Document:

Exhibit 4.10

 

	

    	
CLIFFORD CHANCE LLP

 
    

 

EXECUTION TEXT

 

DATED 19 NOVEMBER 2009

 

CALYON

AS GLOBAL CO-ORDINATOR AND DOCUMENTATION AGENT

 

CALYON

ING BANK N.V.

AS CO-ORDINATORS

 

MOBILE TELESYSTEMS OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY

AS BORROWER

 

CALYON

ING BANK N.V.

NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL)

AS ORIGINAL MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS

 

CALYON

ING BANK N.V.

NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL)

RAIFFEISEN ZENTRALBANK ÖSTERREICH AG

AS MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS

 

ING BANK N.V.

AS FACILITY AGENT AND SEK AGENT

 

NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL)

AS EKN AGENT

 

AND

 

THE ENTITIES LISTED IN SCHEDULE 1

AS ORIGINAL LENDERS

 

 

$1,074,370,511 EKN SUPPORTED FACILITY
 AGREEMENT FOR MOBILE TELESYSTEMS OPEN
 JOINT STOCK COMPANY

 

 

1

 

CONTENTS

 

	
Clause
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1.
    	
Definitions and Interpretation
    	
1
    
	
2.
    	
The Facility
    	
21
    
	
3.
    	
Purpose
    	
22
    
	
4.
    	
Conditions of Utilisation
    	
23
    
	
5.
    	
Utilisation
    	
26
    
	
6.
    	
Repayment
    	
30
    
	
7.
    	
Prepayment and Cancellation
    	
31
    
	
8.
    	
Interest
    	
36
    
	
9.
    	
Interest Periods
    	
37
    
	
10.
    	
Changes to the Calculation of   Interest
    	
38
    
	
11.
    	
Fees
    	
40
    
	
12.
    	
Tax Gross-Up and Indemnities
    	
42
    
	
13.
    	
Increased Costs
    	
45
    
	
14.
    	
Other Indemnities
    	
47
    
	
15.
    	
Mitigation by the Lenders
    	
49
    
	
16.
    	
Costs and Expenses
    	
49
    
	
17.
    	
Representations
    	
50
    
	
18.
    	
Information Undertakings
    	
55
    
	
19.
    	
Financial Covenants
    	
60
    
	
20.
    	
General Undertakings
    	
62
    
	
21.
    	
Events of Default
    	
71
    
	
22.
    	
Changes to the Lenders
    	
76
    
	
23.
    	
Changes to the Borrower
    	
81
    
	
24.
    	
Role of the Agents and the   Mandated Lead Arrangers
    	
81
    
	
25.
    	
Conduct of Business by the   Finance Parties
    	
88
    
	
26.
    	
Sharing Among the Finance   Parties
    	
89
    
	
27.
    	
Payment Mechanics
    	
90
    
	
28.
    	
Set-Off
    	
93
    
	
29.
    	
Notices
    	
93
    
	
30.
    	
Calculations and Certificates
    	
95
    
	
31.
    	
Partial Invalidity
    	
95
    
	
32.
    	
Remedies and Waivers
    	
95
    
	
33.
    	
Amendments and Waivers
    	
96
    
	
34.
    	
Confidentiality
    	
96
    
				

 

i

 

	
35.
    	
Counterparts
    	
99
    
	
36.
    	
Governing Law
    	
99
    
	
37.
    	
Arbitration
    	
100
    
	
Schedule   1 The Original Lenders
    	
102
    
	
Schedule   2 Conditions precedent
    	
103
    
	
Schedule   3 Utilisation Request
    	
107
    
	
Schedule   4 Form of Supplier Certificate
    	
110
    
	
Schedule   5 Mandatory Cost formula
    	
113
    
	
Schedule   6 Form of Transfer Certificate
    	
116
    
	
Schedule   7 Form of Compliance Certificate
    	
118
    
	
Schedule   8 (EBRD's Definitions and Guidelines for Private Sector Operations (Fraud and   Corruption)
    	
119
    

 

ii

 

THIS AGREEMENT is dated 19 November 2009 and made

 

BETWEEN:

 

(1)                                 MOBILE TELESYSTEMS OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY, an open joint stock company established and existing under the laws of the Russian Federation and having its registered address at 4 Marksistskaya Street, 109147 Moscow, Russian Federation, as borrower (the "Borrower");

 

(2)                                 CALYON, ING BANK N.V. and NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL), as original mandated lead arrangers (the "Original Mandated Lead Arrangers");

 

(3)                                 RAIFFEISEN ZENTRALBANK ÖSTERREICH AG, as additional mandated lead arranger (collectively with the Original Mandated Lead Arrangers, the "Mandated Lead Arrangers");

 

(4)                                 THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) as original lenders (the "Original Lenders");

 

(5)                                 ING BANK N.V., as agent of the other Finance Parties and as SEK agent (the "SEK Agent") (collectively in such capacities, the "Facility Agent");

 

(6)                                 NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL), as EKN agent (the "EKN Agent"); and

 

(7)                                 CALYON, as global coordinator and documentation agent (the "Documentation Agent").

 

WHEREAS:

 

Following the signing of the Local Contracts and the Export Contract, at the Borrower's request, the Lenders have agreed to make available an export credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of one billion seventy four million three hundred and seventy thousand five hundred and eleven Dollars (USD 1,074,370,511), on and subject to the terms of this Agreement and to enter into various agreements and arrangements associated therewith.

 

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.                                     DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1                               Definitions

 

In this Agreement:

 

"Additional Cost Rate" has the meaning given to it in Schedule 5 (Mandatory Cost formula).

 

"Affiliate" means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company, including without limitation in relation to Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG, entities from the Raiffeisen Austrian Banking group.

 

1

 

"Agents" means collectively the EKN Agent, the Facility Agent and the SEK Agent and "Agent" means any of them.

 

"Agency Fee Letters" means collectively the Fee Letters to be entered into between the Borrower and each  Agent on the same date as this Agreement in accordance with Clause 11.2 (Agency fee).

 

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

 

"Authorised Signatory" means, in relation to the Borrower, a person who is duly authorised to act on behalf of the Borrower either:

 

(a)                                 By virtue of his or her office as provided in the constitutive documents of the Borrower; or

 

(b)                                 Pursuant to a power (or powers) of attorney validly issued by the Borrower (or a validly appointed attorney of the Borrower) as referred to in Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent), paragraph 2 (h).

 

"Availability Period" means:

 

(a)                                 in relation to Tranche A, the period from and including the Signing Date to and including 31 August 2011; and

 

(b)                                 in relation to Tranche B, the period from and including 1 September 2010 to and including 31 December 2012.

 

"Available Commitment" means, in relation to Tranche A and Tranche B, a Lender's Commitment under that Tranche minus:

 

(a)                                 the amount of its participation in any outstanding Loans under that Tranche; and

 

(b)                                 in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the amount of its participation in any Loans that are due to be made under that Tranche on or before the proposed Utilisation Date.

 

"Available Facility" means, in relation to a Tranche, the aggregate for the time being of each Lender's Available Commitment in relation to that Tranche.

 

"Bitel" means Bitel LLC, a limited liability company incorporated in Kirghizia registered by the Kirghiz Ministry of Justice on 24 February 2003 with re-registration certificate number 1386-3300-OOO (IU), and having its registered address at 121, Chui Prospect, Bishkek, 720000, the Kirghiz Republic.

 

"Bitel Litigation" means any of the claims, proceedings (present or future) and causes of action involving the Borrower and/or any of its Affiliates (including Bitel) relating to or arising out of the acquisition, reorganisation or ownership of Bitel by the Borrower (whether directly or through any of its Affiliates).

 

2

 

"Borrower's Onshore Dollar Account" means the Dollar account opened in the name of the Borrower with the Passport Bank.

 

"Break Costs" means:

 

(a)                                 in relation to SEK, any SEK Break Costs; and

 

(b)                                 in any other case, the amount (if any) by which:

 

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

 

exceeds:

 

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

 

"Business Day" means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in Paris, Stockholm, London, Amsterdam, New York, Vienna and Moscow, and for any payments made in any currency other than euro means a day on which banks are open for business in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency.

 

"Coercive Practice" means the impairing or harming of, or threatening to impair or harm, directly or indirectly, any party or the property of the party to influence improperly the actions of a party as that term is interpreted in accordance with the EBRD Anti-Corruption Guidelines.

 

"Collusive Practice" means an arrangement between two or more parties designed to achieve an improper purpose, including influencing the actions of another party, as this term is defined in accordance with the EBRD Anti-Corruption Guidelines.

 

"Commitment" means a Tranche A Commitment or a Tranche B Commitment.

 

"Companies Law" means Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 208 FZ "On Joint Stock Companies" dated 26 December 1995.

 

"Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7 (Form of Compliance Certificate).

 

3

 

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

 

(a)                                 any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or

 

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

 

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

 

(i)                                     is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of Clause 34 (Confidentiality); or

 

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

 

(iii)                               is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) above (except such information of which that Finance Party is aware of under any other project with a member of the Group where such information was also confidential) or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the Group and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality.

 

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

 

"Confirmation Date" has the meaning given to such term in Clause 4.2 (Utilisation in respect of Pending Local Contract).

 

"Confirmed Export Purchase Order" means a purchase order issued pursuant to the Export Contract by the Borrower to the Foreign Supplier in respect of the Foreign Goods and Services and confirmed by the Foreign Supplier on or after 30 March 2009.

 

"Confirmed Local Purchase Order" means a purchase order issued pursuant to a Local Contract by the Borrower to the Local Supplier in respect of Local Services and confirmed by the Local Supplier on or after 1 April 2009.

 

"Contracts" means collectively the Export Contract and the Local Contracts, and "Contract" means any of them.

 

4

 

"Corrupt Practice" means the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting, directly or indirectly, of anything of value to influence improperly the actions of another party, as this term is defined in accordance with the EBRD Anti-Corruption Guidelines.

 

"Currency Law" means Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 173-FZ "On Currency Regulation and Currency Control" dated 10 December 2003 together with any implementing regulations adopted or issued by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and/or the Government of the Russian Federation (including Instruction 117-I).

 

"Current Local Contract" means the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KZ 04:152 dated 16 August 2004 (as most recently amended on 31 March 2009 and as further amended from time to time) between the Borrower and the Local Supplier, as the same may be amended from time to time, together with any Confirmed Local Purchase Order or supplement thereto.

 

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

 

(a)                                 purchases by way of assignment or transfer;

 

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

 

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

 

any Commitment or amount outstanding under this Agreement.

 

"Default" means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in Clause 21 (Events of Default) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default.

 

"Definitive EKN Premium Invoice" has the meaning given to such term in Clause 11.4 (EKN Premium).

 

"Down-Payment" means, with respect to the Export Contract, an amount which is no less than 15% of the value of the relevant Confirmed Export Purchase Order and which has been paid by the Borrower to the Foreign Supplier in cleared funds.

 

"EBRD Anti-Corruption Guidelines" means EBRD’s Definitions and Guidelines for Private Sector Operations (Fraud and Corruption) in effect on the date of this Agreement, as set out in Schedule 8 (EBRD’s Definitions and Guidelines for Private Sector Operations (Fraud and Corruption)).

 

"EKN" means Exportkreditnämnden (or the Swedish Export Credits Guarantee Board) whose postal address is Box 3064, SE-103 61 Stockholm, Sweden.

 

"EKN A Premium" means, subject always to (and as may be adjusted by) the issue of any Definitive EKN Premium Invoice, the estimated amount of twenty eight million eight hundred and sixty two thousand four hundred and forty two Dollars (USD 28,862,442), calculated on the basis of the premium rate indicated by EKN in

 

5

 

the EKN Offer, being 100% of the premium payable to EKN by the Lenders, on behalf of the Borrower, in respect of Tranche A for the EKN Guarantee.

 

"EKN B Premium" means, subject always to (and as may be adjusted by) the issue of any Definitive EKN Premium Invoice, the estimated amount of forty five million five hundred and eight thousand three hundred and nineteen Dollars (USD 45,508,319), calculated on the basis of the premium rate indicated by EKN in the EKN Offer, being 100% of the premium payable to EKN by the Lenders, on behalf of the Borrower, in respect of Tranche B for the EKN Guarantee.

 

"EKN Document" means each of the EKN General Conditions, EKN Guarantee, EKN Power of Attorney and EKN Offer.

 

"EKN General Conditions" means the EKN General Conditions for Export Credit Guarantees (as amended from time to time).

 

"EKN Guarantee" means each export credit insurance policy or export credit guarantee granted or to be granted by EKN in favour of the Lenders in connection with this Agreement, incorporating the EKN General Conditions.

 

"EKN Offer" means the offer, together with any amendments and/or extensions thereto, made by EKN to the EKN Agent dated on or prior to the Signing Date to provide the EKN Guarantee in connection with this Agreement.

 

"EKN Power of Attorney" means, in relation to each Lender, the power of attorney (in EKN's required form) pursuant to which such Lender appoints the EKN Agent as its attorney in connection with the EKN Guarantee.

 

"EKN Premium" means collectively the EKN A Premium and the EKN B Premium.

 

"EKN Premium Invoice" has the meaning given to such term in Clause 5.2 (Utilisation in respect of the EKN Premium)

 

"Eligible Foreign Goods and Services" means Foreign Goods and Services provided under the Export Contract up to an aggregate amount of seven hundred and thirty nine million one hundred and thirty thousand two hundred and fifty Dollars (USD739,130,250), being 85% of the Export Contract Amount of those Foreign Goods and Services under the Export Contract.

 

"Eligible Goods and Services" means collectively the Eligible Foreign Goods and Services and the Eligible Local Services provided under the Contracts.

 

"Eligible Local Services" means Local Services provided under the Local Contracts up to an aggregate amount equal to 30% of the Export Contract Amount, however not exceeding  two hundred and sixty million eight hundred and sixty nine thousand five hundred Dollars (USD260,869,500).

 

"Environment" means living organisms including the ecological systems of which they form part and the following media:

 

(a)                                 air (including air within natural or man-made structures, whether above or below ground);

 

6

 

(b)                                 water (including territorial, coastal and inland waters, water under or within land and water in drains and sewers); and

 

(c)                                  land (including land under water).

 

"Environmental Law" means all laws and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction which:

 

(a)                                 have as a purpose or effect the protection of, and/or prevention of harm or damage to, the Environment;

 

(b)                                 provide remedies or compensation for harm or damage to the Environment; or

 

(c)                                  relate to any waste, pollutant, contaminant or other substance (including any liquid, solid, gas, ion, living organism or noise) that may be harmful to human health or other life or the Environment or a nuisance to any person or that may make the use or ownership of any affected land or property more costly or health and safety matters.

 

"Environmental Licence" means any Authorisation required at any time under Environmental Law.

 

"Ericsson Russia" means Ericsson Corporatia AO, a joint stock company established and existing under the laws of the Russian Federation and having its registered address at12, 8-Marta str., 127083 Moscow, Russian Federation.

 

"Ericsson Sweden" means Ericsson AB, Reg. No. 556056-6258, a limited liability company duly organised under the laws of Sweden, having its head office at Torshamnsgatan 23, 164 40, Kista, Stockholm, Sweden.

 

"Estimated Mean Commissioning Date" means:

 

(a)                                 in relation to Tranche A, 1 December 2010; and

 

(b)                                 in relation to Tranche B, 1 March 2012.

 

"Event of Default" means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 21 (Events of Default).

 

"Export Contract" means the supply contract no. FCP 101 8128 dated 31 December 2008 (as most recently amended on 17 June 2009 and as further amended from time to time) between the Borrower and the Foreign Supplier, together with any Confirmed Export Purchase Order or supplement thereto.

 

"Export Contract Amount" means, in relation to the Export Contract, eight hundred and sixty nine million five hundred and sixty five thousand Dollars (USD 869,565,000).

 

"Facility" means the Facility made available in two (2) tranches, being Tranche  A and Tranche  B, under this Agreement.

 

7

 

“Facility Office” means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Facility Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than 5 (five) Business Days’ written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

“Fee Letters” means each of the letters dated on or about the Signing Date between (i) each of the Agents and the Borrower, (ii) the Mandated Lead Arrangers and the Borrower, and (iii) the Documentation Agent and the Borrower, setting out the fees payable by reference to this Agreement or any other Finance Document.

 

“Final Maturity Date” means:

 

(a)                                 in relation to Tranche A, 1 June 2019; and

 

(b)                                 in relation to Tranche B, 1 September 2020.

 

“Finance Documents” means collectively this Agreement, the EKN Documents, the SEK Documents, the Indemnity Letter (as defined in paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent)), each Fee Letter, the Mandate Letter, each Transfer Certificate and each other document designated as such by the Facility Agent and the Borrower, and “Finance Document” means any of them.

 

“Finance Parties” means collectively the Agents, the Mandated Lead Arrangers and the Lenders, and “Finance Party” means any of them.

 

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

 

(a)                                 moneys borrowed;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)                                   any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;

 

(g)                                  any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the value of any derivative transaction, only the marked to market value shall be taken into account);

 

(h)                                 shares which are expressed to be redeemable at the option of the holder on or prior to the Final Maturity Date (but excluding any accrued dividends) (and,

 

8

 

for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that any shares may be redeemable at the option of the holder solely as a result of a company reorganisation (reorgnizatsiya obschestva) or major transaction (krupnaja sdelka) (as these terms are construed by applicable Russian law), such shares shall not be included for the purposes of this definition prior to the holder of the shares exercising their option to redeem those shares);

 

(i)                                     any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution; and

 

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

 

“First Repayment Date” means in relation to a Tranche, the date falling six (6) Months after the Starting Point for Repayment for that Tranche.

 

“Foreign Goods and Services” means all goods and services supplied or provided by the Foreign Supplier (including via the Local Supplier) under the terms of the Export Contract for the Export Contract Amount.

 

“Foreign Supplier” means Ericsson Sweden.

 

“Fraudulent Practice” means any act or omission, including a misrepresentation that knowingly or recklessly misleads, or attempts to mislead, a party to obtain a financial or other benefit or to avoid an obligation, as this term is interpreted in accordance with the EBRD Anti-Corruption Guidelines.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles, standards and practices in the United States of America.

 

“Group” means the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the time being.

 

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

 

“Insolvent” means, in respect of any entity, any of the following:

 

(a)                                 it is unable, or admits or has admitted its inability, to pay its debts or has suspended making payments on its debts generally;

 

(b)                                 it, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, has commenced negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling its indebtedness generally;

 

(c)                                  the value of its assets is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities);

 

(d)                                 a moratorium is declared in respect of any of its indebtedness;

 

(e)                                  its board of directors or shareholders or participants adopt a resolution to file a petition with arbitrazh court for its liquidation; or

 

9

 

(f)                                   the levying or execution of any judgement, award or order on its property which will materially impair or make impossible its ability to carry on its business activity.

 

“Instruction 117-I” means the Central Bank of the Russian Federation Instruction N 117-I dated 15 June 2004 (as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time).

 

“Intellectual Property” means all trade marks, service marks, trade names, domain names, logos, get-up, patents, inventions, registered and unregistered design rights, copyrights, topography rights, database rights, rights in confidential information and know-how, and any associated or similar rights anywhere in the world, which it now or in the future owns or (to the extent of its interest) in which it now or in the future has an interest (in each case whether registered or unregistered and including any related licences and sub-licences of the same granted by it or to it, applications and rights to apply for the same).

 

“Interest Expense” has the meaning given to it in Clause 19.3 (Definitions).

 

“Interest Period” means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 9 (Interest Periods) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with Clause 8.4 (Default interest).

 

“LCIA” means the London Court of International Arbitration.

 

“Lender” means:

 

(a)                                 any Original Lender; and

 

(b)                                 any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a Lender in accordance with Clause 22 (Changes to the Lenders),

 

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

 

“LIBOR” means, in relation to any Loan:

 

(a)                                 the applicable Screen Rate; or

 

(b)                                 (if no Screen Rate is available for Dollars for the Interest Period of that Loan) the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Facility Agent at its request quoted by the Reference Banks to leading banks in the London interbank market,

 

as of 11:00 a.m. on the Quotation Day for the offering of deposits in Dollars for a period comparable to the Interest Period for that Loan.

 

“LMA” means the Loan Market Association.

 

“Loan” means a Tranche A Loan or a Tranche B Loan.

 

10

 

“Loan Passport” means the certificate required to be issued in relation to this Agreement by the Passport Bank in accordance with the Currency Law.

 

“Local Contracts” means each of:

 

(a)                                 from the date of this Agreement until the Confirmation Date occurs, the Current Local Contract;

 

(b)                                 from the Confirmation Date, the Pending Local Contract;

 

(c)                                  the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KZ 09:531 dated 26 June2009 between the Borrower and the Local Supplier, as the same may be amended from time to time;

 

(d)                                 the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KZ 07:365 dated 27 April 2007 between the Borrower and the Local Supplier, as the same may be amended from time to time;

 

(e)                                  the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KZ 07:396 dated 28 December 2007 between the Borrower and the Local Supplier, as the same may be amended from time to time; and

 

(f)                                   the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KZ 08:490 dated 30 July 2008 between the Borrower and the Local Supplier, as the same may be amended from time to time,

 

in each case together with any Confirmed Local Purchase Order or supplement thereto

 

“Local Services” means local goods and services provided or to be provided by the Local Supplier under the terms of the Local Contracts.

 

“Local Supplier” means Ericsson Russia.

 

“Majority Lenders” means:

 

(a)                                 if there are no Loans then outstanding, a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 662/3 % of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 662/3% of the Total Commitments immediately prior to the reduction); or

 

(b)                                 at any other time, a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loans then outstanding aggregate more than 662/3% of all the Loans then outstanding.

 

“Mandate Letter” means the letter agreement dated 28 May 2009 between the Mandated Lead Arrangers and the Borrower.

 

“Mandatory Cost” means the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Facility Agent in accordance with Schedule 5 (Mandatory Cost formula).

 

“Margin” means one point one five per cent. (1.15%) per annum.

 

11

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on or material adverse change in:

 

(a)                                 the financial condition, operations, assets, prospects or business of the Borrower or the consolidated financial condition, operations, assets, prospects or business of the Group;

 

(b)                                 the ability of the Borrower to perform and comply with its obligations under any Finance Document to which it is a party; or

 

(c)                                  the validity, legality or enforceability of any Finance Document to which the Borrower is a party, or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party thereunder;

 

provided that for the purpose of paragraph (a) above any losses incurred by any member of the Group after the Signing Date as a consequence of an adverse determination of any or all of the Bitel Litigation, such losses not exceeding USD 330,000,000 or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies (including legal fees and associated expenses) in aggregate shall be disregarded.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“OIBDA” has the meaning given to it in Clause 19.3 (Definitions).

 

“Original Lender” means a Lender listed in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders).

 

“Original Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2008.

 

“Original RAS Financial Statements” means the unaudited non-consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for the financial quarter ended 30 September 2009.

 

“Other Financing Agreements” means collectively (i) the guaranteed facility agreement entered into or to be entered into (as the context requires) between the Borrower, Finnvera and the financial institutions described therein, (ii) the guaranteed facility agreement entered into or to be entered into (as the context requires) between the Borrower, Sinosure and the financial institutions described therein, and (iii) the guaranteed facility agreement entered into or to be entered into (as the context requires) between the Borrower, Euler Hermes and the financial institutions described therein.

 

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“Party” means a party to this Agreement.

 

“Passport Bank” means ING Bank (Eurasia) ZAO of Krasnoproletarskaya Str 36, 127473 Moscow, Russian Federation.

 

“Pending Local Contract” means the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KK-09:191 entered into or to be entered in (as the context requires) between the Borrower and the Local Supplier, as the same may be amended from time to time, together with any Confirmed Local Purchase Order or supplement thereto.

 

“Permitted Security” means:

 

(a)                                 any Security on any assets of any corporation existing at the time such corporation is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower and not created in contemplation of such event, provided that no such Security shall extend to any other assets;

 

(b)                                 any Security existing on any assets prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower and not created in contemplation of such acquisition, provided that no such Security shall extend to any other assets;

 

(c)                                  any Security (other than the assets supplied under the Contract) on any assets securing Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower or Financial Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Borrower incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or part of the cost of acquiring, repairing or refurbishing such assets, provided that (i) no such Security shall extend to any other assets; (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all Financial Indebtedness secured by such Security on such assets shall not exceed the lower of (x) the purchase price of such assets and (y) the fair market value of such assets at the time of acquisition, repair or refurbishing; and (iii) such Security attaches to such assets concurrently with the repair or refurbishing thereof or within ninety (90) days after the acquisition thereof, as the case may be;

 

(d)                                 any Security arising by operation of law, including any Security (i) arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to amounts not yet delinquent or being contested by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower in good faith in appropriate proceedings or (ii) for taxes, assessments, government charges or claims, including without limitation those in favour of Russian governmental fiscal authorities;

 

(e)                                  any Security on the assets of any Subsidiary of the Borrower securing intercompany Financial Indebtedness of such Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or another Subsidiary of the Borrower;

 

(f)                                   any netting or set-off arrangement entered into by a member of the Group with a bank or any other financial institution in the normal course of its banking arrangements for the purpose of netting or setting off its debit and credit facilities with that bank or financial institution;

 

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(g)                                  easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and any other similar charges or encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or the business of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, including any encumbrance or restriction with respect to an equity interest of any joint venture pursuant to a joint venture agreement (but each time provided it is not an easement, rights-of-way, restriction or any other similar charge or encumbrance on assets supplied under the Contract);

 

(h)                                 any extension, renewal or replacement of any Security described in paragraphs (a) to (g) above, provided that (i) such extension, renewal or replacement shall be no more restrictive in any material respect than the original Security; (ii) the amount of Financial Indebtedness secured by such Security is not increased; (iii) if the assets securing the Financial Indebtedness subject to such Security are changed in connection with such refinancing, extension or replacement, the fair market value of the property or assets is not increased and (iv) the Security is not constituted over assets supplied under any of the Contracts; and

 

(i)                                     any other Security (excluding any Security (i) described in (a) to (h) above, and (ii) over assets supplied under any of the Contracts) provided that immediately after giving effect to such Security, the aggregate amount of all secured Financial Indebtedness of the Group does not exceed ten per cent. (10%) of the Borrower’s Total Assets.

 

“Premium Utilisation” has the meaning given to such term in Clause 5.2 (Utilisation in respect of EKN Premium).

 

“Prohibited Practice” means any Corrupt Practice, Fraudulent Practice, Coercive Practice or Collusive Practice.

 

“Qualifying Lender” has the meaning given to it in Clause 12 (Tax gross-up and indemnities).

 

“Quotation Day” means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined two (2) Business Days before the first day of that period, unless market practice differs in the Relevant Interbank Market for a currency, in which case the Quotation Day for that currency will be determined by the Facility Agent in accordance with market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market (and if quotations would normally be given by leading banks in the Relevant Interbank Market on more than one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of those days).

 

“RAS” means generally accepted accounting principles, standards and practices in the Russian Federation.

 

“Reference Banks” means the principal offices of Calyon in Paris, France, ING Bank N.V. in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Nordea Bank AB (publ) in Sweden and Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG in Vienna, Austria or such other banks as may be designated by the Facility Agent as agreed with the Borrower.

 

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

 

“Related Party” has the meaning given to it in Clause 20.11 (Transactions with Related Parties).

 

“Relevant Interbank Market” means the London interbank market.

 

“Relevant Period” has the meaning given to it in Clause 19.3 (Definitions).

 

“Repayment Date” means, in respect of a Loan, (i) the First Repayment Date and each subsequent date falling every six (6) Months thereafter up to the Final Maturity Date, and (ii) the Final Maturity Date

 

“Repeating Representations” means each of the representations set out in Clauses 17.1 (Status), 17.2 (Binding obligations), 17.3 (Non-conflict with other obligations), 17.4 (Power and authority), 17.6 (Governing law and enforcement), 17.11 (No default), 17.14 (Pari passu ranking), 17.15 (Solvency), 17.16 (No proceedings pending or threatened), 17.17 (Environmental laws and licences), 17.18 (Telecommunications law and licences) and 17.20 (No Immunity).

