UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  June  12, 2017 (June 6, 2017)

MOODY’S CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware   1-14037   13-3998945
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

7 World Trade Center at 250 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10007

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (212) 553-0300

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐              

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Term Loan Credit Agreement

On June 6, 2017 (the “Term Loan Facility Effective Date”), Moody’s Corporation, a Delaware corporation ( the “Company”), entered into a loan agreement (the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”), among the Company, as borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. The Term Loan Credit Agreement provides for a $500,000,000 term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”), maturing on June 6, 2020.

Advances under the Term Loan Facility will be available on a date after the Term Loan Facility Effective Date, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the Term Loan Credit Agreement (the “Term Loan Facility Closing Date”). The proceeds of advances under the Term Loan Facility may be used to (i) acquire (the “Acquisition”) all of the issued and outstanding securities of Yellow Maple I B.V. (the “Target”), Yellow Maple Syrup I B.V. and Yellow Maple Syrup II B.V. (collectively with the Target, the “Target Companies”) from the Yellow Maple Coöperatief U.A., Yellow Maple Holding Guernsey Limited, CCP IX LP No. 1, CCP IX LP No. 2, CCP IX Co-Investment LP, Broad Street Principal Investments LLC, HX Luxembourg I S.À. R.L. and the other sellers (collectively, the “Sellers”) identified in the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”), dated May 15, 2017, entered into by the Company, Moody’s Holdings NL B.V. (the “Buyer”), the Target Companies and the Sellers, (ii) to pay related fees and expenses and (iii) to repay certain indebtedness of the Target Companies.

Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility may, at the Company’s election, bear interest at either (a) the base rate plus an applicable margin (“Base Rate Loans”) or (b) the Eurocurrency rate plus an applicable margin (“Eurocurrency Rate Loans”). The applicable rate ranges from 0.0% to 0.50% per annum for Base Rate Loans and 0.875% to 1.50% per annum for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, in each case depending on the Company’s index debt rating, as set forth in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

The Company also pays a non-refundable ticking fee to the Administrative Agent from the date that is ninety days following the Term Loan Facility Effective Date through and including the date of termination of the commitments under the Term Loan Facility in full. The ticking fee for the Term Loan Facility can range from 0.08% of the aggregate amount of commitments under the Term Loan Facility to 0.175%, depending on the Company’s index debt rating, as set forth in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

The commitments under the Term Loan Facility, unless previously terminated, will terminate upon (A) the earliest of (i) 6:00 p.m. (New York Time) on January 29, 2018 and (ii) the Completion (as defined in the SPA) of the Acquisition or (B) the termination of the SPA.

The Term Loan Facility contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company, without the approval of the lenders, to engage in mergers, consolidations, asset sales, transactions with affiliates, sale and leaseback transactions or to incur liens, as set forth in the Term Loan Credit Agreement. The Term Loan Facility also contains a financial covenant that requires the Company to maintain a Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio of not more than: (i) 4.5 to 1.0 as of the end of each fiscal quarter (with respect to the first three consecutive fiscal quarters immediately following the Term Loan Facility Closing Date) and (ii) 4.0 to 1.0 as of the end of the fourth fiscal quarter immediately following the Term Loan Facility Closing Date and each fiscal quarter thereafter. Upon the occurrence of certain financial or economic events, significant corporate events or certain other events of default constituting an event of default under the Term Loan Facility, all loans outstanding under the Term Loan Facility (including accrued interest and fees payable thereunder) may be declared immediately due and payable and all commitments under the Term Loan Facility may be terminated. In addition, certain other events of default under the Term Loan Facility would automatically result in outstanding amounts becoming immediately due and payable and all commitments being terminated.


The foregoing summary of the Term Loan Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and such exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.

Amendment to Revolving Credit Agreement

On June 6, 2017 (the “Amendment Effective Date”), the Company entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to that certain credit agreement, dated as of May 11, 2015 (as amended prior to the Amendment Effective Date, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), among the Company and the borrowing subsidiaries, as borrowers, the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.

Pursuant to the Amendment, (A) the applicable rate for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement has been lowered and ranges from 0.0% to 0.325% per annum for Base Rate loans and 0.795 % to 1.325% per annum for Eurocurrency Rate loans, and (B) the facility fee paid by the Company has been lowered and ranges from 0.08% to 0.175% on the daily amount of commitments (whether used or unused), in each case, depending on the Company’s index debt rating, as set forth in the Amendment.

The Amendment also amends, among other things, the existing financial covenant in the Revolving Credit Agreement so that it requires the Company to maintain a Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio of not more than 4.0 to 1.0 at the end of any fiscal quarter; provided that, solely to the extent the Acquisition closes, the Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio may not exceed 4.5 to 1.0 as of the end of the first three consecutive fiscal quarters immediately following the closing of the Acquisition and shall not exceed 4.0 to 1.0 as of the fourth fiscal quarter immediately following the closing of the Acquisition and each fiscal quarter thereafter.

The foregoing summary of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Amendment, which is attached as Exhibit 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and such exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

As previously reported, on May 15, 2007, the Company, as borrower, entered into a 364-Day Bridge Credit Agreement (the “Bridge Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto providing for a $1.5 billion bridge facility (the “Bridge Facility”), consisting of $1.0 billion of tranche 1 commitments and $500 million of tranche 2 commitments (collectively, the “Bridge Commitments”).

On June 12, 2017, the Bridge Commitments were reduced to $0 and terminated in their entirety in accordance with the Bridge Credit Agreement as a result of the Company receiving net cash proceeds from the issuance of the notes (as defined below) and the commitments in respect of the Term Loan Facility

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

Credit Agreement

On June 6, 2017, the Company entered into the Term Loan Credit Agreement as described under Item 1.01 above. The description of the Term Loan Credit Agreement set forth in Item 1.01 above is hereby incorporated by reference.

144A Debt Offering

As previously announced, on June 1, 2017, the Company entered into a purchase agreement by and among the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several initial purchasers named therein (the “Purchase Agreement”), with respect to the issuance and sale of $500 million


aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.625% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”) and $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.250% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes” and, collectively with 2023 Notes, the “notes”). The notes were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws. The notes were offered only to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A of the Securities Act or, outside the United States, to persons other than “U.S. persons” in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. A confidential offering memorandum for the offering of the notes, dated June 1, 2017, has been made available to such eligible persons. On June 12, 2017, the Company closed its private offering of the notes.

The notes were issued under an Indenture between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), dated as of August 19, 2010 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the seventh supplemental indenture, dated as of June 12, 2017 (the “Seventh Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The net proceeds of the offering will be used to finance the Acquisition, in part, of Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing B.V., a provider of business intelligence and company information products.

The 2023 Notes bear interest at the fixed rate of 2.625% per year and mature on January 15, 2023. Interest on the 2023 Notes will be due semiannually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing January 15, 2018. The 2028 Notes bear interest at the fixed rate of 3.250% per year and mature on January 15, 2028. Interest on the 2028 Notes will be due semiannually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing January 15, 2018.

In the event that the Company does not consummate the Acquisition on or prior to January 29, 2018, or the SPA is terminated at any time prior to such date, the Company will be required to redeem all of the notes on a special mandatory redemption date at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the redemption date.

The Company may redeem, in whole or in part, the notes at any time, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount being prepaid, plus accrued and unpaid interest and a make-whole premium. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Company may redeem all or a portion of the 2023 Notes at its option at any time on or after December 15, 2022 (one month prior to their maturity) or all or a portion of the 2028 Notes at its option at any time on or after October 15, 2027 (three months prior to their maturity), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the applicable notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

Additionally, at the option of the holders of the notes, the Company may be required to purchase all or a portion of the notes upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control Triggering Event,” as defined in the Indenture, at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.

The Indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries to, among other things, incur or create liens and enter into sale and leaseback transactions. In addition, the Indenture contains a covenant that limits the ability of the Company to consolidate or merge with another entity or to sell all or substantially all of its assets to another entity.

The Indenture contains customary default provisions. In addition, an event of default will occur if the Company or certain of its subsidiaries fail to pay the principal of any Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) when due at maturity in an aggregate amount of $50 million or more, or a default occurs that results in the acceleration of the maturity of the Company’s or certain of its subsidiaries’ Indebtedness in an aggregate amount of $50 million or more. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default under the Indenture, the notes may become immediately due and payable either automatically or by the vote of the holders of more than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of all of the notes then outstanding.

The description of the Base Indenture, Seventh Supplemental Indenture and the form of the notes are summaries and are qualified in their entirety by the terms of the indentures and the form of notes included therein. The Base Indenture is attached as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 19, 2010 filed with the Commission. The Seventh Supplemental Indenture (including forms of notes) is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.3.

In addition, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement, dated as of June 12, 2017 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), with the representatives of the initial purchasers of the notes, which sets forth, among other things, the Company’s obligations to register the notes under the Securities Act, within 365 days of June 12, 2017. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is filed as Exhibit 4.6 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Report:

 

Exhibit Number

  

Description

4.1*   

 

Loan Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2017, among Moody’s Corporation, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

4.2

   Amendment No. 1, dated as of June 6, 2017, among Moody’s Corporation, the financial institutions party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2015, among Moody’s Corporation, the Borrowing Subsidiaries party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
4.3    Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 12, 2017, between Moody’s Corporation and Wells Fargo, National Association, as Trustee.

 

4.4

  

 

Form of 2.625% Note due 2023 (included in Exhibit 4.3).

 

4.5

  

 

Form of 3.250% Note due 2028 (included in Exhibit 4.3).

 

4.6

   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2017, between Moody’s Corporation and the representatives of the initial purchasers of the notes.

* Certain schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission.


SIGNATURE

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

 

MOODY’S CORPORATION
By:     

/s/ John J. Goggins

  John J. Goggins
 

Executive Vice President and General

Counsel

Date:  June 12, 2017


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.       Description
4.1*   Loan Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2017, among Moody’s Corporation, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

4.2

  Amendment No. 1, dated as of June 6, 2017, among Moody’s Corporation, the financial institutions party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2015, among Moody’s Corporation, the Borrowing Subsidiaries party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
4.3   Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 12, 2017, between Moody’s Corporation and Wells Fargo, National Association, as Trustee.

 

4.4

 

 

Form of 2.625% Note due 2023 (included in Exhibit 4.3).

 

4.5

 

 

Form of 3.250% Note due 2028 (included in Exhibit 4.3).

 

4.6

 

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2017, between Moody’s Corporation and the representatives of the initial purchasers of the notes.

*Certain schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

LOGO

LOAN AGREEMENT

dated as of

June 6, 2017

among

MOODY’S CORPORATION

The Lenders Party Hereto

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Co-Syndication Agents,

and

TD BANK, N.A., THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

and BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

as Co-Documentation Agents

$500,000,000 TERM LOAN

FACILITY

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

and

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., as

Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers


Table of Contents

 

              Page  
ARTICLE 1  
D EFINITIONS  

Section 1.01.

          Defined Terms      1  

Section 1.02.

     Classification of Loans and Borrowings      20  

Section 1.03.

     Terms Generally      20  

Section 1.04.

     Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations      21  

Section 1.05.

     Exchange Rates      21  
ARTICLE 2  
T HE C REDITS  
Section 2.01.      Commitments      22  
Section 2.02.      Loans and Borrowings      22  
Section 2.03.      Requests for Borrowings      22  
Section 2.04.      [Intentionally Omitted]      23  
Section 2.05.      [Intentionally Omitted]      23  
Section 2.06.      Funding of Borrowings      23  
Section 2.07.      Interest Elections      24  
Section 2.08.      Termination, Reduction and Increase of Commitments      25  
Section 2.09.      Amortization; Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt      25  
Section 2.10.      Prepayment of Loans      26  
Section 2.11.      Fees      27  
Section 2.12.      Interest      27  
Section 2.13.      Alternate Rate of Interest      28  
Section 2.14.      Increased Costs      29  
Section 2.15.      Break Funding Payments      30  
Section 2.16.      Taxes      30  
Section 2.17.      Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set offs      32  
Section 2.18.      Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      34  
Section 2.19.      Use of Proceeds      34  
Section 2.20.      Defaulting Lenders      34  
ARTICLE 3  
R EPRESENTATIONS A ND W ARRANTIES  
Section 3.01.      Organization; Powers      35  
Section 3.02.      Authorization; Enforceability      35  
Section 3.03.      Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts      35  
Section 3.04.      Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change      35  
Section 3.05.      Properties      35  
Section 3.06.      Litigation and Environmental Matters      36  
Section 3.07.      Compliance with Laws and Agreements      36  
Section 3.08.      Investment Company Status      36  
Section 3.09.      Taxes      36  
Section 3.10.      ERISA      36  
Section 3.11.      Disclosure      37  
Section 3.12.      Subsidiaries      37  

 

i


Section 3.13.      Use of Proceeds      37  
Section 3.14.           Solvency      37  
Section 3.15.      Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions      37  
Section 3.16.      EEA Financial Institution      38  
Section 3.17.      Target Acquisition      38  
Section 3.18.      Federal Reserve Regulations      38  
ARTICLE 4  
C ONDITIONS  
Section 4.01.      Conditions Precedent to Effective Date      38  
Section 4.02.      Conditions Precedent to Closing Date      39  
Section 4.03.      Actions by Lenders During the Certain Funds Period      40  
ARTICLE 5  
A FFIRMATIVE C OVENANTS  
Section 5.01.      Financial Statements and Other Information      41  
Section 5.02.      Notices of Material Events      42  
Section 5.03.      Existence; Conduct of Business      43  
Section 5.04.      Payment of Obligations      43  
Section 5.05.      Maintenance of Properties; Insurance      43  
Section 5.06.      Books and Records; Inspection Rights      43  
Section 5.07.      Compliance with Laws      43  
Section 5.08.      Use of Proceeds      44  
ARTICLE 6  
N EGATIVE C OVENANTS  
Section 6.01.      Liens      44  
Section 6.02.      Fundamental Changes      46  
Section 6.03.      Transactions with Affiliates      46  
Section 6.04.      Sale and Lease-Back Transactions      47  
Section 6.05.      Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio      47  
Section 6.06.      Target Acquisition Documents      47  
ARTICLE 7  
E VENTS O F D EFAULT  
ARTICLE 8  
T HE A DMINISTRATIVE A GENT  
ARTICLE 9  
[ INTENTIONALLY O MITTED ]  
ARTICLE 10  
M ISCELLANEOUS  
Section 10.01.      Notices      52  
Section 10.02.      Waivers; Amendments      53  
Section 10.03.      Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      55  
Section 10.04.      Successors and Assigns      56  
Section 10.05.      Survival      60  

 

ii


Section 10.06.           Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness      60  
Section 10.07.      Severability      61  
Section 10.08.      Right of Setoff      61  
Section 10.09.      Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      61  
Section 10.10.      Waiver of Jury Trial      61  
Section 10.11.      Headings      62  
Section 10.12.      Confidentiality      62  
Section 10.13.      Interest Rate Limitation      63  
Section 10.14.      Conversion of Currencies      63  
Section 10.15.      European Economic and Monetary Union      63  
Section 10.16.      USA Patriot Act      64  
Section 10.17.      No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      64  
Section 10.18.      Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions      65  

 

iii


SCHEDULES:        
Schedule 2.01    —        Lenders and Commitments
EXHIBITS:        
Exhibit A    —        Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B-1    —        Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships)
Exhibit B-2    —        Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships)
Exhibit B-3    —        Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships)
Exhibit B-4    —        Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships)

 

iv


LOAN AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of June 6, 2017, among MOODY’S CORPORATION, the LENDERS party hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

WHEREAS, the Borrower intends to directly or indirectly acquire (the “ Target Acquisition ”) all of the outstanding shares of Target from the Sellers; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the Target Acquisition, the Borrower intends to finance a portion of the payment of the cash consideration in respect of the Target Acquisition, the repayment of Existing Target Indebtedness and the payment of fees and expenses related to the Target Acquisition from the following sources: (i) the proceeds of up to $1,000,000,000 in senior unsecured notes (the “ New Senior Notes ”) of the Borrower or, to the extent that the New Senior Notes are not issued at or prior to the time the Target Acquisition is consummated, the proceeds of up to $1,000,000,000 (or an equivalent in Pounds Sterling and/or Euro thereof) in borrowings by the Borrower under the Bridge Credit Agreement and (ii) the proceeds of up to $500,000,000 (or an equivalent in Pounds Sterling and/or Euro thereof) from borrowings by the Borrower under the Term Loan Facility. The transactions set forth in the preceding two paragraphs above are collectively referred to as the “ Transactions ”.

IN CONSIDERATION THEREOF the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

D EFINITIONS

Section 1.01.     Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABR ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Acceptable Insurer ” means (i) Lloyd’s of London, so long as it is rated at least 3 crowns by S&P, (ii) an insurance company having an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or better or a Moody’s rating of A3 or better and being in a financial size category of IX or larger (as such category is defined on the date hereof) or (iii) an insurance company otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Adjusted LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

Administrative Agent ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (including its branches and affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

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

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. No SPC of any Lender shall be an Affiliate of such Lender.

Agent Parties ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01(d).


Agreed Currencies ” means dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the introduction hereto.

Agreement Currency ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.14.

Alternate Base Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus  1 2 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period in Dollars on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that for purposes of this definition, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Rate (or if the LIBO Rate is not available for such one month interest period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day, subject to the interest rate floors set forth therein. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.

Alternative Rate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.13(a).

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

Applicable Creditor ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.14.

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment; provided that, in the case of Section 2.20 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the total Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

Applicable Rate ” means, for any day, with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan or any ABR Loan, or with respect to the ticking fees payable pursuant to Section 2.11, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Eurocurrency Spread”, “ABR Spread” or “Ticking Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the ratings by S&P and Fitch, respectively, applicable on such date to the Index Debt:

 

Pricing

Level

 

Index Debt Ratings

(S&P/Fitch)

 

 

Ticking Fee

Rate

 

Eurocurrency

Spread

 

ABR

Spread

Level  1 :

 

A/A or higher

 

  0.08%   0.875%   0%

Level  2 :

 

A-/A-

 

  0.10%   1.00%   0%

Level  3 :

 

BBB+/BBB+

 

  0.125%   1.125%   0.125%

Level  4 :

 

BBB/BBB

 

  0.15%   1.25%   0.25%

Level  5 :

 

BBB-/BBB- or lower

 

  0.175%   1.50%   0.50%

 

2


For purposes of the foregoing, (i) if neither S&P nor Fitch shall have in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this paragraph), then Pricing Level 5 shall be in effect; (ii) if only one of S&P or Fitch provides a rating for the Index Debt, the Pricing Level corresponding to such rating shall be in effect; (iii) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by S&P and Fitch for the Index Debt shall fall within different Pricing Levels, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the higher of the two ratings unless one of the two ratings is two or more Pricing Levels lower than the other, in which case the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the Pricing Level next below that of the higher of the two ratings; and (iv) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by S&P and Fitch for the Index Debt shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of S&P or Fitch), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency, irrespective of when notice of such change shall have been furnished by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.01 or otherwise. Each change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of S&P or Fitch shall change, or if both such rating agencies shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.

