falsefalse00016921150000092416 0001692115 2022-03-17 2022-03-17 0001692115 swx:SouthwestGasCorporationMember 2022-03-17 2022-03-17 0001692115 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2022-03-17 2022-03-17 0001692115 swx:PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember 2022-03-17 2022-03-17
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
Form
8-K
 
 
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 17, 2022
 
 
 
             
Commission
File Number
 
Exact
 name
 of
 registrant
 as
 specified
 in
 its
 charter
 and
principal
 office
 address
 and
 telephone
 number
 
State of Incorporation
 
I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.
001-37976
 
Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.
8360 S. Durango Drive
Post Office Box 98510
Las Vegas, Nevada 89193
(702) 876-7237
 
Delaware
 
81-3881866
       
001-07850
 
Southwest Gas Corporation
8360 S. Durango Drive
Post Office Box 98510
Las Vegas, Nevada 89193
(702) 876-7237
 
California
 
88-0085720
 
 
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))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc:
 
         
(Title of class)
 
(Trading
symbol)
 
(Exchange
on which registered)
Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. Common Stock, $1 par value
 
SWX
 
New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
 
N/A
 
New York Stock Exchange
Southwest Gas Corporation:
None.
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
Rule12b-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.
Closing of Senior Notes Offering
On March 22, 2022, Southwest Gas Corporation (the “Company”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (the “Parent”), completed a public offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 4.05% Senior Notes due 2032 (the “Notes”) pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, dated March 17, 2022, with KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., MUFG Securities Americas Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., as representatives of the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”). The Notes were registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form
S-3
(File
No. 333-251074-01)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 2020. The Company received net proceeds from the sale of the Notes of approximately $592.7 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to redeem the Company’s outstanding 3.875% Senior Notes due 2022 in full, to repay the outstanding amounts under the Company’s credit facility and the remainder for general corporate purposes.
The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”) and a Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 22, 2022, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Third Supplemental Indenture,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Indenture provides for customary events of default and includes certain covenants, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the Company’s ability to issue indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a lien and enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions.
The Notes bear interest at a fixed rate equal to 4.05% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year beginning on September 15, 2022. The Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company and are not guaranteed by the Parent. The Notes rank equal in right of payment with all existing and future senior unsecured debt of Southwest Gas Corporation and senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated debt of Southwest Gas Corporation. The Notes will mature on March 15, 2032. At any time prior to December 15, 2031 (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of: (1)(a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a
360-day
year consisting of twelve
30-day
months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to, but excluding, the date of redemption; and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. On or after the Par Call Date, 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 to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the redemption date.
The foregoing descriptions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Underwriting Agreement, the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 1.1, 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Entry into Amended Term Loan Agreement
On March 22, 2022, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2021 (the “Term Loan Agreement” and as amended, the “Amended Term Loan Agreement”), with the lenders, book runners and syndication agents party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Administrative Agent. As of March 21, 2022, approximately $250 million in aggregate principal amount was outstanding under the term loan provided for under the Term Loan Agreement.
The Amended Term Loan Agreement, among other things, (1) extends the maturity date of the term loan to March 21, 2023 and (2) replaces London Interbank Offered Rate interest rate benchmarks with Secured Overnight Financing Rate interest rate benchmarks.
The foregoing description of the Amended Term Loan Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended Term Loan Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 2.03.
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation under an
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangement of Registrant.
The disclosure set forth under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d)
Exhibits
 
Exhibit
Number
  
Description
  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated March 17, 2022, by and among Southwest Gas Corporation and KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., MUFG Securities Americas Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., as representatives of the underwriters named therein.
  4.1    Third Supplemental Indenture, dated March 22, 2022, by and between Southwest Gas Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.
  4.2    Form of 4.05% Senior Note due 2032 (included in Exhibit 4.1)
  5.1    Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP regarding the legality of the Notes
10.1    Amendment No. 1, dated as of March 22, 2022, to the Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2021, by and among Southwest Gas Corporation, the lenders, book runners and syndication agents party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Administrative Agent.
23.1    Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
104    Cover Page formatted in Inline XBRL.

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
             
            SOUTHWEST GAS HOLDINGS, INC.
       
Date: March 22, 2022                 
/s/ Gregory J. Peterson
            Gregory J. Peterson
            Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer
       
            SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
       
Date: March 22, 2022          
/s/ Gregory J. Peterson
            Gregory J. Peterson
            Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 1.1

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

$600,000,000 4.05% Senior Notes due 2032

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

March 17, 2022

KEYBANC CAPITAL MARKETS INC.

MUFG SECURITIES AMERICAS INC.

TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC

U.S. BANCORP INVESTMENTS, INC.

As Representatives of

the several Underwriters listed in

Schedule 1 hereto

c/o KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

127 Public Square, 4th Floor

Cleveland, OH 44114

c/o MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

1221 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10020-1001

c/o TD Securities (USA) LLC

One Vanderbilt Avenue, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10017

c/o U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

214 N. Tryon St., 26th Floor

Charlotte, NC 28202

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Southwest Gas Corporation, a California corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named in Schedule 1 attached to this agreement (this “Agreement”), acting severally and not jointly, the respective amounts set forth in such Schedule 1 of $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.05% Senior Notes due 2032 (the “Securities”). The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of June 4, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), and a supplemental indenture to be dated as of March 22, 2022 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”). This is to confirm the agreement concerning the purchase of the Securities from the Company by the Underwriters.

1. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that:


(a) A Registration Statement (as defined below) on Form S-3 relating to the Securities (i) has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations (together, the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder; (ii) has been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and (iii) is effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such Registration Statement and any amendment thereto have been delivered by the Company to KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., MUFG Securities Americas Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., as the representatives (“you” or the “Representatives”) of the Underwriters. For the avoidance of doubt, the availability to the Underwriters of such Registration Statement and any amendment thereto on the Commission’s EDGAR database shall satisfy the Company’s delivery obligation with respect thereto. As used in this Agreement:

(i) “Applicable Time” means March 17, 2022 at 3:41 p.m. (New York City time);

(ii) “Effective Date” means any date as of which any part of such registration statement relating to the Securities became, or is deemed to have become, effective under the Securities Act in accordance with the Rules and Regulations;

(iii) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433(h) of the Rules and Regulations) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities, including each “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h) of the Rules and Regulations) relating to the offering of the Securities that is a “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Rules and Regulations);

(iv) “Preliminary Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated March 17, 2022, specifically relating to the Securities, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations (“Rule 424(b)”), together with the prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness and that omits Rule 430B Information (as defined below);

(v) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information included in Schedule 2 hereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used by the Company on or before the Applicable Time, other than any road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus;

(vi) “Prospectus” means the final prospectus supplement, dated March 17, 2022 relating to the Securities, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), together with the prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness and that omits Rule 430B Information; and

(vii) “Registration Statement” means, collectively, the various parts of the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the Securities (File No. 333- 251074-01), each as amended as of the Effective Date for such part, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness and all exhibits to such registration statement (“Rule 430B Information”).

 

2


Any reference to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of this Agreement; and all references to information that is “included” or “contained” in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package (and any similar references) shall mean and include all information that is incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities Act. Any reference to any amendment or supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to any document filed under the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose has been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission. The Commission has not notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement.

(b) Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), has been since the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement and continues to be a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations). The Company is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent and is eligible to use Form S-3 for the offering of the Securities. Neither Parent nor the Company has been an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) at any such time or date. The Company will pay the registration fee for this offering pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) and was filed not earlier than the date that is three years prior to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof). No notice of objection of the Commission to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Parent or by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Parent or the Company or related to the offering of the Securities has been initiated or threatened by the Commission.

(c) The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Trust

 

3


Indenture Act”). The Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The documents incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus conformed, and any further documents so incorporated will conform, when filed with the Commission, in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(d) The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with (i) written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriters specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e) hereof and (ii) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (the “Form T-1”) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act.

(e) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriters specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e) hereof.

(f) The Prospectus does not and will not, as of its date and on the Closing Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriters specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e) hereof.

(g) The documents incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(h) The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an 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; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriters specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e) hereof.

 

4


(i) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations), when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriters specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e) hereof.

(j) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations on the date of first use, and the Company has complied or will comply, as applicable, with any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives (such consent not to be unreasonably delayed or withheld). The Company has retained in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted with or will conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus.

(k) The Company (A) has been duly incorporated, organized or formed and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business; and (B) is duly registered and qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the business conducted by it or the location of the properties owned, leased or operated by it make such registration or qualification necessary, except, as it relates to this clause (B), for such jurisdictions where the failure to so register, qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). Except for the subsidiaries listed on Schedule 3 hereto, the Company does not have any subsidiaries or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity. No subsidiary of the Company is a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) and no two or more subsidiaries of the Company considered in the aggregate constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations).

(l) The shares of issued and outstanding common stock of the Company, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Stock”) have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws.

 

5


(m) The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, upon effectiveness of the Registration Statement, was or will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, usury, stay, extension or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles relating to enforceability (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

(n) The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

(o) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”). This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(p) None of the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company, the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company, compliance by the Company with any of the provisions of the Transaction Documents nor the application of the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any agreement, indenture or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound, or to which any of their properties is subject; (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any claim, lien, encumbrance, security interest, restriction upon voting or transfer, preemptive rights or any other claim of any third party (collectively, “Liens”) upon any property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the articles of incorporation, by-laws, partnership agreement or other organizational documents of the Company; or (iv) violate any law, rule, administrative regulation or decree of any court or any governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, except, with respect to clauses (i), (ii) and (iv), conflicts, breaches, Liens, defects or violations that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, properties or business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of this Agreement (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(q) No permit, consent, approval, authorization or order of any court, governmental agency or body (including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) or financial institution is required for the issue and sale of the Securities, the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company, or the application of the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except (i) for the registration of the Securities under the Securities

 

6


Act; (ii) for the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; (iii) from the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California; (iv) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the Exchange Act and applicable state or foreign securities laws in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities through the Underwriters; and (v) where the failure to obtain such permits, consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(r) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act.

(s) The Company has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.

(t) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree; (ii) issued or granted any securities; (iii) incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, except as may otherwise be disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus; (iv) entered into any transaction not in the ordinary course of business, except as may otherwise be disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus; (v) declared or paid any dividend on its capital stock; or (vi) made or experienced any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, properties or business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case in this paragraph (except clause (v) hereof) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(u) The financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby at the dates and for the periods indicated (subject to year-end adjustments in the case of unaudited interim financial statements) and have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated and conform in all material respects with GAAP, except as otherwise noted therein; and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the

 

7


Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(v) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have reported on certain financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and whose report is incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, and were independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations during the periods covered by the financial statements on which they reported contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(w) The statistical and market-related data, if any, included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(x) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, and as of the Closing Date and, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Securities and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of them will be, an “investment company” within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(y) There is no litigation or governmental proceeding to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject or which is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) There are no statutes or regulations, legal or governmental proceedings or contracts or other documents that would be required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (in each case including, without limitation, the documents incorporated by reference therein) or, in the case of contracts or other documents, to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that are not described and filed as required under applicable law.

(aa) To the knowledge of the Company, no labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is imminent that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(bb) (i) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA,” which term, as used herein, includes the regulations and published interpretations thereunder)) established or maintained by the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their ERISA Affiliates (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA and, to the knowledge of the Company, each “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA) to which the Company, its subsidiaries or an ERISA Affiliate contributes (a “Multiemployer Plan”) is in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations described in Section 414 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code,” which term, as used herein, includes the regulations and published interpretations thereunder) of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. Neither the Company, any of its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the “employee benefit plan” or premiums to the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in the ordinary course and without default) or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code or pursuant to Section 406 of ERISA. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would materially adversely affect such qualification.

(cc) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all material federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, subject to permitted extensions, which returns are complete and correct in all material respects, and have paid all taxes due, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in default in the payment of any taxes which were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto, except for any such taxes or assessments which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves, if any, have been established in accordance with GAAP and statutory accounting principles, and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Company does not have any knowledge of any tax deficiencies that have been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(dd) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its respective articles of incorporation or by-laws or other organizational documents, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is in default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject or (ii) is in violation of any law, ordinance, rule, regulation or order of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or its property or assets, except in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the extent any such conflict, breach, violation or default would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(ee) The Company is and, to the knowledge of the Company, its officers and directors are, in compliance in all material respects with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

(ff) (i) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries holds such permits, licenses, patents, franchises, certificates of need, authorities and other approvals or authorizations from governmental or regulatory authorities (collectively, the “Permits”) which are necessary under applicable law to the conduct of its businesses as presently operated and to own its properties and conduct its businesses in the manner described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to obtain such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations necessary to maintain the Permits, except where the failure to fulfill or perform such obligations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) there is no past, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation that may reasonably be expected to lead to the revocation, termination or suspension of any Permit, except where such revocation, termination or suspension would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such Permits or has any reason to believe that any such Permits will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where such revocation, modification or non-renewal would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(gg) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or have the ability to acquire, all patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names currently employed by them in connection with the business now operated by them, except where the failure to own, possess or have the ability to acquire such patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of the Company nor its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing which, individually or in the aggregate, if subject to any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(hh) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; or (iii) made any bribe or other unlawful payment.

(jj) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(kk) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any applicable governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(ll) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) or any sanctions imposed or administered by any other jurisdiction where the Company operates (collectively, “Sanctions”); nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and Crimea regions of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the net proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, (i) for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any Sanctions or (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country.

 

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(mm) The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of the Closing Date and completion of the distribution of the Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Representatives have consented in accordance with Section 1(j) or 5(a)(vi) hereof (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(nn) None of the Company, nor its subsidiaries or affiliates, has taken nor will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(oo) The Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, maintain systems of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and statutory accounting principles. The Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and statutory accounting practices and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) interactive data in eXtensbile Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto, and (v) recorded assets are compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(pp) The Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have established and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.

(qq) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Preliminary Prospectus, (i) the Company has not been advised of any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Company and each of its subsidiaries and (ii) there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that would significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses requiring disclosure in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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(rr) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except where the failure to have such good and marketable title or the existence of any such Liens would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All assets held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such assets by the Company and its subsidiaries, except where the failure of any such leases to be valid, subsisting or enforceable or the existence of such exceptions would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ss) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders, customers or suppliers of the Company, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus which is not so described.

(tt) The statements set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Other Indebtedness,” “Description of the Notes,” and “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as they purport to describe the Securities, and other documents and legal matters referred to therein, are accurate in all material respects.

(uu) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or the Underwriters for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

(vv) None of the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities has been or will be paid to the Underwriters (except for the payment of the commissions pursuant to this Agreement) or, to the knowledge of the Company, to any affiliate of the Underwriters; and the Company is not an “affiliate” (as defined in FINRA Rule 5121) of any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

(ww) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

(xx) The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with, and conduct their respective businesses in conformity with, all applicable state, federal, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the operation and ownership of a public utility, including, without limitation, those relating to the distribution and transmission of natural gas, except to the extent that any failure so to comply or conform would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(yy) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries believes they are insured with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses, including, but not limited to, insurance against accidents, third-party injury or general liability and insurance covering certain real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and each of its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against. All policies of insurance insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, that individually or in the aggregate are material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken together as a whole, under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and, except as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(zz) The Company and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses, and there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to the same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same.    The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to matters covered thereby.

2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters. On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell the Securities at a price equal to 98.977% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 22, 2022, to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the principal amount of the Securities set forth opposite that Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto.

 

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The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any of the Securities to be delivered on the Closing Date, except upon payment for all such Securities to be purchased on such Closing Date as provided herein.

3. Offering of Securities by the Underwriters. The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

4. Delivery of and Payment for the Securities. Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made at 10:00 a.m. New York City time, on March 22, 2022 or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the Company. This date and time are sometimes referred to as the “Closing Date.” Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Securities being sold by the Company by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Company shall deliver the Securities through the facilities of Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

5. Further Agreements of the Company and the Underwriters.

(a) The Company agrees:

(i) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the Closing Date except as provided herein; to advise the Representatives in writing, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; to advise the Representatives in writing, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A, of any notice from the Commission objecting to the use of the form of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its reasonable best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;

 

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(ii) To pay the applicable Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) of the Rules and Regulations without regard to the proviso therein;

(iii) To deliver promptly to the Representatives such number of written or electronic copies of the following documents as the Representatives shall reasonably request: (A) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case excluding exhibits other than this Agreement and the portions of the annual report to shareholders incorporated by reference into the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021), (B) the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amended or supplemented Prospectus, (C) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (D) any document incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, it being understood that with regard to (A) and (D) above, availability to the Underwriters on the Commission’s EDGAR database of the documents referenced therein shall satisfy any such delivery obligations with respect thereto; and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time after the date hereof in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities or any other securities relating thereto and if at such time any events shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives in writing and, upon their request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

(iv) To file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the judgment of the Company, be required by the Securities Act or requested by the Commission, provided, however, that the Company shall consider in good faith any recommendations of the Representatives related thereto;

(v) Prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any amendment to any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters and obtain the written consent (which written consent may be communicated by electronic communication) of the Representatives to the filing (such consent not to be unreasonably delayed or withheld);

(vi) Not to make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent (including written consent provided via electronic mail) of the Representatives (such consent not to be unreasonably delayed or withheld);

 

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(vii) To comply with all applicable requirements of Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations with respect to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; and if at any time after the date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to notify the Representatives and, upon their reasonable request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance;

(viii) As soon as practicable after the Effective Date and in any event not later than 16 months after the date hereof, to make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to deliver to the Representatives an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations;

(ix) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Underwriters may reasonably request to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably request, and to maintain such qualifications in effect for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify; (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction; or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject; and

(x) To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities being sold by the Company as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(b) Each Underwriter severally represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent (including written consent provided via electronic mail) of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations, required to be filed with the Commission.

6. Expenses. The Company will pay and bear all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (a) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and any schedules or exhibits and any documents incorporated therein by reference), as originally filed and as amended, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the cost of furnishing copies thereof in accordance with Section 5(a)(iii) of this Agreement thereto

 

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to the Underwriters; (b) the preparation, printing and distribution of this Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities, the blue sky survey and the legal investment survey; (c) the delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters; (d) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel and accountants; (e) the qualification of the Securities under the applicable securities laws in accordance with Section 5(a)(ix) and any filing for review of the offering with FINRA; (f) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Securities; and (g) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee, in connection with the Indenture and the Securities.

7. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The respective obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on the date of the Prospectus and on the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:

(a) The Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 5(a)(i) and Section 5(a)(iv) hereof; the Company shall have complied with all filing requirements applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus used or referred to after the date hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding or examination for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; any request of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein or otherwise shall have been complied with; and the Commission shall not have notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto.

(b) No Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to the Closing Date that the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the reasonable opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(c) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(d) Morrison & Foerster LLP shall have furnished to the Underwriters its written opinion and its separate negative assurance letter, as counsel to the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and delivered and dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, addressing the matters set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

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(e) Thomas E. Moran, Vice President/Corporate Secretary/Legal Counsel, shall have furnished to the Underwriters his written opinion addressed to the Underwriters and delivered and dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, addressing the matters set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto.

(f) The Representatives shall have received from Ballard Spahr LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(g) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, addressed to the Underwriters and the Company and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they are independent registered public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Preliminary Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.

(h) With respect to the letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP referred to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Representatives concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “initial letter”), PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter (the “bring-down letter”) of such accountants, addressed to the Underwriters and the Company and dated the Closing Date (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission; (ii) stating, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than two days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the initial letter; (iii) covering financial information in the Prospectus; and (iv) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the initial letter.

(i) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of any vice-president of the Company and the principal financial officer, vice president/treasurer or principal accounting officer of the Company satisfactory to the Representatives to the effect that:

(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in Section 1 are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of the Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all its agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date;

 

19


(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued; no proceedings or examination for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act have been instituted or, to the knowledge of such officers, threatened; and the Commission has not notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto; and

(iii) They have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, in their opinion, (1) the Registration Statement, as of each Effective Date, (2) the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the Closing Date, and (3) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date, did not and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

(j) Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Disclosure Package, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree or (ii) since such date there shall not have been any change in the capital stock; or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, individually or in the aggregate, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or sale of the Securities being delivered on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or this Agreement.

(k) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrade in the rating of the Company or its financial strength or the rating of any of the Company’s securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act (the “Rating Agencies”) shall have occurred or be pending and (ii) no Rating Agency shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of the Company or the Company’s financial strength or its rating of any of the Company’s securities.

(l) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ National Market, or trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange

 

20


or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction; (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York state authorities; or (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States, there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States, there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such), as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or sale of the Securities being delivered on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or this Agreement.

(m) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.

(n) At the time of execution of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such date, in a form reasonable satisfactory to the Representatives.

(o) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers, members and employees and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Securities), to which such Underwriter or such affiliate, director, officer, member, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (C) any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) used or referred to in any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) used or referred to by any Underwriter (“Permitted Issuer Information”), or (D) any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “Road Show”) or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Preliminary

 

21


Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information or any Road Show, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, (except in the case of the Registration Statement) in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter and each such affiliate, director, officer, member, employee or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Underwriter or such affiliate, director, officer, member, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 8(e) hereof. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Underwriter or to any affiliate, director, officer, member, employee or controlling person of that Underwriter.

(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Road Show or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Road Show, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 8(e) hereof, and shall reimburse the Company, each of its directors, officers, employees or controlling persons promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or such director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have to the Company or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person of the Company.

 

22


(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure and, provided, further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with one counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the indemnified parties, jointly, shall have the right to employ one counsel to represent jointly the indemnified party and those other indemnified parties and their respective directors, officers, members, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this Section 8 if (i) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party and its directors, officers, members, employees and controlling persons shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified parties or their respective directors, officers, members, employees or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the indemnifying party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party as incurred. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include any findings of fact or admissions of fault or culpability as to the indemnified party or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) hereof in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to

 

23


reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the principal amount of Securities purchased under this Agreement, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the other hand. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities underwritten by it exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any 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 Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e) The Underwriters severally confirm, and the Company acknowledges and agrees, that the statements set forth in the first and second sentences in the first paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Commissions and Discounts,” the third and fourth sentences in the first paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—New Issue of Notes” and the first and second paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Short Positions” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

24


9. Termination.

(a) The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives by written notice given to and received by the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 7(j), 7(k) and 7(l) hereof shall have occurred, or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement.

(b) If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 or Section 10, the Company shall, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 11, reimburse the Underwriters for all their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

10. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters. If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule 1 bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the aggregate principal amount of Securities with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 6, Section 8, and Section 11 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case, either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 10. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

11. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If (a) the Company shall fail to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to perform any agreement to be performed on its part hereunder, or because any other condition of the obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled by the Company is not fulfilled for any reason, or (b) the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel)

 

25


not to exceed $250,000 incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Securities and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representatives; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to reimburse the out-of-pocket expenses of any defaulting Underwriter referred to in Section 10 hereof or any Underwriter found to be in breach of this Agreement as of the Applicable Time.

12. Research Analyst Independence. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the Company.

13. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company acknowledges and agrees that in connection with this offering, sale of the Securities or any other services the Underwriters may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters: (a) no fiduciary or agency relationship between the Company and any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, exists; (b) the Underwriters are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to the Company, including, without limitation, with respect to the determination of the public offering price of the Securities, and such relationship between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (c) any duties and obligations that the Underwriters may have to the Company shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company hereby waives any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

14. Notices, Etc. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

 

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(a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail to:

 

  (i)

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

127 Public Square, 4th Floor

Cleveland, OH 44114

Attention: Debt Capital Markets

Facsimile: (216) 689-0976;

 

  (ii)

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

1221 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10020-1001

Attention: Capital Markets Group

Facsimile: (646) 434-3455;

 

  (iii)

TD Securities (USA) LLC

One Vanderbilt Avenue, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Transaction Management Group

Email: USTMG@tdsecurities.com; and

 

  (iv)

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

214 N. Tryon St., 26th Floor

Charlotte, NC 28202

Attention: Credit Fixed Income

Facsimile: (704) 335-2393; and

(b) if to the Company, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to:

 

  (i)

Southwest Gas Corporation

8360 South Durango Drive

P.O. Box 98510

Las Vegas, Nevada 89193

Attention: Treasurer

 

  (ii)

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Brandon C. Parris, Esq.

Morrison & Foerster LLP

425 Market Street

San Francisco, California 94105.

Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof. The Company shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Underwriters by the Representatives.

15. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company, and their respective successors. This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons, except that (a) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of the Company

 

27


contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the affiliates, directors, officers, members and employees of the Underwriters and each person or persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and (b) the indemnity agreement of the Underwriters contained in Section 8(b) hereof shall be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who have signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 15, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.

16. Survival. The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of them or any indemnified party referred to in Section 8 hereof.

17. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

For purposes of this Section 17: (i) a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); (ii) a “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (A) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (B) “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (C) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); (iii) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (iv) “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (A) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (B) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

18. Definition of the Terms “Business Day” and “Subsidiary.” For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close and (b) “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

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19. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of laws rules of such state.

20. Waiver of Jury Trial. THE COMPANY AND THE UNDERWRITERS HEREBY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. The Company and the Underwriters agree that a final judgment in any such proceeding brought in any court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and the Underwriters, as applicable, and may be enforced in any other courts in the jurisdiction of which the Company or the Underwriters are or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

22. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

[Signature page follows]

 

29


If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between the Company and the Underwriters, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.

