their banking arrangements; and

 

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  (d) the cash is freely and immediately available to be applied in repayment or prepayment of the Facilities.

Cash Equivalent Investments ” means at any time:

 

  (a) certificates of deposit maturing within one year after the relevant date of calculation and issued by an Acceptable Bank;

 

  (b) any investment in marketable debt obligations issued or guaranteed by the government of the United States of America or the United Kingdom or by an instrumentality or agency of any of them having an equivalent credit rating, maturing within one year after the relevant date of calculation and not convertible or exchangeable to any other security;

 

  (c) commercial paper not convertible or exchangeable to any other security:

 

  (i) for which a recognised trading market exists;

 

  (ii) issued by an issuer incorporated in the United States of America or the United Kingdom;

 

  (iii) which matures within one year after the relevant date of calculation; and

 

  (iv) which has a credit rating of either A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or F1 or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service Limited, or, if no rating is available in respect of the commercial paper, the issuer of which has, in respect of its long-term unsecured and non-credit enhanced debt obligations, an equivalent rating;

 

  (d) sterling bills of exchange eligible for rediscount at the Bank of England and accepted by an Acceptable Bank (or their dematerialised equivalent);

 

  (e) any investment in money market funds which (i) have a credit rating of either A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or F1 or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service Limited, (ii) which invest substantially all their assets in securities of the types described in paragraphs (a) to (d) and (iii) can be turned into cash on not more than 30 days’ notice; or

 

  (f) any other debt security approved by the Majority Lenders,

in each case, denominated in sterling or USD and to which any member of the Group is alone (or together with other members of the Group beneficially entitled at that time and which is not issued or guaranteed by any member of the Group or subject to any Security (other than Security arising under the Transaction Security Documents).

Charged Property ” means all of the assets of the Obligors which from time to time are, or are expressed to be, the subject of the Transaction Security.

Code ” means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Commitment ” means a Facility A Commitment or Facility B Commitment.

 

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Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 8 ( Form of Compliance Certificate ).

Confidential Information ” means all information relating to the Company, any Obligor, the Group, the Parent Group, the Finance Documents or a Facility of which a Finance Party becomes aware in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party or which is received by a Finance Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents or a Facility from either:

 

  (a) any member of the Group, the Parent Group or any of their advisers; or

 

  (b) another Finance Party, if the information was obtained by that Finance Party directly or indirectly from any member of the Group, the Parent Group or any of its advisers,

in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes:

 

  (i) information that:

 

  (A) is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of Clause 39 ( Confidential Information ); or

 

  (B) is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any member of the Group, the Parent Group or any of its advisers; or

 

  (C) is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) above or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the Group and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality; and

 

  (ii) any Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation.

Confidentiality Undertaking ” means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a recommended form of the LMA or in any other form agreed between the Company and the Agent.

CTA ” means the Corporation Tax Act 2009.

“Debt Purchase Transaction” means, in relation to a person, a transaction where such person:

 

  (a) purchases by way of assignment or transfer;

 

  (b) enters into any sub-participation in respect of; or

 

  (c) enters into any other agreement or arrangement having an economic effect substantially similar to a sub-participation in respect of,

 

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any Commitment or amount outstanding under this Agreement.

Default ” means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in Clause 24 ( Events of Default ) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender:

 

  (a) which has failed to make its participation in a Loan available (or has notified the Agent or the Company (which has notified the Agent) that it will not make its participation in a Loan available) by the Utilisation Date of that Loan in accordance with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ participation );

 

  (b) which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or

 

  (c) with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing,

unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:

 

  (i) its failure to pay is caused by:

 

  (A) administrative or technical error; or

 

  (B) a Disruption Event; and

payment is made within 5 Business Days of its due date; or

 

  (ii) the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

Delegate ” means any delegate, agent, attorney or co-trustee appointed by the Security Agent.

Designated Gross Amount ” means the amount notified by the Company to the Agent upon the establishment of a Multi-account Overdraft as being the maximum amount of Gross Outstandings that will, at any time, be outstanding under that Multi-account Overdraft.

Designated Net Amount ” means the amount notified by the Company to the Agent upon the establishment of a Multi-account Overdraft as being the maximum amount of Net Outstandings that will, at any time, be outstanding under that Multi-account Overdraft.

Disruption Event ” means either or both of:

 

  (a) a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Facilities (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or

 

- 7 -


  (b) the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other Party:

 

  (i) from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or

 

  (ii) from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents,

and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted.

Distribution ” means

 

  (a) declaring, making or paying any dividend, charge, fee or other distribution (or interest on any unpaid dividend, charge, fee or other distribution) (whether in cash or in kind) on or in respect of share capital (or any class of share capital);

 

  (b) repaying or distributing any dividend or share premium reserve; or

 

  (c) redeeming, repurchasing, defeasing, retiring or repaying any of share capital or resolving to do so.

EBITDA ” has the meaning given to such term in Clause 22 ( Financial covenants ).

EURIBOR ” means, in relation to any Loan in euro:

 

  (a) the applicable Screen Rate as of the Specified Time for euro and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan; or

 

  (b) as otherwise determined pursuant to Clause 12.1 ( Unavailability of Screen Rate ).

Event of Default ” means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 24 ( Events of Default ).

Existing Facility Agreement ” means the financing agreement dated 7 August 2014 and made between, amongst others, Orbotech, Inc., Orbotech Limited, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.

Extension ” has the meaning set out in Clause 8.3 (Extension Option).

Extension Request ” has the meaning set out in Clause 8.3 ( Extension Option ) and shall be in substantially the form set out in Part III of Schedule 3 ( Requests ).

Facility ” means Facility A or Facility B.

Facility A ” means the term loan facility made available under this Agreement as described in Clause 2 ( The Facilities ).

Facility A Commitment ” means:

 

  (a) in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in the Base Currency set opposite its name under the heading “Facility A Commitment” in Part II of Schedule 1 ( The Original Parties ) and the amount of any other Facility A Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ); and

 

  (b) in relation to any other Lender, the amount in the Base Currency of any Facility A Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ),

 

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to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

Facility A Loan ” means a loan made or to be made under Facility A or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

Facility A Repayment Date ” means each date set out in paragraph (a) of Clause 8.1 ( Repayment of Facility A Loans ).

Facility B ” means the revolving loan facility made available under this Agreement as described in Clause 2 ( The Facilities ).

Facility B Commitment ” means:

 

  (a) in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in the Base Currency set opposite its name under the heading “Facility B Commitment” in Part II of Schedule 1 ( The Original Parties ) and the amount of any other Facility B Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ); and

 

  (b) in relation to any other Lender, the amount in the Base Currency of any Facility B Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 ( Increase ),

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

Facility B Loan ” means a loan made or to be made under Facility B or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

Facility Office ” means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days’ written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement.

FATCA ” means:

 

  (a) sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations;

 

  (b) any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; or

 

  (c) any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction.

FATCA Application Date ” means:

 

  (a) in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 July 2014;

 

  (b) in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(ii) of the Code (which relates to “gross proceeds” from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the US), 1 January 2019; or

 

- 9 -


  (c) in relation to a “passthru payment” described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) above, 1 January 2019,

or, in each case, such other date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA as a result of any change in FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

FATCA Deduction ” means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA.

FATCA Exempt Party ” means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.

Fee Letter ” means any letter or letters dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Arranger and the Company (or the Agent and the Company or the Security Agent and the Company) setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 13 ( Fees ).

Finance Document ” means this Agreement, any Fee Letter, any Accession Letter, any Resignation Letter, any Transaction Security Document, any Subordination Agreement, any Ancillary Document, any Selection Notice, any Utilisation Request and any other document designated as such in writing by the Agent and the Company

Finance Party ” means the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent, a Lender, or any Ancillary Lender.

Financial Covenants ” means the financial undertakings contained in Clause 22.2 ( Financial Testing ).

Financial Indebtedness ” means any indebtedness for or in respect of:

 

  (a) moneys borrowed;

 

  (b) any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility or dematerialised equivalent;

 

  (c) any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;

 

  (d) the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with GAAP, be treated as a finance or capital lease;

 

  (e) receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis);

 

  (f) any 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 commercial effect of a borrowing;

 

  (g) 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);

 

  (h) 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; and

 

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  (i) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (h) above.

Financial Year ” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 22.1 ( Financial definitions ).

Funding Rate ” means any individual rate notified by a Lender to the Agent pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Clause 12.4 ( Cost of funds ).

Funds Flow Statement ” means the funds flow statement in the agreed form delivered to the Agent under Clause 4.1 ( Initial conditions precedent ).

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United Kingdom, including IFRS.

Gross Outstandings ” means, in relation to a Multi-account Overdraft, the Ancillary Outstandings of that Multi-account Overdraft but calculated on the basis that the words “(net of any Available Credit Balance)” in paragraph (a) of the definition of “Ancillary Outstandings” were deleted.

Group ” means the Company and its Subsidiaries for the time being.

Guarantor ” means an Original Guarantor or an Additional Guarantor, unless it has ceased to be a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 27 ( Changes to the Obligors ).

Guarantor Cover Test ” means the following obligation: the aggregate of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as EBITDA) and the aggregate gross assets, and aggregate turnover of the Guarantors (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-Group items and investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) exceeds 80% of EBITDA and 80% of the consolidated gross assets and turnover of the Group respectively.

Holding Company ” means, in relation to a person, any other person in respect of which it is a Subsidiary.

IFRS ” means international accounting standards within the meaning of the IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements.

Impaired Agent ” means the Agent at any time when:

 

  (a) it has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for payment;

 

  (b) the Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document;

 

  (c) (if the Agent is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”; or

 

  (d) an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Agent;

 

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unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:

 

  (i) its failure to pay is caused by:

 

  (A) administrative or technical error; or

 

  (B) a Disruption Event; and

payment is made within 5 Business Days of its due date; or

 

  (ii) the Agent is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

Increase Confirmation ” means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 12 ( Form of Increase Confirmation ).

Increase Lender ” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 2.2 ( Increase ).

Information Memorandum ” means the document provided by the Company to the Arrangers prior to the date of this Agreement entitled “ Project Orion Management Presentation FINAL FOR BANKS 01 06 16 ”.

Insolvency Event ” means in relation to an entity means that the entity:

 

  (a) is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

  (b) becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

  (c) makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors;

 

  (d) institutes or has instituted against it, by a regulator, supervisor or any similar official with primary insolvency, rehabilitative or regulatory jurisdiction over it in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organisation or the jurisdiction of its head or home office, a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar official;

 

  (e) has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition is instituted or presented by a person or entity not described in paragraph (d) above and:

 

  (a) results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding-up or liquidation; or

 

  (b) is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within 30 days of the institution or presentation thereof;

 

  (f) has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

  (g) seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets (other than, for so long as it is required by law or regulation not to be publicly disclosed, any such appointment which is to be made, or is made, by a person or entity described in paragraph (d) above);

 

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  (h) has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter;

 

  (i) causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (i) above; or

 

  (j) takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts.

Intellectual Property ” means:

 

  (a) any patents, trade marks, service marks, designs, business names, copyrights, database rights, design rights, domain names, moral rights, inventions, confidential information, knowhow and other intellectual property rights and interests (which may now or in the future subsist), whether registered or unregistered; and

 

  (b) the benefit of all applications and rights to use such assets of each member of the Group (which may now or in the future subsist).

Interest Period ” means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 11 ( Interest Periods ) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with Clause 10.3 ( Default interest ) .

Interpolated Screen Rate ” means, in relation to any Loan, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the two relevant Screen Rates) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:

 

  (a) the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Interest Period of that Loan; and

 

  (b) the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period of that Loan,

each as of the Specified Time for the currency of that Loan.

ITA ” means the Income Tax Act 2007.

Joint Venture ” means any joint venture entity, whether a company, unincorporated firm, undertaking, association, joint venture or partnership or any other entity

Legal Reservations ” means:

 

  (a) the principle that equitable remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court and the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to insolvency, reorganisation and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors;

 

  (b) the time barring of claims under the Limitation Acts, the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or indemnify a person against non-payment of UK stamp duty may be void and defences of set-off or counterclaim;

 

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  (c) the principle that in certain circumstances Security granted by way of fixed charge may be recharacterised as a floating charge or that Security purported to be constituted an assignment may be recharacterised as a charge;

 

  (d) the principle that an English court may not give effect to an indemnity for legal costs incurred by an unsuccessful litigant;

 

  (e) similar principles, rights and defences under the laws of any Relevant Jurisdiction; and

 

  (f) any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations as to matters of law of general application in any legal opinion delivered to a Finance Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Finance Document.

Lender ” means:

 

  (a) any Original Lender; and

 

  (b) any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party in accordance with Clause 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ),

which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

LIBOR ” means, in relation to any Loan:

 

  (a) the applicable Screen Rate as of the Specified Time for the currency of that Loan and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan; or

 

  (b) as otherwise determined pursuant to Clause 12.1 ( Unavailability of Screen Rate ).

Limitation Acts ” means the Limitation Act 1980 and the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984.

LMA ” means the Loan Market Association.

Loan ” means a Facility A Loan or a Facility B Loan.

Majority Lenders ” means a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 66 2 / 3 % of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 66 2 / 3 % of the Total Commitments immediately prior to the reduction).

Margin ” means

 

  (a) in relation to any Facility A Loan 1.45% per annum;

 

  (b) in relation to any Facility B Loan 1.45% per annum;

 

  (c) in relation to any Unpaid Sum relating or referable to a Facility, the highest percentage rate per annum set out below for a Loan under that Facility plus 1% as contemplated by Clause 10.3 ( Default interest ); and

 

  (d) in relation to any other Unpaid Sum, the highest percentage rate per annum set out below plus 1% as contemplated by Clause 10.3 ( Default interest ).

 

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but if:

 

  (e) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

 

  (f) Leverage in respect of the most recently completed Relevant Period is within a range set out below,

then the Margin for each Loan under Facility A and Facility B will be the percentage per annum set out below in the column for that Facility opposite that range:

 

Leverage

  Facility A Margin
% p.a.
    Facility B Margin
% p.a.
 

Greater than 2.0 : 1

    1.90        1.90   

Less than or equal to 2.0 : 1 but greater than 1.5 : 1

    1.60        1.60   

Less than or equal to 1.5 : 1 but greater than 1.25 : 1

    1.45        1.45   

Less than or equal to 1.25 : 1 but greater than 1.0 : 1

    1.30        1.30   

Less than or equal to 1.0 : 1

    1.15        1.15   

However:

 

  (i) any increase or decrease in the Margin for a Loan shall take effect on the date (the “ reset date ”) which is 5 Business Days after receipt by the Agent of the Compliance Certificate for that Relevant Period pursuant to Clause 21.2 ( Compliance Certificate );

 

  (ii) if, following receipt by the Agent of the Compliance Certificate related to the relevant Annual Financial Statements, that Compliance Certificate does not confirm the basis for a reduced Margin, then Clause 10.2(b) ( Payment of interest ) shall apply and the Margin for that Loan shall be the percentage per annum determined using the table above and the revised ratio of Leverage calculated using the figures in that Compliance Certificate;

 

  (iii) while an Event Default is continuing, the Margin for each Loan under Facility A and the Facility B shall be the highest percentage per annum set out above for a Loan under that Facility; and

 

  (iv) for the purpose of determining the Margin, Leverage and Relevant Period shall be determined in accordance with Clause 22 ( Financial covenants ).

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on:

 

  (a) the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Group (taken as a whole); or

 

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  (b) the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations or Financial Covenants under the Finance Documents (taking into account the financial resources available within the Group); or

 

  (c) subject to the Legal Reservations and Perfection Requirements, the validity and enforceability of any of the Finance Documents or the ranking of any Security granted or purported to be granted pursuant to any of the Finance Documents, in any way that is materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole.

Material Company ” means, at any time:

 

  (a) an Obligor; or

 

  (b) a wholly-owned member of the Group that holds shares in an Obligor; or

 

  (c) a Subsidiary of the Company which has earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as EBITDA) representing 5% or more of EBITDA or has gross assets or turnover (excluding intra-group items) representing 5% or more of the gross assets or turnover of the Group, calculated on a consolidated basis.

Compliance with the conditions set out in paragraph (c) shall be determined by reference to the most recent Compliance Certificate supplied by the Company and/or the latest audited financial statements of that Subsidiary (consolidated in the case of a Subsidiary which itself has Subsidiaries) and the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Group. However, if a Subsidiary has been acquired since the date as at which the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Group were prepared, the financial statements shall be deemed to be adjusted in order to take into account the acquisition of that Subsidiary (that adjustment being certified by the Company’s auditors as representing an accurate reflection of the revised EBITDA, gross assets or turnover of the Group).

A report by the Company’s auditors that a Subsidiary is or is not a Material Company shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties.

For the avoidance of doubt, SPTS Technologies, Inc. shall be deemed not to be a Material Company unless and until a Compliance Certificate (and related financial statements) delivered under this Agreement demonstrate that such company has become a Material Company notwithstanding the sale of its Thermal business in 2015.

Month ” means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that:

 

  (a) (subject to paragraph (c) below) if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, that period shall end on the next Business Day in that calendar month in which that period is to end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately preceding Business Day;

 

  (b) if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which that period is to end, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that calendar month; and

 

  (c) if an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month, that Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day in the calendar month in which that Interest Period is to end.

 

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The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period.

Multi-account Overdraft ” means an Ancillary Facility which is an overdraft facility comprising more than one account.

Net Outstandings ” means, in relation to a Multi-account Overdraft, the Ancillary Outstandings of that Multi-account Overdraft.

New Lender ” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ).

New Shareholder Injections ” means the aggregate amount subscribed for by any person (other than a member of the Group) for ordinary shares in the Company or for loan notes or other shareholder debt instruments in the Company, in each case where those loan notes or other shareholder debt instruments are subordinated on terms acceptable to the Majority Lenders.

Obligor ” means a Borrower or a Guarantor.

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

Optional Currency ” means:

 

  (a) sterling;

 

  (b) euro; and

 

  (c) any other currency (other than the Base Currency) which complies with the conditions set out in Clause 4.3 ( Conditions relating to Optional Currencies ).

Original Financial Statements ” means:

 

  (a) the audited consolidated financial statements of SPTS TGL for the financial year ended 31 December 2014; and

 

  (b) in relation to each Original Obligor, its financial statements (audited where required by law) for the financial year ended 31 December 2014.

Original Jurisdiction ” means, in relation to an Obligor, the jurisdiction under whose laws that Obligor is incorporated as at the date of this Agreement or, in the case of an Additional Obligor, as at the date on which that Additional Obligor becomes Party as a Borrower or a Guarantor (as the case may be).

Original Obligor ” means an Original Borrower or an Original Guarantor.

Parent ” means Orbotech Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of Israel with registered office at 7 Sanhedrin Boulevard, North Industrial Zone, Yavne 8110101, Israel.

Parent Group ” means the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the time being.

Participating Member State ” means any member state of the European Union that has the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

 

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Party ” means a party to this Agreement.

Perfection Requirements ” means any and all registrations, filings, recordings, payment of associated fees and Taxes, notices, third party consents and other actions or steps required to be made in any relevant jurisdiction in order to perfect security created by the Transaction Security Documents or in order to achieve the relevant priority of such Security.

Permitted Acquisition ” means:

 

  (a) an acquisition by a member of the Group of an asset sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of by another member of the Group in circumstances constituting a Permitted Disposal;

 

  (b) an acquisition of shares or securities pursuant to a Permitted Share Issue;

 

  (c) an acquisition of securities which are Cash Equivalent Investments so long as those Cash Equivalent Investments become subject to the Transaction Security as soon as is reasonably practicable;

 

  (d) the incorporation of a limited liability company which on incorporation becomes a member of the Group, but only (if the shares in the company are owned by an Obligor and subject to the Agreed Security Principles) if Security over the shares of that company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender, is created in favour of the Lender within 30 days of the date of its incorporation;

 

  (e) an acquisition, for cash consideration, of (A) all of the issued share capital of a limited liability company or (B) (if the acquisition is made by a limited liability company whose sole purpose is to make the acquisition) a business or undertaking carried on as a going concern, but only if:

 

  (i) no Event of Default is continuing on the closing date for the acquisition or is reasonably likely to occur as a result of the acquisition;

 

  (ii) the acquired company, business or undertaking is engaged in a business substantially the same as that carried on by (or complementary to) the Group;

 

  (iii) the consideration (including associated costs and expenses) for the acquisition and any Financial Indebtedness or other assumed actual or contingent liability, in each case remaining in the acquired company (or any such business) at the date of acquisition (the “ Consideration ”), when aggregated with the Consideration (including associated costs and expenses) for any other Permitted Acquisition and any Financial Indebtedness or other assumed actual or contingent liability, in each case remaining in any such acquired companies or businesses at the time of acquisition (the “ Total Purchase Price ”), together with the amount of any investment in any Permitted Joint Venture, does not in any Financial Year of the Company exceed in aggregate USD 40,000,000 or its equivalent;

 

  (iv) EBITDA will be increased as a result of acquiring the company or business to be acquired (having regard to the reasonably anticipated synergies and costs savings following such acquisition) or, if the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as EBITDA) of the company or business to be acquired is likely to be negative EBITDA shall be projected to increase at some time during the 12 months following completion of the acquisition;

 

  (v) no member of the Group shall assume any material contingent liability as a result of the acquisition unless the relevant vendor has indemnified such member of the Group in respect of that contingent liability or the liability has otherwise been allowed for in the Consideration;

 

- 18 -


  (vi) the Company has delivered to the Agent at least 10 Business Days before legally committing to make such acquisition:

 

  (1) a certified copy of the latest audited accounts (or if not available management accounts) of the target company or business; and

 

  (2) if the Consideration for the acquisition is greater than USD 20,000,000 or its equivalent, a copy of all due diligence reports either available to it or commissioned by it in respect of the acquisition (which must include tax, accounting and legal due diligence reports duly addressed to and/or capable of being relied upon by the Finance Parties if the Consideration for such acquisition exceeds USD 30,000,000 or its equivalent).

Permitted Cash Pooling ” means any netting or set off arrangement entered into by any member of the Group in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements (including treasury and letter of credit transactions to the extent permitted by the Finance Documents) for the purpose of netting debit and credit balance of members of the Group (including without limitation a Multi-account Overdraft) but only so long as (i) such arrangement does not permit credit balances of Obligors to be netted or set off against debit balances of members of the Group that are not Obligors and (ii) such arrangement does not give rise to other Security over the assets of Obligors in support of liabilities of members of the Group that are not Obligors except, in the case of (i) and (ii) above, to the extent such netting, set-off or Security relates to, or is granted in support of, a loan permitted pursuant to paragraph (e) of the definition of “Permitted Loan”.

Permitted Disposal ” means any disposal permitted under paragraph (b) of Clause 23.4 ( Disposals ).

Permitted Distribution ” means:

 

  (a) the payment of any dividend detailed in the Funds Flow Statement on the date of first Utilisation under this Agreement, to enable the refinancing of the indebtedness of the Parent Group under the Existing Facility Agreement;

 

  (b) the payment of a dividend to the Company or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries (including payments under domination and/or profit transfer agreements); and

 

  (c) the making of a dividend by the Company, provided that:

 

  (i) such dividend is made on a date when no Event of Default is continuing, and no Event of Default would occur immediately after the making of the dividend; and

 

  (ii) the making of such dividend occurs within 10 Business Days of the delivery by the Company of a Compliance Certificate to the Agent, which Compliance Certificate must confirm (with calculations in reasonable detail) that Leverage was, in relation to the Relevant Period to which the Compliance Certificate relates equal to or less than 2.00 : 1; and

 

  (iii)

a certificate signed by two directors of the Company is delivered to the Agent prior to the dividend being made certifying that the Group is

 

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  projected to continue to comply with the provisions of Clause 22.2(b) ( Leverage ) for the 6 Months following the payment of the dividend, such confirmation to set out, in reasonable detail, projections demonstrating such compliance.

Permitted Financial Indebtedness ” means Financial Indebtedness:

 

  (a) arising under the Existing Facility Agreement provided that such Financial Indebtedness is discharged in full on the date of first Utilisation under this Agreement;

 

  (b) owed by SPTS Technologies Sapphire Limited to Orbortech Holding U.K. Limited as at the date of this Agreement, provided that such Financial Indebtedness is discharged in full on the date of first Utilisation under this Agreement;

 

  (c) constituting Subordinated Debt;

 

  (d) under bilateral facilities in respect of guarantees, performance bonds and other settlement limits and operational working capital arrangements (excluding overdrafts) made available by a Lender or Lenders or Affiliates of such Lender or Lenders and the Financial Indebtedness does not exceed USD 5,000,000 in aggregate at any time;

 

  (e) to the extent covered by a letter of credit, guarantee or indemnity issued under an Ancillary Facility;

 

  (f) arising under a Permitted Loan or a Permitted Guarantee;

 

  (g) of any person acquired by a member of the Group after the date of this Agreement which is incurred under arrangements in existence at the date of acquisition, but not incurred or increased or having its maturity date extended in contemplation of, or since, that acquisition, and outstanding only for a period of 3 months following the date of acquisition;

 

  (h) under finance or capital leases of vehicles, plant, equipment or computers, provided that the aggregate capital value of all such items so leased under outstanding leases by members of the Group does not exceed USD 1,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) at any time;

 

  (i) arising under a foreign exchange transaction for spot or forward delivery entered into in connection with protection against fluctuation in currency rates where that foreign exchange exposure arises in the ordinary course of trade or in respect of Utilisations made in Optional Currencies, but not a foreign exchange transaction for investment or speculative purposes;

 

  (j) arising under any deferred consideration or any earn-outs in respect of a Permitted Acquisition payable by a member of the Group;

 

  (k) arising in respect of Permitted Cash Pooling; and

 

  (l) not permitted by the preceding paragraphs or as a Permitted Transaction and the outstanding amount of which does not exceed USD 10,000,000 (or its equivalent) in aggregate for the Group at any time.

 

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Permitted Guarantee ” means:

 

  (a) any guarantee granted by any member of the Group in connection with (or as a condition of) the Existing Facility Agreement, provided such guarantee is discharged on the date of first Utilisation under this Agreement;

 

  (b) the endorsement of negotiable instruments in the ordinary course of trade;

 

  (c) any performance or similar bond guaranteeing performance by a member of the Group under any contract entered into in the ordinary course of trade or an indemnity given in respect of such a bond issued by a financial institution;

 

  (d) any guarantee of a Joint Venture to the extent permitted by Clause 23.7 ( Joint Ventures );

 

  (e) any guarantee permitted under Clause 23.13 ( Financial Indebtedness );

 

  (f) any guarantee given by an Obligor in respect of the obligations or liabilities of another Obligor in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (g) any guarantee given by a member of the Group which is not an Obligor in respect of the obligations or liabilities of another member of the Group which is not an Obligor in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (h) any parent company guarantee granted by an Obligor guaranteeing performance by a member of the Group which is not an Obligor under any contract entered into in the ordinary course of trade, provided that the maximum aggregate liability of all Obligors under all such guarantees does not exceed USD 1,000,000 (or its equivalent) in aggregate at any time;

 

  (i) any guarantee given to landlords in respect of rental obligations of a member of the Group incurred in the ordinary course of its business;

 

  (j) any guarantee or indemnity given in the ordinary course of the documentation of an acquisition or a disposal transaction which is a Permitted Acquisition or a Permitted Disposal which guarantee or indemnity is in customary form and subject to customary limitations;

 

  (k) guarantees granted by any person acquired by a member of the Group after the first Utilisation Date which is incurred under arrangements in existence at the date of the relevant acquisition, but not incurred or increased or having its maturity date extended in contemplation of, or since, that acquisition, and outstanding only for a period of 3 months following the date of acquisition;

 

  (l) any guarantee granted by any member of the Group in respect of obligations (not being Financial Indebtedness) of any other member of the Group in respect of VAT and/or customs duties in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (m) any guarantee given by an Obligor to the Welsh Assembly in respect of any grant given by the Welsh Assembly to a member of the Group in an aggregate amount not exceeding USD 10,000,000;

 

  (n) any indemnity granted to the trustee of any employee share option or management incentive or unit trust scheme established by a member of the Group;

 

- 21 -


  (o) any guarantee given in respect of Permitted Cash Pooling; and

 

  (p) any guarantees given in addition to those permitted under the preceding paragraphs or as a Permitted Transaction provided the maximum aggregate liability of the Group under all such guarantees does not exceed USD 500,000 (or its equivalent) in aggregate at any time.

“Permitted Joint Venture” means any investment in any Joint Venture where:

 

  (a) the Joint Venture is engaged in a business substantially the same as that carried on by the Group; and

 

  (b) in any Financial Year of the Company, the aggregate (the “Joint Venture Investment”) of:

 

  (i) all amounts subscribed for shares in, lent to, or invested in all such Joint Ventures by any member of the Group;

 

  (ii) the contingent liabilities of any member of the Group under any guarantee given in respect of the liabilities of any such Joint Venture; and

 

  (iii) the market value of any assets transferred by any member of the Group to any such Joint Venture,

does not exceed:

 

  (1) USD 1,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) in any Financial Year; and

 

  (2) when aggregated with the Total Purchase Price in respect of Permitted Acquisitions in that Financial Year permitted pursuant to paragraph (e) of the definition of “Permitted Acquisition”, USD 40,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies).

Permitted Loan ” means:

 

  (a) any trade credit extended by any member of the Group to its customers on normal commercial terms and in the ordinary course of its trading activities;

 

  (b) Financial Indebtedness which is referred to in the definition of, or otherwise constitutes, Permitted Financial Indebtedness (except under paragraph (e) of that definition);

 

  (c) a loan made to a Joint Venture to the extent permitted under Clause 23.7 ( Joint Ventures );

 

  (d) a loan made by an Obligor to another Obligor or made by a member of the Group which is not an Obligor to another member of the Group;

 

  (e) any loan made by an Obligor to a member of the Group which is not an Obligor so long as the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness under any such loans does not exceed USD 1,000,000 (or its equivalent) at any time, excluding for the purposes of calculating compliance with this limit, any such loans funded from New Shareholder Injections after the first Utilisation Date not identified as being reserved for any other purpose;

 

  (f) a loan made by a member of the Group to an employee or director of any member of the Group if the amount of that loan when aggregated with the amount of all loans to employees and directors by members of the Group does not exceed USD 500,000 (or its equivalent) at any time;

 

  (g) the making of a loan by the Company to a member of the Parent Group, provided that:

 

  (i) such loan is advanced on a date when no Event of Default is continuing, and no Event of Default would occur immediately after the advance of the loan; and

 

  (ii) the making of such loan occurs within 10 Business Days of the delivery by the Company of a Compliance Certificate to the Agent, which Compliance Certificate must confirm (with calculations in reasonable detail) that Leverage was, in relation to the Relevant Period to which the Compliance Certificate relates equal to or less than 2.00 : 1; and

 

  (iii) a certificate signed by two directors of the Company is delivered to the Agent prior to the loan being advanced certifying that the Group is projected to continue to comply with the provisions of Clause 22.2(b) ( Leverage ) for the 6 Months following the making of the loan, such confirmation to set out, in reasonable detail, projections demonstrating such compliance; and

 

- 22 -


  (h) any loan (other than a loan made by a member of the Group to another member of the Group) so long as the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness under any such loans does not exceed USD 1,000,000 (or its equivalent) at any time,

so long as in the case of paragraphs (d), (e) and (g) above, the creditor of such Financial Indebtedness shall (if it is an Obligor) grant security over its rights in respect of such Financial Indebtedness in favour of the Secured Parties on terms acceptable to the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders).