 

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

 

“Roubles” or “RUR” means the lawful currency of the Russian Federation for the time being.

 

“Russian Insolvency Law” means the Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 127-FZ of 26 October 2002 “On Insolvency (Bankruptcy)”.

 

“Screen Rate” means the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for the relevant currency and period displayed on the appropriate page of the Reuters screen. If the agreed page is replaced or service ceases to be available, the Facility Agent may specify another page or service displaying the appropriate rate after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

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

 

“SEK” means AB Svensk Exportkredit (or the Swedish Export Credit Corporation) whose postal address is P.O. Box 16368, SE-103 27 Stockholm, Sweden.

 

“SEK Assignment Agreement” means each assignment agreement executed or to be executed by an Original Lender in favour of SEK in relation to the assignment of any Loans to SEK in connection with the SEK Offer.

 

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“SEK Break Costs” means in relation to SEK the present value of the amount by which:

 

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

 

exceeds:

 

(b)                                 the amount which SEK would be able to obtain by investing an amount equal to the principal amount or Unpaid Sum  received by it in government securities and in a currency each as determined by SEK, for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery  and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period.

 

For the purpose of calculating SEK Break Costs, “present value” shall be calculated based on the interest rate offered by internationally recognised brokers in the London swap market (such as Intercapital Broker or Tullet and Tokyo) as selected by and as determined by SEK, for the currency of the Loan and remaining period for which the SEK Break Costs are calculated, on the date a Lender makes a receipt or recovery.

 

“SEK Document” means each of the SEK Offer, the SEK Guarantee, the SEK Assignment Agreement and the SEK Transfer Certificate.

 

“SEK Guarantee” means each guarantee granted or to be granted by the Original Lenders in favour of SEK in relation to this Agreement and the SEK Offer.

 

“SEK Offer” means the offer by SEK (SEK’s reference 26357/26618) issued to the SEK Agent in respect of the Loans to be provided under Tranche A and Tranche B, and upon assignment of the Facility to SEK by the Original Lenders, for the funding of the Facility.

 

“SEK Transfer Certificate” means each Transfer Certificate executed or to be executed by an Original Lender in favour of SEK pursuant to the terms of this Agreement in relation to  the assignment of any Loans to SEK in connection with the SEK Offer and/or the SEK Assignment Agreement.

 

“Shyam” means Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited, having its registered address at B-2-D, Shiv Marg, Bani Park, Jaipur – 302016, (Rajasthan), a telecom operator in India that is a subsidiary of Sistema JSFC and its subsidiaries.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means:

 

(a)                                 UMC (unless, pursuant to the UMC Litigation, any or all of the Borrower’s shares in UMC are transferred to a person that is not a member of the Group, with the result that UMC ceases to be a member of the Group);

 

(b)                                 any Subsidiary of the Borrower to which (i) the Borrower or UMC sells, leases or otherwise transfers its GSM 900 or 1800 licences or the Borrower sells, leases or otherwise transfers its 3G licence or (ii) any such licence is re-issued; and

 

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(c)                                  any Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) whose total assets (or, where such Subsidiary prepares consolidated accounts, whose total consolidated assets) have a book value (as determined by reference to the most recent management accounts of that Subsidiary prepared in accordance with GAAP) equal to or exceeding 10% of the Borrower’s Total Assets or (ii) whose gross annual revenues (or, where such Subsidiary prepares consolidated accounts, whose gross annual consolidated revenues) (as determined by reference to the most recent management accounts of that Subsidiary prepared in accordance with GAAP) are equal to or exceed 10% of the Borrower’s gross annual consolidated revenues in the year for which the Borrower’s most recent consolidated financial statements were prepared.

 

“Signing Date” means the date of this Agreement.

 

“Sistema JSFC” means Sistema JSFC with main state registration number 1027700003891, and having its registered address at bldg 1, 17/8/9 Prechistenka str., Moscow, 119034, Russian Federation, the holding company of the Borrower.

 

“Starting Point for Repayment” means, in respect of a Tranche of the Facility, the earlier to occur of:

 

(a)                                 the mean commissioning date as determined by the Facility Agent in accordance with EKN’s regulations, being the mean commissioning date of the Contracts  during the Availability Period for that Tranche;

 

(b)                                 the Estimated Mean Commissioning Date for that Tranche; and

 

(c)                                  such other date as may be determined by EKN and notified to the Facility Agent pursuant to a determination by EKN of the OECD Consensus Rules,

 

in each case as notified by the Facility Agent to the Borrower provided that, in the case of (a) and (c) above,  no adjustment may take place in the period starting ten (10) Business Days prior to the First Repayment Date for that Tranche and ending on that First Repayment Date.

 

“Subsidiary” means an entity from time to time of which a person has direct or indirect control or owns directly or indirectly more than 50% of the share capital or similar right of ownership.

 

“Suppliers” means collectively the Foreign Supplier and the Local Supplier, and “Supplier” means any of them.

 

“Supplier Certificate” means a supplier certificate in the form attached as Schedule 4 (Supplier Certificate).

 

“Sweden” means the Kingdom of Sweden.

 

“Tax” means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same).

 

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“Telecommunications Authorisation” means any Authorisation from any governmental or other regulatory authority necessary in order for each of the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries to maintain, operate and conduct its business as it is being conducted in accordance with Telecommunications Laws.

 

“Telecommunications Laws” means (a) all laws and regulations which relate to telecommunications and/or the business of providing mobile telephone services and (b) all rules, guidelines, policies and regulations made thereunder, that are applicable to each of the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries and/or the business carried on by it.

 

“Telecommunications Licence” means any Authorisation required at any time under Telecommunications Laws.

 

“Total Assets” means the book value of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower as determined by reference to the Borrower’s most recent annual consolidated balance sheet delivered in accordance with paragraph (a) of Clause 18.1 (Financial statements) or, prior to the first delivery, to the Original Financial Statements.

 

“Total Commitments” means the aggregate of the Total Tranche A Commitments and the Total Tranche B Commitments.

 

“Total Debt” has the meaning given to it in Clause 19.3 (Definitions).

 

“Total Tranche A Commitments” means the aggregate of the Tranche A Commitments, being four hundred and twenty eight million eight hundred and sixty two thousand four hundred and forty two Dollars (USD428,862,442).

 

“Total Tranche B Commitments” means the aggregate of the Tranche B Commitments, being six hundred and forty five million five hundred and eight thousand and sixty nine Dollars (USD645,508,069).

 

“Tranche A” has the meaning set forth in Clause 2.1 (The Facility).

 

“Tranche A Commitment” means:

 

(a)                                 in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name under the heading “Tranche A Commitment” in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) and the amount of any other Tranche A Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement; and

 

(b)                                 in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Tranche A Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement,

 

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

 

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

 

“Tranche A Delivery Period” means the period between 1 April 2009 and 31 August 2010.

 

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“Tranche B” has the meaning set forth in Clause 2.1 (The Facility).

 

“Tranche B Commitment” means:

 

(a)                                 in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name under the heading “Tranche B Commitment” in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) and the amount of any other Tranche B Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement; and

 

(b)                                 in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Tranche B Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement,

 

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

 

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

 

“Tranche B Delivery Period” means the period between 1 September 2010 and 31 December 2011.

 

“Tranches” means Tranche A and Tranche B and “Tranche” means any of them.

 

“Transaction Documents” means the Finance Documents, the Contracts and any other document designated as such by the Facility Agent and the Borrower.

 

“Transfer Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 (Form of Transfer Certificate) or any other form agreed between the Facility Agent and the Borrower.

 

“Transfer Date” means, in relation to a transfer, the later of:

 

(a)                                 the proposed Transfer Date specified in the Transfer Certificate; and

 

(b)                                 the date on which the Facility Agent executes the Transfer Certificate.

 

“UMC” means OJSC Company “Ukrainian Mobile Communications” with registration number 10701230000002699, and having its registered address at 15, Leiptsigska str., Kyiv 01015, Ukraine.

 

“UMC Litigation” means any of the claims, proceedings (present or future) and causes of action involving the Borrower and/or any of its Affiliates (including UMC) relating to or arising out of the sale of UMC to the Borrower or the acquisition, reorganisation or ownership of UMC by the Borrower.

 

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

 

“US Dollars”, “Dollars”, “USD”, “US$” and “$” denote the lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

“Utilisation” means a utilisation of a Tranche of the Facility (including any Premium Utilisation).

 

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

 

“Utilisation Request” means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 3 (Utilisation Request).

 

“VAT” means value added tax as provided for in the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and any other tax of a similar nature.

 

1.2                               Construction

 

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

 

(a)                                 any “Agent”, any “Mandated Lead Arranger”, any “Finance Party”, any “Lender”, the “Borrower” and any “Party” shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees;

 

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

 

(c)                                  “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management polices of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or credit arrangement, as trustee or executor, or otherwise;

 

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

 

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

 

(f)                                   a “person” includes any individual, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust, joint venture, consortium or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality) or two or more of the foregoing;

 

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

 

(h)                                 a “3G licence” shall be construed so as to include any licence that is more technically advanced than a 3G licence;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

1.3                               Third party rights

 

A person who is not a Party has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement, except that EKN and SEK may enforce and enjoy any rights to the extent that the same are conferred upon EKN or SEK (as the case may be) pursuant to this Agreement.

 

2.                                      THE FACILITY

 

2.1                               The Facility

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrower a term loan facility in USD in two tranches, the first tranche (“Tranche A”) for an aggregate maximum amount equal to the Total Tranche A Commitments and the second  tranche (“Tranche B”) for an aggregate maximum amount equal to the Total Tranche B Commitments.

 

2.2                               Finance Parties’ rights and obligations

 

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

 

(b)                                 The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party from the Borrower shall be a separate and independent debt.

 

(c)                                  A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents.

 

2.3                               EKN Override

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall oblige any Finance Party to act (or omit to act) in a manner that is inconsistent with the terms of the EKN Documents and, in particular:

 

(a)                                 the EKN Agent shall be authorised to take all such actions as it may deem necessary (acting reasonably) to ensure that the terms of the EKN Documents are complied with; and

 

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(b)                                 the EKN Agent shall not be obliged to do anything if, in its opinion (acting reasonably), to do so results in or is reasonably likely to result in a breach of any term of the EKN Documents.

 

2.4                               No claims against Finance Parties

 

The Borrower agrees that:

 

(a)                                 the Finance Parties may act on the instructions of EKN in relation to this Agreement; and

 

(b)                                 it shall have no claims whatsoever in respect of any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by it against any Finance Party as a result of that Finance Party acting on the instructions of EKN in relation to this Agreement.

 

3.                                      PURPOSE

 

3.1                               Purpose

 

(a)                                 All amounts borrowed by the Borrower under the Facility shall be applied to finance:

 

(i)                                     100% of the EKN Premium in an aggregate amount up to seventy four million three hundred and seventy thousand seven hundred and sixty one Dollars (USD 74,370,761);

 

(ii)                                  100% of the Eligible Foreign Goods and Services; and

 

(iii)                               100% of the  Eligible Local Services.

 

(b)                                 the Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under Tranche A as follows:

 

(i)                                     up to four hundred million Dollars (USD 400,000,000) in reimbursement to the Borrower of payments previously made by the Borrower to the Suppliers in relation to deliveries of Eligible Foreign Goods and Services estimated to take place during the Tranche A Delivery Period, and/or any Eligible Local Services relating thereto; and

 

(ii)                                  up to twenty eight million eight hundred and sixty two thousand four hundred and forty two Dollars (USD 28,862,442), in reimbursement to the Borrower of payments previously made by the Borrower to the Facility Agent for the account of EKN in respect of EKN A Premium.

 

(c)                                  the Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under Tranche B as follows:

 

(i)                                     up to five hundred and ninety nine million nine hundred and ninety nine thousand seven hundred and fifty Dollars (USD 599,999,750) in reimbursement to the Borrower of payments previously made by the Borrower to the Suppliers in relation to deliveries of Eligible Foreign

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Goods and Services estimated to take place during the Tranche B Delivery Period, and/or any Eligible Local Services related thereto; and

 

(ii)                                  up to forty five million five hundred and eight thousand three hundred and nineteen Dollars (USD 45,508,319) in reimbursement to the Borrower of payments previously made by the Borrower to the Facility Agent for the account of EKN in respect of the EKN B Premium.

 

3.2                               Monitoring

 

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

 

3.3                               Unconditional Obligations

 

The obligations of the Borrower to make payments and to observe and perform all its other duties under this Agreement are unconditional and irrevocable obligations of the Borrower and accordingly shall not:

 

(a)                                 in any way be affected or discharged by reason of any matter affecting the Contracts including its performance, frustration or validity, the insolvency or dissolution of a Supplier or the destruction, non-completion or non-functioning of the goods or materials to be supplied under the Contracts or otherwise or for any other reason;

 

(b)                                 in any way be affected by the fact that all or any part of the sums requested under a Utilisation Request is or was not due or payable to a Supplier; or

 

(c)                                  in any way be affected by any amalgamation, demerger, corporate reconstruction or reform of a Lender.

 

The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that its obligations under this Agreement are absolute and totally independent and separate from the Contracts. The performance of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder shall in no event be affected by any dispute whatsoever that may arise in relation to the Contracts or otherwise. The performance of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder is not conditional upon any of the Contracts in any respect.

 

4.                                      CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION

 

4.1                               Initial conditions precedent

 

(a)                                 The Borrower may not deliver the first Utilisation Request unless the Facility Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent. The Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied.

 

(b)                                 If the Facility Agent has not received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent on the date which is sixty (60) Business Days from the

 

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Signing Date (or such later date as may be agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent), the Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly and the Available Commitments will be immediately cancelled and the Borrower shall immediately pay in full all amounts payable under this Agreement and the Total Commitments will be reduced to zero.

 

4.2                               Utilisation in respect of Pending Local Contract

 

As soon as practicable upon execution of the Pending Local Contract by the Borrower and the Supplier:

 

(a)                                 the Borrower shall deliver to the Facility Agent a copy of the Pending Local Contract duly executed by the Borrower and the Supplier, together with a certificate from the Supplier confirming that the Pending Local Contract is in full force and effect; and

 

(b)                                 the EKN Agent shall notify the Facility Agent when EKN has approved the terms of the Pending Local Contract,

 

the date on which the EKN Agent notifies the Facility Agent of EKN’s approval of the Pending Local Contract being the “Confirmation Date”.

 

No Utilisation Request may be delivered in respect of the Pending Local Contract until the Confirmation Date has occurred.

 

4.3                               Further conditions precedent

 

The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.6 (Lenders’ participation), for each Utilisation including the first one, if on the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date:

 

(a)                                 no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan and no event triggering a mandatory prepayment of part or all of the Facility pursuant to Clauses 7.4 (Mandatory prepayment – Change of Control), 7.5 (Mandatory prepayment – ratings downgrade), 7.6 (Mandatory prepayment – Retained Earnings and Capital Reduction) or 7.7 (Mandatory prepayment in relation to the Contracts or the EKN Documents) has occurred;

 

(b)                                 the Repeating Representations to be made by the Borrower are true in all material respects;

 

(c)                                  each of the EKN Documents and the SEK Offer remains in full force and effect and there is no outstanding notice from EKN or SEK which requires any Lender to suspend the provision of any Utilisation;

 

(d)                                 confirmation that the relevant EKN Premium has been paid in full in respect of the Tranche for which a Utilisation is to be made;

 

(e)                                  the Facility Agent and the Lenders are satisfied (acting reasonably) that the EKN Guarantee will extend to and cover 95% of the proposed Loan and of the interest thereon during the period that the Loan is or will be outstanding;

 

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(f)                                   if the proposed Utilisation Request is in respect of a Confirmed Local Purchase Order issued pursuant to the Pending Local Contract, the Confirmation Date has occurred;

 

(g)                                  the Facility Agent shall have received (i) a Utilisation Request in the form of Schedule 3 (Utilisation Request), duly executed by the Borrower and delivered to the Facility Agent and the Passport Bank, and (ii) a Supplier’s Certificate, duly executed by the relevant Supplier;

 

(h)                                 the Facility Agent shall have received confirmation from the Borrower and the Supplier that:

 

(i)                                     the Contract in respect of which the relevant Utilisation is requested has not:

 

(A)                               been repudiated, revoked, rescinded or terminated,

 

(B)                               as far as they are aware, ceased to be in full force and effect,

 

(C)                               as far as they are aware, ceased to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable or effective, or

 

(D)                               has been alleged by a party to it to be ineffective, and

 

(ii)                                  as far as they are aware it is not, nor has it become, unlawful for any of the Suppliers or the Borrower to perform their obligations under the Contract in respect of which the relevant Utilisation is requested, and it is agreed and acknowledged that statements to this effect as set out in the relevant Utilisation Request and Supplier’s Certificate shall satisfy this requirement; and

 

(i)                                     where the proposed Utilisation Date in the relevant Utilisation Request is a date which falls after the Starting Point for Repayment in respect of the relevant Tranche, the Facility Agent has received on or before the date of the relevant Utilisation Request written confirmation from the Foreign Supplier and from the Borrower (as evidenced in the relevant Utilisation Request and the Supplier’s Certificate) that fifteen per cent. (15%) of the total aggregate amount of the Foreign Goods and Services attributable to that Tranche was paid to the Foreign Supplier in cleared funds by or on behalf of the Borrower at least ten (10) Business Day before the Starting Point for Repayment for that Tranche.

 

4.4                               Verification by the Facility Agent of the documents

 

The verification by the Facility Agent of the documents provided with any Supplier’s Certificate shall be limited to the verification of their apparent compliance as defined under the latest version of the Uniform Customs and Practices for Documentary Credits published by the International Chamber of Commerce.

 

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5.                                      UTILISATION

 

5.1                               Delivery of a Utilisation Request for certain Utilisations

 

Except as set forth below, the Borrower may utilise the Facility by delivery to the Facility Agent (with a copy to the Passport Bank) of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than 10:00 a.m. on the day falling ten (10) Business Days before the proposed Utilisation Date (or, in relation to the first Utilisation Request, not later than 9:00 a.m. on the day falling ten (10) Business Days before the proposed Utilisation Date).

 

The Facility Agent may postpone the proposed Utilisation Date contained in the relevant Utilisation Request by written notice to the Borrower and the Suppliers.

 

5.2                               Utilisation in relation to the EKN Premium

 

(a)                                 The Borrower may request a Utilisation in respect of any EKN Premium paid by it in accordance with Clause 3.1 (Purpose) and Clause 11.4 (EKN Premium) (other than any additional EKN Premium required to be paid by the Borrower as contemplated by Clause 11.4(g)(i)) (a “Premium Utilisation”). The amount of any Premium Utilisation (being the amount equal to the relevant EKN Premium which has been paid by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 11.4 (EKN Premium)) shall be added to the amount requested pursuant to the first Utilisation Request delivered in respect of the relevant Tranche and shall form part of the relevant Loan.

 

(b)                                 No proceeds in respect of (i) any Premium Utilisation, or (ii) any other Utilisation under a Tranche shall be disbursed unless the Facility Agent promptly upon becoming aware has confirmed to the Lenders and the Borrower that it has received payment of the relevant EKN Premium in respect of such Tranche.

 

(c)                                  The proceeds of each Premium Utilisation shall be credited, along with the balance of the proceeds the subject of the relevant Utilisation Request, to the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account in accordance with Clause 5.5 (Application of the Loans).

 

5.3                               Completion of a Utilisation Request

 

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

 

(i)                                     the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period;

 

(ii)                                  it identifies the Tranche of the Facility to be utilised and, in the case of the first Utilisation Request delivered in respect of a Tranche, indicates amounts requested in respect of a Premium Utilisation;

 

(iii)                               the currency and the amount of the Utilisation comply with Clause 5.4 (Currency and amount);

 

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(iv)                              the proposed Utilisation Request complies with Clause 3.1 (Purpose);

 

(v)                                 it specifies the bank account to which the proceeds of the Utilisation are to be credited (such bank account to be, in accordance with Clause 5.9 (Accounts), the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account;

 

(vi)                              the Utilisation Request is executed by a person duly authorised to do so on behalf of the Borrower; and

 

(vii)                           the maximum number of Utilisations (including any Premium Utilisation) under this Agreement shall be thirty five (35).

 

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

 

5.4                               Currency and amount

 

(a)                                 The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be Dollars.

 

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

 

(i)                                     in relation to a Tranche A Loan, an amount which is not more than the Tranche A Available Commitment and which is a minimum amount of USD 20,000,000 or, if less, the Tranche A Available Commitment;

 

(ii)                                  in relation to a Tranche B Loan, an amount which is not more than the Tranche B Available Commitment and which is a minimum amount of USD 20,000,000 or, if less, the Tranche B Available Commitment; and

 

(iii)                               in relation to any Loan made available to finance a reimbursement to the Borrower in respect of payments it has previously made to the Local Supplier in respect of Eligible Local Services under any Confirmed Local Purchase Order issued pursuant to a Local Contract, an amount which is not more than the USD counter value of the amount in RUR of the portion of the price of Eligible Local Services to be financed under such Loan calculated on the date of the Utilisation Request at the official exchange rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation between USD and RUR, as prevailing on the date of such Utilisation Request.

 

5.5                               Application of the Loans

 

(a)                                 The Borrower irrevocably instructs the Facility Agent to credit to the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account the proceeds of all Utilisations requested for the purposes of financing as a reimbursement to the Borrower amounts the Borrower has paid to (i) the Foreign Supplier under the Export Contract in respect of Eligible Foreign Goods and Services (other than any amounts of Down Payment), (ii) the Local Supplier under a Local Contract in respect of Eligible Local Services, and (iii) the Facility Agent in respect of the EKN Premium due to EKN.

 

(b)                                 Each Utilisation shall result in an irrevocable undertaking of repayment in favour of the Lenders by the Borrower of the amount of the relevant Loan.

 

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5.6                               Lenders’ participation

 

(a)                                 If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender shall make its participation in each Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office.

 

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

 

(c)                                  Five (5) Business Days before the relevant proposed Utilisation Date (or, in relation to the first Loan to be made pursuant to the Facility, not later than 9:00 a.m. on the day falling five (5) Business Days before the proposed Utilisation Date for such first Loan) for each Utilisation (which may include amounts in respect of a Premium Utilisation) requested in respect of the Local Contracts and the Export Contract, the Facility Agent will inform SEK, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Passport Bank of its receipt of the relevant Utilisation Request, the amount of the Loan, the amount of each Lender’s participation in that Loan and the proposed date of the Utilisation, and shall request from the Lenders an irrevocable swift 103 confirmation of the payment of an amount equal to such requested Loan one (1) Business Day before the date of such proposed Utilisation. Provided that the Facility Agent has received such swift confirmation from each Lender, the Facility Agent will inform the Passport Bank and, on the proposed date of the relevant Utilisation, send to the Passport Bank an irrevocable swift 103 confirmation confirming the transfer to the Passport Bank of an amount equal to the amount of the proposed Loan for onward credit to the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account in accordance with Clause 5.5 (Application of the Loans).

 

5.7                               Cancellation of unutilised Commitment

 

At close of business in Sweden on the last day of the Availability Period, the unutilised amount of each Lender’s Commitment shall be automatically cancelled.

 

5.8                               Acknowledgement by the Borrower

 

The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a)                                 any amount payable by a Finance Party to SEK shall be evidenced by an invoice to be delivered by SEK to the relevant Finance Party or the SEK Agent and (save in the case of manifest error) neither the Finance Parties nor the Borrower will raise against any Finance Party any claim or defence of any kind whatsoever in relation to the payment by the SEK Agent of any amount specified therein as being payable by a Finance Party to SEK pursuant to any SEK Document;

 

(b)                                 a copy of any invoice received from EKN or SEK (as the case may be) and delivered to the Borrower by the SEK Agent or the EKN Agent shall (save in the case of manifest error) constitute conclusive evidence of amounts payable by the Borrower or a Finance Party (as applicable) in respect of any EKN Document or SEK Document (as the case may be); and

 

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(c)                                  none of the Agents shall be responsible for any delay in the making of any Loan occasioned by any request for evidence or documentation which the Agents may require in order to be satisfied that an EKN Document is effective or that any condition precedent is satisfied. The EKN Agent agrees to notify the Borrower as soon as practicable if it has actual notice from EKN that further information or documents are necessary or required. The SEK Agent agrees to notify the Borrower as soon as practicable if it has actual notice from SEK that further information or documents are necessary or required,

 

provided that in each case the Borrower shall have no obligation to the Finance Parties for any amounts payable to EKN or SEK arising as a result of a Finance Party’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

5.9                               Accounts

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall, if not already done, promptly after the Signing Date (and in any event prior to delivering the first Utilisation Request):

 

(i)                                     open in its name and maintain with the Passport Bank the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account; and

 

(ii)                                  submit all necessary documents to the Passport Bank to open and maintain the Loan Passport;

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall maintain the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account with the Passport Bank in accordance with applicable Russian law and the internal rules of the Passport Bank at all times.

 

5.10                        Disclosure of Information

 

The Borrower shall give such authorizations or instructions to the Passport Bank as may be required by applicable law so that the Passport Bank can:

 

(a)                                 to the extent permitted by applicable law, forward to the Facility Agent the original or a copy of any necessary document in relation to the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account; and

 

(b)                                 to the extent permitted by applicable law, disclose, to the Facility Agent at its request, any information concerning the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account.

 

5.11                        Instructions to Operate the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account

 

The Borrower will give and maintain to the extent required by applicable law any instructions and other documents to the Passport Bank as may be required for payments to be made according to the provisions of this Agreement in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Passport Bank acting reasonably, provided, however, that non-delivery of such payment instructions shall not prejudice the authority of the Passport Bank to perform the relevant money transfer (if such transfer is permitted by applicable law and the exchange of currency as specified in this agreement) and shall not affect the validity of any such transfer.

 

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6.                                     REPAYMENT

 

6.1                               Repayment of Loans

 

The Borrower shall repay the Loans made to it under this Agreement in accordance with this Clause 6 (Repayment).

 

(a)                                 On the First Repayment Date to occur in respect of Tranche A, the Borrower shall repay an amount equal to 1/17th of the Total Tranche A Commitments (such amount the “First Tranche A Repayment Amount”).

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall repay the remaining principal amount outstanding in respect of the Tranche A Loans in sixteen (16) equal and consecutive semi-annual instalments to be made on each subsequent Repayment Date to occur after the First Repayment Date to occur in respect of Tranche A, by repaying an amount equal to 1/16th of the Tranche A Outstanding Amount. For the purposes of this Clause, “Tranche A Outstanding Amount” means the aggregate amount of all Tranche A Loans less an amount equal to the First Tranche A Repayment Amount.

 

(c)                                  On the First Repayment Date to occur in respect of Tranche B, the Borrower shall repay an amount equal to 1/17th of the Total Tranche B Commitments (such amount the “First Tranche B Repayment Amount”).

 

(d)                                 The Borrower shall repay the remaining principal amount outstanding in respect of the Tranche B Loans in sixteen (16) equal and consecutive semi-annual instalments to be made on each subsequent Repayment Date to occur after the First Repayment Date to occur in respect of Tranche B, by repaying an amount equal to 1/16th of the Tranche B Outstanding Amount. For the purposes of this Clause, “Tranche B Outstanding Amount” means the aggregate amount of all Tranche B Loans less an amount equal to the First Tranche B Repayment Amount.

 

Within ten (10) Business Days after the last day of the relevant Availability Period, the Facility Agent will send to the Borrower with a copy to the Lenders, a repayment schedule for the remaining principal amount of the Tranche A Loans or Tranche B Loans (as the context requires) outstanding and an estimate of the interest payments to be made during each remaining Interest Period in respect of the Loans outstanding.