 

Very truly yours,
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Gregory J. Peterson

  Name: Gregory J. Peterson
  Title: Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

Signature Page


Accepted:
KEYBANC CAPITAL MARKETS INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Eamon McDermott

  Name: Eamon McDermott
  Title: Managing Director

 

MUFG SECURITIES AMERICAS INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Richard Testa

  Name: Richard Testa
  Title: Managing Director

 

TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC   

 

By:  

/s/ Luiz Lanfredi

  Name: Luiz Lanfredi
  Title:

 

U.S. BANCORP INVESTMENTS, INC.   

 

By:  

/s/ Phillip Bennett

  Name: Phillip Bennett
  Title: Managing Director

For themselves and as Representatives of the Underwriters named in Schedule 1 hereto

 

Signature Page


SCHEDULE 1

 

Underwriters

   Principal
Amount of
Notes
 

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

   $ 117,000,000  

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

     117,000,000  

TD Securities (USA) LLC

     117,000,000  

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

     117,000,000  

Blaylock Van, LLC

     44,000,000  

Penserra Securities LLC

     44,000,000  

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

     44,000,000  

Total

   $ 600,000,000  
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE 2

PRICING INFORMATION


LOGO

Southwest Gas Corporation

$600,000,000 4.05% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2032

Final Term Sheet

March 17, 2022

 

Issuer:    Southwest Gas Corporation
Title of Securities:    4.05% Senior Notes due 2032
Security Type:    Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate Notes
Ratings1:   

Baa1/Stable by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

BBB/CreditWatch Developing by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services

A/Negative by Fitch Ratings Ltd.

Format:    Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
Trade Date:    March 17, 2022
Settlement Date (T+3) 2:    March 22, 2022
Maturity Date:    March 15, 2032
Aggregate Principal Amount Offered:    $600,000,000
Net Proceeds to the Issuer:    $593,862,000 (after underwriting discount)
Benchmark Treasury:    1.875% due February 15, 2032
Benchmark Treasury Yield:    2.196%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:    T+190 basis points
Re-offer Yield:    4.096%
Coupon:    4.05% per annum
Price to the Public (Issue Price):    99.627% of the principal amount
Interest Payment Dates:    Semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2022


Redemption Provisions:   

At any time prior to December 15, 2031, or the Par Call Date, the issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

 

•  (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to, but excluding, the date of redemption; and

 

•  100% of the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to be redeemed

 

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

At any time on or after the Par Call Date, the issuer may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the redemption date.

CUSIP / ISIN:    845011AE5 / US845011AE58
Minimum Denomination:    $2,000, and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof
Joint Book-Running Managers:   

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

TD Securities (USA) LLC

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

Co-Managers:   

Blaylock Van, LLC

Penserra Securities LLC

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

 

1 

An explanation of the significance of ratings may be obtained from the rating agencies. Generally, rating agencies base their ratings on such material and information, and such of their own investigations, studies and assumptions, as they deem appropriate. The ratings of the Notes should be evaluated independently from similar ratings of other securities. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.

2 

We expect to deliver the Notes on or about March 22, 2022, which will be the third business day following the date of this term sheet (“T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade Notes on the date of this term sheet will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Notes initially will settle in T+3, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement and should consult their own advisors.


The issuer has filed a registration statement on December 2, 2020 (including a prospectus dated December 2, 2020) and a preliminary prospectus supplement, dated March 17, 2022 (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. These documents are publicly available by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement if you request it by calling KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. toll free at 1-866-227-6479, MUFG Securities Americas Inc. toll free at 1-877-649-6848, TD Securities (USA) LLC toll free at 1-855-495-9846 or U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. toll free at 1-877-558-2607.


SCHEDULE 3

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES

 

Subsidiary Name

  

State of Incorporation or Organization Type

Utility Financial Corp.    Nevada
The Southwest Companies    Nevada
Great Basin Gas Transmission Company    Nevada
Southwest Gas Transmission Company A Limited Partnership    Arizona (Limited Partnership between Southwest Gas Corporation and Utility Financial Corp.)

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION,

as Issuer

and

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,

as Trustee

 

 

THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of March 22, 2022

 

 

4.05% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2032

 

 

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended:

 

Trust Indenture Act

Section

  

Indenture

Section

310(a)(1)    7.09; 7.10
(a)(2)    7.10
(a)(3)    Not Applicable
(a)(4)    Not Applicable
(a)(5)    7.10
(b)    7.08; 7.10
311(a)    7.11
(b)    7.11
312(a)    2.05
(b)    10.02
(c)    10.02
313(a)    7.06
(b)(1)    Not Applicable
(b)(2)    7.06
(c)    7.06
(d)    7.06
314(a)    4.02
(b)    Not Applicable
(c)(1)    10.03
(c)(2)    10.03
(c)(3)    Not Applicable
(d)    Not Applicable
(e)    10.04
(f)    4.02
315(a)    7.01
(b)    7.05
(c)    7.01
(d)    7.01
(e)    6.11
316(a)(last sentence)    10.05
(a)(1)(A)    6.05
(a)(1)(B)    6.04
(a)(2)    Not Applicable
(b)    6.07
(c)    9.03
317(a)(1)    6.08
(a)(2)    6.09
(b)    2.04
318(a)    10.16

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     1  

Section 1.01. Definitions

     1  

Section 1.02. Other Definitions

     4  

Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

     5  

Section 1.04. Rules of Construction

     5  

Section 1.05. Conflicts with Base Indenture

     6  

ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES

     6  

Section 2.01. Form and Dating

     6  

Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication

     8  

Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent

     9  

Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     9  

Section 2.05. Noteholder Lists

     9  

Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange

     9  

Section 2.07. Business Days

     11  

Section 2.08. Replacement Notes

     11  

Section 2.09. Outstanding Notes

     11  

Section 2.10. Temporary Notes

     11  

Section 2.11. Cancellation

     11  

Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest

     12  

Section 2.13. CUSIP Numbers, etc

     12  

Section 2.14. Issuance of Additional Notes

     12  

Section 2.15. One Class of Notes

     12  

ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION

     12  

Section 3.01. Applicability of this Article

     12  

Section 3.02. Notices to Trustee; Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

     12  

Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption

     13  

Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption

     13  

Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price

     14  

Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part

     14  

ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS

     14  

Section 4.01. Payment of Notes

     14  

Section 4.02. Compliance Certificate

     14  

Section 4.03. Maintenance of Office or Agency

     14  

Section 4.04. Existence

     14  

Section 4.05. Maintenance of Properties

     14  

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

Section 4.06. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims

     15  

Section 4.07. Restrictions on Liens

     15  

Section 4.08. Restrictions on Sale and Lease-back Transactions

     16  

ARTICLE 5 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS

     17  

Section 5.01. When the Company or any Guarantor May Merge or Transfer Assets

     17  

Section 5.02. Successor Person Substituted

     17  

ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     17  

Section 6.01. Events of Default

     17  

Section 6.02. Acceleration

     18  

Section 6.03. Other Remedies

     19  

Section 6.04. Waiver of Past or Existing Defaults

     19  

Section 6.05. Control by Majority

     19  

Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits

     19  

Section 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

     19  

Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee

     20  

Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     20  

Section 6.10. Priorities

     20  

Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs

     20  

Section 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     20  

ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE

     20  

Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee

     20  

Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee

     21  

Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee

     22  

Section 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer

     22  

Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults

     22  

Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders

     22  

Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity

     22  

Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee

     23  

Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger

     24  

Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification

     24  

Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company

     24  

ARTICLE 8 DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

     24  

Section 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance

     24  

Section 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance

     25  

Section 8.03. Application of Trust Money

     25  

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

Section 8.04. Repayment to the Company

     26  

Section 8.05. Indemnity for Government Obligations

     26  

Section 8.06. Reinstatement

     26  

ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENTS

     26  

Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders

     26  

Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders

     27  

Section 9.03. Effect of Consents and Waivers

     27  

Section 9.04. Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     28  

Section 9.05. Trustee to Sign Amendments

     28  

Section 9.06. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

     28  

ARTICLE 10 MISCELLANEOUS

     28  

Section 10.01. Notices

     28  

Section 10.02. Communication by Holders with Other Holders

     29  

Section 10.03. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     29  

Section 10.04. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     29  

Section 10.05. When Notes Disregarded

     29  

Section 10.06. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

     30  

Section 10.07. Governing Law

     30  

Section 10.08. No Recourse Against Others

     30  

Section 10.09. Successors

     30  

Section 10.10. Multiple Originals

     30  

Section 10.11. Variable Provisions

     30  

Section 10.12. Table of Contents; Headings

     30  

Section 10.13. Waiver of Jury Trial

     30  

Section 10.14. Force Majeure

     30  

Section 10.15. U.S.A

     30  

Section 10.16. Trust Indenture Act Controls

     30  

Section 10.17. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)

     30  

Section 10.18. Electronic Signatures

     31  

 

-iii-


THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 22, 2022, between Southwest Gas Corporation, a California corporation (the “Company”), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).

THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE CONTAINS ALL OF THE TERMS RELEVANT TO THE 4.05% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2032 OF SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION. THE BASE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN), AS IT MAY BE AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, AS TO WHICH THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SUPPLEMENTS, NEED NOT BE REFERRED TO WITH RESPECT TO THE TERMS OF THE 4.05% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2032 GOVERNED HEREBY.

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee entered into an indenture in respect of the issuance of Debt Securities (as defined herein) by the Company, dated as of June 4, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”);

WHEREAS, Sections 2.01 and 9.01 of the Base Indenture provide that the Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture to the Base Indenture for, among other things, the purpose of establishing the designation, form, terms and provisions of the Debt Securities;

WHEREAS, clause (h) of Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture to the Base Indenture to provide for the issuance of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 of the Base Indenture;

WHEREAS, clause (m) of Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture to the Base Indenture to make changes to the Base Indenture applicable only to a particular series of Debt Securities;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish and issue a new series of Debt Securities, the Company’s 4.05% Senior Notes due 2032 (the “Notes”), pursuant to the Base Indenture, as modified by this third supplemental indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture”); and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to enter into this Supplemental Indenture pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 9.01 of the Base Indenture (i) to supplement the Base Indenture, (ii) to provide for the issuance of the Notes and (iii) to make changes to the Base Indenture with respect to (and only with respect to) the Notes as contemplated by Sections 2.01 and 9.01 of the Base Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto, for the benefit of each other and for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Persons who hereafter become Holders of the Notes, hereby enter into this Supplemental Indenture which amends, modifies, supplements and restates in its entirety (except solely for the provisions of the Base Indenture which authorize the creation of this Supplemental Indenture) the Base Indenture with respect to (and only with respect to) the Notes, as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01. Definitions.

Additional Notes” means any Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under the terms of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Sections 2.06, 2.08, 2.10, 3.06 and 9.04 of this Indenture, in the case of Notes that are not already Additional Notes).

Base Indenture” has the meaning assigned to it in the recitals hereto.

Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person, the Board of Directors of such Person, any management committee of such Person or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board of Directors or such management committee.

 

1


Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in New York City are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any preferred stock, partnership interests and limited liability company membership interests, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor Corporation shall have succeeded to such Person pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, the “Company” shall mean such successor Corporation.

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, this Indenture shall be principally administered; which office at the date of the execution of this Indenture is located at 2 N. LaSalle Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60602, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by written notice to the Holders.

Corporation” means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

Default” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors and assigns.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

Finance Lease” means any lease of property of the Company (whether real, personal or mixed) by the Company as lessee that would, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, be required to be accounted for as a finance lease on the balance sheet of the Company.

Funded Debt” means all Indebtedness of the Company that by its terms or by the terms of any instrument or agreement relating thereto matures more than one year from, or is directly or indirectly renewable or extendable at the option of the Company to a date more than one year from the date of creation thereof (including an option of the Company under a revolving credit or similar agreement obligating the lender or lenders to extend credit over a period of more than one year), but excluding any payments due under the terms thereof within 12 months of any date of determination (including any deposit or payment required to be made under any prepayment provision, sinking fund, purchase fund or similar provision).

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect from time to time.

guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “guarantee,” when used as a verb, has a correlative meaning.

guarantor” means any Person that guarantees the Notes.

Holder” or “Noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the security register books of the Registrar.

 

2


incur” means issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for.

Indebtedness” means, as applied to any Person, Finance Leases, bonds, notes, debentures and other securities representing obligations for borrowed money created or assumed by such Person. All indebtedness guaranteed as to payment of principal in any manner by such Person or in effect guaranteed by such Person through a contingent agreement to purchase such indebtedness, and all indebtedness that is both secured by a Lien upon property owned by such Person and upon which such Person customarily pays interest, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, shall for all purposes hereof be deemed to be “Indebtedness” of such Person.

Indenture” means the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, in each case as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Initial Notes” means the $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date.

Interest Payment Date” means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on the Notes as specified in the Form of Face of Note contained in Exhibit A.

Issue Date” means March 22, 2022.

Lien” means any lien, mortgage, pledge, security interest, charge or other encumbrance of any kind.

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, President, the Controller, the Chief Operating Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the General Counsel, the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary, as applicable.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any two Officers of the Company.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion, reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, from legal counsel to the Company. The counsel may be an employee of the Company. Opinions of Counsel required to be delivered under this Indenture may have qualifications customary for opinions of the type required and counsel delivering such Opinions of Counsel may rely on certificates of the Company or governmental or other officials customary for opinions of the type required, including certificates certifying as to matters of fact.

Person” means any individual, Corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

principal” means the principal of the Notes plus the premium, if any, payable on the Notes that is due or overdue or is to become due at the relevant time; provided, however, that for purposes of calculating any such premium, the term “principal” shall not include the premium with respect to which such calculation is being made.

Redemption Date” shall mean the date specified for redemption of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes and Section 3.01.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

Securities Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by DTC) or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any Note, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such Note is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof until the exercise of such option by such holder).

 

3


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 that 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 that 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.

Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning assigned to it in the recitals hereto.

Total Capitalization” means, as at any time, the aggregate of (i) all amounts outstanding on such date classified as shareholders’ equity of the Company on such date, (ii) all amounts outstanding on such date classified as preferred or preference stock of the Company on such date, and (iii) all amounts of Funded Debt of the Company outstanding on such date determined on an unconsolidated basis.

Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendments, the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended.

Trustee” means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, means such successor.

Trust Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time.

United States” and “U.S.” means the United States of America.

U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged and that are not callable or redeemable at the Company’s option.

Voting Stock” of any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) 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.

Section 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in
Section
 

“Affiliate”

     10.05  

“Agent Members”

     2.01 (d) 

“Authenticating Agent”

     2.02  

“Authentication Order”

     2.02  

“Bankruptcy Law”

     6.01  

“covenant defeasance option”

     8.01 (b) 

 

4


“Custodian”

     6.01  

“Debt”

     4.07 (a) 

“Definitive Notes”

     2.01 (e) 

“Event of Default”

     6.01  

“Global Notes”

     2.01 (a) 

“legal defeasance option”

     8.01 (b) 

“Notes”

     Recitals  

“Notice of Default”

     6.01  

“Paying Agent”

     2.03  

“Registrar”

     2.03  

“Sale and Lease back Transaction”

     4.08  

“Successor”

     5.01  

“Value”

     4.07 (c) 

Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the Trust Indenture Act which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following terms in the Trust Indenture Act have the following meanings:

indenture securities” means the Notes.

indenture security holder” means a Holder or Noteholder.

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any other obligor on the indenture securities, including any guarantor.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

Section 1.04. Rules of Construction. For purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires:

(i) all terms used in this Indenture that are not defined herein and that are used as defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions;

(ii) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(iii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(iv) “including” means including without limitation;

(v) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(vi) all references to Notes shall refer also to any Additional Notes issued in the form of Notes pursuant to Section 2.14;

 

5


(vii) all references to the date the Notes were originally issued shall refer to the Issue Date or the date any Additional Notes were originally issued, as the case may be; and

(viii) all references herein to particular Sections or Articles shall refer to this Indenture unless otherwise so indicated.

Section 1.05. Conflicts with Base Indenture. In the event that any provision of this Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Base Indenture, such provision of this Supplemental Indenture shall control.

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01. Form and Dating.

(a) Form of Notes. The Notes of shall be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A, with such appropriate provisions as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable laws or the rules of any securities exchange or DTC or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers of the Company executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form set forth in this Article.

The Definitive Notes shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on a steel engraved border or on steel engraved borders or produced by any combination of these methods, if required by any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, all as determined by the Officers of the Company executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes.

The Notes shall be issued on the Issue Date in the form of a permanent global Note (each, a “Global Note” and, collectively, the “Global Notes”), deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, duly executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided and dated the date of their authentication. Each Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.

The principal of and interest on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose in Las Vegas, Nevada, or at such other office or agency of the Company as may be maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.03; provided, however, that at the option of the Company, each installment of interest may be paid by (i) check mailed to addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear on the Note Register or (ii) upon request of any Holder of at least $1,000,000 principal amount of Notes, wire transfer to an account located in the United States of America maintained by the payee. Payments in respect of Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by DTC.

(b) Denominations. The Notes shall be issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, and only in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(c) Legend for Global Notes. The Global Notes shall bear the following legend on the face thereof:

“UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“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 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 NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S

 

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NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.”

(d) Book-Entry Provisions.

(i) This Section 2.01(d) shall apply only to Global Notes deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC.

(ii) Each Global Note initially shall (x) be registered in the name of DTC or the nominee of DTC, (y) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for DTC and (z) bear the legend set forth in Section 2.01(c).

(iii) Members of, or participants in, DTC (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by DTC or by the Trustee as the custodian of DTC or under such Global Note, and DTC shall 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 (x) 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 DTC, or (y) impair, as between DTC and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of DTC governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(iv) In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interest in a Global Note pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section 2.01 to beneficial owners who are required to hold Definitive Notes, the Securities Custodian shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Note to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Definitive Notes of like tenor and amount.

(v) In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section 2.01, such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by DTC in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations.

(vi) 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 that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

(e) Definitive Notes. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note shall not be entitled to have Notes represented by the Global Note registered in their name or to receive certificated Notes (“Definitive Notes”). If required to do so pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, beneficial owners may obtain Definitive Notes in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Note upon written request in accordance with DTC’s and the Registrar’s procedures. In addition, Definitive Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Note if (x) DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for such Global Note or DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, at a time when DTC is required to be so registered in order to act as depository, and in each case a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, (y) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee and Registrar an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Global Note shall be so exchangeable or (z) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes and the Registrar has received a request from DTC to exchange the Global Note for Definitive Notes.

(f) Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Notes referred

to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,

 

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  as Trustee
By  

                                  

  Authorized Signatory
Dated:

Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication. An Officer of the Company shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual signature.

If an Officer of the Company whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually or electronically authenticates the Note. The signature of the Trustee on a Note shall be conclusive evidence that such Note has been duly and validly authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate Notes for original issue upon receipt of, and shall be fully protected in relying upon:

 

  (a)

An order to the Trustee signed by an Officer of the Company directing the Trustee to authenticate the Notes (an “Authentication Order”);

 

  (b)

a copy of the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors in or pursuant to which the terms and form of the Notes were established, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect as of the date of such certificate, and if the terms and form of such Notes are established by an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to general authorization of the Board of Directors, such Officers’ Certificate;

 

  (c)

a supplemental indenture, if any;

 

  (d)

an Officers’ Certificate of the Company delivered in accordance with Section 10.03; and

 

  (e)

an Opinion of Counsel delivered in accordance with Section 10.03, and that states that such Notes, when authenticated and delivered by Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company may from time to time, without notice to or consent of the Holders, issue such additional principal amounts of Additional Notes as may be issued and authenticated pursuant to Section 2.14 of this Indenture, and Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 2.08, Section 2.09, Section 3.06 or Section 9.04.

The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such Authenticating Agent.

In case the Company, pursuant to Article 5, shall be consolidated or merged with or into any other Person or shall sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any Person, and the Successor (if other than the Company), shall have executed an indenture supplemental hereto (if not otherwise a party to the Indenture) with the Trustee pursuant to Article 5, any of the Notes authenticated or delivered prior to such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance may, from time to time, at the request of such Successor, be exchanged for other Notes executed in the name of such Successor with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise in substance of like tenor as the Notes surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon Authentication Order of such Successor, shall authenticate and deliver Notes as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Notes shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a Successor (if other than the Company) pursuant to this Section 2.02 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Notes, such Successor, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Notes at the time outstanding for Notes authenticated and delivered in such new name.

 

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In connection with the transfer, authentication or cancellation of any Notes by the Trustee, in addition to the other requirements of this Article 2 and Section 10.03, the Trustee may require that the Company deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel as provided in Section 7.02(b).

Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may have one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any such additional paying agent. The Company may change the Registrar or appoint one or more co-Registrars without notice.

In the event the Company shall retain any Person not a party to this Indenture as a Paying Agent or Registrar hereunder, the Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the applicable terms of the Trust Indenture Act. Such agency agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Paying Agent or Registrar. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of each such Paying Agent or Registrar. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Company shall be responsible for the fees and compensation of all Paying Agents and Registrars appointed or approved by it. Either the Company or any of its domestically incorporated wholly-owned Subsidiaries may act as a Registrar or Paying Agent.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. By no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date on which any principal or interest on any Note is due and payable, the Company shall deposit with the applicable Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest when due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Noteholders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any Default by the Company in making any such payment. If either of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section 2.04, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.05. Noteholder Lists. The Registrar shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Noteholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall cause the Registrar to furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Noteholders.

Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or the Notes (other than Section 2.01(e) hereof), transfers and exchanges of Notes and beneficial interests in a Global Note of the kinds specified in this Section 2.06 shall be made only in accordance with this Section 2.06. The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.01 or this Section 2.06. The Company shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable written notice to the Registrar.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06, the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06. A Holder of Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note.

 

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(b) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests. A Holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may be exchanged for a Note that is not a Global Note as provided in Section 2.01(e).

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(d) and Section 2.06(c) hereof.

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

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article 2, execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar’s or co-Registrar’s request and upon a written order of the Company.

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a Holder 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 charges payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 3.06 or Section 9.04).

(iii) Neither the Registrar nor the co-Registrar or the Issuer shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note for a period beginning (A) 15 days before the transmission of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Notes and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmission or (B) 15 days before an Interest Payment Date and ending on such Interest Payment Date.

(iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-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 of 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, the Registrar or any co-Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(v) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(f) 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, DTC or other Person in respect of any aspect of the records, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records, relating to beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note, with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC 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 DTC) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Notes (or other security or property) 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 in respect of the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC. The Trustee and the Company may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

 

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(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners of interests 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 this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

(g) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by DTC to a nominee of DTC, by a nominee of DTC to DTC or to another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any such nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of such successor depositary.

Neither the Trustee nor any agent thereof shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by DTC or any successor depositary.

Section 2.07. Business Days. If a payment date is on a date that is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period. If a regular record date is on a day that is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

Section 2.08. Replacement Notes. If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note shall provide the Company and the Trustee with evidence to their satisfaction that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. In addition, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity or surety bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company.

Section 2.09. Outstanding Notes. Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled, those delivered for cancellation, those for which payment or redemption money has been deposited or set aside in trust as described in Section 8.01 and those described in this Section 2.09 as not outstanding. A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a Redemption Date or Stated Maturity Date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

Section 2.10. Temporary Notes. Until Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Definitive Notes. After the preparation of Definitive Notes, the temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at any office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose and such exchange shall be without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor, one or more Definitive Notes representing an equal principal amount of Notes. Until so exchanged, the Holder of temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as a Holder of Definitive Notes.

Section 2.11. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation and such delivery shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate in which the Company directs the Trustee to cancel such Notes. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer or exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, payment or cancellation and, upon the written request of the Company, deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, but this shall not prohibit the Company from issuing any Additional Notes. All cancelled Notes held by the Trustee may be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its then customary practices and procedures. The Trustee shall provide to the Company a list of all Notes that have been cancelled from time to time as requested in writing by the Company.

 

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Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Company shall pay defaulted interest plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful at the rate specified therefor in the Notes in any lawful manner. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Noteholders on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee, which specified record date shall not be less than 10 days prior to the payment date for such defaulted interest and shall promptly transmit or cause to be transmitted to each applicable Noteholder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid. The Company shall notify the Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when so deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Person entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12.

Section 2.13. CUSIP Numbers, etc. The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers and/or other similar numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” and/or “ISIN” numbers in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption or exchange and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or exchange shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers and/or other similar numbers.

Section 2.14. Issuance of Additional Notes. The Company shall be entitled to issue, from time to time, Additional Notes under this Indenture, which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes (in each case, other than with respect to the date of issuance, the issue price, the amount of interest payable on the first payment date applicable thereto and any changes necessary to conform to and ensure compliance with the Securities Act (or other applicable securities laws)), as the case may be; provided that if the Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number.

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in a Board Resolution and an Officers’ Certificate, copies of which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

(i) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture; and

(ii) the issue price, the Issue Date and the “CUSIP” and “ISIN” number of any such Additional Notes and the amount of interest payable on the first payment date applicable thereto.

Section 2.15. One Class of Notes. The Notes and any Additional Notes shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class, and none of the Notes or any Additional Notes shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01. Applicability of this Article. Redemption of Notes, as permitted or required by any form of Note issued pursuant to this Indenture or the documentation providing therefor, shall be made in accordance with such form of Note or documentation and this Article 3; provided, however, that if any provision of any such form of Note or documentation shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the provision of such form of Note or documentation shall govern.

Section 3.02. Notices to Trustee; Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the terms thereof, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the Redemption Date and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed.

The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this Section 3.02 at least 10 days before the Redemption Date unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate from the Company to the effect that such redemption shall comply with the conditions herein. The record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Company and set forth in the related notice given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not less than 15 days prior to the date selected for redemption by the Company.