Permitted Payment ” means payments:

 

  (a) of any amount owed to members of the Parent Group and detailed in the Funds Flow Statement on the date of first Utilisation under this Agreement, to enable the refinancing of the indebtedness of the Parent Group under the Existing Facility Agreement;

 

  (b) in respect of goods or services made by any member of the Group to any member of the Parent Group, provided such payment is made in the course of a transaction undertaken on an arm’s length terms;

 

  (c) constituted by the surrendering of Group or other tax reliefs on an arm’s length basis for value to the shareholders of the Company;

 

  (d) by way of interest, capital, repayment, prepayment, payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or discharge of or on any Subordinated Debt by a member of the Group provided that:

 

  (i) such payment is made on a date when no Event of Default is continuing, and no Event of Default would occur immediately after the making of the payment; and

 

  (ii) the making of such payment occurs within 10 Business Days of the delivery by the Company of a Compliance Certificate to the Agent, which Compliance Certificate must confirm (with calculations in reasonable detail) that Leverage was, in relation to the Relevant Period to which the Compliance Certificate relates equal to or less than 2.00 : 1; and

 

  (iii) a certificate signed by two directors of the Company is delivered to the Agent prior to the payment certifying that the Group is projected to continue to comply with the provisions of Clause 22.2(b) ( Leverage ) for the 6 Months following the making of the payment, such confirmation to set out, in reasonable detail, projections demonstrating such compliance.

Permitted Security ” means any Security or Quasi-Security permitted under paragraph (c) of Clause 23.3 ( Negative pledge ).

Permitted Services Payments ” means a payment or payments by any member of the Group of any management, advisory, services or other fee to or to the order of any of the Parent Group, provided the aggregate amount of such fees do not exceed USD2,000,000 in any Financial Year.

 

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Permitted Share Issue ” means an issue of:

 

  (a) ordinary shares by the Company, paid for in full in cash upon issue and which by their terms are not redeemable and where (i) such shares are on substantially similar terms as those previously issued by the Company and (ii) such issue does not lead to a change of control (as set out in Clause 9.2 ( Change of control )) of the Company; or

 

  (b) shares by a member of the Group which is a Subsidiary to its immediate Holding Company where (if the existing shares of the Subsidiary are the subject of the Transaction Security) the newly-issued shares also become subject to the Transaction Security on substantially the same terms.

Permitted Transaction ” means:

 

  (a) any disposal required, Financial Indebtedness incurred, guarantee, indemnity or Security or Quasi-Security given, or other transaction arising, under the Finance Documents;

 

  (b) any loan, distribution or repayment or capitalisation of intercompany loans made in order to facilitate the making of a Permitted Payment;

 

  (c) the solvent liquidation or reorganisation of any member of the Group which is not an Obligor so long as any payments or assets distributed as a result of such liquidation or reorganisation are distributed solely to other members of the Group; and

 

  (d) transactions (other than (i) any sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposal and (ii) the granting or creation of Security or the incurring or permitting to subsist of Financial Indebtedness) conducted in the ordinary course of trading on arm’s length terms.

Project Orion ” means the refinancing transaction contemplated by this Agreement as more fully described in the documentation provided by the Company to the Original Lenders prior to the date of this Agreement.

Qualifying Lender ” has the meaning given to it in Clause 14 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ).

Quotation Day ” means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined:

 

  (a) (if the currency is sterling) the first day of that period;

 

  (b) (if the currency is euro) two TARGET Days before the first day of that period; or

 

  (c) (for any other currency), two Business Days before the first day of that period,

(unless market practice differs in the Relevant Market for that currency, in which case the Quotation Day for that currency will be determined by the Agent in accordance with market practice in the Relevant Market (and if quotations would normally be given on more than one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of those days)).

Receiver ” means a receiver or receiver and manager or administrative receiver of the whole or any part of the Charged Property.

 

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Reference Bank Rate ” means the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to 4 decimal places) as supplied to the Agent at its request by the Reference Banks:

 

  (a) in relation to LIBOR:

 

  (i) (other than where paragraph (i) applies) as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London interbank market in the relevant currency and for the relevant period were it to do so by asking for and then accepting interbank offers for deposits in reasonable market size in that currency and for that period; or

 

  (ii) if different, as the rate (if any and applied to the relevant Reference Bank and the relevant currency and period) which contributors to the applicable Screen Rate are asked to submit to the relevant administrator; or

 

  (b) in relation to EURIBOR:

 

  (i) (other than where paragraph (ii) applies) as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank believes one prime bank is quoting to another prime bank for interbank term deposits in euro within the Participating Member States for the relevant period; or

 

  (ii) if different, as the rate (if any and applied to the relevant Reference Bank and the relevant period) which contributors to the applicable Screen Rate are asked to submit to the relevant administrator.

Reference Banks ” means, in relation to LIBOR or EURIBOR, the principal London offices of such banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Company.

Reference Bank Quotation ” means any quotation supplied to the Agent by a Reference Bank.

Related Fund ” in relation to a fund (the “ first fund ”), means a fund which is managed or advised by the same investment manager or investment adviser as the first fund or, if it is managed by a different investment manager or investment adviser, a fund whose investment manager or investment adviser is an Affiliate of the investment manager or investment adviser of the first fund.

Relevant Jurisdiction ” means, in relation to an Obligor:

 

  (a) its Original Jurisdiction;

 

  (a) any jurisdiction where any material asset subject to or intended to be subject to the Transaction Security to be created by it is situated;

 

  (b) any jurisdiction where it conducts a material part of its business; and

 

  (c) the jurisdiction whose laws govern the perfection of any of the Transaction Security Documents entered into by it.

Relevant Market ” means, in relation to euro, the European interbank market and, in relation to any other currency, the London interbank market.

Repayment Instalment ” means each repayment instalment required to be made under Facility A pursuant to Clause 8.1 ( Repayment of Facility A Loans ).

 

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Repeating Representations ” means each of the representations set out in Clauses 20.1 ( Status ) to 20.6 ( Governing law and enforcement ), Clause 20.9 ( No default ), Clause 20.12 ( Pari passu ranking ), Clause 20.15 ( Centre of main interests ) to Clause 20.19 ( Anti-corruption law ) and Clause 20.21 ( Sanctions ).

Representative ” means any delegate, agent, manager, administrator, nominee, attorney, trustee or custodian.

Resignation Letter ” means a letter substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7 ( Form of Resignation Letter ).

Rollover Loan ” means one or more Facility B Loans:

 

  (a) made or to be made on the same day that a maturing Facility B Loan is due to be repaid;

 

  (b) the aggregate amount of which is equal to or less than the amount of the maturing Facility B Loan;

 

  (c) in the same currency as the maturing Facility B Loan (unless it arose as a result of the operation of Clause 6.2 ( Unavailability of a currency )); and

 

  (d) made or to be made to the same Borrower for the purpose of refinancing that maturing Facility B Loan.

Sanctions ” means the sanctions laws, regulations, embargoes or restrictive measures administered, enacted or enforced by any of the Sanctions Authorities.

Sanctions Authorities ” means:

 

  (a) United States of America;

 

  (b) the United Nations Security Council;

 

  (c) the European Union;

 

  (d) the United Kingdom; or

 

  (e) the respective Governmental Authorities of any of the foregoing, including without limitation, OFAC, the US Department of State and Her Majesty’s Treasury.

Screen Rate ” means:

 

  (a) in relation to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant currency and period displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate); and

 

  (b) in relation to EURIBOR, the euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed on page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate),

 

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or, in each case, on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Company.

Secured Obligations ” means all present and future obligations and liabilities expressed to be due, owing or payable by any Obligor under or in connection with any of the Finance Documents (in each case, whether alone or jointly, or jointly and severally, with any other person, whether actually or contingently and whether as principal, surety or otherwise).

Secured Parties ” means each Finance Party from time to time party to this Agreement, any Receiver or Delegate.

Security ” means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect.

Selection Notice ” means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part II of Schedule 3 ( Requests ) given in accordance with Clause 11 ( Interest Periods ) in relation to Facility A.

Separate Loan ” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 8.2 ( Repayment of Facility B Loans ).

Specified Time ” means a day or time determined in accordance with Schedule 12 ( Timetables ).

SPTS TGL ” means for SPTS Technologies Group Limited (company number 07635249), a Holding Company of the Company.

Subordinated Debt ” means any loan or credit made available to a member of the Group by a member of the Parent Group provided always that the same is subject to a Subordination Agreement.

Subordination Agreement ” means a subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Majority Lenders entered into between all or some of the Finance Parties and one or more members of the Parent Group in respect of Subordinated Debt.

Subsidiary ” means a subsidiary undertaking within the meaning of section 1162 of the Companies Act 2006 and/or a subsidiary within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006.

TARGET2 ” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilises a single shared platform and which was launched on 19 November 2007.

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

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).

Termination Date ” means:

 

  (a) in relation to Facility A, means, subject to Clause 8.3 ( Extension option ), the date falling 4 years after the date of this Agreement; and

 

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  (b) in relation to Facility B, means, subject to Clause 8.3 ( Extension option ), the date falling 4 years after the date of this Agreement.

Total Commitments ” means the aggregate of the Total Facility A Commitments and the Total Facility B Commitments, being USD 125,000,000 at the date of this Agreement.

Total Facility A Commitments ” means the aggregate of the Facility A Commitments, being USD 110,000,000 at the date of this Agreement.

Total Facility B Commitments ” means the aggregate of the Facility B Commitments, being USD 15,000,000 at the date of this Agreement.

Transaction Security ” means the Security created or expressed to be created in favour of the Security Agent pursuant to the Transaction Security Documents.

Transaction Security Documents ” means each of the documents listed as being a Transaction Security Document in Part II and Part III of Schedule 2 ( Conditions precedent ) together with any other document entered into by any Obligor creating or expressed to create any Security over all or any part of its assets in respect of the obligations of any of the Obligors under any of the Finance Documents.

Transfer Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 ( Form of Transfer Certificate ) or any other form agreed between the Agent and the Company.

Transfer Date ” means, in relation to an assignment or a transfer, the later of:

 

  (a) the proposed Transfer Date specified in the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate; and

 

  (b) the date on which the Agent executes the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate.

Unpaid Sum ” means any sum due and payable but unpaid by an Obligor under the Finance Documents.

US ” means the United States of America.

US Tax Obligor ” means:

 

  (a) a Borrower which is resident for tax purposes in the US; or

 

  (b) an Obligor some or all of whose payments under the Finance Documents are from sources within the US for US federal income tax purposes.

Utilisation ” means a utilisation of a Facility.

Utilisation Date ” means the date of a Utilisation, being the date on which the relevant Loan is to be made.

Utilisation Request ” means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part I of Schedule 3 ( Requests ).

VAT ” means:

 

  (a) 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

 

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  (b) 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 (a) above, or imposed elsewhere.

 

1.2 Construction

 

  (a) Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in this Agreement to:

 

  (i) the “ Agent ”, the “ Arranger ”, the “ Security Agent ”, any “ Finance Party ”, any “ Secured Party ”, any “ Lender ”, any “ Ancillary Lender ” any “ Obligor ” or any “ Party ” shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees to, or of, its rights and/or obligations under the Finance Documents and, in the case of the Security Agent, any person for the time being appointed as Security Agent or Security Agents in accordance with the Finance Documents;

 

  (ii) assets ” includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description;

 

  (iii) a “ Finance Document ” or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated, supplemented, extended or restated;

 

  (iv) a “ group of Lenders ” includes all the Lenders;

 

  (v) indebtedness ” includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent;

 

  (vi) a “ person ” includes any individual, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust, joint venture, consortium, partnership or other entity (whether or not having separate legal personality);

 

  (vii) a “ regulation ” includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation;

 

  (viii) a provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted; and

 

  (ix) a time of day is a reference to London time.

 

  (b) The determination of the extent to which a rate is “ for a period equal in length ” to an Interest Period shall disregard any inconsistency arising from the last day of that Interest Period being determined pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

  (c) Section, Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only.

 

  (d) Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement.

 

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  (e) A Borrower providing “cash cover” for an Ancillary Facility means a Borrower paying an amount in the currency of the Ancillary Facility to an interest-bearing account in the name of the Borrower and the following conditions being met:

 

  (i) the account is with the Ancillary Lender for which that cash cover is to be provided;

 

  (ii) until no amount is or may be outstanding under that Ancillary Facility, withdrawals from the account may only be made to pay the relevant Finance Party amounts due and payable to it under this Agreement in respect of that Ancillary Facility; and

 

  (iii) the Borrower has executed a security document over that account, in form and substance satisfactory to the Finance Party with which that account is held, creating a first ranking security interest over that account

 

  (f) A Default (other than an Event of Default) is “ continuing ” if it has not been remedied or waived and an Event of Default is “ continuing ” if it has not been waived.

 

  (g) A Borrower “ repaying ” or “ prepaying ” Ancillary Outstandings means:

 

  (i) that Borrower providing cash cover in respect of the Ancillary Outstandings;

 

  (ii) the maximum amount payable under the Ancillary Facility being reduced or cancelled in accordance with its terms; or

 

  (iii) the Ancillary Lender being satisfied that it has no further liability under that Ancillary Facility,

and the amount by which the Ancillary Outstandings are repaid or prepaid under paragraphs (i) and (ii) is the amount of the relevant cash cover, reduction or cancellation.

 

  (h) An amount borrowed includes any amount utilised under an Ancillary Facility.

 

1.3 Currency symbols and definitions

 

  (a) $ ”, “ USD ” and “ dollars ” denote the lawful currency of the United States of America;

 

  (b) £ ”, “ GBP ” and “ sterling ” denote the lawful currency of the United Kingdom;

 

  (c) ”, “ EUR ” and “ euro ” denote the single currency of the Participating Member States;

 

  (d) NT$ ” denotes the lawful currency of Taiwan; and

 

  (e) Sing$ ” denotes the lawful currency of Singapore.

 

1.4 Third party rights

 

  (a) Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document a person who is not a Party has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the “ Third Parties Act ”) to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.

 

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  (b) Subject to Clause 38.3 ( Other exceptions ) but otherwise notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, the consent of any person who is not a Party is not required to rescind or vary this Agreement at any time.

 

1.5 Director certifications

If any provision of a Finance Document requires a director of an Obligor to provide any information or to certify any matter then such provision or certification, provided it is made in good faith and without fraud or wilful deceit, shall be made without personal liability.

 

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SECTION 2

THE FACILITIES

 

2. THE FACILITIES

 

2.1 The Facilities

 

  (a) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrowers:

 

  (i) a Base Currency term loan facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Facility A Commitments; and

 

  (ii) a multicurrency revolving loan facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Facility B Commitments.

 

  (b) Subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, an Ancillary Lender may make all or part of its Facility B Commitment available to any Borrower as an Ancillary Facility.

 

2.2 Increase

 

  (a) The Company may by giving prior notice to the Agent by no later than the date falling 30 days after the effective date of a cancellation of:

 

  (i) the Available Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with Clause 9.6 ( Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender ); or

 

  (ii) the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with:

 

  (A) Clause 9.1 ( Illegality ); or

 

  (B) paragraph (a) of Clause 9.6 ( Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender ),

request that the Commitments relating to any Facility be increased (and the Commitments relating to that Facility shall be so increased) in an aggregate amount in the Base Currency of up to the amount of the Available Commitments or Commitments relating to that Facility so cancelled as follows:

 

  (iii) the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks, financial institutions, trusts, funds or other entities (each an “ Increase Lender ”) selected by the Company (in consultation with the Agent) and each of which confirms in writing (whether in the relevant Increase Confirmation or otherwise) its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender;

 

  (iv) each of the Obligors and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Obligors and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

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  (v) each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender” and any Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another as that Increase Lender and those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

  (vi) the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and

 

  (vii) any increase in the Commitments relating to a Facility shall take effect on the date specified by the Company in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in paragraph (b) below are satisfied.

 

  (b) An increase in the Commitments relating to a Facility will only be effective on:

 

  (i) the execution by the Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Increase Lender; and

 

  (ii) in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase, the Agent being satisfied that it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase Lender. The Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Increase Lender upon being so satisfied.

 

  (c) Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the avoidance of doubt) that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the increase becomes effective.

 

  (d) The Company shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay or reimburse the Agent and the Security Agent for the amount of all reasonable costs and expenses (including legal fees subject to any pre-agreed level or cap) reasonably incurred by either of them in connection with any increase in Commitments under this Clause 2.2.

 

  (e) The Increase Lender shall, on the date upon which the increase takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee in an amount equal to the fee which would be payable under Clause 25.3 ( Assignment or transfer fee ) if the increase was a transfer pursuant to Clause 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) and if the Increase Lender was a New Lender.

 

  (f) The Company may pay to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between the Company and the Increase Lender in a Fee Letter.

 

  (g) Clause 25.4 ( Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders ) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this Clause 2.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that Clause to:

 

  (i) an “ Existing Lender ” were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase;

 

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  (ii) the “ New Lender ” were references to that “ Increase Lender ”; and

a “ re-transfer ” and “ re-assignment ” were references to respectively a “ transfer ” and “ assignment ”.

 

2.3 Finance Parties’ rights and obligations

 

  (a) The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

 

  (b) The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party from an Obligor is a separate and independent debt in respect of which a Finance Party shall be entitled to enforce its rights in accordance with paragraph (c) below. The rights of each Finance Party include any debt owing to that Finance Party under the Finance Documents and, for the avoidance of doubt, any part of a Loan or any other amount owed by an Obligor which relates to a Finance Party’s participation in a Facility or its role under a Finance Document (including any such amount payable to the Agent on its behalf) is a debt owing to that Finance Party by that Obligor.

 

  (c) A Finance Party may, except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

2.4 Obligors’ Agent

 

  (a) Each Obligor (other than the Company) by its execution of this Agreement or an Accession Letter irrevocably appoints the Company (acting through one or more authorised signatories) to act on its behalf as its agent in relation to the Finance Documents and irrevocably authorises:

 

  (i) the Company on its behalf to supply all information concerning itself contemplated by this Agreement to the Finance Parties and to give all notices and instructions (including, in the case of a Borrower, Utilisation Requests), to execute on its behalf any Accession Letter, to make such agreements and to effect the relevant amendments, supplements and variations capable of being given, made or effected by any Obligor notwithstanding that they may affect the Obligor, without further reference to or the consent of that Obligor; and

 

  (ii) each Finance Party to give any notice, demand or other communication to that Obligor pursuant to the Finance Documents to the Company,

and in each case the Obligor shall be bound as though the Obligor itself had given the notices and instructions (including, without limitation, any Utilisation Requests) or executed or made the agreements or effected the amendments, supplements or variations, or received the relevant notice, demand or other communication.

 

  (b)

Every act, omission, agreement, undertaking, settlement, waiver, amendment, supplement, variation, notice or other communication given or made by the

 

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  Obligors’ Agent or given to the Obligors’ Agent under any Finance Document on behalf of another Obligor or in connection with any Finance Document (whether or not known to any other Obligor and whether occurring before or after such other Obligor became an Obligor under any Finance Document) shall be binding for all purposes on that Obligor as if that Obligor had expressly made, given or concurred with it. In the event of any conflict between any notices or other communications of the Obligors’ Agent and any other Obligor, those of the Obligors’ Agent shall prevail.

 

3. PURPOSE

 

3.1 Purpose

 

  (a) Each Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under Facility A towards:

 

  (i) making such payments and/or dividends as described in the Funds Flow Statement to enable the refinancing of the indebtedness of the Parent Group under the Existing Facility Agreement; and

 

  (ii) the payment of any costs and expenses of any nature incurred by the Company or any Borrower in respect of Project Orion.

 

  (b) Each Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under Facility B towards:

 

  (i) the payment of any costs and expenses of any nature incurred by the Company or any Borrower in respect of Project Orion; and

 

  (ii) the general corporate and working capital purposes of the Group, including without limitation towards the funding of Permitted Acquisitions (but not towards prepayment of any Facility A Loan or, in the case of any utilisation of any Ancillary Facility, towards prepayment of any Facility B Utilisation).

 

3.2 Monitoring

No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

4. CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION

 

4.1 Initial conditions precedent

 

  (a) The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ participation ) in relation to any Utilisation if on or before the Utilisation Date for that Utilisation, the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Parts I and II of Schedule 2 ( Conditions precedent ) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (or has confirmed that it has waived the same). The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied.

 

  (b) Other than to the extent that the Majority Lenders notify the Agent in writing to the contrary before the Agent gives the notification described in paragraph (a) above, the Lenders authorise (but do not require) the Agent to give that notification. The Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever as a result of giving any such notification.

 

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4.2 Further conditions precedent

The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ participation ) if on the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date:

 

  (a) in the case of a Rollover Loan, no Event of Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan and, in the case of any other Loan, no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan; and

 

  (b) the Repeating Representations to be made by each Obligor are true in all material respects.

 

4.3 Conditions relating to Optional Currencies

 

  (a) A currency will constitute an Optional Currency in relation to a Loan if:

 

  (i) it is readily available in the amount required and freely convertible into the Base Currency in the wholesale market for that currency on the Quotation Day and the Utilisation Date for that Loan; and

 

  (ii) it is euro or sterling or has otherwise been approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders) on or prior to receipt by the Agent of the relevant Utilisation Request or Selection Notice for that Loan.

 

  (b) If the Agent has received a written request from the Company for a currency to be approved under paragraph (a)(ii) above, the Agent will confirm to the Company by the Specified Time:

 

  (i) whether or not the Lenders have granted their approval; and

 

  (ii) if approval has been granted, the minimum amount (and, if required, integral multiples) for any subsequent Utilisation in that currency.

 

4.4 Maximum number of Loans

 

  (a) A Borrower (or the Company) may not deliver a Utilisation Request if as a result of the proposed Utilisation:

 

  (i) 2 or more Facility A Loans would be outstanding; or

 

  (ii) 11 or more Facility B Loans would be outstanding.

 

  (b) Any Loan made by a single Lender under Clause 6.2 ( Unavailability of a currency ) shall not be taken into account in this Clause 4.4.

 

  (c) Any Separate Loan shall not be taken into account in this Clause 4.4.

 

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SECTION 3

UTILISATION

 

5. UTILISATION

 

5.1 Delivery of a Utilisation Request

A Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may utilise a Facility by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than the Specified Time (or such later time as the Agent may agree).

 

5.2 Completion of a Utilisation Request

 

  (a) Each Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:

 

  (i) it identifies the Facility to be utilised;

 

  (ii) the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period applicable to that Facility;

 

  (iii) the currency and amount of the Utilisation comply with Clause 5.3 ( Currency and amount ); and

 

  (iv) the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 11 ( Interest Periods ).

 

  (b) Only one Loan may be requested in each Utilisation Request.

 

5.3 Currency and amount

 

  (a) The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be the Base Currency or, the case of Facility B only, may be in an Optional Currency.

 

  (b) The amount of the proposed Loan must be:

 

  (i) if the currency selected is the Base Currency, a minimum of:

 

  (A) USD 110,000,000 for Facility A; and

 

  (B) USD 100,000 for Facility B,

or in either case, if less, the Available Facility; or

 

  (ii) if the currency selected is an Optional Currency, a minimum for Facility B of an amount of that Optional Currency which is equal to USD 100,000 at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange at the Specified Time, or, if less, the Available Facility; or

 

  (iii) in any event such that its Base Currency Amount is less than or equal to the Available Facility.

 

  (c) The maximum aggregate amount of the Ancillary Commitments of all the Lenders shall not at any time exceed USD 10,000,000.

 

5.4 Lenders’ participation

 

  (a) If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, and subject to Clause 7.2 ( Repayment of Facility B Loans ), each Lender shall make its participation in each Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office.

 

  (b) The amount of each Lender’s participation in each Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to making the Loan.

 

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  (c) If a Facility B Utilisation is made to repay Ancillary Outstandings, each Lender’s participation in that Utilisation will be in an amount (as determined by the Agent) which will result as nearly as possible in the aggregate amount of its participation in the Facility B Utilisations then outstanding bearing the same proportion to the aggregate amount of the Facility B Utilisations then outstanding as its Facility B Commitment bears to the Total Facility B Commitments.

 

  (d) The Agent shall determine the Base Currency Amount of each Loan which is to be made in an Optional Currency and shall notify each Lender of the amount, currency and the Base Currency Amount of each Loan, the amount of its participation in that Loan and, in the case of a Facility B Loan and if different, the amount of that participation to be made available in accordance with Clause 29.1 ( Payments to the Agent ), in each case by the Specified Time.

 

5.5 Cancellation of Commitment

 

  (a) The Facility A Commitments which, at that time, are unutilised shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period for Facility A.

 

  (b) The Facility B Commitments which, at that time, are unutilised shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period for Facility B.

 

5.6 Clean down

The Company shall ensure that the aggregate of the Base Currency Amounts of:-

 

  (a) all Facility B Loans;

 

  (b) any cash loan element of the Ancillary Outstandings under all the Ancillary Facilities; and

 

  (c) (to the extent not included within Clause 5.6(b) above), any cash loans covered by a letter of credit or guarantee issued under an Ancillary Facility as contemplated by the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness; LESS

 

  (d) any amount of Cash or Cash Equivalent Investments held by wholly owned members of the Group,

(as confirmed in a certificate signed by two authorised signatories of the Company provided to the Agent within five Business Days after the end of each Financial Year) shall not exceed zero for a period of not less than 5 successive Business Days in each of its Financial Years. Not less than three Months shall elapse between two such periods.

 

6. OPTIONAL CURRENCIES

 

6.1 Selection of currency

 

  (a) A Borrower (or the Company on behalf of a Borrower) shall select the currency of a Loan:

 

  (i) (in the case of an initial Utilisation) in a Utilisation Request; and

 

  (ii) (afterwards in relation to a Facility A Loan made to it) in a Selection Notice.

 

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  (b) If a Borrower (or the Company on behalf of a Borrower) fails to issue a Selection Notice in relation to a Facility A Loan, the Loan will remain denominated for its next Interest Period in the same currency as that in which it is denominated, pursuant to paragraph (a) above, for its current Interest Period.

 

  (c) If a Borrower (or the Company on behalf of a Borrower) issues a Selection Notice requesting a change of currency and the first day of the requested Interest Period is not a Business Day for the new currency, the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders and the Loan will remain in the existing currency (with Interest Periods running from one Business Day until the next Business Day) until the next day which is a Business Day for both currencies, on which day the requested Interest Period will begin.

 

6.2 Unavailability of a currency

If before the Specified Time on any Quotation Day:

 

  (a) a Lender notifies the Agent that the Optional Currency requested is not readily available to it in the amount required; or

 

  (b) a Lender notifies the Agent that compliance with its obligation to participate in a Loan in the proposed Optional Currency would contravene a law or regulation applicable to it,

the Agent will give notice to the relevant Borrower (or to the Company) to that effect by the Specified Time on that day. In this event, any Lender that gives notice pursuant to this Clause 6.2 will be required to participate in the Loan in the Base Currency (in an amount equal to that Lender’s proportion of the Base Currency Amount or, in respect of a Rollover Loan, an amount equal to that Lender’s proportion of the Base Currency Amount of the Rollover Loan that is due to be made) and its participation will be treated as a separate Loan denominated in the Base Currency during that Interest Period.

 

6.3 Agent’s calculations

 

  (a) All calculations made by the Agent pursuant to this Clause 6 will take into account any repayment, prepayment, consolidation or division of Facility A Loans to be made on the last day of the first Interest Period.

 

  (b) Each Lender’s participation in a Loan will, subject to paragraph (a) above, be determined in accordance with paragraph (b) of Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ participation).

 

7. ANCILLARY FACILITIES

 

7.1 Type of facility

An Ancillary Facility may be by way of:

 

  (a) an overdraft facility;

 

  (b) a guarantee, bonding, documentary or stand-by letter of credit facility;

 

  (c) a derivatives facility;

 

  (d) a foreign exchange facility; or

 

  (e) any other facility or accommodation required in connection with the business of the Group and which is agreed by the Company with an Ancillary Lender.

 

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7.2 Availability

 

  (a) If the Company and a Lender agree and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Lender may provide all or part of its Facility B Commitment as an Ancillary Facility.

 

  (b) An Ancillary Facility shall not be made available unless, not later than 10 Business Days (or such shorter period as the Agent may agree, acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) prior to the Ancillary Commencement Date for an Ancillary Facility, the Agent has received from the Company:

 

  (i) a notice in writing of the establishment of an Ancillary Facility and specifying:

 

  (A) the proposed Borrower(s) (or Affiliates of a Borrower) which may use the Ancillary Facility;

 

  (B) the proposed Ancillary Commencement Date and expiry date of the Ancillary Facility;

 

  (C) the proposed type of Ancillary Facility to be provided;

 

  (D) the proposed Ancillary Lender;

 

  (E) the proposed Ancillary Commitment, the maximum amount of the Ancillary Facility and, in the case of a Multi-account Overdraft, its Designated Gross Amount and its Designated Net Amount; and

 

  (F) the proposed currency of the Ancillary Facility (if not denominated in the Base Currency); and

 

  (ii) any other information which the Agent may reasonably request in connection with the Ancillary Facility.

 

  (c) The Agent shall promptly notify the Ancillary Lender and the other Lenders of the establishment of an Ancillary Facility.

 

  (d) Subject to compliance with paragraph (b) above:

 

  (i) the Lender concerned will become an Ancillary Lender; and

 

  (ii) the Ancillary Facility will be available,

with effect from the date agreed by the Company and the Ancillary Lender.

 

7.3 Terms of Ancillary Facilities

 

  (a) Except as provided below, the terms of any Ancillary Facility will be those agreed by the Ancillary Lender and the Company.

 

  (b) Those terms:

 

  (i) must be based upon normal commercial terms at that time (except as varied by this Agreement);

 

  (ii) may allow only Borrowers (or Affiliates of Borrowers nominated pursuant to Clause 7.8 ( Affiliates of Borrowers )) to use the Ancillary Facility;

 

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  (iii) may not allow the Ancillary Outstandings to exceed the Ancillary Commitment;

 

  (iv) may not allow a Lender’s Ancillary Commitment to exceed that Lender’s Available Commitment relating to Facility B (before taking into account the effect of the Ancillary Facility on that Available Commitment); and

 

  (v) must require that the Ancillary Commitment is reduced to zero, and that all Ancillary Outstandings are repaid not later than the Termination Date applicable to Facility B (or such earlier date as the Facility B Commitment of the relevant Ancillary Lender is reduced to zero).

 

  (c) If there is any inconsistency between any term of an Ancillary Facility and any term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail except for:

 

  (i) Clause 35.3 ( Day count convention ) which shall not prevail for the purposes of calculating fees, interest or commission relating to an Ancillary Facility;

 

  (ii) an Ancillary Facility comprising more than one account where the terms of the Ancillary Documents shall prevail to the extent required to permit the netting of balances on those accounts; and

 

  (iii) where the relevant term of this Agreement would be contrary to, or inconsistent with, the law governing the relevant Ancillary Document, in which case that term of this Agreement shall not prevail.

 

  (d) Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities are dealt with in Clause 13.5 ( Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities ).

 

7.4 Repayment of Ancillary Facility

 

  (a) An Ancillary Facility shall cease to be available on the Termination Date applicable to Facility B or such earlier date on which its expiry date occurs or on which it is cancelled in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

  (b) If an Ancillary Facility expires in accordance with its terms the Ancillary Commitment of the Ancillary Lender shall be reduced to zero.

 

  (c) No Ancillary Lender may demand repayment or prepayment of any Ancillary Outstandings prior to the expiry date of the relevant Ancillary Facility unless:

 

  (i) required to reduce the Gross Outstandings of a Multi-account Overdraft to or towards an amount equal to its Net Outstandings;

 

  (ii) the Total Facility B Commitments have been cancelled in full or all outstanding Utilisations under Facility B have become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

 

  (iii) it becomes unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction for the Ancillary Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund, issue or maintain its participation in its Ancillary Facility; or

 

  (iv) both:

 

  (A) the Available Commitments relating to Facility B; and

 

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  (B) the notice of the demand given by the Ancillary Lender,

would not prevent the relevant Borrower funding the repayment of those Ancillary Outstandings in full by way of a Facility B Utilisation.