 

Any amount outstanding on the Final Maturity Date shall be repaid in full on that date.

 

6.2                               Reborrowing

 

The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Facility which is repaid.

 

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7.                                      PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

 

7.1                               Illegality

 

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

 

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

 

(b)                                 upon the Facility Agent notifying the Borrower, the Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled; and

 

(c)                                  the Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participation in the Loans on the later of the last day of the Interest Period for each Loan occurring, and the date falling twenty (20) days after the Facility Agent has notified the Borrower (but in any event no longer than any grace period permitted by law) or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Facility Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law).

 

7.2                               Voluntary prepayment of Loans

 

(a)                                 The Borrower may, subject to the prior written consent of the Facility Agent (acting on behalf of the Lenders), if it gives the Facility Agent not less than fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice, prepay the whole or any part of any Loan (but, if in part, being a minimum amount of USD 20,000,000 provided that the consent of the Facility Agent (acting on behalf of the Lenders) shall not be required if such prepayment is to be made on a Repayment Date.

 

(b)                                 A Loan in respect of any Tranche of the Facility may only be prepaid after the last day of the Availability Period of that Tranche (or, if earlier, the day on which the relevant Available Facility for such Tranche is zero).

 

(c)                                  Each prepayment shall be applied in satisfaction of the Borrower’s obligations under Clause 6 (Repayment) in inverse chronological order of maturity of the Loans in the relevant Tranche (or, at the option of the Borrower and subject to the consent of SEK and EKN, pro rata to the remaining principal repayments thereof) and be applied rateably among the participations of all Lenders.

 

7.3                              Voluntary cancellation

 

The Borrower may if it gives the Facility Agent not less than fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice, cancel, the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of USD 20,000,000) of the Available Facility in respect of any Tranche. Any cancellation under this Clause 7.3 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders in respect of such Tranche rateably.

 

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7.4                               Mandatory Prepayment — Change of Control

 

(a)                                 In this Clause 7.4, “Change of Control” means any of the following events or circumstances: any person or group of persons acting in concert or under an express or implied agreement or understanding, directly or through one or more intermediaries shall (x) acquire ultimate beneficial or legal ownership of, or control over, more than 50% of the issued shares of the Borrower; (y) acquire ownership of or control over more than 50% of the voting interests in the share capital of the Borrower; or (z) obtain the power (whether or not exercised) to elect not less than half of the directors of the Borrower (provided, however, that any acquisition by Sistema JSFC or any of its Subsidiaries that results in the 50% threshold in paragraphs (x) and (y) above being exceeded, or in the power referred to in paragraph (z) above being obtained, will not be a Change of Control).

 

(b)                                 If there is a Change of Control:

 

(i)                                   the Borrower shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon becoming aware of that event;

 

(ii)                                the Borrower may not make a Utilisation; and

 

(iii)                             if any Lender (in its sole discretion) so requires, it may, within 5 (five) Business Days of its receipt of the Borrower’s notification under paragraph (i) above, direct the Facility Agent to send a notice to the Borrower requiring the Borrower to repay that Lender’s participations in the Loans (together with accrued interest) in full on the day (the “Early Change of Control Repayment Date”) falling thirty (30) days after the date of the Borrower’s notification under paragraph (i) above. Before the Early Change of Control Repayment Date, the Lender and the Borrower shall consult with each other for a period of five (5) Business Days with respect to the transfer of that Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement to another reputable international bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity nominated by the Borrower in accordance with Clause 22.5 (Procedure for transfer) for a purchase price equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest and fees and other amounts payable under this Agreement. If no such transfer has been effected on or before the Early Change of Control Repayment Date, then (x) the Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participations in the Loans (together with accrued interest) in full on the Early Change of Control Repayment Date and (y) the Commitments of that Lender shall be reduced to zero on that date.

 

7.5                               Mandatory Prepayment — Ratings Downgrade

 

(a)                                 In this Clause 7.5:

 

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Ltd. and any successor to its rating business.

 

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“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating business.

 

“Primary Rating” means a Rating of B for S&P, a Rating of B2 for Moody’s or a Rating of B for Fitch.

 

“Rating” means the credit rating assigned by a Rating Agency to the Borrower’s long-term foreign currency rating or equivalent rating as agreed by Majority Lenders.

 

“Ratings Agency” means each of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch.

 

“Ratings Downgrade” means any of the following events: (i) at least two of the Ratings Agencies assigning a Rating which falls below the Primary Rating or (ii) one or more of the Ratings Agencies assigning a Rating which falls below the Secondary Rating or not assigning any Rating.

 

“Secondary Rating” means a Rating of B- for S&P, a Rating of B3 for Moody’s or a Rating of B- for Fitch.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor to its rating business.

 

(b)                                 If there is a Ratings Downgrade:

 

(i)                                   the Borrower shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon becoming aware of that event;

 

(ii)                                the Borrower may not make a Utilisation; and

 

(iii)                             if any Lender (in its sole discretion) so requires, it may, if after a Utilisation Date, within 5 (five) Business Days of its receipt of the Borrower’s notification under paragraph (i) above or the occurrence of a Ratings Downgrade, direct the Facility Agent to send a notice to the Borrower requiring the Borrower to repay that Lender’s participations in the Loans (together with accrued interest) in full on the day (the “Early Ratings Downgrade Repayment Date”) falling 30 (thirty) days after the date of the Borrower’s notification under paragraph (i) above. After receipt of the Borrower’s notification or the occurrence of a Ratings Downgrade and before the Early Ratings Downgrade Repayment Date, the Lender and the Borrower shall consult with each other for a period of 5 (five) Business Days with respect to the transfer of that Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement to another reputable international bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity nominated by the Borrower in accordance with Clause 22.5 (Procedure for transfer) for a purchase price equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest and fees and other amounts payable under this Agreement. If no such transfer has been effected on or before the Early Ratings Downgrade Repayment Date, then (x) the Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participations in the Loans (together

 

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with accrued interest) in full on the Early Ratings Downgrade Repayment Date and (y) the Commitment of that Lender shall be reduced to zero on that date.

 

7.6                               Mandatory Prepayment — Retained Earnings and Capital Reduction

 

(a)                                 In this Clause 7.6, “Retained Earnings” means retained earnings of the Borrower determined by reference to its most recent quarterly unaudited non-consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with RAS adjusted so as to take into account any distributions made since the date of those statements.

 

(b)                                 If Retained Earnings fall below the aggregate of RUR 20,000,000,000 and the cumulative amount of consideration (the payment of which is in cash or would otherwise reduce the consolidated balance sheet of the Group during the life of the Facility) paid by or on behalf of any member of the Group in respect of the purchase of shares in the Borrower or any reduction in the share capital of the Borrower after the Signing Date (and excluding any “treasury shares” in the Borrower held by the Borrower as at the Signing Date) to the extent such consideration does not reduce Retained Earnings:

 

(i)                                     the Borrower shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon becoming aware of that event occurring or being likely to occur;

 

(ii)                                  the Borrower may not make a Utilisation; and

 

(iii)                               if the Majority Lenders so require, they may, within five (5) Business Days of receipt of the Borrower’s notification under paragraph (i) above, direct the Facility Agent to send a notice to the Borrower requiring the Borrower to repay each Lender’s participations in the Loans (together with accrued interest) in full on the day (the “Early Retained Earnings Repayment Date”) falling 30 (thirty) days after the date of the Borrower’s notification under paragraph (i) above. On the Early Retained Earnings Repayment Date the Total Commitments shall be reduced to zero.

 

7.7                               Mandatory Prepayment in relation to the Contracts or the EKN Documents

 

(a)                                 If the EKN Offer or an EKN Guarantee is repudiated, revoked, rescinded or terminated by EKN or ceases to be in full force and effect or ceases to be legal, valid, binding or enforceable or it becomes unlawful for any party thereto to perform its obligations thereunder, then:

 

(i)                                     the Borrower shall promptly notify the Facility Agent upon becoming aware of that event occurring or being likely to occur;

 

(ii)                                  the Borrower may not make a Utilisation;

 

(iii)                               the remaining Available Commitments will be immediately cancelled; and

 

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(iv)                              the Borrower will immediately prepay in full each Lender’s participations in the Loans (together with accrued interest and other amounts payable under this Agreement) and the Total Commitments shall be reduced to zero.

 

(b)                                 If for any reason a Contract is repudiated, revoked, rescinded or terminated or otherwise ceases to be in full force and effect and the Borrower receives from a Supplier any reimbursement of amounts which have previously been paid by the Borrower to the Supplier in respect of relevant Eligible Goods and Services and have been subsequently reimbursed to the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (any such amount a “Refund Amount”), then the Borrower shall promptly notify the Facility Agent in respect of its receipt of such Refund Amount and apply any and all such Refund Amounts in prepayment of the Loans and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of Clause 7.9 (Restrictions).

 

7.8                               Right of repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender

 

If:

 

(a)                                 any sum payable to any Lender by the Borrower is required to be increased under paragraph (c) of Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up); or

 

(b)                                 any Lender claims indemnification from the Borrower under Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) or Clause 13 (Increased Costs),

 

the Borrower may, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for that increase or indemnification continues, give the Facility Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitments of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lender’s participation in the Loans on the last day of the Interest Period ending after the date of such notice (or, if earlier, on such other date as specified by the Borrower in that notice) (the “Cancellation Date”). After receipt from the Facility Agent of the Borrower’s notification and before the Cancellation Date, the Lender and the Borrower and the Facility Agent shall consult with each other for a period of five (5) Business Days with respect to the transfer of that Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement to another reputable international bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity nominated by the Borrower in accordance with Clause 22.5 (Procedure for transfer). If no such transfer has been effected on or before the Cancellation Date, then (x) the Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participations in the Loans (together with accrued interest) in full on the Cancellation Date and (y) the Commitments of that Lender shall be reduced to zero on that date.

 

7.9                               Restrictions

 

(a)                                 Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under this Clause 7 shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment.

 

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

 

(c)                                  The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Facility which is prepaid.

 

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

 

(e)                                  No amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated.

 

(f)                                   If the Facility Agent receives a notice under this Clause 7, it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to (i) the EKN Agent (and the EKN Agent shall promptly inform EKN), (ii) the SEK Agent (and the SEK Agent shall promptly inform SEK) and to (iii) either the Borrower or the affected Lender, as appropriate.

 

(g)                                  In the event of any prepayment or cancellation under this Clause 7, the Facility Agent shall promptly inform (i) the EKN Agent (and the EKN Agent shall promptly inform EKN) and (ii) the SEK Agent (and the SEK Agent shall promptly inform SEK) in writing of the details of such prepayment or cancellation.

 

8.                                      INTEREST

 

8.1                               Calculation of interest in relation to Tranche A Loans

 

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

 

(a)                                 Margin;

 

(b)                                 LIBOR; and

 

(c)                                  Mandatory Cost, if any.

 

8.2                               Calculation of interest in relation to Tranche B Loans

 

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

 

(a)                                 Margin;

 

(b)                                 LIBOR; and

 

(c)                                  Mandatory Cost, if any.

 

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8.3                               Payment of interest

 

The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on each Loan on the last day of each Interest Period.

 

8.4                               Default interest

 

(a)                                 If the Borrower fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to paragraph (b) below, is the sum of two per cent. (2%) and the rate which would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably).

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)                                  the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest Period shall be the sum of two per cent. (2%) and the rate which would have applied if the overdue amount had not become due.

 

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

 

(d)                                 Any interest accruing under this Clause 8.4 shall be immediately payable by the Borrower on demand by the Facility Agent.

 

8.5                               Notification of rates of interest

 

The Facility Agent shall promptly notify the relevant Lenders and the Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.

 

9.                                      INTEREST PERIODS

 

9.1                               Duration of Interest Periods

 

(a)                                 The first Interest Period for the first Loan made under a Tranche of the Facility shall begin on the Utilisation Date for that Loan and end on the last day of six (6) Months period following the Utilisation Date for that Loan and every other successive Interest Period for that Loan shall, subject to this Clause 9, have a six (6) Months duration.

 

(b)                                 The Interest Period for a subsequent Loan under that Tranche of the Facility shall end on the last day of the current Interest Period for the first Loan and at

 

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the end of that current Interest Period all Loans under that Tranche shall be consolidated such that all Loans under that Tranche shall then be treated as a single Loan under that Tranche.

 

(c)                                  An Interest Period for a Loan under a Tranche of the Facility shall not extend beyond a Repayment Date for that Tranche or the Final Maturity Date for that Tranche and if an Interest Period would otherwise overrun a Repayment Date or the Final Maturity Date, such Interest Period shall be shortened so that it ends on that Repayment Date or the Final Maturity Date.

 

(d)                                 Each Interest Period shall start on the Utilisation Date or (if the Loan is already made) on the last day of its preceding Interest Period.

 

(e)                                  For the purpose of Clause 10.2 (Market disruption), the Facility Agent may, at its sole discretion, shorten any Interest Period. If the Facility Agent makes any change to an Interest Period, it shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Finance Parties, and the SEK Agent shall promptly notify SEK and the EKN Agent shall promptly notify EKN.

 

9.2                               Non-Business Days

 

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

 

10.                               CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST

 

10.1                        Absence of quotations

 

Subject to Clause 10.2 (Market disruption), if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by 11:00 a.m. on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks.

 

10.2                        Market disruption

 

(a)                                 If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to a Loan for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lender’s share of that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the rate per annum which is the sum of:

 

(i)                                   the Margin;

 

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

 

(iii)                             the Mandatory Cost, if any, applicable to that Lender’s participation in the Loan.

 

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Lenders that choose not to provide to the Facility Agent cost of funding information will be deemed to be in agreement with the original rate of interest specified in the Loan. The rate of interest for those Lenders for the relevant Interest Period shall be the aggregate of the Margin, the LIBOR for the relevant Interest Period, and the Mandatory Cost, if any, applicable to that Lender’s participation in the Loan.

 

The Facility Agent shall treat all cost of funding information provided by Lenders as confidential information. Cost of funding information shall not be shared with the Borrower (unless on a no name basis) or other Lenders.

 

(b)                                 In this Agreement “Market Disruption Event” means:

 

(i)                                   at or about noon on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period the Screen Rate is not available and none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Facility Agent to determine LIBOR for US Dollars for the relevant Interest Period; or

 

(ii)                                before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Facility Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in a Loan exceed 35 per cent. of that Loan) that the cost to it of obtaining matching deposits in the Relevant Interbank Market would be in excess of LIBOR.

 

10.3                        Alternative basis of interest or funding

 

(a)                                 If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Facility Agent or the Borrower so requires the Facility Agent and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than thirty (30) days with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest.

 

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

 

10.4                        Break Costs

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent (for and on behalf of a Lender), pay to the Facility Agent (for and on behalf of that Lender) its Break Costs (if any) attributable to all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being paid by the Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum.

 

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

 

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11.                               FEES

 

11.1                        Arrangement fee

 

The Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent, for distribution to the Mandated Lead Arrangers, an arrangement fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the relevant Fee Letter. The Borrower shall pay to the Documentation Agent a fee in the amount and at the times agreed in the fee letter entered into between the Borrower and the Documentation Agent.

 

11.2                        Agency fee

 

The Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent (for distribution to the relevant Agent) agency fees in the amount and at the times agreed in each of the Agency Fee Letters.

 

11.3                        Commitment Fee

 

The Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent (for the account of each Original Lender and of SEK) a commitment fee calculated at the rate of zero point four per cent. (0.40%) per annum on the total aggregate of all Available Commitments on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days. Fifty per cent. (50%) of such commitment fee shall be payable to SEK and fifty per cent (50%) of such commitment fee shall be payable to the Original Lenders pro rata their respective Commitments on the date hereof. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable as from the Signing Date on the last day of each successive period of six (6) Months which ends during the Availability Period, on the last day of the Availability Period and, if cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lender’s Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective. This fee will be distributed by the Facility Agent to each Original Lender pro rata to their respective Commitments and to SEK in accordance with the SEK Offer.

 

11.4                        EKN Premium

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall pay to the Facility Agent for the account of EKN, 100% of the EKN Premium due to EKN under the EKN Documents. It is contemplated that each such payment of the EKN Premium by the Borrower to the Facility Agent will be refinanced by way of reimbursement to the Borrower of such amounts pursuant to a Premium Utilisation in respect of the relevant amount as contemplated by Clause 5.2 (Utilisation in relation to the EKN Premium) and otherwise in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower acknowledges that the obligation to pay the EKN Premium is absolute and unconditional.

 

(c)                                  The Borrower agrees that it will not raise against any Agent or any Lender any claim or defence of any kind whatsoever in relation to the determination or calculation of the EKN Premium (save in the case of manifest error).

 

(d)                                 The amount of the relevant EKN Premium payable by the Borrower hereunder shall be calculated by the EKN Agent in accordance with the remainder of this Clause 11.4.

 

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(e)                                  The EKN Agent shall calculate the amount of EKN Premium payable by the Borrower in respect of each relevant Tranche hereunder in accordance with the EKN Offer and shall send an invoice in respect of the relevant EKN Premium to the Borrower, copied to the Facility Agent (an “EKN Premium Invoice”) .

 

(f)                                   Each EKN Premium Invoice shall:

 

(i)                                   be from the EKN Agent and be addressed to the Borrower and copied to the Facility Agent;

 

(ii)                                set out the amount of the relevant EKN Premium payable by the Borrower in Dollars; and

 

(iii)                             direct the Borrower to make payment of the relevant EKN Premium to the account of the Facility Agent and include the relevant account details.

 

(g)                                  In the event that, upon issuance by EKN of a definitive invoice (a copy of which shall be sent to the Borrower and the Facility Agent by the EKN Agent as soon as practicable after receipt) in respect of the amount of any EKN Premium payable by the Borrower, which shall be binding on the Parties (save in the case of manifest error) (a “Definitive EKN Premium Invoice”):

 

(i)                                   the amount of the EKN Premium set out in the Definitive EKN Premium Invoice is more than the amount of the EKN Premium which was set out in, and paid by the Borrower pursuant to, the relevant EKN Premium Invoice, then any shortfall shall be paid by the Borrower to the Facility Agent for the account of EKN; or

 

(ii)                                the amount of the EKN Premium set out in the Definitive EKN Premium Invoice is less than the amount of the EKN Premium which was set out in, and paid by the Borrower pursuant to, the relevant EKN Premium Invoice, then any amount paid by the Borrower in respect of the relevant EKN Premium which is in excess of the amount set out in the Definitive EKN Premium Invoice shall be refunded to the Borrower by the Facility Agent.

 

(h)                                 The Agents and the Original Lenders acknowledge and agree that any credit or reimbursement of EKN Premium (including as a consequence of any prepayment or cancellation of any Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) by EKN shall be for the account of the Borrower.

 

(i)                                     The EKN Agent shall provide such reasonable co-operation and assistance to the Borrower as it may reasonably request in connection with the obtaining of a rebate or refund of EKN Premium from EKN following any prepayment or cancellation under this Agreement.

 

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12.                               TAX GROSS-UP AND INDEMNITIES

 

12.1                        Definitions

 

(a)                                 In this Agreement:

 

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

 

“Qualifying Lender” means any Lender which is situated for tax purposes in the Russian Federation or in a Tax Treaty Jurisdiction.

 

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

 

“Tax Deduction” means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document.

 

“Tax Payment” means an increased payment made by the Borrower to a Finance Party under Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up) or a payment under Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity).

 

“Tax Treaty Jurisdiction” means a jurisdiction which has in force a double tax treaty with the Russian Federation (or with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to which the Russian Federation has succeeded) which provides for full exemption from Russian withholding tax on interest derived from a source within the Russian Federation payable to a resident of such jurisdiction.

 

(b)                                 Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 12 a reference to “determines” or “determined” means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination.

 

12.2                       Tax gross-up

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(d)                                 The Borrower is not required to make an increased payment to a Finance Party under paragraph (c) above if, on the date on which the payment falls due, the Borrower could have made such a payment to that Finance Party without a Tax Deduction if that Finance Party was a Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Finance Party is not, or has ceased to be, a Qualifying Lender (other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Finance Party under this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or treaty, or any published practice or concession of any relevant taxing authority).

 

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

 

(f)                                   Within 30 (thirty) days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Borrower shall deliver to the Facility Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment an original receipt (or certified copy thereof) demonstrating that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority.

 

(g)                                  Each Finance Party and the Borrower shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for the Borrower to obtain authorisation to make a payment without a Tax Deduction.

 

12.3                       Tax indemnity

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall (within three (3)) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent) pay to a Protected Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Protected Party determines has been suffered for or on account of Tax by that Protected Party in respect of a Finance Document.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

if that Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by that Finance Party; or

 

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(ii)                                  to the extent a loss, liability or cost:

 

(A)                               is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up); or

 

(B)                               would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in paragraph (d) of Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up) applied.

 

(c)                                  A Protected Party making, or intending to make, a claim under paragraph (a) above shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower.

 

(d)                                 A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from the Borrower under this Clause 12.3, notify the Facility Agent.

 

12.4                        Tax Credit

 

If the Borrower makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:

 

(a)                                 a Tax Credit is attributable to that Tax Payment; and

 

(b)                                 that Finance Party has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit,

 

the Finance Party shall pay promptly an amount to the Borrower which that Finance Party determines will leave the Finance Party (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been made by the Borrower.

 

12.5                        Lender Status Confirmation

 

Each Lender which becomes a Party to this Agreement after the Signing Date shall indicate, in the Transfer Certificate which it executes on becoming a Party, and for the benefit of the Facility Agent and without liability to the Borrower, which of the following categories it falls in:

 

(a)                                 not a Qualifying Lender; or

 

(b)                                 a Qualifying Lender.

 

If a New Lender (as defined in Clause 22.1 (Assignments and transfers by the Lenders)) fails to indicate its status in accordance with this Clause 12.5 then such New Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement (including by the Borrower) as if it is not a Qualifying Lender until such time as it notifies the Facility Agent which category applies (and the Facility Agent, upon receipt of such notification, shall inform the Borrower). For the avoidance of doubt, a Transfer Certificate shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this Clause 12.5.

 

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12.6                        Stamp taxes

 

The Borrower shall pay and, within three (3) Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document.

 

12.7                        Value added tax

 

(a)                                 All consideration expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT. If VAT is chargeable on such consideration, that Party shall pay to the Finance Party (or directly to the appropriate tax authority, if so required by law) (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT.

 

(b)                                 Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse a Finance Party for any costs or expenses, that Party shall also at the same time pay and indemnify the Finance Party against all VAT incurred by the Finance Party in respect of the costs or expenses to the extent that the Finance Party reasonably determines that neither it nor any other member of the group of which it is a member for VAT purposes is entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of the VAT.

 

12.8                        Tax forms

 

(a)                                 At least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date of the first scheduled payment of interest under this Agreement, and within twenty (20) Business Days from the beginning of each calendar year falling after the Signing Date, each Qualifying Lender shall provide to the Borrower a document issued by the relevant government authority in its jurisdiction of residence confirming that it is a resident of that jurisdiction. That document shall be apostilled by each Qualifying Lender if requested by the Borrower (pursuant to a requirement of the Russian tax authorities). The Borrower shall pay to each Qualifying Lender an amount equal to the costs that the Qualifying Lender has incurred in apostilling any such document.

 

(b)                                 At the request of the Borrower (acting reasonably), each Lender shall use its reasonable efforts to provide any other documentation or information to the Borrower that may be reasonably necessary for the Borrower to establish a complete exemption from Russian withholding tax in relation to payments of interest under this Agreement.

 

13.                               INCREASED COSTS

 

13.1                        Increased Costs

 

(a)                                 Subject to Clause 13.3 (Exceptions) the Borrower shall, within 3 (three) Business Days of a demand by the Facility Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or its Holding Company as a result of (i) the introduction of or any

 

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change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the Signing Date.

 

(b)                                 In this Agreement “Increased Costs” means:

 

(i)                                     a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Party’s (or its Affiliate’s) overall capital;

 

(A)                               an additional or increased cost; or

 

(B)                               a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document,

 

which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or its Holding Company to the extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.

 

13.2                        Increased Cost claims

 

(a)                                 A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 13.1 (Increased Costs) shall notify the Facility Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower.

 

(b)                                 Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs.

 

13.3                        Exceptions

 

(a)                                 Clause 13.1 (Increased Costs) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is:

 

(i)                                     attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by the Borrower;

 

(ii)                                  compensated for by Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) (or would have been compensated for under Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in paragraph (b) of Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) applied);

 

(iii)                               compensated for by the payment of the Mandatory Cost; or

 

(iv)                              attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation.

 

(b)                                 In this Clause 13.3, a reference to a “Tax Deduction” has the same meaning given to the term in Clause 12.1 (Definitions).

 

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14.                               OTHER INDEMNITIES

 

14.1                        Currency indemnity

 

(a)                                 If any sum due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents (a “Sum”), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the “First Currency”) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the “Second Currency”) for the purpose of:

 

(i)                                     making or filing a claim or proof against the Borrower; or

 

(ii)                                  obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings,

 

the Borrower shall as an independent obligation, within 3 (three) Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.

 

14.2                        Other indemnities

 

The Borrower shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by any of them as a result of:

 

(a)                                 the occurrence of any Event of Default;

 

(b)                                 a failure by the Borrower to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result of Clause 26 (Sharing among the Finance Parties);

 

(c)                                  funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Loan requested by the Borrower in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone); or

 

(d)                                 a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower.

 

14.3                        Indemnity to the Agents

 

The Borrower shall promptly indemnify each Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Agent (in each case acting reasonably) as a result of:

 

(a)                                 investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default;

 

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(b)                                 acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;

 

(c)                                  bringing or dealing with any claim or other action under the EKN Guarantee; or

 

(d)                                 dealing with waivers to or consents in respect of the EKN Guarantee.

 

14.4                        Indemnity to Finance Parties

 

The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Finance Parties (or any of them) in connection with (i) any SEK Document, and (ii) any EKN Document, including without limitation:

 

(a)                                 all exchange losses which SEK may incur in connection with the Facility, the EKN Documents or the SEK Documents (for which a Finance Party may have indemnified SEK or EKN) and all costs incurred by SEK in connection with the arranging, implementing and liquidating of the Facility or any Loan (for which a Finance Party may have indemnified SEK or EKN);

 

(b)                                 any default interest on payments of principal, interest, commitment fee or any other amounts in respect of which SEK is entitled to be compensated or reimbursed under the terms of the SEK Documents (for which a Finance Party may have indemnified SEK);

 

(c)                                  any payment made or required to be made by an Original Lender to SEK pursuant to any SEK Guarantee, provided that where such payment by an Original Lender is in respect of amounts owing by the Borrower under this Agreement, any payment by the Borrower under this paragraph shall effect a corresponding reduction in the amounts due by the Borrower under this Agreement;

 

(d)                                 reasonable costs incurred by an Agent relating to any investigation or the obtaining of additional information which is required under terms and conditions of the EKN Documents or which is requested by an Agent (acting reasonably; and

 

(e)                                  any costs of EKN or SEK payable by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document and any proceedings instituted by or against such Finance Party as a consequence of enforcing such rights; and

 

(f)                                   any other loss, cost or expense which SEK may suffer or incur and in respect of which it is entitled to be compensated or reimbursed under the terms of the SEK Documents (for which a Finance Party may have indemnified SEK) including without limitation any loss, cost or expense arising in connection with:

 

(i)                                     any failure of the Borrower to make payments without any Tax Deduction in accordance with Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up); or

 

(ii)                                  any repayment or prepayment by the Borrower hereunder,

 

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in each case unless such cost, loss or liability is directly caused by such Finance Party’s own gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

15.                               MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS

 

15.1                        Mitigation

 

(a)                                 Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Borrower, and with the consent of EKN (if required under the terms of the relevant EKN Document), take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 7.1 (Illegality), Clause 12 (Tax gross-up and indemnities) or Clause 13.1 (Increased Costs) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office.