Approved Fund ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04.

Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit  A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Bankruptcy Event ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

 

3


Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Borrower ” means Moody’s Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01.

Borrowing ” means Loans of the same Type and currency, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Date ” means any Business Day specified in a notice pursuant to Section 2.03 as a date on which the relevant Borrower requests Loans to be made hereunder.

Borrowing Request ” means a request for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.

Bridge Credit Agreement ” means that certain 364-Day Bridge Credit Agreement dated as of May 15, 2017, among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent thereunder.

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term “ Business Day ” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in the relevant Agreed Currency in the London interbank market or the principal financial center of such Agreed Currency (and, if the Borrowings which are the subject of a borrowing, drawing, payment, reimbursement or rate selection are denominated in Euro, the term “ Business Day ” shall also exclude any day on which the TARGET2 payment system is not open for the settlement of payments in Euro).

Calculation Date ” means (i) with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing, the date that is two (2) Business Days prior to the date of such Borrowing or, if applicable, the date of conversion/continuation of any Borrowing as a Eurocurrency Borrowing and (ii) with respect to all outstanding Borrowings, the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and, during the continuation of an Event of Default, on any other Business Day elected by the Administrative Agent in its discretion or upon instruction by the Required Lenders.

Capital Lease Obligations ” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , however , all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases (including for avoidance of doubt, any network lease or any operating indefeasible right of use) for purposes of GAAP prior to the issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on February 25, 2016 of an Accounting Standards Update (the “ ASU ”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases for purposes of all financial definitions and calculations for purpose of this Agreement (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASU (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as Capital Lease Obligations in the financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) and Section 5.01(b).

 

4


Certain Funds Default ” means an Event of Default arising from any of the following (other than to the extent it relates to or arises in respect of Target and its subsidiaries (the “ Target Group ”)):

(a)        clause (a) of Article 7 ;

(b)        clause (c) of Article 7 as it relates to a Certain Funds Representation;

(c)        clause (d) of Article 7 as it relates to the failure to perform any of the following covenants: (i) Section 5.03 (solely as it relates to existence of the Borrower) or (ii) Sections 6.01 (solely as it relates to the Borrower), 6.02 (solely as it relates to the Borrower) or 6.06;

(d)        clause (h), (i) or (j) of Article 7 , in each case, solely in relation to the Borrower, but excluding, in relation to involuntary proceedings referenced in clause (h) of Article 7 , any Event of Default caused by a frivolous or vexatious (and in either case, lacking in merit) action, proceeding or petition in respect of which no order or decree in respect of such involuntary proceeding shall have been entered.

Certain Funds Period ” means the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date on which a Mandatory Cancellation Event occurs or exists, for the avoidance of doubt, on such date but immediately after the relevant Mandatory Cancellation Event occurs or first exists.

Certain Funds Purposes ” means:

(a)        payment (directly or indirectly) of the cash price payable by the Borrower (or the Buyer (as defined in the Target Acquisition Agreement)) to the Sellers in respect of the Target Acquisition;

(b)        financing (directly or indirectly) the fees, costs and expenses in respect of the Transactions; and

(c)        repayment of Existing Target Indebtedness and termination of the Hedging Arrangements (as defined in the Target Acquisition Agreement).

Certain Funds Representations ” means each of the following, in each case, solely as they apply to the Borrower: (1) Section 3.01; (2) Section 3.02; (3) Section 3.03(b)(ii); (4) Section 3.08; (5) Section 3.13; (6) Section 3.14; (7) Section 3.15(b) and (8) Section 3.18.

Change in Control ” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) (other than any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Borrower in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock in the Borrower) of shares representing more than 40% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower; or (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were not (i) nominated or approved by the board of directors of the Borrower or (ii) appointed by directors so nominated, approved or appointed.

 

5


Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender or Administrative Agent, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender or such Administrative Agent becomes an Administrative Agent), of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rules, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however , that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

Charges ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.13.

Clean-up Date ” has the meaning set forth in Article 7 .

Closing Date ” means the date on which each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02).

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 , or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. The aggregate amount of the Commitments on the Effective Date is $500,000,000.

Commitment Termination Date ” means the earlier of (a) the date on which a Mandatory Cancellation Event occurs or exists, for the avoidance of doubt, on such date but immediately after the relevant Mandatory Cancellation Event occurs or first exists and (b) the date on which the Commitments are terminated in full in accordance with Section 2.08 or, subject to Section 4.03, Article 7 .

Communications ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01(d).

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Credit Exposure ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof, in the case of Multicurrency Loans).

Credit Party ” means the Administrative Agent or any other Lender.

Default ” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

6


Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans or (ii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by a Credit Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations to fund prospective Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (1) a Bankruptcy Event or (2) a Bail-In Action.

Designated Subsidiary ” means (i) Moody’s and (ii) any other Subsidiary designated as a “Designated Subsidiary” by the Borrower.

Disclosed Matters ” means the actions, suits and proceedings and other matters disclosed in the Borrower’s Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the annual period ending December 31, 2016, on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the annual period ending March 31, 2017 and as disclosed on Schedule 3.06 to the Disclosure Letter.

Disclosure Letter ” means the disclosure letter, dated as of the date hereof, delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders.

Disqualified Equity Interest ” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest in such Person that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable, either mandatorily or at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event or condition:

(a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests), whether pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

(b) is convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof for Indebtedness or Equity Interests (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests); or

(c) is or may be redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests in such Person that do not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such Equity Interests) or is or may be required to be repurchased by such Person or any of its Affiliates, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder thereof;

in each case, on or prior to the date that occurs 91 days after the Maturity Date.

Dollar Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of Dollar Loans.

Dollar Equivalent ” of any currency at any date shall mean (i) the amount of such currency if such currency is dollars or (ii) the equivalent amount in dollars of such currency if such currency is a Foreign Currency, calculated on the basis of the Exchange Rate for such currency, on or as of the most recent Calculation Date provided for in Section 1.05.

Dollar Loan ” means a Loan denominated in dollars.

 

7


dollars ” or “ $ ” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

EBITDA ” means, for any period, the consolidated net income of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such period plus , to the extent deducted in computing such consolidated net income for such period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) income tax expense, (b) Interest Expense, (c) depreciation and amortization expense, (d) extraordinary losses, (e) any non-cash charges, expenses or losses, (f) any cash charges, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions or any issuance of Indebtedness or Equity Interests, acquisitions, investments, asset sales or other divestitures permitted hereunder, whether or not successful and (g) any other non-recurring cash charges, expenses or losses resulting from payment of amounts in settlement of any action brought, or threatened by, any governmental agency relating to events or conduct that occurred prior to December 31, 2010, and minus , to the extent added in computing such consolidated net income for such period, the sum (without duplication) of (1) extraordinary gains plus (2) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (e) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash charges, expenses or losses were incurred.

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

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Effective Date ” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02).

Electronic Signature ” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

Electronic System ” means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, Intralinks ® , ClearPar ® , Debt Domain, Syndtrak and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent and any of its Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.

Environmental Laws ” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

8


Equity Interests ” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing; provided that “Equity Interests” shall not include Indebtedness for borrowed money which is convertible into Equity Interests.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

Escrow Account ” means any account established for the purpose of depositing funds prior to their being applied towards Certain Funds Purposes.

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

Euro ” has the meaning assigned to the term “euro” in Section 10.15(a).

Eurocurrency ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Eurocurrency Lender ” means any Lender of a Eurocurrency Loan.

Eurocurrency Payment Office ” of the Administrative Agent shall mean, for each Foreign Currency, the office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the Administrative Agent for such currency as specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower and each Lender.

 

9


Events of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article  7 .

Exchange Rate ” means, on any day, with respect to any Foreign Currency, the rate at which such Foreign Currency may be exchanged into dollars, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date on the Reuters World Currency Page for such Foreign Currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, the Exchange Rate with respect to such Foreign Currency shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the event no such service is selected, such Exchange Rate shall instead be calculated on the basis of the arithmetical mean of the buy and sell spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent for such Foreign Currency on the London market at 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date for the purchase of dollars with such Foreign Currency, for delivery two Business Days later; provided , that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Administrative Agent, after consultation with the Borrower, may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) Taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income, franchise Taxes and branch profits or similar Taxes, in each case, imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Lender or the Administrative Agent and the Governmental Authority imposing such tax (other than any such connection arising solely from such Lender or the Administrative Agent having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement), (b) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender to the extent they are in effect and would apply as of the date such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement or designates a new lending office, or that is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.16(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.16(a) and (c) any Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Existing Target Indebtedness ” means the Senior Facilities Agreement dated September 19, 2014, as amended and restated pursuant to the First Amendment and Restatement Agreement dated August 4, 2016 and as amended and restated pursuant to the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated February 13, 2017, between, amongst others, Yellow Maple Holding BV as company and Deutsche Bank AG London Branch as agent and security agent.

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions (as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

Financial Officer ” of any Person means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such Person.

 

10


Fitch ” means Fitch Ratings.

Foreign Currencies ” means, collectively, Pounds Sterling and Euros.

Foreign Lender ” means, with respect to any Loan, any Lender making such Loan that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) and any group or body charged with setting financial accounting or regulatory capital rules or standards (including, without limitation, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).

Granting Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(e).

Guarantee ” of or by any Person (the “ guarantor ”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”), whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided , that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Impacted Interest Period ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBO Rate”.

Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing unconditional right to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed (the amount of any Indebtedness resulting from this clause (e) shall be equal to the lesser of (i) the amount secured by such Lien and (ii) the fair market value of the property subject to such Lien as determined in good faith by such Person), (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty issued by banks or other financial institutions and (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances created for the account of such Person. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

11


Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under this Agreement, other than (i) Excluded Taxes and (ii) Other Taxes.

Indemnitee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.03(b).

Index Debt ” means senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower that is not guaranteed by any other person or entity or subject to any other credit enhancement.

Ineligible Institution ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(b).

Information ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.12.

Interest Election Request ” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

Interest Expense ” means, for any period, (x) the interest expense of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and including (i) the amortization of debt discounts to the extent included in interest expense in accordance with GAAP, (ii) the amortization of all fees (including fees with respect to Swap Agreements) payable in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness to the extent included in interest expense in accordance with GAAP, and (iii) the portion of any rents payable under capital leases allocable to interest expense in accordance with GAAP minus (y) the interest income of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date and (b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Maturity Date.

Interest Period ” means with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, or, if available by all Lenders, twelve months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided , that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

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Interpolated Rate ” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time.

Joint Lead Arrangers ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., each in its capacity as a joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner hereunder.

Judgment Currency ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.14.

Lender Parent ” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.

Lenders ” means the Persons listed on Schedule  2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in any Agreed Currency and for any applicable Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for such Agreed Currency for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen or, in the event such rate does not appear on either of such Reuters pages, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion (in each case the “ LIBOR Screen Rate ”) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Quotation Day for such Agreed Currency and Interest Period; provided that, if the LIBOR Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement; provided , further , that if a LIBOR Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (the “ Impacted Interest Period ”), then the LIBO Rate for such Agreed Currency and such Interest Period shall be the Interpolated Rate; provided , that, if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement. It is understood and agreed that all of the terms and conditions of this definition of “LIBO Rate” shall be subject to Section 2.13.

LIBOR Screen Rate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBO Rate”.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset of any Person, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset of any Person, for the purpose of securing any obligation of such Person or any other Person, and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset.

 

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Loan Documents ” means this Agreement and any Notes entered into in connection herewith.

Loans ” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

Local Time ” means (i) New York City time in the case of a Loan or Borrowing denominated in dollars and (ii) local time in the case of a Loan or Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency (it being understood that such local time shall mean London, England time unless otherwise notified by the Administrative Agent).

Long Stop Date ” means the earliest of (i) 6:00 p.m. (New York Time) on January 29, 2018 and (ii) the Completion (as defined in the Target Acquisition Agreement) of the Target Acquisition with or without the use of the Loans.

Mandatory Cancellation Event ” means the occurrence of any of the following conditions or events:

(i)         the Long Stop Date; or

(ii)        the termination of the Target Acquisition Agreement in accordance with its terms.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform any of its payment obligations under this Agreement or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders under this Agreement.

Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $50,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

Material Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (a) the Total Assets of which exceed 10% of the Total Assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year or (b) the Net Revenue of which exceeds 10% of the Net Revenue of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year, provided that (i) any Subsidiary that directly or indirectly owns a Material Subsidiary shall itself be a Material Subsidiary and (ii) in the event Subsidiaries that would otherwise not be Material Subsidiaries shall in the aggregate account for a percentage in excess of 15% of the Total Assets or 15% of the Net Revenue of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year, then one or more of such Subsidiaries designated by the Borrower (or, if the Borrower shall make no designation, one or more of such Subsidiaries in descending order based on their respective contributions to such determination of Total Assets), shall be included as Material Subsidiaries to the extent necessary to eliminate such excess.

Maturity Date ” means June 6, 2020 (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.13.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

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Multicurrency Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of Multicurrency Loans.

Multicurrency Loan ” means a Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency.

Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

Net Revenue ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the net revenue of such Person and its consolidated subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period.

New Senior Notes ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Non-Agreeing Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(d).

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

NYFRB ” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

NYFRB Rate ” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. (New York Time) on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a Federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided , further , that if any of the aforesaid rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

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

Other Taxes ” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary Taxes or any other excise or property Taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, except any Taxes that are imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.18 or 10.02(d)).

Overnight Bank Funding Rate ” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate (from and after such date as the NYFRB shall commence to publish such composite rate).

Overnight Foreign Currency Rate ” means, for any amount payable in a Foreign Currency, the rate of interest per annum as determined by the Administrative Agent at which overnight or weekend deposits in the relevant currency (or if such amount due remains unpaid for more than three (3) Business Days, then for such other period of time as the Administrative Agent may elect) for delivery in immediately available and freely transferable funds would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the interbank market upon request of such major banks for the relevant currency as determined above and in an amount comparable to the unpaid principal amount of the related Borrowing, plus any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed upon, or charged to, the Administrative Agent by any relevant correspondent bank in respect of such amount in such relevant currency.

 

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Participant ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.04(c).

Participant Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.04(c).

Participating Member State ” means any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to economic and monetary union.

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

Permitted Encumbrances ” means:

(a)        Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04 and liens for unpaid utility charges;

(b)        carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, landlords’, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 60 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

(c)        pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations or employment laws or to secure other public statutory or regulatory obligations;

(d)        deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business and deposits securing liabilities to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements;

(e)        easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(f)        licenses, sublicenses, leases, or subleases granted to other Persons not materially interfering with the conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(g)        banker’s liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with depository institutions; provided that such deposit accounts or funds are not established or deposited for the purpose of providing collateral for any Indebtedness; and

(h)        Liens arising by virtue of Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings (or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating leases entered into by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business.

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

 

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Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Platform ” means Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.

Pounds Sterling ” or “ £ ” means the lawful money of the United Kingdom.

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

Pro Forma Financials ” has the meaning provided in Section 4.02(i).

Quotation Day ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, (i) if the currency is Pounds Sterling, the first day of such Interest Period, (ii) if the currency is euro, the day that is two (2) TARGET2 Days before the first day of such Interest Period, and (iii) for any other currency, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (unless, in each case, market practice differs in the relevant market where the LIBO Rate for such currency is to be determined, in which case the Quotation Day will be determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with market practice in such market (and if quotations would normally be given on more than one day, then the Quotation Day will be the last of those days)).

Reference Bank Rate ” means the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) supplied to the Administrative Agent at its request by the Reference Banks (as the case may be) as of the applicable time on the Quotation Day for Loans in the applicable currency and the applicable Interest Period as the rate at which the relevant Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London (or other applicable) interbank market in the relevant currency and for the relevant period, were it to do so by asking for and then accepting interbank offers in reasonable market size in that currency and for that period.

Reference Banks ” means such banks as may be appointed by the Administrative Agent (and agreed by such bank) in consultation with the Borrower. No Lender shall be obligated to be a Reference Bank without its consent.

Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.04.

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

Required Lenders ” means, subject to Section 2.20, at any time, Lenders having Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time.

Reset Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.05(a).

S&P ” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.

 

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Sanctioned Country ” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of comprehensive Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

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

Sanctions ” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or any relevant and applicable European Union member state.

SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sellers ” has the meaning set forth in the Target Acquisition Agreement.

SPC ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.04(e).

Statutory Reserve Rate ” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves or other requirements) established by any central bank, monetary authority, the Board, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the European Central Bank or other Governmental Authority for any category of deposits or liabilities customarily used to fund loans in the applicable currency, expressed in the case of each such requirement as a decimal. Such reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D of the Board. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to be subject to such reserve, liquid asset, fee or similar requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under any applicable law, rule or regulation, including Regulation D of the Board. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve, liquid asset or similar requirement.

subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ parent ”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

Subsidiary ” means any subsidiary of the Borrower.

Successor Corporation ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02(c).

 

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Swap Agreement ” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

Target ” means Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing B.V., a besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid organized under the laws of the Netherlands and registered with the Dutch trade register under number 33242490.

Target Acquisition ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Target Acquisition Agreement ” means that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated May 15, 2017, by and between the sellers identified therein, the Buyer (as defined therein) and the Borrower relating to the Securities in Yellow Maple I B.V., Yellow Maple Syrup I B.V. and Yellow Maple Syrup II B.V.

Target Acquisition Documents ” means (a) the Target Acquisition Agreement and (b) the warranty agreement, dated May 15, 2017, between certain warrantors and the Buyer (as defined in the Target Acquisition Agreement).

Target Group ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Certain Funds Default.

TARGET2 ” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET2) payment system (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system (if any) reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) for the settlement of payments in Euro.

TARGET2 Day ” means a day that TARGET2 is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

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

Term Loan Facility ” means the Commitments and any Loan made hereunder.

Total Assets ” means, at any date as to any Person, the total assets of such Person and its consolidated subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Total Debt ” means, at any date all indebtedness of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries at such date to the extent such items should be reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower (excluding any such items which appear only in the notes to such consolidated balance sheet) at such date in accordance with GAAP; provided that obligations in respect of performance, surety, litigation or similar bonds which are not themselves guarantees of indebtedness shall not constitute indebtedness.

Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio ” means, at any time, the ratio of (a) Total Debt (net of unrestricted and unencumbered cash and cash equivalents maintained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000) at such time to (b) EBITDA for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended at or prior to such time. Solely for purposes of this definition, (i) if the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries shall have completed an acquisition of all or a substantial part of the assets, or a going concern business or division, of any Person, or (ii) if the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries shall have merged with any Person during such period or (iii) the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries shall have disposed of all or a substantial part of its assets or a going concern business or division, in each case, EBITDA for the relevant period shall be determined on a pro forma basis as if such acquisition, disposition or merger, and the incurrence of any related Indebtedness, had occurred on the first day of such period.

 

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Transactions ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Type ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

Section 1.02.    Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type ( e.g. , a “Eurocurrency Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type ( e.g. , a “Eurocurrency Borrowing”).

Section 1.03.    Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

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Section 1.04.     Accounting Terms; GAAP ; Pro Forma Calculations .  (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

(b)        All pro forma computations required to be made hereunder giving effect to any acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction shall in each case be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto (and, in the case of any pro forma computation made hereunder to determine whether such acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction is permitted to be consummated hereunder, to any other such transaction consummated since the first day of the period covered by any component of such pro forma computation and on or prior to the date of such computation) as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, ending with the last fiscal quarter included in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)), and, to the extent applicable, to the historical earnings and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of and any related incurrence or reduction of Indebtedness. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Swap Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness).

Section 1.05.     Exchange Rates .  (a) Not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Calculation Date, the Administrative Agent shall (i) determine the Exchange Rate as of such Calculation Date with respect to each Foreign Currency (A) in which any Lender or Lenders shall have extended a commitment to make Loans or (B) in which any Loan or Loans shall be outstanding and (ii) give notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. The Exchange Rates so determined shall become effective on the first Business Day immediately following the relevant Calculation Date (a “ Reset Date ”), shall remain effective until the next succeeding Reset Date, and shall for all purposes of this Agreement (other than Section 10.14 or any other provision expressly requiring the use of a current Exchange Rate) be the Exchange Rates employed in converting any amounts between dollars and Foreign Currencies.

(b)        Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Reset Date and each Borrowing Date with respect to Multicurrency Loans, the Administrative Agent shall (i) determine the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of the Multicurrency Loans then outstanding (after giving effect to any Multicurrency Loans to be made or repaid on such date) and (ii) notify the Lenders and the Borrower of the results of such determination.

 

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ARTICLE 2

T HE C REDITS

Section 2.01.       Commitments .    (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender, severally and not jointly, agrees to make Loans, denominated in Agreed Currencies (selected by the Borrower), to the Borrower on the Closing Date in a Dollar Equivalent amount not to exceed such Lenders outstanding Commitment immediately prior to the making of the Loan. The Borrower may prepay Loans pursuant to Section 2.10; provided that Loans may not be reborrowed once repaid.

Section 2.02.       Loans and Borrowings .    (a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans denominated in Agreed Currencies (selected by the Borrower) and made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b)        Subject to Section 2.13, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that each ABR Loan shall only be made in dollars. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurocurrency Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that (i) any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (ii) unless the Borrower shall request that an Affiliate of a Lender make a Loan, a Lender may not recover for any increased costs under Section 2.14 or 2.16 incurred solely as a result of an Affiliate of such Lender, rather than such Lender, making a Loan, if, without economic disadvantage to, and consistent with the policies and practices of, such Lender, such Loan could have been made in a manner that would have avoided such increased costs under Section 2.14 or 2.16.

(c)        Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

Section 2.03.       Requests for Borrowings .    To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by (a) irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request in a form reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in dollars, not later than 9:00 a.m., Local Time, three Business Days (or such shorter time period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) before the date of the proposed Borrowing and (b) telephone, in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the same day as the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i)         the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

(ii)        the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

 

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(iii)      whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing;

(iv)      in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”, and the currency of such Borrowing, which shall be dollars or a Foreign Currency; and

(v)       the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06; and

(vi)      in the case of a Borrowing in a Foreign Currency, the location from which payments of the principal and interest on such Borrowing will be made, which will comply with the requirements of Section 2.17.

If no election as to the Type of Dollar Borrowing is specified, then the requested Dollar Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no currency is specified with respect to any requested Eurocurrency Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected dollars. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurocurrency Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

Section 2.04.       [Intentionally Omitted] .

Section 2.05.       [Intentionally Omitted] .

Section 2.06.       Funding of Borrowings .    (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by (i) 12:00 noon, New York City time, in case of a Dollar Loan, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders, or (ii) 12:00 noon, Local Time, in the case of a Multicurrency Loan, at the Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower (i) in case of a Dollar Loan, promptly (but in no event later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time), by crediting the amounts so received by 12:00 noon, New York City time, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City, (ii) in the case of Multicurrency Loans, promptly (but in no event later than 3:00 p.m., London time), by crediting the amounts so received by 12:00 noon, Local Time, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in London or (iii) to such other account as may be specified in the applicable Borrowing Request.

(b)        Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed time of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and the rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (including without limitation the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency) or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing and the Administrative Agent shall return to the Borrower any amount (including interest) paid by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this paragraph with respect to such amount.

 

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Section 2.07.       Interest Elections .    (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to (i) change the currency of any Borrowing or (ii) convert any Multicurrency Borrowing to an ABR Borrowing.

(b)        To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election (by telephone or irrevocable written notice in the case of a Borrowing denominated in dollars or by irrevocable written notice (via an Interest Election Request in a form reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency) by the time and at the office at which a Borrowing Request would be required to be delivered under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.

(c)        Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i)       the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii)     the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii)    whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing; and

(iv)    if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

(d)        Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

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(e)        If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing (unless such Borrowing is a Multicurrency Borrowing, in which case such Borrowing shall be continued at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of a duration of one month). Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing (except as set forth in clause (ii) (y)) and (ii) unless repaid (x) each Eurocurrency Borrowing (other than a Multicurrency Borrowing) shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto and (y) each Multicurrency Borrowing shall be continued at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a Multicurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of a duration of one month.

Section 2.08.       Termination, Reduction and Increase of Commitments .    (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate in full at 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date a Mandatory Cancellation Event occurs or exists, for the avoidance of doubt, on such date but immediately after the relevant Mandatory Cancellation Event occurs or first exists. Additionally, each Lender’s Commitment will be permanently reduced and terminated upon such Lender making any Loan under such Commitment by an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Loan. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent.

(b)        The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $2,500,000 and not less than $25,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.10, the sum of the Credit Exposures would exceed the total Commitments.

(c)        The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days (or, to the extent a concurrent prepayment of Loans is required in accordance with Section 2.10, upon the minimum advance notice required in connection with such prepayment under such Section) prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.

Section 2.09.       Amortization; Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt .    (a) The Borrower shall repay the Loans in installments beginning on the last day of the fifth fiscal quarter of the Borrower following the Closing Date and on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending after such fifth fiscal quarter, which installments shall each be in an amount equal to 1.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans actually funded on the Closing Date.

 

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(b)        To the extent not previously repaid, the Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan on the Maturity Date.

(c)        Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(d)        The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type (and, in the case of a Multicurrency Loan, the currency) thereof and the Interest Period (if any) applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(e)        The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(f)        Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a Note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns). Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by each such Note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.04) be represented by one or more Notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or, if such Note is a registered Note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

Section 2.10.       Prepayment of Loans .    (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section.

(b)        The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency Dollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency Multicurrency Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., London time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (iii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.08. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12 and break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.15.

 

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(c)        Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing in such order of application as directed by the Borrower.

Section 2.11.       Fees .    (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender for such time as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender), a non-refundable ticking fee from the date that is ninety (90) days following the Effective Date and from time to time through and including the date of termination of the Commitments in full, at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Rate, on the aggregate daily amount of such Lender’s Commitments during such period, such fee to be earned and payable in arrears quarterly on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, and the Commitment Termination Date. All ticking fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(b)        [Intentionally Omitted].

(c)        The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(d)        All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, in the case of ticking fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

Section 2.12.       Interest .    (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b)        The Loans comprising each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

(c)        Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided above or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided above.

(d)        Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Loan prior to the Maturity Date), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment, (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion and (iv) all accrued interest shall be payable upon termination of the Commitments.

(e)        All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest (i) computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and (ii) for Borrowings denominated in Pounds Sterling shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days, and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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Section 2.13.       Alternate Rate of Interest .

(a)        If at the time that the Administrative Agent shall seek to determine the LIBOR Screen Rate on the Quotation Day for any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing the LIBOR Screen Rate shall not be available for such Interest Period and/or for the applicable currency with respect to such Eurocurrency Borrowing for any reason, and the Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine that it is not possible to determine the Interpolated Rate (which conclusion shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error), then the Reference Bank Rate shall be the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Borrowing; provided that if the Reference Bank Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement; provided , further , however, that if less than two Reference Banks shall supply a rate to the Administrative Agent for purposes of determining the LIBO Rate for such Eurocurrency Borrowing, (i) if such Borrowing shall be requested in Dollars, then such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing at the Alternate Base Rate and (ii) if such Borrowing shall be requested in any Foreign Currency, the LIBO Rate shall be equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion after consultation with the Borrower and consented to in writing by the Required Lenders (the “ Alternative Rate ”); provided , however , that until such time as the Alternative Rate shall be determined and so consented to by the Required Lenders, Borrowings shall not be available in such Foreign Currency.

(b)        If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing:

(i)        the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be presumed correct absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

(ii)        the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period; or

(iii)      in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be presumed correct absent manifest error) that deposits in the applicable currency are not generally available, or cannot be obtained by the Eurocurrency Lenders in the applicable market;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders or the applicable Eurocurrency Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders or the applicable Eurocurrency Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be ineffective, and any Eurocurrency Borrowing so requested to be continued shall, at the option of the Borrower, be repaid in full on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or be converted to an ABR Borrowing denominated in dollars (and in the case of a Multicurrency Borrowing, such conversion shall be made at the Exchange Rate determined by the Administrative Agent on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto), (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing (other than a Multicurrency Borrowing), such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing and (iii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Multicurrency Borrowing, the LIBO Rate for such Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be the Alternative Rate; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice do not affect all applicable currencies, then requests for Eurocurrency Borrowings may be made in the currencies that are not affected thereby and, if the circumstances giving rise to such notice only affect one Type of Borrowing, then the other Type of Borrowing shall not be affected.

 

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Section 2.14.       Increased Costs . (a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i)        impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate);

(ii)        impose on any Lender or the London interbank market (or any other market in which the funding operations of such Lender shall be conducted with respect to any Foreign Currency) any other condition affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender; or

(iii)        subject the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Excluded Taxes (including any change in the rate of Excluded Taxes) and (C) Other Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in respect thereof hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b)        If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c)        A certificate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent setting forth, in reasonable detail, the basis and calculation of the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Administrative Agent or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be presumed correct absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Administrative Agent the amount due under this Section within 10 days after receipt of the relevant certificate.

(d)        Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than six months prior to the date that such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

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Section 2.15.       Break Funding Payments . In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.10), (b) the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the conversion of any Multicurrency Loan to a dollar denominated Loan pursuant to any Section of this Agreement, (d) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurocurrency Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice is permitted to be revocable under Section 2.10(d) and is revoked in accordance herewith), or (e) the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event (and in the case of any conversion of Multicurrency Loans to dollar Loans, such loss, cost or expense shall also include any loss, cost or expense sustained by a Eurocurrency Lender as a result of such conversion). In the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, the loss to any Lender attributable to any such event shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be equal, except as otherwise provided in the final parenthetical in the preceding sentence, to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that such Lender would pay for a deposit equal to the principal amount of such Loan (and in the same currency as such Loan) for the period from the date of such payment, conversion, failure or assignment to the last day of the then current Interest Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, the duration of the Interest Period that would have resulted from such borrowing, conversion or continuation) if the interest rate payable on such deposit were equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period, over (ii) the amount of interest that such Lender would earn on such principal amount for such period if such Lender were to invest such principal amount for such period at the interest rate that would be bid by such Lender (or an affiliate of such Lender) for deposits in the same currency from other banks in the eurodollar market at the commencement of such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section, and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation used by such Lender to determine such amount or amounts shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be presumed correct absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount due under this Section within 10 days after receipt of the relevant certificate; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any amounts under this Section 2.15 incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of such amount and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor.

Section 2.16.       Taxes . (a) Any and all payments by or an account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b)        In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

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(c)        The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 15 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section), and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

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

(e)        Each Lender that is not a United States person as defined in section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall, if legally able to do so, prior to the immediately following due date of any payment by the Borrower under this Agreement, deliver to the Borrower Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E or Form W-8ECI, or, in the case of a Lender claiming exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to payments under this Agreement under section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code relating to payments of “portfolio interest”, Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E and a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit B , and any other certificate or statement of exemption or any subsequent version thereof or successors thereto, properly completed and duly executed by such Lender claiming complete exemption or a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax.

(f)        If the Borrower determines in good faith that a reasonable basis exists for contesting an Indemnified Tax or Other Tax, the relevant Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall cooperate with the Borrower in challenging such Tax at the Borrower’s expense if requested by the Borrower. If any Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall become aware that it is entitled to receive a refund in respect of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes pursuant to Section 2.16, it shall promptly notify the Borrower of the availability of such refund and shall, within 30 days after receipt of a request by the Borrower, apply for such refund if it is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender or the Administrative Agent. If any Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund (whether by way of a direct payment or by offset) of any Indemnified Tax or Other Tax for which a payment has been made pursuant to Section 2.16 or realizes any credit or other tax benefit as a result of the payment of such Tax by the Borrower, which refund, credit or tax benefit in the good faith judgment of such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, is allocable to such payment made under Section 2.16, the amount of such refund, credit or tax benefit (together with any interest received from the applicable Governmental Authority thereon) shall be paid to the Borrower, net of all out of pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided , that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

 

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(g)        Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (g).

(h)        If a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this paragraph (h), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

Section 2.17.       Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set offs . (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees, or of amounts payable under Section 2.09, 2.11, 2.12, 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16) prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time (in the case of payments with respect to Multicurrency Loans, prior to 11:00 a.m., London time), in the city of the Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency, in each case on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made (i) in the case of amounts due in dollars, to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 10 South Dearborn Street, 7 th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603 and (ii) in the case of amounts due in any Foreign Currency, to the Administrative Agent, at the Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 10.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise) shall be made in the applicable currency specified elsewhere herein or, if no currency is specified, in dollars, it being understood and agreed that any repayment (including any partial prepayment) of a Loan denominated in an Agreed Currency shall be made in such Agreed Currency. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if, after the making of any Borrowing in any Foreign Currency, currency control or exchange regulations are imposed in the country which issues such currency with the result that the type of currency in which the Borrowing was made (the “ Original Currency ”) no longer exists or the Borrower is not able to make payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders in such Original Currency, then all payments to be made by the Borrower hereunder in such currency shall instead be made when due in dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent (as of the date of repayment) of such payment due, it being the intention of the parties hereto that the Borrower takes all risks of the imposition of any such currency control or exchange regulations.

 

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(b)        If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, to pay interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, to pay principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

(c)        If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

(d)        Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute (or cause the Administrative Agent to distribute) to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (including without limitation the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency).

(e)        If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06(b), 2.17(d) or 10.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under such Sections; in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

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Section 2.18.       Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .  (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.14 or 2.16, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)        If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender fails to approve any waiver or amendment to this Agreement which has been approved by the Required Lenders, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.14 and 2.16) and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.14 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.16, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

Section 2.19.       Use of Proceeds .    The proceeds of the Loans shall be available, and the Borrower agrees that it shall apply such proceeds, solely towards Certain Funds Purposes.

Section 2.20.       Defaulting Lenders .  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a)        fees shall cease to accrue on the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.11(a); and

(b)        the Commitment and Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.02); provided , that, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02, this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby.

 

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ARTICLE 3

R EPRESENTATIONS A ND W ARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

Section 3.01.       Organization; Powers .  Each of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

Section 3.02.       Authorization; Enforceability .    The Transactions are within the Borrower’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 3.03.       Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts .  The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, and except for such consents, approvals, registrations, filings and other actions the failure to obtain or make could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) will not violate (i) any applicable law or regulation, except, in the case of this clause (i), for such violations which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) any order of any Governmental Authority, except, in the case of this clause (iii), for such violations which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such violations and defaults which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries.

Section 3.04.       Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change .  (a)  The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016 and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, in each case reported on by KPMG LLP, independent public accountants. Such financial statements (including notes thereto) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP.

(b)        Since December 31, 2016, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations or financial condition, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as publicly disclosed by the Borrower prior to April 30, 2017.

 

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Section 3.05.       Properties .  (a) Each of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes. There are no Liens on any such property other than Liens permitted under Section 6.01.

(b)        Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and the use thereof by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.06.       Litigation and Environmental Matters .    (a)  There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

(b)        Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

(c)        Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.07.       Compliance with Laws and Agreements .    Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including without limitation any “margin” rules or regulations promulgated by the Board) and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

Section 3.08.       Investment Company Status .    Neither the Borrower nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Section 3.09.       Taxes .  Each of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all material Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes due with respect thereto, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.10.       ERISA .  No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur prior to the Maturity Date that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which the Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate has, or is reasonably expected to have, any liability, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plan by an amount that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans by an amount that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 3.11.       Disclosure .  None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), taken as a whole and when furnished, contain any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time so furnished (it being understood by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that any such projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, that no assurances can be given that such projections will be realized and that actual results may differ materially from such projections).

Section 3.12.       Subsidiaries .   Schedule 3.12   to the Disclosure Letter sets forth as of December 31, 2016 a list of all Subsidiaries and the percentage ownership interest of the Borrower therein. As of December 31, 2016, the shares of capital stock of such Subsidiaries will be fully paid and non-assessable and such shares and other ownership interests so indicated by Schedule 3.12 to the Disclosure Letter will be owned by the Borrower, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens.

Section 3.13.       Use of Proceeds .  The proceeds of the Loans shall be applied by the Borrower in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.19.

Section 3.14.       Solvency .  On the date of the first Borrowing hereunder and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing, (a) the fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, do not intend to incur or do not believe they will incur debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, beyond their ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they become absolute and matured; and (d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which they are engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date.

Section 3.15.       Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions .    The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and to the knowledge of the Borrower its directors and employees, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or to the knowledge of the Borrower any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any agent of any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or use of proceeds thereof will violate any Anti-Corruption Law or applicable Sanctions in any material respect.

 

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Section 3.16.       EEA Financial Institution .  The Borrower is not an EEA Financial Institution.

Section 3.17.       Target Acquisition .  The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a complete and correct copy of the Target Acquisition Documents, including all schedules and exhibits thereto. As of the date of this Agreement, the Target Acquisition Documents contain all of the material terms and conditions of the Target Acquisition.