 

  (d) If a Facility B Utilisation is made to repay Ancillary Outstandings in full, the relevant Ancillary Commitment shall be reduced to zero.

 

7.5 Limitation on Ancillary Outstandings

Each Borrower shall procure that:

 

  (a) the Ancillary Outstandings under any Ancillary Facility shall not exceed the Ancillary Commitment applicable to that Ancillary Facility; and

 

  (b) in relation to a Multi-account Overdraft:

 

  (i) the Ancillary Outstandings shall not exceed the Designated Net Amount applicable to that Multi-account Overdraft; and

 

  (ii) the Gross Outstandings shall not exceed the Designated Gross Amount applicable to that Multi-account Overdraft.

 

7.6 Adjustment for Ancillary Facilities upon acceleration

 

  (a) In this Clause 7.6:

 

  (i) Facility B Outstandings ” means, in relation to a Lender, the aggregate of the equivalent in the Base Currency of:

 

  (A) its participation in each Facility B Utilisation then outstanding (together with the aggregate amount of all accrued interest, fees and commission owed to it as a Lender under Facility B); and

 

  (B) if the Lender is also an Ancillary Lender, the Ancillary Outstandings in respect of Ancillary Facilities provided by that Ancillary Lender (together with the aggregate amount of all accrued interest, fees and commission owed to it as an Ancillary Lender in respect of the Ancillary Facility); and

 

  (ii) Total Facility B Outstandings ” means the aggregate of all Facility B Outstandings.

 

  (b) If a notice is served under Clause 24.15 ( Acceleration ) (other than a notice declaring Utilisations to be due on demand), each Lender and each Ancillary Lender shall (subject to paragraph (g) below) promptly adjust (by making or receiving (as the case may be) corresponding transfers of rights and obligations under the Finance Documents relating to Facility B Outstandings) their claims in respect of amounts outstanding to them under Facility B and each Ancillary Facility to the extent necessary to ensure that after such transfers the Facility B Outstandings of each Lender bear the same proportion to the Total Facility B Outstandings as such Lender’s Facility B Commitment bears to the Total Facility B Commitments, each as at the date the notice is served under Clause 24.15 ( Acceleration ).

 

  (c)

If an amount outstanding under an Ancillary Facility is a contingent liability and that contingent liability becomes an actual liability or is reduced to zero after the

 

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  original adjustment is made under paragraph (b) above, then each Lender and Ancillary Lender will make a further adjustment (by making or receiving (as the case may be) corresponding transfers of rights and obligations under the Finance Documents relating to Facility B Outstandings to the extent necessary) to put themselves in the position they would have been in had the original adjustment been determined by reference to the actual liability or, as the case may be, zero liability and not the contingent liability.

 

  (d) Any transfer of rights and obligations relating to Facility B Outstandings made pursuant to this Clause 7.6 shall be made for a purchase price in cash, payable at the time of transfer, in an amount equal to those Facility B Outstandings (less any accrued interest, fees and commission to which the transferor will remain entitled to receive notwithstanding that transfer, pursuant to Clause 25.9 ( Pro rata interest settlement )).

 

  (e) Prior to the application of the provisions of paragraph (b) above, an Ancillary Lender that has provided a Multi-account Overdraft shall set-off any Available Credit Balance on any account comprised in that Multi-account Overdraft.

 

  (f) All calculations to be made pursuant to this Clause 7.6 shall be made by the Agent based upon information provided to it by the Lenders and Ancillary Lenders and the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange.

 

  (g) This Clause 7.6 shall not oblige any Lender to accept the transfer of a claim relating to an amount outstanding under an Ancillary Facility which is not denominated (pursuant to the relevant Finance Document) in either the Base Currency, a currency which has been an Optional Currency for the purpose of any Facility B Utilisation or in another currency which is acceptable to that Lender.

 

7.7 Information

Each Borrower and each Ancillary Lender shall, promptly upon request by the Agent, supply the Agent with any information relating to the operation of an Ancillary Facility (including the Ancillary Outstandings) as the Agent may reasonably request from time to time. Each Borrower consents to all such information being released to the Agent and the other Finance Parties.

 

7.8 Affiliates of Borrowers

 

  (a) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, an Affiliate of a Borrower may with the approval of the relevant Lender become a borrower with respect to an Ancillary Facility.

 

  (b) The Company shall specify any relevant Affiliate of a Borrower in any notice delivered by the Company to the Agent pursuant to Clause 7.2(b)(i) ( Availability ).

 

  (c) If a Borrower ceases to be a Borrower under this Agreement in accordance with Clause 27.3 ( Resignation of a Borrower ), its Affiliate shall cease to have any rights under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document.

 

  (d) Where this Agreement or any other Finance Document imposes an obligation on a Borrower under an Ancillary Facility and the relevant Borrower is an Affiliate of a Borrower which is not a party to that document, the relevant Borrower shall ensure that the obligation is performed by its Affiliate.

 

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  (e) Any reference in this Agreement or any other Finance Document to a Borrower being under no obligations (whether actual or contingent) as a Borrower under such Finance Document shall be construed to include a reference to any Affiliate of a Borrower being under no obligations under any Finance Document or Ancillary Document.

 

7.9 Facility B Commitment amounts

Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, each Lender shall ensure that at all times its Facility B Commitment is not less than its Ancillary Commitment.

 

7.10 Amendments and waivers – Ancillary Facilities

No amendment or waiver of a term of any Ancillary Facility shall require the consent of any Finance Party other than the relevant Ancillary Lender unless such amendment or waiver itself relates to or gives rise to a matter which would require an amendment of or under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, under this Clause 7). In such a case, Clause 38 ( Amendments and waivers ) will apply.

 

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SECTION 4

REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

 

8. REPAYMENT

 

8.1 Repayment of Facility A Loans

 

  (a) The Borrowers under Facility A shall repay the aggregate Facility A Loans in instalments by repaying on each Facility A Repayment Date an amount which reduces the Base Currency Amount of the outstanding aggregate Facility A Loans by the amount set out opposite that Facility A Repayment Date:

 

Facility A Repayment Date

   Repayment Instalment  

The first anniversary of the date of this Agreement

   USD 20,000,000   

The second anniversary of the date of this Agreement

   USD 20,000,000   

The third anniversary of the date of this Agreement

   USD 20,000,000   

The Facility A Termination Date

   USD 50,000,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

   USD  110,000,000   
  

 

 

 

 

  (b) If, in relation to a Facility A Repayment Date, the aggregate amount of the Facility A Loans made to the Borrowers exceeds the Repayment Instalment to be repaid by the Borrowers, the Company may, if it gives the Agent not less than five Business Days’ prior notice, select which of those Facility A Loans will be wholly or partially repaid so that the Facility A Repayment Instalment is repaid on the relevant Repayment Date in full. The Company may not make a selection if as a result more than one Facility A Loan will be partially repaid.

 

  (c) If the Company fails to deliver a notice to the Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above, the Agent shall select the Facility A Loan(s), to be wholly or partially repaid.

 

  (d) No Borrower may reborrow any part of Facility A which is repaid.

 

8.2 Repayment of Facility B Loans

 

  (a) Each Borrower which has drawn a Facility B Loan shall repay that Loan on the last day of its Interest Period.

 

  (b) Without prejudice to each Borrower’s obligation under paragraph (a) above, if:

 

  (i) one or more Facility B Loans are to be made available to a Borrower:

 

  (A) on the same day that a maturing Facility B Loan is due to be repaid by that Borrower;

 

  (B) in the same currency as the maturing Facility B Loan (unless it arose as a result of the operation of Clause 6.2 ( Unavailability of a currency )); and

 

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  (C) in whole or in part for the purpose of refinancing the maturing Facility B Loan; and

 

  (ii) the proportion borne by each Lender’s participation in the maturing Facility B Loan to the amount of that maturing Facility B Loan is the same as the proportion borne by that Lender’s participation in the new Facility B Loans to the aggregate amount of those new Facility B Loans,

the aggregate amount of the new Facility B Loans shall, unless the relevant Borrower or the Company notifies the Agent to the contrary in the relevant Utilisation Request, be treated as if applied in or towards repayment of the maturing Facility B Loan so that:

 

  (A) if the amount of the maturing Facility B Loan exceeds the aggregate amount of the new Facility B Loans:

 

  (1) the relevant Borrower will only be required to make a payment under Clause 29.1 ( Payments to the Agent ) in an amount in the relevant currency equal to that excess; and

 

  (2) each Lender’s participation in the new Facility B Loans shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lender’s participation in the maturing Facility B Loan and that Lender will not be required to make a payment under Clause 29.1 ( Payments to the Agent ) in respect of its participation in the new Facility B Loans; and

 

  (B) if the amount of the maturing Facility B Loan is equal to or less than the aggregate amount of the new Facility B Loans:

 

  (1) the relevant Borrower will not be required to make a payment under Clause 29.1 ( Payments to the Agent ); and

 

  (2) each Lender will be required to make a payment under Clause 29.1 ( Payments to the Agent ) in respect of its participation in the new Facility B Loans only to the extent that its participation in the new Facility B Loans exceeds that Lender’s participation in the maturing Facility B Loan and the remainder of that Lender’s participation in the new Facility B Loans shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lender’s participation in the maturing Facility B Loan.

 

  (c) At any time when a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the maturity date of each of the participations of that Lender in the Facility B Loans then outstanding will be automatically extended to the Termination Date applicable to Facility B and will be treated as separate Facility B Loans (the “ Separate Loans ”) denominated in the currency in which the relevant participations are outstanding.

 

  (d)

If the Borrower makes a prepayment of a Facility B Utilisation pursuant to Clause 9.5 ( Voluntary prepayment of Facility B Loans ), a Borrower to whom a Separate Loan is outstanding may prepay that Loan by giving not less than 2

 

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  Business Days’ prior notice to the Agent. The Agent will forward a copy of a prepayment notice received in accordance with this paragraph (d) to the Defaulting Lender concerned as soon as practicable on receipt.

 

  (e) Interest in respect of a Separate Loan will accrue for successive Interest Periods selected by the Borrower by the time and date specified by the Agent (acting reasonably) and will be payable by that Borrower to the Agent (for the account of that Defaulting Lender) on the last day of each Interest Period of that Loan.

 

  (f) The terms of this Agreement relating to Facility B Loans generally shall continue to apply to Separate Loans other than to the extent inconsistent with paragraphs (c) to (e) above, in which case those paragraphs shall prevail in respect of any Separate Loan.

 

8.3 Extension of Termination Date

 

  (a) Not earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days before the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement, the Company may request in writing to the Agent (an “ Extension Request ”) that the Termination Date for Facility A and/or Facility B be extended by a period of one year (the “ Extension ”).

 

  (b) An Extension Request is irrevocable and may only be served once.

 

  (c) The Agent shall, promptly upon receipt of any Extension Request, forward a copy of that Extension Request to the Lenders and the Lenders shall have until the date falling 20 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement (the “ Decision Date ”) to consider whether to approve or decline the Extension. Each Lender may approve or decline the request set out in the Extension Request in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

  (d) If any Lender has not indicated that it approves the Extension by the Decision Date (a “ Non-Participating Lender ”), the Available Commitment of that Lender shall be cancelled on the original Termination Date and the Borrower shall repay all sums due to that Non-Participating Lender on the original Termination Date as though no Extension Request had been served. Any Lender which is not a Non-Participating Lender shall be a “ Participating Lender ” for the purpose of this Clause.

 

  (e) On or before the date falling 5 Business Days after the Decision Date, the Agent shall notify the Borrower in writing of the Participating Lenders and, with effect from such date of notification (the “ Extension Effective Date ”):

 

  (i) the original Termination Date shall be extended by a period of one year; and

 

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  (ii) if the Extension applies to Facility A, the table set out at Clause 8.1(a) ( Repayment of Facility A Loans ) for the maturity profile of Facility A shall be deleted and replaced with the following table set out below:

 

Facility A Repayment Date

   Repayment Instalment  

The first anniversary of the date of this Agreement

     USD 20,000,000   

The second anniversary of the date of this Agreement

     USD 20,000,000   

The third anniversary of the date of this Agreement

     USD 20,000,000   

The fourth anniversary of the date of this Agreement

     USD 20,000,000   

The Facility A Termination Date

     USD 30,000,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

     USD 110,000,000   
  

 

 

 

 

  (f) On or before the date falling 5 Business Days after the Extension Effective Date, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of the Participating Lenders on a pro rata basis) an extension fee in the amount of 0.15 per cent. of the aggregate Commitments of the Participating Lenders which will be extended following the expiry of the original Termination Date.

 

8.4 Effect of cancellation and prepayment on scheduled repayments and reductions

 

  (a) If the Company cancels the whole or any part of any Available Commitment in accordance with Clause 9.6 ( Right of cancellation and repayment in relation to a single Lender ) or Clause 9.7 ( Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender ) or if the Available Commitment of any Lender is cancelled under Clause 9.1 ( Illegality ) then (other than, in any relevant case, to the extent that any part of the relevant Available Commitment(s) so cancelled is subsequently increased pursuant to Clause 2.2 ( Increase )), in the case of the Facility A Commitments, the amount of the Repayment Instalments falling after that cancellation will reduce pro rata by the amount cancelled.

 

  (b) If the Company cancels the whole or any part of any Available Commitment in accordance with Clause 9.3 ( Voluntary cancellation ) or if the whole or part of any Commitment is cancelled pursuant to Clause 5.5 ( Cancellation of Commitment ) then in the case of the Facility A Commitments, the amount of the Repayment Instalments falling after that cancellation will reduce pro rata by the amount cancelled.

 

  (c) If any Facility A Loan is repaid or prepaid in accordance with Clause 9.6 ( Right of cancellation and repayment in relation to a single Lender ) or Clause 9.1 ( Illegality ) then, other than to the extent that any part of the relevant Commitment is subsequently increased pursuant to Clause 2.2 ( Increase ) in the case of a Facility A Loan, the amount of the Repayment Instalments for each relevant Facility A Loan for each Repayment Date falling after repayment or prepayment will reduce pro rata by the amount of the Facility A Loan repaid or prepaid.

 

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  (d) If any Facility A Loan is prepaid in accordance with Clause 9.4 ( Voluntary prepayment of Facility A Loans ) then in the case of Facility A, the amount of the Repayment Instalments for each relevant Facility A Loan for each Repayment Date falling after repayment or prepayment will reduce pro rata by the amount of the Facility A Loan repaid or prepaid.

 

9. PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

 

9.1 Illegality

If, in any applicable jurisdiction, it becomes unlawful for any Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain its participation in any Loan:

 

  (a) that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event;

 

  (b) upon the Agent notifying the Company, each Available Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled; and

 

  (c) to the extent that the Lender’s participation has not been transferred pursuant to paragraph (d) of Clause 9.6 ( Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender ), each Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participation in the Loans made to that Borrower on the last day of the Interest Period for each Loan occurring after the Agent has notified the Company or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law) and that Lender’s corresponding Commitment(s) shall be cancelled in the amount of the participations repaid.

 

9.2 Change of control

 

  (a) If:

 

  (i) SPTS TGL directly or indirectly ceases to control the Company; or

 

  (ii) any Flotation occurs; or

 

  (iii) all or substantially all of the assets of the Group are sold whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions,

then, unless the Lenders otherwise agree, the Facilities will be immediately cancelled, and all outstanding Loans and Ancillary Outstandings, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents shall become immediately due and payable.

 

  (b) For the purpose of this Clause 9.2:

 

  (i) control ” means:

 

  (A) the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise) to:

 

  (1) cast, or control the casting of, more than 50% of the maximum number of votes that might be cast at a general meeting of the Company; or

 

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  (2) appoint or remove all or the majority of the directors or other equivalent officers of the Company; or

 

  (3) give directions with respect to the operating and financial policies of the Company with which the directors or other equivalent officers of the Company are obliged to comply; or

 

  (B) the holding beneficially of more than 50% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding any part of that issued share capital that carries no right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital);

 

  (ii) FCA ” means the Financial Conduct Authority acting in accordance with Part 6 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

 

  (iii) Flotation ” means:

 

  (A) a successful application being made for the admission of any part of the share capital of any member of the Group or any Relevant Holding Company to the Official List maintained by the FCA and the admission of any part of the share capital of any member of the Group or any Relevant Holding Company to trading on the London Stock Exchange plc; or

 

  (B) the grant of permission to deal in any part of the issued share capital of any member of the Group or any Relevant Holding Company on the Alternative Investment Market or the Main Board or the Growth Market of the ICAP Securities & Derivatives Exchange (ISDX) or on any recognised investment exchange (as that term is used in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) or in or on any exchange or market replacing the same or any other exchange or market in any country.

 

  (iv) Relevant Holding Company ” means Orbotech Holding U.K. Limited (a company incorporated in England and Wales with registration number 09098431) and each of its Subsidiaries which is a Holding Company of any member of the Group.

 

9.3 Voluntary cancellation

The Company may, if it gives the Agent not less than 5 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, cancel the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of USD 100,000) of an Available Facility. Any cancellation under this Clause 9.3 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably under that Facility.

 

9.4 Voluntary prepayment of Facility A Loans

 

  (a) A Borrower to which a Facility A Loan has been made may, if it gives the Agent not less than 5 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, prepay the whole or any part of any Facility A Loan (but, if in part, being an amount that reduces the Base Currency Amount of the Facility A Loan by a minimum amount of USD 100,000).

 

  (b) A Facility A Loan may only be prepaid after the last day of the Availability Period for Facility A (or, if earlier, the day on which the applicable Available Facility is zero).

 

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9.5 Voluntary prepayment of Facility B Loans

The Borrower to which a Facility B Loan has been made may, if it gives the Agent not less than 5 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, prepay the whole or any part of a Facility B Loan (but if in part, being an amount that reduces the Base Currency Amount of the Facility B Loan by a minimum amount of USD 100,000).

 

9.6 Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender

 

  (a) If:

 

  (i) any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased under paragraph (c) of Clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ); or

 

  (ii) any Lender claims indemnification from the Company under Clause 14.3 ( Tax indemnity ) or Clause 15.1 ( Increased costs ),

the Company may, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for that increase or indemnification continues, give the Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment(s) of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lender’s participation in the Loans or give the Agent notice of its intention to replace that Lender in accordance with paragraph (d) below.

 

  (b) On receipt of a notice of cancellation referred to in paragraph (a) above, the Commitment(s) of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.

 

  (c) On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Company has given notice of cancellation under paragraph (a) above (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Company in that notice), each Borrower to which a Loan is outstanding shall repay that Lender’s participation in that Loan.

 

  (d) If:

 

  (i) any of the circumstances set out in paragraph (a) above apply to a Lender; or

 

  (ii) an Obligor becomes obliged to pay any amount in accordance with Clause 9.1 ( Illegality ) to any Lender,

the Company may, on 5 Business Days’ prior notice to the Agent and that Lender, replace that Lender by requiring that Lender to (and, to the extent permitted by law, that Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity selected by the Company which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of the transferring Lender in accordance with Clause 25 ( Changes to the Lenders ) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of the transfer in an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest (to the extent that the Agent has not given a notification under Clause 25.9 ( Pro rata interest settlement )), Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents.

 

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  (e) The replacement of a Lender pursuant to paragraph (d) above shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

  (i) the Company shall have no right to replace the Agent;

 

  (ii) neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to find a replacement Lender;

 

  (iii) in no event shall the Lender replaced under paragraph (d) above be required to pay or surrender any of the fees received by such Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents; and

 

  (iv) the Lender shall only be obliged to transfer its rights and obligations pursuant to paragraph (d) above once it is satisfied that it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to that transfer.

 

  (f) A Lender shall perform the checks described in paragraph (e)(iv) above as soon as reasonably practicable following delivery of a notice referred to in paragraph (d) above and shall notify the Agent and the Company when it is satisfied that it has complied with those checks.

 

9.7 Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender

 

  (a) If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Company may, at any time whilst the Lender continues to be a Defaulting Lender, give the Agent 2 Business Days’ notice of cancellation of each Available Commitment of that Lender.

 

  (b) On the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above becoming effective, each Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.

 

  (c) The Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above, notify all the Lenders.

 

9.8 Restrictions

 

  (a) Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under this Clause 9 shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment.

 

  (b) Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, subject to any Break Costs, without premium or penalty.

 

  (c) No Borrower may reborrow any part of Facility A which is prepaid.

 

  (d) Unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, any part of Facility B which is prepaid or repaid may be reborrowed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

  (e) The Borrowers shall not repay or prepay all or any part of the Loans or cancel all or any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

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  (f) Subject to Clause 2.2 ( Increase ), no amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated.

 

  (g) If the Agent receives a notice under this Clause 9 it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to either the Company or the affected Lender, as appropriate.

 

  (h) If all or part of any Lender’s participation in a Loan under a Facility is repaid or prepaid and is not available for redrawing (other than by operation of Clause 4.2 ( Further conditions precedent )), an amount of that Lender’s Commitment (equal to the Base Currency Amount of the amount of the participation which is repaid or prepaid) in respect of that Facility will be deemed to be cancelled on the date of repayment or prepayment.

 

9.9 Application of prepayments

Any prepayment of a Loan (other than a prepayment under Clause 9.1 ( Illegality ) or Clause 9.6 ( Right of cancellation and repayment in relation to a single Lender ) shall be applied pro rata to each Lender’s participation in that Loan.

 

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SECTION 5

COSTS OF UTILISATION

 

10. INTEREST

 

10.1 Calculation of interest

The rate of interest on each Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:

 

  (a) Margin; and

 

  (b) LIBOR or, in relation to any Loan in euro, EURIBOR.

 

10.2 Payment of interest

 

  (a) The Borrower to which a Loan has been made shall pay accrued interest on that Loan on the last day of each Interest Period (and, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on the dates falling at six-monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period).

 

  (b) If the Compliance Certificate received by the Agent which relates to the relevant Annual Financial Statements shows that a higher Margin should have applied during a certain period, then where a higher Margin should have been applied, the Company shall (or shall ensure the relevant Borrower shall) promptly pay to the Agent any amounts necessary to put the Agent and the Lenders in the position they would have been in had the appropriate rate of the Margin applied during such period.

 

10.3 Default interest

 

  (a) If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to paragraph (b) below, is 1 per cent. per annum higher than the rate which would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing under this Clause 10.3 shall be immediately payable by the Obligor on demand by the Agent.

 

  (b) If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to that Loan:

 

  (i) the first Interest Period for that overdue amount shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to that Loan; and

 

  (ii) the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest Period shall be 1 per cent. per annum higher than the rate which would have applied if the overdue amount had not become due.

 

  (c) Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that overdue amount but will remain immediately due and payable.

 

10.4 Notification of rates of interest

 

  (a) The Agent shall promptly notify the relevant Lenders and the relevant Borrower (or the Company) of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.

 

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  (b) The Agent shall promptly notify the relevant Borrower (or the Company) of each Funding Rate relating to a Loan.

 

11. INTEREST PERIODS

 

11.1 Selection of Interest Periods

 

  (a) A Borrower (or the Company on behalf of a Borrower) may select an Interest Period for a Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan or (if the Loan has already been borrowed) in a Selection Notice.

 

  (b) Each Selection Notice for a Facility A Loan is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Agent by the Borrower (or the Company on behalf of a Borrower) to which that Facility A Loan was made not later than the Specified Time.

 

  (c) If a Borrower (or the Company) fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above, the relevant Interest Period will, subject to Clause 11.2 ( Changes to Interest Periods ), be 3 Months.

 

  (d) Subject to this Clause 11, a Borrower (or the Company) may select an Interest Period of 1, 3 or 6 Months or of any other period agreed between the Company, the Agent and all the Lenders in relation to the relevant Loan. In addition a Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may select an Interest Period of (in relation to Facility A) a period of less than one Month, if necessary to ensure that there are sufficient Facility A Loans (with an aggregate Base Currency Amount equal to or greater than the Repayment Instalment) which have an Interest Period ending on a Facility A Repayment Date for the Borrowers to make the Repayment Instalment due on that date.

 

  (e) An Interest Period for a Loan shall not extend beyond the Termination Date applicable to its Facility.

 

  (f) Each Interest Period for a Facility A Loan shall start on the Utilisation Date or (if already made) on the last day of its preceding Interest Period.

 

  (g) A Facility B Loan has one Interest Period only.

 

11.2 Changes to Interest Periods

 

  (a) Prior to determining the interest rate for a Facility A Loan, the Agent may shorten an Interest Period for any Facility A Loan to ensure there are sufficient Facility A Loans (with an aggregate Base Currency Amount equal to or greater than the Repayment Instalment) which have an Interest Period ending on a Facility A Repayment Date for the Borrowers to make the Repayment Instalment due on that date.

 

  (b) If the Agent makes any of the changes to an Interest Period referred to in this Clause 11.2, it shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders.

 

11.3 Non-Business Days

If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

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11.4 Consolidation and division of Facility A Loans

 

  (a) Subject to paragraph (b) below, if two or more Interest Periods:

 

  (i) relate to Facility A Loans in the same currency made to the same Borrower; and

 

  (ii) end on the same date,

those Facility A Loans will, unless that Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) specifies to the contrary in the Selection Notice for the next Interest Period, be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Facility A Loan on the last day of the Interest Period.

 

  (b) Subject to Clause 4.4 ( Maximum number of Loans ) and Clause 5.3 ( Currency and amount ), if a Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) requests in a Selection Notice that a Facility A Loan be divided into two or more Facility A Loans, that Facility A Loan will, on the last day of its Interest Period, be so divided with Base Currency Amounts specified in that Selection Notice, being an aggregate Base Currency Amount equal to the Base Currency Amount of the Facility A Loan immediately before its division.

 

12. CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST

 

12.1 Unavailability of Screen Rate

 

  (a) Interpolated Screen Rate : If no Screen Rate is available for LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR for the Interest Period of a Loan, the applicable LIBOR or EURIBOR shall be the Interpolated Screen Rate for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan.

 

  (b) Reference Bank Rate : If paragraph (a) above applies but it is not possible to calculate the Interpolated Screen Rate, the applicable LIBOR or EURIBOR shall be the Reference Bank Rate as of the Specified Time for the currency of that Loan and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan.

 

  (c) Cost of funds : If paragraph (b) above applies but no Reference Bank Rate is available for the relevant currency or Interest Period, there shall be no LIBOR or EURIBOR for that Loan and Clause 12.4 ( Cost of funds ) shall apply to that Loan for that Interest Period.

 

12.2 Calculation of Reference Bank Rate

 

  (a) Subject to paragraph (b) below, if LIBOR or EURIBOR is to be determined on the basis of a Reference Bank Rate but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time, the Reference Bank Rate shall be calculated on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks.

 

  (b) If at or about noon on the Quotation Day none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a quotation, there shall be no Reference Bank Rate for the relevant Interest Period.

 

12.3 Market disruption

If before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in a Loan exceed 35 per cent. of that Loan) that the cost to it of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select would be in excess of LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR then Clause 12.4 ( Cost of funds ) shall apply to that Loan for the relevant Interest Period.

 

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12.4 Cost of funds

 

  (a) If this Clause 12.4 applies, the rate of interest on each Lender’s share of the relevant Loan for the relevant Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of:

 

  (i) the Margin; and

 

  (ii) the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event by the date falling 5 Business Days before the date on which interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to the relevant Lender of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select.

 

  (b) If this Clause 12.4 applies and the Agent or the Company so requires, the Agent and the Company shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than thirty days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest.

 

  (c) Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph (b) above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Company, be binding on all Parties.

 

  (d) If this Clause 12.4 applies pursuant to Clause 12.3 ( Market disruption ) and:

 

  (i) a Lender’s Funding Rate is less than LIBOR or, in relation to any Loan in euro, EURIBOR; or

 

  (ii) a Lender does not supply a quotation by the time specified in paragraph (a)(ii) above,

the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan for that Interest Period shall be deemed, for the purposes of paragraph (a) above, to be LIBOR or, in relation to a Loan in euro, EURIBOR.

 

12.5 Notification to Company

If Clause 12.4 ( Cost of funds ) applies the Agent shall, as soon as is practicable, notify the Company.

 

12.6 Break Costs

 

  (a) Each Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, pay to that Finance Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being paid by that Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum.

 

  (b) Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue.

 

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13. FEES

 

13.1 Commitment fee

 

  (a) The Company shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) a fee in the Base Currency computed at the rate of:

 

  (i) 35 per cent. of the applicable Margin per annum on that Lender’s Available Commitment under Facility A for the Availability Period applicable to Facility A; and

 

  (ii) 35 per cent. of the applicable Margin per annum on that Lender’s Available Commitment under Facility B for the Availability Period applicable to Facility B.

 

  (b) The accrued commitment fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of three Months which ends during the relevant Availability Period, on the last day of the Availability Period and, if cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lender’s Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective.

 

  (c) No commitment fee is payable to the Agent (for the account of a Lender) on any Available Commitment of that Lender for any day on which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

 

13.2 Arrangement fee

The Company shall pay to the Arranger an arrangement fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.

 

13.3 Agency fee

The Company shall pay to the Agent (for its own account) an agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.

 

13.4 Security Agent fee

The Company shall pay to the Security Agent (for its own account) a security agent fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.

 

13.5 Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities

The rate and time of payment of interest, commission, fees and any other remuneration in respect of each Ancillary Facility shall be determined by agreement between the relevant Ancillary Lender and the Borrower of that Ancillary Facility based upon normal market rates and terms.

 

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SECTION 6

ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS

 

14. TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES

 

14.1 Definitions

 

  (a) In this Agreement:

Borrower DTTP Filing ” means an HM Revenue & Customs’ Form DTTP2 duly completed and filed by the relevant Borrower, which:

 

  (i) where it relates to a Treaty Lender that is an Original Lender, contains the scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence stated opposite that Lender’s name in Part II of Schedule 1 ( The Original Parties ), and

 

  (A) where the Borrower is an Original Borrower, is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of the date of this Agreement; or

 

  (B) where the Borrower is an Additional Borrower, is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of the date on which that Borrower becomes an Additional Borrower; or

 

  (ii) where it relates to a Treaty Lender that is a New Lender or an Increase Lender, contains the scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence stated in respect of that Lender in the relevant Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation, and

 

  (A) where the Borrower is a Borrower as at the relevant Transfer Date (or date on which the increase in Commitments described in the relevant Increase Confirmation takes effect) is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of that Transfer Date (or date on which the increase in Commitments described in the relevant Increase Confirmation takes effect); or

 

  (B) where the Borrower is not a Borrower as at the relevant Transfer Date (or date on which the increase in Commitments described in the relevant Increase Confirmation takes effect), is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of the date on which that Borrower becomes an Additional Borrower.

Protected Party ” means a Finance Party which is or will be subject to any liability, or required to make any payment, for or on account of Tax in relation to a sum received or receivable (or any sum deemed for the purposes of Tax to be received or receivable) under a Finance Document.

Qualifying Lender ” means:

 

  (i) a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document and is:

 

  (A) a Lender:

 

  (1)

which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of

 

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  the ITA) making an advance under a Finance Document and is within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance or would be within such charge as respects such payments apart from section 18A of the CTA; or

 

  (2) in respect of an advance made under a Finance Document by a person that was a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the ITA) at the time that that advance was made and within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance; or

 

  (B) a Lender which is:

 

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

 

  (2) a partnership each member of which is:

 

  (a) a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

 

  (b) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA;

 

  (3) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company; or

 

  (C) a Treaty Lender; or

 

  (ii) a Lender which is a building society (as defined for the purpose of section 880 of the ITA) making an advance under a Finance Document.