 

(b)                                 Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents.

 

15.2                        Limitation of liability

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under Clause 15.1 (Mitigation).

 

(b)                                 A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 15.1 (Mitigation) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

 

16.                               COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

16.1                        Transaction expenses

 

The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Agents and the Documentation Agent (for distribution to the Finance Parties) the amount of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and legal expenses (subject always to the terms of the Mandate Letter) incurred by any of the Finance Parties in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of:

 

(a)                                 this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and

 

(b)                                 any other Finance Documents executed after the Signing Date or in connection with the arrangement and maintaining in full force and effect any EKN Document or the SEK Offer, in each case to which the Borrower is a party or has otherwise consented.

 

16.2                       Amendment costs

 

If (a) the Borrower requests an amendment, waiver or consent or (b) an amendment is required pursuant to Clause 27.9 (Change of currency), the Borrower shall, within three (3) Business Days of demand, reimburse the Agents for the amount of all costs 

 

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and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agents in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.

 

16.3                        Enforcement costs

 

The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by it in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under any Finance Document and any proceedings instituted by or against the Facility Agent as a consequence of enforcing these rights.

 

17.                               REPRESENTATIONS

 

The Borrower makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 17 to each Finance Party on the Signing Date.

 

17.1                        Status

 

(a)                                 It is an open joint stock company, duly established, registered and validly existing under the laws of the Russian Federation.

 

(b)                                 It and each of its Significant Subsidiaries has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted.

 

17.2                        Binding obligations

 

The obligations expressed to be assumed by it in each Transaction Document to which it is a party are legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations, subject to insolvency and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and principles of equity.

 

17.3                        Non-conflict with other obligations

 

The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party do not and will not conflict with:

 

(a)                                 any law or regulation applicable to it;

 

(b)                                 its or any of its Subsidiaries’ constitutional documents; or

 

(c)                                  any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or its Subsidiaries’ assets.

 

17.4                        Power and authority

 

It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action (including all corporate authorisations required under the Companies Law) to authorise its entry into, performance and delivery of, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by those Transaction Documents.

 

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17.5                        Validity and admissibility in evidence

 

All Authorisations required:

 

(a)                                 to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations in the Transaction Documents to which it is a party;

 

(b)                                 for it and its Significant Subsidiaries to carry on its and their business; and

 

(c)                                  to make the Transaction Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in the general jurisdiction courts or commercial courts (arbitrazhniye sudi) of the Russian Federation in an original action or action to enforce a foreign arbitral award, provided that authenticated and notarised Russian texts are made available to such courts at that time and any other procedures and formalities regarding presentation of documents to a Russian court are complied with,

 

have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect (except, in relation to paragraph (b) above, where the failure to obtain such Authorisations (excluding any Telecommunications Authorisations) is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect).

 

17.6                        Governing law and enforcement

 

(a)                                 The choice of English law as the governing law of the Finance Documents to which it is a party will be recognised and enforced in the Russian Federation.

 

(b)                                 Any arbitration award obtained in England in relation to a Finance Document to which it is a party will be recognised and enforced in the Russian Federation in accordance with the 1958 New York Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.

 

17.7                        No bankruptcy proceedings

 

Neither the Borrower nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries has taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or, to the best of its knowledge and belief (after due inquiry), threatened against it or any of its Significant Subsidiaries for (a) its liquidation or bankruptcy or the appointment of a liquidation commission (likvidatsionnaya komissiya) or a similar officer of it or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; (b) the institution of supervision (nablyudeniye), financial rehabilitation (finansovoe ozdorovlenie), external management (vneshniy upravlayucshiy) or the appointment of a bankruptcy manager (konkursniy upravlayuschiy) or similar officer of it or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; (c) the convening of a meeting of creditors for the purposes of considering an amicable settlement (as defined in the Russian Insolvency Law); or (d) any analogous act in respect of it or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in any jurisdiction.

 

17.8                        Deduction of Tax

 

It is not required under the law of the Russian Federation to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it may make under any Finance Document to 

 

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which it is a party to a Qualifying Lender provided that it has received the documentation specified in paragraph (a) of Clause 12.8 (Tax forms).

 

17.9                        No filing or stamp taxes

 

Under the law of the Russian Federation it is not necessary that the Finance Documents to which it is a party be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in the Russian Federation or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents to which it is a party or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to which it is a party, except for court registration fees in connection with any enforcement proceedings in such court.

 

17.10                 Payment of Taxes

 

Neither it nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries has overdue tax liabilities, other than tax liabilities (a) whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves or other appropriate provision has been made or (b) whose amount, together with all such other unpaid or undischarged taxes, does not in aggregate exceed $25,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).

 

17.11                 No default

 

(a)                                 No Default or Event of Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the making of any Utilisation.

 

(b)                                 No event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes a default under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or any of its Subsidiaries or to which its (or any of its Subsidiaries’) assets are subject which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

17.12                No misleading information

 

(a)                                 Any Information provided to the Finance Parties in connection with the Transaction Documents to which it is a party is true and accurate in all material respects on the date it was provided or stated to be given.

 

(b)                                 There are no facts or circumstances or any other information which have been withheld or omitted by the Borrower or which could make the Information provided to the Finance Parties incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect on the date it was provided or stated to be given.

 

(c)                                  All opinions, projections, forecasts or expressions of intention contained in the Information and the assumptions on which they have been based are believed to be reasonable by the Borrower on the date it was provided or stated to be given.

 

(d)                                 For purposes of this Clause, “Information” means any written information provided by the Borrower in respect of itself or the Group to the Finance Parties in connection with the Transaction Documents to which it is a party.

 

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17.13                 Financial statements

 

(a)                                 Its Original Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

 

(b)                                 Its Original Financial Statements fairly represent its, and its consolidated, financial condition and operations as at the end of and for the relevant financial year.

 

(c)                                  There has been no material adverse change in its business or financial condition (or the business or consolidated financial condition of the Group) since the date of its unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended 30 June 2009.

 

17.14                 Pari passu ranking

 

Its payment obligations under the Finance Documents to which it is a party rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.

 

17.15                 Solvency

 

Neither the Borrower nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is Insolvent.

 

17.16                 No proceedings pending or threatened

 

Other than the UMC Litigation, no litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings of or before any court, arbitral body or agency (including but not limited to, investigative proceedings) have, to the best of its knowledge and belief (after due inquiry), been started or threatened against it or any of its Significant Subsidiaries which, if adversely determined would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

17.17                 Environmental laws and licences

 

Except as disclosed in writing to the Facility Agent before the date hereof, it and each of its Significant Subsidiaries has:

 

(a)                                 complied with all Environmental Laws to which it may be subject;

 

(b)                                 obtained all Environmental Licences required in connection with its business; and

 

(c)                                  complied with the terms of those Environmental Licences,

 

in each case where failure to do so would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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17.18                 Telecommunications laws and licences

 

(a)                                 Each of the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries has:

 

(i)                                     complied in all material respects with all Telecommunications Laws to which it may be subject;

 

(ii)                                  obtained all material Telecommunications Authorisations necessary to conduct its business; and

 

(iii)                               complied in all material respects with the terms of those Telecommunication Authorisations,

 

in each case other than where failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                 There has been no act, omission or event which might reasonably be expected to give rise to the material amendment, revocation, suspension, cancellation, withdrawal or termination of any provision of any Telecommunications Authorisation. To the best of its knowledge and belief (after due inquiry), no Telecommunications Authorisation is the subject of any pending or threatened proceedings which, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

17.19                 Compliance with laws

 

Each of the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries is conducting its business and operations in compliance with all laws and regulations and all directives of any government agency having legal force applicable or relevant to it, excluding any such non-compliance which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor (to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge after due and careful enquiry in accordance with the Borrower’s internal procedures from time to time) any officers, directors, authorised employees,  agents or representatives of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries has committed or engaged in, with respect to or any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any Prohibited Practice.

 

17.20                 No Immunity

 

(a)                                 The execution by the Borrower of the Finance Documents to which it is a party constitutes, and its exercise of its rights and performance of its obligations thereunder will constitute, private and commercial activities done and performed for private and commercial purposes (rather than public and governmental purposes).

 

(b)                                 In any proceedings taken in the Russian Federation in relation to the Finance Documents to which it is a party, the Borrower will not be entitled to claim for itself or any of its assets immunity from suit, execution, attachment or other legal process.

 

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17.21                 Role of Borrower

 

The Borrower is acting as principal and for its own account and not as an agent or trustee or in any other capacity on behalf of any other party.

 

17.22                 Repetition

 

The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by the Borrower by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on the date of each Utilisation Request and the first day of each Interest Period (provided that whenever the representation in paragraph (c) of Clause 17.3 (Non-conflict with other obligations) is deemed to be made on a date other than the Signing Date or a Utilisation Date, the statement “except where the same would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect” shall qualify the representation in said paragraph (c)).

 

18.                               INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS

 

The undertakings in this Clause 18 remain in force from the Signing Date for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

18.1                        Financial statements

 

The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders:

 

(a)                                 as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 180 days after the end of each of its financial years, its audited consolidated and non-consolidated financial statements for that financial year; and

 

(b)                                 as soon as the same become available, but in any event within (i) 60 days after the end of each of its first, second and third financial quarters and (ii) 90 days after the end of its fourth financial quarter, its unaudited consolidated and non-consolidated financial statements for that financial quarter.

 

18.2                        Compliance Certificate

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent with each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 18.1 (Financial statements), a Compliance Certificate setting out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with Clause 19 (Financial covenants) and the amount of Retained Earnings in accordance with Clause 7.6 (Mandatory Prepayment — Retained Earnings) as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up. Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by an authorised officer of the Borrower.

 

(b)                                 Where a Compliance Certificate is required to be delivered with the financial statements delivered pursuant to paragraph (a) of Clause 18.1 (Financial statements), it shall be accompanied by a report from the Borrower’s auditors using a form acceptable to those auditors.

 

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18.3                        Requirements as to financial statements

 

(a)                                 Each set of financial statements delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Clause 18.1 (Financial statements) shall be certified by an authorised officer of the Borrower as fairly representing its (or, as the case may be, its consolidated) financial condition and operations as at the end of and for the period in relation to which those financial statements were drawn up.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall procure that each set of consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 18.1 (Financial statements) is prepared using GAAP accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Original Financial Statements unless, in relation to any set of financial statements, it notifies the Facility Agent that there has been a change in GAAP, the accounting practices or reference periods and its auditors deliver to the Facility Agent:

 

(i)                                     a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect the GAAP, accounting practices and reference periods upon which the Original Financial Statements were prepared; and

 

(ii)                                  sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required by the Facility Agent, to enable the Lenders to determine whether Clause 19 (Financial covenants) has been complied with and make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in those financial statements and the Original Financial Statements.

 

(c)                                  Each set of audited financial statements delivered by the Borrower under paragraph (a) of Clause 18.1 (Financial statements) shall be audited by an internationally recognised independent qualified firm of auditors.

 

(d)                                 Any reference in this Agreement to consolidated financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those financial statements prepared as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the Original Financial Statements were prepared.

 

(e)                                  The Borrower shall procure that each set of non-consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 18.1 (Financial statements) is prepared using RAS accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Original RAS Financial Statements unless, in relation to any set of financial statements, it notifies the Facility Agent that there has been a change in RAS, the accounting practices or reference periods and it delivers to the Facility Agent:

 

(i)                                     a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect the RAS, accounting practices and reference periods upon which the Original RAS Financial Statements were prepared; and

 

(ii)                                  sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required by the Facility Agent, to enable the Lenders to make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in those financial statements and the Original RAS Financial Statements.

 

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(f)                                   Any reference in this Agreement to non-consolidated financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those financial statements prepared as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the Original RAS Financial Statements were prepared.

 

18.4                        Information: miscellaneous

 

The Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Facility Agent so requests):

 

(a)                                 all documents dispatched by the Borrower to its shareholders (or any class of them) or its creditors generally promptly after they are dispatched;

 

(b)                                 promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any member of the Group, and which would, if adversely determined, be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect and such further details in relation to such litigation as the Facility Agent may reasonably request to enable the Facility Agent to determine whether such litigation may be adversely determined (including, without limitation, any opinion or advice from counsel);

 

(c)                                  promptly, such information as may be reasonably requested by the Facility Agent (including relevant figures from management accounts) to ascertain whether any Subsidiary of the Borrower falls within paragraph (d) of the definition of “Significant Subsidiary”;

 

(d)                                 promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition, business and operations of any member of the Group as any Finance Party (through the Facility Agent) may reasonably request (including, without limitation, such information as required under or in connection with this Agreement or the EKN Documents);

 

(e)                                  promptly upon becoming aware of the same, notice of any cancellation or non-renewal of any export license, quota, permit or other Authorisation necessary for the shipment of goods under the terms of the Contracts or for the conduct of its business;

 

(f)                                   promptly upon becoming aware of the same, notice of the imposition of any exchange control restrictions in connection with any Transaction Document to which the Borrower is a party; and

 

(g)                                  promptly upon becoming aware of the same, notice of the confiscation, expropriation, nationalisation or withholding of the goods under the Contracts.

 

18.5                        Contracts

 

The Borrower shall notify the Facility Agent of (i) any proposed material amendments to the Contracts (including any amendment to the Export Contract Amount or any variation to the payment schedules) which are permitted under Clause 20.20 (Contracts); (ii) any material disputes under the Contracts and the exercise of any remedy by the Borrower or the Suppliers under or pursuant to the Contracts

 

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(including, without limitation, the occurrence of any event of force majeure - howsoever described - or exercise of any termination right) which has the effect of delaying or affecting either the scheduled shipment or payments under any Contract (as the case may be); and (iii) any breach of a material obligation of any party under the Contracts or if it has reasonable grounds that there might be a breach, including any breach which might reasonably be expected to lead to a suspension or material claim or material dispute or termination of any of the Contracts (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence.

 

18.6                        Prohibited Practices

 

The Borrower shall promptly notify the Facility Agent if the Borrower obtains any information regarding a violation of Clauses 17.19 (Compliance with laws) and 20.25 (Fraud and corruption) or if any international financial institution has imposed any sanction on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for any Prohibited Practice. If the Facility Agent notifies the Borrower of its concern (or that of any Finance Party) that there has been a violation of such Clause 17.19 (Compliance with laws) or 20.25 (Fraud and corruption), the Borrower shall cooperate in good faith with the Facility Agent (on behalf of such Finance Party) and its representatives in determining whether such violation has occurred and shall respond promptly and in reasonable detail to any such notice from the Facility Agent and shall furnish documentary support for such response upon the Facility Agent’s request.

 

18.7                        Notification of Default and prepayment

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall notify the Facility Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) or any event which will or could reasonably be expected to result in an obligation to make a prepayment of the Loan under Clause 7 (Prepayment and cancellation) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence.

 

(b)                                 Promptly upon a request by the Facility Agent, the Borrower shall supply to the Facility Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors or senior officers on its behalf certifying that no Default is continuing (or if a Default is continuing, specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) or that no event which will or could reasonably be expected to result in an obligation to make a prepayment of the Loan under Clause 7 (Prepayment and cancellation) has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur.

 

(c)                                  The Borrower shall notify the Facility Agent of any event of default under any of the Other Financing Agreements (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence.

 

18.8                        Know your customer checks

 

(a)                                 If:

 

(i)                                     the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the Signing Date;

 

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(ii)                                  any change in the status of the Borrower after the Signing Date; or

 

(iii)                               a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

 

obliges any Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Borrower shall promptly upon the request of any Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by any Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for any such Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                                 Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Facility Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Facility Agent (for itself) in order for the Facility Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

18.9                        Use of websites

 

(a)                                 The Borrower may satisfy its obligation under this Agreement to deliver any information in relation to those Lenders (the “Website Lenders”) who accept this method of communication by posting this information onto an electronic website designated by the Borrower and the Facility Agent (the “Designated Website”) if:

 

(i)                                     the Facility Agent expressly agrees (after consultation with each of the Lenders) that it will accept communication of the information by this method;

 

(ii)                                  both the Borrower and the Facility Agent are aware of the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website; and

 

(iii)                               the information is in a format previously agreed between the Borrower and the Facility Agent.

 

If any Lender (a “Paper Form Lender”) does not agree to the delivery of information electronically then the Facility Agent shall notify the Borrower accordingly and the Borrower shall supply the information to the Facility Agent (in sufficient copies for each Paper Form Lender) in paper form. In any 

 

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event the Borrower shall supply the Facility Agent with at least one copy in paper form of any information required to be provided by it.

 

(b)                                 The Facility Agent shall supply each Website Lender with the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website following designation of that website by the Borrower and the Facility Agent.

 

(c)                                  The Borrower shall promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence notify the Facility Agent if:

 

(i)                                     the Designated Website cannot be accessed due to technical failure;

 

(ii)                                  the password specifications for the Designated Website change;

 

(iii)                               any new information which is required to be provided under this Agreement is posted onto the Designated Website;

 

(iv)                              any existing information which has been provided under this Agreement and posted onto the Designated Website is amended; or

 

(v)                                 the Borrower becomes aware that the Designated Website or any information posted onto the Designated Website is or has been infected by any electronic virus or similar software.

 

If the Borrower notifies the Facility Agent under paragraph (c)(i) or paragraph (c)(v) above, all information to be provided by the Borrower under this Agreement after the date of that notice shall be supplied in paper form unless and until the Facility Agent and each Website Lender is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the notification are no longer continuing.

 

(d)                                 Any Website Lender may request, through the Facility Agent, one paper copy of any information required to be provided under this Agreement which is posted onto the Designated Website. The Borrower shall comply with any such request within ten (10) Business Days.

 

19.                               FINANCIAL COVENANTS

 

The financial undertakings in this Clause 19 shall remain in force from the Signing Date for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

19.1                        Financial condition

 

The Borrower shall ensure that:

 

(a)                                 the ratio of Total Debt as at the end of any Relevant Period to OIBDA in respect of such Relevant Period will not exceed 3:1; and

 

(b)                                 the ratio of OIBDA to Interest Expense in respect of any Relevant Period will not be less than 5:1.

 

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19.2                        Financial covenant calculations

 

Total Debt, OIBDA and Interest Expense shall be calculated and interpreted on a consolidated basis in accordance with the GAAP applicable to the Original Financial Statements of the Borrower and shall be expressed in Dollars.

 

19.3                        Definitions

 

In this Clause 19.3:

 

“Total Debt” means, as at any particular time, the aggregate outstanding principal, capital or nominal amount (and any fixed or minimum premium payable on prepayment or redemption) of the Financial Indebtedness of members of the Group (other than any indebtedness referred to in paragraph (g) of the definition of Financial Indebtedness and any guarantee or indemnity in respect of that indebtedness).

 

For this purpose, any amount outstanding or repayable in a currency other than Dollars shall on that day be taken into account in its Dollars equivalent at the rate of exchange that would have been used had an audited consolidated balance sheet of the Group been prepared as at that day in accordance with the GAAP applicable to the Original Financial Statements of the Borrower.

 

“OIBDA” means, in relation to any Relevant Period, the total consolidated net income of the Group for that Relevant Period:

 

(a)                                 before taking into account the charge or credit to the profit and loss account in respect of:

 

(i)                                     minority interests;

 

(ii)                                  income tax;

 

(iii)                               non-operating income less non-operating expenses;

 

(iv)                              the Group’s share in the net income (or loss) of any associated companies or undertakings;

 

(v)                                 Interest Expense;

 

(vi)                              interest income; and

 

(vii)                           currency exchange and translation (gains)/losses; and

 

(b)                                 after adding back all amounts provided for depreciation and amortisation for that Relevant Period,

 

multiplied by two,

 

as determined (except as needed to reflect the terms of this Clause 19) from the financial statements of the Group and Compliance Certificates delivered under Clause 18.1 (Financial statements) and Clause 18.2 (Compliance Certificate).

 

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“Interest Expense” means, in relation to any Relevant Period, the aggregate amount of interest and any other finance charges (whether or not paid, payable or capitalised) accrued by the Group in that Relevant Period in respect of Total Debt including:

 

(a)                                 the interest element of leasing and hire purchase payments;

 

(b)                                 commitment fees, commissions, arrangement fees and guarantee fees; and

 

(c)                                  amounts in the nature of interest payable in respect of any shares other than equity share capital,

 

adjusted (but without double counting) by:

 

(i)                                     adding back the net amount payable (or deducting the net amount receivable) by members of the Group in respect of that Relevant Period under any interest or (so far as they relate to interest) currency hedging arrangements; and

 

(ii)                                  deducting interest income of the Group in respect of that Relevant Period to the extent freely payable in cash,

 

multiplied by two,

 

as determined (except as needed to reflect the terms of this Clause 19) from the financial statements of the Group and Compliance Certificates delivered under Clause 18.1 (Financial statements) and Clause 18.2 (Compliance Certificate).

 

“Relevant Period” means each period of 6 (six) consecutive Months ending on the last day of each financial year and financial quarter of the Borrower.

 

20.                               GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS

 

The undertakings in this Clause 20 remain in force from the Signing Date for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

20.1                        Authorisations

 

The Borrower shall promptly:

 

(a)                                 obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and

 

(b)                                 supply certified copies to the Facility Agent of,

 

any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of its jurisdiction of incorporation to enable it to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation of any Transaction Document to which it is a party.

 

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20.2                        Compliance with laws

 

The Borrower shall comply in all respects with all laws to which it may be subject, if failure so to comply would materially impair its ability to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party.

 

20.3                        Maintenance of existence

 

The Borrower shall maintain its corporate existence.

 

20.4                        Negative pledge

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall not (and the Borrower shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall not (and the Borrower shall ensure that no other member of the Group will):

 

(i)                                     sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or re-acquired by the Borrower or any other member of the Group;

 

(ii)                                  sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms;

 

(iii)                               enter into any arrangement under which money or the benefit of a bank or other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a combination of accounts; or

 

(iv)                              enter into any other preferential arrangement having a similar effect,

 

in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into primarily as a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the acquisition of an asset.

 

(c)                                  Paragraphs (a) and (b) above do not apply to Permitted Security.

 

20.5                        Disposals

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall not (and shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) enter into a single transaction or a series of transactions (whether related or not and whether voluntary or involuntary) to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any asset.

 

(b)                                 Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal:

 

(i)                                     made in the ordinary course of trading of the disposing entity;

 

(ii)                                  of assets in exchange for other assets comparable or superior as to type, value and quality;

 

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(iii)                               made from one member of the Group (other than the Borrower) to another member of the Group;

 

(iv)                              of cash or cash equivalents for cash or cash equivalents;

 

(v)                                 where the book value of such asset (when aggregated with the book value of each other asset disposed of under this paragraph (v)) (in each case as calculated in accordance with GAAP) does not exceed (x) 10 % of the Borrower’s Total Assets in any financial year of the Borrower and (y) 25% of the Borrower’s Total Assets during the period starting on the Signing Date and ending on the date on which all amounts outstanding under this Agreement have been irrevocably repaid and discharged in full. At the request of the Facility Agent (any such request to be made no more than once per calendar quarter, unless a Default is continuing), the Borrower shall provide a certificate to the Facility Agent setting out in reasonable detail the book value of any assets disposed of under this paragraph (v) (calculated in accordance with GAAP); or

 

(vi)                              involving the transfer of any or all of the Borrower’s shares in UMC pursuant to the UMC Litigation to a person that is not a member of the Group (provided that this paragraph (vi) shall not in any way prejudice the rights of the Finance Parties under Clause 21.18 (UMC Litigation)).

 

When calculating the Borrower’s Total Assets under paragraph (v) above in respect of any financial year, if the annual consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower for the immediately preceding financial year of the Borrower is not available, the Borrower’s Total Assets shall until such time as that annual consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower is available be calculated by reference to the draft audit report then available for that financial year and any other evidence reasonably requested by, and reasonably satisfactory to, the Facility Agent.

 

20.6                        Merger

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall not enter into or become subject to any consolidation or reorganisation, whether by way of merger (sliyaniye obschestva), company accession (prisoedinyeniye obschestva), company division (razdelenie obschestva), company separation (vydelyeniye obschestva), company transformation (preobrazovaniye obschestva), company liquidation (likvidatisya obschestva) or any other company reorganisation (reorgnizatsiya obschestva) (as these terms are construed by applicable Russian law) or otherwise, or any analogous transaction in any jurisdiction, other than a consolidation or merger with one of its Subsidiaries where the Borrower is the surviving entity.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall ensure that no Significant Subsidiary will enter into or become subject to any consolidation or reorganisation, whether by way of merger (sliyaniye obschestva), company accession (prisoedinyeniye obschestva), company division (razdeleyeniey obschestva), company 

 

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separation (vydelyeniye obschestva), company transformation (preobrazovaniye obschestva), company liquidation (likvidatsiya obschestva) or any other company reorganisation (reorganizatsiya obschestva) (as these terms are construed by applicable Russian law) or otherwise, or any analogous transaction in any jurisdiction if such reorganisation or transaction would, in the opinion of the Facility Agent (acting reasonably), have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

20.7                        Change of business

 

The Borrower shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of the Borrower or the Group from that carried on at the Signing Date provided that for the purposes of this Clause 20.7 (Change of business) adding a fixed-line telecommunications business or retail business connected to the mobile telecommunications business shall not be considered as a “substantial change” to the extent that it is not otherwise in breach of this Agreement.

 

20.8                        Conduct of business

 

The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of its Significant Subsidiaries will, conduct its business in all material respects in accordance with:

 

(a)                                 all Telecommunications Laws to which it is or may become subject;

 

(b)                                 all requirements of the telecommunications regulators of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and any other jurisdiction where it conducts its business; and

 

(c)                                  the terms of all relevant Telecommunications Authorisations.

 

20.9                        Asset and Intellectual Property maintenance

 

The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each of its Significant Subsidiaries will, have and maintain good and marketable title to or valid leases or licences of, or rights of use relating to, all assets and Intellectual Property necessary to maintain, develop and operate and otherwise conduct its business as then being conducted by it and in each case where failure to do so might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

20.10                 Insurance

 

The Borrower shall (and shall ensure that each other member of the Group will) maintain insurances on and in relation to its business and assets with reputable underwriters or insurance companies against those risks, and to the extent, usually insured against by prudent companies located in the same or a similar location and carrying on a similar business.

 

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20.11                 Transactions with Related Parties

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall not (and the Borrower shall ensure that no other member of the Group will), directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any loan or deposit any cash with, or for the benefit of, any Related Party, unless:

 

(i)                                     the terms of such loan or deposit are no less favourable to such member of the Group than those that could be obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction or series of related transactions with a person that is not a Related Party; or

 

(ii)                                  such loan or deposit is made pursuant to a contract or contracts existing on the Signing Date (excluding any amendments or modifications thereto after the Signing Date),

 

provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of all such loans and amounts payable to the Borrower in respect of any such deposits described in paragraphs (i) and (ii) above does not, at any time, exceed $100,000,000 or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies.

 

(b)                                 Paragraph (a) above does not apply to:

 

(i)                                     compensation or employee benefit arrangements with any officer or director of any member of the Group arising out of any employment contract entered into in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(ii)                                  transactions between members of the Group.

 

(c)                                  For the purposes of this Agreement, a “Related Party” means, with respect to any specified person or entity:

 

(i)                                     any other person or entity directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified entity; or

 

(ii)                                  any other person who is a director or executive officer of (a) such specified entity or (b) any entity described in (i) above.

 

For purposes of the definition of “Related Party” only, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person or entity, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10 per cent. or more of any class, or any series of any class, of equity securities of a person, whether or not voting, shall be deemed to be control.