 

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If fewer than all the Notes then outstanding are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed pro rata or by lot and in the case of Notes held in book entry form, in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures.

Notes and portions thereof selected for redemption shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of the Notes or portions of Notes to be redeemed.

Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption. At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a date for redemption of Notes, the Company shall mail (or, in the case of Notes held in book-entry form, send by electronic transmission) a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(a) the aggregate amount of Notes to be redeemed;

(b) the Redemption Date;

(c) the redemption price (or the method of calculating such price) and the amount of accrued interest to be paid, if any;

(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any;

(f) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the certificate number (if certificated) and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed;

(g) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date;

(h) the CUSIP number, or any similar number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed; and

(i) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, or any similar number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

At the Company’s written request (which may be rescinded or revoked at any time prior to the time at which the Trustee shall have given such notice to the Holders), the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the name of the Company and at the Company’s expense (which notice shall be sent by electronic transmission in the case of Notes held in book-entry form). In such event, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section 3.03 at least five Business Days prior to the date chosen for giving such notice to the Holders (unless the Trustee shall agree to a shorter period). The notice, if mailed in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Notes.

Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the redemption price as stated in the notice. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent on the Redemption Date, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date; provided that the Company shall have deposited the redemption price with the Paying Agent or the Trustee on or before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Redemption Date; provided, further, that if the Redemption Date is after a regular record date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable to the Noteholder of the redeemed Notes registered on the relevant record date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.

 

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Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. By no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption that are owned by the Company or a Subsidiary and have been delivered by the Company or such Subsidiary to the Trustee for cancellation. All money, if any, earned on funds held by the Paying Agent shall be remitted to the Company. In addition, the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed.

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of such redemption price, interest on the Notes or portions of Notes to be redeemed shall cease to accrue on and after the applicable Redemption Date, whether or not such Notes are presented for payment.

Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part. In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the bond will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by DTC (or another depositary), the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depositary.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01. Payment of Notes. The Company covenants and agrees that it shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if, on or before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on such date, the Trustee or the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the Paying Agent, the segregated account or separate trust fund maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary pursuant to Section 2.04) holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful as provided in Section 2.12.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company or the Paying Agent may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America or other domestic or foreign taxing authorities from principal or interest payments hereunder.

Section 4.02. Compliance Certificate. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate signed by its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer which shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof any Default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder), specifying all such Defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

Section 4.03. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company shall maintain the office or agency required under Section 2.03. The Company shall give prior written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee set forth in Section 10.01.

Section 4.04. Existence. Except as otherwise permitted by Article 5, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence as a corporation or other Person.

Section 4.05. Maintenance of Properties. The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

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Section 4.06. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or upon the income, profits or property of the Company, and (ii) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon the property of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or if such failure to pay or discharge could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the ability of the Company to pay the Notes in accordance with their terms.

Section 4.07. Restrictions on Liens.

(a) The Company will not, at any time during which any Notes are outstanding, issue, assume or guarantee any debt for money borrowed (hereinafter referred to as “Debt”) secured by any Lien upon any property or asset of the Company (whether such property or asset is now owned or hereafter acquired), without in any such case effectively securing, prior to or concurrently with the issuance, assumption or guarantee of any such Debt, the Notes (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other indebtedness of or guarantee by the Company ranking equally with the Notes and then existing or thereafter created) equally and ratably with (or, at the Company’s option, prior to) such Debt, provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to or prevent the creation of:

(i) Liens on any property acquired, constructed or improved by the Company after the Issue Date that are created or assumed contemporaneously with, or within 120 days after, such acquisition or completion of the construction or improvement, or within six months thereafter pursuant to a firm commitment for financing arranged with a lender or investor within such 120-day period, to secure or provide for the payment of all or any part of the purchase price of such property or the cost of such construction or improvement incurred after the Issue Date, or, in addition to Liens contemplated by clauses (a)(ii) and (a)(iii) below, Liens on any property existing at the time of acquisition thereof, provided that the Liens do not apply to any property theretofore owned by the Company other than, in the case of any such construction or improvement, any theretofore unimproved property on which the property so constructed or the improvement is located;

(ii) existing Liens on any property or indebtedness of a Person that is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company; provided that the Liens shall not apply to any property theretofore owned by the Company;

(iii) Liens in favor of the United States of America, any state or any foreign country or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of any such jurisdiction to secure partial, progress, advance or other payment pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such Liens, including, without limitation, Liens to secure Debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type;

(iv) Liens on current assets of the Company to secure loans which mature within 12 months from the creation thereof and which are made in the ordinary course of business;

(v) Liens on any property (including any natural gas, oil or other mineral property) of the Company to secure all or part of the cost of exploration or drilling for or development of oil or gas reserves or laying a pipeline or to secure Debt incurred to provide funds for any such purpose;

(vi) any Lien existing on the Issue Date;

(vii) Liens on moneys or government obligations deposited with a trustee or agent for holders of Debt to defease such Debt; and

(viii) Liens for the sole purposes of extending, renewing or replacing, in whole or in part, Liens securing Debt of the type referred to in the foregoing clauses (a)(i) through (a)(vii), inclusive, or this clause (a)(viii); provided, however, that the principal amount of Debt so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement (plus all accrued interest on the Debt and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) may not be increased, and that such extension, renewal or replacement is limited to all or part of the property or indebtedness which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property).

 

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(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the issuance, assumption or guarantee by the Company of Debt secured by a Lien which would otherwise be subject to such restrictions up to an aggregate amount that, together with all other Indebtedness of the Company (other than Debt secured by Liens permitted by Section 4.07(a)) that would otherwise be subject to such restrictions and the Value of all Sale and Lease-back Transactions in existence at such time (other than any Sale and Lease-back Transaction that, if such Sale and Lease-back Transaction had been a Lien, would have been permitted by Section 4.07(a)(i) and other than Sale and Lease-back Transactions as to which application of amounts have been made in accordance with Section 4.08(b)), does not at the time the Company issues, assumes or guarantees Debt secured by such Lien exceed 10% of Total Capitalization.

(c) “Value” means, with respect to a Sale and Lease-back Transaction, as at any time, the amount equal to the greater of:

(i) the net proceeds from the sale or transfer of the property leased pursuant to such Sale and Lease-back Transaction; and

(ii) the fair value, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, of such property at the time of entering into such Sale and Lease-back Transaction,

in either case divided first by the number of full years of the term of the lease and then multiplied by the number of full years of such term remaining at the time of determination, without regard to any renewal or extension options contained in the lease.

(d) If at any time the Company shall issue, assume or guarantee any Debt secured by any Lien and if Section 4.07(a) requires that the Notes be secured equally and ratably with such Debt, the Company will promptly deliver to the Trustee:

(i) an Officers’ Certificate stating that the covenant of the Company contained in Section 4.07(a) has been complied with; and

(ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such covenant has been complied with, and that any instrument executed by the Company in the performance of such covenant complies with such covenant.

(e) In the event that the Company shall hereafter secure the Notes equally and ratably with (or prior to) any other Debt or obligation pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.07, the Trustee is hereby authorized to enter into an indenture or agreement supplemental hereto and to take such action, if any, as it may deem advisable to enable it to enforce effectively the rights of the holders so secured, equally and ratably with such Debt and other obligations; provided, however, that if such indenture or agreement affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture or agreement.

Section 4.08. Restrictions on Sale and Lease-back Transactions. The Company will not enter into any direct or indirect arrangement with any Person providing for the lease to the Company of any property of the Company (except for temporary leases for a term, including any renewal thereof, of not more than three years), which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company to such Person or to any other Person by whom funds have been or are to be advanced on the security of such property (a “Sale and Lease-back Transaction”) unless the proceeds of such sale are at least equal to the fair value of such property being sold and leased-back and either:

(a) the Company would be entitled, pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.07(a)(i) or Section 4.07(b) to incur Debt secured by a Lien on such property without equally and ratably securing the Notes; or

(b) within 180 days of the effective date of the Sale and Lease-back Transaction, the Company applies, or covenants that it will apply, an amount not less than the fair value of such property to one or more of:

(i) the payment or other retirement of Funded Debt incurred or assumed by the Company which ranks senior to or pari passu with the Notes (other than Funded Debt owned by the Company), or

(ii) the purchase of property at not more than its fair value (other than the property involved in such sale).

 

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ARTICLE 5

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS

Section 5.01. When the Company or any Guarantor May Merge or Transfer Assets. The Company or any guarantor shall not consolidate with or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties or assets to, or merge with or into, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, any other Person, unless:

(a) the Company or such guarantor, as the case may be, shall be the continuing Person or, alternatively, the successor Person formed by or resulting from such consolidation or merger, or the Person that receives the transfer of such properties or assets (the “Successor”) shall be a Person organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor (if not the Company or such guarantor, as the case may be) shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the applicable Notes and this Indenture or of such guarantor under its guarantee of the applicable Notes by executing a supplemental indenture to this Indenture;

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company as a result of such transaction having been incurred by the Company at the time of such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(c) if, as a result of any such consolidation or merger or such conveyance, transfer or lease, properties or assets of the Company would become subject to a Lien which would not be permitted by this Indenture, the Company or such successor Person, as the case may be, shall take such steps as shall be necessary effectively to secure the Notes equally and ratably with (or prior to) all indebtedness secured thereby; and

(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture and that such supplemental indenture constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Successor subject to customary exceptions.

Section 5.02. Successor Person Substituted. The applicable Successor will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company or such guarantor, as the case may be, under the Indenture or the respective guarantee of the applicable Notes. The Company or such guarantor, as the case may be, shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the Notes, the respective guarantee of such Notes and the Indenture; provided that in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such guarantor’s, as the case may be, property or assets, the Company or such guarantor, as the case may be, will not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Notes. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 5, any guarantor may merge with or into or transfer all or part of its properties or assets to another guarantor or to the Company.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01. Events of Default. An “Event of Default” occurs with respect to the Notes if:

(a) a Default in any payment of interest on any Note when the same becomes due and payable occurs, and such Default continues for a period of 30 days;

(b) a Default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated Maturity occurs, upon optional redemption or otherwise;

(c) the Company or any guarantor fails to comply with any of its agreements in the Notes, this Indenture or any guarantee of the Notes, as applicable (other than those referred to in (a) or (b) above) and such failure continues for 60 days after the notice specified below;

(d) a default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company in an individual principal amount outstanding of at least $50,000,000 or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company in an individual principal amount outstanding of at least $50,000,000, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default shall constitute a failure to pay $50,000,000 or more of the principal of

 

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such indebtedness when due and payable after the expiration of any applicable grace period with respect thereto or which default shall have resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such payment being made in full or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled, within a period of 30 days after the notice specified below;

(e) any guarantee with respect to the Notes ceases for any reason to be, or is asserted by the Company or the guarantor not to be, in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms except to the extent contemplated by this Indenture and any such guarantee of such Notes;

(f) the Company or any guarantor of the Notes pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences a voluntary case;

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case in which it is the debtor;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property;

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(v) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

(g) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(i) is for relief against the Company or any guarantor of the Notes in an involuntary case;

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any guarantor of the Notes or for any substantial part of the property of the Company or any guarantor of the Notes; or

(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any guarantor;

(or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws) and the order, decree or relief remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

A Default with respect to Notes under clause (c) and (d) of this Section 6.01 is not an Event of Default until the Trustee (by written notice to the Company) or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (by written notice to the Company and the Trustee) gives notice of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified in said clause (c) or (d), as applicable, after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.”

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers’ Certificate of any event that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become an Event of Default under clauses (c) through (g) of this Section 6.01, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default with respect to Notes (other than an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders, shall, declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes shall ipso facto become

 

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and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if all existing Events of Default with respect to Notes have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of such acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Section 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in conformity with its duties under this Indenture, will exercise all rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any Holders of such Notes, provided, that such Holders provide the Trustee with an indemnity and/or security reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Noteholder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are, to the extent permitted by law, cumulative.

Section 6.04. Waiver of Past or Existing Defaults. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of the Notes, waive any past or existing Default and its consequences except (a) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on a Note or (b) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each affected Noteholder. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

Section 6.05. Control by Majority. Upon provision of security and/or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee with respect to the Notes or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee, which may conclusively rely on opinions of counsel, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Noteholders or would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction.

Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest when due, a Holder of Notes may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(a) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Holder gives to the Trustee prior written notice stating that an Event of Default is continuing;

(b) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including any Additional Notes) make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee security and/or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liabilities or expenses in compliance with such request;

(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(e) the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request during such 60-day period.

A Noteholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Noteholder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Noteholder (it being understood that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Noteholders).

Section 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Notes held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Notes, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Noteholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or any other obligor upon the Notes, or any of their creditors or the property of the Company or such other obligor or their creditors and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

Section 6.10. Priorities. Any money or other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Article 6 hereof, or any money or other property otherwise distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, shall be applied in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee (including any predecessor Trustee) and its agents for amounts due under this Indenture, including without limitation, Section 7.07 hereto;

SECOND: to Noteholders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Company.

The Trustee may, upon prior written notice to the Company, fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Noteholders pursuant to this Section 6.10. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Noteholder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes.

Section 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such Person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates and opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates and opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this subsection does not limit the effect of subsections (b) or (f) of this Section 7.01;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

(d) [Reserved].

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money or other property received by it or for holding moneys or other property uninvested, in either case, except as otherwise agreed between the Company and the Trustee. Money and other property held in trust by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other money or property except to the extent required by law.

(f) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.01 and to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, where applicable.

Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting in reliance on, any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers or perform any duties hereunder either directly or through attorneys and agents, respectively, and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any attorney or agent appointed with due care by it hereunder.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes, suffers to exist or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

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(g) The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes unless written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to a Trust Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office by the Company or any other obligor on the Notes or by any Holder of the Notes. Any such notice shall reference this Indenture and the Notes.

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture, including its rights to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities as Registrar and Paying Agent, as the case may be, hereunder.

(i) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of Indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further reasonable inquiry or reasonable investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled, upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times, to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(j) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

(k) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers of the Company authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

(l) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

Section 7.04. Trustees Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default or an Event of Default occurs with respect to the Notes and is continuing and a Trust Officer receives written notice of such Default or Event of Default, the Trustee shall transmit to each Noteholder notice of Default within 60 days after written notice of it is received by a Trust Officer of the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is not opposed to the interests of Noteholders.

Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. As promptly as practicable after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to July 15 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each Noteholder a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee also shall comply with Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Company a copy of any report it delivers to Holders pursuant to this Section 7.06.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Noteholders shall be filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee in writing whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee (and any predecessor Trustee) from time to time such compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time mutually agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses), disbursements and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with the provisions of this

 

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Indenture, including costs of collection, in addition to such compensation for its services, except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall be determined to have been caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents and counsel. The Trustee shall provide the Company reasonable notice of any expenditure not in the ordinary course of business. The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees and any predecessor Trustees against any and all loss, damage, claim (whether asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other Person) liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (other than taxes applicable to the Trustee’s compensation hereunder) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim of which a Trust Officer has received written notice and for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee so to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate, to the extent reasonable, in the defense of any such claim, and, if (in the sole judgment of counsel to the Trustee) the facts and/or issues surrounding the claim are reasonably likely to create a conflict with the Company, the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of separate counsel to the Trustee. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or negligence. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee (including any predecessor trustee) shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes.

The Company’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction, discharge and termination of this Indenture, the resignation or removal of the Trustee and any discharge of this Indenture including any discharge under any bankruptcy law. In addition to and without prejudice to the rights provided to the Trustee under any of the provisions of this Indenture, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) with respect to the Company, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time upon 30 days’ written notice to the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, may remove the Trustee upon 30 days’ written notice to the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee, which successor Trustee shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(b) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(c) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(d) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company and the Company shall pay all amounts due and owing to the Trustee under Section 7.07 of the Indenture. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Noteholders affected by such resignation or removal. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.

If a successor Trustee does not take office with respect to the Notes within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Noteholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee; provided that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article 7 and Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act are met.

Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the SEC the application referred to in the second to last paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated.

ARTICLE 8

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance. (a) When (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee all outstanding Notes that have not already been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (ii) (A) all outstanding Notes have become due and payable, whether at maturity, as a result of repayment at the option of the Holders or as a result of the mailing of a notice of redemption pursuant to Article 3 hereof or (B) the Notes shall become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or the Notes are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and, in each case of this clause (ii), the Company or any guarantor, if applicable, irrevocably deposits or causes to be deposited with the Trustee funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all outstanding Notes, including interest thereon to maturity or such Redemption Date, and if, in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), the Company or any guarantor, if applicable, pays all other sums payable hereunder by the Company and any guarantor, if applicable, then this Indenture shall, subject to Section 8.01(c), cease to be of further effect. The Trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture on demand of the Company or any guarantor, if applicable, accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel that all conditions precedent provided herein for satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with at the cost and expense of the Company.

(b) Subject to Section 8.01(c) and Section 8.02, the Company at any time may terminate (i) all of its obligations and the obligations of any guarantors under the Notes, the applicable guarantees and this Indenture as it relates to such Notes and related guarantees (“legal defeasance option”) or (ii) its obligations, and the obligations of any guarantor, under Sections 4.02, 4.03 and 4.04, Article 5 and the operation of Sections 6.01(c) and 6.01(e) as it relates to the Notes and related guarantees (“covenant defeasance option”). The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option as it relates to the Notes notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option as it relates to such Notes.

 

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If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option with respect to the Notes, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(c) or 6.01(e).

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company’s or any guarantor’s, if applicable, obligations in Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.08, 4.01, 7.07, 7.08, 8.04, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s and the Trustee’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.04 and 8.05 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to the Notes only if:

(a) the Company or any guarantor, if applicable, irrevocably deposits or causes to be deposited in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof that through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms shall provide cash at such times and in such amounts as shall be sufficient to pay principal, any premium and interest when due on all outstanding Notes (except Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.08) to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(b) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants or valuation consultants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment shall provide cash at such times and in such amounts as shall be sufficient to pay principal and interest when due on all outstanding Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(c) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during such 91-day period no Default specified in Sections 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) occurs that is continuing at the end of the period;

(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company or any guarantor, if applicable, with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or any guarantor, if applicable;

(e) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

(f) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred; and

(g) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Notes as contemplated by this Indenture have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of any of the Notes at a future date in accordance with Article 3.

Section 8.03. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article 8. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations either directly or through the Paying Agent as the Trustee may determine and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes that were defeased.

 

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Section 8.04. Repayment to the Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date of payment of such principal and interest, and, thereafter, Noteholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

Any unclaimed funds held by the Trustee pursuant to this Section 8.04 shall be held uninvested and without any liability for interest.

Section 8.05. Indemnity for Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the defeased Notes; provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to charge any such tax, fee or other charge to such Holder’s account.

Section 8.06. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture as it relates to the defeased Notes and such Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8; provided, however, that (a) if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of the Notes following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the particular Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent and (b) unless otherwise required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall return all such money and U.S. Government Obligations to the Company promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such reinstatement of the Company’s obligations has occurred and continues to be in effect.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENTS

Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Notes without notice to or consent of any Noteholder:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(b) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company (or any guarantor) and the assumption by any such successor of the obligations of the Company (or those of any guarantor) in accordance with the provisions of Article 5;

(c) to add any additional Events of Default;

(d) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all the Notes or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

(e) to add one or more guarantees for the benefit of Holders of the Notes or to release one or more guarantees in accordance with this Indenture or any supplemental indenture hereto;

(f) add collateral security with respect to the Notes;

(g) to add or appoint a successor or separate Trustee or other agent;

(h) to provide for the issuance of any Additional Notes;

(i) to comply with any requirements in connection with qualifying this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

(j) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository;

 

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(k) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; provided, however, that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code;

(l) to conform the provisions of this Indenture to the “Description of Notes,” “Description of the Notes and Guarantees,” “Description of Debt Securities” and any similar sections of any offering memorandum or prospectus prepared in connection with the issuance of the Notes (with the basis for any such amendment pursuant to this clause (l) to be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate);

(m) to change any other provision if the change does not adversely affect the interests of any Noteholder.

After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Noteholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Noteholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Notes without notice to any Noteholder but with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for Notes). However, without the consent of each affected Noteholder, an amendment may not:

(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or installment of interest on, any Note;

(b) reduce the principal amount of, or the rate of interest on, any Notes;

(c) reduce any premium payable on the redemption or required repurchase of any Note or change the date on which any Note may or must be redeemed, repaid or required to be repurchased;

(d) change the coin or currency in which the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note is payable;

(e) impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the Stated Maturity of any Note;

(f) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required in order to take certain actions;

(g) reduce the requirements for quorum or voting by Holders in this Indenture or the Notes;

(h) modify any of the provisions of this Indenture regarding the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of certain covenants by Holders except to increase any percentage vote required or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each Note affected thereby; or

(i) modify any of the above provisions of this Section 9.02.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Noteholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Noteholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

Section 9.03. Effect of Consents and Waivers. A consent to an amendment, supplement or a waiver by a Holder of a Note shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective with respect to the Notes, it shall bind every Noteholder.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Noteholders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Noteholders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

 

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Section 9.04. Notation on or Exchange of Notes. If an amendment changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Company shall provide in writing to the Trustee an appropriate notation to be placed on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determine, the Company in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

Section 9.05. Trustee to Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment the Trustee shall receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it. In signing any amendment the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 10.03, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such supplemental indenture constitutes the legal valid and binding obligation of the Company in accordance with its terms subject to customary exceptions.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article 9, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental Indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Noteholder theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

Section 9.06. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

ARTICLE 10

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.01. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notice or communication shall be in writing (including facsimile and electronic communications in PDF format) and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Company and any guarantors:

Southwest Gas Corporation

8360 S. Durango Dr.

Post Office Box 98510

Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-8510

Attention: Kenneth J. Kenny

Facsimile: (702) 876-7117

Email: ken.kenny@swgas.com

with a copy to:

Morrison & Foerster LLP

425 Market Street

San Francisco, California 94105

Attention: Brandon C. Parris, Esq.

Facsimile: (415) 268-7522

Email: bparris@mofo.com

if to the Trustee:

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

2 N. LaSalle Street. 7th Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60602

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

Facsimile: (312) 827-8522

 

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The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event or any other communication (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices at the Depositary.

Any notice or communication mailed to a Noteholder shall be mailed to the Noteholder at the Noteholder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Noteholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Noteholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

Section 10.02. Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Noteholders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Noteholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 10.03. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

Section 10.04. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. The certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:

(a) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

Section 10.05. When Notes Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in conclusively relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

 

29


Section 10.06. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Noteholders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

Section 10.07. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (including Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York but otherwise without regard to principles of conflicts of laws).

Section 10.08. No Recourse Against Others. A director, Officer, employee or shareholder (other than the Company), as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Noteholder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

Section 10.09. Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns.

Section 10.10. Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

Section 10.11. Variable Provisions. The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent and Registrar and custodian with respect to any Global Notes.

Section 10.12. Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 10.13. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE HOLDERS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 10.14. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 10.15. U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “U.S.A. Patriot Act”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

Section 10.16. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with another provision included or that is required to be included in this Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the duty or provision required by the Trust Indenture Act shall control.

Section 10.17. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”), the Company agrees (i) to provide to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., upon request, such information in its possession regarding holders or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including

 

30


any modification to the terms of such transactions) so The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law and (ii) that The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. shall be entitled to make such withholding or deduction from payments under the Indenture as may be necessary to comply with Applicable Law. The terms of this section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

Section 10.18. Electronic Signatures. Exchange and delivery of signature pages for the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes via facsimile or electronic signature shall constitute effective execution, delivery and authentication of such documents.

 

31


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Third Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Gregory J. Peterson

  Name: Gregory J. Peterson
  Title: Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Ann Dolezal

  Name: Ann Dolezal
  Title: Vice President

(Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture)


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“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 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 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 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.](1)

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

4.05% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2032

 

No. [         ]    Principal Amount $
  

[(subject to adjustment as reflected in the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Note attached hereto)](1)

  

CUSIP NO 845011AE5

ISIN NO US845011AE58

Southwest Gas Corporation, a California corporation, for value received, promises to pay to, or registered assigns, the principal sum of            Dollars ($         ) [(subject to adjustment as reflected in the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Note attached hereto)] on March 15, 2032.

Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2022.

Record Dates: March 1 and September 1 of each year.

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

(1)

To be inserted if a Global Note.

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION has caused this Note to be duly executed.

Dated: March 22, 2022

 

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
By:  

                                              

  Name:
  Title:

 

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TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Notes referred to

in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

                                          

  Authorized Signatory

Dated: March 22, 2022

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

[Reverse of Note]

4.05% Senior Notes due 2032

1. Interest

Southwest Gas Corporation, a California corporation (together with its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate of 4.05% per annum.

The Company shall pay interest semiannually on March 15 and September 15 of each year (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on September 15, 2022. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from March 22, 2022, or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on the Notes. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

2. Method of Payment

By no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date on which any principal of or interest on any Note is due and payable, the Company shall irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay such principal and/or interest. The Company shall pay interest (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1 immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date even if Notes are cancelled, repurchased or redeemed after the record date and on or before the Interest Payment Date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company shall pay principal and interest in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by the transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company may make all payments in respect of a Definitive Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof or by wire transfer to an account located in the United States of America maintained by the payee.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association (the “Trustee”), shall initially act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Noteholder. The Company or any of its domestically organized wholly-owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent.