Section 3.18.       Federal Reserve Regulations .  No part of the proceeds of any Loan have been used or will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

ARTICLE 4

C ONDITIONS

Section 4.01.       Conditions Precedent to Effective Date .  This Agreement shall become effective on and as of the first date on which the following conditions precedent have been satisfied (with the Administrative Agent acting reasonably in assessing whether the conditions precedent are satisfactory) (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02):

(a)        The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include .pdf or facsimile transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

(b)        All fees and other amounts then due and payable by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or pursuant to any fee or similar letters relating to the Loan Documents shall be paid, to the extent invoiced by the relevant person at least one Business Day prior to the Effective Date and to the extent such amounts are payable on or prior to the Effective Date.

(c)        The Administrative Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date, each dated on or about such date:

(i)        Certified copies of the resolutions or similar authorizing documentation of the governing body of the Borrower authorizing the Transactions and the Borrower to enter into and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents;

(ii)        A good standing certificate or similar certificate dated a date reasonably close to the Effective Date from the jurisdiction of formation of the Borrower, but only where such concept is applicable;

(iii)        A customary certificate of the Borrower certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered by it hereunder; and

 

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(iv)      A favorable opinion letter of (x) John Goggins, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Borrower and (y) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(d)        The Administrative Agent shall have received, at least 3 Business Days prior to the Effective Date, so long as requested no less than 10 Business Days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act, in each case relating to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

(e)        The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of each of the Target Acquisition Documents.

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date in writing promptly upon such conditions precedent being satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.02), and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

Section 4.02.       Conditions Precedent to Closing Date .  The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 10.02) of the following conditions:

(a)        The Effective Date shall have occurred.

(b)        The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Borrower confirming that the Merger Control Clearance Condition (as defined in the Target Acquisition Agreement) has been satisfied.

(c)        On the date of the applicable borrowing request and on the proposed date of such borrowing (x) no Certain Funds Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Borrowing and (y) all the Certain Funds Representations are true or, if a Certain Funds Representation does not include a materiality concept, true in all material respects.

(d)        The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of the notary letter entered into with the Dutch civil law notary relating to the closing of the Target Acquisition and financing of the Target Acquisition.

(e)        The Target Acquisition shall have been, or substantially concurrently with the occurrence of the Closing Date shall be, consummated in all material respects in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Target Acquisition Agreement (it being understood that substantially concurrently shall include the Target Acquisition being consummated no more than two Business Days after the initial Loan hereunder), without giving effect to (and there shall not have been) any modifications, amendments, consents or waivers by the Borrower (or its applicable affiliate) thereunder that are materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders (it being understood and agreed that the following shall not be deemed to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders: (x) any increase in the purchase price funded with the issuance of any equity securities by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (y) any increase in the purchase price funded other than through the issuance of equity securities by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of not more than 5.0%; and (z) any decrease in the purchase price of not more than 10.0%; provided that such decrease shall be allocated to ratably reduce the Commitments and any outstanding Tranche 1 Commitments (as defined in the Bridge Credit Agreement)), without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

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(f)        All fees and other amounts due and payable by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or pursuant to any fee or similar letters relating to the Loan Documents shall be paid, to the extent invoiced at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date by the relevant person and to the extent such amounts are payable on or prior to the Closing Date.

(g)        The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.

(h)        The Administrative Agent shall have received a customary payoff letter with respect to, and reasonably satisfactory evidence that, all Existing Target Indebtedness shall be repaid in full and all security interests related thereto shall be terminated on or prior to the Closing Date.

(i)        The Administrative Agent shall have received a pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of and for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the most recently completed four-fiscal quarter period ended at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, prepared after giving effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income) (the “ Pro Forma Financials ”), it being acknowledged that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any approval right as regards the form or contents of the Pro Forma Financials).

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Closing Date as soon as practicable upon its occurrence, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

Section 4.03.       Actions by Lenders During the Certain Funds Period .  During the Certain Funds Period and notwithstanding (i) any provision to the contrary in the Loan Documents or (ii) that any condition set out in Sections 4.01 or 4.02 may subsequently be determined to not have been satisfied or any representation given was incorrect in any material respect, none of the Lenders nor the Administrative Agent shall, unless a Certain Funds Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from a proposed borrowing or a Certain Funds Representation remains incorrect or, if a Certain Funds Representation does not include a materiality concept, incorrect in any material respect, be entitled to:

(i)         cancel or reduce any of its Commitments;

(ii)        rescind, terminate or cancel the Loan Documents or the Commitments or exercise any similar right or remedy or make or enforce any claim under the Loan Documents it may have to the extent to do so would prevent or limit (A) the making of a Loan for Certain Funds Purposes or (B) the application of amounts standing to the credit of an Escrow Account for Certain Funds Purposes;

(iii)        refuse to participate in the making of a Loan for Certain Funds Purposes unless the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 have not been satisfied;

(iv)        exercise any right of set-off or counterclaim in respect of a Loan to the extent to do so would prevent or limit (A) the making of a Loan for Certain Funds Purposes or (B) the application of amounts standing to the credit of an Escrow Account for Certain Funds Purposes; or

(v)        cancel, accelerate or cause repayment or prepayment of any amounts owing under any Loan Document to the extent to do so would prevent or limit (A) the making of a Loan for Certain Funds Purposes or (B) the application of amounts standing to the credit of an Escrow Account for Certain Funds Purposes;

 

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provided that immediately upon the expiry of the Certain Funds Period all such rights, remedies and entitlements shall be available to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent notwithstanding that they may not have been used or been available for use during the Certain Funds Period.

ARTICLE 5

A FFIRMATIVE C OVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 5.01.     Financial Statements and Other Information . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders:

(a)        within 70 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or the number of days that is ten days more than such shorter period as may be required by the SEC), its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case comparative figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; provided that such report may contain a “going concern” or like qualification or exception, or qualification arising out of the scope of the audit, if such qualification or exception is related solely from the classification of the Loans hereunder as short-term indebtedness during the twelve-month period prior to the Maturity Date hereunder) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

(b)        within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or the number of days that is five days more than such shorter period as may be required by the SEC), its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year and statements of cash flow for the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case comparative figures for the corresponding periods of the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c)        concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 6.05 and (iii) stating whether any material change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 affecting the Borrower and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

(d)        concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Default (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);

 

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(e)        promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other material reports (other than reports relating to employee benefit matters or employment plans) and proxy statements filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be, and all material amendments to any of the foregoing;

(f)        promptly after S&P or Fitch shall have announced a change in the rating established or deemed to have been established for the Index Debt, written notice of such rating change; and

(g)        promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

Information required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (e) of this Section 5.01 shall be deemed to have been delivered if such information, or one or more annual, quarterly or other periodic reports containing such information, shall have been posted by the Administrative Agent on an IntraLinks or similar site to which the Lenders have been granted access or shall be available on the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall be required to provide copies of the compliance certificates required by clause (c) of this Section 5.01 to the Administrative Agent. Information required to be delivered pursuant to this Section may also be delivered by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and/or the Joint Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on the Platform.

Section 5.02.     Notices of Material Events .  The Borrower will, upon knowledge thereof by a Financial Officer or other executive officer, furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders prompt written notice of the following:

(a)        the occurrence of any Default;

(b)        the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c)        the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates in an aggregate amount that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(d)        details of any material breach of the terms of the Target Acquisition Documents or any material claim made by or against the Borrower, or, to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made all reasonable enquiries), pending or threatened, under the terms of the Target Acquisition Documents; and

(e)        any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto. Information required to be delivered pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 5.02 shall be deemed to have been delivered if such information, or one or more annual or quarterly or other periodic reports containing such information, shall have been posted by the Administrative Agent on an IntraLinks or similar site to which the Lenders have been granted access or shall be available on the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Information required to be delivered pursuant to this Section may also be delivered by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent.

Section 5.03.     Existence; Conduct of Business . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted pursuant to Section 6.02.

Section 5.04.     Payment of Obligations . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including material Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.05.     Maintenance of Properties; Insurance . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations; provided that any such insurance may be maintained through a program of self-insurance to the extent deemed prudent by the Borrower in its reasonable business judgment (which determination shall take into account the self-insurance practices customary among such companies, to the extent the Borrower has knowledge thereof without any investigation).

Section 5.06.     Books and Records; Inspection Rights . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in accordance with GAAP (or, the case of a foreign Subsidiary, generally accepted accounting principles in the jurisdiction of organization of such foreign Subsidiary). The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent on its own initiative or at the request of the Required Lenders, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested; provided that, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such visitation and inspection rights may only be exercised once per calendar year at the expense of the Borrower.

Section 5.07.     Compliance with Laws . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including ERISA), except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.

 

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Section 5.08.     Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Loans will be used in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.19. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations U and X. The Borrower will not request any Borrowing, and the Borrower shall not use, and the Borrower shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing (i) for payments to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activities, businesses or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States or in a European Union member state or (iii) in any other manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

ARTICLE 6

N EGATIVE C OVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 6.01.     Liens .  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

(a)        Permitted Encumbrances;

(b)        any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01 to the Disclosure Letter and any modifications, renewals and extensions thereof and any Lien on such property or asset granted as a replacement or substitute therefor; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than improvements thereon or proceeds from the disposition of such asset and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (other than by an amount equal to any costs and expenses incurred in connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement);

(c)        any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or any Lien on any asset of any Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or a Subsidiary and any modifications, renewals or extensions of such Lien on such property or asset; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such merger, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than improvements thereon or proceeds from the disposition of such asset and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary or the date of such merger, as the case may be, and extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (other than by an amount equal to any costs and expenses incurred in connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement);

 

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(d)        any Lien on any asset (i) initially securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring or constructing such asset or (ii) securing Indebtedness incurred to extend, renew, refinance or replace the Indebtedness then secured by such Lien, provided that (x) such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 180 days after the acquisition thereof or the completion of such construction and (y) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Lien shall not be increased in connection with any extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement of such Indebtedness (other than by an amount equal to any costs and expenses incurred in connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement);

(e)        any Lien arising in connection with the financing of accounts receivable by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that the uncollected amount of account receivables subject at any time to any such financing shall not exceed $150,000,000;

(f)        any Lien on any property sold or transferred pursuant to a transaction permitted under Section 6.04;

(g)        in the case of any joint venture, any put and call arrangements related to its equity interests set forth in its organizational documents or any related joint venture or similar agreement;

(h)        Liens on assets arising in connection with the sale or transfer of such assets in a transaction permitted hereunder and customary rights and restrictions contained in agreements relating to such sale or transfer pending the completion thereof;

(i)        Liens on earned money deposits of cash or cash equivalents made in connection with any proposed acquisition or other investment not prohibited hereunder;

(j)        any interest or title of a lessor under any lease or sublease entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business and other statutory and common law landlords’ liens under leases;

(k)        any interest or title of a licensor under any license or sublicense entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary as a licensee or sublicensee (A) existing on the date hereof or (B) in the ordinary course of its business;

(l)        Liens in the nature of the right of setoff in favor of counterparties to contractual agreements with the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(m)      Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

(n)        any Lien in favor of the Borrower or any Subsidiary granted by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in order to secure any intercompany obligations;

(o)        any Lien granted or arising in connection with any legal proceeding to the extent such proceeding has not resulted in an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article  7 or any Lien securing appeal or surety bonds related to such legal proceedings; and

(p)        any Lien to secure Indebtedness and other obligations if, at any date, immediately after the incurrence thereof, the sum (without duplication) of all amounts secured by Liens which would not be permitted but for this clause (p) does not exceed $100,000,000.

 

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Section 6.02.     Fundamental Changes . (a) The Borrower will not (i) merge or consolidate with any other Person or (ii) permit any Designated Subsidiary to merge or consolidate with any other Person, except that (1) the Borrower and any Designated Subsidiaries may merge into or consolidate with each other, (2) the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person in accordance with subsection (c) and (3) any Designated Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Person so long as the surviving entity of such merger or consolidation is a Designated Subsidiary. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Designated Subsidiary to, liquidate or dissolve.

(b)        (i) The Borrower will not sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or all or substantially all of the stock or other equity interests of any Designated Subsidiary and (ii) the Borrower will not permit any Designated Subsidiary to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the assets of such Designated Subsidiary and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except (1) the Borrower and any Designated Subsidiaries may consummate any transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) with the Borrower or any other Designated Subsidiary and (2) the Borrower may consummate any transaction described in clause (i) in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section 6.02.

(c)        The Borrower may consummate any of the transactions described in clauses (a)(i) and (b)(i) of this Section if (i) the surviving corporation in any such merger or consolidation or the Person which acquires all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries or all or substantially all of the capital stock or other equity interests of a Designated Subsidiary shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (the “ Successor Corporation ”) and shall expressly assume, pursuant to documentation in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on the Loans and all other amounts payable under this Agreement and the payment and performance of every covenant hereof on the part of the Borrower to be performed or observed; (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, (x) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, on a pro-forma basis, with the covenant contained in Section 6.05 recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower, as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance and (y) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least 10 Business Days prior to the consummation of any such transaction, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower certifying that the condition precedent set forth in clause (iii)(x) with respect to such transaction will be complied with and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to demonstrate such compliance and the assumptions used by the Borrower to make such calculations.

(d)        [Intentionally Omitted].

(e)        The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date and businesses reasonably related or complementary thereto.

Section 6.03.     Transactions with Affiliates .    The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, unless such transaction is (a) on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties (considering such transactions and all other related transactions as a whole), (b) approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors of the Borrower or (c) between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may do the following: (i) pay customary fees and indemnifications to directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (ii) enter into, and may make payments under, employment agreements, employee benefits plans, stock option plans, indemnification provisions and other similar compensatory arrangements with officers, employees and directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; (iii) enter into or make payments under leases or subleases of property in the ordinary course of business not materially interfering with the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iv) enter into any transaction with an Affiliate where the only consideration paid consists of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower.

 

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Section 6.04.     Sale and Lease-Back Transactions . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any arrangement with any Person (other than a Subsidiary) whereby it shall sell or transfer any property used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property which it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred, except for any such arrangement or arrangements with an aggregate sale price not exceeding at any time $100,000,000.

Section 6.05.     Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio . The Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio will not exceed (i) 4.5 to 1.0 as of the end of the first three consecutive fiscal quarters immediately following the Closing Date and (ii) 4.0 to 1.0 as of the end of the fourth fiscal quarter immediately following the Closing Date and each fiscal quarter thereafter.

Section 6.06.     Target Acquisition Documents .

(a)        The Borrower will not amend or otherwise modify the Target Acquisition Agreement in any manner that is materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders without the consent of the Administrative Agent.

(b)        The Borrower shall promptly upon written request from the Administrative Agent supply to the Administrative Agent a copy of any amendment or modification referred to in the immediately preceding clause (a).

ARTICLE 7

E VENTS O F D EFAULT

If any of the following events (“ Events of Default ”) shall occur and be continuing:

(a)        the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

(b)        the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable by the Borrower under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

(c)        any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement, or any amendment or modification hereof, or in any certificate or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

 

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(d)        the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(a), 5.03 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence), 5.08 or in Article  6 ;

(e)        the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (given at the request of any Lender) to the Borrower;

(f)        the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable (after giving effect to any grace period applicable thereto);

(g)        any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness (so long as such Indebtedness is paid when due (or within any applicable grace period)) or (ii) any Indebtedness that is mandatorily prepayable prior to the scheduled maturity thereof with the proceeds of the issuance of capital stock, the incurrence of other Indebtedness or the sale or other disposition of any assets, so long as such Indebtedness is so prepaid in full with such proceeds when due (or within any applicable grace period) and such event shall not have otherwise resulted in an event of default with respect to such Indebtedness;

(h)        an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i)        the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

(j)        the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(k)        one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $50,000,000 (excluding any amount of such judgment as to which an Acceptable Insurer has acknowledged liability) shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain unpaid or undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action, which shall not be effectively stayed, shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

 

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(l)        an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates in an aggregate amount that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(m)        this Agreement shall not be (or shall be claimed by the Company or any Subsidiary not to be) valid or in full force and effect;

(n)        a Change in Control shall occur; or

(o)        (i) the Borrower shall have merged or consolidated with any Person or any Person shall have acquired all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or all or substantially all of the capital stock or other equity interests of any Designated Subsidiary, (ii) either the Borrower or the Person with which it is merging or consolidating or the Person which is acquiring such assets or capital stock or other equity interests shall at the time of such merger or consolidation or acquisition have been rated by a rating agency and (iii) the Successor Corporation shall not have in effect a rating of at least Baa1 from Moody’s or BBB+ from S&P on the 90th day following the consummation of such merger or consolidation or acquisition, as the case may be;

then, and (subject to Section 4.03) in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may (with the consent of the Required Lenders), and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and (but for the avoidance of doubt, always subject to Section 4.03) in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or at law or equity.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for a period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date falling 120 days after the Closing Date (the “ Clean-up Date ”), notwithstanding any other provision of any Loan Document, any breach of covenants, misrepresentation or other default which arises with respect to the Target Group will be deemed not to be a breach of representation or warranty, a breach of covenant or an Event of Default, as the case may be, if:

(i)        it is capable of remedy and reasonable steps are being taken to remedy it;

 

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(ii)        the circumstances giving rise to it have not knowingly been procured by or approved by the Borrower; and

(iii)       it is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis.

If the relevant circumstances are continuing on or after the Clean-up Date, there shall be a breach of representation or warranty, breach of covenant or Event of Default, as the case may be, notwithstanding the above.

ARTICLE 8

T HE A DMINISTRATIVE A GENT

Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article  4 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

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The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor (and, at any time when no Default shall have occurred and is continuing, with the prior written consent of the Borrower). If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.03 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and not investments in a business enterprise or securities. Each Lender further acknowledges that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any arranger of the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement or any other Lender and their respective Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any arranger of the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement or any amendment thereof or any other Lender and their respective Related Parties and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a Lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.

 

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ARTICLE 9

[ INTENTIONALLY O MITTED ]

ARTICLE 10

M ISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.01.     Notices . (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

(i)        if to the Borrower, at 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10007, Attention of Stephen Maire (Telecopy No. (212) 298-7424), with a copy to (A) 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10007, Attention of Elizabeth McCarroll (Telecopy No. (212) 298-6025) and (B) 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10007, Attention of Zeeshan Naqvi (Telecopy No. (212) 553-7759); and

(ii)        if to the Administrative Agent, (A) in the case of Borrowings denominated in dollars, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., JPMorgan Loan Services, 10 South Dearborn Street, L2, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Katy Tyler (Telecopy No. (844) 890-5663) and (B) in the case of Borrowings denominated in Foreign Currencies, to J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, 25 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5JP, United Kingdom, Attention of The Manager, Loan & Agency Services (Telecopy No. 44 207 777 2360), and in each case with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 270 Park Avenue, 43 rd Floor, New York, New York 10017, Attention of Seth Jacobson-Swanson (Telecopy No. (855) 463-9008).