 

20.12                 Restriction on acquisitions

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall not (and the Borrower shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) establish or acquire any Subsidiary, acquire any 

 

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Telecommunications Licence or invest in any other entity without the consent of the Majority Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), provided that this paragraph (a) of Clause 20.12 shall not apply to any such acquisition or investment where such acquisition or investment relates to a Subsidiary or entity whose principal business is telecommunications or the provision of data services or related or ancillary businesses and the consideration paid by the Borrower or any other member of the Group in relation to such acquisition or investment, when aggregated with the consideration paid by the Borrower or any other member of the Group in relation to each other acquisition or investment in the same financial year permitted under this paragraph, does not exceed 20 per cent. (or such higher amount not exceeding 25 per cent. as the Majority Lenders may agree (acting reasonably)) of the Borrower’s Total Assets.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither the Borrower nor any other member of the Group shall establish or acquire any Subsidiary, acquire any Telecommunications Licence or invest in any other entity without the consent of all Lenders where the consideration paid by the Borrower or other member of the Group in relation to the acquisition or investment, when aggregated with the consideration paid by the Borrower or other member of the Group in relation to each other acquisition or investment in the same financial year permitted under this Clause 20.12, exceeds 25 per cent. of the Borrower’s Total Assets.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither the Borrower nor any other member of the Group shall:

 

(i)                                     acquire control of Shyam; or

 

(ii)                                  in any financial year, acquire any interest in Shyam, invest in Shyam or provide any financial accommodation or make any loans to Shyam if, following such acquisition, investment, financial accommodation or loan, when aggregated with any amounts paid by the Borrower or any other member of the Group in acquiring any interest in Shyam, investing in Shyam, providing financial accommodation to Shyam or making loans to Shyam by the Borrower or any other member of the Group (in aggregate and taken as a whole) in such financial year would exceed five per cent. (5%) of the Borrower’s Total Assets,

 

without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders and EKN.

 

20.13                 Prompt payment of Taxes

 

The Borrower shall (and shall ensure that each Significant Subsidiary will) duly pay all Taxes payable by it other than those taxes (a) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions have been made or (b) whose amount does not exceed $25,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).

 

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20.14                 Pari passu

 

The Borrower shall, and shall procure that each member of the Group will, procure that its obligations under the Finance Documents to which it is a party rank at least pari passu with all its other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations save where such other obligations are mandatorily preferred by law.

 

20.15                 Loans and guarantees

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall not (and the Borrower shall ensure that no member of the Group will:

 

(i)                                     make any loan, or provide any form of credit or financial accommodation, to any person (including, without limitation, its employees, shareholders, another member of the Group and any Affiliate); or

 

(ii)                                  give or issue any guarantee, indemnity, bond or letter of credit to or for the benefit of, or in respect of liabilities or obligations of, any other person or voluntarily assume any liability (whether actual or contingent) of any other person (including, in each case and without limitation, its employees, shareholders, another member of the Group and any Affiliate).

 

(b)                                 The restrictions in this Clause 20.15 do not apply to (a) loans, credits, financial accommodation, guarantees, indemnities, bonds and letters of credit that are (i) expressly permitted by the Finance Documents or (ii) for normal trade credit on arm’s length terms and in the ordinary course of business or (iii) granted to or for the benefit of, in respect of liabilities or obligations of, any other person in connection with any investment in or acquisition of an entity the principal business of which is telecommunications, the provision of data services or business directly related to telecommunications and/or the provision of data services (the “Investment Loan”) where such Investment Loan is granted on arm’s length terms and such investment or acquisition is for fair market value, provided that the aggregate amount of such loans, credits, financial accommodation, guarantees, indemnities, bonds and letters of credit referred to in (i) — (iii) above does not at any time exceed 10 per cent. of the Borrower’s Total Assets; (b) guarantees by the Borrower in relation to the obligations of any other member of the Group; or (c) the arrangements permitted under Clause 20.11 (Transactions with Related Parties), including, for the avoidance of doubt, any transactions between the members of the Group.

 

20.16                 Purpose

 

The proceeds of all Loans made pursuant to the Facility shall be applied in accordance with Clause 3.1 (Purpose).

 

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20.17                 Submission of documents to Passport Bank and tax authorities

 

The Borrower shall comply in all respects with the Currency Law to which it may be subject in connection with the entry into, and performance of its obligations under, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and shall, inter alia, timely submit to the Passport Bank and/or the relevant territorial subdivision of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation or, as the case may be, the competent tax authorities, such documents and other information as may be required from time to time under the Currency Law for the purposes of receipt, prepayment and repayment of the Facility and for the purpose of the opening and maintenance of the relevant accounts of the Borrower in accordance with the procedure described therein and in form and substance satisfactory to the Passport Bank and/or the relevant territorial subdivision of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation or, as the case may be, the competent tax authorities.

 

The Borrower hereby undertakes not to amend, modify or terminate the instruction given under Clauses 5.5 (Application of the Loans) and 5.9 (Accounts) of this Agreement.

 

20.18                 Financial Indebtedness

 

The Borrower shall not (and the Borrower shall ensure that no other member of the Group will incur (or agree to incur) any Financial Indebtedness the stated purpose of which is to facilitate the ability of the Borrower to declare, pay or make any dividend or other payment or distribution of any kind on or in respect of any of its shares or undertake any form of share capital reduction.

 

20.19                 Russian signatories

 

The Borrower shall ensure that:

 

(a)                                 any amendment to or waiver of any provision of any Finance Documents to which it is a party; and

 

(b)                                 any other document or notice executed by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents that contain financial or credit obligation of it,

 

includes the signature of its chief accountant.

 

20.20                 Contracts

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall not:

 

(i)                                     make, permit or agree to make any amendment, change or modification to the Contracts (other than any amendments, changes or modifications which do not materially prejudice the interests of the Lenders) including any amendment to the Export Contract Amount; or

 

(ii)                                  assign, suspend, terminate, or rescind the Contracts (other than in the preservation or enforcement of its rights thereunder); or

 

(iii)                               grant or permit to exist any Security over the Contracts,

 

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without the prior written consent of the Facility Agent acting on the instructions of all the Lenders (acting reasonably).

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall take commercially reasonable steps to maintain and enforce its material rights under the Contracts.

 

20.21                 EKN Documents

 

The Borrower agrees that in the event that the Facility Agent notifies the Borrower that it has or intends to file a claim for payment under the EKN Documents it shall:

 

(a)                                 assist in the filing of any claim for compensation, indemnity or reimbursement; and

 

(b)                                 co-operate in good faith with the Facility Agent and/or EKN with respect to any verification of claim, eligibility or amount by any such person (including but not limited to providing evidence, documentation, information, certificates and any other forms of proof reasonably requested in connection therewith).

 

20.22                 SEK

 

The Borrower shall co-operate and assist the SEK Agent and each Lender in complying with any obligations any Lender may have under or in relation to the SEK Offer.

 

20.23                 Obligations and EKN Documents

 

(a)                                 The Borrower agrees and acknowledges that its obligations shall in no way be affected by the EKN Guarantee. In case of any payment to any Finance Party pursuant to the EKN Guarantee, EKN shall, in addition to any other rights which it may have under the EKN Documents or otherwise, have full rights of recourse against the Borrower. The rights of recourse of EKN shall in no way be affected by any dispute, claim or counterclaim whatsoever between the Borrower and the Finance Parties, or the Borrower and EKN or between the parties to a Contract or a purchase order or between any other parties.

 

(b)                                 At the request of the EKN Agent, the Borrower shall comply with the requirements of EKN and shall take all reasonable steps and do all actions reasonably necessary to ensure that the EKN Documents remain in full force and effect. At the request of the EKN Agent, the Borrower shall perform such other acts or provide such other information as may be reasonably necessary to obtain the full support of EKN (including making documents and records available to the EKN Agent or EKN or their authorised agents.

 

20.24                 Inspection

 

In circumstances where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall, on the receipt of at least thirty (30) days written notice from the Facility Agent, permit the Facility Agent or its technical or financial advisors during business hours to have access to the Borrower’s premises and to inspect its books and records (in each case at the Borrower’s cost and expense).

 

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20.25                 Fraud and corruption

 

The Borrower shall not and shall procure that each of its Subsidiaries does not, and shall not authorise or permit any of its officers, directors, authorised employees, agents or representatives to, engage in with respect to the Borrower’s operations or any transactions contemplated by this Agreement any Prohibited Practice.

 

21.                               EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

Each of the events or circumstances set out in Clause 21 is an Event of Default (save for Clause 21.21 (Acceleration)).

 

21.1                        Non-payment

 

The Borrower does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document to which it is a party at the place at and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable unless:

 

(a)                                 its failure to pay is caused by administrative or technical error; and

 

(b)                                 payment is made within three (3) Business Days of its due date.

 

21.2                        Financial covenants

 

Any requirement of Clause 19 (Financial covenants) is not satisfied.

 

21.3                        Other obligations

 

(a)                                 The Borrower does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents to which it is a party (other than those referred to in Clause 21.1 (Non-payment) and Clause 21.2 (Financial covenants)).

 

(b)                                 No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within ten (10) Business Days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower or the Borrower becoming aware of the failure to comply.

 

21.4                        Misrepresentation

 

Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by the Borrower in the Finance Documents to which it is a party or any other document delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made, and such representation or statement shall not have been rendered correct and not misleading within 10 (ten) Business Days of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Borrower or the Borrower becoming aware of the same.

 

21.5                        Cross default

 

(a)                                 Any single item of Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group in an amount exceeding $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or

 

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currencies) is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period.

 

(b)                                 Any single item of Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group in an amount exceeding $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

(c)                                  Any single commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group in an amount exceeding $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of any member of the Group as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

(d)                                 Any creditor of any member of the Group becomes entitled to declare any single item of Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group in an amount exceeding $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

(e)                                  Any of the events described in paragraphs (a) to (d) above occurs in relation to any Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness of any amount (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any amount that is less than $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies)), and the aggregate amount of all such Financial Indebtedness and commitments for Financial Indebtedness is in excess of $35,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).

 

21.6                        Insolvency

 

The Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary is Insolvent.

 

21.7                       Insolvency proceedings

 

Any corporate action or legal proceedings are taken in relation to:

 

(a)                                 the bankruptcy, winding-up, insolvency, dissolution, administration, reorganisation or liquidation of the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary (save for any solvent consolidation or reorganisation permitted pursuant to Clause 20.6 (Merger)), including, but not limited to, institution of supervision (nablyudenie), financial rehabilitation (finansovoe ozdorovlenie), external management (vneshneye upravlenie) or bankruptcy management (konkursnoye upravlenie) (and such legal proceedings continue for at least 14 (fourteen) days);

 

(b)                                 the suspension of payments or a moratorium of any indebtedness of the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary (and such suspension continues for at least fourteen (14) days);

 

(c)                                  the presentation or filing of a petition (or similar document) in respect of the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary in any court, state arbitration court (arbitrazhnyi sud) or before any other authority in respect of the bankruptcy, winding-up, insolvency, dissolution, administration, reorganisation or

 

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liquidation of the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary (and such petition has not been discharged within 14 (fourteen) days);

 

(d)                                 the appointment of a liquidator (likvidator) or a liquidation commission (likvidatsionnaya komissiya), temporary manager (vremenniy upravlaushiy), administrative manager (administrativniy upravlaushiy), external manager (vneshniy upravlaushiy), bankruptcy manager (konkursniy upravlaushiy), receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary or any of its assets (and such appointment continues for at least 14 (fourteen) days);

 

(e)                                  the convening of a meeting of creditors of the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary for the purposes of considering an amicable settlement (as defined in the Russian Insolvency Law); or

 

(f)                                   the enforcement of any Security over any asset or assets of the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary (unless such enforcement is stayed within 14 (fourteen) days),

 

or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction.

 

21.8                        Creditors’ process

 

Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution affects any asset or assets of the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary with a value in excess of $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) and is not discharged or stayed within 30 (thirty) days.

 

21.9                       Judgment

 

The rendering against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower of a judgment, decree or order for the payment of money in an amount in excess of $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) and the continuance of any such judgment, decree or order unsatisfied and in effect for any period of 60 (sixty) consecutive days without a stay of execution.

 

21.10                 Loss of licence

 

(a)                                 Any action results in the suspension for more than 30 (thirty) days or the loss, revocation or termination of any of:

 

(i)                                     the Borrower’s GSM 900 or 1800 licences for the Moscow licence area, the St. Petersburg licence area or the Krasnodar licence area;

 

(ii)                                  the Borrower’s 3G licence for the Russian Federation licence area; or

 

(iii)                               UMC’s GSM 900 or 1800 licences for the Ukraine licence area,

 

except where, within 30 (thirty) days of any such event, the relevant licence is re-issued on substantially the same terms to any member of the Group (a “Licensed Group Member”) and during the period falling before such re-issuance there is no material interruption to, or other material adverse effect

 

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on, the operations permitted by such licence as a direct result of such prior loss, revocation or termination.

 

(b)                                 Any of the Borrower’s, UMC’s or a Licensed Group Member’s GSM 900, 1800 or 3G licences are amended (or any conditions are imposed with respect to any such licence) in a manner that, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                  Any of the Borrower’s or UMC’s assigned spectrum allocations are reassigned to other users (other than a Significant Subsidiary of the Borrower), cancelled or otherwise lost, and such event, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)                                 The Borrower sells, leases or otherwise transfers any of its GSM 900 or 1800 licences for the Moscow, St. Petersburg or Krasnodar licence areas or 3G licence for the Russian Federation licence area.

 

(e)                                  Any of the Borrower’s GSM 900 or 1800 licences (other than its GSM 900 and 1800 licences for the Moscow, St. Petersburg or Krasnodar licence areas) is sold, leased or transferred to any person that is not (directly or indirectly) a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower or subsequently ceases to be (directly or indirectly) a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

(f)

 

(i)                                     Any of the GSM 900 or 1800 licences of a Licensed Group Member is sold, leased or transferred to any person that is not (directly or indirectly) a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower or subsequently ceases to be (directly or indirectly) a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

(ii)                                  Paragraph (i) above does not apply to the transfer of the GSM 900 or 1800 licences of UMC pursuant to the UMC Litigation (provided that this paragraph (ii) shall not in any way prejudice the rights of the Finance Parties under Clause 21.18 (UMC Litigation)).

 

21.11                 Cessation of business

 

The Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary suspends, ceases or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on all or a substantial part of its business.

 

21.12                 Expropriation

 

(a)                                 By or under the authority of any government:

 

(i)                                     any seizure, compulsory acquisition, expropriation, nationalisation or renationalisation is made after the Signing Date of all or any material part of the assets or shares of (or other ownership interest in) any member of the Group;

 

(ii)                                  the management of any member of the Group is wholly or partially displaced or the authority of any member of the Group in the conduct of its business is wholly or partially curtailed; or

 

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(iii)                               any member of the Group is otherwise deprived of, or prevented from exercising ownership or control of, its material business or assets.

 

(b)                                 Paragraph (a) above does not apply to:

 

(i)                                     the transfer of any or all of the Borrower’s shares in UMC pursuant to the UMC Litigation to a person that is not a member of the Group (provided that this paragraph (b)(i) shall not in any way prejudice the rights of the Finance Parties under Clause 21.18 (UMC Litigation)); or

 

(ii)                                  the transfer of any or all of:

 

(A)                               the assets (including licences) held by Bitel; and/or

 

(B)                               the shares in Bitel,

 

pursuant to the Bitel Litigation, to a person that is not a member of the Group.

 

21.13                 Russian foreign exchange restrictions

 

Any foreign exchange law is enacted or introduced in the Russian Federation which has the effect of prohibiting, restricting or delaying any payment by the Borrower or any member of the Group under any of the Finance Documents.

 

21.14                 Moratorium

 

Any moratorium is declared on the payment of any external indebtedness of the Russian Federation or of Russian residents generally which has the effect of prohibiting, restricting or delaying any payment by the Borrower or any member of the Group under the Finance Documents.

 

21.15                 Sociopolitical and economic deterioration

 

The sociopolitical or economic situation in the Russian Federation deteriorates or an act of war or hostilities, invasion, armed conflict or act of a foreign enemy, revolution, insurrection or insurgency occurs in, or involves, the Russian Federation and such event, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

21.16                 Unlawfulness

 

It is or becomes unlawful for the Borrower to perform any of its obligations under any of the Finance Documents to which it is a party or any Finance Document to which the Borrower is a party ceases to be in full force and effect or ceases to be legal, valid, binding or effective.

 

21.17                 Repudiation

 

The Borrower repudiates or rescinds (or evinces an intention to repudiate or rescind) a Finance Document to which it is a party.

 

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21.18                 UMC Litigation

 

The UMC Litigation is adversely determined and, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, such adverse determination has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

21.19                Material adverse change

 

The Majority Lenders determine that a Material Adverse Effect exists, has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur.

 

21.20                 Litigation

 

Any litigation, arbitration, administrative, governmental, regulatory or other investigations, proceedings or disputes are commenced in relation to the Borrower or its assets which are reasonably likely to be adversely determined and which, if adversely determined, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

21.21                 Acceleration

 

Subject to the prior written consent of EKN, on and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Facility Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower:

 

(a)                                 cancel the Total Commitments whereupon they shall immediately be cancelled;

 

(b)                                 declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable; and

 

(c)                                  declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Facility Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

 

21.22                 Rights under EKN Documents

 

The remedies set out in Clause 21.21 (Acceleration) shall be without prejudice to the rights of the Finance Parties to make claims under and enforce the EKN Documents.

 

22.                               CHANGES TO THE LENDERS

 

22.1                        Assignments and transfers by the Lenders

 

(a)                                 Subject to this Clause 22, a Lender (the “Existing Lender”) may:

 

(i)                                     assign any of its rights; or

 

(ii)                                  transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations,

 

to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or

 

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investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, SEK or EKN) (the “New Lender”).

 

(b)                                 Unless (i) the assignment or transfer is to an Affiliate of the Existing Lender, to another Lender, to EKN, SEK or a Mandated Lead Arranger, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred, any assignment or transfer occurring may be made only with the written consent of the Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

22.2                        Conditions of assignment or transfer

 

(a)                                 An assignment will only be effective on:

 

(i)                                     receipt by the Facility Agent of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the other Finance Parties as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender; and

 

(ii)                                  when applicable, receipt by the EKN Agent of a copy of EKN’s written consent to such assignment;

 

(iii)                               when applicable, receipt by the SEK Agent of a copy of SEK’s written consent to such assignment; and

 

(iv)                              performance by each Agent of all “know your customer” or other similar identification procedures in relating to any person that it is required to carry out under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which each Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender.

 

(b)                                 A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 22.5 (Procedure for transfer) is complied with.

 

(c)                                  For the avoidance of doubt, a Lender may assign any of its rights, or transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations under the Facility.

 

(d)                                 If:

 

(i)                                     a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and

 

(ii)                                  as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, the Borrower would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under Clause 12 (Tax gross-up and indemnities) or Clause 13.1 (Increased Costs),

 

then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred provided

 

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that this sub-Clause shall not apply to any assignment or transfer to or from SEK or EKN.

 

(e)                                  Each New Lender, by executing the relevant Transfer Certificate, confirms, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Facility Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the transfer or assignment becomes effective in accordance with this Agreement and that it is bound by that decision to the same extent as the Existing Lender would have been had it remained a Lender.

 

22.3                        Assignment or transfer fee

 

Unless the assignment or transfer is to SEK or to EKN, the New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect, pay to the Facility Agent (for its own account) a fee of USD 3,000.

 

22.4                        Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders

 

(a)                                 Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for:

 

(i)                                     the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents, or any other documents;

 

(ii)                                  the financial condition of the Borrower, EKN or SEK;

 

(iii)                               the performance and observance by the Borrower, EKN or SEK of its obligations under the Transaction Documents or any other documents (as the case may be); or

 

(iv)                              the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Transaction Document, or any other document,

 

and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.

 

(b)                                 Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it:

 

(i)                                     has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of the Borrower, EKN, SEK and their respective related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Transaction Document; and

 

(ii)                                  will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Borrower, SEK or EKN and their respective related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

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(c)                                  Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:

 

(i)                                     accept a re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause 22; or

 

(ii)                                  support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by the Borrower of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, by EKN under the EKN Documents or otherwise.

 

22.5                        Procedure for transfer

 

(a)                                 Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 22.2 (Conditions of assignment or transfer) a transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Facility Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Facility Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate.

 

(b)                                 The Facility Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.

 

(c)                                  On the Transfer Date:

 

(i)                                     to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents, the Borrower and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents shall be cancelled (being the “Discharged Rights and Obligations”);

 

(ii)                                  the Borrower and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as the Borrower and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and the Existing Lender;

 

(iii)                               the Agents, the Mandated Lead Arrangers, the New Lender and other Lenders shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Agents, the Mandated Lead Arrangers and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and

 

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(iv)                              the New Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender”.

 

22.6                        Copy of Transfer Certificate to Borrower

 

If requested by the Borrower, the Facility Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after such request, send to the Borrower a copy of any Transfer Certificate it has executed.

 

22.7                        Security over Lenders’ rights

 

In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 22, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from the Borrower, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create Security in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:

 

(a)                                 any charge, assignment or other Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank (including, without limitation, a United States Federal Reserve Bank); and

 

(b)                                 in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities,

 

except that no such charge, assignment or Security shall:

 

(i)                                     release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or other Security for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or

 

(ii)                                  require any payments to be made by the Borrower or grant to any person any more extensive rights than those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

22.8                       Transfer to Related Parties

 

Neither the Borrower nor any Related Party of the Borrower that is not a member of the Group may buy, purchase, repurchase or defease any amount of the Facility or otherwise enter into arrangements having a similar effect including (for the avoidance of doubt) sub-participations, derivative arrangements or synthetic arrangements.

 

22.9                        Disenfranchisement of Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Related Parties

 

(a)                                 For so long as (i) a member of the Group (other than the Borrower) beneficially owns a Commitment or (ii) has entered into a Debt Purchase Transaction and such agreement or arrangement has not been terminated:

 

(i)                                     in ascertaining the Majority Lenders or all of the Lenders or whether any given percentage of the Total Commitments has been obtained to

 

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approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under this Agreement such Commitment shall be deemed to be zero; and

 

(ii)                                  for the purposes of Clause 33.2 (Exceptions), a member of the Group (other than the Borrower) or the person with whom it has entered into such sub-participation, other agreement or arrangement shall be deemed not to be a Lender (unless in the case of a person not being a member of the Group it is a Lender by virtue otherwise than by beneficially owning the relevant Commitment).

 

(b)                                 Each Lender shall, unless such Debt Purchase Transaction is an assignment or transfer, promptly notify the Facility Agent if it knowingly enters into a Debt Purchase Transaction with a member of the Group (other than the Borrower), such notification to include the amount of Commitment to which the Debt Purchase Transaction relates whereupon the Facility Agent shall be entitled to notify the Lenders thereof.

 

(c)                                  A member of the Group (other than the Borrower) that is a Lender agrees that, in relation to any meeting or conference call to which all the Lenders are invited to attend or participate, it shall not attend or participate in the same if so requested by the Facility Agent nor shall it be entitled to receive any communication between the Finance Parties.

 

22.10                 EKN Subrogation

 

Upon payment by EKN of amounts due and payable under this Agreement, EKN shall (where applicable) have the right to be subrogated to the rights of the Lenders against the Borrower in accordance with the EKN Documents.

 

23.                              CHANGES TO THE BORROWER

 

The Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

24.                               ROLE OF THE AGENTS AND THE MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS

 

24.1                        Appointment of the Agents

 

(a)                                 Each Finance Party appoints ING Bank N.V. to act as Facility Agent and as SEK Agent in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                                 Each Finance Party appoints Nordea Bank AB (publ) to act as EKN Agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

(c)                                  Each Finance Party authorises each of the Agents to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to it under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions.

 

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24.2                        Duties of the Agents

 

(a)                                 The Facility Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Facility Agent for that Party by any other Party.

 

(b)                                 The SEK Agent shall promptly forward to SEK the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the SEK Agent for SEK by any other Party.

 

(c)                                  The EKN Agent shall promptly forward to EKN the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the EKN Agent for EKN by any other Party.

 

(d)                                 Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, no Agent is obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

 

(e)                                  If an Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the Finance Parties, and the SEK Agent shall promptly notify SEK and the EKN Agent shall promptly notify EKN.

 

(f)                                   If an Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties, and the SEK Agent shall promptly notify SEK and the EKN Agent shall promptly notify EKN.

 

(g)                                  The Agents’ duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.

 

24.3                        Role of the Mandated Lead Arrangers

 

Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, no Mandated Lead Arranger has any obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

24.4                        No fiduciary duties

 

(a)                                 Nothing in this Agreement constitutes any Agent or any Mandated Lead Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person.

 

(b)                                 Neither the Agents nor the Mandated Lead Arrangers shall be bound to account to any Finance Party for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account.

 

24.5                        Business with the Group

 

The Agents and the Mandated Lead Arrangers may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group, SEK and EKN.

 

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24.6                        Rights and discretions of the Agents

 

(a)                                 Each Agent may rely on:

 

(i)                                     any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; and

 

(ii)                                  any statement made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify.

 

(b)                                 Each Agent may assume, unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders, that:

 

(i)                                     no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 21.1 (Non-payment)); and

 

(ii)                                  any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Majority Lenders or Lenders has not been exercised.

 

(c)                                  Each Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts.

 

(d)                                 Each Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents.

 

(e)                                  Each Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement.

 

(f)                                   Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither any Agent nor any Mandated Lead Arranger is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality.

 

24.7                        Majority Lenders’ instructions

 

(a)                                 Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, an Agent shall, provided always that any such instructions are consistent with those, if any, provided by EKN under the EKN Documents, (i) exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Majority Lenders (or, if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent) and (ii) not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking any action) in accordance with an instruction of the Majority Lenders or of EKN given in accordance with the EKN Documents.

 

(b)                                 Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Finance Parties.

 

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(c)                                  Each Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) until it has received such security as it may require for any cost, loss or liability (together with any associated VAT) which it may incur in complying with the instructions.

 

(d)                                 In the absence of instructions from the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders), each Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders.

 

(e)                                  No Agent is authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lender’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document.

 

(f)                                   Each Lender agrees (for the benefit of the other Lenders) to take such action (as advised by the EKN Agent) as may be necessary or advisable at any time to comply with its obligations under the conditions of the EKN Documents or to enable the EKN Agent to comply with its obligations under or the conditions of the EKN Documents.

 

(g)                                  Each Lender irrevocably authorises the EKN Agent to take such action and exercise such rights, powers and discretions, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, as it may deem necessary for the purposes of preserving the Lenders’ rights under the EKN Documents.

 

(h)                                 Whilst it is acknowledged that each Lender has a right to make a direct claim under the EKN Documents, each Lender acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claim or take action whatsoever under or in connection with the EKN Documents except through the EKN Agent and that all of the rights of the Lenders under the EKN Documents shall only be exercised by the EKN Agent.

 

24.8                        Responsibility for documentation

 

Neither any Agent nor any Mandated Lead Arranger:

 

(a)                                 is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by an Agent, a Mandated Lead Arranger, the Borrower or any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document; or

 

(b)                                 is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

24.9                        Exclusion of liability

 

(a)                                 Without limiting paragraph (b) below, no Agent will be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

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(b)                                 No Party, other than the relevant Agent, may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of such Agent in respect of any claim it might have against such Agent or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document and any officer, employee or agent of any Agent may rely on this Clause.

 

(c)                                  No Agent will be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by it if it has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by it for that purpose.

 

(d)                                 Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige any Agent or any Mandated Lead Arranger to carry out any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Finance Party and each Finance Party confirms to the Agents and the Mandated Lead Arrangers that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agents or the Mandated Lead Arrangers.

 

24.10                 Mandated Lead Arrangers’ indemnity to the Agents

 

(a)                                 Subject to paragraph (b) below, each Mandated Lead Arranger shall (in proportion to its Available Commitments as at the date of this Agreement in its capacity as an Original Lender) indemnify each Agent, within 3 (three) Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Agent (otherwise than by reason of that Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents (unless that Agent has been reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to a Finance Document).