4. Indenture

The Company issued the Notes under the Indenture dated as of June 4, 2020 (the “Base Indenture,” supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 22, 2022 (the “Supplemental Indenture,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”)), between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “Trust Indenture Act”). Terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Noteholders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of those terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture. The Notes include the Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes issued in accordance with Section 2.14 of the Indenture. The Notes and any Additional Notes are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company and its Subsidiaries to create liens, enter into sale and leaseback transactions and enter into mergers and consolidations.

 

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5. Redemption

The Notes shall be redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time prior to December 15, 2031 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes, the “Par Call Date”), at the option of the Company, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of

 

   

(a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption; and

 

   

100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to be redeemed,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

On or after the Par Call Date, 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 to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in New York City are authorized or required by law, executive order or regulation to close.

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.

If on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date, H.15 or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

 

A-5


Notice of any redemption will be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of Notes to be redeemed.

In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any bond is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the bond will state the portion of the principal amount of the bond to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the bond will be issued in the name of the holder of the bond upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by DTC (or another depositary), the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.

Except as set forth above and in Article 5 of the Notes, the Notes shall not be redeemable by the Company prior to maturity.

The Notes shall not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

6. Notice of Redemption

At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a date for redemption of Notes, the Company shall mail (or, at the Company’s option in the case of Notes held in book-entry form, send by electronic transmission) a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations of principal amount larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the Redemption Date is deposited with the Paying Agent on or before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Redemption Date (or, if the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the Paying Agent, such money is segregated and held in trust) and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest shall cease to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes are in fully registered form without coupons in denominations of principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register, transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) for a period beginning 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed and ending on the date of such mailing.

8. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered holder of this Note shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

9. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years after the date of payment of principal and interest, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its request. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.

10. Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Company or any guarantor, as applicable, at any time may terminate some or all of its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture as it relates to the Notes if the Company or any guarantor, as applicable, deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

A-6


11. Amendment, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture or the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes and (ii) any default or noncompliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for Notes). However, the Indenture requires the consent of each Noteholder that would be affected for certain specified amendments or modifications of the Indenture and the Notes. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Noteholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Notes, among other things, to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, or to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company (or any guarantor) and the assumption by any such Person of the obligations of the Company (or any guarantor) in accordance with Article 5 of the Indenture, or to add any additional Events of Default, or to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes or surrender rights and powers conferred on the Company, or to add one or more guarantees for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes or to release one or more guarantees in accordance with the Indenture, or to add collateral security with respect to the Notes, or to add or appoint a successor or separate trustee or other agent, or to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes, or to comply with any requirements in connection with qualifying the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, or to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, or to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository or to conform the provisions of the Indenture to the “Description of Notes,” “Description of the Notes and Guarantees” or “Description of Debt Securities” sections of any offering memorandum or prospectus prepared in connection with the issuance of the Notes (with the basis for any such amendment to be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate), or to change any other provision if the change does not adversely affect the interests of any Noteholder.

12. Defaults and Remedies

Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (a) a Default in any payment of interest on any Note when the same becomes due and payable occurs, and such default continues for a period of 30 days; (b) a Default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated Maturity occurs, upon optional redemption or otherwise; (c) the Company or any guarantor fails to comply with any of its agreements in the Notes, the Indenture or any guarantee of the Notes, as applicable (other than those referred to in (a) or (b) above) and such failure continues for 60 days after the notice specified below; (d) a default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company in an individual principal amount outstanding of at least $50,000,000 or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company in an individual principal amount outstanding of at least $50,000,000, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default shall constitute a failure to pay $50,000,000 or more of the principal of such indebtedness when due and payable after the expiration of any applicable grace period with respect thereto or which default shall have resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such payment being made in full or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled, within a period of 30 days after the notice specified below; (e) any guarantee with respect to the Notes ceases for any reason to be, or is asserted by the Company or the guarantor not to be, in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms except to the extent contemplated by this Indenture and any such guarantee of the Notes; and (f) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency involving the Company or any guarantor.

A Default with respect to Notes under clause (c) and (d) above is not an Event of Default until the Trustee (by written notice to the Company) or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (by written notice to the Company and the Trustee) gives notice of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified in said clause (c) or (d), as applicable, after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.”

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency involving the Company are Events of Default which will result in the Notes being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

Noteholders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse

 

A-7


to enforce the Indenture or the Notes unless it receives indemnity and/or security reasonably satisfactory to it. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Noteholders notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal or interest) if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is not opposed to their interest.

13. Trustee Dealings with the Company

Subject to certain limitations set forth in the Indenture, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company and may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

14. No Recourse Against Others

A director, officer, employee or shareholder (other than the Company), as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Noteholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

15. Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent acting on its behalf) manually or electronically signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

16. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Noteholder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (tenants in common), TEN ENT (tenants by the entirety), JT TEN (joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (custodian) and U/G/M/A (Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

17. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers

The Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers and/or other similar numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP and ISIN numbers and/or other similar numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Noteholders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

18. Governing Law

This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

A-8


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

(Insert assignee’s Social Security or Tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint as agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

     
                  

 

Date:                                               Your Signature:  

 

 

Signature Guarantee:  

                                  

  

(Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized Signature

Guarantee Medallion Program or other signature guarantor program reasonably

acceptable to the Trustee)

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

 

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[TO BE ATTACHED IF A GLOBAL NOTE]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

The following increases and decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of

Decrease

or Increase

  

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 or

Securities Custodian

           

 

A-10

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO  

425 MARKET STREET

SAN FRANCISCO

CALIFORNIA 94105-2482

 

TELEPHONE: 415.268.7000

FACSIMILE: 415.268.7522

 

WWW.MOFO.COM

  

MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP

 

AUSTIN, BEIJING, BERLIN, BOSTON, BRUSSELS, DENVER, HONG KONG,

LONDON, LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK,

PALO ALTO, SAN DIEGO, SAN FRANCISCO, SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, TOKYO, WASHINGTON, D.C.

March 22, 2022

Southwest Gas Corporation

8360 S. Durango Drive

Post Office Box 98510

Las Vegas, Nevada 89193

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Southwest Gas Corporation, a California corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.05% Senior Notes due 2032 (the “Notes”), all of which are to be sold by the Company pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated March 17, 2022 and the accompanying base prospectus dated December 2, 2020 (such documents, collectively, the “Prospectus”) that form part of the Company’s effective Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-251074-01) (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Notes are to be sold by the Company pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, dated March 17, 2022 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., MUFG Securities Americas Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., as Representatives of the underwriters named in Schedule 1 thereto, and in the matter described in the Prospectus.

In connection with this opinion, we have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of: (i) the Articles of Incorporation with Statement of Conversion of the Company, as amended through the date hereof; (ii) the Bylaws of the Company, as amended through the date hereof; (iii) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the issuance, sale and registration of the Notes; and (iv) the Indenture (as defined below) and the Notes. In addition, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of certain other corporate records, documents, instruments and certificates of public officials and of the Company, and we have made such inquiries of officers of the Company and public officials and considered such questions of law as we have deemed necessary for purposes of rendering the opinions set forth herein.

In connection with this opinion, we have assumed (i) the Notes have been issued pursuant to an Indenture by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Trustee”), dated as of June 4, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”) and a Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 22, 2022 between the Company and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), and (ii) the Notes have been delivered against payment of valid consideration therefor and in accordance with the terms the Underwriting Agreement. In addition, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all items submitted to us as originals and the conformity with originals of all items submitted to us as copies. In making our examination of documents executed by parties other than the Company, we have assumed that each other party has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform and observe the provisions of, such documents and has duly authorized, executed and delivered such documents, and that such documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of each such party. With respect to certain factual matters, we have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company.

The opinions hereinafter expressed are subject to the following further qualifications and exceptions, as to which we express no opinion:

 

(1)

The effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, including, without limitation, laws relating to fraudulent transfers or conveyances, preferences and equitable subordination.

 

(2)

The enforceability of the waivers contained in either Section 6.12 of the Base Indenture or Section 6.12 of the Supplemental Indenture.


LOGO

Southwest Gas Corporation

Page 2 of 2

March 22, 2022

 

(3)

Limitations imposed by general principles of equity upon the availability of equitable remedies or the enforcement of provisions of the Indenture; and the effect of judicial decisions which have held that certain provisions are unenforceable where their enforcement would violate the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, or would be commercially unreasonable, or where a default under the Indenture is not material.

 

(4)

The effect of judicial decisions permitting the introduction of extrinsic evidence to supplement the terms or aid in the interpretation of the Indenture.

 

(5)

Except to the extent encompassed by an opinion set forth below with respect to the Company, the (i) compliance or non-compliance of any party to the Indenture with any law, regulation or order applicable to it, or (ii) legal or regulatory status or the nature of the business of any such party.

 

(6)

The enforceability of provisions of the Indenture providing for indemnification or contribution, to the extent such indemnification or contribution is against public policy.

 

(7)

The enforceability of provisions of the Indenture imposing or which are construed as effectively imposing a penalty.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when the Notes have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture against payment of the consideration provided for in, and pursuant to the terms of, the Underwriting Agreement, such Notes constitute binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

We express no opinion as to matters governed by any laws other than the substantive laws of the State of California and the State of New York in effect on the date hereof (without reference to choice-of-law rules). We express no opinion as to the New York choice of law provision contained in the Notes and the Indenture.

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing by the Company of a Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the issuance and sale of the Notes, which Form 8-K will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and may not be relied upon for any other purpose without our express written consent. No opinion may be implied or inferred beyond the opinion expressly stated. This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any facts or circumstances that come to our attention after the date hereof that may affect the opinion contained herein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the above-described Current Report on Form 8-K and to the reference to our firm contained under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Morrison & Foerster LLP

Morrison & Foerster LLP

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

AMENDMENT NO. 1 (this “Amendment”), dated as of March 22, 2022, to TERM LOAN AGREEMENT, dated as of March 23, 2021, among SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION (the “Borrower”), the LENDERS party hereto and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”).

RECITALS

I. The Borrower, the lenders from time to time parties thereto (collectively, the “Lenders”) and the Administrative Agent are parties to the Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2021 (the “Loan Agreement”). Unless defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement.

II. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to amend the Loan Agreement effective as of the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date (as defined below) to, among other things, implement daily and term secured overnight financing rate interest rate pricing for the Loans in lieu of the current interest rate pricing for the Loans.

Accordingly, in consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Amendments to Loan Agreement. Effective as of the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, the Loan Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

(a) The Loan Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text), and (ii) adding the double underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) as reflected in Annex A to this Amendment.

(b) Exhibit B to the Loan Agreement is hereby amended and restated in the form of Annex B to this Amendment.

(c) All other exhibits and schedules to the Loan Agreement as in effect as of the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date shall continue to remain in effect.

2. Representations and Warranties by the Borrower. To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Amendment, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:


(a) The execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby (i) are within its corporate authority, (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, (iii) do not conflict with or result in any material breach or contravention of any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Borrower is subject or any judgment, order, writ, injunction, license or permit applicable to the Borrower, and (iv) do not conflict with any provision of its articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational document or any agreement or other instrument binding upon it.

(b) This Amendment constitutes the valid and legally binding obligations of the Borrower, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms hereof, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

(c) Each of the representations and warranties contained in the Loan Agreement is true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof, except those representations and warranties that were made as of a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct on and as of such earlier date.

(d) Before and after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default has occurred and is continuing.

3. Conditions to Effectiveness.

This Amendment shall be effective as of the date hereof (the “Amendment No. 1 Effective Date”), provided that on or before the date hereof, the Administrative Agent shall have received the following:

(i) counterparts of this Amendment, executed by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower and each of the Lenders;

(ii) a certificate from the president, secretary, treasurer or other duly authorized officer of the Borrower (a) attaching copies of the resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby; (b) attaching a true and complete copy of all amendments, if any, to its articles of incorporation and bylaws since March 23, 2021 (or if there have been no such amendments, certifying to such effect); (c) setting forth the incumbency of its officer or officers or other analogous counterpart who may sign this Amendment, including therein a signature specimen of such officer or officers; (d) attaching a certificate of good standing of the Borrower of the Secretary of the State of Delaware dated as of a recent date acceptable to the Administrative Agent; and (e) stating that, as of the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, (A) each of the representations and warranties contained in the Loan Agreement is true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date, except those representations and warranties that were made as of a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct on and as of such earlier date, and (B) before and after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(iii) a favorable written opinion, dated the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, of Thomas Moran, Corporate Secretary of the Borrower, and Morrison & Foerster LLP, counsel to the Borrower;

(iv) at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, all documentation and other information about the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that shall have been requested by the Lenders in writing at least ten (10) days prior to the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date and that the Lenders reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act; and

(v) payment or reimbursement by the Borrower of the reasonable fees and expenses of the attorneys for the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, negotiation and closing of this Amendment, in immediately available funds.

4. Outstanding Eurodollar Loan.

Prior to the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, the Borrower requested that a portion of the Loans in the outstanding principal amount of $250,000,000 be converted to Eurodollar Loans with a one-month Interest Period, the last day of which is March 28, 2022 (the “Outstanding Eurodollar Loan”). Notwithstanding the amendment of the Loan Agreement by this Amendment, the Outstanding Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest at the rates set forth in the Loan Agreement as in effect prior to the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date until the end of the Interest Period thereof, at which time such Loan shall be converted in accordance with Section 3.01 of the Loan Agreement and, after such conversion, such Loan will bear interest as set forth in the Loan Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.

5. Miscellaneous.

(a) The Borrower hereby:

(i) acknowledges and agrees that the amendments under Section 1 hereof are limited to the specific matters set forth therein;

(ii) reaffirms and admits the validity and enforceability of the Loan Agreement (as amended hereby) and the other Credit Documents and all of its obligations thereunder;

(iii) represents and warrants that, before and after giving effect to this Amendment, there exists no Default; and

 

-3-


(iv) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.01 of the Loan Agreement (other than the representations and warranties made as of a specific date) are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof.

(b) This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts as deemed necessary, including both paper and electric counterparts, but all such counterparts when taken together shall be deemed as one and the same document. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of a manually signed paper communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed communication converted into another format, for transmission or delivery to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

(c) This Amendment constitutes a Credit Document for all purposes under the Loan Agreement.

(d) This Amendment is being delivered in and is intended to be performed in the State of New York and shall be construed and enforceable in accordance with, and be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

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

 

BORROWER:
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Gregory J. Peterson

Name: Gregory J. Peterson
Title: Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Administrative Agent and as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Richard K. Fronaplel, Jr.

Name: Richard K. Fronaplel, Jr.
Title: Director


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

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

/s/ Nancy R. Barwig

  Name: Nancy R. Barwig
  Title: Executive Director


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

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

/s/ Michele Gordon

  Name: Michele Gordon
  Title: Senior Vice President


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Kevin D. Smith

  Name: Kevin D. Smith
  Title: Senior Vice President


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Patrick Engel

  Name: Patrick Engel
  Title: Managing Director


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ John M. Eyerman

  Name: John M. Eyerman
  Title: Senior Vice President


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

TD BANK, N. A., as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Bernadette Collins

  Name: Bernadette Collins
  Title: Senior Vice President


ANNEX A

[AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT]


Annex A

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

dated as of

March 23, 2021

among

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION,

as Borrower,

THE LENDERS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

as Administrative Agent,

Bank of America, N.A.

as Co-Syndication Agent,

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

as Co-Syndication Agent,

U.S. Bank National Association,

as Co-Documentation Agent,

KeyBank National Association,

as Co Documentation Agent,

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner,

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner,

and

BofA Securities, Inc.,

as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner

$250,000,000

As amended by Amendment No. 1 to Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2022


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         PAGE  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

Section 1.01

  Definitions      1  

ARTICLE II THE CREDIT FACILITY

     26  

Section 2.01

  Loans      26  

Section 2.02

  [Reserved]      27  

Section 2.03

  [Reserved]      27  

Section 2.04

  Repayment      27  

Section 2.05

  Optional Prepayment      27  

Section 2.06

  Defaulting Lenders      27  

ARTICLE III INTEREST AND FEES

     29  

Section 3.01

  Interest Rate Determination; Conversion      29  

Section 3.02

  Interest on ABR Loans      30  

Section 3.03

  Interest on SOFR Loans      30  

Section 3.04

  Interest on Overdue Amounts      31  

Section 3.05

  Day Counts      31  

Section 3.06

  Maximum Interest Rate      31  

Section 3.07

  [Reserved]      32  

ARTICLE IV DISBURSEMENT AND PAYMENT

     32  

Section 4.01

  Disbursement      32  

Section 4.02

  Method and Time of Payments; Sharing among Lenders      33  

Section 4.03

  Compensation for Losses      34  

Section 4.04

  Withholding and Additional Costs      34  

Section 4.05

  Funding Impracticable; Alternate Rate of Interest      38  

Section 4.06

  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waivers      40  

Section 4.07

  Survival      42  

Section 4.08

  Replacement of a Lender      42  

Section 4.09

  Benchmark Replacement Setting      42  

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     44  

Section 5.01

  Representations and Warranties      44  

Section 5.02

  Survival      50  

ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     50  

Section 6.01

  Conditions to the Availability of the Commitments      50  

Section 6.02

  [Reserved]      53  

Section 6.03

  [Reserved]      53  

ARTICLE VII COVENANTS

     53  

Section 7.01

  Affirmative Covenants      53  

Section 7.02

  Negative Covenants      58  

 

i


Section 7.03

  Financial Covenant      60  

ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     60  

Section 8.01

  Events of Default      60  

ARTICLE IX THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     63  

Section 9.01

  The Agency      63  

Section 9.02

  The Administrative Agent’s Duties      64  

Section 9.03

  Limitation of Liabilities      64  

Section 9.04

  The Administrative Agent as a Lender      64  

Section 9.05

  Lender Credit Decision      64  

Section 9.06

  Indemnification      65  

Section 9.07

  Successor Administrative Agent      65  

Section 9.08

  No Duty Regarding Discretionary Actions      66  

Section 9.09

  Syndication and Other Agents      66  

ARTICLE X EVIDENCE OF LOANS; TRANSFERS

     66  

Section 10.01

  Evidence of Loans; Term Loan Notes      66  

Section 10.02

  Participations      67  

Section 10.03

  Assignments      68  

Section 10.04

  Certain Pledges      69  

ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS

     70  

Section 11.01

  APPLICABLE LAW      70  

Section 11.02

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      70  

Section 11.03

  Jurisdiction and Venue      70  

Section 11.04

  Set-off      70  

Section 11.05

  Confidentiality      71  

Section 11.06

  Integration; Amendments and Waivers      72  

Section 11.07

  Cumulative Rights; No Waiver      73  

Section 11.08

  Notices      73  

Section 11.09

  Separability      76  

Section 11.10

  Parties in Interest      76  

Section 11.11

  Execution in Counterparts; Electronic Execution of Credit Documents      76  

Section 11.12

  USA Patriot Act Notice      77  

Section 11.13

  Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      77  

Section 11.14

  Certain ERISA Matters      77  

Section 11.15

  Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs      79  

Section 11.16

  Erroneous Payments      80  

Section 11.17

  California Judicial Reference      83  

Section 11.18

  Divisions      85  

 

ii


SCHEDULE
Schedule I    Lenders and Commitments
Schedule II    Intentionally Deleted
Schedule III    Existing Liens
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A    Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit B    Form of Conversion Request
Exhibit C    Form of Term Loan Note
Exhibit D    Form of Opinion of Borrower’s Counsel
Exhibit E    Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit F    Form of Confidentiality Agreement
Exhibit G    Reserved
Exhibit H    Reserved
Exhibit I    Reserved
Exhibit J    Reserved
Exhibit K-1-K-4    Forms of Tax Compliance Certificates

 

iii


TERM LOAN AGREEMENT, dated as of March 23, 2021, among SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION, a California corporation (the “Borrower”), each of the lenders from time to time parties to this Agreement (collectively, the “Lenders”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Administrative Agent.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested the Lenders severally to lend to the Borrower term loans in the aggregate amount of $250,000,000; and

WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to make such loans, on the terms and conditions provided herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions.

(a) Terms Generally. The definitions ascribed to terms in this Agreement apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall be deemed to include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be interpreted as if followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The phrase “individually or in the aggregate” shall be deemed general in scope and not to refer to any specific Section or clause of this Agreement. All references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require. The table of contents, headings and captions herein shall not be given effect in interpreting or construing the provisions of this Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all references to “dollars” or “$” shall be deemed references to the lawful money of the United States of America.

(b) Accounting Terms. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the term “consolidated” and all other terms of an accounting nature shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant set forth in Article VII, such terms shall be construed in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date of this Agreement, applied on a basis consistent with the construction thereof applied in preparing the Borrower’s audited financial statements referred to in Section 5.01(k). If there shall occur a change in GAAP which but for the foregoing proviso would affect the computation used to determine compliance with any covenant set forth in Article VII, the Borrower and the Lenders agree to negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon an amendment to this Agreement that will permit compliance with such covenant to be determined by reference to GAAP as so changed while affording the Lenders the protection intended to be afforded by such covenant prior to such change (it being understood, however, that such covenant shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its existing terms unless and until such amendment shall become effective).


(c) Other Terms. The following terms have the meanings ascribed to them below or in the Sections of this Agreement indicated below:

ABR Loans” means Loans that bear interest at a rate or rates determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

ABR Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

Acquisition” means any purchase or other acquisition by the Borrower or a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower of (a) any assets of any other Person that, taken together, constitute a business unit, or (b) any capital stock of or equity interests in any other Person if, immediately thereafter, such other Person would be a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Act” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.12.

Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means, for purposes of any calculation, the rate per annum equal to (a) Daily Simple SOFR for such calculation plus (b) 0.038%; provided that if Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR as so determined shall ever be less than the Floor, then Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.

Adjusted Term SOFR” means, for purposes of any calculation, the rate per annum equal to (a) Term SOFR for such calculation plus (b) the Term SOFR Adjustment; provided that if Adjusted Term SOFR as so determined shall ever be less than the Floor, then Adjusted Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.

Administrative Agent” means The Bank of New York Mellon, acting in the capacity of administrative agent for the Lenders, or any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative details reply form delivered by a Lender to the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form provided by the Administrative Agent or the form attached to an Assignment and Acceptance.

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

Affiliate” means, when used with reference to any Person, a Person (other than a Subsidiary) which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such other Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

 

2


Agreement” means this Term Loan Agreement, as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of:

(i) the rate of interest from time to time publicly announced by the Administrative Agent as its prime commercial loan rate in effect on such day;

(ii) the sum of (a) 1/2 of 1% per annum and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day; and

(iii) the sum of (a) 1% per annum and (b) Adjusted Term SOFR for a one-month tenor in effect on such date.

The Alternate Base Rate shall change as and when the greatest of the foregoing rates shall change. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate shall become effective as of the opening of business on the day of such change. If Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 4.05, then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (i) and (ii) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (iii) above.

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, including, without limitation, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010.

Anti-Terrorism Laws” means any law or regulation relating to terrorism, anti-terrorism, money laundering or anti-money laundering activities, including without limitation the U.S. Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 and the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act as amended by the Act.

Applicable Lending Office” means, with respect to a Loan, the applicable office of the Lender for making such Loan, as specified in Schedule I or in an Administrative Questionnaire delivered to the Administrative Agent as the office from which such Lender makes Loans of the relevant type.

Applicable Margin” means, at any date and with respect to each Loan during which the applicable Pricing Level set forth below is in effect, the percentage set forth below adjacent to such Pricing Level:

 

Pricing

Level

   Applicable
Margin
    Applicable
Margin
 
     SOFR Loans       ABR Loans  

I

     0.550     0.000

II

     0.600     0.000

III

     0.650     0.000

IV

     0.750     0.000

V

     0.875     0.000

VI

     1.000     0.000

 

3


Approved Fund” means any Fund 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.

Assignee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.03(a).

Assignment and Acceptance” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.03(a).

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an interest period pursuant to this Agreement or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, in each case, as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 4.09(d).

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

Bail-In Legislation” means (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Benchmark” means, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Daily Simple SOFR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Daily Simple SOFR, or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 4.09(a).

 

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Benchmark Replacement” means with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if such Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than the Floor, such Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of any then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities.

Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to any then-current Benchmark:

(a) in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative or non-compliant with or non-aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks; provided that such non-representativeness, non-compliance or non-alignment will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

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Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to any then-current Benchmark:

(a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(c) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Transition Start Date” means, in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (a) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (b) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than 90 days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication).

 

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Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the impacted then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in accordance with Section 4.09 and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the impacted then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in accordance with Section 4.09.

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

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

Borrowing Request” means a request, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, by the Borrower for Loans, which shall specify (a) the requested borrowing date (which shall be the Effective Date), (b) the aggregate amount of such Loans, and (c) (i) whether such Loans are to bear interest initially as ABR Loans, Term SOFR Loans or Daily Simple SOFR Loans and (ii) if applicable, the initial Interest Period therefor.

BSA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01(j).

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York or the State of Nevada are authorized by law to close.

CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, and any regulation promulgated thereunder.

Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following conditions: (a) the Holding Company shall fail to own all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Intermediate Holding Company, (b) the Intermediate Holding Company shall fail to own all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower, (c) any Person or group of associated Persons acting in concert shall have acquired an aggregate of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Holding Company, or (d) individuals who constitute the board of directors of the Borrower, the Holding Company or the Intermediate Holding Company on the Effective Date (each, an “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date, whose election, or nomination for election by the Borrower’s, the Holding Company’s or the Intermediate Holding Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors comprising the applicable Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Holding Company, the Intermediate Holding Company or the Borrower in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be, for purposes of this clause (d), considered as though such person were a member of such Incumbent Board.