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through Electronic Systems, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

(b)        Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished using Electronic Systems pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article 2 unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications (including in lieu of telecopy) pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

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(c)        Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto (or, in the case of a Lender, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

(d)        The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar Electronic System. Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Communications through an Electronic System. “ Communications ” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent or any Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Electronic System.

(e)        Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) (a “ Notice ”) specifying that any Communications have been posted to the Platform shall constitute effective delivery of such information, documents or other materials to such Lender for purposes of this Agreement. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing of such Lender’s e-mail address to which a Notice may be sent by electronic transmission (including by electronic communication) on or before the date such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record an effective e-mail address for such Lender) and (ii) that any Notice may be sent to such e-mail address.

Section 10.02.     Waivers; Amendments . (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

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(b)        Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that any amendment to the financial covenant definitions in this Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest for purposes of this clause (ii) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or to reduce any fee payable hereunder, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.17(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender or (vi) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 4.01 or 4.02 unless signed by each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any change to Section 2.20 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly affected by such amendment, waiver or other modification.

(c)        Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (x) to add one or more credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement with the Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Lenders.

(d)        If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender directly affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “ Non-Agreeing Lender ”), then the Borrower may elect to replace a Non-Agreeing Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other obligations of the Borrower hereunder due to the Non-Agreeing Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Agreeing Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 10.04, and (ii) the Borrower shall pay to such Non-Agreeing Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Agreeing Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Agreeing Lender under Sections 2.14 and 2.16, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.15 had the Loans of such Non-Agreeing Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender.

 

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(e)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency.

Section 10.03.     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver . (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel and one additional local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and additional counsel in light of actual or potential conflicts of interest or the availability of different claims or defenses, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of no more than one counsel for the Administrative Agent and one counsel for the Lenders (unless representation of the Lenders by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicts of interests among them, in which case the Lenders shall have right to separate counsel, at the expense of the Borrower) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including in connection with any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect thereof.

(b)        The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto or thereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or the use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower or its equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties.

(c)        To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Borrower’s failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such.

 

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(d)      To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and the Borrower hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet) other than damages that are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties, or (ii) on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.

(e)      All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

Section 10.04.     Successors and Assigns . (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b)      (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld (it being agreed that notwithstanding anything herein, during the Certain Funds Period the Borrower may withhold such consent in its sole discretion unless a Certain Funds Default is continuing)) of:

(A)      the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof); provided , further , that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default under clauses (a), (b), (h), (i) or (j) of Article 7 has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee; and

(B)      the Administrative Agent.

(ii)      Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A)      except in the case of any assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment, the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 and increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(B)      each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

 

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(C)      the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to a Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders;

(D)      if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the assigning Lender shall provide prior written notice to the Borrower of such assignment; provided that the failure of provide such notice shall not in any way affect the validity of such assignment;

(E)      the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws; and

(F)      no assignment shall be made to any Ineligible Institution.

For the purposes of this Section 10.04(b), the terms “ Approved Fund ” and “ Ineligible Institution ” have the following meanings:

Approved Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Ineligible Institution ” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, or (d) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof.

(iii)      Subject to acceptance and recording pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.14, Section 2.15, Section 2.16 and Section 10.03). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder to any assignee (including an Affiliate of such Lender) that, but for this sentence, would be entitled, immediately following such assignment, to claim a greater amount than such assigning Lender under Section 2.14, Section 2.15 and Section 2.16, such assignee shall not have the right to claim such greater amount; provided that nothing in this sentence shall limit the right of any such assignee to make claims (x) for amounts not in excess of those that could have been claimed by the assigning Lender, (y) to the extent such claims arise from one or more Changes in Law, or (z) from a change in the office, branch or other place of business from which any payment hereunder is made by the Borrower, in each case after the date of such assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with and subject to the limitations set forth in, paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

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(iv)      The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of and stated interest on the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive (absent manifest error), and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice, and the Borrower may at any time request that the Administrative Agent provide a list of Lenders as of the date of such request.

(v)      Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to a Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06(b), 2.17(d) or 10.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(c)      (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “ Participant ”), other than an Ineligible Institution, in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 10.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.14, Section 2.15, and Section 2.16, to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.17(c) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Commitments, Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “Participant Register” ); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or its other obligations under this Agreement) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

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(ii)      A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.14, Section 2.15 or Section 2.16 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.16, unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.16(e) as though it were a Lender.

(d)        Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any such pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(e)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “ Granting Lender ”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “ SPC ”) of such Granting Lender, identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment to make any Loan by any SPC, (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) all credit decisions (including without limitation any decisions with respect to amendments and waivers) will continue to be made by the Granting Lender. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by the Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any payment under this Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise be liable, for so long as, and to the extent, the related Granting Lender makes such payment. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings or similar proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to its Granting Lender in connection with liquidity and/or credit facilities to or for the account of such SPC to fund such Loans and (ii) subject to the provisions of Section 10.12, disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of a surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

 

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Section 10.05.     Survival . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default (other than a Default which has been waived in accordance with Section 10.02) or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 10.03 and Article  8 shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

Section 10.06.     Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness ; Electronic Execution . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, e-mailed .pdf or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

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Section 10.07.     Severability . Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 10.08.     Right of Setoff . Subject to Section 4.03, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final and in whatever currency denominated) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the amounts then due and owing by the Borrower under this Agreement to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

Section 10.09.     Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

(b)        The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c)        The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d)        Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 10.10.     Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A)  CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

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Section 10.11.     Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 10.12.     Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, auditors, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.12, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the prior written consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.12 or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, “ Information ” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWER OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW .

 

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Section 10.13.     Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “ Charges ”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “ Maximum Rate ”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

Section 10.14.     Conversion of Currencies . (a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.

(b)        The obligations of the Borrower in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “Applicable Creditor”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss. The obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section 10.14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

Section 10.15.     European Economic and Monetary Union . (a)  Definitions . In this Section 10.15 and in each other provision of this Agreement to which reference is made in this Section 10.15 expressly or impliedly, the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section 10.15:

Euro ” means the single currency of Participating Member States; and

Participating Member States ” means those members of the European Union from time to time which adopt a single, shared currency.

(b)         Effectiveness of Provisions . If and to the extent that any provision of paragraphs (c) to (g) relates to any state (or the currency of such state) that is not a Participating Member State on the Effective Date, such provision shall become effective in relation to such state (and the currency of such state) at and from the date on which such state becomes a Participating Member State.

 

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(c)         Loans . Any Loan in the currency of a Participating Member State shall be made in Euros.

(d)         Payments to the Administrative Agent . Section 2.06 and Section 2.17 shall be construed so that, in relation to the payment of any amount of Euros, such amount shall be made available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available, freely transferable, cleared funds to such account with such bank in Frankfurt am Main, Germany (or such other principal financial center in such Participating Member State) as the Administrative Agent may from time to time nominate for this purpose.

(e)         Payments by the Administrative Agent Generally . With respect to the payment of any amount denominated in Euros, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable to the Borrower or any of the Lenders in any way whatsoever for any delay, or the consequences of any delay, in the crediting to any account of any amount required by this Agreement to be paid by the Administrative Agent if the Administrative Agent shall have taken all relevant steps to achieve, on the date required by this Agreement, the payment of such amount in immediately available, freely transferable, cleared funds (in Euros) to the account with the bank in the principal financial center in the Participating Member State which the Borrower or, as the case may be, any Lender shall have specified for such purpose. In this paragraph (e), “all relevant steps” means all such steps as may be prescribed from time to time by the regulations or operating procedures of such clearing or settlement system as the Administrative Agent may from time to time determine for the purpose of clearing or settling payments of the Euro.

(f)         Basis of Accrual . If the basis of accrual of interest or fees expressed in this Agreement with respect to the currency of any state that becomes a Participating Member State shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London Interbank Market or, as the case may be, the Paris Interbank Market for the basis of accrual of interest or fees in respect of the Euro, such convention or practice shall replace such expressed basis effective as of and from the date on which such state becomes a Participating Member State; provided , that if any Loan in the currency of such state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Loan, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

(g)         Consequential Changes . Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably specify to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the introduction of a Participating Member State in accordance with customary practices in the market.

Section 10.16.     USA Patriot Act . Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107 56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with said Act.

Section 10.17.     No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lenders and their Affiliates, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby; (ii) (A) each of the Lenders and their Affiliates is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except, in the case of a Lender, those obligations expressly set forth herein; and (iii) each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against each of the Lenders and their Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

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Section 10.18.     Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a)        the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(b)        the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i)        a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii)        a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii)        the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

MOODY’S CORPORATION

By:  /s/ John J. Goggins                                                 

Name: John J. Goggins

Title: Executive Vice President and General Counsel

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually as a Lender and as Administrative Agent

By: /s/ Philip Mousin                            

Name: Philip Mousin

Title: Executive Director

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as a Lender

By: /s/ John Falke      

Name: John Falke

Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


CITIBANK, N.A.,

as a Lender

By:  /s/ Carolyn Kee                                             

Name: Carolyn Kee

Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

as a Lender

By:  /s/ Vanessa Kurbatskiy                            

Name: Vanessa Kurbatskiy

Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., as a Lender

 

By: /s/ Suzanne Ley                

Name: Suzanne Ley

Title: Director

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


TD BANK, N.A.,

as a Lender

 

By: /s/ Shreya Shah                

Name: Shreya Shah

Title: Senior Vice President

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH,

as a Lender

 

By: /s/ Raymond Qiao                    

Name: Raymond Qiao

Title: Managing Director

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


  

CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,

as a Lender

  
  

By: /s/ Barrett D. Bencivenga                    

  
  

Name: Barrett D. Bencivenga

  
  

Title: Managing Director

  

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


  

FIFTH THIRD BANK,

as a Lender

  
  

By: /s/ Valerie Schanzer                    

  
  

Name: Valerie Schanzer

  
  

Title: Vice President

  

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


LLOYDS BANK plc,

as a Lender

By: /s/ Erin Walsh                        

Name: Erin Walsh

Title: Assistant Vice President

By: /s/ Daven Popat                                    

Name: Daven Popat

Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender

By:  /s/ Cheryl L. Sekeksky                            

Name: Cheryl L. Sekeksky

Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,

as a Lender

By:   /s/ Laura Gimena                                    

Name: Laura Gimena

Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender

By:  /s/ Eugene Butera                                

Name: Eugene Butera

Title: Assistant Vice President

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


  

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,

as a Lender

  
  

By:  /s/ Coleen Letke                                   

  
  

Name: Coleen Letke

  
  

Title: Senior Vice President

  

 

Signature Page to Loan Agreement

Moody’s Corporation


SCHEDULE 2.01

 

Commitments

 

 
Lender   Commitment                         

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

    $75,000,000.00    

Bank of America, N.A.

    $60,000,000.00    

Citibank, N.A.

    $60,000,000.00    

Barclays Bank PLC

    $35,000,000.00    

The Bank of Tokyo–Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

    $35,000,000.00    

TD Bank, N.A.

    $35,000,000.00    

Bank of China, New York Branch

    $25,000,000.00    

Citizens Bank, N.A.

    $25,000,000.00    

Fifth Third Bank

    $25,000,000.00    

Lloyds Bank plc

    $25,000,000.00    

PNC Bank, National Association

    $25,000,000.00    

The Bank of Nova Scotia

    $25,000,000.00    

U.S. Bank National Association

    $25,000,000.00    

The Northern Trust Company

    $25,000,000.00    
         

Total:

    $500,000,000.00  

 

SCH. 2.01-1


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF]

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (the “ Assignment and Assumption ”) is dated as of the Assignment Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [ Insert name of Assignor ] (the “ Assignor ”) and [ Insert name of Assignee ] (the “ Assignee ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Loan Agreement ”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Loan Agreement, as of the Assignment Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Loan Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Loan Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “ Assigned Interest ”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.   

Assignor:

  

                                                               

2.   

Assignee:

  

                                                               

     

[and is an Affiliate of [identify Lender] 1 ]

3.   

Borrower:

  

   Moody’s Corporation                        

4.   

Administrative Agent:

  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Loan Agreement

5.   

Loan Agreement:

  

The Loan Agreement dated as of June 6, 2017 among Moody’s Corporation, as borrower, the Lenders parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

6.   

Assigned Interest:

  

 

 

 

 

1   Select as applicable.


Aggregate Amount of

Commitment/Loans for all

Lenders

  Amount of Commitment/Loans
Assigned
 

Percentage Assigned of

Commitment/Loans 2

$   $   %
$   $   %
$   $   %

Assignment Date:                                        ,  20        [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE ASSIGNMENT DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The Assignee agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including U.S. Federal and state securities laws.

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

 

ASSIGNOR

  
 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

  
 

By:                                                                       

  
 

Name:

  
 

Title:

  
 

ASSIGNEE

  
 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

  
 

By:                                                                       

  
 

Name:

  
 

Title:

  

 

[Consented to and] 3 Accepted:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

By:                                                               

Name:

Title:

[Consented to:] 4

 

2   Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

 

3   To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Loan Agreement.

 

4   To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Loan Agreement.

 

Exhibit A-2


MOODY’S CORPORATION

By:                                                           

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Exhibit A-3


ANNEX I

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1.   Representations and Warranties .

1.1   Assignor .    The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Loan Agreement, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Agreement or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of the Loan Agreement or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under the Loan Agreement.

1.2.   Assignee .    The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Loan Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Loan Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Assignment Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Loan Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, any arranger of the credit facilities evidenced by the Loan Agreement or any other Lender and their respective Related Parties, and (v) attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, any arranger of the credit facilities evidenced by the Loan Agreement, the Assignor or any other Lender and their respective Related Parties, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Agreement, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2.   Payments .    From and after the Assignment Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Assignment Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Assignment Date.

 

A-I-1


3.   General Provisions .    This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Assumption and adoption of the terms of this Assignment and Assumption by the Assignee and the Assignor by Electronic Signature or delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by any Electronic System shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

A-I-2


EXHIBIT B-1

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Loan Agreement dated as of June 6, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Loan Agreement ”), among Moody’s Corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.

[NAME OF LENDER]

By:                                                                                   

Name:

Title:

Date:                      , 20[      ]

 

B-1-1


EXHIBIT B-2

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Loan Agreement dated as of June 6, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Loan Agreement ”), among Moody’s Corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

By:                                                                                   

Name:

Title:

Date:                  , 20[      ]

 

B-2-1


EXHIBIT B-3

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Loan Agreement dated as of June 6, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Loan Agreement ”), among Moody’s Corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

By:                                                                                   

Name:

Title:

Date:                      , 20[      ]

 

B-3-1


EXHIBIT B-4

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Loan Agreement dated as of June 6, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Loan Agreement ”), among Moody’s Corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to the Loan Agreement or any Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.

[NAME OF LENDER]

By:                                                                                   

Name:

Title:

Date:                      , 20[      ]

 

B-4-1

Exhibit 4.2

EXECUTION COPY

AMENDMENT NO. 1

Dated as of June 6, 2017

to

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of May 11, 2015

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 (this “ Amendment ”) is made as of June 6, 2017 by and among Moody’s Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), the financial institutions listed on the signature pages hereof and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “ Administrative Agent ”), under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015 by and among the Company, the Borrowing Subsidiaries party thereto from time to time, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “ Credit Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the requisite Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree to make certain amendments to the Credit Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Company, the Lenders party hereto and the Administrative Agent have so agreed on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Lenders party hereto and the Administrative Agent hereby agree to enter into this Amendment.

1.         Amendments to the Credit Agreement . Effective as of the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date (as defined below), the parties hereto agree that the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

(a)        Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to add the following definitions thereto in the appropriate alphabetical order and, where applicable, replace the corresponding previously existing definitions:

Applicable Rate ” means, for any day, with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan or any ABR Loan, or with respect to the facility fees payable pursuant to Section 2.11, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Eurocurrency Spread”, “ABR Spread” or “Facility Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the ratings by S&P and Fitch, respectively, applicable on such date to the Index Debt:

 

Pricing

Level

 

 

Index Debt Ratings

(S&P/Fitch)

 

 

Facility Fee

Rate

 

 

Eurocurrency

Spread

 

 

ABR

Spread

 

Level  1 :

 

 

A/A or higher

 

 

0.08%

 

 

0.795%

 

 

0%

 

Level  2 :

 

 

A-/A-

 

 

0.10%

 

 

0.90%

 

 

0%

 

Level  3 :

 

 

BBB+/BBB+

 

 

0.125%

 

 

1.00%

 

 

0%

 

Level  4 :

 

 

BBB/BBB

 

 

0.15%

 

 

1.10%

 

 

0.10%

 

Level  5 :

 

 

BBB-/BBB- or lower

 

 

0.175%

 

 

1.325%

 

 

0.325%

 


For purposes of the foregoing, (i) if neither S&P nor Fitch shall have in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this paragraph), then Pricing Level 5 shall be in effect; (ii) if only one of S&P or Fitch provides a rating for the Index Debt, the Pricing Level corresponding to such rating shall be in effect; (iii) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by S&P and Fitch for the Index Debt shall fall within different Pricing Levels, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the higher of the two ratings unless one of the two ratings is two or more Pricing Levels lower than the other, in which case the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the Pricing Level next below that of the higher of the two ratings; and (iv) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by S&P and Fitch for the Index Debt shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of S&P or Fitch), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency, irrespective of when notice of such change shall have been furnished by the Company to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.01 or otherwise. Each change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of S&P or Fitch shall change, or if both such rating agencies shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Company and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

2


EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

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

Fitch ” means Fitch Ratings.

Granting Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(e).

Index Debt ” means senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company that is not guaranteed by any other person or entity or subject to any other credit enhancement.

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement and any Notes entered into in connection herewith.

S&P ” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.

Target Acquisition Closing Date ” means the “Completion Date” under (and as defined in) that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated May 15, 2017, by and between the sellers identified therein, the Buyer (as defined therein) and the Company relating to the Securities in Yellow Maple I B.V., Yellow Maple Syrup I B.V. and Yellow Maple Syrup II B.V.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

(b)        The definition of “ Defaulting Lender ” appearing in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to replace the reference to “subject of a Bankruptcy Event” appearing therein with “subject of (1) a Bankruptcy Event or (2) a Bail-In Action”.

(c)        The definition of “ Parent ” appearing in Section  1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety.

(d)         Section 2.21 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to insert the words “or a Bail-In Action” immediately after the words “a Bankruptcy Event” appearing therein.

(e)         Section 3.03 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to restate clause (b) thereof in its entirety as follows:

“(b) will not violate (i) any applicable law or regulation, except, in the case of this clause (i), for such violations which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) any order of any Governmental Authority, except, in the case of this clause (iii), for such violations which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,”

 

3


(f)         Section 3.10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to restate the first sentence thereof in its entirety as follows:

“No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur prior to the Maturity Date that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which the Company and any ERISA Affiliate has, or is reasonably expected to have, any liability, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.”