 

(b)                                 If the Available Facility is then zero each Mandated Lead Arranger’s indemnity under paragraph (a) above shall be in proportion to its Available Commitments (in such Mandated Lead Arranger’s capacity as an Original Lender) to the Available Facility immediately prior to their reduction to zero, unless there are then any Loans outstanding in which case it shall be in proportion to its participations in the Loans then outstanding to all the Loans then outstanding.

 

24.11                 Resignation of an Agent

 

(a)                                 An Agent may with the prior written consent of EKN and of SEK if necessary resign and appoint one of its Affiliates as successor by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower.

 

(b)                                 Alternatively an Agent may with the prior written consent of EKN and of SEK if necessary resign by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Borrower) may appoint a successor Agent with the prior written consent of EKN and of SEK if necessary.

 

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(c)                                  If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 30 (thirty) days after notice of resignation was given, the Agent (after consultation with the Borrower) may appoint a successor Agent with the prior written consent of EKN and of SEK if necessary.

 

(d)                                 The retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to its successor such documents and records and provide such assistance as its successor may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions under the Finance Documents.

 

(e)                                  An Agent’s resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor with the prior written consent of EKN and of SEK if necessary.

 

(f)                                   Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this Clause 24. Its successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.

 

24.12                 Replacement of an Agent

 

(a)                                 After consultation with the Borrower, the Majority Lenders may, by giving 30 (thirty) days’ notice to the relevant Agent replace an Agent by appointing a successor Agent with the prior written consent of EKN and of SEK if necessary.

 

(b)                                 The retiring Agent shall (at the expense of the Lenders) make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents.

 

(c)                                  The appointment of the successor Agent shall take effect on the date specified in the notice from the Majority Lenders to the retiring Agent. As from this date, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this Clause 24 (and any agency fees for the account of the retiring Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date).

 

(d)                                 Any successor Agent and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.

 

24.13                 Confidentiality

 

(a)                                 In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, an Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments.

 

(b)                                 If information is received by another division or department of an Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and that Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it.

 

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24.14                 Relationship with the Lenders

 

(a)                                 Each Agent may treat each Lender as a Lender, entitled to payments under this Agreement and acting through its Facility Office unless it has received not less than 5 (five) Business Days’ prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Each Agent may treat the person shown in its records as Lender at the opening of business (in the place of that Agent’s principal office as notified to the Finance Parties from time to time) as the Lender acting through its Facility Office entitled to receive and act upon any notice, request, document or communication or make any decision or determination under any Finance Document made or delivered on that day, unless it has received not less than 5 (five) Business Days’ prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Each Lender shall supply the Facility Agent with any information required by the Facility Agent in order to calculate the Mandatory Cost in accordance with Schedule 5 (Mandatory Cost formula).

 

(c)                                  Any Finance Party may by notice to an Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf all notices, communications, information and documents to be made or dispatched to that Finance Party under the Finance Documents. Such notice shall contain the address, fax number and (where communication by electronic mail or other electronic means is permitted under Clause 29.5 (Electronic communication)) electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means (and, in each case, the department or officer, if any, for whose attention communication is to be made) and be treated as a notification of a substitute address, fax number, electronic mail address, department and officer by that Finance Party for the purposes of Clause 29.2 (Addresses) and paragraph (a)(iii) of Clause 29.5 (Electronic communication) and that Agent shall be entitled to treat such person as the person entitled to receive all such notices, communications, information and documents as though that person were that Finance Party.

 

24.15                 Credit appraisal by the Finance Parties

 

Without affecting the responsibility of the Borrower for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Finance Party confirms to the Agents and the Mandated Lead Arrangers that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:

 

(a)                                 the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group, EKN and SEK;

 

(b)                                 the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

 

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(c)                                  whether that Finance Party has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

(d)                                 the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information provided by any Agent, any Party or by any other Person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

24.16                 Reference Banks

 

If a Reference Bank (or, if a Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Facility Agent shall (in consultation with the Borrower) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender to replace that Reference Bank.

 

24.17                 Deduction from amounts payable by an Agent

 

If any Party owes an amount to an Agent under the Finance Documents such Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which such Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.

 

25.                               CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES

 

No provision of this Agreement will:

 

(a)                                 interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit;

 

(b)                                 oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or

 

(c)                                  oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax.

 

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26.                               SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES

 

26.1                        Payments to Finance Parties

 

If a Finance Party (a “Recovering Finance Party”) receives or recovers any amount from the Borrower other than in accordance with Clause 27 (Payment mechanics) (a “Recovered Amount”) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then:

 

(a)                                 the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three (3) Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery to the Facility Agent;

 

(b)                                 the Facility Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt or recovery been received or made by the Facility Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 27 (Payment mechanics), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Facility Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and

 

(c)                                  the Recovering Finance Party shall, within 3 (three) Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent, pay to the Facility Agent an amount (the “Sharing Payment”) equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 27.5 (Partial payments).

 

26.2                        Redistribution of payments

 

The Facility Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the Borrower and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) (the “Sharing Finance Parties”) in accordance with Clause 27.5 (Partial payments) towards the obligations of the Borrower to the Sharing Finance Parties.

 

26.3                        Recovering Finance Party’s rights

 

On a distribution by the Facility Agent under Clause 26.2 (Redistribution of payments), of a payment received by a Recovering Finance Party from the Borrower, as between the Borrower and the Recovering Finance Party, an amount of the Recovered Amount equal to the Sharing Payment will be treated as not having been paid by the Borrower.

 

26.4                        Reversal of redistribution

 

If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:

 

(a)                                 each Sharing Finance Party shall, upon request of the Facility Agent, pay to the Facility Agent for the account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay) (the “Redistributed Amount”); and

 

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(b)                                 as between the Borrower and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid by the Borrower.

 

26.5                        Exceptions

 

(a)                                 This Clause 26 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this Clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the Borrower.

 

(b)                                 A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if:

 

(i)                                     it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and

 

(ii)                                  that other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings.

 

26.6                        Moratoria, non-convertibility and transferability

 

Notwithstanding this Clause 26 and any other provision in this Agreement, each of the Lenders shall have the right to receive and retain, without any obligation to share with any other party, any Preferred Payment. A “Preferred Payment” shall mean any payment not exceeding the outstanding Commitment of the relevant Lender received by or for the account of a Lender in freely convertible and transferable currencies (“Convertible Currencies”) under circumstances in which any authority having the power to regulate foreign exchange in the Russian Federation or any other jurisdiction through which any payment due under any of the Finance Documents is made (each, a “Restricted Country”) is not generally permitting the conversion of the currency of such Restricted Country into Convertible Currencies or the remittance of Convertible Currencies from such Restricted Country, but that Lender is either being exempted from such foreign exchange restrictions or is otherwise being afforded preferential treatment by foreign exchange being made available for obligations owed to it in Convertible Currencies.

 

27.                               PAYMENT MECHANICS

 

27.1                        Payments to the Facility Agent

 

(a)                                 On each date on which the Borrower or a Finance Party is required to make a payment under a Finance Document, the Borrower or Finance Party shall make the same available to the Facility Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Facility Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment.

 

(b)                                 Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency with such bank as the Facility Agent specifies.

 

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27.2                        Distributions by the Facility Agent

 

Each payment received by the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to Clause 27.3 (Distributions to the Borrower) and Clause 27.4 (Clawback), be made available by the Facility Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Facility Agent by not less than 5 (five) Business Days’ notice with a bank in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency.

 

27.3                        Distributions to the Borrower

 

The Facility Agent may (with the Borrower’s consent or in accordance with Clause 28 (Set-off)) apply any amount received by it for the Borrower in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.

 

27.4                        Clawback

 

(a)                                 Where a sum is to be paid to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party or to any other entity, the Facility Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum.

 

(b)                                 If the Facility Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the Facility Agent had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Facility Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Facility Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Facility Agent, calculated by the Facility Agent to reflect its cost of funds.

 

27.5                        Partial payments

 

(a)                                 If the Facility Agent receives a payment that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by the Borrower under the Finance Documents, the Facility Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents in the following order:

 

(i)                                     first, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Agents, the Mandated Lead Arrangers or EKN under the Finance Documents;

 

(ii)                                  secondly, in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under this Agreement;

 

(iii)                               thirdly, in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under this Agreement; and

 

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(iv)                              fourthly, in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                                 The Facility Agent shall, if so directed by the Majority Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (a)(ii) to (iv) above.

 

(c)                                  Paragraphs (a) and (b) above will override any appropriation made by the Borrower.

 

27.6                        No set-off by the Borrower

 

(a)                                 All payments to be made by the Borrower under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.

 

(b)                                 Payments received by the Facility Agent from any EKN Documents proceeds shall be calculated and made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.

 

27.7                        Business Days

 

(a)                                 Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar Month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

(b)                                 During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the original due date.

 

27.8                        Currency of account

 

(a)                                 Subject to paragraphs (b) to (e) below, Dollars is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from the Borrower under any Finance Document.

 

(b)                                 A repayment of a Loan or Unpaid Sum or a part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum shall be made in the currency in which that Loan or Unpaid Sum is denominated on its due date.

 

(c)                                  Each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in respect of which the interest is payable was denominated when that interest accrued.

 

(d)                                 Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred.

 

(e)                                  Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than Dollars shall be paid in that other currency.

 

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27.9                        Change of currency

 

(a)                                 Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:

 

(i)                                     any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Facility Agent (after consultation with the Borrower); and

 

(ii)                                  any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably).

 

(b)                                 If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this Agreement will, to the extent the Facility Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Borrower) specifies to be necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency.

 

28.                               SET-OFF

 

A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to the Borrower, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.

 

29.                               NOTICES

 

29.1                        Communications in writing

 

Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter.

 

29.2                        Addresses

 

The address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:

 

(a)                                 in the case of the Borrower, that identified with its name below;

 

(b)                                 in the case of each Finance Party, that notified in writing to the Agents on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party; and

 

(c)                                  in the case of an Agent, that identified with its name below,

 

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or any substitute address, fax number or department or officer as the Party may notify to the Agents (or the Agents may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by any Agent) by not less than 5 (five) Business Days’ notice.

 

29.3                        Delivery

 

(a)                                 Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective:

 

(i)                                     if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or

 

(ii)                                  if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or 5 (five) Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address,

 

and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 29.2 (Addresses), if addressed to that department or officer.

 

(b)                                 Any communication or document to be made or delivered to an Agent will be effective only when actually received by that Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with its signature below (or any substitute department or officer as it shall specify for this purpose).

 

(c)                                  All notices from the Borrower shall be sent through the Facility Agent. All notices to the Borrower shall be sent through an Agent.

 

29.4                       Notification of address and fax number

 

Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address and fax number or change of address or fax number pursuant to Clause 29.2 (Addresses) or changing its own address or fax number, the relevant Agent shall notify the other Parties.

 

29.5                        Electronic communication

 

(a)                                 Any communication to be made between an Agent and a Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if that Agent and the relevant Finance Party:

 

(i)                                     agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication;

 

(ii)                                  notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and

 

(iii)                               notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them.

 

(b)                                 Any electronic communication made between an Agent and a Finance Party will be effective only when actually received in readable form and in the case 

 

94

 

of any electronic communication made by a Finance Party to an Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as that Agent shall specify for this purpose.

 

29.6                        English language

 

(a)                                 Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English.

 

(b)                                 All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be:

 

(i)                                     in English; or

 

(ii)                                  if not in English, and if so required by an Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.

 

30.                               CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES

 

30.1                        Accounts

 

In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.

 

30.2                        Certificates and determinations

 

Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates.

 

30.3                        Day count convention

 

Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days or, in any case where the practice in the Relevant Interbank Market differs, in accordance with that market practice.

 

31.                               PARTIAL INVALIDITY

 

If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.

 

32.                               REMEDIES AND WAIVERS

 

No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other 

 

95

 

exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

33.                               AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

33.1                        Required consents

 

(a)                                 Subject to Clause 33.2 (Exceptions), any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders, EKN, SEK and the Borrower and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties.

 

(b)                                 The Facility Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause.

 

33.2                       Exceptions

 

(a)                                 An amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to:

 

(i)                                     the definition of “Majority Lenders” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions);

 

(ii)                                  an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;

 

(iii)                               a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable;

 

(iv)                              an increase in or an extension of any Commitment;

 

(v)                                 a change to the Borrower;

 

(vi)                              any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders;

 

(vii)                           any amendment to the EKN Documents;

 

(viii)                        Clause 2.2 (Finance Parties’ rights and obligations), Clause 22 (Changes to the Lenders), Clause 26 (Sharing among the Finance Parties) or this Clause 33,

 

shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders, EKN and SEK.

 

(b)                                 An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agents or the Mandated Lead Arrangers may not be effected without the consent of the Agents or the Mandated Lead Arrangers.

 

34.                               CONFIDENTIALITY

 

34.1                        Confidential Information

 

Each Finance Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by Clause 34.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information), and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected 

 

96

 

with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.

 

34.2                        Disclosure of Confidential Information

 

Any Finance Party may disclose:

 

(a)                                 to any of its Affiliates and Related Funds and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (a) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information;

 

(b)                                 to any person:

 

(i)                                     to (or through) whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents and to any of that person’s Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers;

 

(ii)                                  with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether directly or indirectly, any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one or more Finance Documents and/or the Borrower and to any of that person’s Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers;

 

(iii)                               appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (ii) above applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed under paragraph (c) of Clause 24.14 (Relationship with the Lenders));

 

(iv)                              who invests in or otherwise finances (or may potentially invest in or otherwise finance), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above;

 

(v)                                 to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation;

 

(vi)                              to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes; or

 

97

 

(vii)                           who is a Party;

 

(c)                                  to the Suppliers (to the extent necessary in respect of the Contracts and Utilisations under this Agreement), SEK and EKN (to the extent necessary in connection with the Finance Documents);

 

(d)                                 to auditors, insurance and reinsurance brokers, insurers and reinsurers to the extent requested by SEK or EKN, subject to the prior consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

 

(e)                                  to any person with the consent of the Borrower;

 

in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if:

 

(i)                                     in relation to paragraphs (b)(i), (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information;

 

(ii)                                  in relation to paragraph (b)(iv) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information;

 

(iii)                               in relation to paragraphs (b)(v), (b)(vi) and (b)(vii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Finance Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances; and

 

(f)                                   to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents including without limitation, in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services referred to in this paragraph (f) if the service provider to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Borrower and the relevant Finance Party.

 

98

 

34.3                        Entire agreement

 

This Clause 34 (Confidentiality) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the obligations of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents regarding Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.

 

34.4                        Inside information

 

Each of the Finance Parties acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Finance Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.

 

34.5                        Notification of disclosure

 

Each of the Finance Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the Borrower:

 

(a)                                 of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) of Clause 34.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and

 

(b)                                 upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 34 (Confidentiality).

 

34.6                        Continuing obligations

 

The obligations in this Clause 34 (Confidentiality) are continuing and, in particular, shall survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of 12 (twelve) Months from the earlier of:

 

(a)                                 the date on which all amounts payable by the Borrower under or in connection with this Agreement have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise cease to be available; and

 

(b)                                 the date on which such Finance Party otherwise ceases to be a Finance Party.

 

35.                               COUNTERPARTS

 

Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Finance Document.

 

36.                               GOVERNING LAW

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

99

 

37.                               ARBITRATION

 

37.1                        Arbitration

 

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement) (a “Dispute”) shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the Arbitration Rules (the “Rules”) of the LCIA.

 

37.2                        Procedure for arbitration

 

(a)                                 The arbitral tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators. The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly the second arbitrator; and a third arbitrator, who shall serve as chairman (who shall be a lawyer currently qualified in England and Wales and be admitted to the Bar of England and Wales), shall be appointed by the LCIA within 15 (fifteen) days of the appointment of the second arbitrator.

 

(b)                                 In the event the claimant(s) or the respondent(s) shall fail to nominate an arbitrator within the time limits specified in the Rules, such arbitrator shall be appointed by the LCIA within 15 (fifteen) days of such failure. In the event that both the claimant(s) and the respondent(s) fail to nominate an arbitrator within the time limits specified in the Rules, all three arbitrators shall be appointed by the LCIA within 15 (fifteen) days of such failure who shall designate one of them as chairman.

 

(c)                                  If all the parties to an arbitration so agree, there shall be a sole arbitrator appointed by the LCIA within 15 (fifteen) days of such agreement.

 

(d)                                 The seat of arbitration shall be London, England and the language of the arbitration shall be English.

 

37.3                        Provisional remedies

 

No provision of this Clause shall limit the rights of any Party to seek or obtain any provisional or ancillary remedies from any court of competent jurisdiction before, after, during, or in the absence of any arbitration proceedings.

 

37.4                        Recourse to courts

 

The parties exclude the jurisdiction of the courts under Sections 45 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

 

37.5                        Service of process

 

Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, the Borrower:

 

(a)                                 irrevocably appoints Law Debenture Corporation, located at the date hereof at 5th Floor, 100 Wood Street, London EC2V 7EX, England, as its agent for

 

100

 

service of process in relation to any proceedings commenced in accordance with this Agreement; and

 

(b)                                 agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the Borrower of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.

 

37.6                        Waiver of immunity

 

The Borrower irrevocably agrees that, should any party take any proceedings anywhere (whether for an injunction, specific performance, damages or otherwise), no immunity (to the extent that it may at any time exist, whether on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise) from those proceedings, from attachment (whether in aid of execution, before judgment or otherwise) of its assets or from execution of judgment shall be claimed by it or on behalf of it or with respect to its assets, any such immunity being irrevocably waived. The Borrower irrevocably agrees that it and its assets are, and shall be, subject to such proceedings, attachment or execution in respect of its obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

101

 

SCHEDULE 1
 THE ORIGINAL LENDERS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Tranche A
   Commitment (USD$)
    	
 
    	
Tranche B Commitment
   (USD$)
    	
 
    
	
ING Bank N.V.
    	
 
    	
122 995 370
    	
 
    	
185 128 134
    	
 
    
	
Nordea Bank AB   (Publ)
    	
 
    	
122 995 370
    	
 
    	
185 128 134
    	
 
    
	
Calyon
    	
 
    	
122 995 370
    	
 
    	
185 128 134
    	
 
    
	
Raiffeisen   Zentralbank Osterreich AG
    	
 
    	
59 876 332
    	
 
    	
90 123 667
    	
 
    
	
Total: 
    	
 
    	
428,862,442
    	
 
    	
645   508 069
    	
 
    

 

102

 

SCHEDULE 2
 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

1.                                      The Finance Documents

 

Executed originals of each of this Agreement and the Mandate Letter, and copies of (i) each executed Agency Fee Letter and the arrangement fee letter executed between the Borrower and the Mandated Lead Arrangers pursuant to Clause 11.1 (Arrangement Fee), and (ii) the executed SEK Documents and the EKN Documents.

 

2.                                      The Borrower

 

(a)                                 An extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities in respect of the Borrower.

 

(b)                                 A notarised copy of the certificate of state registration of the Borrower issued by the relevant registration authority in accordance with the Federal Law No. 129-FZ of 8 August 2001 On State Registration of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs.

 

(c)                                  Notarised copies of the constitutive documents of the Borrower and amendments thereto.

 

(d)                                 Notarised copies of the certificates of registration of the constitutive documents of the Borrower and amendments thereto.

 

(e)                                  A notarised copy of the certificate of registration of the Borrower with the relevant tax authority in the Russian Federation.

 

(f)                                   Copies certified by an Authorised Signatory of the Borrower of all necessary corporate resolutions of the Borrower approving the entry into, the terms of and transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and related documents.

 

(g)                                  Copies certified by an Authorised Signatory of the Borrower of the resolutions or orders appointing the chief executive officer and the chief accountant of the Borrower.

 

(h)                                 Notarised copies of the powers of attorney, if applicable, in favour of the signatories of the Borrower authorising the execution of and delivery by them of all the documents and notices as provided in the Transaction Documents and related documents.

 

(i)                                     A notarised copy of the most recent banking sample signatures and seal card of the Borrower.

 

(j)                                    An original confirmation of an Authorised Signatory of the Borrower that, inter alia:

 

(i)                                     there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition of the Borrower since the date of its most recent financial statements;

 

103

 

(ii)                                  the documents listed above are copies of the current versions of such documents and are in full force and effect;

 

(iii)                               there has been no amendment to the information contained in the extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities listed as item (a) above;

 

(iv)                              the conclusion and performance of its obligations under the Transaction Documents and related documents does not violate any internal regulations of the Borrower nor any decisions of its management bodies;

 

(v)                                 there/are there are no parties which are interested (as defined in Article 81 of the Companies Law) in concluding by the Borrower the transaction contemplated in the Transaction Documents and related documents; and

 

(vi)                              the transaction contemplated in the Transaction Documents and related documents constitutes/does not constitute a major transaction for the Borrower (as defined in Article 79 of the Companies Law).

 

3.                                      Legal opinions

 

(a)                                 A legal opinion of the Mandated Lead Arrangers’ counsel as to matters of English law.

 

(b)                                 A legal opinion of the Mandated Lead Arrangers’ counsel as to matters of Russian law.

 

(c)                                  A legal opinion of the Mandated Lead Arrangers’ counsel as to matters of Swedish law.

 

4.                                      Other documents and evidence

 

(a)                                 Evidence that the process agent referred to in Clause 37.5 (Service of process) has accepted its appointment.

 

(b)                                 The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2008.

 

(c)                                  The Original Financial Statements.

 

(d)                                 Certified copy of the balance sheet, prepared under RAS, as of 30 September 2009 for the Borrower showing that Retained Earnings (as defined in Clause 7.6 (Mandatory Prepayment — Retained Earnings and Capital Reduction)) has not fallen below RUR 20,000,000,000.

 

(e)                                  Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Borrower pursuant to Clauses 11 (Fees) and 16 (Costs and expenses) have been paid within ten (10) Business Days of the Signing Date.

 

104

 

(f)                                   Evidence that the Borrower has opened the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account and, if required by law, duly notified the competent tax authorities in relation to the opening of the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account.

 

(g)                                  A certified copy of the Loan Passport accepted and duly stamped by the Passport Bank.

 

(h)                                 Evidence that the Borrower has complied or will comply with the Currency Law in respect of the entry into and performance of the Contracts and that all necessary documents in relation to the Finance Documents have been submitted to the Passport Bank in accordance with applicable currency control laws and regulations in form and substance satisfactory to the Passport Bank, together with certified copies of any such documents as the Agent may reasonably require.

 

(i)                                     A list of all Significant Subsidiaries.

 

(j)                                    Approvals. Certified copies of all licences, consents and approvals of, and filings and registrations with, any Governmental Authority (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Swedish authorities), and of all third-party consents and approvals, necessary (if any) in connection with the making and performance by the Borrower of the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, the approval for the Suppliers’ entry into and performance of the Contracts).

 

(k)                                 Executed Contracts. An executed copy of each of the Contracts executed by duly authorised representatives of all parties thereto, together with a certificate from the Foreign Supplier confirming that the conditions thereto have been satisfied or waived and each of the Contracts has become unconditional and effective (except for any condition on actual receipt of Loans under this Agreement and on the payment to the Suppliers of the purchase price (other than the Down- Payment)).

 

(l)                                     The original of the EKN Offer or the EKN Guarantee (whichever is applicable) in terms satisfactory to the EKN Agent which shall be in full force and effect and all conditions to the effectiveness thereof shall have been satisfied.

 

(m)                             The Facility Agent shall have received a statement of the names, titles and specimen signatures of the Suppliers’ representatives duly authorised by the Suppliers to sign the Supplier Certificate and other documents to be provided by the Suppliers under this Agreement, accompanied by a certified true copy of the relevant power of attorney.

 

(n)                                 Confirmation from SEK that SEK funding is or will be available on or before the first Utilisation Date.

 

(o)                                 Other Documents. Such other documents as may be reasonably requested by EKN, including, without limitation, any authorisation, consent, approval, licence, exemption, filing, registration or other document, opinion or assurance which EKN considers to be necessary or desirable (the EKN Agent shall notify the Borrower accordingly).

 

105

 

(p)                                 Other than in respect of the first Utilisation to be made pursuant to this Agreement, confirmation that each EKN Guarantee is duly issued and is covering 95% of principal and interest under the relevant Tranche of the Facility on terms satisfactory to the Lenders and is in full force and effect, and confirmation that EKN has issued a notice for payment of EKN Premium in relation to the EKN Guarantee for each Tranche of the Facility.

 

(q)                                 A certified copy of a letter duly executed by the Foreign Supplier (the “Indemnity Letter”) in the agreed form, indemnifying the Finance Parties against, among other things, EKN failing to perform any of its obligations under the EKN Documents, as relevant, due to any action or omission of the Suppliers.

 

(r)                                    Evidence that SEK has completed all its KYC requirements in respect of this Agreement.

 

(s)                                   An executed copy of each the SEK Assignment Agreement, the SEK Transfer Certificate and the SEK Guarantee prior to the first Utilisation, duly executed by the relevant parties.

 

106

 

SCHEDULE 3
 UTILISATION REQUEST

 

From:                        Mobile TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company

 

To:                                      [·] as Facility Agent

 

To:                                      [·] as Passport Bank

 

Dated:

 

Dear Sirs

 

Mobile TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company — EKN Facility Agreement dated [·] 2009 (the “Agreement”)

 

1.                                      We refer to the Agreement. This is a Utilisation Request. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Utilisation Request unless given a different meaning in this Utilisation Request.

 

2.                                      We kindly request to make the Utilisation on the following terms:

 

Tranche of Facility: Tranche [A] / [B]

 

Currency of the Utilisation: USD

 

Amount of the Utilisation for [Foreign Goods and Services][for Local Services]: [·]

 

[Amount of the Utilisation in respect of Premium Utilisation]: [·]](1)

 

3.                                      The purpose of this Utilisation is to finance the reimbursement to the Borrower of these amounts already paid by us to [(i)]  the Supplier in respect of Eligible Goods and Services [and (ii) to the Facility Agent for the account of EKN in respect of the EKN [A][B] Premium](2).

 

(a)                                 [We have paid an amount of USD [·] directly to the Facility Agent in respect of the EKN Premium due in respect of Tranche [A][B] in accordance with clause 11.4 (EKN Premium) of the Agreement (the “Premium Amount”)].(3)

 

(b)                                 We have paid an amount of USD [·] directly to the [Foreign][Local] Supplier in respect of certain Confirmed [Export][Local] Purchase Orders issued pursuant to the [Export][Local] Contract (the “Claimed Amount”)..

 

(1)  Include in respect of Premium Utilisation only

 

(2)  Include in respect of Premium Utilisation only

 

(3)  Include in respect of Premium Utilisation only

 

107

 

(c)                                  Attached to this Utilisation Request is a list of invoices relating to the relevant Confirmed [Export][Local] Purchase Orders referred to above, in an [aggregate] amount equal to [the sum of (i)] the amount of the proposed Utilisation (which is equal to the Claimed Amount [plus the Premium Amount](4))[, and (ii) the Down Payment amount referred to in (d) below,](5) and including the invoice number, invoice amount, invoice due date, reference number of the related Confirmed [Export][Local] Purchase Order, specification that the relevant invoice is in respect of [Foreign Goods and Services] [Local Services].

 

(d)                                 [We hereby also confirm that, in addition to payment of the Claimed Amount to the Foreign Supplier, we have paid to the Foreign Supplier the amount of USD[·], being an amount equal to the Down Payment amount in respect of the Confirmed Export Purchase Orders the subject of this Utilisation Request.](6)

 

4.                                      The proceeds of this Utilisation shall be credited to the Borrower’s Onshore Dollar Account in accordance with clause 5.5 (Application of the Loans) of the Agreement.