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

 

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

 

  (ii) a partnership each member of which is:

 

  (A) a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

 

  (B)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment

 

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  and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA; or

 

  (iii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company.

Tax Credit ” means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax.

Tax Deduction ” means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document, other than a FATCA Deduction.

Tax Payment ” means either the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under Clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ) or a payment under Clause 14.3 ( Tax indemnity ).

Treaty Lender ” means a Lender which:

 

  (i) is treated as a resident of a Treaty State for the purposes of the Treaty;

 

  (ii) does not carry on a business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with which that Lender’s participation in the Loan is effectively connected; and

 

  (iii) is entitled (subject to the completion of necessary formalities) to claim full relief from tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest.

Treaty State ” means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement (a “ Treaty ”) with the United Kingdom which makes provision for full exemption from tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest.

UK Non-Bank Lender ” means a Lender which gives a Tax Confirmation in the Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate which it executes on becoming a Party.

 

  (b) Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 14 a reference to “determines” or “determined” means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination.

 

14.2 Tax gross-up

 

  (a) Each Obligor shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law.

 

  (b) The Company shall promptly upon becoming aware that an Obligor must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Company and that Obligor.

 

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  (c) If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by an Obligor, the amount of the payment due from that Obligor shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required.

 

  (d) A payment shall not be increased under paragraph (c) above by reason of a Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by the United Kingdom, if on the date on which the payment falls due:

 

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

 

  (ii) the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of Qualifying Lender and:

 

  (A) an officer of H.M. Revenue & Customs has given (and not revoked) a direction (a “ Direction ”) under section 931 of the ITA which relates to the payment and that Lender has received from the Obligor making the payment or from the Company a certified copy of that Direction; and

 

  (B) the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if that Direction had not been made; or

 

  (iii) the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of Qualifying Lender and:

 

  (A) the relevant Lender has not given a Tax Confirmation to the Company; and

 

  (B) the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if the Lender had given a Tax Confirmation to the Company, on the basis that the Tax Confirmation would have enabled the Company to have formed a reasonable belief that the payment was an “excepted payment” for the purpose of section 930 of the ITA; or

 

  (iv) the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the Obligor making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the Tax Deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under paragraph (g) or (h) (as applicable) below.

 

  (e) If an Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction, that Obligor shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law.

 

  (f)

Within thirty days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Obligor making that Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment a

 

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  statement under section 975 of the ITA or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority.

 

  (g)                     

 

  (i) Subject to paragraph (ii) below, a Treaty Lender and each Obligor which makes a payment to which that Treaty Lender is entitled shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that Obligor to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction.

 

  (ii)                 

 

  (A) A Treaty Lender which becomes a Party on the day on which this Agreement is entered into that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall confirm its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence opposite its name in Part II of Schedule 1 ( The Original Parties ); and

 

  (B) a New Lender or an Increase Lender that is a Treaty Lender that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall confirm its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in the Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation which it executes,

and, having done so, that Lender shall be under no obligation pursuant to paragraph (i) above.

 

  (h) If a Lender has confirmed its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with paragraph (g)(ii) above and:

 

  (i) a Borrower making a payment to that Lender has not made a Borrower DTTP Filing in respect of that Lender; or

 

  (ii) a Borrower making a payment to that Lender has made a Borrower DTTP Filing in respect of that Lender but:

 

  (A) that Borrower DTTP Filing has been rejected by HM Revenue & Customs; or

 

  (B) HM Revenue & Customs has not given the Borrower authority to make payments to that Lender without a Tax Deduction within 60 days of the date of the Borrower DTTP Filing,

and in each case, the Borrower has notified that Lender in writing, that Lender and the Borrower shall co-operate in completing any additional procedural formalities necessary for that Borrower to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction.

 

  (i) If a Lender has not confirmed its scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with paragraph (g)(ii) above, no Obligor shall make a Borrower DTTP Filing or file any other form relating to the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme in respect of that Lender’s Commitment(s) or its participation in any Loan unless the Lender otherwise agrees.

 

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  (j) A Borrower shall, promptly on making a Borrower DTTP Filing, deliver a copy of that Borrower DTTP Filing to the Agent for delivery to the relevant Lender.

 

  (k) A UK Non-Bank Lender shall promptly notify the Company and the Agent if there is any change in the position from that set out in its Tax Confirmation.

 

14.3 Tax indemnity

 

  (a) The Company shall (within three Business Days of demand by the Agent) pay to a Protected Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Protected Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of Tax by that Protected Party in respect of a Finance Document.

 

  (b) Paragraph (a) above shall not apply:

 

  (i) with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party:

 

  (A) under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes; or

 

  (B) under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party’s Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction,

if that Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by that Finance Party; or

 

  (ii) to the extent a loss, liability or cost:

 

  (A) is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up );

 

  (B) would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in paragraph (d) of Clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ) applied; or

 

  (C) relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party.

 

  (c) A Protected Party making, or intending to make, a claim under paragraph (a) above shall promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall notify the Company.

 

  (d) A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from an Obligor under this Clause 14.3, notify the Agent.

 

14.4 Tax Credit

If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:

 

  (a) a Tax Credit is attributable to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part, to that Tax Payment or to a Tax Deduction in consequence of which that Tax Payment was required; and

 

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  (b) that Finance Party has obtained and utilised that Tax Credit,

the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Obligor which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Obligor.

 

14.5 Lender status confirmation

Each Lender which becomes a Party to this Agreement after the date of this Agreement shall indicate, in the Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation which it executes on becoming a Party, and for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, which of the following categories it falls in:

 

  (a) not a Qualifying Lender;

 

  (b) a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender); or

 

  (c) a Treaty Lender.

If a New Lender or an Increase Lender fails to indicate its status in accordance with this Clause 14.5 then such New Lender or Increase Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement (including by each Obligor) as if it is not a Qualifying Lender until such time as it notifies the Agent which category applies (and the Agent, upon receipt of such notification, shall inform the Company). For the avoidance of doubt, a Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this Clause 14.5.

 

14.6 Stamp taxes

The Company shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Secured Party against any cost, loss or liability that Secured Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document.

 

14.7 VAT

 

  (a) All amounts expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for any supply for VAT purposes are deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on that supply, and accordingly, subject to paragraph (b) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document and such Finance Party is required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, that Party must pay to such Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT (and such Finance Party must promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to that Party).

 

  (b) If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the “ Supplier ”) to any other Finance Party (the “ Recipient ”) under a Finance Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (the “ Relevant Party ”) is required by the terms of any Finance Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for that supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse or indemnify the Recipient in respect of that consideration):

 

  (i)

(where the Supplier is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must also pay to the Supplier (at

 

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  the same time as paying that amount) an additional amount equal to the amount of the VAT. The Recipient must (where this paragraph (i) applies) promptly pay to the Relevant Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment the Recipient receives from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and

 

  (ii) (where the Recipient is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must promptly, following demand from the Recipient, pay to the Recipient an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply but only to the extent that the Recipient reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of that VAT.

 

  (c) Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.

 

  (d) Any reference in this Clause 14.7 to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the representative member of such group at such time (the term “representative member” to have the same meaning as in the Value Added Tax Act 1994).

 

  (e) In relation to any supply made by a Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document, if reasonably requested by such Finance Party, that Party must promptly provide such Finance Party with details of that Party’s VAT registration and such other information as is reasonably requested in connection with such Finance Party’s VAT reporting requirements in relation to such supply

 

14.8 FATCA Information

 

  (a) Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Party shall, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party:

 

  (i) confirm to that other Party whether it is:

 

  (A) a FATCA Exempt Party; or

 

  (B) not a FATCA Exempt Party;

 

  (ii) supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with FATCA; and

 

  (iii) supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with any other law, regulation, or exchange of information regime.

 

  (b) If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party shall notify that other Party reasonably promptly.

 

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  (c) Paragraph (a) above shall not oblige any Finance Party to do anything, and paragraph (a)(iii) above shall not oblige any other Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of:

 

  (i) any law or regulation;

 

  (ii) any fiduciary duty; or

 

  (iii) any duty of confidentiality.

 

  (d) If a Party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) or (ii) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (c) above applies), then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.

 

  (e) If a Borrower is a US Tax Obligor or the Agent reasonably believes that its obligations under FATCA or any other applicable law or regulation require it, each Lender shall, within ten Business Days of:

 

  (i) where an Original Borrower is a US Tax Obligor and the relevant Lender is an Original Lender, the date of this Agreement;

 

  (ii) where a Borrower is a US Tax Obligor on a Transfer Date or date on which an increase in Commitments takes effect pursuant to Clause 2.2 ( Increase ) and the relevant Lender is a New Lender or an Increase Lender, the relevant Transfer Date or date on which an increase in Commitments takes effect pursuant to Clause 2.2 ( Increase );

 

  (iii) the date a new US Tax Obligor accedes as a Borrower; or

 

  (iv) where a Borrower is not a US Tax Obligor, the date of a request from the Agent,

supply to the Agent:

 

  (A) a withholding certificate on Form W-8, Form W-9 or any other relevant form; or

 

  (B) any withholding statement or other document, authorisation or waiver as the Agent may require to certify or establish the status of such Lender under FATCA or that other law or regulation.

 

  (f) The Agent shall provide any withholding certificate, withholding statement, document, authorisation or waiver it receives from a Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) above to the relevant Borrower.

 

  (g)

If any withholding certificate, withholding statement, document, authorisation or waiver provided to the Agent by a Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) above is or

 

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  becomes materially inaccurate or incomplete, that Lender shall promptly update it and provide such updated withholding certificate, withholding statement, document, authorisation or waiver to the Agent unless it is unlawful for the Lender to do so (in which case the Lender shall promptly notify the Agent). The Agent shall provide any such updated withholding certificate, withholding statement, document, authorisation or waiver to the relevant Borrower.

 

  (h) The Agent may rely on any withholding certificate, withholding statement, document, authorisation or waiver it receives from a Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) or (g) above without further verification. The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with paragraphs (e), (f) or (g) above.

 

14.9 FATCA Deduction

 

  (a) Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction.

 

  (b) Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction), notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Company and the Agent and the Agent shall notify the other Finance Parties.

 

15. INCREASED COSTS

 

15.1 Increased costs

 

  (a) Subject to Clause 15.3 ( Exceptions ) the Company shall, within three Business Days of a demand by the Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of (i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation, or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) the implementation or application of, or compliance with Basel III or any other law or regulation which implements Basel III including, for the avoidance of doubt and without prejudice to the foregoing generality, CRD IV (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, a Lender or any of its Affiliates).

 

  (b) In this Agreement:

Basel III ” means:

 

  (i) the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated;

 

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  (ii) the rules for global systemically important banks contained in “Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement – Rules text” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and

 

  (iii) any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to “Basel III”.

CRD IV ” means:

 

  (i) Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms; and

 

  (ii) Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms.

Increased Costs ” means:

 

  (i) a reduction in the rate of return from a Facility or on a Finance Party’s (or its Affiliate’s) overall capital;

 

  (ii) an additional or increased cost; or

 

  (iii) a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document,

which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment or an Ancillary Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.

 

15.2 Increased cost claims

 

  (a) A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 15.1 ( Increased costs ) shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Company.

 

  (b) Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs.

 

15.3 Exceptions

 

  (a) Clause 15.1 ( Increased costs ) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is:

 

  (i) attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor;

 

  (ii) attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party;

 

  (iii) compensated for by Clause 14.3 ( Tax indemnity ) (or would have been compensated for under Clause 14.3 ( Tax indemnity ) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in paragraph (b) of Clause 14.3 ( Tax indemnity ) applied);

 

  (iv) attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation; or

 

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  (v) attributable to the implementation or application of or compliance with the “International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004 in the form existing on the date of this Agreement (but excluding any amendment arising out of Basel III) (“ Basel II ”) or any other law or regulation which implements Basel II (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates).

 

  (b) In this Clause 15.3, a reference to a “ Tax Deduction ” has the same meaning given to that term in Clause 14.1 ( Definitions ).

 

16. OTHER INDEMNITIES

 

16.1 Currency indemnity

 

  (a) If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a “ Sum ”), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the “ First Currency ”) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the “ Second Currency ”) for the purpose of:

 

  (i) making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor;

 

  (ii) obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings,

that Obligor shall as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Secured Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.

 

  (b) Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.

 

16.2 Other indemnities

The Company shall (or shall procure that an Obligor will), within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Secured Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a direct result of:

 

  (a) the occurrence of any Event of Default;

 

  (b) a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result of Clause 31 ( Sharing among the Finance Parties );

 

  (c) funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Loan requested by a Borrower in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement including where conditions precedent are not satisfied (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone); or

 

  (d) a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by a Borrower or the Company.

 

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16.3 Indemnity to the Agent

The Company shall promptly indemnify the Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:

 

  (a) investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default;

 

  (b) acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; or

 

  (c) instructing lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts where this Agreement provides for the costs if such instruction to be borne by a member of the Group.

 

16.4 Indemnity to the Security Agent

 

  (a) The Company shall promptly indemnify the Security Agent and every Receiver and Delegate against any cost, loss or liability incurred by any of them as a result of:

 

  (i) any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Clause 18 ( Costs and Expenses );

 

  (ii) acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;

 

  (iii) the taking, holding, protection or enforcement of the Transaction Security;

 

  (iv) the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions, authorities and remedies vested in the Security Agent and each Receiver and Delegate by the Finance Documents or by law;

 

  (v) any default by any Obligor in the performance of any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents; or

 

  (vi) acting as Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate under the Finance Documents or which otherwise relates to any of the Charged Property (otherwise, in each case, than by reason of the relevant Security Agent’s, Receiver’s or Delegate’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct).

 

  (b) The Security Agent and every Receiver and Delegate may, in priority to any payment to the Secured Parties, indemnify itself out of the Charged Property in respect of, and pay and retain, all sums necessary to give effect to the indemnity in this Clause 16.4 and shall have a lien on the Transaction Security and the proceeds of the enforcement of the Transaction Security for all moneys payable to it.

 

17. MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS

 

17.1 Mitigation

 

  (a) Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Company, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in any Facility ceasing to be available or any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 9.1 ( Illegality ), Clause 14 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) or Clause 15 ( Increased costs ) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office.

 

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  (b) Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents.

 

17.2 Limitation of liability

 

  (a) The Company shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under Clause 17.1 ( Mitigation ).

 

  (b) A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 17.1 ( Mitigation ) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

 

18. COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

18.1 Transaction expenses

The Company shall within three Business Days of demand pay the Agent, the Security Agent and the Arranger the amount of all reasonable costs and expenses (including legal fees subject to any pre-agreed level or cap) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of:

 

  (a) this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement and the Transaction Security; and

 

  (b) any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement.

 

18.2 Amendment costs

If:

 

  (a) an Obligor requests an amendment, waiver or consent; or

 

  (b) an amendment is required pursuant to Clause 32.9 ( Change of currency ),

the Company shall, within three Business Days of demand, reimburse the Agent and the Security Agent for the amount of all reasonable costs and expenses (including legal fees subject to any pre-agreed level or cap) reasonably incurred by the Agent and the Security Agent (and, in the case of the Security Agent, any Receiver or Delegate) in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.

 

18.3 Enforcement and preservation costs

The Company shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to each Secured Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by it in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document and the Transaction Security and any proceedings instituted by or against the Security Agent as a consequence of taking or holding the Transaction Security or enforcing these rights.

 

18.4 Security Agent’s management time and additional remuneration

 

  (a) At any time when a Default is continuing, the Company shall (within three Business Days of demand) pay to the Security Agent the cost of utilising the Security Agent’s management time during the period in which the Default is continuing or other resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Security Agent may notify to the Company and the Lenders, and is in addition to any other fee paid or payable to the Security Agent.

 

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  (b) Without prejudice to clause 18.4(a), in the event of:

 

  (i) a Default;

 

  (ii) the Security Agent being requested by an Obligor or the Majority Lenders to undertake duties which the Security Agent and the Company agree to be of an exceptional nature or outside the scope of the normal duties of the Security Agent under the Finance Documents; or

 

  (iii) the Security Agent and the Company agreeing that it is otherwise appropriate in the circumstances,

the Company shall pay to the Security Agent any additional remuneration that may be agreed between them or determined pursuant to paragraph (c) below.

 

  (c) If the Security Agent and the Company fail to agree upon the nature of the duties, or upon the additional remuneration referred to in paragraph (b) above or whether additional remuneration is appropriate in the circumstances, any dispute shall be determined by an investment bank (acting as an expert and not as an arbitrator) selected by the Security Agent and approved by the Company or, failing approval, nominated (on the application of the Security Agent) by the President for the time being of the Law Society of England and Wales (the costs of the nomination and of the investment bank being payable by the Company) and the determination of any investment bank shall be final and binding upon the Parties.

 

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SECTION 7

GUARANTEE

 

19. GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY

 

19.1 Guarantee and indemnity

Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally jointly and severally:

 

  (a) guarantees to each Finance Party punctual performance by each Borrower of all that Borrower’s obligations under the Finance Documents;

 

  (b) undertakes with each Finance Party that whenever a Borrower does not pay any amount when due under or in connection with any Finance Document, that Guarantor shall immediately on demand pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and

 

  (c) agrees with each Finance Party that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify that Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability it incurs as a result of a Borrower not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by it under any Finance Document on the date when it would have been due. The amount payable by a Guarantor under this indemnity will not exceed the amount it would have had to pay under this Clause 19 if the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guarantee.

 

19.2 Continuing guarantee

This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part.

 

19.3 Reinstatement

If any discharge, release or arrangement (whether in respect of the obligations of any Obligor or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is made by a Finance Party in whole or in part on the basis of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided or must be restored in insolvency, liquidation, administration or otherwise, without limitation, then the liability of each Guarantor under this Clause 19 will continue or be reinstated as if the discharge, release or arrangement had not occurred.

 

19.4 Waiver of defences

The obligations of each Guarantor under this Clause 19 will not be affected by an act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause 19 (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any Finance Party) including:

 

  (a) any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor or other person;

 

  (b) the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group;

 

  (c) the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security;

 

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  (d) any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor or any other person;

 

  (e) any amendment, novation, supplement, extension, restatement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of any Finance Document or any other document or security including without limitation any change in the purpose of, any extension of or any increase in any facility or the addition of any new facility under any Finance Document or other document or security;

 

  (f) any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document or any other document or security; or

 

  (g) any insolvency or similar proceedings.

 

19.5 Guarantor Intent

Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 19.4 ( Waiver of defences ), each Guarantor expressly confirms that it intends that this guarantee shall extend from time to time to any (however fundamental) variation, increase, extension or addition of or to any of the Finance Documents and/or any facility or amount made available under any of the Finance Documents for the purposes of or in connection with any of the following: business acquisitions of any nature; increasing working capital; enabling investor distributions to be made; carrying out restructurings; refinancing existing facilities; refinancing any other indebtedness; making facilities available to new borrowers; any other variation or extension of the purposes for which any such facility or amount might be made available from time to time; and any fees, costs and/or expenses associated with any of the foregoing.

 

19.6 Immediate recourse

Each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this Clause 19. This waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Finance Document to the contrary.

 

19.7 Appropriations

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:

 

  (a) refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the benefit of the same; and

 

  (b) hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any Guarantor or on account of any Guarantor’s liability under this Clause 19.

 

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19.8 Deferral of Guarantors’ rights

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full and unless the Agent otherwise directs, no Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under the Finance Documents or by reason of any amount being payable, or liability arising, under this Clause 19:

 

  (a) to be indemnified by an Obligor;

 

  (b) to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any Obligor’s obligations under the Finance Documents;

 

  (c) to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or of any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Finance Party;

 

  (d) to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring any Obligor to make any payment, or perform any obligation, in respect of which any Guarantor has given a guarantee, undertaking or indemnity under Clause 19.1 ( Guarantee and indemnity );

 

  (e) to exercise any right of set-off against any Obligor; and/or

 

  (f) to claim or prove as a creditor of any Obligor in competition with any Finance Party.

If a Guarantor receives any benefit, payment or distribution in relation to such rights it shall hold that benefit, payment or distribution to the extent necessary to enable all amounts which may be or become payable to the Finance Parties by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents to be repaid in full on trust for the Finance Parties and shall promptly pay or transfer the same to the Agent or as the Agent may direct for application in accordance with Clause 32 ( Payment mechanics ).

 

19.9 Release of Guarantors’ right of contribution

If any Guarantor (a “ Retiring Guarantor ”) ceases to be a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents for the purpose of any sale or other disposal of that Retiring Guarantor then on the date such Retiring Guarantor ceases to be a Guarantor:

 

  (a) that Retiring Guarantor is released by each other Guarantor from any liability (whether past, present or future and whether actual or contingent) to make a contribution to any other Guarantor arising by reason of the performance by any other Guarantor of its obligations under the Finance Documents; and

 

  (b) each other Guarantor waives any rights it may have by reason of the performance of its obligations under the Finance Documents to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under any Finance Document or of any other security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, any Finance Document where such rights or security are granted by or in relation to the assets of the Retiring Guarantor.

 

19.10 Additional security

This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by any Finance Party.

 

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19.11 Guarantee limitations

This guarantee does not apply to any liability to the extent that it would result in this guarantee constituting unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of sections 678 or 679 of the Companies Act 2006 or any equivalent and applicable provisions under the laws of the Original Jurisdiction of the relevant Guarantor and, with respect to any Additional Guarantor, is subject to any limitations set out in the Accession Deed applicable to such Additional Guarantor.

 

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SECTION 8

REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

20. REPRESENTATIONS

Each Obligor makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 20 to each Finance Party on the date of this Agreement.

 

20.1 Status*

 

  (a) It is a corporation, duly incorporated and validly existing under its Original Jurisdiction.

 

  (b) It and each of its Subsidiaries has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted.

 

20.2 Binding obligations*

Subject to the Legal Reservations and the Perfection Requirements:

 

  (a) the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in each Finance Document are legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with their terms; and

 

  (b) each Transaction Security Document to which it is a party creates the security interests which that Transaction Security Document purports to create and those security interests are valid and effective.

 

20.3 Non-conflict with other obligations*

The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents and the granting of the Transaction Security pursuant to the Agreed Security Principles do not and will not conflict with:

 

  (a) any law or regulation applicable to it;

 

  (b) its or any of its Subsidiaries’ constitutional documents; or

 

  (c) any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets where such conflict would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

20.4 Power and authority*

 

  (a) It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into, performance and delivery of, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance Documents.

 

  (b) No limit on its powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowing, grant of security or giving of guarantees or indemnities contemplated by the Finance Documents to which it is a party

 

20.5 Validity and admissibility in evidence*

Subject to the Legal Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, all Authorisations required:

 

  (a) to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations in the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and

 

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  (b) to make the Finance Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation,

have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect, except any Authorisation required to satisfy the Perfection Requirements, which Authorisations (to the extent required by the Agent) will be promptly obtained or effected after the date of this Agreement (or after such Finance Document has been entered into).

 

20.6 Governing law and enforcement*

Subject to the Legal Reservations:

 

  (a) the choice of English law as the governing law of the Finance Documents which are expressed to be governed by English law will be recognised and enforced in its Original Jurisdiction; and

 

  (b) any judgment obtained in England in relation to a Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

20.7 Deduction of Tax

It is not required to make any Tax Deduction (as defined in Clause 14.1 ( Definitions )) from any payment it may make under any Finance Document to a Lender which is:

 

  (a) a Qualifying Lender:

 

  (i) falling within paragraph (i)(A) of the definition of “Qualifying Lender”; or

 

  (ii) except where a Direction has been given under section 931 of the ITA in relation to the payment concerned, falling within paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of “Qualifying Lender”; or

 

  (iii) falling within paragraph (ii) of the definition of “Qualifying Lender” or;

 

  (b) a Treaty Lender and the payment is one specified in a direction given by the Commissioners of Revenue & Customs under Regulation 2 of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (General) Regulations 1970 (SI 1970/488).

 

20.8 No filing or stamp taxes

Under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents except for registrations, filings, taxes and fees to be made or paid to satisfy the Perfection Requirements, which shall (save to the extent not required by the Agent) be made, paid, obtained or effected promptly after the date of the relevant Finance Document.

 

20.9 No default*

 

  (a) No Event of Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the making of any Utilisation.

 

  (b) No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes a default under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or any of its Subsidiaries or to which its (or any of its Subsidiaries’) assets are subject which might have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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20.10 No misleading information

 

  (a) Any material factual information contained in the Information Memorandum was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided or as at the date (if any) at which it is stated.

 

  (b) The financial projections contained in the Information Memorandum have been prepared on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of reasonable assumptions.

 

  (c) Nothing has occurred or been omitted from the Information Memorandum and no information has been given or withheld that results in the material factual information contained in the Information Memorandum being untrue or misleading in any material respect.

 

20.11 Financial statements

 

  (a) Its Original Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied unless expressly disclosed to the Agent in writing to the contrary before the date of this Agreement.

 

  (b) Its Original Financial Statements fairly represent its financial condition as at the end of the relevant financial year and operations during the relevant financial year (consolidated in the case of the Company) unless expressly disclosed to the Agent in writing to the contrary before the date of this Agreement.

 

  (c) There has been no material adverse change in the business or consolidated financial condition of the Group since the end of Company’s most recent financial year, being 31 December 2015.

 

20.12 Pari passu ranking*

Subject to the Legal Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, the Transaction Security will (once implemented) have the ranking in priority which it is expressed to have in the Transaction Security Documents and it is not subject to any prior ranking or pari passu ranking Security.

 

20.13 No proceedings pending or threatened

No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings of or before any court, arbitral body or agency has or have (to the best of its knowledge and belief) been started or threatened against it or any of its Subsidiaries which litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

20.14 No breach of laws

 

  (a) It has not (and none of its Subsidiaries has) breached any law or regulation which breach has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (b) No labour disputes are current or, to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry), threatened against any member of the Group which have or are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

20.15 Centre of main interests and establishments *

For the purposes of The Council of the European Union Regulation No. 1346/2000 on Insolvency Proceedings (the “ Regulation ”), its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Regulation) is situated in its Original Jurisdiction and it has no “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(h) of the Regulation) in any other jurisdiction.

 

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20.16 Security and Financial Indebtedness*

 

  (a) No Security or Quasi-Security exists over all or any of the present or future assets of any member of the Group other than as permitted by this Agreement.

 

  (b) No member of the Group has any Financial Indebtedness outstanding other than as permitted by this Agreement.

 

20.17 Legal and beneficial ownership*

Save as otherwise disclosed to the Agent, it and each of its Subsidiaries is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the respective assets over which it purports to grant Security.

 

20.18 Shares*

The shares of any member of the Group which are subject to the Transaction Security are fully paid and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights. The constitutional documents of companies whose shares are subject to the Transaction Security do not and could not restrict or inhibit any transfer of those shares on creation or enforcement of the Transaction Security.

 

20.19 Anti-corruption law*

Each member of the Group has conducted its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and has instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

20.20 Obligors

 

  (a) Each Material Company is or will be an Obligor on the date of this Agreement.

 

  (b) The Group is in compliance with the Guarantor Cover Test on the date of this Agreement.

 

20.21 Sanctions*

None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any director, any officer or any employee or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries:

 

  (a) is a person that is, or is owned or controlled by persons that are, the subject of any Sanctions; or

 

  (b) is a governmental agency, authority, or body or state-owned enterprise of any country which is the subject of Sanctions by any Sanctions Authority; or

 

  (c) is located, organised or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of country-wide Sanctions, including, without limitation, the Crimea region, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.

 

20.22 Intellectual Property

It and each of its Subsidiaries:

 

  (a) is the sole legal and beneficial owner of or has licensed to it on normal commercial terms all the Intellectual Property which is material in the context of its business and which is required by it in order to carry on its business;

 

  (b) does not (nor does any of its Subsidiaries), in carrying on its businesses, infringe any Intellectual Property of any third party in any respect which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

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  (c) has taken all formal or procedural actions (including payment of fees) required to maintain any material Intellectual Property owned by it.

 

20.23 Repetition

The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by each Obligor by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on:

 

  (a) the date of each Utilisation Request and the first day of each Interest Period; and

 

  (b) in the case of an Additional Obligor, the day on which the company becomes (or it is proposed that the company becomes) an Additional Obligor.

 

21. INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS

The undertakings in this Clause 21 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

21.1 Financial statements

The Company shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders:

 

  (a) as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 180 days after the end of each of its Financial Years:

 

  (i) the audited consolidated financial statements for SPTS TGL for that Financial Year; and

 

  (ii) the financial statements (audited where required by law) for the Company and each other Obligor for that Financial Year;

 

  (b) as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of its Financial Quarters, consolidated quarterly management account statements for SPTS TGL; and

 

  (c) as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 30 days after the end of each Month, consolidated monthly management account statements for SPTS TGL.

 

21.2 Compliance Certificate

 

  (a) The Company shall supply to the Agent, with each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of Clause 21.1 ( Financial statements ), a Compliance Certificate setting out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with Clause 22 ( Financial covenants ) as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up.

 

  (b) Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by two directors of the Company and if delivered with the Annual Financial Statements shall (if the Agent so requests) be reported on by the auditors of the Company in the form agreed by the Company and the Majority Lenders.

 

21.3 Requirements as to financial statements

 

  (a) Each set of financial statements delivered by the Company pursuant to Clause 21.1 ( Financial statements ) shall be certified by a director of the relevant company as fairly representing its financial condition as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up.

 

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  (b) The Company shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 21.1(a) ( Financial statements ) is prepared using GAAP, accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Original Financial Statements for that Obligor unless, in relation to any set of financial statements, it notifies the Agent that there has been a change in GAAP, the accounting practices or reference periods and its auditors (or, if appropriate, the auditors of the Obligor) deliver to the Agent:

 

  (i) a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect the GAAP, accounting practices and reference periods upon which that Obligor’s Original Financial Statements were prepared; and

 

  (ii) sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required by the Agent, to enable the Lenders to determine whether Clause 22 ( Financial covenants ) has been complied with and make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in those financial statements and that Obligor’s Original Financial Statements.

Any reference in this Agreement to those financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those financial statements as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the Original Financial Statements were prepared.

 

21.4 Budget

 

  (a) The Company shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders:

 

  (i) as soon it becomes available but in any event on or before the date falling 30 days after the start of each of its Financial Years, a draft annual budget for that financial year approved by the board of directors of the Company (but pending approval by the Parent Group); and

 

  (ii) as soon it becomes available but in any event on or before the date falling 60 days after the start of each of its Financial Years, a final annual budget for that financial year approved by the board of directors of the Company and by the Parent Group.

 

  (b) The Company shall ensure that each budget:

 

  (i) is in a form reasonably acceptable to the Agent and includes a projected consolidated profit and loss, balance sheet and cashflow statement for the Group; and

 

  (ii) is prepared in accordance with the accounting practices and financial reference periods applied to financial statements under Clause 21.1 ( Financial statements ).

 

  (c) If the Company updates or changes the budget, it shall promptly deliver to the Agent, in sufficient copies for each of the Lenders, such updated or changed budget together with a written explanation of the main changes in that budget.

 

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21.5 Information: miscellaneous

The Company shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Agent so requests):

 

  (a) all documents dispatched by the Company to its shareholders (or any class of them) or its creditors generally at the same time as they are dispatched;

 

  (b) promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any member of the Group, and which might, if adversely determined, have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (c) promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition, business and operations of any member of the Group as any Finance Party (through the Agent) may reasonably request; and

 

  (d) promptly, such information as the Security Agent may reasonably require about the Charged Property and compliance of the Obligors with the terms of any Transaction Security Documents.