(g)         Article 3 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to insert a new Section  3.16 thereto immediately following existing Section  3.15 thereof as set forth below:

“Section 3.16      EEA Financial Institution . No Borrower is a EEA Financial Institution.”

(h)         Section 5.01(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to restate the parenthetical set forth therein in its entirety as follows:

“(without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; provided that such report may contain a “going concern” or like qualification or exception, or qualification arising out of the scope of the audit, if such qualification or exception is related solely from the classification of the Loans hereunder as short-term indebtedness during the twelve-month period prior to the Maturity Date hereunder)”

(i)         Section 5.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby further amended to (1) delete the “and” at the end of clause (e) thereof, (1) re-designate existing clause (f) thereof as clause (g) and (3) insert a new clause (f) therein immediately following clause (e) thereof as follows:

“(f)    promptly after S&P or Fitch shall have announced a change in the rating established or deemed to have been established for the Index Debt, written notice of such rating change; and”

(j)         Section 5.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby further amended to insert a new sentence at the end of the last paragraph thereof as follows:

“The Company hereby acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Company hereunder (collectively, “ Company Materials ”) by posting the Company Materials on the Platform.”

(k)         Section 6.05 of the Credit Agreement is hereby restated in its entirety as follows:

“Section 6.05. Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio . The Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio will not exceed 4.0 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter; provided that, solely to the extent the Target Acquisition Closing Date occurs, the Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio will not exceed 4.5 to 1.0 as of the end of the first three consecutive fiscal quarters immediately following the Target Acquisition Closing Date and shall not exceed 4.0 to 1.0 as of the fourth fiscal quarter immediately following the Target Acquisition Closing Date and each fiscal quarter thereafter.”

 

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(l)         Article 7 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to restate clause (l) thereof in its entirety as follows:

“(l)        an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Company and its ERISA Affiliates in an aggregate amount that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;”.

(m)         Article 8 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to restate the seventh paragraph thereof in its entirety as set forth below.

“Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities. Each Lender further acknowledges that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any arranger of the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement or any other Lender and their respective Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any arranger of the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement or any amendment thereof or any other Lender and their respective Related Parties and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Company and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a Lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.”

(n)         Article 10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to insert a new Section  10.18 thereto immediately following existing Section  10.17 thereof as set forth below:

“Section 10.18     Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a)        the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

(b)        the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i)        a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

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(ii)         a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii)        the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.”

2.         Conditions of Effectiveness . The effectiveness of this Amendment (the “ Amendment No.  1 Effective Date ”) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a)        The Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Amendment duly executed by the Company, each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks.

(b)        The Administrative Agent shall have received payment of the Administrative Agent’s and its affiliates’ fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent) in connection with the Loan Documents to the extent invoiced at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date.

3.         Representations and Warranties of the Company .     The Company hereby represents and warrants as follows:

(a)        This Amendment and the Credit Agreement as modified hereby constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrowers and are enforceable against the Borrowers in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

(b)        As of the date hereof and after giving effect to the terms of this Amendment, (i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the Credit Agreement (other than the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.04(b) of the Credit Agreement) are true and correct in all material respects (provided that any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect is true and correct in all respects) (except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (provided that any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date).

4.         Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement .

(a)        Upon the effectiveness hereof, each reference to the Credit Agreement in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

(b)        Each Loan Document and all other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

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(c)        Except with respect to the subject matter hereof, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement, the Loan Documents or any other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.

(d)        This Amendment is a Loan Document.

5.         Governing Law .   This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

6.         Headings .     Section headings in this Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose.

7.         Counterparts .   This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures delivered by facsimile or PDF shall have the same force and effect as manual signatures delivered in person.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

7


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

MOODY’S CORPORATION,

as the Company

By:  /s/ John J. Goggins          

Name: John J. Goggins

Title: Executive Vice President and General

Counsel

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually as a Lender, as an Issuing Bank and as Administrative Agent

By: /s/ Philip Mousin                                  

Name: Philip Mousin

Title: Executive Director

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

individually as a Lender and as an Issuing Bank

By: /s/ John Falke      

Name: John Falke

Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


CITIBANK, N.A.,

individually as a Lender and as an Issuing Bank

By: /s/ Carolyn Kee                                    

Name: Carolyn Kee

Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

as a Lender

By: /s/ Ben Musto                      

Name: Ben Musto

Title: AVP, Debt Finance

Executed in London

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


 

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., as a Lender

 

By: /s/ Suzanne Ley                

 

Name: Suzanne Ley

 

Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


TD BANK, N.A.,

as a Lender

By: /s/ Shreya Shah                

Name: Shreya Shah

Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH,

as a Lender

By: /s/ Raymond Qiao                

Name: Raymond Qiao

Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,

as a Lender

By:  /s/ Barrett D. Bencivenga                 

Name: Barrett D. Bencivenga

Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


FIFTH THIRD BANK,

as a Lender

By:  /s/ Valerie Schanzer                

Name: Valerie Schanzer

Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


 

LLOYDS BANK plc,

as a Lender

 

By:  /s/ Erin Walsh                             

 

Name: Erin Walsh

 

Title: Assistant Vice President

 

By:   /s/ Daven Popat                                     

 

Name: Daven Popat

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender

  By:   /s/ Cheryl L. Sekeksky                                       
  Name: Cheryl L. Sekeksky
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


 

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,

as a Lender

 

By:   /s/ Laura Gimena                                 

 

Name: Laura Gimena

 

Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender

 

By:   /s/ Eugene Butera                              

 

Name: Eugene Butera

 

Title: Assistant Vice President

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation


 

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,

as a Lender

 

By:   /s/ Coleen Letke                                     

 

Name: Coleen Letke

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to

Credit Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015

Moody’s Corporation

Exhibit 4.3

Execution Version

MOODY’S CORPORATION

as Issuer

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 

 

SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of June 12, 2017

to

INDENTURE

Dated as of August 19, 2010

 

 

2.625% Senior Notes due 2023

3.250% Senior Notes due 2028


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE 1.

DEFINITIONS

  

Section 1.1. Definition of Terms

     4  

ARTICLE 2.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES

  

Section 2.1. Designation and Principal Amount

     7  

Section 2.2. Maturity

     7  

Section 2.3. Further Issues

     7  

Section 2.4. Form of Payment

     7  

Section 2.5. Global Securities and Denomination of Notes

     7  

Section 2.6. Interest

     7  

Section 2.7. Redemption

     8  

Section 2.8. Limitations on Liens

     8  

Section 2.9. Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

     9  

Section 2.10. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

     10  

Section 2.11. Events of Default

     10  

Section 2.12. Appointment of Agents

     11  

Section 2.13. Change of Control

     11  

Section 2.14. Defeasance Upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations

     12  

ARTICLE 3.

FORM OF NOTES

  

Section 3.1. Form of Notes

     12  

ARTICLE 4.

ORIGINAL ISSUE OF NOTES

  

Section 4.1. Original Issue of Notes

     12  

ARTICLE 5.

MISCELLANEOUS

  

Section 5.1. Ratification of Indenture

     12  

Section 5.2. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals

     13  

Section 5.3. Governing Law

     13  

Section 5.4. Separability

     13  

Section 5.5. Counterparts Originals

     13  

Section 5.6. The Base Indenture

     13  

EXHIBIT A – Form of 2023 Notes

     A-1  

EXHIBIT B – Form of 2028 Notes

     B-1  

 

ii


SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE , dated as of June 12, 2017 (this “Supplemental Indenture”), between Moody’s Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, having its principal office at 7 World Trade Center at 250 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10007 (the “Company”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association, organized and in good standing under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

WHEREAS , the Company executed and delivered the indenture, dated as of August 19, 2010, to the Trustee (the “Base Indenture,” and, as hereby supplemented, the “Indenture”), to provide for the issuance of the Company’s debt Securities to be issued in one or more series;

WHEREAS , pursuant to the terms of the Base Indenture, the Company desires to provide for the establishment of two new series of its notes under the Base Indenture to be known as its “2.625% Senior Notes due 2023” (the “2023 Notes”) and its “3.250% Senior Notes due 2028” (the “2028 Notes,” and together with the 2023 Notes, the “Notes”), the form and substance and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS , the Board of Directors, pursuant to resolutions duly adopted on May 12, 2017, has duly authorized the issuance of the Notes, and has authorized the proper officers of the Company to execute any and all appropriate documents necessary or appropriate to effect each such issuance;

WHEREAS , this Supplemental Indenture is being entered into pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 and Section 14.01 of the Base Indenture;

WHEREAS , the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS , all things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, and to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the valid obligations of the Company, have been performed, and the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized in all respects;

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof, and for the purpose of setting forth, as provided in the Base Indenture, the forms and terms of the Notes, the Company covenants and agrees, with the Trustee, as follows:

 

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ARTICLE 1.

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1. Definition of Terms. Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)        each term defined in the Base Indenture has the same meaning when used in this Supplemental Indenture;

(b)        the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

(c)        headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect interpretation;

(d)        a reference to a Section or Article is to a Section or Article of this Supplemental Indenture unless otherwise indicated; and

(e)        the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section 1.1(e) :

    (i)        “Attributable Debt” means, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the fair market value of the property (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) or (b) the present value of the total net amount of payments to be made under the lease during its remaining term, discounted at the interest rate set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease, compounded semi-annually.

    (ii)        “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; (4) the first day on which the majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company cease to be Continuing Directors; or (5) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

    (iii)        “Change of Control Offer” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.13 .

 

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    (iv)        “Change of Control Payment Date” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.13 .

    (v)         “Change of Control Triggering Event” means, the notes cease to be rated Investment Grade by S&P or, if S&P and another “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) of the Exchange Act) shall provide a rating of the notes, by S&P and any such other rating organization, on any date during the period (the “Trigger Period”) commencing 60 days prior to the first public announcement by the Company of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control) and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which Trigger Period will be extended following consummation of a Change of Control for so long as S&P or such other rating organization shall have publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings change). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

    (vi)        “Consolidated Total Assets” means, the total assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, as set forth on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet, as determined under GAAP.

    (vii)        “Continuing Director” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who: (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the Indenture; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

    (viii)        “DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

    (ix)          “Event of Default” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.11 .

    (x)           “Exchange Notes” means notes issued in a registered exchange offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

    (xi)           “Investment Grade” means a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P); and an equivalent rating of another “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” that shall provide a rating of the notes.

    (xii)          “Lien” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.8 .

    (xiii)         “Net Revenue” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the net revenue of such Person and its consolidated subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period.

    (xiv)          “Permitted Liens” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.8 .

 

5


    (xv)      “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or political subdivision thereof.

    (xvi)      “Registration Rights Agreement” means (i) the registration rights agreement, dated as of June 12, 2017, among the Company and the representatives of the initial purchasers party thereto.

    (xvii)      “Registration Statement” means one or more registration statements filed by the Company providing for the registration under the Securities Act of the Notes.

    (xviii)     “Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary (a) the Total Assets of which exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year or (b) the Net Revenue of which exceeds 10% of the Net Revenue of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year.

    (xix)      “Sale/Leaseback Transaction” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.9 .

    (xx)      “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    (xxi)      “S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a subsidiary of McGraw-Hill Financial, Inc., and its successors.

    (xxii)      “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (a) such Person, (b) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (c) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

    (xxiii)     “Total Assets” means, at any date as to any Person, the total assets of such Person and its consolidated subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

    (xxiv)      “Trigger Period” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1(e)(vii) .

    (xxv)      “Voting Stock” of any specified Person as of any date means the capital stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

 

6


ARTICLE 2.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES

Section 2.1. Designation and Principal Amount. There is hereby authorized and established two new series of Securities under the Base Indenture designated as the “2.625% Senior Notes due 2023” and the “3.250% Senior Notes due 2028,” which are not limited in aggregate principal amount. The initial aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes to be issued under this Supplemental Indenture shall be $500,000,000, and the initial aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Notes to be issued under this Supplemental Indenture shall be $500,000,000. Any additional amounts of Notes to be issued shall be set forth in a Company Order. Additional provisions relating to the Notes, Exchange Notes and any other Notes issued under this Seventh Supplemental Indenture are set forth in Appendix A , which is hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture.

Section 2.2. Maturity. The stated maturity of principal for the 2023 Notes shall be January 15, 2023. The stated maturity of principal for the 2028 Notes shall be January 15, 2028.

Section 2.3. Further Issues. The Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Notes, issue additional Notes, provided that if the additional Notes are not fungible, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, with the Notes the additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP. Any such additional Notes shall have the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms as the Notes. Any such additional Notes, together with the Notes herein provided for, shall constitute a single series of Securities under the Indenture.

Section 2.4. Form of Payment. Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be payable in U.S. dollars.

Section 2.5. Global Securities and Denomination of Notes. Upon the original issuance, the Notes shall be represented by one or more Global Securities. The Company shall issue the Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and shall deposit the Global Securities with the Trustee as custodian for DTC in New York, New York, and register the Global Securities in the name of DTC or its nominee.

Section 2.6. Interest.

(a)        The 2023 Notes shall bear interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) from June 12, 2017 at the rate of 2.625% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears; interest payable on each Interest Payment Date shall include interest accrued from June 12, 2017, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable are January 15 and July 15, commencing on January 15, 2018; and the record date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date is the close of business on January 1 or July 1, as the case may be, next preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b)        The 2028 Notes shall bear interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) from June 12, 2017 at the rate of 3.250% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears;

 

7


interest payable on each Interest Payment Date shall include interest accrued from June 12, 2017, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable are January 15 and July 15, commencing on January 15, 2018; and the record date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date is the close of business on January 1 or July 1, as the case may be, next preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date.

Section 2.7. Redemption. The Notes are subject to redemption at the option of the Company as set forth in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibits A and B. The Notes are also subject to special mandatory redemption by the Company as set forth in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibits A and B.

Section 2.8. Limitations on Liens.

(a)        The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by a mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge or other encumbrance upon any of its or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ properties or assets (a “Lien”), whether owned on the date of issuance of the Notes or thereafter acquired, unless the Notes are at least equally and ratably secured with such secured Indebtedness (together with, if the Company so determines, any other Indebtedness of or guaranty by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created that is not subordinated to the Notes) for so long as such other Indebtedness is so secured (and any Lien created for the benefit of the holders of the Notes and any other debt securities of any series issued pursuant to the Indenture and having the benefit of this Section 2.8 shall provide by its terms that such Lien will be automatically released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Lien securing such other Indebtedness); provided, however, that the above restrictions shall not apply to the following (the “Permitted Liens”):

    (i)        Liens on property or other assets of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such Lien was not incurred in anticipation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;

    (ii)        Liens on property or other assets existing at the time of acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such Lien was not incurred in anticipation of such acquisition;

    (iii)        Liens on property or assets to secure any Indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 270 days after, the acquisition of such property or in the case of real property, the completion of construction, the completion of improvements or the beginning of substantial commercial operation of such real property for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of such real property, the construction thereof or the making of improvements thereto;

    (iv)        Liens in the Company’s favor or in favor of a Restricted Subsidiary;

    (v)        Liens existing on the date of issuance of the Notes;

 

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    (vi)        Liens on property or other assets of a Person existing at the time the Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of the properties of a Person as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to either the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such Lien was not incurred in anticipation of the merger or consolidation or sale, lease or other disposition;

    (vii)        Liens arising in connection with the financing of accounts receivable by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the uncollected amount of account receivables subject at any time to any such financing shall not exceed $150,000,000; and

    (viii)        extensions, renewals or replacements (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements) in whole or in part of any Lien referred to in this Section 2.8 without increase of the principal of the Indebtedness (plus any premium or fee payable in connection with any such extension, renewal or replacement) secured by the Lien; provided, however, that any Permitted Liens shall not extend to or cover any property of the Company or that of any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, other than the property specified in this Section 2.8 and improvements to this property.

(b)        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary may create, assume, incur or guarantee Indebtedness secured by a Lien without equally and ratably securing the Notes; provided, that at the time of such creation, assumption, incurrence or guarantee, after giving effect thereto and to the retirement of any Indebtedness that is concurrently being retired, the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness secured by Liens other than Permitted Liens, and (ii) the Attributable Debt of all the Company’s Sale/Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 2.9(c) does not at such time exceed 5% of Consolidated Total Assets.

Section 2.9. Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

(a)        The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby either the Company transfers, or any Restricted Subsidiary transfers, such property to a Person and either the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary leases it back from such Person (a “Sale/Leaseback Transaction”), unless:

    (i)        the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could, at the time of entering into such arrangement, incur Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the property involved in the transaction in an amount at least equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction, without equally and ratably securing the Notes as described in Section 2.8 ; or

    (ii)        the net proceeds of the Sale/Leaseback Transaction are at least equal to such property’s fair market value, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, and the proceeds are applied within 180 days of the effective date of the Sale/Leaseback Transaction to the repayment of senior indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(b)        The restrictions set forth in (a) above will not apply to a Sale/Leaseback Transaction: (i) entered into prior to the date of issuance of the Notes; (ii) that exists at the time any Person that owns property or assets becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; (iii) between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries; (iv) involving leases for a period of no longer than three years; or (v) in which the lease for the property or asset is entered into within 270 days after the date of acquisition, completion of construction or commencement of full operations of such property or asset, whichever is latest.

(c)        Notwithstanding the restrictions contained above, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into a Sale/Leaseback Transaction; provided that at the time of such transaction, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt with respect to Sale/Leaseback Transactions existing at such time that could not have been entered into pursuant to the restrictions in (a) above, together with the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness secured by Liens as permitted by Section 2.8(b) , does not at such time exceed 5% of Consolidated Total Assets.

Section 2.10. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets . Section 6.04 of the Base Indenture shall be revised in its entirety to read:

(a)        The Company will be permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity or to sell all or substantially all of its assets to another entity, subject to the Company’s meeting all of the following conditions: (i) any successor or purchaser is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State or the District of Columbia; (ii) immediately following the consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, the resulting, surviving or transferee entity (if other than the Company) would not be in default in the performance of any covenant in the Indenture; and (iii) the Company delivers a supplemental indenture by which the surviving entity (if other than the Company) expressly assumes the Company’s obligations under the Indenture.

(b)        In the event that the Company consolidates or merges with another entity or sells all or substantially all of its assets to another entity, the surviving entity (if other than the Company) will be substituted for the Company under the Indenture, and the Company will be discharged from all of its obligations under the Indenture.

Section 2.11. Events of Default.

(a)        The term “Event of Default” as used in this Indenture with respect to the Notes shall include the following described event in addition to those set forth in Section 7.01 of the Base Indenture:

    (i)        The Company or a Restricted Subsidiary fail to pay the principal of any Indebtedness when due at maturity in an aggregate amount of $50 million or more, or a default occurs that results in the acceleration of the maturity of the Company’s or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries’ Indebtedness in an aggregate amount of $50 million or more;

 

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Section 2.12. Appointment of Agents. The Trustee shall initially be the Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.13. Change of Control.