 

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

Commitment” means, with respect to a Lender, the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name under the heading “Commitment” on Schedule I.

Communications” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.08(d).

Confidential Information” means information delivered to the Administrative Agent for the Lenders or to a Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement that is confidential or proprietary in nature at the time it is so delivered or information obtained by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the course of its review of the books or records of the Borrower contemplated herein; provided that such term shall not include information (a) that was publicly known or otherwise known to the Administrative Agent or such Lender prior to the time of such disclosure, (b) that subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by the Administrative Agent or such Lender or any Person acting on the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s behalf, (c) that otherwise becomes known from a third party who the Administrative Agent or such Lender did not know or have reason to believe received such information in a restricted or unlawful manner or (d) that constitutes financial information delivered to the Administrative Agent or such Lender that is otherwise publicly available.

Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of SOFR or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”, the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period” or any similar or analogous definition (or the addition of a concept of “interest period”), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 4.06 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides, in consultation with the Borrower, may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents).

 

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Contingent Obligation” means, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, any direct or indirect Contractual Obligation with respect to any Debt, lease, dividend, letter of credit or other obligation (the “primary obligations”) of another Person (the “primary obligor”), including, without limitation, any obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such primary obligations or any Property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, or (b) to advance or provide funds (i) for the payment or discharge of any such primary obligation, or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of the primary obligor prior to such obligation being a stated or determinable amount, or (c) to purchase Property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation, or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or if indeterminable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof.

Contractual Obligations” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, undertaking, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument, document or agreement to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its Property is bound.

Conversion Date” means, with respect to a Loan, the date on which a conversion of interest rates on such Loan shall take effect.

Conversion Request” means a request, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, by the Borrower to convert the interest rate basis for all or portions of outstanding Loans, which shall specify (a) the requested Conversion Date, which shall be not fewer than three U.S. Government Securities Business Days after the date of such Conversion Request, (b) the aggregate amount of such Loans, on and after the Conversion Date, which are to bear interest as ABR Loans, Term SOFR Loans or Daily Simple SOFR Loans, and (c) the term of the Interest Periods therefor, if any.

CPUC Order” means, collectively, the Opinion addressed to the Borrower, dated April 22, 2002, Decision No. 02-04-054, as modified by Decision No. 02-04-072, and Decision No. 10-10-022 of the California Public Utilities Commission.

Credit Documents” means this Agreement and the Term Loan Notes.

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day “i”) that is three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on the second (2nd) U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately following any day, SOFR

 

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in respect of such day has not been published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to Daily Simple SOFR has not occurred, then SOFR for such day will be SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website; provided that any SOFR determined pursuant to this sentence shall be utilized for purposes of calculation of Daily Simple SOFR for no more than three (3) consecutive SOFR Rate Days. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower.

Daily Simple SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Daily Simple SOFR.

Daily Simple SOFR Payment Date” means with respect to any Daily Simple SOFR Loan, the day that is seven (7) days after such Daily Simple SOFR Loan is made, converted into or continued (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, the Daily Simple SOFR Payment Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day).

Debt” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (a) all obligations for borrowed money, including interest or fees of any nature related to the borrowing of money accrued but unpaid, (b) all obligations under letters of credit, bills of exchange or bankers’ acceptances, (c) all obligations representing the deferred purchase price of Property or services which in accordance with GAAP would be shown on the balance sheet as a liability, (d) all obligations, whether or not assumed by or with recourse to such Person, secured by Liens upon, or payable out of the proceeds or production from, assets owned by such Person, (e) all Finance Lease Obligations, and (f) all Contingent Obligations.

Default” means any event or circumstance which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that, at such time (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding has not been satisfied (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Default, shall be specifically identified in such writing), (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, (c) has become, or the parent company of which has become, the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar official charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it (or has taken any actions in furtherance of any such proceeding or appointment, or acquiesced, approved, or consented to, any such steps), (d) has notified the Administrative Agent or the Borrower in writing that it will not fund or is unable to fund any portion of the Loans

 

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required to be funded by it, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, (e) has made a public statement to the effect that such Lender is generally not funding any loans required to be funded by it under financing arrangements similar to those provided under this Agreement, (f) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding requirements hereunder; provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (f) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower; provided, further that a Lender shall not qualify as a Defaulting Lender solely as a result of the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Lender or its parent company, or of the exercise of control over such Lender or any Person controlling such Lender, by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender, or (g) has become the subject of a Bail-In Action. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (g) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.06(d)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower and each Lender.

Dispute” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.17(a).

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.

Eligible Institution” means any commercial bank, trust company, banking association or other financial institution.

Environmental Claim” means all claims, however asserted, by any Governmental Authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law or for release or injury to the environment or threat to public health, personal injury (including sickness, disease or death), property damage, natural resources damage, or otherwise alleging liability or responsibility for damages (punitive or

 

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otherwise), cleanup, removal, remedial or response costs, restitution, civil or criminal penalties, injunctive relief, or other type of relief, resulting from or based upon (a) the presence, placement, discharge, emission or release (including intentional and unintentional, negligent and non-negligent, sudden or non-sudden, accidental or non-accidental placement, spills, leaks, discharges, emissions or releases) of any Hazardous Material at, in or from Property, whether or not owned by the Borrower, or (b) any other circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental Law.

Environmental Laws” means all federal, state or local laws, statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authorities, in each case relating to environmental, health, safety and land use matters; including CERCLA, the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Environmental Permits” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01(l)(ii).

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b), 414(c) or 414(m) of the Code.

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate incurred a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of notice from the Multiemployer Plan that the Multiemployer Plan is in critical or endangered status, in reorganization or insolvent; (d) the filing by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan under a distress termination under Section 4041 of ERISA; (e) receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of notice from the PBGC of the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of notice from the PBGC of the appointment of a trustee to administer a Pension Plan; (g) the determination by an actuary for the Pension Plan that the Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA and claims for benefit and funding obligations in the ordinary course, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

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Erroneous Payment”: as defined in Section 11.16(a).

Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”: as defined in Section 11.16(d).

Erroneous Payment Impacted Class”: as defined in Section 11.16(d).

Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” as defined in Section 11.16(d).

Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.12(d).

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.

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.

Excluded Taxes” means (a) all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, fees, liabilities and similar charges imposed on or measured by the overall net income of any Lender (or any office, branch or subsidiary of such Lender) or any franchise taxes, taxes on doing business or taxes measured by capital or net worth imposed on any Lender (or any office, branch or subsidiary of such Lender), in each case imposed by the United States of America or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or taxes on or measured by the overall net income of any office, branch or subsidiary of a Lender or any franchise taxes, taxes imposed on doing business or taxes measured by capital or net worth imposed on any office, branch or subsidiary of such Lender, in each case imposed by any foreign country or subdivision thereof in which such Lender’s principal office or applicable lending office is located and (b) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Executive Order” means Executive Order No. 13224, 66 Fed. Reg. 49,079 (2001), issued by the President of the United States of America (Executive Order Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism).

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

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

 

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Federal Reserve Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor Governmental Authority).

Finance Lease” means, as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, a lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) real and/or personal Property, the obligations with respect to which are required to be classified and accounted for as a finance lease on a balance sheet of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under GAAP (including Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842 – Leases of the Financial Accounting Standards Board).

Finance Lease Obligations” means, as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to pay rent or other amounts under a Finance Lease and, for purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof, determined in accordance with GAAP (including ASC 842 referenced in the definition of “Finance Lease”), including elections available under the guidance.

Floor” means a rate of interest equal to 0.00%.

Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

Funded Debt” means, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (a) all obligations for borrowed money, (b) all obligations representing the deferred purchase price of Property or services which in accordance with GAAP would be shown on a balance sheet of such Person as a liability due more than 12 months from the date of the occurrence or evidenced by a note or similar instrument, (c) all Finance Lease Obligations and (d) all Contingent Obligations.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles, as set forth in the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entities as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States of America.

Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

Hazardous Materials” means all those substances which are regulated by, or which may form the basis of liability under, any Environmental Law, including all substances identified under any Environmental Law as a pollutant, contaminant, waste, solid waste, hazardous waste, hazardous constituent, special waste, hazardous substance, hazardous material, or toxic substance, or petroleum or petroleum derived substance or waste.

Holding Company” means Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Incumbent Board” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Change in Control.”

 

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Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Credit Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.06(c).

Intermediate Holding Company” means Southwest Gas Utility Group, Inc., a California corporation.

Interest Period” means, with respect to any Term SOFR Loan, each one, three, or six month period (in each case, subject to availability) such period being the one selected by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.02, 3.01 or 3.03 and commencing on the date such Loan is made, on any Conversion Date from an ABR Loan or Daily Simple SOFR Loan to a Term SOFR Loan or at the end of the preceding Interest Period, as the case may be; provided, however, that:

(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next Business Day, unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last Business Day of a calendar month;

(c) any Interest Period that would otherwise end after the Termination Date then in effect shall end on the Termination Date; and

(d) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 4.09(d) shall be available for selection by the Borrower.

Investments” means any direct or indirect purchase or acquisition of any obligations or other securities of, or any interest in, any Person, or any advance (other than payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advance ultimately to be treated as an expense for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business), loan, extension of credit or capital contribution to, or any other investment in, any Person including, without limitation, any Affiliates of such Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any purchase, acquisition, loan, extension of credit, capital contribution to, or other investment in or payment to, any Person by the Borrower or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower made for the purpose of consummating an Acquisition (including any investment by the Borrower in a Subsidiary if the proceeds are used (i) as purchase consideration in an Acquisition or (ii) to fund an investment by a Subsidiary in any other Subsidiary, or a series of downstream investment transactions between Subsidiaries, if the proceeds are ultimately used as purchase consideration in an Acquisition) shall not constitute an Investment.

 

15


IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service (or any successor Governmental Authority).

Joint Bookrunners” means The Bank of New York Mellon, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and BOFA Securities, Inc.

Joint Lead Arrangers” means The Bank of New York Mellon, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and BOFA Securities, Inc.

Lender Parties” means the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners, each of the Lenders and each of their respective Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors.

Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

Lien” means any voluntary or involuntary mortgage, assignment, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien, claim or charge of any kind on or with respect to, or any preferential arrangement with respect to the payment of any obligations with the proceeds or from the production of, any asset of any kind, including, without limitation, any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or any lease in the nature thereof.

Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01.

Margin Stock” means “margin stock” as such term is defined in Regulations T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.

Material Adverse Effect” means a change, or announcement of a change, which would reasonably be expected, immediately or with the passage of time, to result in a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, any of (a) the operations, business, Property or financial condition of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower timely to perform any of its material obligations, or of the Lenders to exercise any remedy, under any Credit Document or (c) the legality, validity, binding nature or enforceability of any Credit Document.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” (within the meaning of Section 4001 (a)(3) of ERISA) and to which any ERISA Affiliate makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions or has made, or been obligated to make, contributions.

Net Worth” means the amount of the Borrower’s stockholders’ equity determined in accordance with GAAP.

Obligations” means the Loans and any other liability or duty owing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender or Indemnitee hereunder.

OFAC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01(j).

 

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Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between the Administrative Agent or such Lender and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from the Administrative Agent or such Lender having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Credit Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document).

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Credit Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 4.08).

Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.02(a).

Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.02(b).

Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.17.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor Governmental Authority).

Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan”, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained, contributed to or required to be contributed to by the Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

Permitted Investments” means (i) Investments of the Borrower in any Subsidiary for the substantially contemporaneous acquisition, improvement or lease of Property, (ii) other Investments of the Borrower in any Subsidiary in an amount not in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year, (iii) Investments of any Subsidiary in the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, and (iv) cash Investments in (a) U.S. government and agency securities; (b) money market funds rated AA or A-1 or better by S&P and Aaa or P-1 or better by Moody’s; (c) municipal securities rated within the top two ratings by S&P and Moody’s; (d) repurchase agreements with reputable financial institutions fully secured by collateral consisting of securities described in clauses (a) and (b) above having a market value at least equal to 102% of the amount so invested; (e) bankers’ acceptances issued by a bank rated Aaa or better by Moody’s or rated AA or better by S&P and eligible for purchase by a Federal Reserve Bank; (f) interest-bearing demand or time deposits (including certificates of deposit) in banks and savings and loan associations; provided such deposits are (1) secured at all times, in the manner and to the extent provided by law, by collateral consisting of securities described in clauses (a) and (b) above having a market value of no less than 102% of the amount of moneys so invested or (2) fully insured by federal deposit insurance; (g) shares of any “regulated investment company” within the meaning of Section 851(a) of the Code, the assets of which consist only of

 

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securities or investments described in clauses (a) through (f) above; (h) commercial paper (including both non-interest-bearing discount obligations and interest-bearing obligations payable on demand or on a specified date not more than one year after the date of issuance thereof) which have been rated at least A-1 by S&P and at least P-1 by Moody’s at the time of such investment; (i) other obligations of corporations which have been rated at least AA by S&P and at least Aaa by Moody’s at the time of such investment; (j) open ended mutual funds, as regulated by Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and whose net asset value remains a constant $1 a share; (k) investments directed by the Borrower in conjunction with industrial development revenue bonds; and (l) Subsidiaries, Affiliates and transactions permitted by Section 7.02(b).

Permitted Liens” means any of the following:

(a) Liens on any Property acquired, constructed, or improved by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries after the Effective Date that are created or assumed contemporaneously with, or within 120 days after, such acquisition or completion of the construction or improvement, or within six months thereafter pursuant to a firm commitment for financing arranged with a lender or investor within such 120-day period, to secure or provide for the payment of all or any part of the purchase price of such Property or the cost of such construction or improvement incurred after the Effective Date or, in addition to Liens contemplated by clauses (b) and (c) below, Liens on any Property existing at the time of acquisition thereof; provided that the Liens shall not apply to any Property theretofore owned by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries other than, in the case of any such construction or improvement, any theretofore unimproved Property on which the Property so constructed or the improvement is located;

(b) Existing Liens on any Property or indebtedness of a corporation that is merged with or into or consolidated with the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or becomes a Subsidiary; provided that the Liens shall not apply to any Property theretofore owned by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;

(c) Liens in favor of the United States of America, any state or any foreign country or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of any such jurisdiction to secure partial, progress, advance or other payment pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of constructing or improving the Property subject to such Liens, including, without limitation, Liens to secure debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type;

(d) Liens on current assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to secure loans to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries which mature within 12 months from the creation thereof and which are made in the ordinary course of business;

 

18


(e) Liens on any Property (including any natural gas, oil or other mineral property of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries) to secure all or part of the cost of exploration or drilling for or development of oil or gas reserves or laying a pipeline or to secure debt incurred to provide funds for any such purpose;

(f) Any Lien existing on Property of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date that is set forth on Schedule III hereto;

(g) Liens on moneys or U.S. Government obligations deposited to defease Debt;

(h) Liens for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing, in whole or in part, Liens securing debt of the type referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (g), inclusive, or this clause (h); provided, however, that the principal amount of debt so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement shall not be increased, and that such extension or replacement shall be limited to all or part of the Property or indebtedness which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such Property);

(i) Carriers, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, landlords’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty and which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;

(j) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) on Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries incurred, or pledges or deposits required, in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

(k) Liens on Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries securing (i) the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, (ii) obligations on surety and appeal bonds, and (iii) other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(l) Licenses, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the Property subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the businesses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(m) Liens on the Property of a Subsidiary other than a Significant Subsidiary which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(n) Intellectual property licenses;

(o) Any attachment or judgment Lien not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(g);

(p) Leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and UCC financing statements relating solely thereto; and

(q) other Liens, to the extent that the dollar value of the collateral securing such Liens does not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate at any time in effect.

Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, entity or government (whether federal, state, county, city, municipal or otherwise, including any instrumentality, division, agency, body or department thereof).

Plan” means an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors or maintains or to which the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, and includes any Multiemployer Plan or Qualified Plan.

Prescribed Forms” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.04(a)(ii)(A).

Pricing Level I” means at any time the Borrower’s Senior Debt Rating is (a) A+ or higher by S&P or (b) A1 or higher by Moody’s.

Pricing Level II” means at any time the Borrower’s Senior Debt Rating is (a) A or higher by S&P or (b) A2 or higher by Moody’s, and Pricing Level I is not applicable.

Pricing Level III” means at any time the Borrower’s Senior Debt Rating is (a) A- or higher by S&P or (b) A3 or higher by Moody’s, and Pricing Levels I and II are not applicable.

Pricing Level IV” means at any time the Borrower’s Senior Debt Rating is (a) BBB+ or higher by S&P or (b) Baa1 or higher by Moody’s, and Pricing Levels I, II and III are not applicable.

Pricing Level V” means at any time the Borrower’s Senior Debt Rating is (a) BBB or higher by S&P or (b) Baa2 or higher by Moody’s, and Pricing Levels I, II, III and IV are not applicable.

Pricing Level VI” means at any time the Borrower’s Senior Debt Rating is (a) less than or equal to BBB- by S&P or (b) less than or equal to Baa3 by Moody’s, and Pricing Levels I, II, III, IV and V are not applicable.

 

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Prohibited Person” means any Person (a) listed in the Annex to, or otherwise the subject of, the Executive Order; (b) with whom any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any transaction by any applicable Anti-Terrorism Laws, including the Executive Order; (c) that is named as a “specially designated national and blocked person” on the most current list published by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control at its official website, http://www.treas.gov.ofac/t11sdn.pdf or at any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such list; or (d) who is owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, any Person listed above.

Projected Benefit Obligations” means, as of any date, the actuarial present value of Pension Plan benefits attributed to employee service to such date measured using assumptions as to future compensation levels.

Property” means all types of real, personal, tangible, intangible or mixed property.

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Lender at any time of determination, in relation to Loans, the proportion of such Lender’s Commitment to the Total Commitment then in effect or, after the making of the Loans on the Effective Date, the proportion of such Lender’s Loans to the aggregate amount of Loans then outstanding.

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

Qualified Plan” means a pension plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) intended to be tax-qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and which any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or to which it makes or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of a multiple employer plan (as described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA) has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding period covering at least five (5) plan years, but excluding any Multiemployer Plan.

Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.03(c).

Regulatory Assets” means certain assets of the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate which represent future probable increases in revenues to be recorded by the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate associated with Pension Plan liabilities incurred by the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate, to the extent permitted to be recorded as such under ASC 980 – Regulated Operations.

Regulatory Change” means (a) the introduction or phasing in of any law, rule or regulation after the Effective Date, (b) the issuance or promulgation after the Effective Date of any directive, guideline or request from any central bank or United States or foreign Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law), or (c) any change after the Effective Date in the interpretation, implementation or administration of any existing law, rule, regulation, directive, guideline or request by any central bank or United States or foreign Governmental Authority charged with the administration thereof; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules,

 

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guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Regulatory Change”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

Replacement Lender” means (a) with respect to the provisions of Section 2.06(b), an Eligible Institution proposed by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.06(b) and which has agreed to acquire and assume all or part of a Defaulting Lender’s Loans under Section 2.06(b), and (b) with respect to the provisions of Section 4.08, an Eligible Institution which is willing to assume all of the obligations of a Lender that has requested compensation pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(i) or (ii).

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

Required Lenders” means, at any date of determination, Lenders having at least 51% of the Total Commitment then in effect or, if the Total Commitment has been cancelled or terminated, holding at least 51% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans then outstanding; provided, however, that if any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time, then there shall be excluded from the determination of Required Lenders, such Defaulting Lender’s Loans then outstanding and such Defaulting Lender’s Commitments.

Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, any law (statutory or common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon the Person or any of its Property or to which the Person or any of its Property is subject.

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

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or any vice president, senior vice president or executive vice president of the Borrower.

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region, or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions.

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, any Person that is (a) listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) owned or controlled by any Person referred to in (a) or (b), or (d) otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.

 

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Sanctions” means any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States government (including by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or any other relevant sanctions authority.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor Governmental Authority).

Senior Debt Rating” means the Borrower’s senior unsecured long-term debt ratings from either S&P or Moody’s.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower having 10% or more of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of the end of any fiscal quarter or generating 10% or more of the income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis during the most recently completed four fiscal quarters for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a).

SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

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

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

SOFR Loan” means a Term SOFR Loan or a Daily Simple SOFR Loan.

Subsidiary” means any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture or other business entity of which the Borrower and/or any subsidiary of the Borrower either (a) in respect of a corporation, owns more than 50% of the outstanding stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar managing body, irrespective of whether or not at the time the stock of any class or classes shall or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, or (b) in respect of an association, partnership, joint venture or other business entity, is the sole general partner or is entitled to share in more than 50% of the profits, however determined.

Taxes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.04(a)(i).

Termination Date” means March 21, 2023, or such earlier date on which the Term Loan Notes shall become due and payable, whether by acceleration or otherwise.

Term Loan Notes” means the promissory notes of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

Term SOFR” means,

 

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(a) for any calculation with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and

(b) for any calculation with respect to an ABR Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the “ABR Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any ABR Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such ABR Term SOFR Determination Day.

Term SOFR Adjustment” means, for any calculation with respect to any Loan, a percentage per annum as set forth below for the applicable type of such Loan and (if applicable) Interest Period therefor:

ABR Loans:

    0.10%

Term SOFR Loans:

 

Interest Period

   Percentage  

One month

     0.10

Three months

     0.15

Six months

     0.25

 

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Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

Term SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Adjusted Term SOFR, other than pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate”.

Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

Total Capitalization” means Funded Debt plus Net Worth.

Total Commitment” means, on any day, the aggregate Commitments on such day of all the Lenders.

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

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

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

Unfunded Pension Liabilities” means, as of the end of any fiscal year of the Borrower, (a) a Pension Plan’s Projected Benefit Obligations minus (b) the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, as defined in Section 3(26) of ERISA, plus Regulatory Assets.

Unsecured Debt” means all Debt which has not been secured by a pledge of any real or personal property.

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which Write-Down and Conversion Powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or

 

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obligations of that Person or any other Person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

(d) Ratings Determinations. Whenever this Agreement requires the determination of the Borrower’s Senior Debt Rating (i) if there is a split rating as between Moody’s and S&P (1) by one rating category, the higher of the two ratings will apply and (2) by more than one category, the rating that is one rating level below the higher rating will apply, (ii) if any rating established by Moody’s or S&P shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of either Moody’s or S&P), such change shall be given effect as of the date on which such change is first announced by the rating agency making such change and (iii) if Borrower does not have a Senior Debt Rating from either S&P or Moody’s, Pricing Level VI will apply for the purposes of determining the Applicable Margin.

(f) For all purposes under the Credit Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its equity interests at such time.

ARTICLE II

THE CREDIT FACILITY

Section 2.01 Loans.

Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make a Loan to the Borrower in a principal amount equal to the Commitment of such Lender. The Loans shall be funded in one (1) advance on the Effective Date and repaid in accordance with this Agreement. No Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to perform its obligations to make Loans hereunder, and the Commitment of any Lender shall not be increased or decreased as a result of the failure by any other Lender to perform its obligation to make Loans hereunder. The Commitments shall automatically terminate on the Effective Date after the making of the Loans on such date.

 

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Section 2.02 [Reserved].

Section 2.03 [Reserved].

Section 2.04 Repayment.

All Loans shall be repaid, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on the Termination Date.

Section 2.05 Optional Prepayment.

The Borrower may prepay Loans bearing interest on the same basis and having the same Interest Periods, if any, by giving notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 P.M., New York time, on the third U.S. Government Securities Business Day preceding the proposed date of prepayment, in the case of SOFR Loans, or not later than 1:00 P.M., New York time, on the Business Day of the proposed prepayment, in the case of ABR Loans. Each such prepayment of SOFR Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if the aggregate amount of outstanding Term SOFR Loans or Daily Simple SOFR Loans, as applicable, is less than $5,000,000, then all of such lesser amount), and each prepayment of ABR Loans shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or in integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if the aggregate amount of outstanding ABR Loans is less than $1,000,000, then all of such lesser amount), and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans, together with the amounts required by Section 4.03, accrued interest on the principal being prepaid to the date of prepayment. Any amount of the Loans that are prepaid may not be reborrowed.

Section 2.06 Defaulting Lenders.

(a) 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:

(i) [reserved];

(ii) the Commitment and Loans of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 11.06); provided that any waiver, amendment or modification that would (A) increase the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender or subject such Defaulting Lender to any additional obligations, (B) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Loans made by such Defaulting Lender or (C) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Loans made by such Defaulting Lender (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include forbearing from exercising remedies as a result thereof), shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender; and

 

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(iii) any amount payable to such Defaulting Lender hereunder (whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise and including any amount that would otherwise be payable to such Defaulting Lender) shall, in lieu of being distributed to such Defaulting Lender, be retained by the Administrative Agent in a segregated account and, subject to any applicable requirements of law, be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent, in the following order of priority: (A) first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder, (B) second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists) to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, (C) third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, held in such account as cash collateral for future funding obligations of the Defaulting Lender in respect of any Loans under this Agreement, and (D) fourth, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) The Borrower may, by ten Business Days’ notice in writing to the Administrative Agent and a Defaulting Lender, (i) request such Defaulting Lender to cooperate with the Borrower in obtaining a Replacement Lender for such Defaulting Lender; (ii) request the non-Defaulting Lenders to acquire and assume all or a portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Loans and Commitment, but none of such Lenders shall be obligated to do so; or (iii) propose a Replacement Lender. If a Replacement Lender shall be accepted by the Administrative Agent or one or more of the non-Defaulting Lenders shall agree to acquire and assume all or part of a Defaulting Lender’s Loans and Commitment, then such Defaulting Lender shall assign, in accordance with Section 10.03(a), all or part, as the case may be, of its Loans, Commitment, Term Loan Note and other rights and obligations under this Agreement and all other Credit Documents to such Replacement Lender or non-Defaulting Lenders, as the case may be, in exchange for payment of the principal of, and interest accrued to the date of such payment on, Loans owing to such Defaulting Lender; and upon such payments, the obligations of such Defaulting Lender hereunder in respect of its Commitment shall, by the provisions hereof, be released and discharged; provided, however, that such Defaulting Lender’s rights under Sections 4.03, 4.04 and 4.06, and its obligations under Section 9.06 shall survive such release and discharge as to matters occurring prior to such date; provided further, however, that such assignment shall be on the terms and conditions set forth in Section 10.03(a). If the Replacement Lender and the non-Defaulting Lenders shall only be willing to acquire less than all of a Defaulting Lender’s outstanding Loans and Commitment, the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender shall not terminate, but shall be reduced proportionately, and such Defaulting Lender shall continue to be a “Lender” hereunder with a reduced Commitment and Pro Rata Share. Upon the effective date of such assignment, such Replacement Lender shall, if not already a Lender, become a “Lender” for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

 

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(c) The rights and remedies against a Defaulting Lender under this Section 2.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender.