 

5.                                      We confirm that the Repeating Representations set out in the Agreement are, as of the date hereof, and will be as of the date of such Utilisation, true and correct in all material respects, and no Default or Event of Default has, as of the date hereof, occurred and is continuing or would result from the Utilisation requested under this Utilisation Request.

 

6.                                      We confirm that:

 

(a)                                 the Contract in respect of which this Utilisation is made has not:

 

(i)                                     been repudiated, revoked, rescinded or terminated;

 

(ii)                                  as far as we are aware, ceased to be in full force and effect;

 

(iii)                               as far as we are aware, ceased to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable or effective; or

 

(iv)                              been alleged by a party to it to be ineffective, and

 

(b)                                 as far as we are aware, it is not, nor has it become, unlawful for the Suppliers or the Borrower to perform their respective obligations under any of the Contracts;

 

(c)                                  each condition or requirement specified in clauses 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) and 55 (Utilisation) of the Agreement is satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request; and

 

(4) Include in respect of Premium Utilisation only

(5) Delete as appropriate for Export only

(6) Include in respect of Export Contract only

 

108

 

(d)                                 the [Eligible Foreign Goods and Services have been delivered] [Eligible Local Services have been performed] in respect of the Confirmed [Export][Local] Purchase Orders the subject of this Utilisation Request.

 

7.                                      This Utilisation Request is irrevocable.

 

8.                                      We certify that the goods and services described in the relevant Supplier’s Certificate and the list of invoices attached thereto are eligible for financing under the Agreement and do not include payment for any increase in the price payable as a result of any adjustment provision, payment for any goods and services that are not eligible for financing or payment of any portion of the Down Payment.

 

9.                                      We hereby certify that the Utilisation requested does not include any amounts which have already been requested under any other Utilisation Request.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Mobile TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company

 

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: 
    	
Chief Accountant
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
[seal]
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

109

 

SCHEDULE 4
 (7)FORM OF SUPPLIER CERTIFICATE

 

[Subject to review by Ericsson]

 

To:                                      [·] as Facility Agent

 

Dated:

 

Dear Sirs,

 

Mobile TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company — EKN Facility Agreement
 dated [·] 2009 (the “Agreement”)

 

We refer to the Agreement and to the

 

[supply contract no. FCP 101 8128 dated 31 December 2008 (as most recently amended on 17 June 2009 and as further amended from time to time) between MTS TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company and Ericsson AB (the “Export Contract”)]

 

AND/OR

 

[[the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KK-09:191 [entered into or to be entered in, as the case may be, between MTS TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company and Ericsson Corporatia AO, as the same may be amended from time to time]

 

AND/OR

 

[the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KZ 04:152 dated 16 August 2004 (as most recently amended on 31 March 2009 and as further amended from time to time) between MTS TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company and Ericsson Corporatia AO]

 

AND/OR

 

[the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KZ 09:531 dated 26 June 2007 between MTS TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company and Ericsson Corporatia AO;]

 

AND/OR

 

[the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KZ 07:365 dated 27 April 2007 between MTS TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company and Ericsson Corporatia AO;]

 

AND/OR

 

[the framework implementation contract no. ECR/KZ 07:396 dated 28 December 2007 between MTS TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company and Ericsson Corporatia AO]

 

AND/OR

 

(7)  To be discussed

 

110

 

[framework implementation contract no. ECR/KZ 08:490 dated 30 July 2008 between MTS TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company and Ericsson Corporatia AO](8) (the “Local Contract”)].

 

This is a Supplier Certificate.

 

This Supplier Certificate is issued in the context of purchase orders entered into in the context of the [Foreign/Local] Contract (the “Confirmed [Export] [Local] Purchase Orders”).

 

1.                                     We have attached hereto a list of the invoices in respect of the Confirmed [Export] [Local] Purchase Orders the subject of the proposed Utilisation confirming for each invoice (i) the invoice number, (ii) the invoice amount (iii) the invoice’s due date for payment, (iv) the reference number of the related Confirmed  [Export] [Local] Purchase Orders, and (v) that the invoice is in respect of [Foreign Goods and Services]/[Local Services].

 

2.                                      We hereby confirm that:

 

(a)                                 [Ericsson AB have invoiced the Borrower for an amount of USD [·] in respect of the Confirmed Export Purchase Orders and we have received payment in cleared funds in the amounts of (i) [insert amount in words] (USD[·]) which is equal to 85% of the invoiced amount in respect of the Confirmed Export Purchase Orders (the “Paid Amount”), and (ii) [insert amount in words] (USD[·]) which is equal to 15% of the invoiced amount in respect of the Confirmed Export Purchase Orders (the “Down Payment Amount”)]

 

OR

 

[Ericsson Corporatia AO have invoiced the Borrower for an amount of [·] in respect of the Confirmed Local Purchase Orders and we have received payment in Russian Rubles which is an equivalent of [insert amount in words] (USD[·]) and which is equal to 100% of the invoiced amount in respect of the Confirmed Local Purchase Orders;]

 

(b)                                 The amount of USD [·] is to be paid to the Borrower in accordance with the Utilisation Request the subject of this Supplier Certificate.

 

(c)                                  the [Export] [Local] Contract has not:

 

(i)                                     been repudiated, revoked, rescinded or terminated;

 

(ii)                                  as far as we are aware, ceased to be in full force and effect;

 

(iii)                               as far as we are aware, ceased to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable or effective; or

 

(iv)                              been alleged by a party to it to be ineffective;

 

(d)                                 as far as we are aware, it is not, nor has it become, unlawful for us to perform our respective obligations under the  [Export] [Local] Contract;

 

(8)  Delete as appropriate

 

111

 

(e)                                  all information given by us to EKN in connection with the invoices is true and correct in all material aspects as at the date when such information is presented to us;

 

(f)                                   the [Paid Amount][amount] set forth in paragraph 2(a) above is eligible for financing under the Agreement; and

 

(g)                                  (d)                                 the [Eligible Foreign Goods and Services have been delivered] [Eligible Local Services have been performed] in respect of the Confirmed [Export][Local] Purchase Orders the subject of this Supplier’s Certificate.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

[ERICSSON AB, SWEDEN](9)[ ERICSSON CORPORATIA AO](10)

 

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief Accountant
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
[seal]
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

(9)  when this Supplier Certificate relates to Export Contract

(10)  when this Supplier Certificate relates to Local Contracts

 

112

 

SCHEDULE 5
 MANDATORY COST FORMULA

 

1.                                      The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank.

 

2.                                      On the first day of each Interest Period (or as soon as possible thereafter) the Facility Agent shall calculate, as a percentage rate, a rate (the “Additional Cost Rate”) for each Lender, in accordance with the paragraphs set out below. The Mandatory Cost will be calculated by the Facility Agent as a weighted average of the Lenders’ Additional Cost Rates (weighted in proportion to the percentage participation of each Lender in the relevant Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum.

 

3.                                      The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Facility Office in a Participating Member State will be the percentage notified by that Lender to the Facility Agent. This percentage will be certified by that Lender in its notice to the Facility Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of that Lender’s participation in all Loans made from that Facility Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Facility Office.

 

4.                                      The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Facility Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Facility Agent as follows:

 

(a)                                 in relation to a Sterling Loan:

 

 per cent. per annum

 

(b)                                 in relation to a Loan in any currency other than sterling:

 

 per cent. per annum

 

Where:

 

(a)                                 is the percentage of Eligible Liabilities (assuming these to be in excess of any stated minimum) which that Lender is from time to time required to maintain as an interest free cash ratio deposit with the Bank of England to comply with cash ratio requirements.

 

(b)                                 is the percentage rate of interest (excluding the Margin and the Mandatory Cost and, if the Loan is an Unpaid Sum, the additional rate of interest specified in paragraph (a) of Clause 8.4 (Default interest)) payable for the relevant Interest Period on the Loan.

 

(c)                                  is the percentage (if any) of Eligible Liabilities which that Lender is required from time to time to maintain as interest bearing Special Deposits with the Bank of England.

 

113

 

(d)                                 is the percentage rate per annum payable by the Bank of England to the Facility Agent on interest bearing Special Deposits.

 

(e)                                  is designed to compensate Lenders for amounts payable under the Fees Rules and is calculated by the Facility Agent as being the average of the most recent rates of charge supplied by the Reference Banks to the Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 below and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000.

 

5.                                      For the purposes of this Schedule:

 

(a)                                 “Eligible Liabilities” and “Special Deposits” have the meanings given to them from time to time under or pursuant to the Bank of England Act 1998 or (as may be appropriate) by the Bank of England;

 

(b)                                 “Fees Rules” means the rules on periodic fees contained in the FSA Supervision Manual or such other law or regulation as may be in force from time to time in respect of the payment of fees for the acceptance of deposits;

 

(c)                                  “Fee Tariffs” means the fee tariffs specified in the Fees Rules under the activity group A.1 Deposit acceptors (ignoring any minimum fee or zero rated fee required pursuant to the Fees Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and

 

(d)                                 “Tariff Base” has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules.

 

6.                                      In application of the above formulae, A, B, C and D will be included in the formulae as percentages (i.e. 5 per cent. will be included in the formula as 5 and not as 0.05). A negative result obtained by subtracting D from B shall be taken as zero. The resulting figures shall be rounded to four decimal places.

 

7.                                      If requested by the Facility Agent, each Reference Bank shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Facility Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Reference Bank to the Financial Services Authority pursuant to the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by that Reference Bank as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Reference Bank for that financial year) and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000 of the Tariff Base of that Reference Bank.

 

8.                                      Each Lender shall supply any information required by the Facility Agent for the purpose of calculating its Additional Cost Rate. In particular, but without limitation, each Lender shall supply the following information on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender:

 

(a)                                 the jurisdiction of its Facility Office; and

 

(b)                                 any other information that the Facility Agent may reasonably require for such purpose.

 

Each Lender shall promptly notify the Facility Agent of any change to the information provided by it pursuant to this paragraph.

 

114

 

9.                                      The percentages of each Lender for the purpose of A and C above and the rates of charge of each Reference Bank for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Facility Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 7 and 8 above and on the assumption that, unless a Lender notifies the Facility Agent to the contrary, each Lender’s obligations in relation to cash ratio deposits and Special Deposits are the same as those of a typical bank from its jurisdiction of incorporation with a Facility Office in the same jurisdiction as its Facility Office.

 

10.                               The Facility Agent shall have no liability to any person if such determination results in an Additional Cost Rate which over or under compensates any Lender and shall be entitled to assume that the information provided by any Lender or Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above is true and correct in all respects.

 

11.                              The Facility Agent shall distribute the additional amounts received as a result of the Mandatory Cost to the Lenders on the basis of the Additional Cost Rate for each Lender based on the information provided by each Lender and each Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above.

 

12.                               Any determination by the Facility Agent pursuant to this Schedule in relation to a formula, the Mandatory Cost, an Additional Cost Rate or any amount payable to a Lender shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties.

 

13.                               The Facility Agent may from time to time, after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders, determine and notify to all Parties any amendments which are required to be made to this Schedule in order to comply with any change in law, regulation or any requirements from time to time imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties.

 

115

 

SCHEDULE 6
 FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

 

To:                                      [·] as Facility Agent

 

From:                        [·] (the “Existing Lender”) and [·] (the “New Lender”)

 

Dated:

 

Mobile TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company — EKN Facility Agreement dated [·] 2009 (the “Agreement”)

 

1.                                      We refer to the Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Transfer Certificate.

 

2.                                      We refer to Clause 22.5 (Procedure for transfer):

 

(a)                                 The Existing Lender and the New Lender agree to the Existing Lender transferring to the New Lender by novation all or part of the Existing Lender’s Commitment, rights and obligations referred to in the Schedule in accordance with Clause 22.5 (Procedure for transfer).

 

(b)                                 The proposed Transfer Date is [·].

 

(c)                                  The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 29.2 (Addresses) are set out in the Schedule.

 

3.                                      The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations set out in of Clause 22.4 (Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders).

 

4.                                      The New Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Facility Agent and without liability to the Borrower, that it is:

 

(a)                                 [a Qualifying Lender;]

 

(b)                                 [not a Qualifying Lender].(11)

 

5.                                      This Transfer Certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Transfer Certificate.

 

6.                                      This Transfer Certificate and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

(11)            Delete as applicable — each new Lender is required to confirm which of these two categories it falls within.

 

116

 

THE SCHEDULE

Commitment/rights and obligations to be transferred

 

[insert relevant details]

 

[Facility Office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments.]

 

	
[Existing Lender]
    	
[New Lender]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
					

 

This Transfer Certificate is accepted by the Facility Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [·].

 

[·]

 

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

117

 

SCHEDULE 7
 FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

To:                                                         [·] as Facility Agent

 

From:                                           Mobile TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company

 

Dated:

 

Dear Sirs

 

Mobile TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company — EKN Facility Agreement
 dated [·] 2009 (the “Agreement”)

 

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Compliance Certificate.

 

1.                                      [We confirm that no Default is continuing.]*

 

2.                                      We confirm that the ratio of Total Debt as at the end of the Relevant Period ending on [·] to OIBDA in respect of such Relevant Period was [·].*

 

3.                                      We confirm that the ratio of OIBDA to Interest Expense for the Relevant Period ending on [·] was [·].

 

4.                                      We confirm that Retained Earnings as at the end of the Relevant Period ending on [·] was [·].

 

Mobile TeleSystems Open Joint Stock Company

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: Chief Accountant
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
[seal]
    

 

*                If this statement cannot be made, the certificate should identify any Default that is continuing and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it.

 

118

 

SCHEDULE 8
 (EBRD’S DEFINITIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE SECTOR OPERATIONS (FRAUD AND CORRUPTION)

 

Fraud and corruption - definitions and guidelines for private sector operations

 

The purpose of these guidelines is to clarify the meaning of the terms “Corrupt Practices”, “Fraudulent Practices”, “Coercive Practices,” and “Collusive Practices” in the context of the EBRD’s non-sovereign operations in favour of private sector projects.

 

Corrupt practices

 

“Corrupt Practice” means the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting, directly or indirectly, of anything of value to influence improperly the actions of another party. In implementing this definition, the EBRD will be guided by the following principles:

 

(a)                                 The conduct in question must involve the use of improper means (such as bribery or kickbacks) by someone to induce another person to act or to refrain from acting in the exercise of his duties, in order to obtain or retain business, or to obtain an undue advantage. Antitrust, securities and other violations of law that are not of this nature fall outside of the definition of corrupt practices but may still be scrutinised under alternative procedures.

 

(b)                                 It is acknowledged that foreign investment agreements, concessions and other types of contracts commonly require investors to make contributions for bona fide social development purposes or to provide funding for infrastructure unrelated to the project. Similarly, investors are often required or expected to make contributions to bona fide local charities. These practices are not viewed as Corrupt Practices for purposes of these definitions, so long as they are permitted under local law and fully disclosed in the payer’s books and records. Similarly, an investor will not be held liable for corrupt or fraudulent practices committed by entities that administer bona fide social development funds or charitable contributions.

 

(c)                                  In the context of conduct between private parties, the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting of corporate hospitality and gifts that are customary by internationally-accepted industry standards shall not constitute corrupt practices unless the action violates applicable law.

 

(d)                                 Payment by private sector persons of the reasonable travel and entertainment expenses of public officials that are consistent with existing practice under relevant law and international conventions will not be viewed as Corrupt Practices.

 

(e)                                  The EBRD does not condone facilitation payments, whether they are criminalised or not. Such payments, which are illegal in most countries, are dealt with in accordance with relevant local laws and international conventions.

 

Fraudulent practices

 

“Fraudulent Practice” means any action or omission, including misrepresentation, that knowingly or recklessly misleads, or attempts to mislead, a party to obtain a financial benefit

 

119

 

or to avoid an obligation. In implementing this definition, the EBRD will be guided by the following principles:

 

(a)                                 An action, omission, or misrepresentation will be regarded as made recklessly if it is made with reckless indifference as to whether it is true or false. Mere inaccuracy in such information, committed through simple negligence, is not enough to constitute a “Fraudulent Practice”.

 

(b)                                 Fraudulent Practices are intended to cover actions or omissions that are directed to or against the EBRD. The expression also covers Fraudulent Practices directed to or against an EBRD member country in connection with the award or implementation of a government contract or concession in a project financed by the EBRD. Frauds on, or other illegal behaviour directed against, other third parties are not condoned. Such behaviour may represent an impediment to doing business with EBRD.

 

Coercive practices

 

“Coercive Practice” means impairing or harming, or threatening to impair or harm directly or indirectly, any party or the property of the party to influence improperly the actions of a party. In implementing this definition, the EBRD will be guided by the following principles:

 

(a)                                 Coercive Practices are actions undertaken for the purpose of bid rigging or in connection with public procurement or government contracting or in furtherance of a Corrupt Practice or a Fraudulent Practice.

 

(b)                                 Coercive Practices are threatened or actual illegal actions such as personal injury or abduction, damage to property, or injury to legally recognizable interests, in order to obtain an undue advantage or to avoid an obligation. It is not intended to cover hard bargaining, the exercise of legal or contractual remedies or litigation in such implementation.

 

Collusive practices

 

“Collusive Practice” means an arrangement between two or more parties designed to achieve an improper purpose, including influencing improperly the actions of another party. In implementing this definition, the EBRD will be guided by the principle that Collusive Practices are actions undertaken for the purpose of bid rigging or in connection with public procurement or government contracting or in furtherance of a Corrupt Practice or a Fraudulent Practice.

 

General

 

In implementing the foregoing definitions, the EBRD will be guided by the principle that a person should not be liable for actions taken by unrelated third parties unless that person has participated in the prohibited act in question.

 

120

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

 

The Borrower

 

MOBILE TELESYSTEMS OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY

 

Address:                                                 Ul. Vorontsovskaya 8, Bld. 4,
 109004 Moscow, Russian Federation

 

Fax No:

 

Attention:

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ M. Khail Shamolin
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Irina Borisenkova
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
M. Khail Shamolin
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Irina Borisenkova
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief Accountant
    

 

 

The Mandated Lead Arrangers

 

CALYON

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Bo Engdahl
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Marianne Lecoanet
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Bo Engdahl
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Marianne Lecoanet
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director Export Finance
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Associate Export Finance Director
    

 

 

ING BANK N.V.

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ E. Kock
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ W. A. A. R. Mansen
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
E. Kock
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
W. A. A. R. Mansen
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing Director
    

 

 

NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL)

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Katarina Hirsch
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Helena Hedman
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Katarina Hirsch
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Helena Hedman
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Legal Counsel
    

 

121

 

RAIFFEISEN ZENTRALBANK ÖSTERREICH AG

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Anita Filaus
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Markus Slupa
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Anita Filaus
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Markus Slupa
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Export Finance Manager
    

 

 

The Original Lenders

 

CALYON

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Bo Engdahl
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Marianne Lecoanet 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Bo Engdahl
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Marianne Lecoanet 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director Export Finance
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Associate Export Finance Director
    

 

 

ING BANK N.V.

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ E. Kock
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ W.A.A.R. Hansen
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
E. Kock
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
W.A.A.R. Hansen
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing Director
    

 

 

NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL)

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Katarina Hirsch 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Helena Hedman
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Katarina Hirsch 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Helena Hedman
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Legal Counsel
    

 

 

RAIFFEISEN ZENTRALBANK ÖSTERREICH AG

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Anita Filaus
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Markus Slupa
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Anita Filaus
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Markus Slupa
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Export Finance Manager
    

 

122

 

The Facility Agent

 

ING BANK N.V.

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ E. Kock
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ W.A.A.R. Hansen
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
E. Kock
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
W.A.A.R. Hansen
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing Director
    

 

 

The SEK Agent

 

ING BANK N.V.

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ E. Kock
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ W.A.A.R. Hansen
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
E. Kock
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
W.A.A.R. Hansen
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing Director
    

 

The EKN Agent

 

NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL)

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Katarina Hirsch 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Helena Hedman
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Katarina Hirsch 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Helena Hedman
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Legal Counsel
    

 

 

The Documentation Agent

 

CALYON

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Bo Engdahl
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Marianne Lecoanet 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Bo Engdahl
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Marianne Lecoanet 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director Export Finance
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Associate Export Finance Director
    

 

123Exhibit 4.11

 

COPY OF

MTS OJSC

 

GENERAL AGREEMENT

 

ABOUT SHORT-TERM CREDITS

 

BETWEEN

 

ZAO KB CITIBANK

 

AS THE CREDITOR

 

AND

 

MOBILE TELESYSTEMS OJSC

 

AS THE BORROWER

 

 

THE PRESENT GENERAL AGREEMENT ABOUT SHORT-TERM CREDITS was concluded in Moscow on May 10, 2012 between:

 

ZAO KB CITIBANK, a commercial bank, founded and operating in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, located at the address: building 1, 8-10 ulitsa Gasheka, Moscow, 125047, Russian Federation (“Citibank”); and

 

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC, an open joint stock company, founded and operating in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, located at the address: 8/4 Vorontsovskaya ulitsa, Moscow, 109044, Russian Federation (“Borrower”).

 

1.                            SUBJECT OF AGREEMENT

 

1.1                     The present Agreement establishes general terms and conditions, in accordance with which Citibank may from time to time extend short-term credits to the Borrower for the purpose of replenishment of the circulating capital, including (but not limited to) pre-export, post-import, other kinds of financing, and the Borrower is obliged to use all received credits hereunder for the relevant purpose, and Citibank may but is not obliged to check such purpose use (“Credits” and every one separately — “Credit”), but without Citibank’s obligation to extend such a Credit to the Borrower.

 

1.2                     Credits may be extended by Citibank to the Borrower after receiving by Citibank from the Borrower of a written request for a Credit, composed according to the form, contained in Appendix 1 to the present Agreement (“Credit Request”) and a written approval by Citibank of such a Credit Request. For this purpose the Borrower shall send to Citibank two originals of a Credit Request, properly signed on behalf of the Borrower and, in case of its approval, Citibank shall sign and return one original to the Borrower.

 

1.3                     The present Agreement and a Credit Request, properly signed by the both parties, as a whole constitute a separate and independent credit contract, concluded by Citibank and the Borrower with respect to a relevant Credit. The provisions of both the present Agreement and a Credit Request are applicable to the Credit, and herewith, in case of contradictions between the provisions of the present Agreement and a Credit Request, the provisions of the present Agreement shall prevail.

 

2.                            CREDITS

 

2.1                     Credits may be extended to the Borrower in Russian rubles. The Borrower is entitled to receive a Credit at the date it fulfills repayment of another Credit.

 

2.2                     Credits may be extended for a period, not exceeding one hundred eighty two (182) calendar days, and the Borrower is obliged to repay every Credit in full at the Repayment Date, specified in the Credit Request.

 

2.3                     If a Borrower wants to repay a Credit (or any part of it) before the Repayment Date, and Citibank provides a written consent to such anticipated repayment, the Borrower shall, upon Citibank’s claim, pay to the latter Anticipated Repayment Costs. For the purpose of the present Agreement “Anticipated Repayment Costs” mean a positive amount (if available), calculated by Citibank as a difference between:

 

·             interest amount (according to the interest rate, established by the Agreement, minus the margin), which Citibank would have received for an amount, equivalent to the amount, which is anticipatorily repaid, for the period from the anticipated repayment date till the Repayment Date; and

 

·             interest amount, which Citibank could have received, if it had deposited an amount, equivalent to the amount, which is anticipatorily repaid, in another bank in a relevant inter-bank market for the period, starting on the next business day after receiving from the Borrower of anticipated repayment assets and ending at the Repayment Date.

 

Present item 2.3 shall not be applicable, if such repayment is fulfilled in accordance with the provisions of items 9.1 and 9.3 of the present Agreement.

 

2

 

2.4                     Upon extension of every Credit the Borrower shall pay a Credit commission in the amount of 0.25% of the amount of every Credit within three (3) bank days from the moment of extension of the Credit.

 

3                               INTERESTS

 

3.1                     Unless otherwise stipulated in a Credit Request, the Borrower shall pay Credit Interests according to the interest rate, determined below.

 

3.2                     The interest rate is as follows:

 

3.2.1           the MOSPRIME rate, increased by the margin amount, equal to 1.50% (one and fifty hundredths) of the annual interest. For the purposes of the present Agreement the “MOSPRIME rate” means the rate of annual interest, published on the MOSPRIME1 page of Reuter display, established for deposits for a period, equal to the Credit period, approximately as of 12:30 p.m. (by Moscow time) on the first business day of a relevant interest period; herewith, if publishing of rates on the MOSPRIME1 page of Reuter display is ceased and ZAO KB Citibank does not choose an another page or service, publishing the MOSPRIME rate, the MOSPRIME rate shall mean the rate of annual interest, established for ZAO KB Citibank with respect to the costs of receiving by it of the specified deposits in Russian rubles, offered for the relevant interest period by the following five banks, operating in the Russian inter-bank market: The Royal Bank of Scotland ZAO, OAO Bank VTB, OAO Sberbank of Russia, OOO HSBS Bank (RR), ZAO Raiffeisen Bank and ZAO UniCredit Bank, approximately as of 12:30 p.m. (by Moscow time) at the first business date of a relevant interest period. If at least three deposit price quotations are provided, the rate as of the present day will be equal to the arithmetic average of these quotations. If less than three deposit price quotations can be provided, the rate for this day will be equal to the rate of annual interest, established by ZAO KB Citibank with respect to the costs of receiving by it of the specified deposits during the relevant period of any reasonably chosen by it sources; and

 

3.2.2           upon occurrence of an Event of Default — with respect to any outstanding at that moment Credit (or any part of it) and until its full repayment — the rate of annual interest, calculated in accordance with item 3.2.1, increased by three (3) percent per annum.

 

3.3                     Interest for every Credit shall be accrued on the daily basis and calculated on the basis of the longitude of a year, consisting of 365(6) days, and the actual amount of passed days.

 

3.4                    Unless otherwise stipulated in a Credit Request, during the whole period, while a Credit (or any part of it) is outstanding, the Borrower shall pay Credit Interest at the Credit Repayment Date jointly with the primary credit amount (every such date shall be referred to as “Interest Payment Date”).

 

4.                            PAYMENTS

 

4.1                     Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the Credit Amount, specified in a Credit Request, shall be transferred by Citibank in the Credit Currency to the account, the details of which were specified by the Borrower in the Credit Request. A credit shall be deemed extended on the business day, on which the relevant amount is debited from the ruble correspondent account of Citibank, which is specified in item 9.12 of the present Agreement, in favor of the Borrower.

 

4.2                     Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, repayment of a Credit and payment of the interest, charged on it, shall be fulfilled by way of transferring by the Borrower of relevant monetary assets to the account of Citibank in the Credit Currency on the relevant Repayment Date and Interest Payment Date(-s). A Credit shall be deemed to be repaid (or interest shall be deemed to be paid), as well as all other Borrower’s payments under the present Agreement shall be deemed to be received by Citibank on the business day, on which the correspondent monetary assets are credited to the correspondent account of Citibank in the payment currency, specified in item 9.12 of the present Agreement.

 

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4.3                              If the date, on which the Borrower shall fulfill a payment to Citibank under the present Agreement, is not a business day in Moscow, the payment shall be fulfilled by the Borrower on the nearest business day, succeeding the previously agreed payment date.

 

4.4                              All payments, which the Borrower shall fulfill under the present Agreement, shall be executed without the right of offset of counter claims, deductions of any kinds from the Borrower’s side. If the Borrower shall, in accordance with the applicable legislation, fulfill such a payment with deductions against a tax or on another basis, the amount, paid by the Borrower to Citibank, shall be increased so, that after the relevant deduction Citibank could receive a net amount, equal to the amount, which it would have received, if such deductions had not been fulfilled or required.

 

4.5                              Payments, received from the Borrower, shall be used for servicing of the Borrower’s debt to Citibank in the following order:

 

·                      for compensation of costs and expenses of Citibank, as provided by the applicable law, including expenses, related to execution of Credit Contracts in favor of Citibank,

 

·                      for paying of interests hereunder in accordance with Article 3 hereof;

 

·                      for repaying of the primary credit amount; and

 

·                      for paying of amounts in accordance with items 2.3, 7.4 and 9.1 of the present Agreement.