(a)        Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as provided in Article Four of the Base Indenture, each Holder of Notes will have the right to require the Company to purchase all or a portion of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described in this Section 2.13 (the “Change of Control Offer”), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b)        Within 30 days following the date upon which the Change of Control Triggering Event occurred, or at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the pending Change of Control, the Company will be required to send, by first class mail, a notice to each Holder of Notes, with a copy to the trustee, which notice will govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer. Such notice will state, among other things, the purchase date, which must be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, will state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control being consummated on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. Holders of Notes electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender their Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice, or transfer their Notes to the Paying Agent by book-entry transfer pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Paying Agent, prior to the close of business on the third business day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

(c)        The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for such an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

(d)        Holders will not be entitled to require the Company to purchase their Notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization, leveraged buyout or similar transaction that is not a Change of Control. In addition, Holders may not be entitled to require the Company to purchase their Notes in certain circumstances involving a significant change in the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors, including in connection with a proxy contest where the Company’s Board of Directors does not approve a dissident slate of directors but approves them as required by clause (4) of Section 1.1(e)(iv) .

(e)        Notwithstanding this Section 2.13, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control under clause (2) of Section 1.1(e)(iv) if (i) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii) (A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s

 

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Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company.

(f)        The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the Indenture by virtue of such compliance.

Section 2.14. Defeasance Upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations. At the Company’s option, either (a) the Company shall be deemed to have been Discharged from its obligations with respect to the Notes on the first day after the applicable conditions set forth in Section 12.03 of the Base Indenture have been satisfied or (b) the Company shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 10.02 of the Base Indenture and Sections 2.8, 2.9 and 2.10 of this Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Notes at any time after the applicable conditions set forth in Section 12.03 of the Base Indenture have been satisfied.

ARTICLE 3.

FORM OF NOTES

Section 3.1. Form of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication to be endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the forms set forth in Exhibits A and B hereto.

ARTICLE 4.

ORIGINAL ISSUE OF NOTES

Section 4.1. Original Issue of Notes. The Notes may, upon execution of this Supplemental Indenture, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and deliver such Notes as in such Company Order provided.

ARTICLE 5.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1. Ratification of Indenture. The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided; provided that the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture apply solely with respect to the Notes.

 

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Section 5.2. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals. The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

Section 5.3. Governing Law. This Supplemental Indenture and each Note shall be deemed to be contracts made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State.

Section 5.4. Separability. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 5.5. Counterparts Originals. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 5.6. The Base Indenture . With respect to the Notes, the following amendments shall be deemed to have been made to the Base Indenture:

(a)     Paragraph (c) of Section 3.04 of Article III of the Base Indenture is amended by adding the following sentences at the end: “In connection with any proposed exchange of Global Securities for Securities in definitive registered form, the Company or DTC shall be required to provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code. The Trustee may rely on any such information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.”

(b)     Paragraph (j) of Section 3.06 of Article III of the Base Indenture is amended by adding the following sentences at the end: “The transferor shall also provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation, any cost basis reporting obligations under 6045 of the Code. The Trustee may rely on any such information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.”

(c)     Section 6.03 of Article VI of the Base Indenture is amended by adding the following paragraph (f):

“(f)     For certain payments made pursuant to this Indenture, the Paying Agent may be required to make a “reportable payment” or “withholdable payment” and in such cases the Paying Agent shall have the duty to act as a payor or withholding agent, respectively, that is responsible for any tax withholding and reporting required under Chapters 3, 4 and 61 of the Code. The Paying Agent

 

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shall have the sole right to make the determination as to which payments are “reportable payments” or “withholdable payments.” All parties to this Indenture shall provide an executed IRS Form W-9 or appropriate IRS Form W-8 (or, in each case, any successor form) to the Paying Agent prior to closing, and shall promptly update any such form to the extent such form becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect. The Paying Agent shall have the right to request from any party to this Indenture, or any other Person entitled to payment hereunder, any additional forms, documentation or other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Paying Agent to satisfy its reporting and withholding obligations under the Code. To the extent any such forms to be delivered under this Section 6.03(f) are not provided prior to or by the time the related payment is required to be made or are determined by the Paying Agent to be incomplete and/or inaccurate in any respect, the Paying Agent shall be entitled to withhold on any such payments hereunder to the extent withholding is required under Chapters 3, 4 or 61 of the Code, and shall have no obligation to gross up any such payment.”

(d)     Section 11.01 of Article XI of the Base Indenture is amended by adding the following paragraph (s):

“(s)     For certain payments made pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee may be required to make a “reportable payment” or “withholdable payment” and in such cases the Trustee shall have the duty to act as a payor or withholding agent, respectively, that is responsible for any tax withholding and reporting required under Chapters 3, 4 and 61 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Trustee shall have the sole right to make the determination as to which payments are “reportable payments” or “withholdable payments.” All parties to this Indenture shall provide an executed IRS Form W-9 or appropriate IRS Form W-8 (or, in each case, any successor form) to the Trustee prior to closing, and shall promptly update any such form to the extent such form becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect. The Trustee shall have the right to request from any party to this Indenture, or any other Person entitled to payment hereunder, any additional forms, documentation or other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Trustee to satisfy its reporting and withholding obligations under the Code. To the extent any such forms to be delivered under this Section 11.01(s) are not provided prior to or by the time the related payment is required to be made or are determined by the Trustee to be incomplete and/or inaccurate in any respect, the Trustee shall be entitled to withhold on any such payments hereunder to the extent withholding is required under Chapters 3, 4 or 61 of the Code, and shall have no obligation to gross up any such payment.”

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

MOODY’S CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ John J. Goggins

  Name:   John J. Goggins
  Title:   Executive Vice President and General Counsel
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE
By:  

/s/ Stefan Victory

  Name:   Stefan Victory
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Seventh Supplemental Indenture]


Appendix A

PROVISIONS RELATING TO

NOTES AND EXCHANGE NOTES

Section 1.1 Definitions .

(a)                     Capitalized Terms . Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Appendix A have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. The following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

(i)                             “Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Global Note, Euroclear or Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

(ii)                             “Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme, or any successor securities clearing agency.

(iii)                             “Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

(iv)                             “Definitive Note” means a certificated Note or Exchange Note issued pursuant to the Indenture (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend if the transfer of such Note is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Notes Legend.

(v)                             “Distribution Compliance Period,” with respect to any Note, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Note is first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Company to the Trustee, and (b) the date of issuance with respect to such Note or any predecessor of such Note.

(vi)                             “Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.Y., as operator of Euroclear systems Clearance System or any successor securities clearing agency.

(vii)                             “Exchange Offer” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

(viii)                             “QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

(ix)                             “Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

(x)                             “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.


(xi)                             “Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

(xii)                             “Transfer Restricted Notes” means the Notes and any Notes in global form that bear or are required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(xiii)                             “Unrestricted Global Note” means any Note in global form that does not bear or is not required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(xiv)                             “U.S. person” means a “U.S. person” as defined in Regulation S.

(b)                     Other Definitions .

 

Term:

   Defined
in
Section:
“Agent Members”    2.1(d)
“Definitive Notes Legend”    2.2(e)
“ERISA Legend”    2.2(b)
“Global Note”    2.1(c)
“Global Notes Legend”    2.2(e)
“Regulation S Global Note”    2.1(c)
“Regulation S Notes”    2.1(a)
“Restricted Notes Legend”    2.3(e)
“Rule 144A Global Note”    2.1(c)
“Rule 144A Notes”    2.1(a)

Section 2.1 Form and Dating .

(a)         The Notes issued on the date hereof shall be (i) offered and sold by the Company to the initial purchasers thereof and (ii) resold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Notes”) and (2) Persons other than U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S (“Regulation S Notes”). Additional Notes may also be considered to be Rule 144A Notes or Regulation S Notes, as applicable.

(b)         Global Notes . Rule 144A Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form, numbered RA-1 upward (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”) and Regulation S Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more global Notes, numbered RS-1

 

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upward (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Note”), in each case without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend and Restricted Notes Legend, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture. The Rule 144A Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note and any Unrestricted Global Note are each referred to herein as a “Global Note” and are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes.” Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Sections 3.04 and Section 3.05 of the Base Indenture and Section 2.2(c) of this Appendix A.

(c)         Book-Entry Provisions . This Section 2.1(c) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(c) and Section 3.06 of the Base Indenture and pursuant to a Company Order signed by one authorized officer of the Company, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (i) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or held by the Trustee as Custodian.

Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Trustee as Custodian or under such Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(d)         Definitive Notes . Except as provided in Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 of this Appendix A, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.

Section 2.2 Transfer and Exchange .

(a)         Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes . When Definitive Notes are presented to the Security Registrar with a written request:

 

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(i)         to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or

(ii)         to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations,

the Security Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided , however , that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:

                (1)     shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and

                (2)     in the case of Transfer Restricted Notes, such Transfer Restricted Notes are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to Section 2.2(b) of this Appendix A or otherwise in accordance with the Restricted Notes Legend, and are accompanied by a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, to the Seventh Supplemental Indenture for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto.

(b)           Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note . A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, together with:

              (i)     a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, to the Seventh Supplemental Indenture for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto; and

              (ii)     written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase,

the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Global Note to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so

 

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canceled. If the applicable Global Note is not then outstanding, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, a new applicable Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.

(c)           Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.

              (i)     The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 2.2(d) of this Appendix A, if any) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Security Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with a beneficial interest in such Global Note, or another Global Note, and such account shall be credited in accordance with such order with a beneficial interest in the applicable Global Note and the account of the Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.

              (ii)     If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.

              (iii)     Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix A (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.3 of this Appendix A), a Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole and not in part if the transfer is by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(d)           Restrictions on Transfer of Global Notes; Voluntary Exchange of Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes for Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes .

              (i)     Transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through another Transfer Restricted Note shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and only upon receipt by the Trustee of a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, to the Seventh Supplemental Indenture for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto. In addition, in the case of a transfer of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, the transferee must furnish a certification or a signed letter in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, to the Seventh Supplemental Indenture to the Trustee.

 

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              (ii)     During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note may only be sold, pledged or transferred through Euroclear or Clearstream in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, the Restricted Notes Legend on such Regulation S Global Note and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States of America. Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note shall be made only in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification from the transferor of the beneficial interest in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, to the Seventh Supplemental Indenture for exchange or registration of transfers and, in the case of a transfer to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through a Rule 144A Global Note, the transferee must furnish a certification or a signed letter in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, to the Seventh Supplemental Indenture to the Trustee. Such written certifications or letter shall no longer be required after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period. Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note shall be transferable in accordance with applicable law and the other terms of the Indenture.

              (iii)     Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note upon certification in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, to the Seventh Supplemental Indenture for an exchange from a Regulation S Global Note to an Unrestricted Global Note.

              (iv)     Beneficial interests in a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Rule 144A Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Security Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, to the Seventh plemental Indenture) and/or upon delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee may reasonably request.

              (v)     If no Unrestricted Global Note is outstanding at the time of a transfer contemplated by the preceding clauses (iii) and (iv), the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, a new Unrestricted Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.

(e)           Legends .

 

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              (i)     Except as permitted by Section 2.2(d), this Section 2.2(e), Section 2.2(i) and Section 2.2(j) of this Appendix A, each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes and the Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only) (“ Restricted Notes Legend ”):

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH MOODY’S CORPORATION (THE “ISSUER”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legend (“ Definitive Notes Legend ”):

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE SECURITY REGISTRAR SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH SECURITY REGISTRAR MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

Each Global Note shall bear the following additional legend (“ Global Notes Legend ”):

 

A-7


UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

Each Note shall bear the following additional legend (“ ERISA Legend ”):

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

              (ii)     Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Security Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and the Definitive Notes Legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Security Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, to the Seventh Supplemental Indenture) and provides such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

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              (iii)     After a transfer of any Initial Notes or Additional Notes during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to such Initial Notes or Additional Notes, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Notes Legend on such Initial Notes or Additional Notes shall cease to apply and the requirements that any such Initial Notes or Additional Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply.

              (iv)     Upon the consummation of an Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Notes or Additional Notes pursuant to which Holders of such Initial Notes or Additional Notes are offered Exchange Notes in exchange for their Initial Notes or Additional Notes, all requirements pertaining to Initial Notes or Additional Notes that Initial Notes or Additional Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply, and Exchange Notes in global form without the Restricted Notes Legend shall be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Notes or Additional Notes in such Exchange Offer.

              (v)     Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(f)           Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note . At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by the Depositary to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

(g)           Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes .

              (i)         To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Security Registrar’s request.

              (ii)         No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06 and 3.07 of the Base Indenture).

              (iii)          Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

A-9


              (iv)     All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under the Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

              (v)     In order to effect any transfer or exchange of an interest in any Transfer Restricted Note for an interest in a Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and has not been registered under the Securities Act, if the Security Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel, in form reasonably acceptable to the Security Registrar to the effect that no registration under the Securities Act is required in respect of such exchange or transfer or the re-sale of such interest by the beneficial holder thereof, shall be required to be delivered to the Security Registrar and the Trustee.

(h)           No Obligation of the Trustee .

              (i)         The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

              (ii)         The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under the Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

              (iii)         Neither the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

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(i)         Exchange Offer . Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Global Notes without the Restricted Notes Legend in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amounts of the beneficial interests in the Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that provide in the applicable letters of transmittal such certifications as are required by the Registration Rights Agreement and applicable law, and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (ii) Definitive Notes without the Restricted Notes Legend in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that provide in the applicable letters of transmittal such certification as are required by the Registration Rights Agreement and applicable law, and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Notes with the Restricted Notes Legend to be reduced accordingly, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Persons designated by the Holders of the Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive Notes without the Restricted Notes Legend in the applicable principal amount. Any Notes that remain outstanding after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, and Exchange Notes issued in connection with the Exchange Offer, shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture.

Section 2.3 Definitive Notes .

(a)         A Global Note deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 or issued in connection with an Exchange Offer may be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.2 of this Appendix A and (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and, in each case, a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or after the Company becomes aware of such cessation, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Security Registrar has received a request from the Depository. In addition, any Affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor that is a beneficial owner of all or part of a Global Note may have such Affiliate’s beneficial interest transferred to such Affiliate in the form of a Definitive Note by providing a written request to the Company and the Trustee and such Opinions of Counsel, certificates or other information as may be required by the Indenture or the Company or Trustee.

(b)         Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.2(e) of this Appendix A, bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

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(c)         The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under the Indenture or the Notes.

(d)         In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.3(a) of this Appendix A, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in fully registered form without interest coupons.

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF 2023 NOTE]

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

 


CUSIP No. [●][●]

MOODY’S CORPORATION

2.625% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2023

 

No. [R -●]   $[●]

[ RESTRICTED NOTES ONLY ] [THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH MOODY’S CORPORATION (THE “ISSUER”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.]

[ GLOBAL NOTES ONLY ] [UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER

 


ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

Principal and Interest . Moody’s Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “ Company ,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns, the principal sum of [●] dollars ($[●]) on January 15, 2023 and to pay interest thereon from June 12, 2017 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 in each year, commencing January 15, 2018 at the rate of 2.625% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.

Method of Payment . The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest, which shall be January 1 or July 1, as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be

 


fixed by the Trustee, notice thereof having been given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Note shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office in U.S. Dollars.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Authentication . Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

Dated: June 12, 2017

 

MOODY’S CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:   John J. Goggins
  Title:  

Executive Vice President

and General Counsel

 


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated: June 12, 2017

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the Indenture.

By:    
  Authorized Signatory

 


[FORM OF REVERSE OF 2023 NOTE]

Indenture . This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company (herein called the “ Note ” or collectively, the “ Notes ”), issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of August 19, 2010, as supplemented by a Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated June 12, 2017 (as so supplemented, herein called the “ Indenture ”), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $500,000,000.

Optional Redemption. The Notes are subject to redemption at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time. If the Company elects to redeem the Notes prior to December 15, 2022, the Company will pay a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, and (ii) the sum, as determined by an Independent Investment Banker, of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of (1) principal and (2) interest that would be due if the notes of such series matured on the Par Call Date (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption), in each case discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360 day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

Commencing on the Par Call Date and thereafter, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

For purposes of determining the optional redemption price, the following definitions are applicable:

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (“Remaining Life”) of the Notes to be redeemed as if such Notes matured on the Par Call Date that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations or, if only one such Quotation is obtained, such Quotation.

 


“Independent Investment Banker” means an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company, which may be one of the Reference Treasury Dealers.

“Par Call Date” means December 15, 2022 (one month prior to their maturity).

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and their respective successors, and (2) any other primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City that the Company selects (each, a “Reference Treasury Dealer”).

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date for the Notes, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue for the Notes (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month), (2) if the period from the Redemption Date to the maturity date of the notes to be redeemed is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used, or (3) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.

Notice of any redemption shall be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each registered Holder of the Notes to be redeemed. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of all of the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the Redemption Date is deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent on or before the Redemption Date, and unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or portions of the Notes called for redemption. If fewer than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, and such Notes are at the time represented by a Global Security, the Depositary shall select by lot the particular interests to be redeemed. If the Company elects to redeem fewer than all of the Notes, and any of such Notes are not represented by a Global Security, then the Trustee shall select the particular Notes to be redeemed in a manner it deems appropriate and fair (and the Depositary shall select by lot the particular interests in any Global Security to be redeemed).

 


The Company may at any time, and from time to time, purchase the Notes at any price or prices in the open market or otherwise.

Special Mandatory Redemption. The Notes are subject to mandatory redemption if the Company does not consummate its proposed acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing B.V. on or prior to January 29, 2018, or the Securities Purchase Agreement related to the Acquisition, signed on May 15, 2017 (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), is terminated any time prior to such date, and the Company will be required to redeem all of the outstanding notes on a special mandatory redemption date (as defined below) at a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the special mandatory redemption date. The “special mandatory redemption date” means the earlier to occur of (1) March 30, 2018, if the Acquisition has not been consummated on or prior to January 29, 2018, or (2) the 60th day (or if such day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) following the termination of the Securities Purchase Agreement for any reason. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to the special mandatory redemption date will be payable on such interest payment dates to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant record dates in accordance with the Notes and the Indenture.

The Company will cause the notice of special mandatory redemption to be delivered, with a copy to the trustee, within five business days after the occurrence of the event triggering the special mandatory redemption to each holder at its registered address. If funds sufficient to pay the special mandatory redemption price of the notes to be redeemed on the special mandatory redemption date are deposited with the trustee or a paying agent on or before such special mandatory redemption date, and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such special mandatory redemption date, the Notes will cease to bear interest.