(d) In the event that the Administrative Agent and the Borrower agree that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans based on its Pro Rata Share and such Lender shall no longer be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided further that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

ARTICLE III

INTEREST AND FEES

Section 3.01 Interest Rate Determination; Conversion.

(a) Except to the extent that the Borrower shall request, in the Borrowing Request, a Conversion Request or in a written election pursuant to Section 3.03(b), that Loans (or portions thereof) bear interest as Term SOFR Loans or Daily Simple SOFR Loans, Loans shall bear interest as ABR Loans.

(b) The Borrower may request, by giving a Conversion Request to the Administrative Agent, not later than 1:00 P.M., New York time, on the third U.S. Government Securities Business Day prior to the requested Conversion Date, that all or portions of the outstanding Loans, in the aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, in the case of Loans being converted to or continued as SOFR Loans, and in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or in integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Loans is less than $1,000,000, then all such lesser amount), in the case of ABR Loans, bear interest from and after the Conversion Date as ABR Loans, Term SOFR Loans, or Daily Simple SOFR Loans; provided, however, that during the continuance of any Default or Event of Default that shall have occurred, no Loan (or portion thereof) may be converted into SOFR Loans. Upon receipt, the Administrative Agent forthwith shall give notice to each Lender of the substance of each Conversion Request. Upon payment by the Borrower of the amounts, if any, required by Section 4.03, on the Conversion Date the Loans or portions thereof as to which the Conversion Request was made shall commence to accrue interest in the manner selected by the Borrower therein.

 

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Section 3.02 Interest on ABR Loans.

Each ABR Loan shall bear interest from the date made until the date repaid, or (if converted into a SOFR Loan) to (but excluding) the first day of any relevant Interest Period (or the date of such conversion to a Daily Simple SOFR Loan, as the case may be), payable in arrears on the last day of each calendar quarter of each year, commencing with the first such date after the Effective Date, and on the date such Loan is repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the Applicable Margin and (ii) the Alternate Base Rate in effect from time to time, which rate shall change as and when said Applicable Margin or Alternate Base Rate shall change.

Section 3.03 Interest on SOFR Loans.

(a) Each Term SOFR Loan shall bear interest from the date made until the date repaid or converted to an ABR Loan or Daily Simple SOFR Loan, payable in arrears, with respect to Interest Periods of three months or less, on the last day of such Interest Period, and with respect to Interest Periods longer than three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the commencement of such Interest Period and on the last day of such Interest Period, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the Applicable Margin and (ii) Adjusted Term SOFR for such Interest Period. Each Term SOFR Loan shall become an ABR Loan at the end of the Interest Period therefor, unless (x) there shall not have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default and (y) not later than the third Business Day prior to the last day of such Interest Period, (A) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an irrevocable written election of the subsequent Interest Period, in which case such Term SOFR Loan shall remain outstanding as a Term SOFR Loan, or (B) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Conversion Request with respect thereto, in which case such Term SOFR Loan shall be converted in accordance with Section 3.01(b).

(b) Each Daily Simple SOFR Loan shall bear interest from the date made until the date repaid, or (if converted into a Term SOFR Loan or an ABR Loan) to (but excluding) the date of such conversion or the first day of any relevant Interest Period, as the case may be, payable in arrears on the Daily Simple SOFR Payment Date with respect to such Loan, and on the date such Loan is repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the Applicable Margin and (ii) Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR in effect on the date, which rate shall change as and when said Applicable Margin or Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR shall change. Each Daily Simple SOFR Loan shall become an ABR Loan on the Daily Simple SOFR Payment Date with respect thereto, unless (x) there shall not have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default and (y) not later than the third U.S. Government Securities Business Day prior to the Daily Simple SOFR Payment Date, (A) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an irrevocable written election to continue the Daily Simple SOFR Loan as a new Daily Simple SOFR Loan, in which case such Daily Simple SOFR Loan shall remain outstanding as a new Daily Simple SOFR Loan (and, for the purposes of determining the Daily Simple SOFR Payment Date with respect thereto, the date that such Daily Simple SOFR Loan is

 

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continued shall be the U.S. Government Securities Business Day after the Daily Simple SOFR Payment Date in effect prior to such continuation), or (B) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Conversion Request with respect thereto, in which case such Daily Simple SOFR Loan shall be converted in accordance with Section 3.01(b).

(c) In connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR and Daily Simple SOFR, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Credit Document. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR or Daily Simple SOFR.

Section 3.04 Interest on Overdue Amounts.

All overdue amounts (including principal, interest and fees) hereunder shall bear interest, payable on demand, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) 2% and (ii) in the case of Term SOFR Loans, the rate then applicable until the end of the current Interest Period therefor, and thereafter the rate of interest applicable to ABR Loans, changing as and when such rate shall change, and in the case of ABR Loans and Daily Simple SOFR Loans, the rate of interest applicable to ABR Loans, changing as and when such rate shall change.

Section 3.05 Day Counts.

Interest on ABR Loans shall be calculated on the basis of (a) a 365- or, if applicable, a 366-day year for the actual number of days elapsed for so long as interest is determined pursuant to clause (i) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate” and (b) a 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed for so long as interest is determined based on clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate”. Interest on all other Loans, and all fees shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed.

Section 3.06 Maximum Interest Rate.

(a) Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Borrower to pay interest at a rate exceeding the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. Neither this Section nor Section 11.01 is intended to limit the rate of interest payable for the account of any Lender to the maximum rate permitted by the laws of the State of New York (or any other applicable law) if a higher rate is permitted with respect to such Lender by supervening provisions of U.S. Federal law.

 

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(b) If the amount of interest payable for the account of any Lender on any interest payment date in respect of the immediately preceding interest computation period, computed pursuant to this Article III, would exceed the maximum amount permitted by applicable law to be charged by such Lender, the amount of interest payable for its account on such interest payment date shall automatically be reduced to such maximum permissible amount.

(c) If the amount of interest payable for the account of any Lender in respect of any interest computation period is reduced pursuant to Section 3.06(b) and the amount of interest payable for its account in respect of any subsequent interest computation period would be less than the maximum amount permitted by law to be charged by such Lender, then the amount of interest payable for its account in respect of such subsequent interest computation period shall be automatically increased to such maximum permissible amount; provided that at no time shall the aggregate amount by which interest paid for the account of any Lender has been increased pursuant to this Section 3.06(c) exceed the aggregate amount by which interest paid for its account has theretofore been reduced pursuant to Section 3.06(b).

Section 3.07 [Reserved].

ARTICLE IV

DISBURSEMENT AND PAYMENT

Section 4.01 Disbursement.

(a) Each Loan shall be made by the relevant Lender from such Lender’s branch or affiliate identified as its Applicable Lending Office.

(b) The failure of any Lender to make any Loan to be made by it on the Effective Date shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation to make its Loan or Loans on such date, but neither any Lender nor the Administrative Agent shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make a Loan to be made by such other Lender.

(c) The Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, advance on behalf of any Lender the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made on the Effective Date, unless such Lender shall have notified the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date that it does not intend to make such Loan on such date. If the Administrative Agent makes any such advance, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover the amount so advanced on demand from the Lender on whose behalf such advance was made and, if such Lender does not pay the Administrative Agent the amount of such advance on demand, the Borrower agrees promptly to repay such amount to the Administrative Agent. Until such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent by such Lender or the Borrower, such advance shall be deemed for all purposes to be a Loan made on the Effective Date by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover from the Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, interest on the amount advanced by it for each day from the Effective Date until repaid to the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate until the third Business Day after the date of the advance and, thereafter, at the rate per annum equal to the relevant rate on Loans made on the Effective Date.

 

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Section 4.02 Method and Time of Payments; Sharing among Lenders.

(a) All funds received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders in respect of payments made by the Borrower under, or from any other Person on account of, any Credit Document shall be distributed forthwith by the Administrative Agent among the Lenders, in like funds as received, ratably in proportion to their respective interests therein.

(b) All payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made without setoff or counterclaim to the Administrative Agent, for its account or for the account of the Lender or Lenders entitled thereto, as the case may be, in U.S. dollars and in immediately available funds at the office of the Administrative Agent prior to 3:00 P.M., New York time, on the date when due; provided, however, that the Borrower shall have setoff rights with respect to any Defaulting Lender with the application of any amounts payable to a Defaulting Lender to be administered by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(a)(iii).

(c) Whenever any payment from the Borrower shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date of payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. If the date for any payment of principal is extended by operation of law or otherwise, interest thereon shall be payable for such extended time.

(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment from the Borrower is due that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, but shall not be obligated to, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent that the Borrower shall not have so made such payment, each Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

(e) If any Lender shall receive from the Borrower or any other Person any amount owing under any Credit Document (whether received pursuant to the exercise of any right of set-off, banker’s lien, realization upon any security held for or appropriated to such obligation or otherwise) other than in proportion to such Lender’s ratable share thereof, then such Lender shall purchase from each other Lender a participating interest in so much of the other Lenders’ Loans as shall be necessary in order that each Lender shall share such payment with each of the other Lenders in proportion to each Lender’s ratable

 

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share; provided that nothing herein contained shall obligate any Lender to apply any set-off, banker’s lien or collateral security first to the obligations of the Borrower hereunder if the Borrower is obligated to such Lender pursuant to other loans or notes. If any purchasing Lender shall be required to return any excess payment received by it, such participation shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such return, but without interest.

Section 4.03 Compensation for Losses.

(a) If (i) the Borrower makes a prepayment of a Term SOFR Loan, or a Conversion Date occurs for a Term SOFR Loan, other than on the last day of the relevant Interest Period, (ii) the Borrower fails to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Term SOFR Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto, (iii) the Borrower revokes any Borrowing Request for Term SOFR Loans, (iv) Term SOFR Loans (or portions thereof) are converted into ABR Loans or Daily Simple SOFR Loans pursuant to Section 4.05 at any time other than at the end of an Interest Period or (v) Term SOFR Loans (or portions thereof) shall become or be declared to be due prior to the scheduled maturity thereof, then the Borrower shall pay to each Lender an amount that will compensate such Lender for any loss (other than lost profit) or premium or penalty incurred by such Lender as a result of such prepayment, conversion, declaration or revocation in respect of funds obtained for the purpose of making or maintaining such Lender’s Term SOFR Loans, or any portion thereof. Such compensation shall include any loss, cost and expense attributable to such event arising from the liquidation or redeployment of funds.

(b) In connection with a demand for payment pursuant to this Section 4.03, a Lender shall provide to the Borrower, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, a certificate, signed by an officer of such Lender, setting forth in reasonable detail the amount required to be paid by the Borrower to such Lender and the computations made by such Lender to determine such amount. In the absence of demonstrable error, such certificate shall be conclusive as to the amount so required to be paid.

Section 4.04 Withholding and Additional Costs.

(a) Withholding.

(i) To the extent permitted by law, all payments under this Agreement and under the Term Loan Notes (including payments of principal and interest) shall be payable to each Lender free and clear of any and all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, fees, liabilities and similar charges other than Excluded Taxes (collectively, “Taxes”). If any Taxes are required to be withheld or deducted from any amount payable under this Agreement, then the amount payable under this Agreement shall be increased to the amount which, after deduction from such increased amount of all Taxes required to be withheld or deducted therefrom, will yield to such Lender the amount stated to be payable under this Agreement. The Borrower

 

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shall also hold each Lender harmless and indemnify it for any stamp or other taxes with respect to the preparation, execution, delivery, recording, performance or enforcement of the Credit Documents (all of which shall be included within “Taxes”). If any of the Taxes specified in this Section 4.04(a) are paid by any Lender, the Borrower shall, upon demand of such Lender, promptly reimburse such Lender for such payments, together with any interest, penalties and expenses incurred in connection therewith; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to reimburse any Lender for any penalties incurred or caused by the failure or delay on the part of such Lender to pay any of the Taxes specified in this Section 4.04(a). The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent certificates or other valid vouchers for all Taxes or other charges deducted from or paid with respect to payments made by the Borrower hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be entitled, to the extent required to do so by law, to deduct or withhold (and shall not be required to make payments as otherwise required by this Section 4.04 on account of such deductions or withholdings) income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from interest, fees or other amounts payable hereunder for the account of any Lender other than a Lender (A) that is a U.S. Person for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (B) that has the Prescribed Forms on file with the Borrower for the applicable year to the extent deduction or withholding of such taxes is not required as a result of such filing of such Prescribed Forms; provided that, if the Borrower shall so deduct or withhold any such taxes, the Borrower shall provide a statement to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, setting forth the amount of such taxes so deducted or withheld, the applicable rate and any other information or documentation which such Lender may reasonably request for assisting such Lender to obtain any allowable credits or deductions for the taxes so deducted or withheld in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which such Lender is subject to tax.

(ii) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(A) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Credit Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (the “Prescribed Forms”) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Credit Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

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(B) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(C) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit K-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

(D) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit K-2 or Exhibit K-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit K-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(iii) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(iv) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(b) Additional Costs. Subject to Sections 4.04(c), (d) and (e):

(i) Without duplication of any amounts payable described in Section 3.03(c) or 4.03(a), if after the date hereof, any Regulatory Change shall (1) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against any Lender’s Loans, (2) subject the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Excluded Taxes (other than Taxes measured by the

 

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overall capital or net worth of the Administrative Agent or such Lender) and (C) Other Connection Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto, or (3) impose on any Lender (or such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office) any other condition regarding this Agreement or the Loans and the result of any event referred to in clause (1), (2) or (3) shall be to increase the cost to such Lender (or such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office) of maintaining any SOFR Loans made by such Lender (which increase in cost shall be calculated in accordance with such Lender’s reasonable averaging and attribution methods) by an amount which such Lender deems to be material, then, upon demand by such Lender, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on demand, an amount equal to such increase in cost; and

(ii) Without duplication of any amounts payable described in Section 3.03(c) or 4.03(a), if any Lender shall have determined that any Regulatory Change relating to capital adequacy or liquidity (including any Regulatory Change made prior to the date hereof but not effective until after the date hereof), or compliance by such Lender (or such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office) with any Regulatory Change regarding capital adequacy or liquidity (whether or not having the force of law), has or would have the effect of, reducing the rate of return on capital for such Lender (or such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office) or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of its obligations under this Agreement to a level below that which such Lender (or such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office) or such corporation could have achieved but for such Regulatory Change (taking into consideration such Lender’s (or such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office) or such corporation’s policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time, upon demand by such Lender, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender, on demand, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender (or such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office) or such corporation for such reduction.

(c) Lending Office Designations. Before making any demand for payment pursuant to this Section 4.04, each Lender shall, if possible, designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for giving such notice and will not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

(d) Certificate, Etc. In connection with any demand for payment pursuant to this Section 4.04, a Lender shall provide to the Borrower, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, a certificate, signed by an officer of such Lender, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for such demand, the amount required to be paid by the Borrower to such Lender and the computations made by such Lender to determine such amount.

 

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(e) Limitations; Delay in Requests. The Borrower shall not be obligated to compensate a Lender for any amount under Section 4.04(b) arising or occurring more than (i) 90 days prior to the date on which an office of such Lender primarily responsible for the administration of this Agreement obtains actual knowledge that such Lender is entitled to such compensation or (ii) nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Regulatory Change giving rise to such increased costs or reductions, and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Regulatory Change giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

(f) FATCA. If a payment made to a Lender under any Credit Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by any Requirement of 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, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 4.04(f), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(g) Cooperation. The Borrower agrees, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, promptly to execute, deliver and complete such forms, certificates and other documents, make such filings and otherwise cooperate with the Administrative Agent or such Lender, in each case as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may reasonably request from time to time, in order for the Administrative Agent or such Lender to establish that the Administrative Agent or such Lender is not subject to, or is entitled to a reduction in the amount of or exemption from, any deduction, withholding or other Taxes with respect to any payments to the Administrative Agent or such Lender for principal, interest, fees or other amounts under the Credit Documents, including United Kingdom HM Revenue & Customs’ Form DTTP2.

Section 4.05 Funding Impracticable; Alternate Rate of Interest.

(a) If at any time any Lender shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive) that the making or maintenance of all or any part of such Lender’s SOFR Loans has been made impracticable or unlawful because of compliance by such Lender in good faith with any law or guideline or interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof or with any request or directive of such body (whether or not having the effect of law) then the Administrative Agent, upon notification to it of such determination by such Lender, shall forthwith advise the other Lenders and the Borrower

 

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thereof. Upon such date as shall be specified in such notice and until such time as the Administrative Agent, upon notification to it by such Lender, shall notify the Borrower and the other Lenders that the circumstances specified by it in such notice no longer apply, (i) notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, such SOFR Loans shall, automatically and without requirement of further notice, or any payment pursuant to Section 4.03 or 4.04, by the Borrower, be converted to ABR Loans, and (ii) the obligation of such Lender to make or continue SOFR Loans shall be suspended, and, if the Borrower shall request in the Borrowing Request or a Conversion Request that the Lenders make a SOFR Loan, the Loan requested to be made by such Lender shall instead be made as an ABR Loan.

(b) Subject to Section 4.09, if, at any time with respect to any Daily Simple SOFR Loan, and prior to the commencement of any Interest Period with respect to any Term SOFR Loan:

(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR or Adjusted Term SOFR for such Interest Period, as the case may be; or

(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that (A) Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR or Adjusted Term SOFR for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Daily Simple SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as the case may be, for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders with respect to notice given pursuant to clause (ii) above) that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Conversion Request that requests the conversion of any Loan to, or continuation of any Loan as, a SOFR Loan shall be ineffective, and (ii) if the Borrowing Request requests a SOFR Loan, such Loan shall be made as an ABR Loan. Any Daily Simple SOFR Loans outstanding at the commencement of any such suspension shall be immediately converted into ABR Loans. Any Term SOFR Loans outstanding at the commencement of any such suspension shall be converted at the end of the then current Interest Period for such Term SOFR Loans into ABR Loans unless such suspension has then ended.

(c) The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to (i) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the Alternate Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, Daily Simple SOFR, or Term SOFR, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including

 

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any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, the Alternate Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR ,Term SOFR, Daily Simple SOFR, or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (ii) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of the Alternate Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, Term SOFR, Daily Simple SOFR, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Alternate Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, Term SOFR, Daily Simple SOFR or any other Benchmark, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

Section 4.06 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waivers.

(a) The Borrower agrees, whether or not any Loan is made, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent all of its reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation, negotiation, execution, closing and syndication of, the Credit Documents and the administration of the credit facility established under the Credit Documents and any amendment, supplement or modification thereto (whether or not executed or effective) and any documents prepared in connection therewith, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and the maintenance of an electronic platform (including without limitation charges of Debtdomain or any similar electronic information platform) or information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement.

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners or any Lender (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel to the Administrative Agent, unless (and to the extent) conflicts of interest require the use of more than one counsel) in connection with the enforcement of, and the protection of their respective rights under, any provision of any Credit Document or any amendment or supplement to this Agreement (including all such fees and expenses incurred during any “workout” or restructuring in respect of the Obligations and during any legal proceeding, including any bankruptcy proceeding).

 

 

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(c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners, each of the Lenders and each of their respective Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors (each, an “Indemnitee”) against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, penalties, and related expenses, including counsel fees and expenses, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated by any Credit Document, the performance by the parties thereto of their respective obligations under any Credit Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by any Credit Document, (ii) the use of the proceeds of the Loans or (iii) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not 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, penalties, 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. In connection with any claim for indemnification pursuant to this Agreement by more than one Indemnitee, all such Indemnitees shall be represented by the same legal counsel selected by the Indemnitees; provided that if such legal counsel determines in good faith that representing all such Indemnitees is reasonably likely to result in a conflict of interest under laws or ethical principles applicable to such legal counsel or that a defense or counterclaim is available to an Indemnitee that is not available to all such Indemnitees, then to the extent reasonably necessary to avoid such a conflict of interest or to permit unqualified assertion of such a defense or counterclaim, each Indemnitee shall be entitled to separate representation.

(d) All amounts due under this Section 4.06 shall be payable in immediately available funds upon written demand therefor.

(e) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan, or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Lender Party referred to in paragraph (c) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

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Section 4.07 Survival.

The provisions of Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.06 and 9.06, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Loans, the reduction or termination of any Commitments, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of any Credit Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lenders.

Section 4.08 Replacement of a Lender.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Lender shall request compensation pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(i) or (ii) then, in each case, the Borrower may require that such Lender transfer all of its right, title and interest under this Agreement and such Lender’s Term Loan Notes to one or more of the other Lenders or any other lender identified by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as a Replacement Lender which is willing to assume all of the obligations of such Lender, for consideration equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans, together with interest thereon to the date of such transfer and all other amounts payable under the Credit Documents to such Lender on or prior to the date of such transfer (including, without limitation, any fees accrued hereunder and any amounts which would be payable under Section 4.03 as if all of such Lender’s Loans were being prepaid in full on such date). Subject to the execution and delivery of new notes, an Assignment and Acceptance, and such other documents as such Lender may reasonably require, such Replacement Lender shall be a “Lender” for all purposes hereunder. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements of the Borrower contained in Sections 4.04 and 4.06 (without duplication of any payments made to such Lender by the Borrower or the Replacement Lender) shall survive for the benefit of any Lender replaced under this Section 4.08 with respect to the time prior to such replacement.

Section 4.09 Benchmark Replacement Setting.

(a) Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event in relation to any then-current Benchmark, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace the impacted then-current Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement. Any such amendment with respect to a Benchmark Transition Event will become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent has posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such amendment from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. No replacement of a Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this Section 4.09(a) will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date.

 

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(b) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

(c) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (ii) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower of the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 4.09(d). Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 4.09, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Credit Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 4.09.

(d) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Reference Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is not or will not be representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks, then the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable, non-representative, non-compliant or non-aligned tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

 

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(e) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a SOFR Loan of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to ABR Loans. During a Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Alternate Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Alternate Base Rate.

(f) Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Term SOFR Loan of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to ABR Loans. During a Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Alternate Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Alternate Base Rate.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 5.01 Representations and Warranties.

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as follows:

(a) Corporate Existence.

(i) The Borrower and each of its Significant Subsidiaries has been duly organized or formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation;

(ii) the Borrower and each of its Significant Subsidiaries has the corporate (or analogous) power and authority and all necessary governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals material to the ownership of its assets and the carrying on of its business except as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(iii) the Borrower has the power and authority and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Term Loan Notes; and

(iv) the Borrower is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, licensed and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of Property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except any such failure to be qualified, licensed or in good standing as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Corporate Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not:

(i) contravene the terms of the Borrower’s articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational document;

(ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, any Contractual Obligation, injunction, order or decree to which the Borrower is a party or by which it is bound including, without limitation, the CPUC Order; or

(iii) violate any Requirement of Law.

(c) Governmental Authorization. No consent, approval, authorization or order of any Governmental Authority is required for due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Documents, other than the CPUC Order, which has been obtained and is in full force and effect.

(d) Binding Effect. This Agreement is, and the Term Loan Notes when delivered hereunder will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their respective terms subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

(e) Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending, or to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, against the Borrower, or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Property which (i) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby; or (ii) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No injunction, writ, temporary restraining order or any order of any nature has been issued by any court or other Governmental Authority purporting to enjoin or restrain the execution, delivery and performance of any Credit Document or directing that the transactions provided for herein not be consummated as herein provided.

 

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(f) No Default. No Default or Event of Default exists or would result from the incurring of the Obligations by the Borrower under this Agreement. Neither the Borrower, nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries, is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation which, individually or together with all such defaults, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) ERISA Compliance. (i) Each Qualified Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state law, including all requirements under the Code or ERISA for filing reports (which are true and correct in all material respects as of the date filed), and to the best knowledge of the Borrower, benefits have been paid in accordance with the provisions of such Plan.

(ii) Each Qualified Plan has been determined by the IRS to qualify under Section 401 of the Code or is the subject of a favorable IRS opinion letter, the IRS has not determined that any amendment to any Qualified Plan does not qualify under Section 401 of the Code, and the trusts created thereunder have been determined to be exempt from tax under the provisions of Section 501 of the Code, and to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would cause the loss of such qualification or tax-exempt status.

(iii) There is no material outstanding liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than the liability of the Plan to pay benefits) with respect to any Plan maintained or sponsored by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (as to which the Borrower is or may be liable), or with respect to any Plan to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (wherein the Borrower is or may be liable) contributes or is obligated to contribute.