 

21.6 Notification of default

 

  (a) Each Obligor shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence (unless that Obligor is aware that a notification has already been provided by another Obligor).

 

  (b) Promptly upon a request by the Agent, the Company shall supply to the Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors or senior officers on its behalf certifying that no Default is continuing (or if a Default is continuing, specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it).

 

21.7 Use of websites

 

  (a) The Company may satisfy its obligation under this Agreement to deliver any information in relation to those Lenders (the “ Website Lenders ”) who accept this method of communication by posting this information onto an electronic website designated by the Company and the Agent (the “ Designated Website ”) if:

 

  (i) the Agent expressly agrees (after consultation with each of the Lenders) that it will accept communication of the information by this method;

 

  (ii) both the Company and the Agent are aware of the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website; and

 

  (iii) the information is in a format previously agreed between the Company and the Agent.

If any Lender (a “ Paper Form Lender ”) does not agree to the delivery of information electronically then the Agent shall notify the Company accordingly and the Company shall supply the information to the Agent (in sufficient copies for each Paper Form Lender) in paper form. In any event the Company shall supply the Agent with at least one copy in paper form of any information required to be provided by it.

 

  (b) The Agent shall supply each Website Lender with the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website following designation of that website by the Company and the Agent.

 

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  (c) The Company shall promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence notify the Agent if:

 

  (i) the Designated Website cannot be accessed due to technical failure;

 

  (ii) the password specifications for the Designated Website change;

 

  (iii) any new information which is required to be provided under this Agreement is posted onto the Designated Website;

 

  (iv) any existing information which has been provided under this Agreement and posted onto the Designated Website is amended; or

 

  (v) the Company becomes aware that the Designated Website or any information posted onto the Designated Website is or has been infected by any electronic virus or similar software.

If the Company notifies the Agent under paragraph (c)(i) or paragraph (c)(v) above, all information to be provided by the Company under this Agreement after the date of that notice shall be supplied in paper form unless and until the Agent and each Website Lender is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the notification are no longer continuing.

 

  (d) Any Website Lender may request, through the Agent, one paper copy of any information required to be provided under this Agreement which is posted onto the Designated Website. The Company shall comply with any such request within ten Business Days.

 

21.8 “Know your customer” checks

 

  (a) If:

 

  (i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement;

 

  (ii) any change in the status of an Obligor after the date of this Agreement; or

 

  (iii) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, each Obligor shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

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  (b) Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself) in order for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

  (c) The Company shall, by not less than 10 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent, notify the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of its intention to request that one of its Subsidiaries becomes an Additional Obligor pursuant to Clause 27 ( Changes to the Obligors ).

 

  (d) Following the giving of any notice pursuant to paragraph (c) above, if the accession of such Additional Obligor obliges the Agent or any Lender to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Company shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or such Lender or any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the accession of such Subsidiary to this Agreement as an Additional Obligor.

 

22. FINANCIAL COVENANTS

 

22.1 Financial definitions

In this Agreement:

Adjusted EBITDA ” means, in relation to a Relevant Period, EBITDA for that Relevant Period adjusted by:

 

  (a) including the operating profit before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation and impairment charges (calculated on the same basis as EBITDA) of a member of the Group (or attributable to a business or assets) acquired during the Relevant Period for that part of the Relevant Period) prior to its becoming a member of the Group or (as the case may be) prior to the acquisition of the business or assets; and

 

  (b) excluding the operating profit before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and impairment charges (calculated on the same basis as EBITDA) attributable to any member of the Group (or to any business or assets) disposed of during the Relevant Period for that part of the Relevant Period.

Borrowings ” means, at any time, the aggregate outstanding principal, capital or nominal amount (and any fixed or minimum premium payable on prepayment or redemption) of any indebtedness of members of the Group for or in respect of:

 

  (a) moneys borrowed;

 

  (b) any acceptances under any acceptance credit facility (or dematerialised equivalent);

 

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  (c) any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;

 

  (d) any Finance Lease;

 

  (e) receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis);

 

  (f) any deferred consideration in respect of a Business Acquisition;

 

  (g) any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution in respect of (i) an underlying liability of an entity which is not a member of the Group which liability would fall within one of the other paragraphs of this definition or (ii) any liabilities of any member of the Group relating to any post-retirement benefit scheme;

 

  (h) any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement, sale and sale back or sale and leaseback agreement) having the principal commercial effect of a borrowing; and

 

  (i) (without double counting) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (h) above.

Business Acquisition ” means the acquisition of a company or any shares or securities or a business or undertaking (or, in each case, any interest in any of them) or the incorporation of a company.

EBITDA ” means, in respect of any Relevant Period, the consolidated operating profit of the Group before taxation (including the results from discontinued operations):

 

  (a) before deducting any interest, commission, fees, discounts, prepayment fees, premiums or charges and other finance payments whether paid, payable or capitalised by any member of the Group (calculated on a consolidated basis) in respect of that Relevant Period;

 

  (b) not including any accrued interest owing to any member of the Group;

 

  (c) after adding back any amount attributable to the amortisation, or depreciation or impairment of assets of members of the Group (and taking no account of the reversal of any previous impairment charge made in that Relevant Period);

 

  (d) after adding back all fees, costs and expenses, stamp, registration and other Taxes incurred by the Company or any other member of the Group in connection with Project Orion;

 

  (e) before taking into account any Exceptional Items;

 

  (f) after deducting the amount of any profit (or adding back the amount of any loss) of any member of the Group which is attributable to minority interests;

 

  (g) plus or minus the Group’s share of the profits or losses (after finance costs and tax) of Non-Group Entities;

 

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  (h) before taking into account any unrealised gains or losses on any derivative instrument or financial instrument (other than any derivative instrument which is accounted for on a hedge accounting basis);

 

  (i) before taking into account any gain or loss arising from an upward or downward revaluation of any other asset;

 

  (j) before taking into account any Pension Items; and

 

  (k) excluding the charge to profit represented by the expensing of stock options,

in each case, to the extent added, deducted or taken into account, as the case may be, for the purposes of determining operating profits of the Group before taxation.

Exceptional Items ” means any exceptional, one off, non-recurring or extraordinary items.

Finance Charges ” means, for any Relevant Period, the aggregate amount of the accrued interest, commission, fees, discounts, prepayment fees, premiums or charges and other finance payments in respect of Borrowings paid by any member of the Group (calculated on a consolidated basis) in cash in respect of that Relevant Period:

 

  (a) excluding any upfront fees or costs;

 

  (b) including the interest (but not the capital) element of payments in respect of Finance Leases;

 

  (c) including any commission, fees, discounts and other finance payments payable by (and deducting any such amounts payable to) any member of the Group under any interest rate hedging arrangement;

 

  (d) excluding any interest cost or expected return on plan assets in relation to any post-employment benefit schemes;

 

  (e) if a Joint Venture is accounted for on a proportionate consolidation basis, after adding the Group’s share of the finance costs or interest receivable of the Joint Venture; and

 

  (f) taking no account of any unrealised gains or losses on any derivative instruments or financial instruments other than any derivative instruments which are accounted for on a hedge accounting basis,

and so that no amount shall be added (or deducted) more than once.

Finance Lease ” means any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with the accounting principles applied to the most recent audited consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 21.1(a) ( Financial Statements ), be treated as a finance or capital lease.

Financial Quarter ” means the period commencing on the day after one Quarter Date and ending on the next Quarter Date.

Financial Year ” means the annual accounting period of the Group and SPTS TGL ending on or about 31 December in each year.

 

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Interest Cover ” means the ratio of EBITDA to Net Finance Charges in respect of any Relevant Period.

Leverage ” means, in respect of any Relevant Period, the ratio of Total Net Debt on the last day of that Relevant Period to Adjusted EBITDA in respect of that Relevant Period.

Net Finance Charges ” means, for any Relevant Period, the Finance Charges for that Relevant Period after deducting any interest payable in that Relevant Period to any member of the Group (other than by another member of the Group) on any Cash or Cash Equivalent Investment.

Non-Group Entity ” means any investment or entity (which is not itself a member of the Group (including associates and Joint Ventures)) in which any member of the Group has an ownership interest.

Pension Items ” means any income or charge attributable to a post-employment benefit scheme other than the current service costs and any past service costs and curtailments and settlements attributable to the scheme.

Quarter Date ” means each of 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December.

Relevant Period ” means each period of twelve months ending on the last day of each Financial Quarter, commencing with the Relevant Period expiring 31 December 2016.

Total Net Debt ” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of all obligations of members of the Group for or in respect of Borrowings at that time but:

 

  (a) excluding any such obligations (which obligations shall include without limitation accrued and / or capitalised interest) to any other member of the Group;

 

  (b) excluding any such obligations in respect of any Subordinated Debt (including, to the extent they constitute Borrowings, any New Shareholder Injections);

 

  (c) including , in the case of Finance Leases only, their capitalised value;

 

  (d) deducting the aggregate amount of Cash and Cash Equivalent Investments held by any member of the Group at that time; and

 

  (e) excluding the amount of any deferred contingent consideration or earn-outs in respect of a Permitted Acquisition payable by a member of the Group,

and so that no amount shall be included or excluded more than once.

 

22.2 Financial condition

The Company shall ensure that:

 

  (a) Interest Cover : Interest Cover in respect of any Relevant Period, commencing with the Relevant Period expiring 31 December 2016, shall not be less than the ratio of 4 : 1.

 

  (b) Leverage : Leverage in respect of any Relevant Period, commencing with the Relevant Period expiring 31 December 2016, shall not exceed the ratio of 2.75 : 1.

 

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22.3 Financial testing

The Financial Covenants shall be calculated in accordance with the accounting principles applied to the most recent audited consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 21.1(a) ( Financial Statements ), and tested by reference to each of the financial statements delivered pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of Clause 21.1 ( Financial statements ) and/or each Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Clause 21.2 ( Compliance Certificate ), and for the first time on 31 December 2016. For the purpose of the financial covenant in Clause 22.2(a) ( Interest Cover ), Net Finance Charges for any Relevant Period ending on a date which is less than 12 months after the date of this Agreement shall be calculated on an annualised basis from the date of this Agreement (ignoring, for the avoidance of doubt, any Net Finance Charges in respect of any period prior to the date of this Agreement).

 

23. GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS

The undertakings in this Clause 23 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

23.1 Authorisations

Each Obligor shall promptly:

 

  (a) obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and

 

  (b) upon request, supply certified copies to the Agent of,

any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of its jurisdiction of incorporation to enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation of any Finance Document.

 

23.2 Compliance with laws

Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) comply in all respects with all laws to which it may be subject, if failure so to comply has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

23.3 Negative pledge

In this Clause 22.3, “ Quasi-Security ” means an arrangement or transaction described in paragraph (b) below.

 

  (a) No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets.

 

  (b) No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will):

 

  (i) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or re-acquired by an Obligor;

 

  (ii) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms;

 

  (iii) enter into any arrangement under which money or the benefit of a bank or other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a combination of accounts; or

 

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  (iv) enter into any other preferential arrangement having a similar effect,

in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into primarily as a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the acquisition of an asset.

 

  (c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) above do not apply to any Security or (as the case may be) Quasi-Security, listed below:

 

  (i) any Security or Quasi-Security granted by any member of the Group in connection with (or as a condition of) the Existing Facility Agreement, provided such Security or Quasi-Security is discharged on the date of first Utilisation under this Agreement;

 

  (ii) any Security or Quasi-Security listed in Schedule 9 ( Existing Security ) except to the extent the principal amount secured by that Security or Quasi-Security exceeds the amount stated in that Schedule;

 

  (iii) any netting or set-off arrangement entered into by any member of the Group in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements for the purpose of netting debit and credit balances (including a Multi-account Overdraft);

 

  (iv) any payment or close out netting or set-off arrangement pursuant to any hedging transaction entered into by a member of the Group for the purpose of:

 

  (A) hedging any risk to which any member of the Group is exposed in its ordinary course of trading; or

 

  (B) its interest rate or currency management operations which are carried out in the ordinary course of business and for non-speculative purposes only,

excluding, in each case, any Security or Quasi-Security under a credit support arrangement in relation to a hedging transaction;

 

  (v) any lien arising by operation of law and in the ordinary course of trading;

 

  (vi) any Security or Quasi-Security over or affecting any asset acquired by a member of the Group after the date of this Agreement if:

 

  (A) the Security or Quasi-Security was not created in contemplation of the acquisition of that asset by a member of the Group;

 

  (B) the principal amount secured has not been increased in contemplation of or since the acquisition of that asset by a member of the Group; and

 

  (C) the Security or Quasi-Security is removed or discharged within 3 months of the date of acquisition of such asset;

 

  (vii) any Security or Quasi-Security over or affecting any asset of any company which becomes a member of the Group after the date of this Agreement, where the Security or Quasi-Security is created prior to the date on which that company becomes a member of the Group, if:

 

  (A) the Security or Quasi-Security was not created in contemplation of the acquisition of that company;

 

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  (B) the principal amount secured has not increased in contemplation of or since the acquisition of that company; and

 

  (C) the Security or Quasi-Security is removed or discharged within 3 months of that company becoming a member of the Group;

 

  (viii) any Security or Quasi-Security entered into pursuant to any Finance Document;

 

  (ix) any Security or Quasi-Security arising under any retention of title, hire purchase or conditional sale arrangement or arrangements having similar effect in respect of goods supplied to a member of the Group in the ordinary course of trading and on the supplier’s standard or usual terms and not arising as a result of any default or omission by any member of the Group;

 

  (x) any Quasi-Security arising as a result of a disposal which is a Permitted Disposal;

 

  (xi) any Security or Quasi-Security arising as a consequence of any finance or capital lease permitted pursuant to paragraph (h) of the definition of “Permitted Financial Indebtedness”;

 

  (xii) any Security arising under a rent deposit deed entered into on arm’s length terms and in the ordinary course of business securing the obligations of a member of the Group in relation to a property leased to a member of the Group;

 

  (xiii) any Security arising under the standard terms of clearing bank accounts opened in jurisdictions where such terms are standard and customarily required for the operation of bank accounts;

 

  (xiv) Security or Quasi-Security arising in connection with Permitted Acquisitions in relation to any escrow or similar arrangements securing an amount not exceeding 10% of the total consideration payable in respect of any such Permitted Acquisition;

 

  (xv) any Security or Quasi-Security arising as a result of Permitted Cash Pooling;

 

  (xvi) any Security or Quasi-Security securing indebtedness the principal amount of which (when aggregated with the principal amount of any other indebtedness which has the benefit of Security or Quasi-Security given by any member of the Group other than any permitted under paragraphs (i) to (xv) above) does not exceed USD 5,000,000 (or its equivalent in another currency or currencies).

 

23.4 Disposals

 

  (a) No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) enter into a single transaction or a series of transactions (whether related or not) and whether voluntary or involuntary to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any asset.

 

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  (b) Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal:

 

  (i) made in the ordinary course of trading of the disposing entity;

 

  (ii) of assets in exchange for other assets comparable or superior as to type, value and quality;

 

  (iii) made by one Obligor to another Obligor or by a member of the Group which is not an Obligor to another member of the Group, in each case whether or not on arm’s length terms;

 

  (iv) made by an Obligor to a member of the Group which is not an Obligor on arm’s length terms, provided that the higher of book value or consideration receivable (when aggregated with the higher of the book value or consideration receivable for any other such disposal) does not exceed USD 250,000 in any Financial Year;

 

  (v) of vehicles, plant and equipment for cash, which are obsolete, redundant or surplus to requirements;

 

  (vi) which represents a lease, licence, surrender, release or sub-lease in respect of real property which is surplus to the Group’s requirements;

 

  (vii) of cash or cash equivalent investments;

 

  (viii) constituted by a licence of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (ix) to a Joint Venture, to the extent permitted by Clause 23.7 ( Joint Ventures );

 

  (x) arising as a result of any Permitted Security;

 

  (xi) of assets by way of sale and leaseback in an amount not exceeding USD 6,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) in aggregate in any Financial Year;

 

  (xii) of demonstration machinery (as described by the line “Demo Equipment” in the balance sheet of the relevant member of the Group);

 

  (xiii) of receivables on a non-recourse basis in an amount not exceeding USD 1,500,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) in any Financial Year; or

 

  (xiv) not permitted by the preceding paragraphs and where the higher of the market value or consideration receivable (when aggregated with the higher of the market value or consideration receivable for any other sale, lease, transfer or other disposal, other than any permitted under paragraphs (i) to (xiii) above) does not exceed USD 15,000,000 (or its equivalent in another currency or currencies) in any Financial Year.

 

23.5 Arm’s length basis

 

  (a) Except as permitted by Clause 23.5(b), no Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) enter into any transaction with any person except on arm’s length terms and for full market value.

 

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  (b) The following transactions shall not be a breach of this Clause 23.5:

 

  (i) intra-Group loans permitted under Clause 23.12 ( Intra-group loans and Subordinated Debt );

 

  (ii) any Permitted Transaction; and/or

 

  (iii) any disposal permitted under Clause 23.4(b)(iii) ( Disposals ).

 

23.6 Merger

 

  (a) No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger or corporate reconstruction.

 

  (b) Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal permitted pursuant to Clause 23.4 ( Disposals ).

 

23.7 Joint ventures

 

  (a) Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will):

 

  (i) enter into, invest in or acquire (or agree to acquire) any shares, stocks, securities or other interest in any Joint Venture; or

 

  (ii) transfer any assets or lend to or guarantee or give an indemnity for or give Security for the obligations of a Joint Venture or maintain the solvency of or provide working capital to any Joint Venture (or agree to do any of the foregoing).

 

  (b) Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any acquisition of (or agreement to acquire) any interest in a Joint Venture or transfer of assets (or agreement to transfer assets) to a Joint Venture or loan made to or guarantee given in respect of the obligations of a Joint Venture if such transaction is a Permitted Joint Venture, a Permitted Acquisition, a Permitted Disposal, a Permitted Guarantee or a Permitted Loan.

 

23.8 Loans or credit

 

  (a) Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) be a creditor in respect of any Financial Indebtedness.

 

  (b) Paragraph (a) above does not apply to:

 

  (i) a Permitted Loan; or

 

  (ii) a Permitted Transaction.

 

23.9 No Guarantees or indemnities

 

  (a) Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) incur or allow to remain outstanding any guarantee in respect of any obligation of any person.

 

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  (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a guarantee which is:

 

  (i) a Permitted Guarantee; or

 

  (ii) a Permitted Transaction.

 

23.10 Dividends and share redemption

 

  (a) Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, the Company shall not (and will ensure that no other member of the Group will) make any Distribution.

 

  (b) Paragraph (a) above does not apply to:

 

  (i) a Permitted Distribution; or

 

  (ii) a Permitted Transaction (other than one referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition of that term).

 

23.11 Management and advisory fees

 

  (a) Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, the Company shall not (and will ensure that no other member of the Group will) pay or allow any member of the Group to pay any management, advisory or other fee to or to the order of any of the shareholders of the Company.

 

  (b) Paragraph (a) above does not apply to Permitted Services Payments.

 

23.12 Intra-group loans and Subordinated Debt

 

  (a) Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will):

 

  (i) repay or prepay any principal amount (or capitalised interest) outstanding under any Subordinated Debt or other shareholder loan or debt instrument to any member of the Group that is not an Obligor;

 

  (ii) pay any interest or any other amounts payable under any Subordinated Debt or other shareholder loan or debt instrument to any member of the Group that is not an Obligor; or

 

  (iii) purchase, redeem, defease or discharge any amount outstanding under any Subordinated Debt or other shareholder loan or debt instrument to any member of the Group that is not an Obligor.

 

  (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a payment, repayment, prepayment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or discharge which is:

 

  (i) a Permitted Payment; or

 

  (ii) otherwise permitted under a Subordination Agreement; or

 

  (iii) in respect of any other shareholder loan or debt instrument entered into between members of the Group, neither of which are Obligors.

 

23.13 Financial Indebtedness

 

  (a) Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) incur or allow to remain outstanding any Financial Indebtedness.

 

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  (b) Paragraph (a) above does not apply to Financial Indebtedness which is:

 

  (i) Permitted Financial Indebtedness; or

 

  (ii) a Permitted Transaction.

 

23.14 Share capital

No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) issue any shares except pursuant to:

 

  (a) a Permitted Share Issue; or

 

  (b) a Permitted Transaction.

 

23.15 Intellectual Property

Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall procure that each other member of the Group will):

 

  (a) preserve and maintain the subsistence and validity of the Intellectual Property necessary for its business;

 

  (b) use reasonable endeavours to prevent any infringement in any material respect of the Intellectual Property necessary for its business;

 

  (c) make registrations and pay all registration fees and taxes necessary to maintain the Intellectual Property necessary for its business in full force and effect and record its interest in such Intellectual Property;

 

  (d) not use or permit the Intellectual Property necessary for its business to be used in a way or take any step or omit to take any step in respect of such Intellectual Property which may materially and adversely affect the existence or value of such Intellectual Property or imperil the right of any member of the Group to use such property; and

 

  (e) not discontinue the use of the Intellectual Property necessary for its business,

where failure to do so, in the case of Clause 23.15(a) and (b), or, in the case of Clause 23.15(d) and (e), such use, permission to use, omission or discontinuation, is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

23.16 Guarantors

 

  (a) The Company shall ensure that at all times after the date of this Agreement, the Group is in compliance with the Guarantor Cover Test, provided that there shall be no breach of this Clause if the Company procures the accession of one or more members of the Group as an Additional Guarantor within 30 days of the earlier of:

 

  (i) the Company becoming aware that it is not in compliance with the Guarantor Cover Test; and

 

  (ii) financial statements evidencing such non-compliance being delivered to the Agent,

if the Guarantor Cover Test would have been complied with, had the relevant member or members of the Group been Guarantors at the time of the non-compliance.

 

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  (b) The Company need only perform its obligations under paragraph (a) above if it is not unlawful for the relevant person to become a Guarantor and that person becoming a Guarantor would not result in personal liability for that person’s directors or other management. Each Obligor must use, and must procure that the relevant person uses, all reasonable endeavours lawfully available to avoid any such unlawfulness or personal liability. This includes agreeing to a limit on the amount guaranteed. The Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) may agree to such a limit if to do so would avoid the relevant unlawfulness or personal liability.

 

23.17 Change of business

The Company shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of the Company or the Group from that carried on at the date of this Agreement.

 

23.18 Further assurance

 

  (a) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, each Obligor shall (and the Company shall procure that each other member of the Group will) promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions) as the Security Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as the Security Agent may reasonably require in favour of the Security Agent or its nominee(s)):

 

  (i) to perfect the Security created or intended to be created under or evidenced by the Transaction Security Documents (which may include the execution of a mortgage, charge, assignment or other Security over all or any of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Transaction Security) or for the exercise of any rights, powers and remedies of the Security Agent or the Finance Parties provided by or pursuant to the Finance Documents or by law;

 

  (ii) to confer on the Security Agent or confer on the Finance Parties Security over any property and assets of that Obligor located in any jurisdiction equivalent or similar to the Security intended to be conferred by or pursuant to the Transaction Security Documents; and/or

 

  (iii) to facilitate the realisation of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Transaction Security.

 

  (b) Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall procure that each other member of the Group will) take all such action as is reasonably available to it (including making all filings and registrations) as may be necessary for the purpose of the creation, perfection, protection or maintenance of any Security conferred or intended to be conferred on the Security Agent or the Finance Parties by or pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

23.19 Anti-corruption law

 

  (a) No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Facilities for any purpose which would breach the Bribery Act 2010, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or other similar legislation in other jurisdictions.

 

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  (b) Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each other member of the Group will):

 

  (i) conduct its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws; and

 

  (ii) maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

23.20 Sanctions

No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group shall) directly or, to the best of its knowledge or belief (having made due and careful enquiry), indirectly use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person, (i) to fund any activities or business of or with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any person (including any person participating in the Loans, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

23.21 Condition Subsequent

The Company shall procure that a letter of engagement from the Company’s auditors to the Finance Parties in respect of the auditor’s report to be provided by the Company’s auditors under Clause 21.2(b) ( Compliance Certificate ) is provided to the Agent on or before 31 January 2017.

 

24. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Each of the events or circumstances set out in Clause 24 is an Event of Default (save for Clause 24.15 ( Acceleration )).

 

24.1 Non-payment

An Obligor does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document at the place and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable unless:

 

  (a) its failure to pay is caused by:

 

  (i) administrative or technical error; or

 

  (ii) a Disruption Event; and

 

  (b) payment is made within 5 Business Days of its due date.

 

24.2 Financial covenants

Any requirement of Clause 22 ( Financial covenants ) is not satisfied.

 

24.3 Other obligations

 

  (a) An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in Clause 24.1 ( Non-payment ) and Clause 24.2 ( Financial covenants )).

 

  (b) No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 10 Business Days of the earlier of (A) the Agent giving notice to the Company and (B) the Company becoming aware of the failure to comply.

 

24.4 Misrepresentation

 

  (a)

Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in

 

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  the Finance Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made.

 

  (b) No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 10 Business Days of the earlier of (A) the Agent giving notice to the Company and (B) the Company becoming aware of the failure to comply.

 

24.5 Cross default

 

  (a) Any Financial Indebtedness of any Material Company is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period.

 

  (b) Any Financial Indebtedness of any Material Company is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

  (c) Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any Material Company is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of any Material Company as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

  (d) No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 24.5 if the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraphs (a) to (d) above is less than USD 5,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).

 

24.6 Insolvency

 

  (a) A Material Company:

 

  (i) is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due;

 

  (ii) suspends making payments on any of its debts; or

 

  (iii) by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more classes of its creditors (excluding any Finance Party in its capacity as such) with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

  (b) The value of the assets of any Material Company is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities, but not taking into account any liabilities owed by that Material Company to another member of the Group).

 

  (c) A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Material Company.

 

24.7 Insolvency proceedings

Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other formal procedure or step is taken in relation to:

 

  (a) the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any Material Company;

 

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  (b) a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any Material Company;

 

  (c) the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of any Material Company or any of its assets; or

 

  (d) enforcement of any Security over any assets of any Material Company having an aggregate value of at least USD 2,000,000 or its equivalent,

or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction.

This Clause 24.7 shall not apply to any winding-up petition which is frivolous or vexatious and is discharged, stayed or dismissed within 14 days of commencement.

 

24.8 Creditors’ process

Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution affects any asset or assets of a Material Company having an aggregate value of at least USD 2,000,000 or its equivalent and is not discharged within 14 days.

 

24.9 Ownership of the Obligors

Any Obligor or Material Company (other than the Company) is not or ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company save where it has been disposed of (and, where necessary, resigned as an Obligor) in compliance with this Agreement.

 

24.10 Unlawfulness

 

  (a) Subject to the Legal Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, it is or becomes unlawful for an Obligor to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any Transaction Security created or expressed to be created or evidenced by the Transaction Security Documents ceases to be effective or any subordination created under a Subordination Agreement is or becomes unlawful.

 

  (b) Any obligation or obligations of any Obligor under any Finance Documents are not (subject to the Legal Reservations and the Perfection Requirements) or cease to be legal, valid, binding or enforceable and the cessation individually or cumulatively materially and adversely affects the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents.

 

  (c) Subject to the Legal Reservations and the Perfection Requirements, any Finance Document ceases to be in full force and effect or any Transaction Security or any subordination created under a Subordination Agreement ceases to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable or effective or is alleged by a party to it (other than a Finance Party) to be ineffective.

 

24.11 Subordinated Debt

 

  (a) Any member of the Parent Group fails to comply with the provisions of, or does not perform its obligations under, a Subordination Agreement; or

 

  (b) a representation or warranty given by a member of the Parent Group in a Subordination Agreement is incorrect in any material respect,

and, if the non-compliance or circumstances giving rise to the misrepresentation are capable of remedy, it is not remedied within 15 Business Days of the earlier of the Agent giving notice to that party or that party becoming aware of the non-compliance or misrepresentation.

 

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24.12 Cessation of business

Any Material Company suspends or ceases to carry on (or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on) all or a material part of its business except as a result of a Permitted Disposal or a Permitted Transaction.

 

24.13 Repudiation

 

  (a) An Obligor (or any other relevant party) rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate a Finance Document or any of the Transaction Security or evidences an intention to rescind or repudiate a Finance Document or any Transaction Security.

 

  (b) Any member of the Parent Group rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate a Subordination Agreement in whole or in part where to do so has or is, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, likely to have a material adverse effect on the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents.

 

24.14 Material adverse change

Any event or circumstance occurs which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

24.15 Acceleration

At any time which an Event of Default is continuing the Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Company:

 

  (a) cancel the Total Commitments and/or Ancillary Commitments whereupon they shall immediately be cancelled;

 

  (b) declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable;

 

  (c) declare all or any part of the amounts (or cash cover in relation to those amounts) outstanding under the Ancillary Facilities to be immediately due and payable, at which time they shall become immediately due and payable;

 

  (d) declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders; and/or

 

  (e) declare that all or any part of the amounts (or cash cover in relation to those amounts) outstanding under the Ancillary Facilities be payable on demand, at which time they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

 

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SECTION 9

CHANGES TO PARTIES

 

25. CHANGES TO THE LENDERS

 

25.1 Assignments and transfers by the Lenders

Subject to this Clause 25, a Lender (the “ Existing Lender ”) may:

 

  (a) assign any of its rights; or

 

  (b) transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations,

to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the “ New Lender ”).

 

25.2 Conditions of assignment or transfer

 

  (a) The consent of the Company is required for an assignment or transfer by an Existing Lender, unless the assignment or transfer is:

 

  (i) to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender; or

 

  (ii) made at a time when an Event of Default is continuing.

 

  (b) The consent of the Company to an assignment or transfer must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company will be deemed to have given its consent 5 Business Days after the Existing Lender has requested it unless consent is expressly refused by the Company within that time. The Company shall be entitled to withhold its consent under this Clause 25.2 (and not be deemed unreasonable) in the event that the assignment or transfer is proposed to be made to a hedge fund or to a person which is, or which is an Affiliate of, a competitor of the Group.

 

  (c) A request for the consent of the Company to an assignment or transfer under this Clause 25.2 must be copied to the Parent, whose details for service of notice are as follows:

 

Address:    7 Sanhedrin Boulevard, North Industrial Zone, Yavne 8110101, Israel
Fax:    + 972-8-9438769
Attention:    Michael Havin, Corporate Secretary

Any request for the consent of the Company must be served on the Company (and copied to the above party) in accordance with the provision of Clause 34 ( Notices ).

 

  (d) An assignment will only be effective on:

 

  (i) receipt by the Agent (whether in the Assignment Agreement or otherwise) of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the other Finance Parties as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender; and

 

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  (ii) performance by the Agent of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender.

 

  (e) A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) is complied with.

 

  (f) If:

 

  (i) a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and

 

  (ii) as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, an Obligor would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under Clause 14 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) or Clause 15 ( Increased Costs ),

then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred. This paragraph (e) shall not apply:

 

  (iii) in respect of an assignment or transfer made in the ordinary course of the primary syndication of the Facilities; or

 

  (iv) in relation to Clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ), to a Treaty Lender that has included a confirmation of its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with paragraph (g)(ii)(B) of Clause 14.2 ( Tax gross-up ) if the Obligor making the payment has not made a Borrower DTTP Filing in respect of that Treaty Lender.

 

  (g) Each New Lender, by executing the relevant Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement, confirms, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the transfer or assignment becomes effective in accordance with this Agreement and that it is bound by that decision to the same extent as the Existing Lender would have been had it remained a Lender.

 

  (h) Following an assignment or transfer becoming effective in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 25, the Agent must promptly in writing notify the Company and Orbotech Limited.

 

25.3 Assignment or transfer fee

The New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of £2,500.