Defaults and Remedies . If an Event of Default with respect to Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

Amendment, Modification and Waiver . The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

 


Restrictive Covenants . The Indenture does not limit the incurrence of additional debt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; however, it does limit the creation of certain Liens and the entry into sale and leaseback transactions by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. The limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. Once a year, the Company must report to the Trustee on its compliance with these limitations.

Denominations, Transfer and Exchange . The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of any different authorized denomination or denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, including Section 3.06 of the Base Indenture, the transfer of this Note is registerable in the Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Registrar accompanied by a written request for transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of any different authorized denomination or denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, shall be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Persons Deemed Owners . Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.08 of the Base Indenture) interest, if any, on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent shall of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Defined Terms . All terms used in this Note and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 


ASSIGNMENT FORM

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto:

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address including postal zip code of assignee)

 

 

the within Global Security of MOODY’S CORPORATION and all rights hereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing

 

 

to transfer said Global Security on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:_________________   

NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS

ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND

WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN

UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN

INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR,

WITHOUT ALTERATION OR

ENLARGEMENT

OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

SIGNATURE GUARANTEED


CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR

REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES 1

This certificate relates to $_____ principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space) _______ book-entry or ________ definitive form by the undersigned.

The undersigned (check one box below):

has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above) in accordance with the Indenture; or has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

  (1) to the Company or subsidiary thereof; or

 

  (2) to the Security Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or

 

  (3) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”); or

 

  (4) to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“ Rule 144A ”)) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer and to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or

 

  (5) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States of America within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and if the transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Notes shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream); or

 

  (6) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

  (7) pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided , however , that if box (6) or (7) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

1   This certificate shall not be included as part of the Original Definitive Notes.


  

 

Your Signature

Date:____________________________   
  

 

Signature of Signature

Guarantor


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:____________________________   
  

 

NOTICE: To be executed by

                    an executive officer

Name:

Title:

Signature Guarantee*:_____________________________

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

TO BE COMPLETED IF THE HOLDER REQUIRES AN EXCHANGE FROM A REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE TO AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2(d)(iii) OF APPENDIX A TO THE INDENTURE 2

The undersigned represents and warrants that either:

the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a non-U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act); or

the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act) who purchased interests in the Notes pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act; or

the undersigned is a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and the interest of the undersigned in this Note does not constitute the whole or a part of an unsold allotment to or subscription by such dealer for the Notes.

Dated:_________________________   
  

 

Your Signature

 

 

2   Include only for Regulation S Global Notes.


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to the provisions hereof, check the box: ☐

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to the provisions hereof, state the amount you elect to have

purchased: $                                                                      

Date:                                                                          

 

 

Your

Signature:      

 

  

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Tax

Identification

No.:

 

  

 

 

Signature

Guarantee*:                                                                       

 

 

  * Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGE OF GLOBAL NOTES*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $            . The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange     

Amount of decrease

in Principal Amount of this

Global Note

     Amount of
increase
in Principal
Amount of
this
Global Note
     Principal
Amount of
this Global
Note
following
such
decrease or
increase
     Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee,
Depositary or
Custodian
                   

 

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF FACE OF 2028 NOTE]

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.


CUSIP No. [●][●]

MOODY’S CORPORATION

3.250% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2028

 

No. [R -●]    $[●]

[ RESTRICTED NOTES ONLY ] [THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH MOODY’S CORPORATION (THE “ISSUER”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.]

[ GLOBAL NOTES ONLY ] [UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED


REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]

Principal and Interest . Moody’s Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “ Company ,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns, the principal sum of [●] dollars ($[●]) on January 15, 2028 and to pay interest thereon from June 12, 2017 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 in each year, commencing January 15, 2018 at the rate of 3.250% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.

Method of Payment . The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest, which shall be January 1 or July 1, as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice thereof having been given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Note shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office in U.S. Dollars.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Authentication . Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

Dated: June 12, 2017

 

MOODY’S CORPORATION                        
By:    
  Name:     John J. Goggins
 

Title:       Executive Vice President

                and General Counsel


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated: June 12, 2017

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee, certifies

that this is one of

the Securities referred

to in the Indenture.

 

By:      
    Authorized Signatory


[FORM OF REVERSE OF 2028 NOTE]

Indenture . This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company (herein called the “ Note ” or collectively, the “ Notes ”), issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of August 19, 2010, as supplemented by a Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated June 12, 2017 (as so supplemented, herein called the “ Indenture ”), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $500,000,000.

Optional Redemption. The Notes are subject to redemption at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time. If the Company elects to redeem the Notes prior to October 15, 2027, the Company will pay a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, and (ii) the sum, as determined by an Independent Investment Banker, of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of (1) principal and (2) interest that would be due if the notes of such series matured on the Par Call Date (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption), in each case discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360 day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

Commencing on the Par Call Date and thereafter, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

For purposes of determining the optional redemption price, the following definitions are applicable:

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (“Remaining Life”) of the Notes to be redeemed as if such Notes matured on their Par Call Date that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations or, if only one such Quotation is obtained, such Quotation.


“Independent Investment Banker” means an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company, which may be one of the Reference Treasury Dealers.

“Par Call Date” means October 15, 2027 (three months prior to their maturity).

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and their respective successors, and (2) any other primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City that the Company selects (each, a “Reference Treasury Dealer”).

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date for the Notes, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue for the Notes (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month), (2) if the period from the Redemption Date to the maturity date of the notes to be redeemed is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used, or (3) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.

Notice of any redemption shall be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each registered Holder of the Notes to be redeemed. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of all of the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the Redemption Date is deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent on or before the Redemption Date, and unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or portions of the Notes called for redemption. If fewer than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, and such Notes are at the time represented by a Global Security, the Depositary shall select by lot the particular interests to be redeemed. If the Company elects to redeem fewer than all of the Notes, and any of such Notes are not represented by a Global Security, then the Trustee shall select the particular Notes to be redeemed in a manner it deems appropriate and fair (and the Depositary shall select by lot the particular interests in any Global Security to be redeemed).


The Company may at any time, and from time to time, purchase the Notes at any price or prices in the open market or otherwise

Special Mandatory Redemption. The Notes are subject to mandatory redemption if the Company does not consummate its proposed acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing B.V. on or prior to January 29, 2018, or the Securities Purchase Agreement related to the Acquisition, signed on May 15, 2017 (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), is terminated any time prior to such date, and the Company will be required to redeem all of the outstanding notes on a special mandatory redemption date (as defined below) at a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the special mandatory redemption date. The “special mandatory redemption date” means the earlier to occur of (1) March 30, 2018, if the Acquisition has not been consummated on or prior to January 29, 2018, or (2) the 60th day (or if such day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) following the termination of the Securities Purchase Agreement for any reason. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to the special mandatory redemption date will be payable on such interest payment dates to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant record dates in accordance with the Notes and the indenture.

The Company will cause the notice of special mandatory redemption to be delivered, with a copy to the trustee, within five business days after the occurrence of the event triggering the special mandatory redemption to each holder at its registered address. If funds sufficient to pay the special mandatory redemption price of the notes to be redeemed on the special mandatory redemption date are deposited with the trustee or a paying agent on or before such special mandatory redemption date, and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such special mandatory redemption date, the Notes will cease to bear interest.

Defaults and Remedies . If an Event of Default with respect to Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

Amendment, Modification and Waiver . The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.


Restrictive Covenants . The Indenture does not limit the incurrence of additional debt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; however, it does limit the creation of certain Liens and the entry into sale and leaseback transactions by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. The limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. Once a year, the Company must report to the Trustee on its compliance with these limitations.

Denominations, Transfer and Exchange . The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of any different authorized denomination or denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, including Section 3.06 of the Base Indenture, the transfer of this Note is registerable in the Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Registrar accompanied by a written request for transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of any different authorized denomination or denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, shall be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Persons Deemed Owners . Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.08 of the Base Indenture) interest, if any, on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent shall of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Defined Terms . All terms used in this Note and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.


ASSIGNMENT FORM

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto:

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address including postal zip code of assignee)

 

 

the within Global Security of MOODY’S CORPORATION and all rights hereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing

 

 

to transfer said Global Security on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:_________________    NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS
   ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND
   WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN
   UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN
   INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR,
  

WITHOUT ALTERATION OR

ENLARGEMENT

   OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.
   SIGNATURE GUARANTEED


CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR

REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES 3

This certificate relates to $_____ principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space) _______ book-entry or ________ definitive form by the undersigned.

The undersigned (check one box below):

has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above) in accordance with the Indenture; or has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

  (1) to the Company or subsidiary thereof; or

 

  (2) to the Security Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or

 

  (3) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”); or

 

  (4) to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“ Rule 144A ”)) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer and to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or

 

  (5) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States of America within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and if the transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Notes shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream); or

 

  (6) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

  (7) pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided , however , that if box (6) or (7) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

 

3   This certificate shall not be included as part of the Original Definitive Notes.

 


       
    

Your Signature

Date:____________________________   
    
  

Signature of Signature

Guarantor

 


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

Dated:____________________________

  
    
  

NOTICE:  To be executed by

                    an executive officer

 

Name:

Title:

Signature Guarantee*:_____________________________

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

TO BE COMPLETED IF THE HOLDER REQUIRES AN EXCHANGE FROM A REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE TO AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2(d)(iii) OF APPENDIX A TO THE INDENTURE 4

The undersigned represents and warrants that either:

the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a non-U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act); or

the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act) who purchased interests in the Notes pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act; or

the undersigned is a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and the interest of the undersigned in this Note does not constitute the whole or a part of an unsold allotment to or subscription by such dealer for the Notes.

Dated:_________________________

  
    
  

Your Signature

 

 

 

 

4   Include only for Regulation S Global Notes.

 


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to the provisions hereof, check the box: ☐

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to the provisions hereof, state the amount you elect to have

purchased: $                                                                  

Date:                                                                              

 

 

Your

Signature:

 

  

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Tax

Identification

No.:

 

  

 

Signature

Guarantee*:                                                                       

 

 

  * Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGE OF GLOBAL NOTES*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $            . The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange     

Amount of decrease

in Principal Amount of this

Global Note

     Amount of
increase
in Principal
Amount of
this
Global Note
     Principal
Amount of
this Global
Note
following
such
decrease or
increase
     Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee,
Depositary or
Custodian
                   

 

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

Exhibit 4.6

Execution Version

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated June 12, 2017 (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into by and among Moody’s Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (the “ Representatives ”), as representatives of the initial purchasers listed on Schedule 1 (the “ Initial Purchasers ”) to the Purchase Agreement dated as of June 1, 2017 among the Company and the Representatives (the “ Purchase Agreement ”).

The Purchase Agreement provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.625% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “ 2023 Notes ”) and $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.250% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “ 2028 Notes ” and, together with the 2023 Notes, the “ Securities ”). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.

In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.         Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Business Day ” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Closing Date ” shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Purchase Agreement.

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

Exchange Dates ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.

Exchange Offer ” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange Securities of each series for Registrable Securities of each series pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.


Exchange Offer Registration ” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement ” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

Exchange Securities ” shall mean senior notes of each series issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms identical to the applicable series of Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer for such series.

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Free Writing Prospectus ” means each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.

Holders ” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that, for purposes of Section 4 and Section 5 hereof, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.

Indemnified Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

Indemnifying Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

Indenture ” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as of August 19, 2010, between the Company and the Trustee, as trustee, as supplemented by the Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 12, 2017, between the Company and the Trustee and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Initial Purchasers ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Inspector ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiv) hereof.

Issuer Information ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.


Majority Holders ” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities of each series; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its affiliates shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount; and provided , further , that if the Company shall issue any additional Securities under the Indenture prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement, such additional Securities and the Registrable Securities to which this Agreement relates shall be treated together as one class for purposes of determining whether the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities has been obtained.

Notice and Questionnaire ” shall mean a notice of registration statement and selling security holder questionnaire distributed to a Holder by the Company upon receipt of a Shelf Request from such Holder.

Participating Broker-Dealers ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

Participating Holder ” shall mean any Holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof.

Person ” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.

Purchase Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Registrable Securities ” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding or (iii) except in the case of Securities that otherwise remain Registrable Securities and that are held by an Initial Purchaser and that are ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, when the Exchange Offer is consummated.


Registration Default ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the Exchange Offer is not completed on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required pursuant to Section 2(b)(i) or Section 2(b)(ii) hereof, has not become effective on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (iii) if the Company receives a Shelf Request pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii), the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed thereby has not become effective by the later of (a) the Target Registration Date and (b) 90 days after delivery of such Shelf Request, (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has become effective and thereafter ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable, in each case whether or not permitted by this Agreement, at any time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 30 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period or (v) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has become effective and thereafter, on more than two occasions in any 12-month period during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable, in each case whether or not permitted by this Agreement.

Registration Expenses ” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Participating Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Participating Holders holding a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities held by such Participating Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.


Registration Statement ” shall mean any registration statement of the Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

Representatives ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

SEC ” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

Shelf Effectiveness Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration ” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration Statement ” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities held by the Participating Holders) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

Shelf Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

Staff ” shall mean the staff of the SEC.

Target Registration Date ” shall mean 365 days after the Closing Date.

Trust Indenture Act ” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.


Trustee ” shall mean the Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture and any successor thereto.

Underwriter ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) hereof.

Underwritten Offering ” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.

2.         Registration Under the Securities Act .  (a)  To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (x) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (y) have such Registration Statement become and remain effective until 180 days after the last Exchange Date for use by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer for each series promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use its reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer for each series not later than 60 days after such effective date.

The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer for each series by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:

 

(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities of such series validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange;

 

(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed, or longer if required by applicable law) (the “ Exchange Dates ”);

 

(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein;

 

(iv) that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security of a series exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for such series will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such Registrable Security, in each case prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and


(v) that any Holder of Registrable Securities of a series will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date with respect to the Exchange Offer for such series, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address specified in the notice, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for the Registrable Securities.

As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Company that (1) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (2) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (3) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company and (4) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date with respect to an Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities of a series, the Company shall:

 

(I) accept for exchange Registrable Securities of such series or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and

 

(II) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities of such series or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities of such series equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities of such series validly tendered by such Holder.

The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff.


(b)        In the event that (i) the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) hereof is not available or the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities of a series may not be completed as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date with respect to such Exchange Offer because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason completed by the Target Registration Date or (iii) upon receipt of a written request (a “ Shelf Request ”) from any Initial Purchaser representing that it holds Registrable Securities of the applicable series that are or were ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities of such series by the Holders thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective; provided that no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Securities included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Company as is contemplated by Section 3(b) hereof.

In the event that the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and have become effective both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer.

The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the Securities cease to be Registrable Securities (the “ Shelf Effectiveness Period” ). The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Company agrees to furnish to the Participating Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.


(c)        The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

(d)         An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC. A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the Securities Act.

If a Registration Default occurs with respect to a series of Registrable Securities, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities of such series will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period beginning on the day immediately following such Registration Default and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until and including the date such Registration Default ends, up to a maximum increase of 1.00% per annum. A Registration Default ends when the Securities of such series cease to be Registrable Securities or, if earlier, (1) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (i) of the definition thereof, when the Exchange Offer for such series is completed, (2) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective or (3) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (iv) or clause (v) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable. If at any time more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, then, until the next date that there is no Registration Default, the increase in interest rate provided for by this paragraph shall apply as if there occurred a single Registration Default that begins on the date that the earliest such Registration Default occurred and ends on such next date that there is no Registration Default.

(e)        Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.

3.           Registration Procedures .  (a) In connection with its obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:


(i)        prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (A) shall be selected by the Company, (B) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and (C) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;

(ii)        prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;

(iii)        to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed;

(iv)        in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Participating Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and, subject to Section 3(c) hereof, the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Participating Holders and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;

(v)          use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Participating Holder shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; cooperate with such Participating Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to


enable each Participating Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction, (3) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject or (4) make any changes to its certificate of incorporation or other organizational documents;

(vi)        notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, when any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, (2) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (3) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (5) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (6) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus would be appropriate;

(vii)         use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement on the proper form, at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder or Participating Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;


(viii)        in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);

(ix)          in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Participating Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Participating Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;

(x)          upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company shall notify the Participating Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and the Initial Purchasers and any Participating Broker-Dealers known to the Company (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Participating Holders, such Participating Broker-Dealers and the Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such misstatement or omission;

(xi)          a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus or of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Participating Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the


Participating Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document; and the Company shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object within a reasonable time after receipt thereof;

(xii)        obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities of each series or Registrable Securities of each series, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement covering such Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities;

(xiii)        cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

(xiv)         in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Participating Holders (an “ Inspector ”), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, any attorneys and accountants designated by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities held by the Participating Holders and any attorneys and accountants designated by such Underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement; provided that if any such information is identified by the Company as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any Inspector, Holder or Underwriter);(xvi)    if reasonably requested by any Participating Holder, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to


such Participating Holder as such Participating Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing;

(xvii)      in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (1) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each Participating Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, in customary form and subject to customary limitations, assumptions and exclusions and covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (3) obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each Participating Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and (4) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement; and

(b)        In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company a Notice and Questionnaire and such other information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.


(c)        Each Participating Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(vi)(3) or Section 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, such Participating Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Participating Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(x) hereof and, if so directed by the Company, such Participating Holder will deliver to the Company all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Participating Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.

(d)        If the Company shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Company may give any such notice only twice during any 365-day period and any such suspensions shall not exceed 30 days for each suspension and there shall not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365-day period.

(e)         The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “ Underwriter ”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering.

4.            Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer .  (a)  The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “ Participating Broker-Dealer ”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

The Company understands that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.


(b)        In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof), in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Company further agrees that Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.

(c)        The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof.

5.           Indemnification and Contribution .  (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“ Issuer Information ”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser or information relating to any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through the Representatives or any selling Holder, respectively, expressly for use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.


(b)        Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus.

(c)        If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the “ Indemnified Person ”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “ Indemnifying Person ”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided , further , that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the


Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, (y) for any Holder, its directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d)        If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company from the offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Holders and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.


(e)        The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.

(f)         The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

(g)        The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

6.           General .

(a)         No Inconsistent Agreements.   The Company represents, warrants and agrees that (i) the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Company under any other agreement and (ii) the Company has not entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

(b)         Amendments and Waivers.   The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable


Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.

(c)         Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.

(d)         Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.


(e)         Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.

(f)          Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(g)          Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(h)         Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

(j)           Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Company and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

MOODY’S CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ John J. Goggins

Name: John J. Goggins

Title: Executive Vice President &

General Counsel

By:  

/s/ Linda S. Huber

Name: Linda S. Huber

Title: Executive Vice President & Chief

Financial Officer


Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written

for themselves and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers:

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
By:  

/s/ Robert Bottamedi

       Authorized Signatory
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By:  

/s/ Adam Bordner

       Authorized Signatory

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

                         INCORPORATED

By:  

/s/ Kevin Wehler

       Authorized Signatory