 

5.                                     REPRESENTATIONS

 

5.1                              The Borrower represents and warrants to Citibank that:

 

5.1.1           it is an open joint stock company, properly founded and legally operating in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, is an independent legal entity and is entitled and authorized to conclude the present Agreement and execute the obligation hereunder and under other documents, signed by the Borrower in accordance with the present Agreement, and the persons, who have signed the present Agreement and any other documents on behalf of the Borrower, are properly authorized to do it;

 

5.1.2           the present Agreement and other documents, signed by the Borrower in accordance with the present Agreement, are legally binding for it and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and they do not violate or contradict and will not violate or contradict any legislation, applicable to it, any provision of the Borrower’s foundation documents, an order or a judgment of any court or a state institution, delivered against the Borrower or any of its assets, or any contract restriction, legally binding the Borrower or its assets, or affecting the Borrower or its assets;

 

5.1.3           all permits of state and other bodies, as well as approvals of the Borrower’s management bodies, which shall be received with respect to the present Agreement or any other documents, signed by the Borrower in accordance with the present Agreement, have been received and are valid, as well as all terms of such permits and approvals are observed;

 

5.1.4           the Borrower’s obligations with respect to repaying of debts under the present Agreement have, at least, pari passu ranking with all its other unsecured financial liabilities, except for its obligations to creditors, claims of which are covered by the preferential assignment exclusively in accordance with the applicable regulatory acts about bankruptcy, financial insolvency, liquidation or any other similar general regulatory acts;

 

5.1.5           no Event of Default or any other event, which is or may become (after passing of some time, after sending of a notification or upon combining of the specified conditions) a Credit Default Event, has occurred and is not continuing;

 

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5.1.6           there is no and, as far as the Borrower knows, there is no threat of bringing of a case against it or any Subsidiary of the Borrower (as defined in item 6.1.3 of the present Agreement) before any court, arbitrage court, state body, institution or with any official person or an arbitrator, which may influence the legality, validity or enforceability of the present Agreement or any other documents, signed by it in accordance with the present Agreement, as well as the ability of the Borrower to execute its obligations under the present Agreement or any other documents, signed by it in accordance with the present Agreement;

 

5.1.7           the Borrower has not taken any measure, and no measures have been taken against it and no judicial proceedings were executed against it in accordance with Federal Law No. 127-FZ, d/d 26.10.2002 “About financial insolvency (bankruptcy)” (with subsequent alterations and amendments) with the purpose of its liquidation, dissolution, introduction of external control or judicial restructuring or appointment of a bankruptcy administrator, a bankruptcy commissioner, a custodian or a similar official person with respect to the Borrower or any of its assets or incomes;

 

5.1.8           the information, provided to Citibank in connection with the present Agreement, is credible, complete and exact in all material respect, and the Borrower is not aware of any material facts or circumstance, which have not been disclosed to Citibank and which could, upon their disclosure, negatively impact a decision of a person, considering the issue about provision of financing to the Borrower;

 

5.1.9           as of the date of the present Agreement the Borrower has not outstanding tax liabilities, arrears in repayment of which constitute more than three months, except for a liability, which has not been contested by it in good faith or the amount of which does not exceed one hundred million (100,000,000) US dollars or an equivalent in another currency;

 

5.1.10    the Borrower has not created any encumbrance, except for those, which have been created and are valid as of the date of conclusion of the present Agreement and which Citibank has been notified about in writing, or except for Admitted Encumbrances.

 

For the purposes of the present Agreement:

 

“Encumbrance” means a mortgage, pledge, deduction right or any other encumbrance, providing any obligation of any person, any agreement, having a similar effect;

 

“Admitted Encumbrances” mean

 

(a)                   any Encumbrance over any assets of any legal entity, existing at the moment, when such a legal entity is incorporating or consolidating with the Borrower or such and Encumbrance is being included into any Encumbrance of the Borrower, or such a legal entity is becoming the a Subsidiary of the Borrower, and which was not the reason for creation of such an event, provided that such an Encumbrance does not cover any other assets of the Borrower and such a legal entity;

 

(b)                   any Encumbrance, covering any assets before purchasing of them by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower and which was not the reason for such purchasing, provided that such an Encumbrance does not cover any other assets of the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower;

 

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(c)                    any Encumbrance for any assets, which serve as a security of a Financial Liability (as defined below) of the Borrower or a Financial Liability of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, created or provided for the purpose of financing of all or a part of expenses for purchasing, repairing or reconstruction of such assets, provided that (i) the cumulative primary amount of the whole Financial Liability, secured by such an Encumbrance for such assets, shall not exceed the least of (x) the purchase price of such assets and (y) the market value of such assets at the moment of their purchasing, repairing or reconstruction; and (ii) such an Encumbrance arises with respect to such assets simultaneously with repairing or their reconstruction or within 90 days after their purchasing, depending on circumstances;

 

(d)                   any Encumbrance, arising in pursuance of a law, including any Encumbrance (i), arising in the normal course of business with respect to amounts, not paid or contested by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in good faith in the course of relevant judicial proceedings and (ii) in connections with paying of taxes, fees, claims or demands from state bodies, including but not limited to claims or demands from tax authorities of the Russian Federation;

 

(e)                    any Encumbrance for assets of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, securing an intra-group Financial Liability of such a Subsidiary to the Borrower or another Subsidiary;

 

(f)                     any agreement about mutual compensation of claims and obligations or about setoff of claims, concluded by the Borrower or a Subsidiary with any bank or another financial and lending organization in the course of its normal activity for the purpose of mutual compensation or setoff of debit and credit amounts for relevant credits, concluded with such a bank or a financial and lending organization;

 

(g)                    servitudes, rights of passage, restriction and any other similar dues or encumbrances, which have arisen in the course of normal business and which are not considered to be material involvement into the normal business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, including any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a share in the capital of any joint venture, in accordance with a joint venture agreement;

 

(h)                   any extension, renewal or replacement of any Encumbrance, described in items (a) — (g) above, provided that (i) such extension, renewal or replacement shall not be more restricted in any material meaning than the Encumbrance itself; (ii) the amount of the Financial Liability, secured by such an Encumbrance, is not increased; (iii) if the assets, securing the amount of the Financial Liability with the account for the Encumbrance, change in connection with such refinancing, extension or replacement, the market value of the property or assets, provided as an Encumbrance, does not increase; and

 

(i)                       any other Encumbrance (except for any Encumbrance, described in (a) — (h) above), provided that immediately after becoming of such an Encumbrance valid, the total amount of the whole secured Financial Liability of the Borrower and Subsidiaries, secured by the Encumbrance, specified in present item (i), does not exceed ten percents (10%) of the balance value of the Borrower’s assets, as this figure is stipulated in the consolidated audited financial report of the Borrower, prepared in accordance with the GAAP of the USA as of the end of a relevant financial year.

 

“Financial Liability” means any liability of the Borrower with respect to:

 

(a) /illegible/ monetary assets;

 

(b) amounts attracted through an accept under an accept of non-documentary credit;

 

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(c) amounts of liabilities under any credit or issue of any bonds, bills of exchange, debt obligations or other similar debt instruments;

 

(d) amounts of obligations with respect to any lease agreement or installment purchase agreement, which is considered, in accordance with the GAAP of the USA, to be financial or capital leasing;

 

(e) a sold or assigned debt receivable (except for the cases, when a purchaser of such a debt receivable has not right of claim to the person, who has sold such a debt receivable;

 

(f) monetary amounts, attracted under another transaction (including forward sale and purchase contracts), having the commercial effect of a monetary loan or credit;

 

(g) any transactions with derivative financial instruments, aimed at protection or receiving of an income from fluctuation of any rate or price (and where calculation of the costs of any transaction with derivative financial instruments is fulfilled only on the basis of the market value);

 

(h) shares, which are considered to be subject to repurchasing upon a claim of the holder of these shares at or before the Repayment Date (but with exclusion of any accrued dividends) (and for the avoidance of doubt, to the extension the specified shares are subject to repayment upon a claim of the holder of these share exclusively as a result of reorganization of a company or a big transaction (as interpreted in accordance with the applicable Russian legislation), such shares are not accounted for the purposes of the present definition till the moment of raising by the holder of the shares of a claim to repurchase the specified shares;

 

(i) any reimbursement obligation under an agreement about warranty, indemnity obligation, financial liability, stand-by or documentary letter of credit or another instrument, issued by a bank or any credit organization upon a request of the Borrower; and

 

(j) a liability amount with respect to any security or reimbursement of damage, caused to any person with respect to any liability, specified in sub-items (a) — (h) above.

 

6.                                      OBLIGATIONS

 

6.1                               Until a Credit (or any part of it) is unpaid, the Borrower is obliged to:

 

6.1.1                    observe in all material respects all applicable legislative acts, regulations, decrees and orders;

 

6.1.2                     provide that at any moment all claims of Citibank to the Borrower under the present Agreement have, at least, the pari passu ranking with its all unsecured liabilities, except for liabilities to creditors, claims of which are covered by the preferential assignment exclusively in accordance with the applicable regulatory acts about bankruptcy, financial insolvency, liquidation or any other similar general regulatory acts;

 

6.1.3                     without a preliminary written consent of Citibank not to fulfill and not to take part in fulfilling of any reorganization (as defined in item 1 of Article 57 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation), except for reorganization of the Borrower in the form of incorporation with its Subsidiaries, not to assign, sale or transfer ownership by another way of all or a significant part of its assets, and not to create any encumbrance, mortgage, pledge or a retention right of any kind (except for Admitted Encumbrances) or any other preferential rights, having similar subsequence for all or any of its assets;

 

For the purposes of the present Agreement:

 

“Subsidiary” means a legal entity, which the Borrower executes control over (as defined below) and/or owns directly or indirectly more than 50% of the charter capital or has a similar ownership right.

 

“Control” (including the expressions “controlled”, “under control”) of any person over a legal entity means execution of rights to determine or influence taking decisions and give

 

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instruction, obligatory for fulfilling, with respect to management of the legal person, through ownership of voting shares, having a power of attorney, a credit agreement, in the role of a custodian, or through another way, including the right to appoint more than 50% of members of the management bodies;

 

6.1.4                     promptly notify Citibank about occurrence of any Event of Default or an event, which may become (after passing of some time, after sending of a notification or upon combination of the specified conditions) a Event of Default; and

 

6.1.5                     provide Citibank, on the basis of a written request of Citibank, with the right of access to accounting books and records in the premises of the Borrower; and

 

6.1.6                     upon a request of Citibank, provide copies of trade contracts (to the amount not less than the amount of requested Credit), which secure the present financing.

 

7.                                     EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

7.1                              Until a Credit (or any part of it) is unpaid, occurrence of any of the following events with respect to the Borrower shall be deemed an event of non-fulfilling of obligations (“Event of Default”):

 

7.1.1                     the Borrower does not repay the Credit, pay interest for using a Credit or pay other amounts subject to payment to Citibank in connections with the Credit in accordance with the terms of the present Agreement within the time limit, in the currency and according to the procedure, stipulated in the present Agreement (except for the cases, when such a default, in the opinion of Citibank, is caused exclusively by technical and administrative reasons and may be eliminated within three (3) business days after the required date;

 

7.1.2                     the Borrower does not properly fulfill or observe any of its obligations under the present Agreement or any other document, signed by the Borrower in accordance with the present Agreement, and such a violation is not eliminated by a way, appropriate for Citibank, within ten (10) business days after sending by Citibank of a relevant notification to the Borrower;

 

7.1.3                     any representation or declaration, made by the Borrower in the present Agreement or any other documents, signed by the Borrower in accordance with the present Agreement, in any certificate or application, sent by the Borrower to Citibank in accordance with the present Agreement or in connection with it, is or turns to be false or misleading in any material respect as of the moment of their provision and remains to be false or misleading in any material respect during at least ten (10) business days after sending by Citibank of a relevant notification to the Borrower;

 

7.1.4                     any Financial Liability of the Borrower (except for a Financial Liability of the Borrower to a Subsidiary of the Borrower) is not repaid in time (and such an amount remains unpaid after expiration of a period of grace, applicable to it) or is declared to be anticipatorily repaid, provided that the amount of such a Financial Liability exceeds one hundred million (100,000,000) US dollars or an equivalent of it in another currency;

 

7.1.5                     the Borrower, being unable to repay its debt as soon as at the dates of its repayment, the total amount of which exceeds one hundred million (100,000,000) US dollars or a equivalent of it in another currency, starts negotiations with its major creditors for the purpose of payment deferment or writing off the debt, or any other restructuring or ceasing of a material part of the Borrower’s debt under any of its obligations (including, among other issues, summoning of the meeting (the committee) of the creditors);

 

7.1.6                     all or a significant part of the Borrower’s asset, constituting more that 10% of their total balance value, determined on the basis of the latest consolidated report in accordance of the GAAP of the USA, are punished or seized, and such a seizure is not removed or suspended within twenty (20) business days;

 

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7.1.7                     the Borrower takes any actions with the purpose of its liquidations or introduction of external control or judicial reorganization of any kind, with the purpose of appointment of a bankruptcy administrator, bankruptcy trustee, external administrator, custodian or a similar official person with respect to the Borrower, or any of its incomes and assets, or in respect of it the bankruptcy procedure is initiated in accordance with Federal Law No. 127-FZ, d/d 26.10.2002 “About financial insolvency (bankruptcy)” (with subsequent alteration and amendments), provided that such measures (procedures) or judicial proceedings with respect of them are not ceased or suspended within sixty (60) days from the date of their starting in accordance with the procedure, provided by the applicable law;

 

7.1.8                     the Borrower ceases to fulfill the activity, which it fulfilled as of the date of conclusion of the present Agreement or starts fulfilling types of activity, significantly differing from the activity, fulfilled as of the date of conclusion of the present Agreement.

 

7.2                              Any of the following events shall be deemed an event of anticipated repayment (“Anticipated Repayment Event”):

 

7.2.1                     The present Agreement or any other document, signed by the parties in connection with the present Agreement, for any reason ceases to be in force or is dissolved by any of the partied, except for Citibank;

 

7.2.2                     Non-provision upon a request of the Creditor of documents, confirming purchasing of goods / services (copies of commercial invoices / invoices and payment orders, confirming payment for the goods / services, etc), for financing of which a Credit had been extended;

 

7.2.3                     In the business activity of the financial status of the Borrower significant unfavorable changes take place, which, upon a justified opinion of Citibank, make it reasonable to believe that the Borrower is unable (or may be unable) to fulfill its obligations hereunder.

 

7.3                              Upon occurrence of any Event of Default, specified above in item 7.1, or Anticipated Repayment Events, specified in item 7.2, as well as at any time afterwards Citibank may, by sending of a written notification to the Borrower, request Credit repayment (after which all Credits, as well as all interests and payables of the Borrower, shall be repaid according to the specified order).

 

If Citibank requests Credits repayment, Citibank may, at any time starting from this moment, request, through sending of a written notification to the Borrower, Credits repayment at the date, specified by it in such a notification, but not earlier than fifteen (15) business days from the moment of sending of the written notification by Citibank (after which the relevant Credits shall be repaid at such a date, as well as the accrued interests and any other payables of the Borrower, connected to them).

 

7.4                             The Borrower shall compensate to Citibank expenses, damages and costs, incurred by Citibank as a result of any non-fulfillment or improper fulfillment by the Borrower of any of its obligations hereunder upon presenting of a documentary confirmation of such expenses and damages, incurred by Citibank.

 

8.                                      INFORMATION DISCLOSURE

 

8.1                              With the account for the right of Citibank, provided by item 8.2 below, the parties are obliged to observe confidentiality and, without a preliminary written consent of the other party, not to disclose to third person any facts and information, connected to the present Agreement and Credits, unless otherwise provided by the law, as well as except for disclosure of information to legal, tax and financial consultants of the parties, rating agencies and affiliated persons of the parties (as defined in Article 4 of Law of the Russian Federation, d/d 22.03.1991, No. 948-1 “About competition and restricting of monopoly activity in goods markets” (with alterations and amendments as of the date of the present Agreement), as well as except for cases, when such a disclosure is required pursuant to the applicable law or the regulations of stock exchanges, which the Borrower’s securities circulate in. The confidentiality obligation does not cover public information.

 

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8.2                              (A)                               Citibank has the right to disclose to any of its affiliated persons or any other person:

 

(i)                          to which (or with participation of which) Citibank transfers or assigns (or may transfer or assign) of all or some of its rights and obligations with respect to Credits, extended hereunder; or

 

(ii)                       with which (or with participation of which) Citibank acts (or may act) as a joint creditor or any other transaction, under which payments shall be fulfilled with regard to the Credits, extended hereunder, or which invest directly or indirectly as a joint creditor or any other transaction; and

 

(iii)                    to which and to the extent, to which the information shall be disclosed in accordance with any applicable law or a regulatory act; and

 

(B)                               Citibank is entitled to disclose to an investor, creditor, a trust owner, a manager, an administrator or any other person, being a direct or indirect participant or a party in securitization or issuing of instruments, secured by definite financial liabilities or by another way, or to any person for any purpose, connected to Credits, extended in accordance with the terms of the present Agreement,

 

any information about the Borrower, the present Agreement or any other document or instrument, concluded between the parties in connection with the present Agreement to the extent, Citibank considers necessary provided that, in accordance with paragraph (A)(i) and (ii) and (B) above, the person, to which the information will be disclosed, shall undertake the confidentiality obligation.

 

8.3                              Any obligations for nondisclosure of information, undertaken by the parties in accordance with present Article 8, shall replace any previous confidentiality obligations of the parties.

 

9.                                      MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.1                              The Borrower shall, upon a request of Citibank, to pay to Citibank the amounts, which are required for compensation to Citibank of documentarily confirmed additional expenses, connected to the present Agreement, arising as a result of execution by Citibank of any future law or bylaw, agreement, official order or claim, put into force by the Russian Federation or a relevant federal subject of the Russian Federation (having or not having the force of law and, among other things, including claims, concerning capital adequacy, liquidity, reserves, special deposits, taxes, except for the net profit tax of Citibank or a subdivision, extending Credits), or any regulation of claim of a self-regulated organization, the rights of which are obligatory for observance by Citibank.

 

In case the Borrower receives such a claim, it is entitled, at its own discretion, to repay all outstanding Credits anticipatorily without paying of any amounts, as stipulated in the present item.

 

9.2                              Receiving or collection by Citibank of any amount with respect to any obligation of the Borrower in a currency, differing from the currency, in which this amount shall be paid, either on the basis of a decision of any judicial body or in accordance with the present Agreement, discharges such an obligation only in the amount, for which Citibank may, on the first day on which Citibank is open for transactions immediately after such receiving of collection, purchase, in accordance with the normal bank practice, the currency, in which the relevant amount shall have been paid, for the currency, which was received or collected. If the amount purchased in this way is less that the initial amount in the currency, in which the relevant amount shall have been paid, the Borrower is obliged, according to a separate obligation and independently on decision of any court, to compensate any expenses, incurred by Citibank.

 

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9.3                              If extension, financing or availability of an unpaid Credit becomes illegal for Citibank, the relevant Credit shall be immediately revoked and become subject to repayment upon a request of Citibank, and the Borrower shall fully repaid such a Credit together with the accrued interest as of the date, specified in a notification from Citibank, containing the request for repayment. The specified notification shall be sent by Citibank not later than fifteen (15) business days before the date of repayment of the Credit, if in accordance with the applicable law provision of such deferral is not illegal for Citibank.

 

9.4                              If at any moment any of the provisions of the present Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable with any respect according to the legislation of any jurisdiction, it in no way affects or encroaches the legitimacy, validity or enforceability of the other provisions of the present Agreement, as well as the legitimacy, validity or enforceability of such a provision in accordance with the legislation of any other jurisdiction.

 

9.5                              Omission of Citibank to exercise or a delay in exercising by it of any right or legal remedy under the present Agreement shall not be deemed to a waiver of the right for their fulfillment, as well as no sporadic or partial exercising of any right or remedy does not prevent any further or any their exercising or exercising of another right or legal remedy. The rights and legal remedies, provided by the present Agreement, supplement but do not exclude the rights and legal remedies, provided by the law.

 

9.6                              The parties agree that, without prejudice to other provisions of the present Agreement, including item 9.1 and in accordance with Article 451 of the Civil Code, material changing of the circumstances, by which the Borrower was ruled upon conclusion of the present Agreement and at every Provision Date shall not be deemed the reason for its alteration of dissolution.

 

9.7                              Citibank may, in accordance with its normal practice, keep accounts, on which the amounts, at any time credited by Citibank and subject to repayment by the Borrower hereunder, are fixed. In case of any legal or judicial proceedings, connected to the present Agreement, records on such accounts, provided that there are no obvious mistakes, shall be deemed the final confirmation of availability and the amount of the Borrower’s financial liabilities under the present Agreement.

 

9.8                              The present Agreement is regulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation. Any disputes, disagreement or claims, arising in connection with the present Agreement, shall be transferred for consideration and solved by the Arbitrage court of Moscow. The Borrower shall irrevocable submit to the jurisdiction of the present court, but such submission does not restrict (and shall not be deemed to be restricting) the right of Citibank to bring legal proceedings against the Borrower in any other court of the relevant jurisdiction, as well as bringing of legal proceedings in one or several jurisdiction does not prevent bringing of legal proceedings in any other jurisdiction, either simultaneously or not.

 

9.9                              To the extent, the Borrower may in any jurisdiction claim immunity, covering the Borrower and its property, with respect to any lawsuits, execution of a judgment, seizure (either in the framework of execution of a judgment, or before delivering of a judgment or in accordance with another order) or any other proceedings, and to the extent, it may, in any such jurisdiction, used such immunity with respect to itself or its property (irrespectively if the Borrower use it or not), the Borrower hereby irrevocable agrees, that it will not claim such immunity and irrevocable waives of it in the maximal extent, admitted by the legislation of such jurisdiction.

 

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9.10                       The present Agreement comes into force at the date, specified above. Any of the parties has the right to dissolve the present Agreement at any moment by sending to the other party (with a courier, by mail or by fax) a written notification about dissolution of the Agreement no later than one (1) month before the supposed date of dissolution of the Agreement and provided that as of the supposed date of dissolution of the Agreement there will be no amounts subject to payment by the Borrower to Citibank hereunder. In case of availability of amounts subject to payment by the Borrower to Citibank hereunder as of the supposed date of dissolution of the present Agreement, the present Agreement continues to be valid with respect to Credits, not repaid as of the moment of such dissolution before the date of final repayment by the Borrower of its obligations to Citibank hereunder.

 

9.11                       The present Agreement is signed by the parties in the Russian language in two original authentic copies, having equal validity, one copy for each of the parties.

 

9.12                       Addresses and bank details of the Parties

 

	
Citibank:
    	
 
    	
Borrower:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ZAO KB Citibank  

Bld. 1, 8-10   ulitsa Gasheka, Moscow, Russian Federation 125047

Correspondent   account:  30101810300000000202  in the Operation Department of the Main   Territorial Administration of the Bank of Russia  

BIC (Bank   identification code) 044525202  

INN (Taxpayer’s   individual number) 7710401987  

KPP (Code of   reason for tax registration) 775001001  

OKPO (Russian   business and organization classifier) 29034830
    	
 
    	
Mobile   TeleSystems OJSC  

8/4a,   Vorontsovskaya ulitsa, Moscow, 109144  

INN 7740000076  

Account No.   40702810100000002754  

in MTS-Bank OJSC

Correspondent   account No. 30101810600000000232  

BIK 044583212
    

 

ON BEHALF OF ZAO KB CITIBANK

 

	
Signature: (signature)

Name: (illegible)  

Positions: Vice-president
    	
 
    	
Signature: : (signature)  

Name: Guniya M.G.  

Position: Chief   accountant
    

 

Place of Seal         (seal)

 

ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER

 

	
Signature: (signature)  

Name: Kornya A.V.  

Position:   Finances and Investments Vice-president 
    	
 
    	
Signature: (signature)  

Name:  Borisenkova I.R.  

Position: Chief   accountant
    

 

Place of Seal         (seal)

 

12

 

Sign-off copy of MTS OJSC

 

Agreement No without number, d/d           20    

 

	
Contractor ZAO KB Citibank  
    
	
 
    
	
Responsible subdivision DKF, BFI, KU
    
	
 
    	
name of the   responsible subdivision
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Kapranov I.S. (signature)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Full name of   the manager of the responsible subdivision)
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Responsible   executor 
    	
Smirnov A.V. (signature)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Full name of   the responsible executor)
    
					

 

APPROVED:

 

	
Name of the Approving
   subdivision
    	
 
    	
Full name of the Approving person
    	
 
    	
Signature
    	
 
    	
Comments
    (approval date, etc.)
    
	
DZSiI
    	
 
    	
Gorlatov A.G.
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

Legal subdivision

 

Additional approval

 

	
Name of the Approving
   subdivision
    	
 
    	
Full name of the Approving person
    	
 
    	
Signature
    	
 
    	
Comments
    (approval date, etc.)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

 

APPENDIX 1

TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ABOUT SHORT-TERM CREDITS

 

CREDIT REQUEST

 

	
From
    	
[full   name of the Borrower]
    
	
 
    	
[address]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
To:
    	
ZAO   KB Citibank
    
	
 
    	
Building 1, 8-10   ulitsa Gasheka, Moscow, 125047, Russia
    
	
 
    	
Attn.: [·]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Date:
    	
[·]
    

 

Dear Sirs!

 

We refer to the General Agreement about short-term credits, concluded between us as the Borrower and ZAO KB Citibank as the Creditor (with subsequent alterations and amendments). The terms, defined in the General Agreement about short-term credits, have the same meanings in the present Credit Request.

 

In accordance with the General Agreement about short-term credits and with the terms, stipulated in it, we ask You hereby to extend the following Credit for us:

 

	
Currency:
    	
Russian rubles;
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Credit amount:
    	
[·]:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Credit extension   date:
    	
[·];
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Repayment date:
    	
[·];
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Interest rate:
    	
the MOSPRIME   rate, increased by the margin amount of 1.50 (one and fifty hundredths) of   the annual interest;
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Extension   commission:
    	
0.25% (twenty   five hundredths of a percent) of the Credit amount
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Interest Payment   Dates:
    	
[dates] or [in accordance with the General agreement about   short-term credits].
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Bank details:
    	
 
    

 

We confirm that as of the date of the present Credit Request, the representations, specified in Article 5 (Representations) of the General Agreement about short-term credits, are correct, as well as that no Event of Default or an event, which after sending a notification, after expiring of a definite period of time or upon combining of these circumstances, will be an Event of Default, have occurred and are not continuing.

 

We confirm that we have no right to reject the Credit, requested in the present Credit Request.

 

The General Agreement about short-tem credits and the present Credit Request, properly signed by the both parties, in combination constitute a credit contract between us as the Borrower and You as the Creditor with respect to the Credit, requested in the present Credit Request, and all the terms and provisions of the General Agreement about short-term credits shall be considered hereby incorporated in the present Credit Request.

 

Sincerely Yours,

 

ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER

 

	
Signature:  

Name:  

Position:
    	
Signature:  

Name:  

Position: Chief   accountant  

 

SEAL
    

 

ON BEHALF OF CITIBANK

 

	
Signature:  

Name:  

Position:
    	
Signature:  

Name:  

Positions: Chief   accountant  

 

SEAL
    

 

	
Borrower
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Citibank
    	
(signature)
    

 

13

 

	
Bound, numbered   and sealed  

13 (thirteen)   sheets
    	
 
    
	
Finances and   Investments Vice-president of MTS OJSC
    	
 
    
	
(signature)  /Kornya A.V./
    	
 
    

 

(seal)

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00216-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00216-of-00352.parquet"}]]