 

25.4 Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders

 

  (a) Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for:

 

  (i) the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Finance Documents, the Transaction Security or any other documents;

 

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  (ii) the financial condition of any Obligor;

 

  (iii) the performance and observance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or

 

  (iv) the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document,

and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.

 

  (b) Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it:

 

  (i) has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; and

 

  (ii) will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

  (c) Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:

 

  (i) accept a re-transfer or re-assignment from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause 25; or

 

  (ii) support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or otherwise.

 

25.5 Procedure for transfer

 

  (a) Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 25.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ) a transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate.

 

  (b) The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.

 

  (c) Subject to Clause 24.9 ( Pro rata interest settlement ), on the Transfer Date:

 

  (i)

to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security each of the Obligors and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations

 

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  towards one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security shall be cancelled (being the “ Discharged Rights and Obligations ”);

 

  (ii) each of the Obligors and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as that Obligor and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of that Obligor and the Existing Lender;

 

  (iii) the Agent, the Arranger, the New Lender and other Lenders shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves and in respect of the Transaction Security as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Agent, the Arranger and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and

 

  (iv) the New Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender”.

 

25.6 Procedure for assignment

 

  (a) Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 25.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ) an assignment may be effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Assignment Agreement appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Assignment Agreement.

 

  (b) The Agent shall only be obliged to execute an Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assignment to such New Lender.

 

  (c) Subject to Clause 24.9 ( Pro rata interest settlement ), on the Transfer Date:

 

  (i) the Existing Lender will assign absolutely to the New Lender the rights under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security expressed to be the subject of the assignment in the Assignment Agreement;

 

  (ii) the Existing Lender will be released by each Obligor and the other Finance Parties from the obligations owed by it (the “ Relevant Obligations ”) and expressed to be the subject of the release in the Assignment Agreement (and any corresponding obligations by which it is bound in respect of the Transaction Security);

 

  (iii)

the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent, the New Lender, the other Lenders and any relevant Ancillary Lender shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves and in respect of

 

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  the Transaction Security as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights, and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent, and any relevant Ancillary Lender and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and

 

  (iv) the New Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender”.

 

  (d) Lenders may utilise procedures other than those set out in this Clause 25.6 to assign their rights under the Finance Documents (but not, without the consent of the relevant Obligor or unless in accordance with Clause 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ), to obtain a release by that Obligor from the obligations owed to that Obligor by the Lenders nor the assumption of equivalent obligations by a New Lender) provided that they comply with the conditions set out in Clause 25.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ).

 

25.7 Copy of Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement to Company

The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate or an Assignment Agreement, send to the Company a copy of that Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement.

 

25.8 Security over Lenders’ rights

In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 25, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Obligor, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create Security in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:

 

  (a) any charge, assignment or other Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and

 

  (b) in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities,

except that no such charge, assignment or Security shall:

 

  (i) release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or Security for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or

 

  (ii) require any payments to be made by an Obligor other than or in excess of, or grant to any person any more extensive rights than, those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

25.9 Pro rata interest settlement

 

  (a)

If the Agent has notified the Lenders that it is able to distribute interest payments on a “pro rata basis” to Existing Lenders and New Lenders then (in respect of any transfer pursuant to Clause 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) or any assignment pursuant to Clause 25.6 ( Procedure for assignment ) the Transfer Date of which, in each case, is after the date of such notification and is not on

 

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  the last day of an Interest Period):

 

  (i) any interest or fees in respect of the relevant participation which are expressed to accrue by reference to the lapse of time shall continue to accrue in favour of the Existing Lender up to but excluding the Transfer Date (“ Accrued Amounts ”) and shall become due and payable to the Existing Lender (without further interest accruing on them) on the last day of the current Interest Period (or, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on the next of the dates which falls at six Monthly intervals after the first day of that Interest Period); and

 

  (ii) the rights assigned or transferred by the Existing Lender will not include the right to the Accrued Amounts, so that, for the avoidance of doubt:

 

  (A) when the Accrued Amounts become payable, those Accrued Amounts will be payable to the Existing Lender; and

 

  (B) the amount payable to the New Lender on that date will be the amount which would, but for the application of this Clause 25.9, have been payable to it on that date, but after deduction of the Accrued Amounts.

 

  (b) In this Clause 25.9 references to “Interest Period” shall be construed to include a reference to any other period for accrual of fees.

 

26. RESTRICTION ON DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS

 

26.1 Prohibition on Debt Purchase Transactions by the Group

The Company shall not, and shall procure that each other member of the Group shall not, enter into any Debt Purchase Transaction or beneficially own all or any part of the share capital of a company that is a Lender or a party to a Debt Purchase Transaction of the type referred to in paragraphs (b) or (c) of the definition of “Debt Purchase Transaction”.

 

26.2 Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by members of the Parent Group

 

  (a) For so long as a member of the Parent Group:

 

  (i) beneficially owns a Commitment; or

 

  (ii) has entered into a sub-participation agreement relating to a Commitment or other agreement or arrangement having a substantially similar economic effect and such agreement or arrangement has not been terminated,

in ascertaining:

 

  (A) the Majority Lenders; or

 

  (B) whether:

 

  (1) any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments; or

 

  (2) the agreement of any specified group of Lenders,

 

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has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents such Commitment shall be deemed to be zero and such member of the Parent Group or the person with whom it has entered into such sub-participation, other agreement or arrangement shall be deemed not to be a Lender for the purposes of paragraphs (A) and (B) above (unless in the case of a person not being a member of the Parent Group it is a Lender by virtue otherwise than by beneficially owning the relevant Commitment).

 

  (b) Each Lender shall, unless such Debt Purchase Transaction is an assignment or transfer, promptly notify the Agent in writing if it knowingly enters into a Debt Purchase Transaction with a member of the Parent Group (a “ Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction ”), such notification to be substantially in the LMA form from time to time.

 

  (c) A Lender shall promptly notify the Agent if a Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction to which it is a party:

 

  (i) is terminated; or

 

  (ii) ceases to be with a member of the Parent Group,

such notification to be substantially in the LMA form from time to time.

 

  (d) Each member of the Parent Group that is a Lender agrees that:

 

  (i) in relation to any meeting or conference call to which all the Lenders are invited to attend or participate, it shall not attend or participate in the same if so requested by the Agent or, unless the Agent otherwise agrees, be entitled to receive the agenda or any minutes of the same; and

 

  (ii) in its capacity as Lender, unless the Agent otherwise agrees, it shall not be entitled to receive any report or other document prepared at the behest of, or on the instructions of, the Agent or one or more of the Lenders.

 

26.3 Notification to other Lenders of Debt Purchase Transactions

Any member of the Parent Group which is or becomes a Lender and which enters into a Debt Purchase Transaction as a purchaser or a participant shall, by 5.00 p.m. on the Business Day following the day on which it entered into that Debt Purchase Transaction, notify the Agent of the extent of the Commitment(s) or amount outstanding to which that Debt Purchase Transaction relates. The Agent shall promptly disclose such information to the Lenders.

 

27. CHANGES TO THE OBLIGORS

 

27.1 Assignments and transfer by Obligors

No Obligor may assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

27.2 Additional Borrowers

 

  (a) Subject to compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d) of Clause 21.8 ( “Know your customer” checks ), the Company may request that any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries becomes an Additional Borrower. That Subsidiary shall become an Additional Borrower if:

 

  (i) all Lenders approve the addition of that Subsidiary;

 

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  (ii) the Company delivers to the Agent a duly completed and executed Accession Letter;

 

  (iii) the Company confirms that no Default is continuing or would occur as a result of that Subsidiary becoming an Additional Borrower; and

 

  (iv) the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part III of Schedule 2 ( Conditions precedent ) in relation to that Additional Borrower, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

  (b) The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon being satisfied that it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) all the documents and other evidence listed in Part III of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) and shall (if required by the Agent) accede to any Subordination Agreement.

 

  (c) Other than to the extent that the Majority Lenders notify the Agent in writing to the contrary before the Agent gives the notification described in paragraph (b) above, the Lenders authorise (but do not require) the Agent to give that notification. The Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever as a result of giving any such notification.

 

27.3 Resignation of a Borrower

 

  (a) With the prior written consent of all the Lenders, the Company may request that a Borrower ceases to be a Borrower by delivering to the Agent a Resignation Letter.

 

  (b) The Agent shall accept a Resignation Letter and notify the Company and the Lenders of its acceptance if:

 

  (i) no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of the Resignation Letter (and the Company has confirmed this is the case); and

 

  (ii) the Borrower is under no actual or contingent obligations as a Borrower under any Finance Documents; and

 

  (iii) where the Borrower is also a Guarantor (unless its resignation has been accepted in accordance with Clause 27.6 ( Resignation of a Guarantor )), its obligations in its capacity as Guarantor continue to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable and in full force and effect (subject to the Legal Reservations) and the amount guaranteed by it as a Guarantor is not decreased (and the Company has confirmed this is the case),

whereupon that company shall cease to be a Borrower and shall have no further rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

  (c) Upon notification by the Agent to the Company of its acceptance of the resignation of a Borrower, that company shall cease to be a Borrower and shall have no further rights or obligations under the Finance Documents as a Borrower.

 

  (d) The Agent may, at the cost and expense of the Company, require a legal opinion from counsel to the Agent confirming the matters set out in paragraph (b)(iii) above and the Agent shall be under no obligation to accept a Resignation Letter until it has obtained such opinion in form and substance satisfactory to it.

 

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27.4 Additional Guarantors

 

  (a) Subject to compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d) of Clause 21.8 ( “Know your customer” checks ), the Company may request that any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries become an Additional Guarantor.

 

  (b) The Company shall procure that any other member of the Group which is a Material Company shall, as soon as possible after becoming a Material Company become an Additional Guarantor and, subject to the Agreed Security Principles, grant Security as the Agent may require.

 

  (c) A member of the Group shall become an Additional Guarantor if:

 

  (i) the Company delivers to the Agent a duly completed and executed Accession Letter; and

 

  (ii) the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part III of Schedule 2 ( Conditions precedent ) in relation to that Additional Guarantor, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

  (d) The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon being satisfied that it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) all the documents and other evidence listed in Part III of Schedule 2 ( Conditions precedent ) and shall (if required by the Agent) accede to any Subordination Agreement.

 

  (e) Other than to the extent that the Majority Lenders notify the Agent in writing to the contrary before the Agent gives the notification described in paragraph (b) above, the Lenders authorise (but do not require) the Agent to give that notification. The Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever as a result of giving any such notification.

 

27.5 Repetition of Representations

Delivery of an Accession Letter constitutes confirmation by the relevant Subsidiary that the Repeating Representations are true and correct in relation to it as at the date of delivery as if made by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.

 

27.6 Resignation of a Guarantor

 

  (a) The Company may request that a Guarantor (other than the Company) ceases to be a Guarantor by delivering to the Agent a Resignation Letter.

 

  (b) The Agent shall accept a Resignation Letter and notify the Company and the Lenders of its acceptance if:

 

  (i) no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of the Resignation Letter (and the Company has confirmed this is the case); and

 

  (ii) all the Lenders have consented to the Company’s request,

whereupon that company shall cease to be a Guarantor and shall have no further rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

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27.7 Resignation and release of security on disposal

 

  (a) If a Borrower or Guarantor is or is proposed to be the subject of a Third Party Disposal then:

 

  (i) where that Borrower or Guarantor created Transaction Security over any of its assets or business in favour of the Security Agent, or Transaction Security in favour of the Security Agent was created over the shares (or equivalent) of that Borrower or Guarantor, the Security Agent may, at the cost and request of the Company, release those assets, business or shares (or equivalent) and issue certificates of non-crystallisation; and

 

  (ii) any resignation of that Borrower or Guarantor and related release of Transaction Security referred to in paragraph (a) above shall become effective only on the making of that disposal.

 

  (b) In paragraph (a) above, “ Third Party Disposal ” means the disposal of an Obligor to a person which is not a member of the Group where that disposal is permitted under the terms of this Agreement or made with the prior written approval of the Majority Lenders (and the Company has confirmed this is the case).

 

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SECTION 10

THE FINANCE PARTIES

 

28. ROLE OF THE AGENT AND THE ARRANGER

 

28.1 Appointment of the Agent

 

  (a) Each of the Arranger and the Lenders appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

  (b) Each of the Arranger and the Lenders authorises the Agent to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions.

 

28.2 Instructions

 

  (a) The Agent shall:

 

  (i) unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by:

 

  (A) all Lenders if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is an all Lender decision; and

 

  (B) in all other cases, the Majority Lenders; and

 

  (ii) not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from acting) in accordance with paragraph (i) above.

 

  (b) The Agent shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Majority Lenders (or, if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is a decision for any other Lender or group of Lenders, from that Lender or group of Lenders) as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion. The Agent may refrain from acting unless and until it receives any such instructions or clarification that it has requested.

 

  (c) Save in the case of decisions stipulated to be a matter for any other Lender or group of Lenders under the relevant Finance Document and unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given to the Agent by the Majority Lenders shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties and will be binding on all Finance Parties.

 

  (d) The Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of any Lender or group of Lenders until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the Finance Documents and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability which it may incur in complying with those instructions.

 

  (e) In the absence of instructions, the Agent may act (or refrain from acting) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders.

 

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  (f) The Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lender’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. This paragraph (f) shall not apply to any legal or arbitration proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of rights under the Transaction Security Documents or enforcement of the Transaction Security or Transaction Security Documents.

 

28.3 Duties of the Agent

 

  (a) The Agent’s duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.

 

  (b) Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party.

 

  (c) Without prejudice to Clause 25.7 ( Copy of Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement to Company ), paragraph (b) above shall not apply to any Transfer Certificate or any Assignment Agreement.

 

  (d) Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

 

  (e) If the Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

 

  (f) If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Agent or the Arranger) under this Agreement, it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

 

  (g) The Agent shall have only those duties, obligations and responsibilities expressly specified in the Finance Documents to which it is expressed to be a party (and no others shall be implied).

 

28.4 Role of the Arranger

Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Arranger has no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

28.5 No fiduciary duties

 

  (a) Nothing in any Finance Document constitutes the Agent or the Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person.

 

  (b) None of the Agent, the Arranger nor any Ancillary Lender shall be bound to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account.

 

28.6 Business with the Group

The Agent, the Arranger and any Ancillary Lender may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group.

 

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28.7 Rights and discretions

 

  (a) The Agent may:

 

  (i) rely on any representation, communication, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;

 

  (ii) assume that:

 

  (A) any instructions received by it from the Majority Lenders, any Lenders or any group of Lenders are duly given in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents; and

 

  (B) unless it has received notice of revocation, that those instructions have not been revoked; and

 

  (iii) rely on a certificate from any person:

 

  (A) as to any matter of fact or circumstance which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of that person; or

 

  (B) to the effect that such person approves of any particular dealing, transaction, step, action or thing,

as sufficient evidence that that is the case and, in the case of paragraph (A) above, may assume the truth and accuracy of that certificate.

 

  (b) The Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders) that:

 

  (i) no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 24.1 ( Non-payment ));

 

  (ii) any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or any group of Lenders has not been exercised; and

 

  (iii) any notice or request made by the Company (other than a Utilisation Request or Selection Notice) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Obligors.

 

  (c) The Agent may engage and pay for the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts.

 

  (d) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (c) above or paragraph (e) below, the Agent may at any time engage and pay for the services of any lawyers to act as independent counsel to the Agent (and so separate from any lawyers instructed by the Lenders) if the Agent in its reasonable opinion deems this to be necessary.

 

  (e) The Agent may rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts (whether obtained by the Agent or by any other Party) and shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of its so relying.

 

  (f) The Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its officers, employees and agents.

 

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  (g) Unless a Finance Document expressly provides otherwise the Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement.

 

  (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor the Arranger is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would, or might in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality.

 

  (i) Notwithstanding any provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Agent is not obliged to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

28.8 Responsibility for documentation

None of the Agent, the Arranger or any Ancillary Lender is responsible or liable for:

 

  (a) the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, the Arranger, an Ancillary Lender, an Obligor or any other person in or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

 

  (b) the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; or

 

  (c) any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Finance Party is non-public information the use of which may be regulated or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider dealing or otherwise.

 

28.9 No duty to monitor

The Agent shall not be bound to enquire:

 

  (a) whether or not any Default has occurred;

 

  (b) as to the performance, default or any breach by any Party of its obligations under any Finance Document; or

 

  (c) whether any other event specified in any Finance Document has occurred.

 

28.10 Exclusion of liability

 

  (a) Without limiting paragraph (b) below (and without prejudice to any other provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of the Agent or any Ancillary Lender), neither the Agent nor any Ancillary Lender will not be liable for:

 

  (i) any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value, or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of taking or not taking any action under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct;

 

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  (ii) exercising, or not exercising, any right, power, authority or discretion given to it by, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Finance Document or the Transaction Security, other than by reason of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct; or

 

  (iii) without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever (but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) arising as a result of:

 

  (A) any act, event or circumstance not reasonably within its control; or

 

  (B) the general risks of investment in, or the holding of assets in, any jurisdiction,

including (in each case and without limitation) such damages, costs, losses, diminution in value or liability arising as a result of: nationalisation, expropriation or other governmental actions; any regulation, currency restriction, devaluation or fluctuation; market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions or the value of assets (including any Disruption Event); breakdown, failure or malfunction of any third party transport, telecommunications, computer services or systems; natural disasters or acts of God; war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or strikes or industrial action.

 

  (b) No Party (other than the Agent or an Ancillary Lender) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Agent or any Ancillary Lender in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or any Ancillary Lender or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document and any officer, employee or agent of the Agent or any Ancillary Lender may rely on this Clause subject to Clause 1.4 ( Third party rights ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

 

  (c) The Agent will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by the Agent if the Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by the Agent for that purpose.

 

  (d) Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or the Arranger to carry out:

 

  (i) any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person; or

 

  (ii) any check on the extent to which any transaction contemplated by this Agreement might be unlawful for any Lender,

 

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on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent and the Arranger that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or the Arranger.

 

  (e) Without prejudice to any provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the Agent’s liability, any liability of the Agent arising under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security shall be limited to the amount of actual loss which has been suffered (as determined by reference to the date of default of the Agent or, if later, the date on which the loss arises as a result of such default) but without reference to any special conditions or circumstances known to the Agent at any time which increase the amount of that loss. In no event shall the Agent be liable for any loss of profits, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity or anticipated saving, or for special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, whether or not the Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages.

 

28.11 Lenders’ indemnity to the Agent

Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Agent, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 32.10 ( Disruption to payment systems etc .), notwithstanding the Agent’s negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document).

 

28.12 Resignation of the Agent

 

  (a) The Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates acting through an office in the United Kingdom as successor by giving notice to the Lenders and the Company.

 

  (b) Alternatively the Agent may resign by giving 30 days’ notice to the Lenders and the Company, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Company) may appoint a successor Agent.

 

  (c) If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 20 days after notice of resignation was given, the retiring Agent (after consultation with the Company) may appoint a successor Agent (acting through an office in the United Kingdom).

 

  (d) The retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents.

 

  (e) The Agent’s resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor.

 

  (f)

Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents (other than its obligations under paragraph (d) above) but shall remain entitled to the benefit of Clause 16.3 ( Indemnity to the Agent ) and this Clause 28 (and any agency fees

 

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  for the account of the retiring Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date). Any successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.

 

  (g) After consultation with the Company, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Agent, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above. In this event, the Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above.

 

  (h) The Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) above) if on or after the date which is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Agent under the Finance Documents, either:

 

  (i) the Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 14.8 ( FATCA Information ) and the Company or a Lender reasonably believes that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

 

  (ii) the information supplied by the Agent pursuant to Clause 14.8 ( FATCA Information ) indicates that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or

 

  (iii) the Agent notifies the Company and the Lenders that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

and (in each case) the Company or a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and the Company or that Lender, by notice to the Agent, requires it to resign.

 

28.13 Confidentiality

 

  (a) In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments.

 

  (b) If information is received by another division or department of the Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it.

 

28.14 Relationship with the Lenders

 

  (a) Subject to Clause 25.9 ( Pro rata interest settlement ), the Agent may treat the person shown in its records as Lender at the opening of business (in the place of the Agent’s principal office as notified to the Finance Parties from time to time) as the Lender acting through its Facility Office:

 

  (i) entitled to or liable for any payment due under any Finance Document on that day; and

 

  (ii) entitled to receive and act upon any notice, request, document or communication or make any decision or determination under any Finance Document made or delivered on that day,

 

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unless it has received not less than five Business Days’ prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

  (b) Any Lender may by notice to the Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf all notices, communications, information and documents to be made or despatched to that Lender under the Finance Documents. Such notice shall contain the address, fax number and (where communication by electronic mail or other electronic means is permitted under Clause 34.5 ( Electronic communication )) electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the transmission of information by that means (and, in each case, the department or officer, if any, for whose attention communication is to be made) and be treated as a notification of a substitute address, fax number, electronic mail address (or such other information), department and officer by that Lender for the purposes of Clause 34.2 ( Addresses ) and paragraph (a)(ii) of Clause 34.5 ( Electronic communication ) and the Agent shall be entitled to treat such person as the person entitled to receive all such notices, communications, information and documents as though that person were that Lender.

 

28.15 Credit appraisal by the Lenders and Ancillary Lenders

Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender and each Ancillary Lender confirms to the Agent, each Ancillary Lender and the Arranger that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:

 

  (a) the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group;

 

  (b) the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document, the Transaction Security and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security;

 

  (c) whether that Lender or Ancillary Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

 

  (d) the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information provided by the Agent, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

  (e) the right or title of any person in or to, or the value or sufficiency of any part of the Charged Property, the priority of any of the Transaction Security or the existence of any Security affecting the Charged Property.

 

28.16 Agent’s management time

Any amount payable to the Agent under clause 16.3 ( Indemnity to the Agent ), clause 18 ( Costs and expenses ) and clause 28.11 ( Lenders’ indemnity to the Agent ) shall, at any time when a Default is continuing, include the cost of utilising the Agent’s management

 

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time or other resources during the period in which the Default is continuing and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Agent may notify to the Company and the Lenders, and is in addition to any fee paid or payable to the Agent under clause 13 ( Fees ).

 

28.17 Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent

If any Party owes an amount to the Agent under the Finance Documents the Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.

 

28.18 Role of Reference Banks

 

  (a) No Reference Bank is under any obligation to provide a quotation or any other information to the Agent.

 

  (b) No Reference Bank will be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, or for any Reference Bank Quotation, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

  (c) No Party (other than the relevant Reference Bank) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of any Reference Bank in respect of any claim it might have against that Reference Bank or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document, or to any Reference Bank Quotation, and any officer, employee or agent of each Reference Bank may rely on this Clause 28.18 subject to Clause 1.4 ( Third party rights ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

 

28.19 Third party Reference Banks

A Reference Bank which is not a Party may rely on Clause 28.18 ( Role of Reference Banks ), Clause 38.3 ( Other exceptions ) and Clause 40 ( Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations ) subject to Clause 1.4 ( Third party rights ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

 

29. THE SECURITY AGENT

 

29.1 Security Agent as trustee

 

  (a) The Security Agent declares that it holds the Transaction Security on trust for the Secured Parties on the terms contained in this Agreement.

 

  (b) Each of the Agent, the Arranger and each Lender authorises the Security Agent to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Security Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions.

 

29.2 Enforcement through Security Agent only

The Secured Parties shall not have any independent power to enforce, or have recourse to, any of the Transaction Security or to exercise any right, power, authority or discretion arising under the Transaction Security Documents except through the Security Agent.

 

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29.3 Instructions

 

  (a) The Security Agent shall:

 

  (i) subject to paragraphs (d) and (e) below exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Security Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Agent;

 

  (ii) not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from acting) in accordance with sub-paragraph (i) above (or if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is a decision for any Lender or group of Lenders in accordance with instructions given to it by that Lender or group of Lenders).

 

  (b) The Security Agent shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Agent (or, if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is a decision for any Lender or group of Lenders, from that Lender or group of Lenders) as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion and the Security Agent may refrain from acting unless and until it receives those instructions or that clarification that it has requested.

 

  (c) Save in the case of decisions stipulated to be a matter for any other Lender or group of Lenders under the relevant Finance Document and unless a contrary intention appears in the relevant Finance Document, any instructions given to the Security Agent by the Agent shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties and will be binding on all Secured Parties.

 

  (d) Paragraph (a) above shall not apply:

 

  (i) where a contrary indication appears in this Agreement;

 

  (ii) where a Finance Document requires the Security Agent to act in a specified manner or to take a specified action;

 

  (iii) in respect of any provision which protects the Security Agent’s own position in its personal capacity as opposed to its role of Security Agent for the Secured Parties including, without limitation, Clauses 29.6 ( No duty to account ) to Clause 29.11 ( Exclusion of liability ), Clause 29.14 ( Confidentiality ) to Clause 29.20 ( Custodians and nominees ) and Clause 29.23 ( Acceptance of title ) to Clause 29.27 ( Disapplication of Trustee Acts ); or

 

  (iv) in respect of the exercise of the Security Agent’s discretion to exercise a right, power or authority under any of:

 

  (A) Clause 29.28 ( Order of application ); and

 

  (B) Clause 29.31 ( Permitted Deductions ).

 

  (e) If giving effect to instructions given by the Agent on behalf of the Majority Lenders would (in the Security Agent’s opinion) have an effect equivalent to an amendment or waiver which is subject to Clause 38.2 ( All Lender matters ), the Security Agent shall not act in accordance with those instructions unless consent to it so acting is obtained from each Party (other than the Security Agent) whose consent would have been required in respect of that amendment or waiver.

 

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  (f) In exercising any discretion to exercise a right, power or authority under the Finance Documents where either:

 

  (i) it has not received any instructions as to the exercise of that discretion; or

 

  (ii) the exercise of that discretion is subject to paragraph (d)(iv) above,

the Security Agent shall do so having regard to the interests of all the Secured Parties.

 

  (g) The Security Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of any Lender or group of Lenders until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the Finance Documents and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability (together with any applicable VAT) which it may incur in complying with those instructions.

 

  (h) Without prejudice to the provisions of the remainder of this Clause 29.3, in the absence of instructions, the Security Agent may act (or refrain from acting) as it considers in its discretion to be appropriate.

 

29.4 Duties of the Security Agent

 

  (a) The Security Agent’s duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.

 

  (b) The Security Agent shall promptly:

 

  (i) forward to the Agent a copy of any document received by the Security Agent from any Obligor under any Finance Document; and

 

  (ii) forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Security Agent for that Party by any other Party.

 

  (c) Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Security Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

 

  (d) If the Security Agent receives notice from a Party referring to any Finance Document, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the Agent.

 

  (e) The Security Agent shall have only those duties, obligations and responsibilities expressly specified in the Finance Documents to which it is expressed to be a party (and no others shall be implied).

 

29.5 No fiduciary duties to Obligors

Nothing in any Finance Document constitutes the Security Agent as an agent, trustee or fiduciary of any Obligor.

 

29.6 No duty to account

The Security Agent shall not be bound to account to any other Secured Party for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account.

 

29.7 Business with the Group

The Security Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group.

 

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29.8 Rights and discretions

 

  (a) The Security Agent may:

 

  (i) rely on any representation, communication, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;

 

  (ii) assume that:

 

  (A) any instructions received by it from the Agent, Majority Lenders, the Lenders or any group of Lenders are duly given in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents;

 

  (B) unless it has received notice of revocation, that those instructions have not been revoked; and

 

  (C) if it receives any instructions to act in relation to the Transaction Security, that all applicable conditions under the Finance Documents for so acting have been satisfied; and

 

  (iii) rely on a certificate from any person:

 

  (A) as to any matter of fact or circumstance which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of that person; or

 

  (B) to the effect that such person approves of any particular dealing, transaction, step, action or thing,

 

  (C) as sufficient evidence that that is the case and, in the case of paragraph (A) above, may assume the truth and accuracy of that certificate.

 

  (b) The Security Agent shall be entitled to carry out all dealings with the Lenders through the Agent and may give to the Agent any notice or other communication required to be given by the Security Agent to the Lenders.

 

  (c) The Security Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as Security Agent for the Secured Parties) that:

 

  (i) no Default has occurred;

 

  (ii) any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or any group of Lenders has not been exercised; and

 

  (iii) any notice made by the Company is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Obligors.

 

  (d) The Security Agent may engage and pay for the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts.

 

  (e) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (d) above or paragraph (f) below, the Security Agent may at any time engage and pay for the services of any lawyers to act as independent counsel to the Security Agent (and so separate from any lawyers instructed by the Lenders and/or the Agent) if the Security Agent in its reasonable opinion deems this to be necessary.

 

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  (f) The Security Agent may rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts (whether obtained by the Security Agent or by any other Party) and shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of its so relying.

 

  (g) The Security Agent, any Receiver and any Delegate may act in relation to the Finance Documents and the Transaction Security through its officers, employees and agents and shall not:

 

  (i) be liable for any error of judgment made by any such person; or

 

  (ii) be bound to supervise, or be in any way responsible for any loss incurred by reason of misconduct, omission or default on the part of any such person,

unless such error or such loss was directly caused by the Security Agent’s, Receiver’s or Delegate’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

  (h) Unless a Finance Document expressly specifies otherwise, the Security Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as security trustee under this Agreement.

 

  (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Security Agent is not obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would, or might in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality.

 

  (j) Notwithstanding any provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Security Agent is not obliged to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

29.9 Responsibility for documentation

None of the Security Agent, any Receiver nor any Delegate is responsible or liable for:

 

  (a) the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Security Agent, an Obligor or any other person in or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

 

  (b) the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document, the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; or

 

  (c) any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Secured Party is non-public information the use of which may be regulated or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider dealing or otherwise.

 

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29.10 No duty to monitor

The Security Agent shall not be bound to enquire:

 

  (a) whether or not any Default has occurred;

 

  (b) as to the performance, default or any breach by any Party of its obligations under any Finance Document; or

 

  (c) whether any other event specified in any Finance Document has occurred.

 

29.11 Exclusion of liability

 

  (a) Without limiting paragraph (b) below (and without prejudice to any other provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of the Security Agent, any Receiver or Delegate), none of the Security Agent, any Receiver nor any Delegate will be liable for:

 

  (i) any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value, or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of taking or not taking any action under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct;

 

  (ii) exercising or not exercising any right, power, authority or discretion given to it by, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Finance Document or the Transaction Security, other than by reason of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct;

 

  (iii) any shortfall which arises on the enforcement or realisation of the Transaction Security; or

 

  (iv) without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (i) to (iii) above, any damages, costs, losses, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever (but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Security Agent) arising as a result of:

 

  (A) any act, event or circumstance not reasonably within its control; or

 

  (B) the general risks of investment in, or the holding of assets in, any jurisdiction,

including (in each case and without limitation) such damages, costs, losses, diminution in value or liability arising as a result of: nationalisation, expropriation or other governmental actions; any regulation, currency restriction, devaluation or fluctuation; market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions or the value of assets; breakdown, failure or malfunction of any third party transport, telecommunications, computer services or systems; natural disasters or acts of God; war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or strikes or industrial action.

 

  (b)

No Party (other than the Security Agent, that Receiver or that Delegate (as applicable)) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent

 

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  of the Security Agent, a Receiver or a Delegate in respect of any claim it might have against the Security Agent, a Receiver or a Delegate or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document or any Transaction Security and any officer, employee or agent of the Security Agent, a Receiver or a Delegate may rely on this Clause subject to Clause 1.4 ( Third party rights ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

 

  (c) Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Security Agent to carry out:

 

  (i) any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person; or

 

  (ii) any check on the extent to which any transaction contemplated by this Agreement might be unlawful for any other Secured Party,

on behalf of any other Secured Party and each other Secured Party confirms to the Security Agent that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Security Agent.