(iv) None of the Pension Plans has any Unfunded Pension Liability in excess of ten percent (10%) of the Net Worth as to which the Borrower is or may be liable.

(v) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan maintained or sponsored by the Borrower or to which the Borrower is obligated to contribute.

(vi) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, other than routine claims for benefits in the usual and ordinary course, asserted or instituted against (i) any Plan maintained or sponsored by the Borrower or its assets, (ii) any ERISA Affiliate with respect to any Qualified Plan of the Borrower, or (iii) any fiduciary with respect to any Plan for which the Borrower may be directly or indirectly liable, through indemnification obligations or otherwise, which would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(vii) The Borrower has not incurred nor reasonably expects to incur (i) any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan or (ii) any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA) with respect to a Qualified Plan except for liability that would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(viii) The Borrower has not transferred any Unfunded Pension Liability to any entity other than an ERISA Affiliate or otherwise engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA except as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ix) The Borrower has not engaged, directly or indirectly, in a non-exempt prohibited transaction (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) in connection with any Plan which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(h) Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. No Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, (i) to purchase or carry Margin Stock or (ii) to repay or otherwise refinance indebtedness of the Borrower or others incurred to purchase or carry Margin Stock or (iii) to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock.

(i) Title to Property. The Borrower and each of its Significant Subsidiaries has sufficient and legal title in fee simple to or valid leasehold interest in all its real Property, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Such Property is free and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Liens.

(j) Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all federal and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed and have paid all federal and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their respective Property, income or assets otherwise due and payable except (a) those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP, and (b) those levied or imposed on Subsidiaries other than Significant Subsidiaries the nonpayment of which would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, there is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which would, if the assessment were made, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(k) Financial Condition. The audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the period then ended, copies of which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of, and the results of its operations and cash flows for, the period then ended, applied on a consistent basis. Such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, are complete and accurate in all material respects, and show all material indebtedness and other liabilities of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof (including liabilities for taxes and material commitments).

 

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(l) Environmental Matters.

(i) The operations of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries comply with all Environmental Laws except where such noncompliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have obtained all licenses, permits, authorizations and registrations required under any Environmental Law (“Environmental Permits”) necessary for its operations, and all such Environmental Permits are in good standing, and the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all terms and conditions of such Environmental Permits, except where the failure so to obtain, be in good standing or be in compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) None of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their present Property or operations is subject to any outstanding written order from or agreement with any Governmental Authority or other Person, nor subject to any judicial or docketed administrative proceeding, respecting any Environmental Law, Environmental Claim or Hazardous Material which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(iv) There are no conditions or circumstances which may give rise to any Environmental Claim arising from the operations of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries which would have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (i) neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has any underground storage tanks (x) that are not properly registered or permitted under applicable Environmental Laws or (y) that are leaking or disposing of Hazardous Materials offsite and (ii) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have notified all of their employees of the existence, if any, of any health hazard arising from the conditions of their employment and have met all notification requirements under Title III of CERCLA or any other Environmental Law.

(m) Investment Company. Neither the Borrower nor any Person controlling the Borrower is an “Investment Company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(n) Labor Relations. There are no strikes, lockouts or other labor disputes against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which would have a Material Adverse Effect, and no significant unfair labor practice complaint is pending against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against any of them before any Governmental Authority which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(o) Insurance. The Property of the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as is customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar Property in localities where the Borrower or such Significant Subsidiary operates.

(p) Full Disclosure. None of the representations or warranties made by the Borrower in this Agreement as of the date of such representations and warranties, and none of the statements contained in any certificate furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

(q) Compliance with Applicable Laws. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or decision of any Governmental Authority which default would have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower and each Subsidiary is complying in all material respects with all applicable statutes and regulations, including ERISA and applicable occupational, safety and health and other labor laws, of all Governmental Authorities, a violation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(r) Ranking. The Obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders to be undertaken under the Credit Documents rank senior to or pari passu with other Unsecured Debt of the Borrower.

(s) Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws.

(i) None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent or Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are: (A) the subject of any Sanctions or (B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions.

(ii) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower and each such Subsidiary thereof with Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws.

 

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(iii) The operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are conducted in compliance with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority involving the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any potential violation of the Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Terrorism Laws is pending, or to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened in writing. The Borrower has provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all information that has been requested regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and its Affiliates necessary for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to comply with “know your customer” and Anti-Terrorism Laws and such information is correct.

(t) Beneficial Ownership Certification. As of the Effective Date, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Effective Date to the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.

(u) Affected Financial Institution. The Borrower is not an Affected Financial Institution.

Section 5.02 Survival.

All representations and warranties made by the Borrower in this Agreement, and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement, shall (i) be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders, (ii) survive the making of Loans regardless of any investigation made by, or on behalf of, the Lenders, and (iii) continue in full force and effect so long as any Loan, fee or other amount payable hereunder remains unpaid.

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 6.01 Conditions to the Availability of the Commitments.

The obligations of each Lender hereunder are subject to, and the Lenders’ Commitments shall not become available until the earliest date (the “Effective Date”) on which each of the following conditions precedent shall have been satisfied or waived in writing by the Lenders:

(a) This Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received this Agreement duly executed and delivered by each of the Lenders and the Borrower.

(b) The Term Loan Notes. The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Term Loan Note for each Lender that requests a Term Loan Note.

 

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(c) Evidence of Corporate Action. The Lenders shall have received the following:

(i) The articles of incorporation of the Borrower as in effect on the Effective Date, certified by the Secretary of State of California as of a recent date and by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower as of the Effective Date and the bylaws of the Borrower as in effect on the Effective Date, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower as of the Effective Date.

(ii) Certificates of good standing for the Borrower from each of the Secretary of State of California and the Secretaries of State of the states where the Borrower conducts its principal operations (in each case to the extent reasonably available), certifying that the Borrower is in good standing in such states, such certificates to be dated reasonably near the Effective Date.

(iii) Copies of the resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the Term Loan Notes and authorizing the borrowings hereunder, certified as of the Effective Date by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower.

(iv) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement, the Term Loan Notes and any certificates or other documents, to be delivered in connection herewith.

(d) Opinions of Counsel. The Lenders shall have received a favorable written opinion, dated the Effective Date, of Thomas Moran, Corporate Secretary of the Borrower, and Morrison & Foerster LLP, in substantially the form of Exhibit D.

(e) Representations and Warranties; Etc. The following statements shall be true and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer, dated the Effective Date, stating that:

(i) The representations and warranties contained in Section 5.01 of this Agreement are correct on and as of the Effective Date (except those which are expressly specified to be made as of an earlier date) as though made on and as of such date in all material respects (except for any representation or warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect (in which case such representation or warranty is true in all respects));

 

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(ii) Since December 31, 2020, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries have entered into or consummated any transaction or transactions, and there has occurred no change, including as a result of a Regulatory Change, affecting the business, credit, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which would have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iii) No litigation, proceeding or inquiry before or by any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is continuing or, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened which would have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iv) No event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes a Default or Event of Default; and

(v) Setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of the ratio of Funded Debt to Total Capitalization as of the Effective Date, and demonstrating that the Borrower would be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.03 after giving effect to the Loans to be made on the Effective Date.

(f) Reserved.

(g) Other Documents. The Lenders shall have received such other certificates, opinions and other documents as the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

(h) Fees and Expenses. The Borrower shall have paid (i) the fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, negotiation and closing of the Credit Documents and (ii) the fees and other amounts required to be paid to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on the Effective Date.

(i) 2020 Audited Financial Statements. The Lenders shall have received the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of December 31, 2020 and the related consolidated statements of income, equity and cash flows for the period then ended, audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit relating to the material operations of the Borrower).

(j) Beneficial Ownership Certification. At least five days prior to the Effective Date, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower.

(k) “Know Your Customer” Information. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information about the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that shall have been requested by the Lenders in writing at least ten (10) days prior to the Effective Date and that the Lenders reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

 

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(l) Borrowing Request. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request complying with the terms of this Agreement.

Section 6.02 [Reserved].

Section 6.03 [Reserved].

ARTICLE VII

COVENANTS

Section 7.01 Affirmative Covenants.

Until satisfaction in full of all the obligations of the Borrower under the Credit Documents:

(a) Financial Statements; Compliance Certificates. The Borrower shall furnish to the Lenders:

(i) As soon as available, but not later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Holding Company (A) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Holding Company as of the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, and (B) the audited unconsolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of the end of such fiscal year and the related unconsolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, each audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit relating to the material operations of the Holding Company and the Borrower), in each case setting forth comparative figures for the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified by a Responsible Officer who was involved in the preparation of the financial statements referred to herein.

(ii) As soon as available, but not later than 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of the Holding Company, (A) the unaudited unconsolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of the end of such quarterly period and the related

 

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unaudited unconsolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows, and (B) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Holding Company as of the end of such quarterly period and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly period. Such statements shall be in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer who was involved in the preparation of the financial statements referred to herein.

(iii) Concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer (A) stating that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge after reasonable investigation, the Borrower, during such period, has observed or performed all of its covenants and other agreements in all material respects, and satisfied every condition contained in this Agreement to be observed, performed or satisfied by it, and that such officer has obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except as specified in such certificate, and (B) showing in detail the calculation supporting such statement in respect of Section 7.03.

(iv) Any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to the Administrative Agent that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in parts (c) or (d) of such certification.

(v) Within five days after the same are sent, copies of all financial statements and reports which the Holding Company sends to its shareholders, and promptly after the same are filed, copies of all financial statements and regular, periodic or special reports which the Holding Company may make to, or file with, the SEC.

(vi) Promptly, such additional financial and other information as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any Lender, may from time to time reasonably request.

(b) Notices. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent (who shall notify each Lender):

(i) of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

(ii) of any (A) breach or non-performance of, or any default under any Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which would be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or (B) dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension which may exist at any time between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any Governmental Authority which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(iii) of the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary which, if adversely determined, would have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iv) of any other litigation or proceeding affecting the Holding Company or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which the Holding Company or the Borrower would be required to report to the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, within four days after reporting the same to the SEC;

(v) of any ERISA Event affecting the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (but in no event more than ten days after such ERISA Event) and promptly after the filing or delivery thereof, (i) a copy of any notice with respect to such ERISA Event that may be required to be filed with the PBGC and (ii) any notice delivered by the PBGC to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to such ERISA Event;

(vi) upon becoming aware of any Material Adverse Effect;

(vii) upon becoming aware of any change in the Borrower’s Senior Debt Rating by Moody’s or S&P;

(viii) following any change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices which have a material effect on the financial statements of the Borrower or the Holding Company; and

(ix) upon becoming aware of any labor controversy resulting in or threatening to result in any strike, work stoppage, boycott, shutdown or other labor disruption against or involving the Borrower or any Subsidiary which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.01(b) shall be accompanied by a written statement by a Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein.

(c) Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc. The Borrower shall and shall cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to:

(i) preserve and maintain in full force and effect its corporate (or analogous) existence and good standing under the laws of its state or jurisdiction of incorporation or formation except as permitted under Section 7.02(b) hereof;

 

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(ii) preserve and maintain in full force and effect all rights, privileges, qualifications, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or useful in the normal conduct of its business, except as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iii) use its reasonable efforts, in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice, to preserve its business organization and preserve the goodwill and business of the customers, suppliers and others having business relations with it, except as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(iv) preserve or renew all of its registered trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Maintenance of Property. The Borrower shall maintain, and shall cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to maintain, and preserve all its Property which is used or useful in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and except as permitted under Section 7.02(b) hereof.

(e) Insurance. The Borrower shall maintain, and shall cause each Significant Subsidiary to maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to its Property and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons, including workers’ compensation insurance, public liability and property and casualty insurance.

(f) Payments of Obligations. The Borrower shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable (or prior to delinquency), all obligations and liabilities material to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, including:

(i) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its Property or assets, and

(ii) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien other than a Permitted Lien upon its Property.

except in each case (x) those that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary or (y) the nonpayment of which would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(g) Compliance with Laws. The Borrower shall comply, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects with all Requirements of Law of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or its business, except such as may be contested in good faith or as to which a bona fide dispute may exist or where such noncompliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(h) Inspection of Property and Books and Records. The Borrower shall maintain, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, in all material respects, proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower and such Subsidiaries. To the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to Section 11.05, the Borrower will permit, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to permit, representatives of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon request, to visit and inspect any of their respective Property, to examine their respective corporate, financial and operating records and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective directors, officers, employees and independent public accountants, at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however that so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower shall not be obligated to reimburse the Administrative Agent or any Lender for more than one inspection during any calendar year.

(i) Ranking. The Borrower shall cause all of the Obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders to at all times rank senior to or pari passu with other Unsecured Debt of the Borrower.

(j) Compliance with Anti-Terrorism Laws. The Borrower shall comply in all material respects with all Anti-Terrorism Laws and regulations applicable to it including, without limitation, (i) ensuring that no Person who owns a controlling interest in or otherwise controls the Borrower is or shall be (A) listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Person List maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), Department of the Treasury, or any other similar list maintained by the OFAC under any authorizing statute, Executive Order or regulation or (B) a Person designated under Section 1(b), (c) or (d) of the Executive Order, any related enabling legislation or any similar executive order and (ii) compliance with all applicable Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) laws, regulations and government guidance on BSA compliance and on the prevention and detection of money laundering violations.

 

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Section 7.02 Negative Covenants.

Until satisfaction in full of all the obligations of the Borrower under the Credit Documents, the Borrower will not, without the written consent of the Required Lenders:

(a) Liens. Create or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Lien upon or with respect to any of its Property except Permitted Liens.

(b) Consolidations and Mergers; Disposition of Assets. Merge, consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, or permit any of its Significant Subsidiaries to merge, consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereinafter acquired) or enter into, or permit any of its Significant Subsidiaries to enter into, any joint venture or partnership with, any Person except:

(i) any Significant Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge, consolidate or combine with or into, or transfer assets to (A) the Borrower (if the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation) or (B) any one or more Subsidiaries of the Borrower; provided that if any transaction permitted by this clause (B) shall involve a wholly-owned Subsidiary and a Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned, such wholly-owned Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving corporation;

(ii) any Significant Subsidiary of the Borrower may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or another wholly-owned Significant Subsidiary of the Borrower; if immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default would exist;

(iii) the Borrower may merge, consolidate or combine with another entity if (1) the Borrower is the corporation surviving the merger, and (2) immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default would exist; and

(iv) the Borrower and any Subsidiary may enter into joint ventures and partnerships in the same line of business.

 

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(c) Investments and Acquisitions. Make, or permit any of its Significant Subsidiaries to make, any Investments or Acquisitions except (i) for Permitted Investments, (ii) as required by any Governmental Authority, and (iii) for Acquisitions; provided that:

(i) immediately before or after giving effect to each Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall or would exist, and immediately after giving effect thereto, all of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct with the same effect as though then made,

(ii) the Person, business or assets acquired is engaged in or useful in the same line of business as the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary, and

(iii) such Acquisition shall not be a “hostile” acquisition and shall have been approved by the Board of Directors (or equivalent) and shareholders (or equivalent), if required, of the Borrower or the applicable Significant Subsidiary and the entity to be acquired.

(d) Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into, any transaction with any Affiliate of the Borrower or of any such Subsidiary except as permitted by this Agreement or in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

(e) Compliance with ERISA. Directly or indirectly, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to directly or indirectly (i) terminate, any Qualified Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA so as to result in any material (in the opinion of the Administrative Agent) liability to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, (ii) permit to exist any ERISA Event or any other event or condition, which presents the risk of a material (in the opinion of the Administrative Agent) liability of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, or (iii) make a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of ERISA Section 4201) from any Multiemployer Plan so as to result in any material (in the opinion of the Required Lenders) liability to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, (iv) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, enter into any new Plan or modify any existing Plan so as to increase its obligations thereunder which would reasonably be expected to result in any material (in the opinion of the Administrative Agent) liability of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, or (v) permit the present value of all nonforfeitable accrued benefits under each Qualified Plan (using the actuarial assumptions that would be utilized by the PBGC upon termination of such a Qualified Plan) materially (in the opinion of the Required Lenders) to exceed the fair market value of such Qualified Plan’s assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the most recent valuation date for each such Qualified Plan; provided, however that any liability of $25,000,000 or less shall not be considered “material” for purposes of this Section 7.02(e).

(f) [Reserved].

 

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(g) Restricted Payments. Declare or make any dividend payment or other distribution of assets, Property, cash, rights, obligations or securities on account of any shares of any class of its capital stock or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any of its non-wholly-owned Subsidiaries to do so) any shares of its capital stock or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such shares, now or hereafter outstanding if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom.

(h) Change in Business. Engage, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to engage, in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business carried on by it on the date hereof and any and all reasonably related businesses necessary for, in support, furtherance or anticipation of and/or ancillary to or in the preparation for such businesses.

(i) Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Loan other than to fund fees and expenses associated with this Agreement and for general corporate purposes. Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower will not, directly or knowingly indirectly, use the proceeds of any advance, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds, to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person (A) to fund any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of such funding, is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions, (B) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person including, without limitation, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent or (C) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Terrorism Laws.

Section 7.03 Financial Covenant.

Until satisfaction in full of all the obligations of the Borrower under the Credit Documents, the Borrower will not permit the ratio of Funded Debt to Total Capitalization to exceed 0.70 to 1.00 as of the end of any quarter of any fiscal year of the Borrower.

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 8.01 Events of Default

If one or more of the following events (each, an “Event of Default”) shall occur:

(a) The Borrower shall fail duly to pay any principal of any Loan when due, whether at maturity, by notice of intention to prepay or otherwise; or

(b) The Borrower shall fail duly to pay any interest, fee or any other amount payable under the Credit Documents within two Business Days after the same shall be due; or

 

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(c) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Borrower herein, or any statement or representation made in any certificate, report or opinion delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection herewith, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect when so made or deemed made; or

(d) The Borrower shall fail duly to observe or perform any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.01(b)(i), 7.01(c), 7.02 or 7.03; or

(e) The Borrower shall fail duly to observe or perform any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement and such failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after a Responsible Officer shall have obtained knowledge thereof; or

(f) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to pay any of its obligations for Debt (other than its Obligations hereunder) in an amount of $25,000,000 or more when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), or any other default or event of default under any agreement or instrument relating to any such obligation shall occur and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, or if the maturity of such obligation is accelerated, or any such obligation shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

(g) One or more judgments against the Borrower or any Subsidiary or attachments against its Property, which in the aggregate exceed $25,000,000 not covered by insurance, or the operation or result of which would interfere materially and adversely with the conduct of the business of the Borrower, shall remain unpaid, unstayed on appeal, undischarged, unbonded and undismissed for a period of 30 days or more; or any Person shall have filed any suit, action or proceeding which results in the granting of any form of injunction or restraining order, temporary or otherwise, the compliance with which would have a Material Adverse Effect, and which injunction or restraining order is not dissolved (or otherwise terminated) or modified within 30 days so as to eliminate that portion of such injunction or restraining order which would have such Material Adverse Effect; or

(h) Any order, writ, warrant, garnishment or other process of any court attaching, garnishing, distraining or otherwise freezing assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in an amount equal to $25,000,000 or more in value in the aggregate for all such orders, writs, warrants, garnishments shall remain unstayed on appeal, undischarged or undismissed for a period of 30 days or more; or

(i) (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall commence any case, proceeding, or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debts, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation,

 

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dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (ii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above and such case, proceeding or action shall not have been vacated, discharged or stayed within 60 days from the entry thereof; or (iii) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall consent to the institution of, or fail to controvert in a timely and appropriate manner, any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to above; or (iv) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to above; or (v) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or (vi) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall take corporate action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

(j) (i) The Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate shall fail to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under a Multiemployer Plan where such failure can reasonably be expected to impose on the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate liability (for additional taxes, to Plan participants, or otherwise) in the aggregate amount in excess of ten percent (10%) of the Net Worth; (ii) the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate shall fail to satisfy its contribution requirements under Section 412 of the Code, whether or not it has sought a waiver under Section 412(d) of the Code where such failure can reasonably be expected to impose on the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate liability (for additional taxes, to Plan participants, or otherwise) in the aggregate amount in excess of ten percent (10%) of the Net Worth; (iii) the Unfunded Pension Liabilities of a Plan or Plans shall exceed ten percent (10%) of the Net Worth; (iv) a Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code shall lose its qualification, and such loss can reasonably be expected to impose on the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate liability (for additional taxes, to Plan participants, or otherwise) in the aggregate amount of ten percent (10%) of the Net Worth or more; (v) the commencement or increase of contributions to, the adoption of, or the amendment of a Plan by, the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate shall result in a net increase in unfunded liabilities of the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate in excess of ten percent (10%) of the Net Worth; or (vi) any combination of events listed in clause (iii) through (v) that involves a net increase in aggregate Unfunded Pension Liabilities and unfunded liabilities in excess of ten percent (10%) of the Net Worth shall occur; or

(k) All or substantially all of the Property of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries shall be condemned, seized or appropriated, excluding Property of a Subsidiary other than a Significant Subsidiary the condemnation, seizure or appropriation of which would not have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

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(l) Any Governmental Authority shall revoke or fail to renew any license, permit or franchise of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall for any reason lose any license, permit or franchise, if such revocation, non-renewal or loss would have a Material Adverse Effect; or

(m) Any Credit Document (other than Term Loan Notes which have been replaced or superseded) shall cease to be in full effect; or

(n) A Change in Control shall occur;

then, and at any time during the continuance of such Event of Default, the Administrative Agent, at the written request of the Required Lenders, may, by written notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) [reserved] and (ii) declare any Loans then outstanding to be due and payable, whereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due, together with accrued interest thereon and any other unpaid amounts accrued under the Credit Documents, shall become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind (all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower); provided that, in the case of any Event of Default described in Section 8.01(i) occurring with respect to the Borrower, the principal of all Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any other unpaid amounts accrued under the Credit Documents, shall automatically and immediately become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind (all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower).

ARTICLE IX

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Section 9.01 The Agency.

Each Lender appoints The Bank of New York Mellon as its agent hereunder and irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf and to exercise such powers hereunder as are specifically delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, and the Administrative Agent hereby accepts such appointment subject to the terms hereof. The relationship between the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be that of agent and principal only and nothing herein shall be construed to constitute the Administrative Agent a trustee or fiduciary for any Lender nor to impose on the Administrative Agent duties or obligations other than those expressly provided for herein.

 

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Section 9.02 The Administrative Agent’s Duties.

The Administrative Agent shall promptly forward to each Lender copies, or notify each Lender as to the contents, of all notices received from the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and, in the event that the Borrower fails to pay when due the principal of or interest on any Loan, the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Lenders. As to any other matter not expressly provided for herein, the Administrative Agent shall have no duty to act or refrain from acting with respect to the Borrower, except upon the instructions of the Required Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall not be bound by any waiver, amendment, supplement, or modification of this Agreement which affects its duties hereunder, unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto. The Administrative Agent shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, conditions, covenants or agreements binding on the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement nor shall the Administrative Agent be deemed to have knowledge of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default (other than a failure of the Borrower to pay when due the principal or interest on any Loan), unless it shall have received written notice from the Borrower or a Lender specifying such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default”.

Section 9.03 Limitation of Liabilities.

Each of the Lenders and the Borrower agree that (i) neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its officers or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them hereunder except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final and nonappealable ruling by a court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its officers or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in good faith in reliance upon the advice of counsel, independent public accountants or other experts selected by the Administrative Agent, and (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any notice, consent, certificate, statement or other document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed and/or sent by the proper Persons.

Section 9.04 The Administrative Agent as a Lender.

The Administrative Agent may maintain deposits or credit balances for, invest in, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

Section 9.05 Lender Credit Decision.

Neither the Administrative Agent, nor any of its Affiliates, officers or employees has any responsibility for, gives any guaranty in respect of, nor makes any representation to the Lenders as to, (i) the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or the truth of any representation or warranty given or made in this Agreement, or in connection herewith or (ii) the validity, execution, sufficiency, effectiveness, construction, adequacy, enforceability or value of this Agreement or any other document or instrument related hereto. Except as specifically provided herein, neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Affiliates, officers or employees shall have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any Lender with any credit or other information with respect to the operations, business, property, condition or

 

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creditworthiness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, whether such information comes into the Administrative Agent’s possession on or before the date hereof or at any time thereafter. Each Lender acknowledges that (i) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and (ii) all information reviewed by it in its credit analysis or otherwise in connection herewith has been provided solely by or on behalf of the Borrower, and the Administrative Agent has no responsibility for such information. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, 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 any Credit Document.

Section 9.06 Indemnification.

Each Lender agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower, based on its Pro Rata Share, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, claims, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement, or any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent hereunder; provided, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or any of its officers or employees as determined by a final and nonappealable ruling by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Administrative Agent) in connection with the preparation, execution or enforcement of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, any Credit Document or any amendments or supplements thereto, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower. Except for action expressly required of the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully justified in failing or refusing to act hereunder unless it shall receive further assurances to its satisfaction from the Lenders of their indemnification obligations under this Section 9.06 against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.

Section 9.07 Successor Administrative Agent

The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof (unless the parties agree otherwise) to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent reasonably acceptable to the Borrower. If no successor

 

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Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the resigning Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, the resigning Administrative Agent may appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized or licensed under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $250,000,000. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigned Administrative Agent, and the resigned Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any Administrative Agent’s resignation, the provisions of this Article IX shall continue to inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement.

Section 9.08 No Duty Regarding Discretionary Actions

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 or by the other Credit Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Credit Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable law.