 

  (d) Without prejudice to any provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of the Security Agent, any Receiver or Delegate, any liability of the Security Agent, any Receiver or Delegate arising under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security shall be limited to the amount of actual loss which has been finally judicially determined to have been suffered (as determined by reference to the date of default of the Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate (as the case may be) or, if later, the date on which the loss arises as a result of such default) but without reference to any special conditions or circumstances known to the Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate (as the case may be) at any time which increase the amount of that loss. In no event shall the Security Agent, any Receiver or Delegate be liable for any loss of profits, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity or anticipated saving, or for special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, whether or not the Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate (as the case may be) has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages.

 

29.12 Lenders’ indemnity to the Security Agent

 

  (a) Each Lender shall (in the proportion that its Commitments bear to the Total Commitments for the time being (or, if the Total Commitments are zero, immediately prior to their being reduced to zero)), indemnify the Security Agent and every Receiver and every Delegate, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by any of them (otherwise than by reason of the relevant Security Agent’s, Receiver’s or Delegate’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) in acting as Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate under, or exercising any authority conferred under, the Debt Documents (unless the relevant Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document).

 

  (b) Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Company shall immediately on demand reimburse any Lender for any payment that Lender makes to the Security Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) above.

 

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  (c) Paragraph (b) above shall not apply to the extent that the indemnity payment in respect of which the Lender claims reimbursement relates to a liability of the Security Agent to an Obligor.

 

29.13 Resignation of the Security Agent

 

  (a) The Security Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates as successor by giving notice to the Lenders and the Company.

 

  (b) Alternatively the Security Agent may resign by giving 30 days’ notice to the Lenders and the Company, in which case the Majority Lenders may appoint a successor Security Agent.

 

  (c) If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Security Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 20 days after notice of resignation was given, the retiring Security Agent (after consultation with the Agent) may appoint a successor Security Agent.

 

  (d) If the Security Agent wishes to resign because (acting reasonably) it has concluded that it is no longer appropriate for it to remain as security agent and the Security Agent is entitled to appoint a successor under paragraph (c) above, the Security Agent may (if it concludes (acting reasonably) that it is necessary to do so in order to persuade the proposed successor Security Agent to become a party to this Agreement as Security Agent) agree with the proposed successor Agent amendments to this Clause 29 and any other term of this Agreement dealing with the rights or obligations of the Security Agent consistent with then current market practice for the appointment and protection of corporate trustees together with any reasonably amendments to the security agency fee payable under this Agreement which are consistent with the successor Security Agent’s normal fee rates and those amendments will bind the Parties.

 

  (e) The retiring Security Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Security Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Security Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Security Agent under the Finance Documents.

 

  (f) The Security Agent’s resignation notice shall only take effect upon:

 

  (i) the appointment of a successor; and

 

  (ii) the transfer of all the Transaction Security to that successor.

 

  (g) Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Security Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents (other than its obligations under paragraph (b) of Clause 29.25 ( Winding up of trust ) and paragraph (e) above) but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this Clause 29 (and any Security Agent fees for the account of the retiring Security Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date). Any successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if that successor had been an original Party.

 

  (h) The Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Security Agent, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (h) above. In this event, the Security Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above but the cost referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be for the account of the Company.

 

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29.14 Confidentiality

 

  (a) In acting as trustee for the Secured Parties, the Security Agent shall be regarded as acting through its trustee division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments.

 

  (b) If information is received by another division or department of the Security Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Security Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it.

 

  (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Security Agent is not obliged to disclose to any other person (i) any confidential information or (ii) any other information if the disclosure would, or might in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty.

 

29.15 Information from the Lenders

Each Lender shall supply the Security Agent with any information that the Security Agent may reasonably specify as being necessary or desirable to enable the Security Agent to perform its functions as Security Agent.

 

29.16 Credit appraisal by the Secured Parties

Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Secured Party confirms to the Security Agent that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:

 

  (a) the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group;

 

  (b) the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document, the Transaction Security and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security;

 

  (c) whether that Secured Party has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the Transaction Security, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security;

 

  (d) the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information provided by the Security Agent, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

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  (e) the right or title of any person in or to, or the value or sufficiency of any part of the Charged Property, the priority of any of the Transaction Security or the existence of any Security affecting the Charged Property.

 

29.17 Reliance and engagement letters

The Security Agent may obtain and rely on any certificate or report from any Obligor’s auditor and may enter into any reliance letter or engagement letter relating to that certificate or report on such terms as it may consider appropriate (including, without limitation, restrictions on the auditor’s liability and the extent to which that certificate or report may be relied on or disclosed).

 

29.18 No responsibility to perfect Transaction Security

The Security Agent shall not be liable for any failure to:

 

  (a) require the deposit with it of any deed or document certifying, representing or constituting the title of any Obligor to any of the Charged Property;

 

  (b) obtain any licence, consent or other authority for the execution, delivery, legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Finance Document or the Transaction Security;

 

  (c) register, file or record or otherwise protect any of the Transaction Security (or the priority of any of the Transaction Security) under any law or regulation or to give notice to any person of the execution of any Finance Document or of the Transaction Security;

 

  (d) take, or to require any Obligor to take, any step to perfect its title to any of the Charged Property or to render the Transaction Security effective or to secure the creation of any ancillary Security under any law or regulation; or

 

  (e) require any further assurance in relation to any Transaction Security Document.

 

29.19 Insurance by Security Agent

 

  (a) The Security Agent shall not be obliged:

 

  (i) to insure any of the Charged Property;

 

  (ii) to require any other person to maintain any insurance; or

 

  (iii) to verify any obligation to arrange or maintain insurance contained in any Finance Document.

and the Security Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person as a result of the lack of, or inadequacy of, any such insurance.

 

  (b) Where the Security Agent is named on any insurance policy as an insured party, it shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person as a result of its failure to notify the insurers of any material fact relating to the risk assumed by such insurers or any other information of any kind, unless the Majority Lenders request it to do so in writing and the Security Agent fails to do so within fourteen days after receipt of that request.

 

29.20 Custodians and nominees

The Security Agent may appoint and pay any person to act as a custodian or nominee on any terms in relation to any asset of the trust as the Security Agent may determine,

 

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including for the purpose of depositing with a custodian this Agreement or any document relating to the trust created under this Agreement and the Security Agent shall not be responsible for any loss, liability, expense, demand, cost, claim or proceedings incurred by reason of the misconduct, omission or default on the part of any person appointed by it under this Agreement or be bound to supervise the proceedings or acts of any person.

 

29.21 Delegation by the Security Agent

 

  (a) Each of the Security Agent, any Receiver and any Delegate may, at any time, delegate by power of attorney or otherwise to any person for any period, all or any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it in its capacity as such.

 

  (b) That delegation may be made upon any terms and conditions (including the power to sub-delegate) and subject to any restrictions that the Security Agent, that Receiver or that Delegate (as the case may be) may, in its discretion, think fit in the interests of the Secured Parties.

 

  (c) No Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate shall be bound to supervise, or be in any way responsible for any damages, costs or losses incurred by reason of any misconduct, omission or default on the part of, any such delegate or sub-delegate.

 

29.22 Additional Security Agents

 

  (a) The Security Agent may at any time appoint (and subsequently remove) any person to act as a separate trustee or as a co-trustee jointly with it:

 

  (i) if it considers that appointment to be in the interests of the Secured Parties; or

 

  (ii) for the purposes of conforming to any legal requirement, restriction or condition which the Security Agent deems to be relevant; or

 

  (iii) for obtaining or enforcing any judgment in any jurisdiction,

and the Security Agent shall give prior notice to the Company and the Secured Parties of that appointment.

 

  (b) Any person so appointed shall have the rights, powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those given to the Security Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents) and the duties, obligations and responsibilities that are given or imposed by the instrument of appointment.

 

  (c) The remuneration that the Security Agent may pay to that person, and any costs and expenses (together with any applicable VAT) incurred by that person in performing its functions pursuant to that appointment shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be treated as costs and expenses incurred by the Security Agent.

 

29.23 Acceptance of title

The Security Agent shall be entitled to accept without enquiry, and shall not be obliged to investigate, any right and title that any Obligor may have to any of the Charged Property and shall not be liable for, or bound to require any Obligor to remedy, any defect in its right or title.

 

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29.24 Releases

Upon a disposal of any of the Charged Property pursuant to the enforcement of the Transaction Security by a Receiver or the Security Agent, the Security Agent is irrevocably authorised (at the cost of the Obligors and without any consent, sanction, authority or further confirmation from any other Secured Party) to release, without recourse or warranty, that property from the Transaction Security and to execute any release of the Transaction Security or other claim over that asset and to issue any certificates of non-crystallisation of floating charges that may be required or desirable.

 

29.25 Winding up of trust

If the Security Agent, with the approval of the Agent, determines that:

 

  (a) all of the Secured Obligations and all other obligations secured by the Transaction Security Documents have been fully and finally discharged; and

 

  (b) no Secured Party is under any commitment, obligation or liability (actual or contingent) to make advances or provide other financial accommodation to any Obligor pursuant to the Finance Documents,

then:

 

  (i) the trusts set out in this Agreement shall be wound up and the Security Agent shall release, without recourse or warranty, all of the Transaction Security and the rights of the Security Agent under each of the Transaction Security Documents; and

 

  (ii) any Security Agent which has resigned pursuant to Clause 29.13 ( Resignation of the Security Agent ) shall release, without recourse or warranty, all of its rights under each Transaction Security Document.

 

29.26 Powers supplemental to Trustee Acts

The rights, powers, authorities and discretions given to the Security Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000 and in addition to any which may be vested in the Security Agent by law or regulation or otherwise.

 

29.27 Disapplication of Trustee Acts

Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 shall not apply to the duties of the Security Agent in relation to the trusts constituted by this Agreement. Where there are any inconsistencies between the Trustee Act 1925 or the Trustee Act 2000 and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by law and regulation, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000, the provisions of this Agreement shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act.

 

29.28 Order of application

All amounts from time to time received or recovered by the Security Agent pursuant to the terms of any Finance Documents or in connection with the realisation or enforcement of all or any part of the Transaction Security shall be held by the Security Agent on trust to apply them at any time as the Security Agent (in its discretion) sees fit, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in the following order of priority:

 

  (a) in discharging any sums owing to the Security Agent (in its capacity as such), any Receiver or any Delegate;

 

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  (b) in payment or distribution to the Agent, on its behalf and on behalf of the other Secured Parties, for application towards the discharge of all sums due and payable by any Obligor under any of the Finance Documents in accordance with Clause 32.5 ( Partial payments );

 

  (c) if none of the Obligors is under any further actual or contingent liability under any Finance Document, in payment or distribution to any person to whom the Security Agent is obliged to pay or distribute in priority to any Obligor; and

 

  (d) the balance, if any, in payment or distribution to the relevant Obligor.

 

29.29 Investment of proceeds

Prior to the application of the proceeds of the Transaction Security in accordance with Clause 29.28 ( Order of Application ) the Security Agent may, at its discretion, hold all or part of those proceeds in one or more interest bearing suspense or impersonal accounts in the name of the Security Agent with any financial institution (including itself) and for so long as the Security Agent thinks fit (the interest being credited to the relevant account) pending the application from time to time of those monies at the Security Agent’s discretion in accordance with the provisions of Clause 29.28 ( Order of Application ).

 

29.30 Currency conversion

 

  (a) For the purpose of, or pending the discharge of, any of the Secured Obligations the Security Agent may convert any moneys received or recovered by the Security Agent from one currency to another, at the spot rate at which the Security Agent is able to purchase the currency in which the Secured Obligations are due with the amount received.

 

  (b) The obligations of any Obligor to pay in the due currency shall only be satisfied to the extent of the amount of the due currency purchased after deducting the costs of conversion.

 

29.31 Permitted Deductions

The Security Agent shall be entitled (a) to set aside by way of reserve amounts required to meet and (b) to make and pay, any deductions and withholdings (on account of Taxes or otherwise) which it is or may be required by any law or regulation to make from any distribution or payment made by it under this Agreement, and to pay all Taxes which may be assessed against it in respect of any of the Charged Property, or as a consequence of performing its duties or exercising its rights, powers, authorities and discretions, or by virtue of its capacity as Security Agent under any of the Finance Documents or otherwise (other than in connection with its remuneration for performing its duties under this Agreement).

 

29.32 Good discharge

 

  (a) Any distribution or payment to be made in respect of the Secured Obligations by the Security Agent may be made to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders and any distribution or payment made in that way shall be a good discharge, to the extent of that payment or distribution, by the Security Agent.

 

  (b) The Security Agent is under no obligation to make payment to the Agent in the same currency as that in which any Unpaid Sum is denominated.

 

29.33 Amounts received by Obligors

If any of the Obligors receives or recovers any amount which, under the terms of any of the Finance Documents, should have been paid to the Security Agent, that Obligor will hold the amount received or recovered on trust for the Security Agent and promptly pay that amount to the Security Agent for application in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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30. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES

No provision of this Agreement will:

 

  (a) interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit;

 

  (b) oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or

 

  (c) oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax.

 

31. SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES

 

31.1 Payments to Finance Parties

 

  (a) If a Finance Party (a “ Recovering Finance Party ”) receives or recovers any amount from an Obligor other than in accordance with Clause 32 ( Payment mechanics ) (a “ Recovered Amount ”) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then:

 

  (i) the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery to the Agent;

 

  (ii) the Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt or recovery been received or made by the Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 32 ( Payment mechanics ), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and

 

  (iii) the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the “ Sharing Payment ”) equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 32.5 ( Partial payments ).

 

  (b) Paragraph (a) above shall not apply to any amount received or recovered by an Ancillary Lender in respect of any cash cover provided for the benefit of that Ancillary Lender.

 

31.2 Redistribution of payments

The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Obligor and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) (the “ Sharing Finance Parties ”) in accordance with Clause 32.5 ( Partial payments ) towards the obligations of that Obligor to the Sharing Finance Parties.

 

31.3 Recovering Finance Party’s rights

On a distribution by the Agent under Clause 31.2 ( Redistribution of payments ) of a payment received by a Recovering Finance Party from an Obligor, as between the relevant Obligor and the Recovering Finance Party, an amount of the Recovered Amount equal to the Sharing Payment will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.

 

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31.4 Reversal of redistribution

If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:

 

  (a) each Sharing Finance Party shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent for the account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay) (the “ Redistributed Amount ”); and

 

  (b) as between the relevant Obligor and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.

 

31.5 Exceptions

 

  (a) This Clause 31 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this Clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the relevant Obligor.

 

  (b) A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if:

 

  (i) it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and

 

  (ii) that other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings.

 

31.6 Ancillary Lenders

 

  (a) This Clause 31 shall not apply to any receipt or recovery by a Lender in its capacity as an Ancillary Lender at any time prior to service of notice under Clause 24.15 ( Acceleration ).

 

  (b) Following service of notice under Clause 24.15 ( Acceleration ), this Clause 31 shall apply to all receipts or recoveries by Ancillary Lenders except to the extent that the receipt or recovery represents a reduction of the Gross Outstandings of a Multi-account Overdraft to or towards an amount equal to its Net Outstandings.

 

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SECTION 11

ADMINISTRATION

 

32. PAYMENT MECHANICS

 

32.1 Payments to the Agent

 

  (a) On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document, excluding a payment under the terms of an Ancillary Document, that Obligor or Lender shall make the same available to the Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment.

 

  (b) Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency (or, in relation to euro, in a principal financial centre in such Participating Member State or London, as specified by the Agent) and with such bank as the Agent, in each case, specifies.

 

32.2 Distributions by the Agent

Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to Clause 32.3 ( Distributions to an Obligor ) and Clause 32.4 ( Clawback and pre-funding ) be made available by the Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Agent by not less than five Business Days’ notice with a bank specified by that Party in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency (or, in relation to euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London, as specified by that Party).

 

32.3 Distributions to an Obligor

The Agent may (with the consent of the Obligor or in accordance with Clause 33 ( Set-off )) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from that Obligor under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.

 

32.4 Clawback and pre-funding

 

  (a) Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum.

 

  (b) Unless paragraph (c) below applies, if the Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the Agent had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Agent, calculated by the Agent to reflect its cost of funds.

 

  (c) If the Agent has notified the Lenders that it is willing to make available amounts for the account of a Borrower before receiving funds from the Lenders then if and to the extent that the Agent does so but it proves to be the case that it does not then receive funds from a Lender in respect of a sum which it paid to a Borrower:

 

  (i) the Agent shall notify the Company of that Lender’s identity and the Borrower to whom that sum was made available shall on demand refund it to the Agent; and

 

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  (ii) the Lender by whom those funds should have been made available or, if that Lender fails to do so, the Borrower to whom that sum was made available, shall on demand pay to the Agent the amount (as certified by the Agent) which will indemnify the Agent against any funding cost incurred by it as a result of paying out that sum before receiving those funds from that Lender.

 

32.5 P artial payments

 

  (a) If the Agent receives a payment that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under the Finance Documents, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under the Finance Documents in the following order:

 

  (i) first , in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid amount owing to the Agent under the Finance Documents;

 

  (ii) secondly , in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under this Agreement;

 

  (iii) thirdly , in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under this Agreement; and

 

  (iv) fourthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents.

 

  (b) The Agent shall, if so directed by the Majority Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (a)(ii) to (iv) above.

 

  (c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) above will override any appropriation made by an Obligor.

 

32.6 No set-off by Obligors

All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.

 

32.7 Business Days

 

  (a) Any payment under the Finance Documents which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

  (b) During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the original due date.

 

32.8 Currency of account

 

  (a) Subject to paragraphs (b) to (e) below, the Base Currency is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document.

 

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  (b) A repayment of a Loan or Unpaid Sum or a part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum shall be made in the currency in which that Loan or Unpaid Sum is denominated, pursuant to this Agreement, on its due date.

 

  (c) Each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in respect of which the interest is payable was denominated, pursuant to this Agreement, when that interest accrued.

 

  (d) Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred.

 

  (e) Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than the Base Currency shall be paid in that other currency.

 

32.9 Change of currency

 

  (a) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:

 

  (i) any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Agent (after consultation with the Company); and

 

  (ii) any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Agent (acting reasonably).

 

  (b) If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this Agreement will, to the extent the Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Company) specifies to be necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the Relevant Market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency.

 

32.10 Disruption to payment systems etc.

If either the Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Agent is notified by the Company that a Disruption Event has occurred:

 

  (a) the Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Company, consult with the Company with a view to agreeing with the Company such changes to the operation or administration of the Facilities as the Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances;

 

  (b) the Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Company in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes;

 

  (c) the Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;

 

  (d)

any such changes agreed upon by the Agent and the Company shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding

 

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  upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 38 ( Amendments and Waivers );

 

  (e) the Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever (including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this Clause 32.10; and

 

  (f) the Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to paragraph (d) above.

 

33. SET-OFF

 

  (a) A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to that Obligor, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.

 

  (b) Any credit balances taken into account by an Ancillary Lender when operating a net limit in respect of any overdraft under an Ancillary Facility shall on enforcement of the Finance Documents be applied first in reduction of the overdraft provided under that Ancillary Facility in accordance with its terms.

 

34. NOTICES

 

34.1 Communications in writing

Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter.

 

34.2 Addresses

The address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:

 

  (a) in the case of the Company, that identified with its name below;

 

  (b) in the case of each Lender, each Ancillary Lender or any other Obligor, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party; and

 

  (c) in the case of the Agent, that identified with its name below,

or any substitute address or fax number or department or officer as the Party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

 

34.3 Delivery

 

  (a) Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective:

 

  (i) if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or

 

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  (ii) if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address;

and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 34.2 ( Addresses ), if addressed to that department or officer.

 

  (b) Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with the Agent’s signature below (or any substitute department or officer as the Agent shall specify for this purpose).

 

  (c) All notices from or to an Obligor shall be sent through the Agent.

 

  (d) Any communication or document made or delivered to the Company in accordance with this Clause will be deemed to have been made or delivered to each of the Obligors.

 

  (e) Any communication or document which becomes effective, in accordance with paragraphs (a) to (d) above, after 5:00 p.m. in the place of receipt shall be deemed only to become effective on the following day.

 

34.4 Notification of address and fax number

Promptly upon changing its address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other Parties.

 

34.5 Electronic communication

 

  (a) Any communication to be made between any two Parties under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means (including, without limitation, by way of posting to a secure website) if those two Parties:

 

  (i) notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the transmission of information by that means; and

 

  (ii) notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

 

  (b) Any such electronic communication as specified in paragraph (a) above to be made between an Obligor and a Finance Party may only be made in that way to the extent that those two Parties agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication.

 

  (c) Any such electronic communication as specified in paragraph (a) above made between any two Parties will be effective only when actually received (or made available) in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication made by a Party to the Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent shall specify for this purpose.

 

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  (d) Any electronic communication which becomes effective, in accordance with paragraph (c) above, after 5:00 p.m. in the place in which the Party to whom the relevant communication is sent or made available has its address for the purpose of this Agreement shall be deemed only to become effective on the following day.

 

  (e) Any reference in a Finance Document to a communication being sent or received shall be construed to include that communication being made available in accordance with this Clause 34.5.

 

34.6 English language

 

  (a) Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English.

 

  (b) All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be:

 

  (i) in English; or

 

  (ii) if not in English, and if so required by the Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.

 

35. CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES

 

35.1 Accounts

In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.

 

35.2 Certificates and Determinations

Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates.

 

35.3 Day count convention

Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days or, in any case where the practice in the Relevant Market differs, in accordance with that market practice.

 

36. PARTIAL INVALIDITY

If, at any time, any provision of a Finance Document 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.

 

37. REMEDIES AND WAIVERS

No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under a Finance Document shall operate as a waiver of any such right or remedy or constitute an election to affirm any of the Finance Documents. No election to affirm any Finance Document on the part of any Finance Party shall be effective unless it

 

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is in writing. No single or partial exercise of any right or remedy shall prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in each Finance Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

38. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

38.1 Required consents

 

  (a) Subject to Clause 38.2 ( All Lender matters ) and Clause 38.3 ( Other exceptions ) any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Obligors and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties.

 

  (b) The Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause 35.

 

38.2 All Lender matters

Subject to Clause 38.4 ( Replacement of Screen Rate ) an amendment, waiver or (in the case of a Transaction Security Document) of any term of any Finance Document that has the effect of changing or which relates to:

 

  (a) the definition of “Majority Lenders” in Clause 1.1 ( Definitions );

 

  (b) an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;

 

  (c) a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable;

 

  (d) an increase in any Commitment, an extension of any Availability Period or any requirement that a cancellation of Commitments reduces the Commitments of the Lenders rateably under the relevant Facility;

 

  (e) a change to the Borrowers or Guarantors other than in accordance with Clause 27 ( Changes to the Obligors );

 

  (f) any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders;

 

  (g) Clause 2.3 ( Finance Parties’ rights and obligations ), Clause 9.2 (Change of control), Clause 25 (Changes to the Lenders), Clause 31 (Sharing among the Finance Parties), this Clause 38, Clause 42 ( Governing law ) or Clause 43.1 ( Jurisdiction ); and

 

  (h) (other than as expressly permitted by the provisions of any Finance Document) the nature or scope of:

 

  (i) the guarantee and indemnity granted under Clause 19 ( Guarantee and indemnity );

 

  (ii) the Charged Property; or

 

  (iii) the manner in which the proceeds of enforcement of the Transaction Security are distributed

(except in the case of paragraphs (ii) and (iii) above, insofar as it relates to a sale or disposal of an asset which is the subject of the Transaction Security where such sale or disposal is expressly permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document);

 

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  (i) the release of any guarantee and indemnity granted under Clause 19 ( Guarantee and indemnity ) or of any Transaction Security unless permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document or relating to a sale or disposal of an asset which is the subject of the Transaction Security where such sale or disposal is expressly permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document; or

 

  (j) any amendment to the order of priority or subordination under any Subordination Agreement,

shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders.

 

38.3 Other exceptions

An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent, the Security Agent, any Ancillary Lender, an Arranger or a Reference Bank (each in their capacity as such) may not be effected without the consent of the Agent, the Security Agent, any Ancillary Lender, the Arranger or the Reference Bank, as the case may be.

 

38.4 Replacement of Screen Rate

 

  (a) Subject to Clause 38.3 ( Other exceptions ), if any Screen Rate is not available for a currency which can be selected for a Loan, any amendment or waiver which relates to providing for another benchmark rate to apply in relation to that currency in place of that Screen Rate (or which relates to aligning any provision of a Finance Document to the use of that other benchmark rate) may be made with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Obligors.

 

  (b) If any Lender fails to respond to a request for an amendment or waiver described in paragraph (a) above within 5 Business Days (unless the Company and the Agent agree to a longer time period in relation to any request) of that request being made:

 

  (i) its Commitment(s) shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments under the relevant Facility/ies when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage of Total Commitments has been obtained to approve that request; and

 

  (ii) its status as a Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request.

 

39. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

 

39.1 Confidentiality

Each Finance Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by Clause 39.2 ( Disclosure of Confidential Information ), and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.

 

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39.2 Disclosure of Confidential Information

Any Finance Party may disclose:

 

  (a) to any of its Affiliates and Related Funds and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (a) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information;

 

  (b) to any person:

 

  (i) to (or through) whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents or which succeeds (or which may potentially succeed) it as Agent and, in each case, to any of that person’s Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers;

 

  (ii) with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether directly or indirectly, any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one or more Finance Documents and/or one or more Obligors and to any of that person’s Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers;

 

  (iii) appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (ii) above applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed under paragraph (c) of Clause 26.14 ( Relationship with the Lenders ));

 

  (iv) who invests in or otherwise finances (or may potentially invest in or otherwise finance), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above;

 

  (v) to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation;

 

  (vi) to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes;

 

  (vii) to whom or for whose benefit that Finance Party charges, assigns or otherwise creates Security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 25.8 ( Security over Lenders’ rights );

 

  (viii) who is a Party; or

 

  (ix) with the consent of the Company;

 

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in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if:

 

  (A) in relation to paragraphs (b)(i), (b)(ii) and b(iii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information;

 

  (B) in relation to paragraph (b)(iv) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information;

 

  (C) in relation to paragraphs (b)(v), (b)(vi) and (b)(vii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Finance Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances;

 

  (c) to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents including without limitation, in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services referred to in this paragraph (c) if the service provider to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Company and the relevant Finance Party; and

 

  (d) to any rating agency (including its professional advisers) such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such rating agency to carry out its normal rating activities in relation to the Finance Documents and/or the Obligors if the rating agency to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information.

 

39.3 Entire agreement

This Clause 39 constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the obligations of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents regarding Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.

 

39.4 Inside information

Each of the Finance Parties acknowledges that:

 

  (a) United States securities laws prohibit any person with material, non-public information about an issuer, its subsidiaries or its or their respective securities or loans from purchasing or selling securities of such issuer or, subject to certain limited exceptions, from communicating such information to any other person;

 

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  (b) it is aware that some or all of the Confidential Information may not have been provided to lenders under the existing credit facilities of the Parent; and

 

  (c) some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse,

and each of the Finance Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.

 

39.5 Notification of disclosure

Each of the Finance Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the Company:

 

  (a) of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) of Clause 39.2 ( Disclosure of Confidential Information ) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and

 

  (b) upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 39.

 

39.6 Continuing obligations

The obligations in this Clause 39 are continuing and, in particular, shall survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of twelve months from the earlier of:

 

  (a) the date on which all amounts payable by the Obligors under or in connection with this Agreement have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise cease to be available; and

 

  (b) the date on which such Finance Party otherwise ceases to be a Finance Party.

 

40. CONFIDENTIALITY OF FUNDING RATES AND REFERENCE BANK QUOTATIONS

 

40.1 Confidentiality and disclosure

 

  (a) The Agent and each Obligor agree to keep each Funding Rate (and, in the case of the Agent, each Reference Bank Quotation) confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by paragraphs (b) and (c) below.

 

  (b) The Agent may disclose:

 

  (i) any Funding Rate (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, any Reference Bank Quotation) to the relevant Borrower pursuant to Clause 10.4 ( Notification of rates of interest ); and

 

  (ii)

any Funding Rate or any Reference Bank Quotation to any person appointed by it to provide administration services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents to the extent necessary to enable such service provider to provide those services if the service provider to whom that information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement

 

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  substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Agent and the relevant Lender.

 

  (c) The Agent may disclose any Funding Rate or any Reference Bank Quotation, and each Obligor may disclose any Funding Rate, to:

 

  (i) any of its Affiliates and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives if any person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (i) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to it;

 

  (ii) any person to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation if the person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Agent or the relevant Obligor, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;

 

  (iii) any person to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes if the person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Agent or the relevant Obligor, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; and

 

  (iv) any person with the consent of the relevant Lender or Reference Bank (as the case may be).

 

  (d) The Agent’s obligations in this Clause 40 relating to Reference Bank Quotations are without prejudice to its obligations to make notifications under Clause 10.4 ( Notification of rates of interest ) provided that (other than pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) above ) the Agent shall not include the details of any individual Reference Bank Quotation as part of any such notification.

 

40.2 Related obligations

 

  (a) The Agent and each Obligor acknowledge that each Funding Rate (and, in the case of the Agent, each Reference Bank Quotation) is or may be price-sensitive information and that its use may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and the Agent and each Obligor undertake not to use any Funding Rate (or, in the case of the Agent, any Reference Bank Quotation) for any unlawful purpose.

 

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  (b) The Agent and each Obligor agree (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be:

 

  (i) of the circumstances of any disclosure made pursuant to paragraph (c)(ii) of Clause 40.1 ( Confidentiality and disclosure ) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and

 

  (ii) upon becoming aware that any information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 40.

 

40.3 No Event of Default

No Event of Default will occur under Clause 24.3 ( Other obligations ) by reason only of an Obligor’s failure to comply with this Clause 40.

 

41. COUNTERPARTS

Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Finance Document.

 

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SECTION 12

GOVERNING LAW AND ENFORCEMENT

 

42. GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement is and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

43. ENFORCEMENT

 

43.1 Jurisdiction

 

  (a) The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with this Agreement) (a “ Dispute ”).

 

  (b) The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary.

 

  (c) This Clause 43.1 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. As a result, no Finance Party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.

 

43.2 Service of process

Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each Obligor (other than an Obligor incorporated in England and Wales):

 

  (a) irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

  (b) agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the relevant Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.

This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

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SCHEDULE 1

T HE O RIGINAL P ARTIES

Part I

The Original Obligors

 

Name of Original Borrower

   Registration number (or equivalent,
if any)

SPTS Technologies Sapphire Limited

   07411841

SPTS Technologies Limited

   07037852

Name of Original Guarantor

   Registration number (or equivalent,
if any)

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited

   07635236

SPTS Technologies Sapphire Limited

   07411841

SPTS Technologies Limited

   07037852

SPTS Technologies UK Limited

   07037812

SPTS Technologies Overseas Holdings Limited

   01786418

Part II

The Original Lenders

 

Name of Original

Lender

   Facility A
Commitment
   Facility B
Commitment
   Treaty Passport
scheme reference
number and
jurisdiction of tax
residence (if
applicable)

Barclays Bank PLC

   USD 55,000,000    USD 7,500,000    n/a

Lloyds Bank plc

   USD 55,000,000    USD 7,500,000    n/a

 

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SCHEDULE 2

C ONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Part I

Conditions Precedent To Signing this Agreement

 

1. Original Obligors

 

  (a) A copy of the constitutional documents of each Original Obligor.

 

  (b) A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each Original Obligor:

 

  (i) approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

  (ii) authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party on its behalf; and

 

  (iii) authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices (including, if relevant, any Utilisation Request and Selection Notice) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party.

 

  (c) A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph (b) above.

 

  (d) A copy of a resolution signed by all the holders of the issued shares in each Original Guarantor, save for the Company, approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which the Original Guarantor is a party.

 

  (e) A certificate of the Company (signed by a director) confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guaranteeing or similar limit binding on any Original Obligor to be exceeded.

 

  (f) A certificate of an authorised signatory of the relevant Original Obligor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part I of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement.

 

2. Finance Documents

 

  (a) This Agreement, executed by each Obligor.

 

  (b) Each Fee Letter, executed by the Company.

 

  (c) An agreed form of English law Debenture.

 

3. Legal opinions

A legal opinion of Pinsent Masons LLP, legal advisers to the Finance Parties in England, substantially in the form distributed to the Original Lenders prior to signing this Agreement.

 

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4. Other documents and evidence

 

  (a) A group structure chart relating to the Group indicating the name, registered number and jurisdiction of each company in the Group.

 

  (b) A certificate of the Company (signed by a director and attaching reasonable calculations) confirming which companies within the Group are Material Companies and demonstrating that the Guarantor Cover Test will be met as at the date of such certificate.

 

  (c) Evidence that any process agent referred to in Clause 43.2 ( Service of process ), if not an Original Obligor, has accepted its appointment.

 

  (d) A copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.

 

  (e) The Original Financial Statements, together with drafts of the consolidated financial statements of SPTS TGL for the financial year ending 31 December 2015.

 

  (f) Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Company pursuant to Clause 13 ( Fees ) and Clause 18 ( Costs and expenses ) have been paid or will be paid by the first Utilisation Date.

 

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Part II

Conditions Precedent To Initial Utilisation

 

1. Original Obligors

 

  (g) A copy of the constitutional documents of each Original Obligor or a certificate from the Company (signed by a director) confirming that such constitutional documents have not been amended since the date they were delivered to the Finance Parties around the date of this Agreement.

 

  (h) A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each Original Obligor:

 

  (i) approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

  (ii) authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party on its behalf; and

 

  (iii) authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices (including, if relevant, any Utilisation Request and Selection Notice) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party.

 

  (i) A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph (b) above.

 

  (j) A copy of a resolution signed by all the holders of the issued shares in each Original Guarantor, save for the Company, approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which the Original Guarantor is a party.

 

  (k) A certificate of the Company (signed by a director) confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guaranteeing or similar limit binding on any Original Obligor to be exceeded.

 

  (l) A certificate of an authorised signatory of the relevant Original Obligor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part II of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement.

 

2. Finance Documents

 

  (a) At least 2 originals of the following Transaction Security Documents executed by the relevant Obligors specified below opposite the relevant Transaction Security Document:

 

Name of relevant Obligor

   Transaction Security Document

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited

   Debenture

SPTS Technologies Sapphire Limited

   Debenture

SPTS Technologies Limited

   Debenture

SPTS Technologies UK Limited

   Debenture

SPTS Technologies Overseas Holdings Limited

   Debenture

 

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  (b) A copy of all notices required to be sent under the Transaction Security Documents executed by each relevant Obligor.

 

  (c) All share certificates, transfers and stock transfer forms or equivalent duly executed by the relevant Obligor in blank in relation to the assets subject to or expressed to be subject to the Transaction Security and other documents of title to be provided under the Transaction Security Documents.

 

3. Legal opinions

A legal opinion of Pinsent Masons LLP, legal advisers to the Finance Parties in England, substantially in the form distributed to the Original Lenders prior to signing this Agreement.

 

4. Existing Facility Agreement and security

 

  (a) The Funds Flow Statement in a form agreed by the Company and the Agent detailing the proposed movement of funds on and before the date of first Utilisation of the Facilities.

 

  (b) A pay-off letter in respect of the Existing Facility Agreement.

 

  (c) Evidence that all Financial Indebtedness of the Group not permitted under this Agreement will be repaid and cancelled in full on the first Utilisation Date.

 

  (d) Evidence that all guarantees and Security granted by members of the Group not permitted under this Agreement will be released and discharged in full on the first Utilisation Date.

 

5. Other documents and evidence

 

  (a) An SEC filing evidencing the receipt of net equity proceeds by the Parent in an amount of at least USD 100,000,000.

 

  (b) Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Company pursuant to Clause 13 ( Fees ) and Clause 18 ( Costs and expenses ) have been paid or will be paid by the first Utilisation Date.

 

  (c) All documentation and information required by each Finance Party in relation to each Original Obligor to enable it to comply with all necessary “know your customer” or similar identification procedures with which it is required to comply with under applicable laws and regulations in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents.

 

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Part III

Conditions Precedent Required To Be

Delivered By An Additional Obligor

 

1. An Accession Letter, duly executed by the Additional Obligor and the Company.

 

2. A copy of the constitutional documents of the Additional Obligor.

 

3. A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Additional Obligor:

 

  (a) approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Accession Letter and the Finance Documents and resolving that it execute the Accession Letter;

 

  (b) authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Accession Letter on its behalf; and

 

  (c) authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all other documents and notices (including, in relation to an Additional Borrower, any Utilisation Request or Selection Notice) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

4. A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph 3 above.

 

5. If required by the Agent’s solicitors, a copy of a resolution signed by all the holders of the issued shares of the Additional Guarantor, approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which the Additional Guarantor is a party.

 

6. If required by the Agent’s solicitors, a copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each corporate shareholder of each Additional Guarantor approving the terms of the resolution referred to in paragraph 5.

 

7. A certificate of the Additional Obligor (signed by a director) confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guaranteeing or similar limit binding on it to be exceeded.

 

8. A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Additional Obligor certifying that each copy document listed in this Part III of Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of the Accession Letter.

 

9. A copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by the Accession Letter or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.

 

10. If available, the latest financial statements of the Additional Obligor (audited where required by law).

 

11. A legal opinion in relation to the Accession Letter provided by the legal advisers to the Finance Parties in England.

 

12. If the Additional Obligor is incorporated in a jurisdiction other than England and Wales, a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Arranger and the Agent in the jurisdiction in which the Additional Obligor is incorporated.

 

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13. If the proposed Additional Obligor is incorporated in a jurisdiction other than England and Wales, evidence that the process agent specified in Clause 43.2 ( Service of process ), if not an Obligor, has accepted its appointment in relation to the proposed Additional Obligor.

 

14. Any Transaction Security Documents which, subject to the Agreed Security Principles, are required by the Agent to be executed by the proposed Additional Obligor.

 

15. Any notices or documents required to be given or executed under the terms of those security documents.

 

16. If the Additional Obligor is incorporated in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, evidence that the Additional Obligor has done all that is necessary (including, without limitation, by re-registering as a private company) to comply with sections 677 to 683 of the Companies Act 2006 in order to enable that Additional Obligor to enter into the Finance Documents and perform its obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

17. If the Additional Obligor is not incorporated in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, such documentary evidence as legal counsel to the Agent may require, that such Additional Obligor has complied with any law in its jurisdiction relating to financial assistance or analogous process.

 

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SCHEDULE 3

R EQUESTS

Part I

Utilisation Request

 

From: [ Borrower ] or [SPTS Technologies Investments Limited as the Company, acting on behalf of Borrower]

 

To: [ Agent ]

 

Dated:                     

Dear Sirs

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited – USD 125,000,000 Facility Agreement

dated [                    ] (the Agreement )

 

1. We refer to the Agreement. This is a Utilisation Request. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Utilisation Request unless given a different meaning in this Utilisation Request.

 

2. We wish to borrow a Loan on the following terms:

 

Proposed Utilisation Date:    [                    ] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day)
Facility to be utilised:    [Facility A]/[Facility B] *
Currency of Loan:    [                    ]
Amount:    [                    ] or, if less, the Available Facility
Interest Period:    [                    ]

 

3. We confirm that each condition specified in Clause 4.2 ( Further conditions precedent ) is satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request.

 

4. This Loan is to be made in [whole]/[part] for the purpose of refinancing [ identify maturing Facility B Loan ]/[The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to [ account ].

 

5. This Utilisation Request is irrevocable.

Yours faithfully

 

 

authorised signatory for

[ name of relevant Borrower or the Company, acting on behalf of Borrower ]

 

 

*   Delete as appropriate.

 

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PART II

Selection Notice

From: [ Borrower ] or [SPTS Technologies Investments Limited as the Company, acting on behalf of Borrower]

 

To: [ Agent ]

 

Dated:                     

Dear Sirs

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited – USD 125,000,000 Facility Agreement

dated [                    ] (the Agreement )

 

1. We refer to the Agreement. This is a Selection Notice. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Selection Notice unless given a different meaning in this Selection Notice.

 

2. We refer to the following Facility A Loan[s] in [ identify currency ] with an Interest Period ending on [                    ] *

 

3. [We request that the above Facility A Loan[s] be divided into [                    ] Facility A Loans with the following Base Currency Amounts and Interest Periods:] **

or

[We request that the next Interest Period for the above Facility A Loan[s] is [                    ]]. ***

 

4. We request that the above Facility A Loan[s] [is]/[are] [denominated in the same currency for the next Interest Period]/[denominated in the following currencies: [                    ]. As this results in a change of currency we confirm that each condition specified in Clause 4.2 ( Further conditions precedent ) is satisfied on the date of this Selection Notice. The proceeds of any change in currency should be credited to [ account ].] .

 

5. This Selection Notice is irrevocable.

Yours faithfully

 

 

authorised signatory for

[the Company on behalf of]

[ name of relevant Borrower ]

 

 

*   Insert details of all Facility A Loans in the same currency which have an Interest Period ending on the same date.
**   Use this option if division of Loans is requested.
***   Use this option if sub-division is not required.

 

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Part III

Extension Request

 

From: SPTS Technologies Investments Limited as the Company

 

To: [ Agent ]

 

Dated:                     

Dear Sirs

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited – USD 125,000,000 Facility Agreement

dated [                    ] (the Agreement )

 

1. We refer to the Agreement. This is an Extension Request. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Extension Request unless given a different meaning in this Extension Request.

 

2. We confirm that:

 

  (a) no Default is continuing; and

 

  (b) the Repeating Representations are true in all material respects as at the date of this Extension Request.

 

3. As per the terms of Clause 8.3 ( Extension of Termination Date ) we request for an extension of the Termination Date applicable to [Facility A] [and] [Facility B] by one year to [                    ].

 

4. This Extension Request is irrevocable.

Yours faithfully

 

 

authorised signatory for

the Company

 

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SCHEDULE 4

F ORM OF T RANSFER C ERTIFICATE

 

To: [                    ] as Agent

 

From: [ The Existing Lender ] (the “ Existing Lender ”) and [ The New Lender ] (the “ New Lender ”)

 

Dated:                     

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited – USD 125,000,000 Facility Agreement

dated [                    ] (the “Agreement”)

 

1. We refer to the Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Transfer Certificate.

 

2. We refer to Clause 25.5 (Procedure for transfer):

 

  (d) The Existing Lender and the New Lender agree to the Existing Lender transferring to the New Lender by novation, and in accordance with Clause 25.5 ( Procedure for transfer ), all of the Existing Lender’s rights and obligations under the Agreement and the other Finance Documents which relate to that portion of the Existing Lender’s Commitment(s) and participations in Loans under the Agreement as specified in the Schedule.

 

  (e) The proposed Transfer Date is [                    ].

 

  (f) The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 34.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule.

 

3. The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations set out in paragraph (c) of Clause 25.4 ( Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders ).

 

4. The New Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

 

  (a) [a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender);]

 

  (b) [a Treaty Lender;]

 

  (c) [not a Qualifying Lender]. 1

 

5. [The New Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

 

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

 

  (b) a partnership each member of which is:

 

  (i) a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

 

 

1   Delete as applicable - each New Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within.

 

- 159 -


  (ii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA; or

 

  (c) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company.] 2

 

5. [The New Lender confirms that it holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number [                    ]) and is tax resident in [                    ] 3 , so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax, and requests that the Company notify:

 

  (a) each Borrower which is a Party as a Borrower as at the Transfer Date; and

 

  (b) each Additional Borrower which becomes an Additional Borrower after the Transfer Date,

that it wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.] 4

 

[5/6]. This Transfer Certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Transfer Certificate.

 

[6/7]. This Transfer Certificate is and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

[7/8]. This Transfer Certificate has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Transfer Certificate.

 

 

2   Include if New Lender comes within paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of Qualifying Lender in Clause 13.1 ( Definitions )
3   Insert jurisdiction of tax residence.
4   Include if New Lender holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.

 

- 160 -


THE SCHEDULE

Commitment/rights and obligations to be transferred

[ insert relevant details ]

[ Facility Office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments, ]

 

[Existing Lender]    [New Lender]
By:    By:

This Transfer Certificate is accepted by the Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [                    ].

[Agent]

By:

 

- 161 -


SCHEDULE 5

F ORM OF A SSIGNMENT A GREEMENT

 

To: [                    ] as Agent and SPTS Technologies Investments Limited as the Company, for and on behalf of each Obligor

 

From: [the Existing Lender ] (the “ Existing Lender ”) and [the New Lender ] (the “ New Lender ”)

 

Dated:

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited – USD 125,000,000 Facility Agreement

dated [                    ] (the Agreement )

 

1. We refer to the Agreement. This is an Assignment Agreement. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Assignment Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Assignment Agreement.

 

2. We refer to Clause 25.6 (Procedure for assignment):

 

  (a) The Existing Lender assigns absolutely to the New Lender all the rights of the Existing Lender under the Agreement and the other Finance Documents which relate to that portion of the Existing Lender’s Commitment(s) and participations in Loans under the Agreement as specified in the Schedule.

 

  (b) The Existing Lender is released from all the obligations of the Existing Lender which correspond to that portion of the Existing Lender’s Commitment(s) and participations in Loans under the Agreement specified in the Schedule.

 

  (c) The New Lender becomes a Party as a Lender and is bound by obligations equivalent to those from which the Existing Lender is released under paragraph (b) above. 5

 

3. The proposed Transfer Date is [            ].

 

4. On the Transfer Date the New Lender becomes Party to the Finance Documents as a Lender.

 

5. The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 34.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule.

 

6. The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations set out in paragraph (c) of Clause 25.4 ( Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders ).

 

7. The New Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

 

  (a) [a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender);]

 

 

5   If the Assignment Agreement is used in place of a Transfer Certificate in order to avoid a novation of rights/obligations for reasons relevant to a civil jurisdiction, local law advice should be sought to check the suitability of the Assignment Agreement due to the assumption of obligations contained in paragraph 2(c). This issue should be addressed at primary documentation stage.

 

- 162 -


  (b) [a Treaty Lender;]

 

  (c) [not a Qualifying Lender]. 6

 

8. [The New Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

 

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

 

  (b) a partnership each member of which is:

 

  (i) a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

 

  (ii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA; or

 

  (c) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company.] 7

 

8. [The New Lender confirms that it holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number [                    ]) and is tax resident in [                ] 8 , so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax, and requests that the Company notify:

 

  (a) each Borrower which is a Party as a Borrower as at the Transfer Date; and

 

  (b) each Additional Borrower which becomes an Additional Borrower after the Transfer Date,

that it wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.] 9

 

[8/9]. This Assignment Agreement acts as notice to the Agent (on behalf of each Finance Party) and, upon delivery in accordance with Clause 25.7 ( Copy of Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement to Company ), to the Company (on behalf of each Obligor) of the assignment referred to in this Assignment Agreement.

 

[9/10]. This Assignment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Assignment Agreement.

 

[10/11]. This Assignment Agreement is and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

 

6   Delete as applicable - each New Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within.
7   Include only if New Lender is a UK Non-Bank Lender - i.e. falls within paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of Qualifying Lender in Clause 13.1 ( Definitions ).
8   Insert jurisdiction of tax residence.
9   Include if New Lender holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.

 

- 163 -


[11/12]. This Assignment Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Assignment Agreement.

 

- 164 -


THE SCHEDULE

Rights to be assigned and obligations to be released and undertaken

[ insert relevant details ]

[ Facility office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments ]

 

[Existing Lender]       [New Lender]
By:       By:

This Assignment Agreement is accepted by the Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [                    ].

Signature of this Assignment Agreement by the Agent constitutes confirmation by the Agent of receipt of notice of the assignment referred to herein, which notice the Agent receives on behalf of each Finance Party.

[Agent]

By:

 

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SCHEDULE 6

F ORM OF A CCESSION L ETTER

 

To: [                    ] as Agent

 

From: [ Subsidiary ] and SPTS Technologies Investments Limited as the Company

 

Dated:                     

Dear Sirs

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited – USD 125,000,000 Facility Agreement

dated [                    ] (the Agreement )

 

1. We refer to the Agreement. This is an Accession Letter. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Accession Letter unless given a different meaning in this Accession Letter.

 

2. [ Subsidiary ] agrees to become an Additional [Borrower]/[Guarantor] and to be bound by the terms of the Agreement as an Additional [Borrower]/[Guarantor] pursuant to Clause [27.2 ( Additional Borrowers )]/[Clause 27.4 ( Additional Guarantors )] of the Agreement. [ Subsidiary ] is a company duly incorporated under the laws of [ name of relevant jurisdiction ].

 

3. [The Company confirms that no Default is continuing or would occur as a result of [ Subsidiary ] becoming an Additional Borrower.] 10

 

4. [ Subsidiary’s ] administrative details are as follows:

Address:                                 

Fax No:                     

Attention:                                 

 

5. This Accession Letter is and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

[This Accession Letter is entered into by deed.]

 

[Company]    [Subsidiary]

 

 

10   Include in the case of an Additional Borrower.

 

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SCHEDULE 7

F ORM OF R ESIGNATION L ETTER

 

To: [                    ] as Agent

 

From: [ resigning Obligor ] and SPTS Technologies Investments Limited as the Company

 

Dated:                     

Dear Sirs

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited – USD 125,000,000 Facility Agreement

dated [                    ] (the Agreement )

 

1. We refer to the Agreement. This is a Resignation Letter. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Resignation Letter unless given a different meaning in this Resignation Letter.

 

2. Pursuant to [Clause 27.3 ( Resignation of a Borrower )]/[Clause 27.6 ( Resignation of a Guarantor )], we request that [ resigning Obligor ] be released from its obligations as a [Borrower]/[Guarantor] under the Agreement.

 

3. We confirm that:

 

  (c) no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of this request; and

 

  (d) [                    ] *

 

4. This Resignation Letter is and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

[Company]    [Subsidiary]
By:    By:

 

 

*   Insert any other conditions required by the Facility Agreement.

 

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SCHEDULE 8

F ORM OF C OMPLIANCE C ERTIFICATE

 

To: [                    ] as Agent

 

From: SPTS Technologies Investments Limited as the Company

 

Dated:                     

Dear Sirs

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited – USD 125,000,000 Facility Agreement

dated [                    ] (the Agreement )

 

1. We refer to the Agreement. This is a Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning when used in this Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Compliance Certificate.

 

2. We confirm that: [Insert details of covenants to be certified]

 

3. [We confirm that no Default is continuing.] *

 

4. [We confirm that the following companies constitute Material Companies for the purposes of the Agreement: [                    ].]

 

5. [We confirm that the aggregate of the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as EBITDA) and the aggregate gross assets and aggregate turnover of the Guarantors (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-Group items and investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) exceeds 80% of EBITDA and 80% of the consolidated gross assets and consolidated turnover of the Group respectively.]

 

Signed:                                                                                          
   Director of SPTS Technologies Investments Limited

 

 

*   If this statement cannot be made, the certificate should identify any Default that is continuing and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it.

 

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SCHEDULE 9

E XISTING S ECURITY

 

Name of Obligor   Security  

Total Principal Amount of

Indebtedness Secured

SPTS Technologies Limited (registered number 07037852)   Deed of charge over credit balances granted in favour of Barclays Bank PLC (bilateral) dated 4 August 2014   Covers £332,749 BGI Line Balance of cash cover £347,591 securing the line
SPTS Technologies Limited (registered number 07037852)   Deed of charge over credit balances granted in favour of Barclays Bank PLC (bilateral) dated 31 March 2015   NIL – BGI cleared

 

- 169 -


SCHEDULE 10

T IMETABLES

 

     Loans in euro    Loans in sterling   

Loans in other

currencies

Agent notifies the Company if a currency is approved as an Optional Currency in accordance with Clause 4.3 ( Conditions relating to Optional Currencies )    —      —      U-4
Delivery of a duly completed Utilisation Request (Clause 5.1 ( Delivery of a Utilisation Request )) or a Selection Notice (Clause 11.1 ( Selection of Interest Periods ))   

U-3

9.30am

  

U-1

9.30am

  

U-3

9.30am

Agent determines (in relation to a Utilisation) the Base Currency Amount of the Loan, if required under Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ participation ) and notifies the Lenders of the Loan in accordance with Clause 5.4 ( Lenders’ participation )   

U-3

Noon

  

U-1

Noon

  

U-3

Noon

Agent receives a notification from a Lender under Clause 6.2 ( Unavailability of a currency )   

Quotation Day

9.30am

   —     

Quotation Day

9.30am

Agent gives notice in accordance with Clause 6.2 ( Unavailability of a currency )   

Quotation Day

5.30pm

   —     

Quotation Day

5.30pm

LIBOR or EURIBOR is fixed    Quotation Day 11:00 a.m. in respect of LIBOR and 11:00 a.m. (Brussels time) in respect of EURIBOR    Quotation Day 11:00 a.m.    Quotation Day 11:00 a.m.

 

- 170 -


     Loans in euro    Loans in sterling   

Loans in other

currencies

Reference Bank Rate calculated by reference to available quotations in accordance with clause 12.2 ( Calculation of Reference Bank Rate )    Noon on the Quotation Day in respect of LIBOR and Quotation Day 11:30 a.m. (Brussels time) in respect of EURIBOR    Noon on the Quotation Day    Noon on the Quotation Day

 

“U”    =    date of utilisation or, if applicable, in the case of a Facility A Loan that has already been borrowed, the first day of the relevant Interest Period for that Facility A Loan.
“U - X”    =    X Business Days prior to U

 

- 171 -


SCHEDULE 11

A GREED S ECURITY P RINCIPLES

 

1. Considerations

 

(a) In determining what Security will be provided in support of the Facilities the following matters will be taken into account. Security shall not be created or perfected to the extent that it would:

 

  (i) result in any breach of corporate benefit, financial assistance, fraudulent preference or thin capitalisation laws or regulations (or analogous restrictions) of any applicable jurisdiction;

 

  (ii) result in a significant risk to the officers of the relevant grantor of Security of contravention of their fiduciary duties and/or of civil or criminal liability; or

 

  (iii) result in costs that, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, are disproportionate to the benefit obtained by the beneficiaries of that Security.

 

(b) For the avoidance of doubt, in these Agreed Security Principles, “cost” includes, but is not limited to, income tax cost, registration taxes payable on the creation or enforcement or for the continuance of any Security, stamp duties, out-of-pocket expenses, and other fees and expenses directly incurred by the relevant grantor of Security or any of its direct or indirect owners, subsidiaries or Affiliates.

 

2. Obligations to be Secured

 

(a) Subject to paragraph 1 ( Considerations ) and to paragraph (b) below, the obligations to be secured are the Secured Obligations. The Security is to be granted in favour of the Security Agent on behalf of each Lender from time to time, and the Agent, the Arranger and any Ancillary Lender.

 

(b) The Secured Obligations will be limited:

 

  (i) to avoid any breach of corporate benefit, financial assistance, fraudulent preference, thin capitalisation rules or the laws or regulations (or analogous restrictions) of any applicable jurisdiction; and

 

  (ii) to avoid any risk to officers of the relevant member of the Group that is granting Transaction Security of contravention of their fiduciary duties and/or civil or criminal or personal liability.

 

3. General

 

(a) Where appropriate, defined terms in the Transaction Security Documents should mirror those in this Agreement.

 

(b) The parties to this Agreement agree to negotiate the form of each Transaction Security Document in good faith and will ensure that all documentation required to be entered into as a condition precedent to first drawdown under this Agreement (or immediately thereafter) is in a finally agreed form as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement. The form of guarantee is set out in Clause 19 ( Guarantee and indemnity ) of this Agreement and, with respect to any Additional Guarantor, is subject to any limitations set out in the Accession Deed applicable to such Additional Guarantor.

 

- 172 -


(c) The Security shall, to the extent possible under local law, be enforceable on the occurrence of an Acceleration Event which is continuing.

 

(d) There shall be no requirement on any member of the Group to notify to any third party any security assignment or to register any Security over the Group’s intellectual property rights subject to the Transaction Security (and no Secured Party will serve such notification or register such Security), albeit the Security Agent may reserve the right to serve such notification or register such Security while an Event of Default is continuing.

 

4. Undertakings/representations and warranties

Any representations, warranties or undertakings which are required to be included in any Transaction Security Document shall reflect (to the extent to which the subject matter of such representation, warranty and undertaking is the same as the corresponding representation, warranty and undertaking in this Agreement) the commercial deal set out in this Agreement (save to the extent that Secured Parties’ local counsel deem it necessary to include any further provisions (or deviate from those contained in this Agreement) in order to protect or preserve the Security granted to the Secured Parties).

 

- 173 -


SCHEDULE 12

F ORM OF I NCREASE C ONFIRMATION

 

To: [                    ] as Agent, [                    ] as Security Agent, and SPTS Technologies Investments Limited as Company, for and on behalf of each Obligor

 

From: [the Increase Lender ] (the “ Increase Lender ”)

 

Dated:                     

SPTS Technologies Investments Limited – USD 125,000,000 Facility Agreement

dated [                    ] (the Agreement )

 

1. We refer to the Facilities Agreement. This agreement (the “ Agreement ”) shall take effect as an Increase Confirmation for the purpose of the Facilities Agreement. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.

 

2. We refer to Clause 2.2 ( Increase ) of the Facilities Agreement.

 

3. The Increase Lender agrees to assume and will assume all of the obligations corresponding to the Commitment specified in the Schedule (the “ Relevant Commitment ”) as if it was an Original Lender under the Facilities Agreement.

 

4. The proposed date on which the increase in relation to the Increase Lender and the Relevant Commitment is to take effect (the “ Increase Date ”) is [                    ].

 

5. On the Increase Date, the Increase Lender becomes party to the relevant Finance Documents as a Lender.

 

6. The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices to the Increase Lender for the purposes of Clause 34.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule.

 

7. The Increase Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Lenders’ obligations referred to in paragraph (g) of Clause 2.2 ( Increase ).

 

8. The Increase Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

 

  (i) [a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender);]

 

  (ii) [a Treaty Lender;]

 

  (iii) [not a Qualifying Lender]. 11

 

9. [The Increase Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

 

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

 

  (ii) a partnership each member of which is:

 

  (A) a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

 

 

11   Delete as applicable - each Increase Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within.

 

- 174 -


  (B) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA; or

 

  (iii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company.] 12

 

10. [The Increase Lender confirms that it holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number [                    ]) and is tax resident in [                    ] * , so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax and requests that the Company notify:

 

  (a) each Borrower which is a Party as a Borrower as at the Increase Date; and

 

  (b) each Additional Borrower which becomes an Additional Borrower after the Increase Date,

that it wishes the scheme to apply to the Facilities Agreement.] **

 

[9/10]. The Increase Lender confirms that it is not a member of the Parent Group.

 

[10/11]. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.

 

[11/12]. This Agreement [and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it] [is/are] 13 governed by English law.

 

[12/13]. This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

Note: The execution of this Increase Confirmation may not be sufficient for the Increase Lender to obtain the benefit of the Transaction Security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the Increase Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to obtain the benefit of the Transaction Security in any jurisdiction and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.

 

  

 

12   Include only if New Lender is a UK Non-Bank Lender i.e. falls within paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of Qualifying Lender in Clause 14.1( Definitions ).
*   Insert jurisdiction of tax residence.
**   This confirmation must be included if the Increase Lender holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Facilities Agreement.
13   This clause should follow the approach adopted as regards non-contractual obligations in Clause 42 ( Governing Law ). This should be done (and this footnote deleted) before the Facility Agreement is signed.

 

- 175 -


THE SCHEDULE

Relevant Commitment/rights and obligations to be assumed by the Increase Lender

[ insert relevant details ]

[ Facility office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments ]

 

[Increase Lender]
By:

This Agreement is accepted as an Increase Confirmation for the purposes of the Facilities Agreement by the Agent and the Increase Date is confirmed as [                    ].

 

Agent
By:

NOTE:

 

* Only if increase in the Total Facility B Commitments.

 

- 176 -


Signatures

The Company

SPTS TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS LIMITED

 

By:    Kevin Crofton   

/s/ Kevin Crofton

Address:    Ringland Way, Newport, Gwent, NP18 2TA   
Fax:    n/a   
Attention:    The Directors   

The Original Borrowers

SPTS TECHNOLOGIES SAPPHIRE LIMITED

 

By:    Kevin Crofton   

/s/ Kevin Crofton

Address:    Ringland Way, Newport, Gwent, NP18 2TA   
Fax:    n/a   
Attention:    The Directors   

SPTS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

 

By:    Kevin Crofton   

/s/ Kevin Crofton

Address:    Ringland Way, Newport, Gwent, NP18 2TA   
Fax:    n/a   
Attention:    The Directors   

 

- 177 -


The Original Guarantors

SPTS TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS LIMITED

 

By:    Kevin Crofton   

/s/ Kevin Crofton

Address:    Ringland Way, Newport, Gwent, NP18 2TA   
Fax:    n/a   
Attention:    The Directors   

SPTS TECHNOLOGIES SAPPHIRE LIMITED

 

By:    Kevin Crofton   

/s/ Kevin Crofton

Address:    Ringland Way, Newport, Gwent, NP18 2TA   
Fax:    n/a   
Attention:    The Directors   

SPTS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

 

By:    Kevin Crofton   

/s/ Kevin Crofton

Address:    Ringland Way, Newport, Gwent, NP18 2TA   
Fax:    n/a   
Attention:    The Directors   

 

- 178 -


SPTS TECHNOLOGIES UK LIMITED

 

By:   Kevin Crofton   

/s/ Kevin Crofton

Address:   Ringland Way, Newport, Gwent, NP18 2TA   
Fax:   n/a   
Attention:   The Directors   

SPTS TECHNOLOGIES OVERSEAS HOLDINGS LIMITED

 

By:   Kevin Crofton   

/s/ Kevin Crofton

Address:   Ringland Way, Newport, Gwent, NP18 2TA   
Fax:   n/a   
Attention:   The Directors   

The Arrangers

BARCLAYS BANK PLC

 

By:   Kayode Sulola   

/s/ Kayode Sulola

Address:   1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP   
Fax:   n/a   
Attention:   Simon Vittle   

 

- 179 -


LLOYDS BANK PLC

 

By:   Giacomo Nargi  

/s/ Giacomo Nargi

Address:   Lloyds Bank plc, St William House, Tresillian Terrance, Cardiff CF10 5BH  
Fax:   n/a  
Attention:   Nick Stork  

The Agent

LLOYDS BANK PLC

 

By:   Giacomo Nargi  

/s/ Giacomo Nargi

Address:   Citymark, 150 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9PE  
Fax:   n/a  
Attention:   Glenn Drysdale / Iain Brown  

The Security Agent

LLOYDS BANK PLC

 

By:   Giacomo Nargi  

/s/ Giacomo Nargi

Address:   Citymark, 150 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9PE  
Fax:   n/a  
Attention:   Glenn Drysdale / Iain Brown  

 

- 180 -


The Original Lenders  
BARCLAYS BANK PLC  
By:   Kayode Sulola  

/s/ Kayode Sulola

LLOYDS BANK PLC  
By:   Giacomo Nargi  

/s/ Giacomo Nargi

 

- 181 -