Section 9.09 Syndication and Other Agents

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners and the Co-Syndication Agents named on the cover page of this Agreement shall not have any duties or liabilities under this Agreement, except in their respective capacities, if any, as Lenders.

ARTICLE X

EVIDENCE OF LOANS; TRANSFERS

Section 10.01 Evidence of Loans; Term Loan Notes.

The Borrower’s obligation to repay the Loans shall be evidenced by Term Loan Notes if requested by each Lender, one such payable to the order of each such Lender. The Term Loan Note of each Lender shall (i) be in the principal amount of such Lender’s Commitment, (ii) be dated the Effective Date (or the effective date on which such Lender becomes a Lender hereunder) and (iii) be stated to mature on the Termination Date and bear interest from its date until maturity on the principal balance (from time to time outstanding thereunder) payable at the rates and in the manner provided herein. Each Lender is authorized to indicate upon the grid attached to its Term Loan Note all Loans

 

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made by it pursuant to this Agreement, interest elections and payments of principal and interest thereon. Such notations shall be presumptive, absent manifest error, as to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans made by such Lender, and interest due thereon, but the failure by any Lender to make such notations or the inaccuracy or incompleteness of any such notations shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under the Term Loan Notes.

Section 10.02 Participations.

(a) Any Lender may at any time grant to one or more financial institutions (but not to a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person, or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each a “Participant”) participating interests in any or all of its Loans. In the event of any such grant by a Lender of a participating interest to a Participant, whether or not upon notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, such Lender shall remain responsible for the performance of its obligations hereunder, and, except to the extent such participating interest has been granted pursuant to Section 4.02(e), the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement pursuant to which any Lender may grant such a participating interest shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right and responsibility to enforce the obligations of the Borrower hereunder including the right to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided, that such participation agreement may provide that such Lender will not agree to any modification, amendment or waiver of this Agreement described in clauses (i) through (vi), inclusive, of Section 11.06(b) without the consent of the Participant.

(b) 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 Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Loans, or its other obligations under this Agreement) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such 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, 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.

 

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(c) The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.03 and 4.04(b) (subject to the requirements and limitations in Section 4.04, including the requirements under Section 4.04(a) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 4.04(a) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.03; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 4.08 as if it were an assignee under Section 10.03; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 4.04(b), with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Regulatory Change that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.

(d) To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.04 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 4.02(e) as though it were a Lender.

Section 10.03 Assignments.

(a) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more financial institutions (but not to a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person, or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each an “Assignee”), other than a Defaulting Lender or a subsidiary thereof or any financial institution who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute a Defaulting Lender or a subsidiary thereof, all, or a proportionate part of all, of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, and such Assignee shall assume such rights and obligations, pursuant to an instrument, in substantially the form of Exhibit E (an “Assignment and Acceptance”), executed by such Assignee and such transferring Lender, with (and subject to) the signed consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and which consent shall be deemed to have been given if the Borrower has not responded within ten Business Days of its receipt of a written request for such consent) and the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided that (i) each such assignment (other than assignments (x) to its Affiliates, (y) to an Approved Fund, or (z) of its entire interest) shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 or in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (unless otherwise approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), (ii) each assignee shall be an Eligible Institution, and (iii) after giving effect to each such assignment, the Loans of the assignor (if it has not assigned its entire interest) and of the assignee shall be at least $5,000,000; provided further, that the foregoing consent requirement shall not be applicable in the case of an assignment or other transfer by any Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender, to another Lender, or to an Approved Fund; provided further, that any consent of the Borrower otherwise required under this Section shall not be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and provided further, 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 five Business Days after having received notice thereof. Upon execution and delivery of an Assignment and Acceptance and payment by such Assignee to such transferring Lender of an amount equal to the purchase price

 

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agreed between such transferring Lender and such Assignee and payment by the transferring Lender or the Assignee of an assignment fee of $4,500 (or $7,500, if the transferring Lender is a Defaulting Lender) to the Administrative Agent (unless such fee is waived by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), such Assignee shall be a Lender party to this Agreement and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Lender with a Loan as set forth in such Assignment and Acceptance, and the transferring Lender shall be released from its obligations hereunder to a corresponding extent, and no further consent or action by any party shall be required.

(b) No Assignee of any transferring Lender’s rights shall be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 4.03 or 4.04 than such Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights transferred, unless such transfer is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent or by reason of the provisions of Section 4.04(c) requiring such transferring Lender to designate a different Applicable Lending Office under certain circumstances or at a time when the circumstances giving rise to such payment did not exist.

(c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in the United States a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and principal amounts of 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, 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.

Section 10.04 Certain Pledges.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in, or pledge, all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and any Term Loan Note held by it in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Federal Reserve Board Regulation A (or any successor provision) or U.S. Treasury Regulation 31 C.F.R. § 203.14 (or any successor provision), and such Federal Reserve Bank may enforce such pledge or security interest in any manner permitted under applicable law.

 

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ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.01 APPLICABLE LAW.

THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL, PURSUANT TO NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1401, BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 11.02 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS EACH HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE TERM LOAN NOTES OR THE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED HEREUNDER.

Section 11.03 Jurisdiction and Venue.

The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders each hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of any Credit Document. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders each hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such action and to the laying of venue in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders each hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in the aforesaid courts and hereby irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 11.04 Set-off.

The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender (including each Lender in its capacity as a purchaser of a participation interest pursuant to Section 4.02(e)) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and at any time and from time to time during the continuance thereof, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (whether general or special, time or demand, provisional or final and in whatever currency) 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 the Obligations of the Borrower, now or hereafter existing under any Credit Document, held by such Lender, irrespective of

 

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whether such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.06 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender under this Section 11.04 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) which such Lender may have. Any Lender exercising its rights under this Section 11.04 shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent concurrently with or prior to the exercise of such rights; provided that failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such exercise.

Section 11.05 Confidentiality.

(a) The Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree (on behalf of themselves and each of their Affiliates, directors, officers, employees and representatives) to take normal and reasonable precautions and exercise due care to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information provided to them by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or by the Administrative Agent on the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s behalf in connection with this Agreement and neither the Administrative Agent, any Lender, nor any of their Affiliates, directors, officers, employees and representatives shall use any such information for any purpose or in any manner other than pursuant to the terms contemplated by this Agreement, except to the extent such information (a) was or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or (b) was or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower; provided that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Borrower known to the Administrative Agent or affected Lender(s); provided further that nothing herein shall limit the disclosure of any such information (i) to the extent required by statute, rule, regulation or judicial process; (ii) to counsel for any of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent; (iii) to bank examiners, auditors or accountants; (iv) to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender; (v) by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to an Affiliate thereof who is bound by this Section 11.05; provided that any such information delivered to an Affiliate shall be for the purposes related to the extension of credit represented by this Agreement and the administration and enforcement thereof and for no other purpose; (vi) in connection with any litigation relating to enforcement of the Credit Documents; (vii) to any assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) so long as such assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) first executes and delivers to the respective Lender a Confidentiality Agreement, in substantially the form of Exhibit F; or (viii) on a confidential basis to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the credit facility established hereunder. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent agree, unless

 

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specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, to notify the Borrower of any request for disclosure of any such non-public information (x) by any Governmental Authority or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with an examination of such Person’s financial condition by such Governmental Authority) or (y) pursuant to legal process. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Credit Documents, and the Commitments.

(b) This Agreement is intended to provide express authorization to each of the Lenders and their Affiliates (and each employee, representative, or other agent of each Lender and its of Affiliates) to disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the “tax treatment” and “tax structure” (in each case, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Lenders or any of them or any of their Affiliates (and any such employees, representatives or other agents) relating to such tax treatment and structure; provided, that, with respect to any document or similar item that in either case contains information concerning the tax treatment or tax structure of the transactions contemplated hereby as well as other information, this authorization shall only apply to such portions of the document or similar item that relate to the tax treatment or tax structure of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 11.06 Integration; Amendments and Waivers.

(a) This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable by the Borrower with respect to this Agreement constitute the entire agreement 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.

(b) Any provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived, but only by a written amendment or supplement, or written waiver, signed by the Borrower and either the Required Lenders (and, if the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent are affected thereby, by the Administrative Agent), or the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided, however, that no such amendment, modification, or waiver shall, unless signed by all the Lenders in the case of clauses (v) and (vi) below or all the Lenders affected thereby in the case of clauses (i) through (iv) below, or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of all the Lenders in the case of clauses (v) and (vi) below or all the Lenders affected thereby in the case of clauses (i) through (iv) below, (i) increase or decrease the Commitment of any Lender, or subject any Lender to any additional obligation, (ii) reduce the principal of or rate of interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder (other than the default rate set forth in Section 3.04), (iii) postpone any payment of principal of or interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder, (iv) postpone any reduction or termination of any Commitment, (v) change the percentage of, the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount

 

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of Loans, or the number of Lenders, which shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action under this Section 11.06 or any other provision of this Agreement, or (vi) amend, modify, supplement or waive the provisions of this Section 11.06. Except to the extent expressly set forth therein, any waiver shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which such waiver is given.

Section 11.07 Cumulative Rights; No Waiver.

Each and every right granted to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder or under any other document delivered in connection herewith, or allowed them by law or equity, shall be cumulative and not exclusive and may be exercised from time to time. No failure on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of any right preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

Section 11.08 Notices.

(a) Any communication, demand or notice to be given hereunder will be duly given when delivered in writing, by telecopy or by electronic communications to a party at its address as indicated below or such other address as such party may specify in a notice to each other party hereto in the manner provided for herein. A communication, demand or notice given pursuant to this Section 11.08 shall be addressed:

If to the Borrower, at

Southwest Gas Corporation

5241 Spring Mountain Road

Las Vegas, Nevada 89150

Telecopy: (702) 364-3023

Attention: Treasury Services

Email: Ken.Kenny@swgas.com

With a copy to:

Southwest Gas Corporation

5241 Spring Mountain Road

Las Vegas, Nevada 89150

Telecopy: (702) 252-7283

Attention: Thomas Moran, Corporate Secretary

Email: Thomas.moran@swgas.com

 

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If to the Administrative Agent, at

The Bank of New York Mellon

6023 Airport Road

Oriskany, New York 13424

Telecopy: (315) 765-4533

Telephone: (315) 801-2437

Attention: Crystal Keyser

Email: crystal.keyser@bnymellon.com and

AFASyndications@bnymellon.com

With a copy to:

The Bank of New York Mellon

500 Grant Street

BNY Mellon Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15258

Telephone: (412) 236-7465

Attention: Molly Ross

Email: molly.ross@bnymellon.com

If to any Lender, at its address indicated on Schedule I hereto, or at such other address as may be designated by such Lender in an Administrative Questionnaire or other appropriate writing, delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

This Section 11.08 shall not apply to notices referred to in Article II of this Agreement, except to the extent set forth therein.

(b) Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier 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 and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (c) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (c).

(c) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other

 

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communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgment from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgment); provided that if such notice 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, 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.

(d) The Borrower hereby agrees, unless directed otherwise by the Administrative Agent or unless the email address referred to below has not been provided by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, that it will provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement, excluding (i) any Borrowing Request or Conversion Request or any communication related thereto, (ii) any communication that relates to the payment of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor, (iii) notice of any Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or any other Credit Document or (iv) any notice that is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any borrowing or other extension of credit hereunder (all such non-excluded communications being referred to herein collectively as “Communications”), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic format acceptable to the Administrative Agent to an email address as directed by the Administrative Agent.

(e) The Borrower acknowledges that the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders Communications provided by the Borrower hereunder by posting such Communications on Debtdomain or another similar electronic platform. Such platform shall be deemed to be provided “as is” and “as available”. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors warrants the accuracy or completeness of the communications or the adequacy of such electronic platform and each expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions in the communications. The Administrative Agent makes 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 in connection with the Communications or such electronic platform. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for damages of any kind, whether or not based on strict liability and 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 electronically, except to the extent the liability of any such person is found in a final and nonappealable ruling by a court of competent jurisdiction to have

 

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resulted primarily from such Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, and no claim may be made by the Borrower or any other Person against the Administrative Agent or any or its directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages in respect of any claim for breach of contract or any other theory of liability.

(f) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices given by the Borrower even if such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein. All telephonic notices to and other communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

Section 11.09 Separability.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in any Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or in any other Credit Document shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 11.10 Parties in Interest.

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign any of its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Lenders, and any purported assignment by the Borrower without such consent shall be void.

Section 11.11 Execution in Counterparts; Electronic Execution of Credit Documents.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all the counterparts, including counterparts delivered by telecopy or electronic format (including .pdf), shall together constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement and the other Credit Documents including any Assignment and Acceptance shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or electronic records, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature 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.

 

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Section 11.12 USA Patriot Act Notice.

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)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which information includes the names, addresses and tax identification numbers of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with the Act.

Section 11.13 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Credit Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable 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 the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected 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 Affected 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 Credit Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

Section 11.14 Certain ERISA Matters.

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

77


(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement,

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(b) In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Credit Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

 

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Section 11.15 Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs.

(a) To the extent that the Credit Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for hedge agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Credit Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

(b) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Credit Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Credit Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

(c) As used in this Section 11.15, the following terms have the following meanings:

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

 

79


Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

Section 11.16 Erroneous Payments.

(a) If the Administrative Agent notifies a Lender or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, such Lender (any such Lender or other recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (whether or not after receipt of any notice under immediately succeeding clause (b)) that any funds received by such Payment Recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Lender or other Payment Recipient on its behalf) (any such funds, whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise, individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”) and demands the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent and shall be segregated by the Payment Recipient and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and such Lender shall (or, with respect to any Payment Recipient who received such funds on its behalf, shall cause such Payment Recipient to) promptly, but in no event later than two Business Days thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in same day funds (in the currency so received), together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in same day funds 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 from time to time in effect. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Payment Recipient under this clause (a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

80


(b) Without limiting immediately preceding clause (a), each Lender, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, hereby further agrees that if it receives a payment, prepayment or repayment (whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise) from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates), or (z) that such Lender or other such recipient, otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) in each case:

(i) (A) in the case of immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), an error shall be presumed to have been made (absent written confirmation from the Administrative Agent to the contrary) or (B) an error has been made (in the case of immediately preceding clause (z)), in each case, with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment; and

(ii) such Lender shall (and shall cause any other recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf to) promptly notify the Administrative Agent of its receipt of such payment, prepayment or repayment, the details thereof (in reasonable detail) and that it is so notifying the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 11.16(b).

(c) Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Credit Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender under any Credit Document with respect to any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under preceding clause (a) or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement.

(d) In the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with preceding clause (a), from any Lender that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) (and/or from any Payment Recipient who received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) on its respective behalf) (such unrecovered amount, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”), upon the Administrative Agent’s notice to such Lender at any time, (i) such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned its Loans (but not its Commitments) in an amount equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments), the “Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”) at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest (with the assignment fee to be waived by the Administrative Agent in such instance), and is hereby (together with the Borrower) deemed to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an electronic platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants) with respect to such

 

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Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and such Lender shall deliver any promissory notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (ii) the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall be deemed to acquire the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, (iii) upon such deemed acquisition, the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and the assigning Lender shall cease to be a Lender hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, its obligations under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement and its applicable Commitments which shall survive as to such assigning Lender and (iv) the Administrative Agent may reflect in the Register its ownership interest in the Loans subject to the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment. The Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, sell any Loans acquired pursuant to an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and upon receipt of the proceeds of such sale, the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency owing by the applicable Lender shall be reduced by the net proceeds of the sale of such Loan (or portion thereof), and the Administrative Agent shall retain all other rights, remedies and claims against such Lender (and/or against any recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf). For the avoidance of doubt, no Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment will reduce the Commitments of any Lender and such Commitments shall remain available in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In addition, each party hereto agrees that, except to the extent that the Administrative Agent has sold a Loan (or portion thereof) acquired pursuant to an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent may be equitably subrogated, the Administrative Agent shall be contractually subrogated to all the rights and interests of the applicable Lender under the Credit Documents with respect to each Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (the “Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights”).

(e) The parties hereto agree that an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any obligations under the Credit Documents owed by the Borrower, except, in each case, to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower for the purpose of making such Erroneous Payment.

(f) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Payment Recipient shall assert any right or claim to an Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, and is deemed to waive, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payment received, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.

(g) Each party’s obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 11.16 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Credit Document.

 

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Section 11.17 California Judicial Reference.

In the event that the Waiver of Jury Trial (Section 11.02 of this Agreement) is not enforceable in California, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (collectively, “Parties”) elect to proceed under this Section 11.17.

(a) Any and all disputes, claims and controversies arising out of, connected with or relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or the transactions contemplated thereby (individually, a “Dispute”) that are brought before a forum in which pre-dispute waivers of the right to trial by jury are invalid under applicable law shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement in lieu of the jury trial waivers otherwise provided in the Credit Documents. Disputes may include, without limitation, tort claims, counterclaims, claims brought as class actions, claims arising from Credit Documents executed in the future, disputes as to whether a matter is subject to judicial reference, or claims concerning any aspect of the past, present or future relationships arising out of or connected with the Credit Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 11.17(a) shall not apply to any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any similar master agreement governing any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, fixed-price physical delivery contracts, whether or not exchange traded, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing).

(b) Any and all Disputes shall be heard by a referee and resolved by judicial reference pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure (“CCCP”) §§ 638 et seq.

(c) The referee shall be a retired California state court judge or an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of California with at least 10 years’ experience practicing commercial law.

(d) If the Parties are unable to agree upon a referee within 10 calendar days after one Party serves a written notice of intent for judicial reference upon the other Parties, then the referee will be selected by the court in accordance with CCCP § 640(b).

 

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(e) The referee shall render a written statement of decision and shall conduct the proceedings in accordance with the CCCP, the Rules of Court, and the California Evidence Code, except as otherwise specifically agreed by the Parties and approved by the referee. The referee’s statement of decision shall set forth findings of fact and conclusions of law. The decision of the referee shall be entered as a judgment in the court in accordance with CCCP §§ 644 and 645. The decision of the referee shall be appealable to the same extent and in the same manner that such decision would be appealable if rendered by a judge of the superior court.

(f) Notwithstanding the preceding agreement to submit Disputes to a judicial referee, the Parties and the other Credit Documents preserve, without diminution, certain rights and remedies at law or equity and under the Credit Documents that such Parties may employ or exercise freely, either alone or in conjunction with or during a Dispute. Each Party shall have and hereby reserves the right to proceed in any court of proper jurisdiction or by self-help to exercise or prosecute the following remedies, as applicable: (i) all rights to foreclose against any real or personal property or other security by exercising a power of sale granted in the Credit Documents or under applicable law or by judicial foreclosure and sale, including a proceeding to confirm the sale, (ii) all rights of self-help including peaceful occupation of property and collection of rents, setoff, and peaceful possession of property, (iii) obtaining provisional or ancillary remedies including injunctive relief, sequestration, garnishment, attachment, appointment of receiver and in filing an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding, and (iv) when applicable, a judgment by confession of judgment. Preservation of these remedies does not limit the power of a judicial referee to grant similar remedies that may be requested by a party in a Dispute. No provision in the Credit Documents regarding submission to jurisdiction and/or venue in any court is intended or shall be construed to be in derogation of the provisions in any Credit Document for judicial reference of any Dispute. The Parties do not waive any applicable federal or state substantive law (including without limitation the protections afforded to banks under 12 U.S.C. § 91 or any similar applicable state law) except as provided herein.

(g) If a Dispute includes multiple claims, some of which are found not subject to this Agreement, the Parties shall stay the proceedings of the claims not subject to this Agreement until all other claims are resolved in accordance with this Agreement. If there are Disputes by or against multiple parties, some of which are not subject to this Agreement, the Parties shall sever the Disputes subject to this Agreement and resolve them in accordance with this Agreement.

(h) During the pendency of any Dispute that is submitted to judicial reference in accordance with this Agreement, each of the Parties to such Dispute shall bear equal shares of the fees charged and costs incurred by the referee in performing the services described in this Agreement. The compensation of the referee shall not exceed the prevailing rate for like services. The prevailing Party shall be entitled to reasonable court costs and legal fees, including customary attorney fees, expert witness fees, paralegal fees, the fees of the referee and other reasonable costs and disbursements charged to the party by its counsel, in such amount as is determined by the referee.

 

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(i) In the event of any challenge to the legality or enforceability of this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover the costs and expenses from the non-prevailing Party, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by it in connection therewith.

(j) This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(k) THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES A “REFERENCE AGREEMENT” BETWEEN THE PARTIES WITHIN THE MEANING OF AND FOR PURPOSES OF CCCP § 638.

Section 11.18 Divisions.

For all purposes under this Agreement and the other related Credit Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its capital stock or equity interests at such time.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Term Loan Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Gregory J. Peterson

Name: Gregory J. Peterson
Title:   Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as a Lender and as Administrative Agent
By:  

/s/ Richard K. Fronaplel, Jr.

  Name: Richard K. Fronaplel, Jr.
  Title:   Director


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender and

as Co-Syndication Agent

By:  

/s/ Nancy R. Barwig

  Name: Nancy R. Barwig
  Title:   Executive Director


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and as Co-Syndication Agent
By:  

/s/ Michele Gordon

  Name: Michele Gordon
  Title:   Senior Vice President


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender and as Co-Documentation Agent
By:  

/s/ John M. Eyerman

  Name: John M. Eyerman
  Title:   Senior Vice President


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender and as Co-Documentation Agent

By:  

/s/ Kevin D. Smith

  Name: Kevin D. Smith
  Title:   Senior Vice President


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Patrick Engel

  Name: Patrick Engel
  Title:   Managing Director


SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

TD BANK, N.A., as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Bernadette Collins

  Name: Bernadette Collins
  Title: Senior Vice President


Schedule I

Lenders and Commitments

 

Lender

   Commitment
as of
the Effective
Date
    

Address for

Notices

The Bank of New York Mellon

   $ 45,000,000.00     

The Bank of New York Mellon

500 Grant Street

BNY Mellon Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15258

Telephone: 412-236-7465

Attention: Molly Ross

Email: molly.ross@bnymellon.com

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

   $ 45,000,000.00     

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

8181 Communications Parkway

Plano, Texas 75024

Telephone: 972-324-1721

Attention: Nancy Barwig

 Executive Director

Email: nancy.r.barwig@jpmorgan.com

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 45,000,000.00     

Bank of America, N.A.

400 S. Rampart Blvd.

STE 330

Las Vegas, Nevada 89145

Telecopy: 415-844-2773

Telephone: 702-824-9018

Attention: Michele Gordon

Email: michele.l.gordon@baml.com

 

and

 

Bank of America, N.A.

400 S. Rampart Blvd.

STE 330

Las Vegas, Nevada 89145

Telecopy: 312-453-6530

Telephone: 702-824-9060

Attention: Alan Gordon

Email: alan.f.gordon@baml.com


U.S. Bank National Association

   $ 40,000,000.00     

U.S. Bank National Association

101 S. Capitol Blvd.

Boise, Idaho 83702

Telecopy: 208-383-7565

Telephone: 208-383-7489

Attention: Holland H. Williams

Email: hollandhuffman.williams@usbank.com

KeyBank National Association

   $ 30,000,000.00     

KeyBank National Association

127 Public Square

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Telecopy: 216-689-4981

Telephone: 206-343-6966

Attention: Keven D. Smith

Email: keven.smith@key.com

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

   $ 25,000,000.00     

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

MAC: 9305-156

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Telecopy: 612-316-0506

Telephone: 612-667-5878

Attention: Whitney Shellenberg

 Relationship Manager

Email: whitney.l.shellenberg@wellsfargo.com

 

and

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

MAC 9305-070

90 S. 7th Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Telecopy: 612-316-0506

Telephone: 612-667-4832

Attention: Gregory R. Gredvig

 Portfolio Manager

Email: gregory.r.gredvig@wellsfargo.com

TD Bank, N.A.

   $ 20,000,000.00     

TD Bank, N.A.

222 Bay Street, 15th Floor

Ernst & Young Tower

Toronto, ON M5K 1A2

Telecopy: 416-983-881

Telephone: 705-797-6913

Attention: Ayesha Khan

Email: TDBNANotices@tdsecurities.com and TDBankCorporateS@td.com

 

ii


Schedule III

Existing Liens

 

    

Debtor

  

Secured Party

  

Initial Filing

Number

  

Collateral

Description

1   

Southwest Gas

Corporation

   Dell Financial Services, L.P.    05-7053027978    Equipment
2   

Southwest Gas

Corporation

   CIT Bank, N.A.    13-7349526191    Equipment
3   

Southwest Gas

Corporation

   First Financial Veterans Leasing, LLC    15-7487739001    Equipment
4   

Southwest Gas

Corporation

   Key Government Finance, Inc., Hannie Mae UESC LLC    16-7542794570    All moneys due pursuant to that certain FA4861-16F-A001 dated February 11, 2016, issued by United States Department of Air Force, 99th Contracting Squadron
5   

Southwest Gas

Corporation

   Banc of America Leasing & Capital LLC    17-7611837960    Contract Payments due under Authorization No. HHSII02201700006G dated September 25, 2017, issued by the United States Government or an agency thereof
6   

Southwest Gas

Corporation

   IBM Credit LLC    17-7624239132    Equipment
7   

Southwest Gas

Corporation

   IBM Credit LLC    17-7624239374    Equipment
8   

Southwest Gas

Corporation

   Banc of America Leasing & Capital LLC    19-7748859957    Contract Payments due under Task Order No. FA486118FA041 dated June 13, 2018, issued by the United States Government or an agency thereof